Chapter 28: The Countermove
On Qing Mountain Ridge, just as Ye Jingcheng was about to retreat into the spiritual shield, a figure in a black robe appeared once again.
This figure moved with ghostly speed, leaving a long trail of spiritual shadow behind!
A ferocious and terrifying expression appeared on his face!
It seemed as though he was filled with extreme rage because Ye Jingcheng had killed the black-faced cultivator! He fiercely launched a massive flying spike artifact towards the back of Ye Jingcheng's head!
Fast! Incredibly fast!
Ye Jingcheng pulled out a spiritual talisman, though he doubted a simple first-grade talisman would be effective. At that moment, it was the only thing he could think of! He even held up the Jade Ring Rat behind him!
But before the attack could land, a massive green lizard suddenly materialized in the void. Its huge red tongue shot out like a blood python, wrapping around the flying spike and pulling it down. Then, with a sweep of its massive tail, countless earth and stone spikes burst from the ground.
They shot towards the ambushing Foundation Establishment cultivator.
This scene happened too quickly, and the lizard was hidden too well, concealed within the spiritual shield.
That shield was not just a defensive formation; it was also a concealment formation! The moment it appeared, the Foundation Establishment cultivator had no time to react.
The spikes pierced through his chest, revealing a set of golden spiritual armor!
However, the armor clearly wasn't of the second-grade level, as it was pierced with a large hole, causing blood to splatter everywhere!
"This is the spirit beast of that old man Haicheng! Your Ye family hides too much!" The man pulled out a talisman and flew to the side!
Without another word, he fled!
This entire sequence of events happened in the blink of an eye.
Almost at the same moment that the Foundation Establishment cultivator fled, the two Foundation Establishment cultivators facing off against Ye Xingliu in the sky exchanged glances, pulled out their spiritual boats, and attempted to escape! But just then, the green lizard's long tongue stretched out again, extending over a hundred meters!
It wrapped around one of the Foundation Establishment cultivators, while Ye Xingliu's perfected golden sword technique and two flying sword artifacts struck down!
In an instant, that Foundation Establishment cultivator was disemboweled and killed!
Nearby, screams rang out again as the Red-Crested Snow Eagle swooped down and crushed the head of a late-stage Qi Refining cultivator.
Of the three remaining late-stage Qi Refining cultivators, one had his throat bitten through by the Blood-Mark Leopard!
Only two cultivators managed to pull out a strange talisman, suddenly increasing their speed by dozens of times, disappearing into the distance!
"They're just some reckless rogue cultivators, no need to chase them!" Ye Xingliu said. "Our uncles promised to support us, but they didn't show up, and the other three families haven't appeared either. Let's head back and safeguard the Bloodheart Pill!" Ye Xingliu added.
Ye Xinghe nodded, though there was still a hint of doubt in his eyes.
These rogue cultivators seemed too much like they were hired by one of the major families.
If the others had tampered with the Bloodheart Pill, why would they send rogue cultivators after it?
After pondering for a while, he could only think of one possibility.
[Translator: sauron]
Perhaps the other side wanted to dispel their suspicions about the Bloodheart Pill. After this battle, even if the Ye family discovered something wrong with the Bloodheart Pill, they wouldn't be able to accuse the other families.
It might even seem as though the Ye family was framing them!
Moreover, the Ye family had a stake in the auction house, and if its reputation were ruined, the Ye family would suffer great losses.
This would be an open conspiracy!
Of course, he still hoped there was nothing wrong with the Bloodheart Pill, and that the other side genuinely wanted to steal it.
After all, teaming up with the Hua Yu Sect was no easy feat.
"It's a pity. If not for the fact that the Patriarch sold one of his artifacts, those three Foundation Establishment rogue cultivators would have perished here today!"
After saying this, Ye Xinghe collected the storage bags of the two Qi Refining rogue cultivators!
Meanwhile, the Red-Flame Fox finally lifted the mysterious bell-shaped large clock.
It rushed towards Ye Jingcheng.
