Clop, clop, clop!
The rhythmic sound of hooves echoed like a crimson dragon, a formidable procession racing along the wide mountain path. The terrifying aura of bloodlust emanated from each Blood-Clothed Guard, coalescing into a dense, blood-colored cloud.
From a distance, the sight was enough to instill awe and trepidation.
Leading the charge was Ye Tian, flanked by Ye Feng and ten captains, followed closely by a hundred Blood-Clothed Guards. The formation advanced in perfect unison, as orderly as a spear, exuding an air of lethal intent.
"Ye Tian, about a month ago, the beast-hunting team frequently spotted some strangers in the mountains, and other village teams have noticed them as well. The village chief and we believe that this beast attack on the city is somehow connected to them," Ye Feng remarked beside him.
"Strangers…" Ye Tian furrowed his brow at the thought. In such a remote place as Baiyun Town, it was rare for outsiders to venture in; no wonder Ye Feng and the others were suspicious.
"Uncle Ye, fear not! If they are indeed behind this, we Blood-Clothed Guards shall not let them go unpunished!" Liu Hongwu declared loudly.
"The young lady speaks wisely. This region around Xueyu City is our dominion!" Ye Tian laughed heartily and urged his horse forward, galloping as swiftly as a tempest.
Ye Feng, witnessing this transformation, couldn't help but feel a swell of pride; the once immature boy had evolved into a formidable warrior.
Observing Ye Tian now, Ye Feng knew that the days of prosperity for the Ye family were on the horizon.
…
After four days of rapid travel, the morning sun found Ye Tian and his companions nearing Baiyun Town.
"Boss, there's a city ahead!" a Blood-Clothed Guard shouted from within the ranks.
"A small place like this has a city?" others exclaimed in astonishment.
Ye Tian looked up to see a modest yet dignified earthen city basking in the golden light of dawn.
"That is Ye City!" Ye Feng said with pride.
Ye Tian was taken aback, realizing that Ye Feng was indeed telling the truth; the city had been constructed swiftly. Though it lacked the grandeur of Xueyu City, considering the poverty of Baiyun Town, it was nothing short of a miracle.
"Let's head in. Everyone slow down; we mustn't harm the townsfolk!" Ye Tian commanded, galloping ahead toward Ye City.
The Blood-Clothed Guards hastily followed suit.
"Look! A large group is approaching!" shouted a guard from the city wall, spotting Ye Tian and the others in the distance.
In such a small place as Baiyun Town, it was uncommon to see a crowd like Ye Tian's, and the palpable aura of bloodlust from the Blood-Clothed Guards could be sensed from afar.
The defenders of Ye City could hardly contain their astonishment.
Moments later, chaos erupted atop the city walls.
"Calm down, everyone!" a rugged voice bellowed. Ye Meng stepped onto the wall, peering into the distance with a look of astonishment. "It's the Blood-Clothed Guards... Could it be that Ye Tian has returned?"
Yet, the thought seemed inconceivable; Ye Tian had only recently joined the Blood-Clothed Guards. How could he possibly bring back so many?
However, upon observing the substantial number of guards—over a hundred—he surmised that the leader must be at least a captain among the Blood-Clothed Guards.
"It's really Ye Tian!" Suddenly, Ye Meng's pupils constricted as he recognized the familiar figure at the front—Ye Tian! No matter how much he had changed, he could never mistake his own son.
"It truly is Ye Tian, along with Uncle Ye Feng!" The Ye family's warriors on the wall also recognized him and gasped in surprise.
"Hurry and open the city gates!" Ye Meng shouted with excitement.
With a thunderous rumble, the gates swung open, allowing the imposing contingent of Blood-Clothed Guards to charge inside.
"The Blood-Clothed Guards—" Within Ye City, passersby who spotted Ye Tian's entourage gasped in shock, hastily stepping aside to avoid any clash with the guards.
The reputation of Xueyu City was deeply entrenched in this region, and the Blood-Clothed Guards were synonymous with unrivaled power.
"Isn't that Ye Feng from the Ye family?"
"And the leader of the guards looks strangely familiar!"
"That's Ye Tian, the strongest and most talented individual in Baiyun Town… I heard he joined the Blood-Clothed Guards, and it seems to be true!"
…
Whispers spread among the crowd, many recognizing Ye Tian with astonishment.
"Xiao Tian!" A tall figure suddenly dashed forward, calling out loudly.
A Blood-Clothed Guard beside Ye Tian intended to step in but was halted by Ye Tian, who immediately dismounted and embraced the approaching figure fiercely.
"Father!" Ye Tian exclaimed, his face alight with joy; the man before him was indeed Ye Meng, who had rushed down from the wall.
"Well done!" Ye Meng clapped Ye Tian on the shoulder, his eyes brimming with pride.
The father and son exchanged no further pleasantries; their bond was expressed in the silence between them.
"Ye Meng!" Noticing it was Ye Meng, Ye Feng also dismounted and approached.
The Blood-Clothed Guards followed suit, standing protectively nearby.
"Uncle Ye Meng!" The sweet voice of Liu Hongwu chimed in as she charmingly approached.
Ye Meng glanced at Liu Hongwu, then back at Ye Tian, his eyes lighting up as he nodded enthusiastically, causing the young girl to blush deeply.
