“Azure Immortal Sect?!”
Those three words crashed down like a bucket of icy water over Ye Mingtian’s head, instantly extinguishing his blazing fury, leaving behind only bone-chilling cold.
Azure Immortal Sect.
One of the five righteous sects of Lizhou—a true superpower.
Experts gathered there like clouds. It was said that even the Sect Master was a peak 9th stage Nascent Soul Realm cultivator, on the verge of stepping into the Divine Transformation Realm.
Before such a colossal force, let alone one Ye Family—even ten Ye Families would be nothing more than ants, crushed with a single finger.
Ye Mingtian’s lips trembled before he managed to speak, “How… how did this get entangled with the Azure Immortal Sect…”
“Entangled? It’s far more than that.” Ye Lingtian’s expression grew heavier. “She has already latched onto the Young Master of the Azure Immortal Sect. When she came to break off the engagement this time, he came along with her. Worse still, after the engagement was broken, on their way back to the sect, they were ambushed. The son of the Azure Immortal Sect’s Ancestor who escorted her… died on the spot.”
Boom!
The Ancestor’s son… dead?
And he died after standing up for the Chu Family?
Ye Mingtian felt his limbs turn cold. In that instant, he understood his father’s fear completely.
At such a critical moment, when such an important figure from the Azure Immortal Sect had died, where would their fury fall?
The Chu Family’s enemy… wasn’t that the Ye Family?
Even if they weren’t responsible, they could never clear themselves of suspicion.
Before such a towering force, they wouldn’t even have the chance to defend themselves.
“This… this…” Cold sweat broke out on Ye Mingtian’s forehead. “Then the Azure Immortal Sect…”
“This is what worries me the most.” Ye Lingtian let out a long sigh. “It has been fifteen days since the incident. Fortunately, during these fifteen days, the Azure Immortal Sect has shown no movement. They must have uncovered the truth and will not vent their anger on us. After all, they are a righteous sect. That’s why I dared to call all of you back to celebrate the New Year…”
Ye Mingtian fell silent, his brows deeply furrowed.
The atmosphere in the hall became suffocating, all traces of festivity gone.
Seeing everyone’s anxious expressions, Ye Lingtian forced himself to steady his spirit and waved his hand, “Enough. It’s the New Year—no need to dwell on such unpleasant matters. When the cart reaches the mountain, there will be a path. If the sky falls, I, as Patriarch, will hold it up.”
Then his tone shifted, forcing out a faint smile, “Mingtian, let me tell you some good news.”
“Your younger brother, Ye Fan… his talent has recovered.”
“What?!”
Ye Mingtian abruptly raised his head, his face filled with shock, his voice trembling, “Father, is that true? Xiao Fan, he…”
“Absolutely true.” Ye Lingtian nodded with relief. “Just a few days ago, not only did his talent return, it has even surpassed what it was before. Perhaps this is fate—a compensation from the heavens for our Ye Family.”
“Great! This is great! I knew it—my brother is no cripple. He will rise again!”
This news was like a shot of vitality, breathing life back into the lifeless hall.
Yes, the young master’s talent had returned. The Ye Family had hope again.
Even the looming threat of the Azure Immortal Sect seemed to fade slightly under this surge of joy.
Above the Ye Family estate, two figures silently appeared.
Lu Qingxuan stood with his hands behind his back, looking down at the brightly lit, jubilant Ye Family below. His expression remained utterly indifferent, as though he were observing a group of the dead.
“How lively…”
Before his words fully settled, his indifferent gaze swept downward. With a casual wave of his hand—
Buzz—
An invisible barrier descended like an inverted bowl, instantly sealing the entire Ye Family estate within. All the lights, laughter, and festivity were trapped inside, cut off from the outside world.
The smiles on the faces of the Ye Family members froze.
In the next moment, overwhelming panic erupted.
“What’s going on?!”
“Such powerful spiritual energy fluctuations! Could it be the Wang Family launching a surprise attack?!”
“Heavens! What is that?!”
Inside the Main Hall, Ye Lingtian and Ye Mingtian, who had just been immersed in joy, turned deathly pale.
The pressure descending from the sky was vast like an endless ocean, making it difficult for them to even stand.
“Father!”
Ye Mingtian looked at Ye Lingtian in shock.
Ye Lingtian did not respond. He quickly strode out of the hall, staring fixedly at the sky above the estate, his pupils shrinking to pinpoints.
Two figures—a man and a woman—hovered silently in the air, like deities overlooking the mortal world.
The woman wore white, her beauty peerless, her cold aura like the distant moon in the ninth heavens.
With just one glance, Ye Lingtian felt as if struck by lightning. His entire body trembled violently.
It was a face he had seen countless times in the illustrated scrolls of the Ten Thousand Sect Assembly of Lizhou.
“Fairy Linyue… Su Qingyan!”
The Sect Master of the Azure Immortal Sect, the youngest great Nascent Soul Realm cultivator in Lizhou.
If even the Sect Master had come, then the man beside her—whose aura was as deep and unfathomable as the sea, whose mere presence seemed capable of tearing one’s soul apart—his identity was already obvious.
The Ancestor of the Azure Immortal Sect—Lu Qingxuan.
A Divine Transformation Realm powerhouse.
Thud!
Ye Lingtian instantly realized something. He dropped to his knees heavily and shouted toward the sky, his voice trembling, “Ye Family Patriarch Ye Lingtian was unaware of the honored arrival of Ancestor and Sect Master and failed to welcome you properly. I respectfully greet the Azure Ancestor! I respectfully greet Fairy Linyue!”
Above the estate, Lu Qingxuan’s gaze remained unmoved. Looking at the kneeling figure below, he spoke calmly, “No need for such courtesy. I merely passed by and saw the Ye Family adorned with lights and decorations, flourishing with people, a scene of joyful reunion. I came to offer my congratulations.”
He paused, then added in the same indifferent tone, “After all, gathering everyone so neatly is no easy task.”
These words were like the cold wind of midwinter, instantly blowing away the last trace of hope in Ye Lingtian’s heart.
A joyful reunion? Gathered so neatly?
This was a plan to wipe out the Ye Family in one stroke.
Ye Lingtian lowered his head deeply, pressing his forehead against the cold ground, his voice trembling with desperation, “Ancestor, please see clearly! When your son tragically fell in Lizhou, the entire Ye Family grieved deeply. But we swear to the heavens, this matter has absolutely nothing to do with us! Our Ye Family has always revered the Azure Immortal Sect. We would never dare, nor would we ever have the courage, to offend such heavenly authority!”
Lu Qingxuan gave no clear response. Instead, he turned his head slightly and glanced at Su Qingyan beside him.
A trace of hesitation flickered in Su Qingyan’s cold eyes.
By nature, she was kind and found such scenes difficult to endure.
She stepped forward, her clear voice ringing out, “Ye Lingtian.”
“This sinner is here!”
“In consideration of Heaven’s mercy, my master is willing to give you one chance.” Su Qingyan spoke each word distinctly. “Hand over Ye Fan. Today’s matter can be resolved by punishing only the main culprit. The rest of the Ye Family… may be spared.”
Hand over Ye Fan.
Ye Lingtian’s entire body trembled. He raised his head abruptly, a flash of struggle and pain crossing his eyes.
But it vanished almost instantly.
Without hesitation, he turned to Ye Mingtian beside him and shouted sternly, “Mingtian! Go at once and bring your troublesome brother here—bind him if necessary—and present him to the Ancestor and Sect Master for judgment!”