Hongtu Town.
In the faint morning light, the residents gradually awoke and started their day. Those planning to head out were shocked to discover the town gates firmly padlocked. No one could leave.
"What’s going on? Why are the gates closed?"
"I don’t know. I heard Master Ye Xuan personally ordered the guards away and sealed the gates."
"Master Ye Xuan? Why would he do that?"
"Who knows! Something must have happened. By the way, did you hear? Someone got up to relieve himself last night and heard a commotion outside. When he opened his door, he saw the Ye Family! They were fleeing the town in the dead of night, dragging their whole households along."
"The Ye Family fled overnight? It looks like something massive is about to go down."
As the onlookers gossiped, a massive rumbling echoed from afar.
TRAMP TRAMP TRAMP.
It sounded like a grand army on the march.
"There’s movement at the front of the town! Hurry, get up on the walls and see what’s happening!"
When the residents scrambled up the town walls, they were left dumbfounded. At the edge of the horizon, billowing clouds of dust suddenly appeared. The dust curled like a soaring dragon, rapidly approaching Hongtu Town. As it drew closer, they finally saw what lay beneath it—a dense, sprawling legion of Cultivators. The rumbling they heard was the synchronized footfalls of this very army.
TRAMP TRAMP TRAMP.
With every step they took, the earth trembled. Even from a distance, an aggressive, suffocating aura washed over the town.
"What terrifying pressure!"
"Who are these people? What are they doing here? Don’t tell me they’re attacking Hongtu Town!"
"We’re doomed! No wonder the Ye Family fled overnight. Someone is invading!"
"Wait, there’s someone drinking tea in front of the town! Look at that posture—isn’t that Master Ye Xuan?"
A sudden exclamation broke through the panic. The man pointed down toward the town gates.
There, about fifty meters past the gates, a young man was reclining in a lounge chair, sipping tea. Drinking tea conveyed a clear philosophy on life: leisurely, elegant, and completely unbothered.
The young man was none other than Ye Xuan. He had been waiting there for a long time. Since he had chosen not to hide from this ordeal, he decided to face it with grace and composure. With a steady heart, one wouldn’t flinch even if the sky were to fall.
"It really is Ye Xuan! What is he doing down there?"
Upon spotting him, the residents exchanged bewildered glances, completely unable to fathom what kind of stunt this was.
TRAMP TRAMP TRAMP.
The footsteps grew deafeningly close. The collective aura of ten thousand Cultivators soared into the heavens, violently scattering the clouds above.
"Halt!"
At Niu Tong’s low command, the Niu Family’s vanguard stopped about twenty meters away from Ye Xuan. Held high at the very front of the formation was a golden Ox Head Banner.
The townsfolk gasped upon seeing the flag.
"The Ox Head Banner! These people are the overlords behind Hongtu Town!"
"What are they doing here? Could they be seeking revenge for the Fang Family? Yes, that must be it!"
"No wonder the Ye Family ran for their lives. This lineup is utterly terrifying."
Up on the walls, the residents finally understood the gravity of the situation.
The army of ten thousand parted to make way, allowing a carriage pulled by a unicorn to slowly emerge. Riding on the back of the majestic white beast were Fang Lian and Ning Zheseng. The white unicorn made the two look every bit like a Prince and princess.
"Young Master Ning, someone is blocking the road ahead. The situation seems a bit unusual," Niu Tong said respectfully.
Ning Zheseng nodded. Naturally, he had also noticed the lone figure in their path. He ordered coldly, "Tell him to get lost. Otherwise, he dies."
"Understood."
Niu Tong turned and shouted at Ye Xuan, "I don’t know who you are, but get lost immediately. Otherwise, you will be shown no mercy."
As Niu Tong’s voice faded, Ye Xuan finally set down his teacup. He stood up, looking squarely at the ten thousand Cultivators before him. Even standing alone against an army, he remained breezy and entirely fearless.
"I am Patriarch Ye, Ye Xuan."
"You are Patriarch Ye?" Niu Tong was astounded. "You’re waiting for us here? But how did you know we were coming?"
He was certain that no one in Niu Family Town would ever dare leak such a secret.
Ye Xuan didn’t answer his question, but complained instead, "You arrived too slowly. I’ve been waiting for ages."
Niu Tong snorted coldly. "You’ve got guts! Knowing the Niu Family was coming to wipe out the Ye Family, you didn’t run or hide. You’re facing your death with grace."
Ye Xuan flashed a grin. He was just about to reply when Ning Zheseng’s furious roar cut through the air.
"It’s you! The bastard who stole the Fire Spirit Ginseng!"
It was clear he had recognized Ye Xuan.
Beside him, Fang Lian also cried out in shock, "Sheng, the man who tried to kill me that day—I think it was him too! Yes, that’s his exact build. It’s him, without a doubt!"
Ye Xuan didn’t deny it. He smiled and said, "You two have decent eyes. That’s right, both were me."
"I knew it was you! Where is the Fire Spirit Ginseng? Hand it over immediately!"
"Are you stupid? It’s a premium treasure. I ate it ages ago."
"Ah! I’ll rip out your tendons and flay your skin!" Ning Zheseng howled at the sky like a madman.
"Then hurry up and do it," Ye Xuan taunted. "Didn’t you come all this way to destroy the Ye Family? Cut the crap and make your move!"
His final words echoed relentlessly across the plains. Arrogant. Far too arrogant. Ning Zheseng couldn’t even fathom where this brat got the confidence to act so brazenly. Even the Niu Family couldn’t stand Ye Xuan’s insolence any longer. Beneath the proudly fluttering Clan Banner of the Niu Family, how could they allow the Patriarch of a mere vassal faction to act so wildly?
"Patriarch, Young Master Ning, allow me to fetch this brat’s head," an Elder of the Niu Family stepped forward and requested.
"Very well. Go test the waters."
Seeing that neither Ning Zheseng nor Niu Tong objected, the Elder unleashed a terrifying aura from his body. Up on the town walls, all the spectators were immediately forced to their knees. Even though they were dozens of meters away, this sheer pressure was far beyond what they could withstand.
"W-What realm is this?! The pressure is immense!"
"Hand over your life, brat!"
The Elder didn’t bother using his Beast Soul Power. In his eyes, dealing with a junior didn’t warrant the enhancement of a Beast Soul. He stomped his feet and leaped high into the air. Radiant Spiritual Light blossomed around him, making him look like an Immortal who had attained the Dao. In the next breath, he formed his hand into a claw and lunged at Ye Xuan’s head, aiming to twist it clean off. Before he even landed, his formidable momentum caused the very earth below to fracture.
However, while his attack appeared mighty, it was actually pathetically fragile. Ye Xuan casually reached out his right hand and effortlessly caught the Elder’s wrist. Then, he violently smashed the old man into the ground.
BOOM!
A massive explosion rang out. The earth quaked violently.
After smashing into the dirt, the Elder’s body was bent at a grotesque angle. His spine had snapped completely. Though he wasn’t dead yet, he was barely clinging to life, gasping for his final breaths.
GASP!
This scene sent the entire battlefield into a frenzy. Whether it was the residents of Hongtu Town or the Niu Family, everyone was left utterly dumbfounded. No one expected Ye Xuan to possess such astonishing combat prowess.
That Elder was a Cultivator at the second level of the Frenzy Spirit Realm!
Even Ning Zheseng found it incomprehensible. He had consumed an astronomical amount of resources to reach his current cultivation. He wondered how this brat, born into a clan as weak and insignificant as ants, could have achieved such power.
He decided that this brat had to die.