Chapter Thirty-Five: Thick-Faced and Black-Hearted

Page 1

The reason Ye Yun was able to withstand Ye Peng’s magic attack without injury was thanks to the protective treasure he wore, the Dragon Phoenix Pendant. Like the White Tiger Sword, although it had not reached the rank of a true magical artifact, it was personally forged by Master Ye Yu, the founding ancestor, so it could not be judged by ordinary standards.

The Dragon Phoenix Pendant could block the vast majority of attacks, but some of the force would still seep through, requiring Ye Yun to endure it himself. With the skill of Ancestor Ye Yu, forging a treasure that could completely defend against all attacks would have been effortless; yet he deliberately refrained from doing so, so that Ye Yun could gain more experience through adversity.

His internal energy was nearly depleted. In order to save his parents, Ye Yun had almost unleashed every ounce of his current potential in just a brief moment. Ye Peng had only recently broken through to the Foundation Establishment stage; his reservoir of true energy was not unlimited, and now, his energy was also nearly exhausted.

His crimson, pupil-less eyes stared coldly at Ye Peng, dozens of meters away, then swept over Ye Qian, who stood not far off. Ye Yun did his utmost to suppress the anger burning in his heart. The more critical the moment, the more he needed to remain calm, so as not to make fatal errors in judgment.

This was the survival principle his master had always taught him.

When Ye Yun’s emotionless gaze swept past her, Ye Qian felt her heart stop in that instant. She knew Ye Yun blamed her for not intervening to save his father, Ye Zili, for being so cold and neutral, watching his family face death without lifting a finger.

“How can you be so selfish as to blame me?” she thought, shaking her head. “It was you who provoked Ye Peng. He is the disciple of the Prefect—what good could come from opposing him? If I got involved, my own family could be implicated…”

She had her own difficulties, while Ye Yun had his own clear sense of right and wrong. Just as Ye Qian imagined, Ye Yun truly felt disappointed—perhaps not just disappointed, but utterly heartbroken, maybe even resigned.

“Prepare to die!”

The killing intent surged forth. Ye Yun’s figure blurred, moving like a shadow, transforming into a giant fiery tiger. He struck out with a massive claw, aiming to finish Ye Peng.

“Impudent! Stop!”

Suddenly, a figure rushed out at astonishing speed, causing the air to vibrate violently. Ye Yun had no time to react.

“Bang!”

He could not even make out the attacker’s movements before his Tiger Totem combat technique was shattered, sending him flying backward, blood trickling from the corner of his mouth.

“How dare you threaten my son! You little beast, you must be tired of living!”

Page 2

A man with a vicious gaze stepped forward, clad in brocade robes, his expression arrogant. This was Ye Peng’s father, Ye Zi Ying—Ye Yun’s uncle, the third brother of Ye Zili.

“Ye Zi Ying! You…” Seeing Ye Yun injured, Ye Zili was enraged to the point of coughing up blood.

“Brother, as they say, if the child is unruly, the fault lies with the father. How did you raise this little beast?” Ye Zi Ying seized the initiative as soon as he appeared, his shamelessness thicker than city walls.

He had been lurking in the shadows the entire time, even as Ye Peng tried to kill Ye Zili. He did not intervene, proving that father and son alike cared nothing for kinship.

“You… you…” Ye Zili was so angry he could not speak.

“Father, kill them!” Ye Peng demanded harshly.

Ye Zi Ying nodded. “Brother, for the sake of our familial bond, I will not kill you. But this little beast must die!”

As he spoke, Ye Zi Ying acted immediately. With a flick of his wrist, three fireballs shot toward Ye Yun.

Although Ye Zi Ying’s talent was not remarkable, Ye Peng’s status as the Prefect’s disciple had elevated his own position, allowing him access to cultivation resources. His strength had reached the middle stage of Foundation Establishment.

With Ye Yun’s current abilities, he could contend with those at the early stage, but against a mid-stage expert, he was no match.

“What shameless father and son!”

Though furious, Ye Yun kept his cool. He spread his arms, body like a golden-winged roc, dodging the fireballs with exquisite movement and slashing them apart one by one with the White Tiger Sword.

Ye Yun had never formally studied swordsmanship, yet he could use the techniques of the Totem Combat Method in sword form, producing impressive results.

“This little beast does have some skill, but he’s still far from enough!”

Ye Zi Ying sneered, then moved like lightning, appearing before Ye Yun in an instant. He struck with his palm, pressing down on the White Tiger Sword. The powerful true energy sent a massive shockwave, causing Ye Yun’s wrists to ache intensely. The Dragon Phoenix Pendant absorbed most of the impact, but some residual force swept over him.

“Pfft!”

Blood sprayed. The White Tiger Sword was knocked away. Ye Yun was sent flying, crashing into the courtyard wall, stones and earth collapsing to bury him.

“Whoosh!”

Ye Zi Ying formed a magical seal, summoning a violent wind that swept the snow from the ground. Invisible blades of wind rippled in the air, dense as rain, shooting toward Ye Yun’s location.

“Boom!”

Page 3

Earth and stone exploded apart. Ye Yun leapt out, transforming into a Xuanwu totem with a dragon's head, serpent's tail, and tortoise body. The wind blades struck with a furious clatter, but the tortoise shell blocked them all, scattering sparks.

“This little beast has mastered such exquisite techniques!”

Ye Zi Ying’s eyes lit up. He had been a cultivator for over thirty years and knew well that the method Ye Yun had just displayed could surpass even the highest-level techniques of the Ye Clan.

“In that case, you must not be allowed to live. Once I capture you, I can use soul-searching magic to seize this technique!”

Greed blossomed in Ye Zi Ying’s heart. With a flick of his hand, a bronze bell hovered above his head, sounding a piercing, resounding toll. The sound waves became tangible, assaulting Ye Yun’s spirit.

“Soul-Shaking Bell!” Ye Peng’s eyes brightened at the sight of his father’s artifact. He knew well how much effort his father had spent crafting it.

This artifact could attack the soul; the weak would be destroyed instantly, and even those with strong spirits would become dazed, making it easy to strike them down.

However, with Ye Zi Ying’s mid-Foundation Establishment strength, the Soul-Shaking Bell was not yet overwhelmingly powerful. Ye Yun’s innate soul was perfect and immensely strong; the bell’s sound waves crashed into his mind but failed to shake his spirit in the slightest.

Yet Ye Yun pretended to be affected, his steps faltering, swaying as if about to collapse.

“Hahaha…”

Ye Zi Ying laughed, moving swiftly to Ye Yun’s side, reaching to press down on his crown, preparing to perform soul-searching magic.

“Stop!”

“No! Don’t!”

Ye Zili and Liu Shuyun’s eyes were bloodshot, hearts broken in anguish.

“Die!”

In that split second, crimson flames danced in Ye Yun’s eyes. He channeled his fiery inner energy, his arms like dragons, striking fiercely at Ye Zi Ying’s chest.

ps: Rushing for the new book rankings—flowers, flowers~ Rolling all over the ground, begging for flowers and all kinds of votes~~