Chapter Thirty-Four: Such a Cruel Heart!
“My Black Scales!...”
A spirit pet of such caliber, a great demon in the Foundation Establishment stage, was exceedingly precious. With the formidable might of the Black-Scaled Demon Serpent, Ye Peng had imagined it would easily devour that foolish bumpkin, but he never expected Ye Yun to be so powerful, to kill the serpent in a fierce battle.
“Yun’er, be careful!”
When the terrifying serpent appeared, Ye Zili and Liu Shuyun’s faces changed instantly, but in the blink of an eye, their own son slew the monster. The shock left the couple utterly speechless.
“That was a Foundation Establishment demon...” Ye Qian parted her crimson lips, astonished.
“Ye Yun! You must die with the Black Scales!”
Ye Peng’s eyes reddened in an instant. He raised both hands, forming a spell seal, drawing the energies of heaven and earth to converge around Ye Yun.
“Spells?”
Holding the White Tiger Sword, Ye Yun’s gaze was filled with vigilance. The difference between Foundation Establishment and Qi Refinement lay in the transformation of internal energy into true energy, enabling the casting of mystical spells.
“Boom!”
Ye Yun sensed the earth beneath him tremble and immediately leapt into the air. A thick green vine burst from the soil, like a serpent, winding toward him as he hung suspended.
This was the Green Vine Spell, one of the basic spells, capable of trapping foes. If a Qi Refinement cultivator were ensnared and failed to break free, strangulation to death was possible.
“Die!”
Ye Peng’s face twisted into a vicious expression. Ye Yun was airborne, with nowhere to brace himself—being ensnared was inevitable.
Yet in the next moment, Ye Peng’s cruel smile froze. The White Tiger Sword in Ye Yun’s hand gleamed with sharp brilliance, slashing forth dazzling sword lights that, in an instant, severed the thick vine into several pieces.
The spell was broken; the vine dissipated into a swirl of green smoke.
Just then, Ye Yun pressed his left foot atop his right, spinning his body in midair. In a blink, he transformed into a fire dragon, its whole body wreathed in crimson flames, maw wide, lunging toward Ye Peng.
This was the Dragon Totem Technique, requiring solid cultivation and profound mastery of the Nine Forms of the Dragon Fist.
Ye Peng was startled, azure light flaring beneath his feet as he swiftly retreated. With a wave of his hand, golden light flashed, summoning the Celestial Gold Net.
His cultivation had already broken through to Foundation Establishment. The Prefect, Ye Haiyi, had even elevated the Gold Net’s grade to that of a low-tier magical treasure.
Qi Refinement cultivators wielded mere trinkets, while only Foundation Establishment cultivators could command true magical treasures, which were ranked as low, middle, high, and supreme.
Though the Celestial Gold Net was originally an inferior artifact, its material was that of genuine magical treasures, showing how much the Prefect valued his disciple.
---
“Boom!”
The Celestial Gold Net unfurled, exerting a tremendous binding force that trapped the fire dragon Ye Yun had become in midair. This treasure not only restrained opponents but also unleashed golden lightning, its power extraordinary.
Sword light flickered as Ye Yun slashed repeatedly at the net with the White Tiger Sword. Though the blade was sharp, it was not a magical treasure, leaving only white scars but unable to break free.
“Haha! Ye Yun, prepare to die!”
Seeing Ye Yun ensnared, Ye Peng was both startled and delighted. Moments before, he’d been truly intimidated by Ye Yun’s aura, and even recalling it now, he felt lingering fear.
Who would have imagined the younger generation of the Ye Clan would harbor such a monster? Practicing some unknown, formidable art, he was not yet in Foundation Establishment but could easily slay a great demon of that stage, even forcing Ye Peng himself to the brink of flight!
“He must die! Among the Ye Clan’s youth, I am the top cultivator. The next Prefect’s position belongs to me alone!”
Murderous intent welled within him, Ye Peng’s face contorted in madness. He formed spell seals, and three thick green vines erupted from the ground, joining the Celestial Gold Net in binding Ye Yun, tightening relentlessly to strangle him.
“Ye Peng, stop this instant! Ye Yun is your brother!”
Seeing Ye Yun in danger, Ye Zili could not stand idly by. He rushed forward, shouting loudly.
His father’s concern for his life shook Ye Yun. Ye Peng was cold-hearted, never moved by kinship. In a fit of rage, he might even harm his father.
“Noisy!”
As feared, what Ye Yun dreaded most came to pass. Ye Peng glanced at the approaching Ye Zili, flicking his wrist to launch a fireball the size of a basin, streaking toward Ye Zili like a meteor.
“Father, beware!” Ye Yun cried out in warning. Fireball Spell was a technique only Foundation Establishment cultivators could cast—its power far beyond what his father, a mere mortal, could withstand.
Murderous rage surged in a flash, the world before Ye Yun’s eyes turning blood-red. He felt his head nearly explode.
He had to break free!
Otherwise, his father might die because of him!
The marriage proposal to Ye Qian’s family and Ye Peng’s uninvited arrival had twice humiliated his parents, testing Ye Yun’s patience repeatedly. Now, with his father’s life at stake, how could he endure any longer?
If his father died, what meaning remained in seeking immortality, or pursuing the Dao?
“Boom!”
The Crimson Flame Demon Body activated once more. His red hair stood on end, his eyes burned like embers, all internal energy pouring madly into the White Tiger Sword. Ye Yun was determined to unleash his most powerful strike, breaking through the net and vines!
The fireball drew near at great speed. Ye Zili felt a scorching wave blast toward him, the scent of death thick in the air. His clothes and hair exuded the stench of burning.
---
“Swish!”
In that critical moment, Ye Yun’s figure appeared before his father, the White Tiger Sword gleaming, carving a white arc as it slashed at the incoming fireball.
“Hiss! Hiss! Hiss!...”
The fireball’s impact clashed fiercely with the sword, scattering sparks. With a loud bang, the fireball exploded, dust and smoke billowing to shroud Ye Yun and Ye Zili.
“Damn you!”
Ye Peng raged, summoning the Celestial Gold Net back to his hand. He saw the treasure had been torn, leaving a gaping hole—his heart ached.
Even a low-tier magical treasure required costly materials to repair.
Though he was the Prefect’s disciple, the Ye Clan’s resources weren’t his to squander at will. Even if Ye Haiyi agreed, the elders would not.
“Of all basic spells, Fireball Spell is the most powerful. You father and son dying together is your fate!”
He sneered coldly, glancing at Liu Shuyun, whose tears streamed as she rushed into the smoke.
“Yun’er! Zili!...” These were the two most important men in her life. If she lost them, what meaning remained for her?
“Let me do a good deed and send you to reunite with your husband and son!”
Ye Peng’s lips curled into a cruel, manic grin. He formed a spell seal, fire leaping in his palm, another fireball surging forth toward Liu Shuyun.
“Ye Peng, are you mad?!” Ye Qian stood frozen, stunned and helpless.
She never imagined events would escalate so far. If Ye Yun’s family died, her heart would be wracked with guilt.
Ye Peng was the Prefect’s disciple, of exalted status; she dared not offend him. Thus, she chose neutrality, offering no help.
“Roar!”
In a flash, a realistic tiger’s roar echoed. From the swirling smoke, a giant Crimson Flame Tiger burst forth, its claw swiping to send Ye Peng’s second fireball flying.
“Ye Peng, how cruel you are!” The Crimson Flame Tiger spoke in human tongue, then shrank, revealing Ye Yun’s form. His eyes were devoid of pupils, only scarlet flames flickering within, absent of emotion, only boundless murderous intent!