Dusk had fallen, with the sun mostly sunk below the horizon. The remaining light cast a faint glow, tingeing the surrounding clouds a soft pink and gilding the air with a layer of gold. This pink, blue, and gold, combined with the green of the courtyard and the red of the flowers, wove together a colorful tapestry.
Ye Lanshan stood amidst it all, as if she were a figure in a painting, so unreal in her beauty that she gave off an ethereal, misty feeling.
She slowly raised her hand to catch a leaf, gazing at the rosy clouds ahead, lost in thought.
Mo Ran admitted that in that moment, he was truly captivated. He watched Ye Lanshan’s back with keen interest, even his breathing growing softer.
“You’ve been watching from the rooftop for so long; you must be tired. How about coming down for a cup of tea?” Ye Lanshan swiftly flicked the leaf in her hand toward the roof.
“You’re as sharp as ever.” Mo Ran caught the leaf she had sent flying between his fingers and leaped down from the eaves.
“Young Master Mo, it’s been a while. What do you want to take from me this time?” Ye Lanshan’s heart was on high alert, tinged with a hint of anger.
“Do you only see me as a thief? We’ve fought side by side before. That’s quite hurtful.” Mo Ran leaned against the door, showing no sign of being upset at all.
“If you’re not here to steal something, I can’t think of anything else in my little courtyard that would interest you enough to warrant a personal visit.” A dagger had somehow appeared in Ye Lanshan’s hand, as if she might swing it at him at any moment.
“Miss Ye, don’t be so tense. I’m not going to eat you.” Mo Ran approached her with a sly smile, exuding an irresistible charm.
Unfortunately, Ye Lanshan, as a cultivator, was naturally detached and unmoved by Mo Ran’s allure.
“I recall telling you to stay away from him, didn’t I?” Just as Mo Ran was a step away from Ye Lanshan, an icy voice rang out from the air.
Ye Lanshan looked up and saw that Ye Yutian had also arrived. Why was he here? Had he found out she knew where Sikong Kuang was and come specifically for her? If so, that would be troublesome.
Her heart was no longer as calm as before. Though her strength had grown quickly, facing Ye Yutian now didn’t mean she couldn’t win—but if Mo Ran was on his side? If it were two against one, she’d be hard-pressed to hold her own.
Ye Lanshan tightened her grip on the dagger but spoke casually, “It seems my little courtyard really does hide something, to attract both of you here.”
“Do you think I’m afraid of you? If I backed off just because you said so, it would tarnish the reputation of the Demon Sect’s young master.” Mo Ran turned to face Ye Yutian, a hint of provocation in his tone.
Ye Yutian’s gaze was icy as he stared at Mo Ran. The air between them was thick with tension, as if they might come to blows at any moment.
“If you want to fight, do it somewhere else. Don’t disturb my view here.” Ye Lanshan had been tense for a while, but now she realized their conflict had simply drawn her in. She relaxed, even loosening her grip on the dagger, though she still feared they might suddenly clash and destroy her home.
Ye Yutian remained cold, shooting Ye Lanshan a frosty glance as if blaming her for interrupting.
Mo Ran acted as if he hadn’t heard her, ignoring her entirely.
“Ye Lanshan, your little courtyard is quite lively, with the Demon Sect’s young master and the Night King here too.” A warm voice came from the entrance.
“Miss Ye, you’re quite popular, even drawing the Holy Land’s Saint here.” Mo Ran, seeing the newcomers, retracted his sharp gaze and resumed his lazy demeanor.
Ye Lanshan watched as even Yun Qingfeng came to join the commotion, unsure what to say.
“I’ve long heard that the Demon Sect’s young master and the Night King are top talents on the continent’s genius list. How about we spar?” Yun Qingfeng invited them with a refined smile.
“I’ve heard the Holy Land’s Saint is exceptionally skilled. Since you’re inviting me, I won’t refuse.” Mo Ran replied with his usual slyness.
“Sparring in this courtyard is too cramped. How about we take it outside?” Yun Qingfeng’s smile remained elegant, but his disdain for Mo Ran had deepened.
“Of course.” Mo Ran suddenly turned and flew outside, with Yun Qingfeng following close behind, disappearing from the courtyard.