Ye Feng suppressed a chuckle at the scene.
Observing this, Ye Tian could only shake his head helplessly, aware that his father had likely misunderstood the situation.
The group then made their way toward the Ye family estate.
Already informed of their arrival, familiar faces like Ye Shi, Ye Ba, Ye Wei, Lin Mei, Lin Xue, and Lin Jiao stood at the entrance, waiting eagerly.
"Mother!"
"Village Chief!"
Ye Tian immediately approached, his face beaming with a smile.
In just a few months, aside from Ye Tian's significant transformation, the others remained largely unchanged. After a brief exchange, Ye Tian instructed his subordinates, the Blood-Clad Guards, to rest while he entered the hall with Ye Shi, Ye Feng, and others.
"Grandfather Village Chief, have there been any developments recently?" As everyone settled in, they eagerly inquired. Though the village had been renamed Ye Family Village, Ye Tian still affectionately referred to Ye Shi as Grandfather Village Chief.
However, Ye Shi no longer identified himself as the village chief. He surveyed Ye Tian with satisfaction for a moment before stating gravely, "Ye Tian, it's strange—ever since Ye Feng left, that ferocious beast has not attacked Ye Family Village again."
"Ah!" Ye Feng exclaimed in shock, realizing it was his presence that had agitated the beast.
Ye Tian chuckled and waved his hand dismissively. "Uncle Feng, don't overthink it; Grandfather Village Chief doesn't mean that. I suspect something has happened to that beast. Tomorrow, I'll lead a team into the mountains to investigate and eliminate those three ferocious beasts once and for all, ensuring our Ye Family is free from future troubles!"
"Ye Tian, be cautious of those strangers. I've heard from villagers who ventured into the mountains that their numbers are increasing, and they possess formidable strength!" Ye Ba interjected.
"Oh?" Ye Tian's eyes widened in surprise.
"Indeed!" Ye Shi nodded gravely. "Ye Tian, those strangers are not to be underestimated. I've seen several of them, and their weakest member is at least a seventh-level warrior. According to the villagers, there are now over thirty strangers in the mountains, not counting those who have yet to be discovered."
"That many!" Ye Tian exclaimed, furrowing his brow.
"Such a large group cannot appear in Baiyun Town without reason. Could there be something in the mountains drawing them here?" Ye Tian sensed that this situation was indeed unusual.
"Regardless, Ye Tian, be careful tomorrow!" Ye Shi urged in conclusion.
In truth, they were not overly concerned about Ye Tian's safety. After all, the formidable reputation of Blood Jade City and the strength of the Blood-Clad Guards instilled great confidence in them; no one in the vicinity could pose a threat to Ye Tian.
"I understand, Grandfather Village Chief!" Ye Tian nodded.
He then retired to his quarters to rest. After several days of hard riding, even with his third-level warrior status, Ye Tian felt fatigued.
However, as soon as he stepped into his room, a massive white figure shot toward him.
"Huh? It's Xiao Bai!" Sensing the powerful aura, Ye Tian instinctively prepared to dodge, but upon realizing what it was, he couldn't help but smile.
Before him stood a colossal white tiger—it was indeed Xiao Bai.
"Roar!" Xiao Bai joyfully rubbed its head against Ye Tian's abdomen, lowly growling in excitement, bouncing around energetically.
"Alright, alright, you've grown so big, yet you're still so mischievous!" Ye Tian affectionately patted Xiao Bai's head, feeling a surge of nostalgia; this creature had truly grown, nearly as large as three tigers combined.
Moreover, within Xiao Bai's body, Ye Tian sensed an immense energy comparable to that of a second-level warrior.
"Hmm? What's going on? Didn't Xiao Bai just advance to warrior status? How could it have progressed to second-level warrior status so quickly?" Ye Tian expressed his astonishment.
"Roar!"
At that moment, Xiao Bai let out a few growls and expelled a glowing crystal from its mouth.
Intrigued, Ye Tian examined the crystal. It was exceptionally beautiful, radiating a deep purple hue with a faint aura of spirituality emanating from it. A gentle whiff invigorated him, enhancing his senses.
"What a remarkable crystal—hmm?" Ye Tian couldn't help but pick it up, but his expression quickly shifted as his pupils constricted.
Within the purple crystal, a rich spiritual energy surged up his arm and into his body, transforming into a powerful, searing torrent.
Ye Tian couldn't suppress a low roar as he refined this torrent, instantly boosting his internal energy significantly.
In mere moments, he had opened five acupoints, and combined with those he had previously opened, he broke through his current cultivation level, advancing to the fourth level of warrior status.
"Ha!"
About half an hour later, Ye Tian slowly opened his eyes, feeling an indescribable sense of comfort wash over him. The fatigue he had felt earlier had vanished, and his vitality surged to its peak.
"Fourth-level warrior status feels like a complete transformation, vastly superior to my previous state at third-level warrior!" As he reveled in the powerful flow of energy within him, Ye Tian's eyes sparkled with determination.
He had not anticipated achieving fourth-level warrior status so easily. Looking at the purple crystal in his hand, he noted that it had already disintegrated into a pile of white powder, scattered to the ground by the wind.