"Jingcheng, you performed well today, slaying a cultivator, but you were too careless. You're not skilled in close combat, so you should have stayed within the spiritual formation. If it weren't for the Lizard Lord today, you would have been in grave danger!"
"Though rogue cultivators' treasures are not as good as those from the families and sects, their ruthlessness and cunning make them the hardest to guard against!"
"Uncle's right!" Ye Jingcheng lowered his head in acknowledgment.
He realized the gravity of his mistake; he had narrowly escaped a life-threatening situation.
"You killed that black-faced cultivator, so the spoils are yours. Don't forget to feed the Lizard Lord a few spiritual pills. You're an alchemist, so I don't need to say more!"
After saying this, Ye Xinghe pulled out a fire flag, waved it, and incinerated the bodies of the rogue cultivators.
Ye Jingcheng quickly collected the rogue cultivators' storage bags, along with the small bell artifact, the severely damaged shield, and nine silver needles.
Once he finished, he mimicked Ye Xinghe, using the Red-Flame Fox to burn the bodies to ashes!
At that moment, Ye Xingliu also took out a spiritual boat!
Ye Jingcheng boarded the spiritual boat, and though he couldn't see the green lizard, he was still puzzled.
Suddenly, he heard a hissing sound, and a faint shadow appeared before him, revealing the massive green lizard.
"Lizard Lord!" Ye Jingcheng called out, and he offered a few green spiritual pills and vital energy pills.
The lizard's tongue whipped out again, wrapping around the pill bottles, which it swallowed with a crunch.
Then its body began to fade once more, disappearing in the blink of an eye on the spiritual boat.
"That's your granduncle's life-bound spirit beast. In our family, life-bound spirit beasts hold a revered status!" Ye Xinghe, noticing Ye Jingcheng's confusion, explained beside him.
"The reason our Ye family can hold its ground among the four major Foundation Establishment families is because of the Patriarch and your granduncle, and also because of these Foundation Establishment spirit beasts!"
"In addition to the spirit beasts the family raises, we can also inherit them!"
After saying this, Ye Xinghe fell silent.
He left Ye Jingcheng on the spiritual boat, deep in thought.
Ye Jingcheng had long suspected that the family wasn't as simple as it seemed. Now it was clear that even the tip of the iceberg they revealed was incredibly powerful.
Judging by the ease with which they won this battle, the family probably had many other cards to play.
For instance, the Lizard Lord belonged to his granduncle Ye Haicheng, but what kind of demon beast did his third uncle, the family patriarch, possess?
And who was the Bloodheart Pill intended for?
Ye Jingcheng had many questions, but he kept silent, knowing that when it was time for him to know, he would know.
Asking questions when he shouldn't wouldn't yield answers and might even cause resentment.
The only thing he needed to understand now was that the Ye family's strength should not be underestimated, and the elders in the family were not to be taken lightly!
He was indeed fortunate to be in such a family!
Ye Jingcheng held onto a spiritual stone, slowly recovering his spiritual energy, while the Red-Flame Fox lay beside him.
The spiritual boat continued towards Lingyun Peak. After crossing Qing Mountain Ridge, the remaining mountains appeared low and gentle.
In the distance, a giant mountain peak could be faintly seen.
At that moment, another spiritual boat approached from the horizon at an even more terrifying speed.
"It's our uncles!" Ye Xingyu exclaimed.
Finally, Ye Jingcheng could see them clearly—Ye Haicheng, Ye Haiyi, and Ye Haiping were all present.
"Someone played a beast-taming tune over there, causing a lot of chaos!" Ye Haicheng was the first to speak.
Seeing that all four were safe, he was relieved!
Once the two spiritual boats joined up, the danger was completely over, and they quickly returned to Lingyun Peak.
Seeing the familiar mountains, paths, and buildings, Ye Jingcheng couldn't help but feel a sense of nostalgia.
Although only a little over a month had passed.
He had experienced so much.
"Jingcheng, prepare well for the next few days!" Ye Xingyu reminded Ye Jingcheng again from beside him.
(End of Chapter)