“They’re gone. Aren’t you leaving?” Ye Lanshan frowned at Ye Yutian, her unwelcoming expression almost written on her face.
After confirming she was safe, Ye Yutian pursued Mo Ran and the others.
No sooner had he left than Ye Luotian rushed over in a panic.
“Lanshan, are you alright?” His voice came clearly before he even arrived.
Ye Lanshan pursed her lips. “I’m fine.”
“I sensed several dangerous auras in your courtyard just now, but now they’re gone?” Ye Luotian had hurried over because he’d felt those threatening presences and feared for Ye Lanshan’s safety. But when he arrived, only Ye Lanshan stood by the tree, with no sign of danger.
Ye Lanshan didn’t want to worry him, so she didn’t explain what had happened, only reassuring him that she was fine.
“Grandfather, why do you think the Holy Land knows I’m here but hasn’t come to capture me?” Ye Lanshan stared unblinkingly at Ye Luotian, as if afraid he might lie.
“This…” Ye Luotian paused. “Perhaps the emperor has made a deal with them, so they’re holding off for now.”
This was what Ye Luotian feared most. If the emperor and the Holy Land had reached an agreement, even with his treasures, he couldn’t protect Ye Lanshan.
With Mo Ran and Ye Yutian also in the capital, the situation was about to get even more chaotic. Ye Lanshan’s gaze deepened as she pondered how to pull the Ye family out of the mire.
“Don’t worry about the Holy Land. For now, just focus on your cultivation. Your grandfather will handle everything else.” Ye Luotian was most concerned about her strength. Though he wished for her to live a carefree, happy life, given the current circumstances, he could only hope her power would skyrocket, at least enough to protect herself when he wasn’t around.
Chapter 102: The Mysterious Wu Clan
“Grandfather, rest assured, I’ll work hard on my cultivation.” Ye Lanshan nodded, pushing her worries aside.
“Since you’re fine, I’ll be at ease.” Ye Luotian glanced toward where Mo Ran and the others had left, a thoughtful look in his eyes.
Someone had definitely been here—more than one person. But who? And why hadn’t Lanshan told him? Questions swirled in Ye Luotian’s mind with no answers.
“If there’s nothing else, Grandfather, you should head back. I’m perfectly safe here.” Ye Lanshan saw that Ye Luotian wasn’t leaving and knew she couldn’t go to Dream Red Pavilion.
Ye Luotian snapped back to reality. “If you’re in any danger, you must tell me. The Ye family may have declined, but as long as I’m here, no one will harm you.”
A warm surge filled Ye Lanshan’s heart. Was this the wonderful feeling of family? It was good to have someone who always cared for her.
Heaven, though I don’t know why you brought me here, I hope that since you did, you won’t send me back.
A faint smile curved Ye Lanshan’s lips. She stepped forward to straighten Ye Luotian’s clothes, rumpled from his hurried run, and said sweetly, “Grandfather, don’t worry. No one in the capital dares to bully me. And even if they try, they’d need the strength to do it.”
“In that case, I won’t disturb your cultivation.” Hearing this, Ye Luotian’s worries eased considerably.
Yes, Lanshan’s talent was extraordinary, she had a spatial artifact, and her understanding of formations was remarkable. Even at her current level, she far surpassed the so-called geniuses of the capital.
As long as she didn’t run into Yun Qingfeng or Ye Fenlan, she’d be fine.
With that thought, Ye Luotian felt reassured. Before leaving, he gave her a few more reminders and returned to his own room.
After Ye Luotian left, Ye Lanshan went back inside. She sat down slowly and summoned the Wu Jiao.
“What? Are you going in again? I haven’t seen you cultivate much lately.” The Wu Jiao had been sleeping soundly in the space and was confused by the sudden summons.
“Your clan is skilled in prophecy, aren’t you? Why don’t you divine whether the Ye family will face disaster this time?” Ye Lanshan ignored his surprised tone and got straight to the point.
She had initially thought the Ye family would be fine with her grandfather’s support, but after hearing his speculation, she felt uneasy. If the royal family allied with the Holy Land, even using all her trump cards might not save the Ye family.
“This…” The Wu Jiao hesitated. Their prophetic abilities weren’t used casually; they were typically performed at the Wu altar by the clan’s strongest bloodline.
“Our prophecies can only be performed at the Wu altar. With the conditions here, I can’t do it.” The Wu Jiao felt apologetic, as he couldn’t help her when she needed it most.
Sigh, this ability is even worse than the diviners of our cultivation world. Too bad our lineage has no one skilled in the art of divination, or we wouldn’t be helpless.
Never mind. Though the Holy Land and the royal family have impure intentions toward the Ye family, they haven’t acted yet. The capital is calm for now. Maybe I’m overthinking. The priority is to boost my strength.
In just a few seconds, Ye Lanshan went from worry to calm, even planning her next steps.
“Ye Lanshan, I can’t decide on the prophecy. If it were the Wu clan, their prophetic abilities would be far stronger than mine.” Seeing her silent for so long, the Wu Jiao thought she was angry.
Ye Lanshan snapped back and saw his cautious, almost pitiful expression. She couldn’t help but laugh. “I control my own fate. Even if you can’t prophesy, it doesn’t matter—I don’t believe in fate anyway. But what’s this Wu clan you mentioned?”
She felt like she and the Wu Jiao were from different worlds, with different understandings of strength and races.
All she knew was that this world had humans, beasts, and gods. She had no memory of the Wu clan he spoke of.
“They’re a very mysterious race with extraordinary prophetic abilities and immense intelligence. They’re incredibly powerful, but unfortunately, they rarely live past sixty, no matter how strong they become. They all die on that day.”
Ye Lanshan murmured, “Trading lifespan for heavenly secrets? Just like the diviners.”
“Huh? What did you say, Ye Lanshan?” The Wu Jiao saw her lips move but didn’t catch the words.
“Oh, nothing.” Ye Lanshan didn’t want to tell him about the cultivation world; even if she did, he wouldn’t believe it.
“Someone’s coming. I’ll go back to the space.” The Wu Jiao was about to explain the Wu clan’s power further but sensed a faint aura outside and quickly slipped into the space.
“Young Master Mu, what brings you here today?” No sooner had the Wu Jiao entered the space than Mu Ziming walked in.
“What? Are you not welcoming me, Head of the Ye family?” Mu Ziming wore his usual perfect smile, walking over at a steady pace.
“You’re a valued guest of the Ye family. Why wouldn’t I welcome you? I’m just curious why a busy man like you would visit the Ye family.” Ye Lanshan didn’t want to offend the Mu family, their business partner.
“I’m here to discuss how to deal with the Sun family.” Mu Ziming stood before her, his eyes warm, devoid of any calculation or ambition. The faint moonlight made him seem pure.
“What if I said I don’t want to get involved anymore? Would you drag the Ye family into it?” Ye Lanshan avoided his gaze, sitting on a stone bench, thinking about how to use the Sun family to weaken the royal family.
“I know you don’t want to wade into these troubled waters, but can you or I decide that? Even if you don’t want to participate, the emperor will find a way to force you.” Mu Ziming wasn’t surprised by her stance; she’d made it clear from the start.
“Then are you content being the emperor’s shield?” Ye Lanshan ignored his persuasion and countered with her own question.
“What does it matter if I’m content or not? We’re just pawns in the emperor’s hands. Everything we do is within his expectations. What can we do about it?” Mu Ziming seemed to know something but dared not reveal it.
Chapter 103: The Holy Land with Followers Everywhere
“Is that so? But I think you’re just dragging me in to maximize your own gain.” Ye Lanshan sneered inwardly. Did you really think I couldn’t see your goal? Typical merchant, so cunning.
Mu Ziming’s perfect smile froze for a moment before recovering. “How can you say that? The murkier the water, the bigger the fish. Your Ye family can benefit too, can’t they?”
Ye Lanshan sighed. “Your Mu family is the richest in the Moon Kingdom, and you’re the only legitimate son. The future head position is yours. If you stood by and let them fight, your family’s top spot wouldn’t change. Whether you get involved or not doesn’t matter—you could even pick up the scraps when they’re both weakened. Why bother wading in and dragging my Ye family down with you?”
Mu Ziming spoke bluntly. “I know the Holy Land has always had designs on your Ye family. I also know the royal family has been friendly with you, but their goal is the same as the Holy Land’s. And I know they’ve never gotten along.”
“As a member of a noble family, I’ve been indoctrinated by the royal family and naturally hostile to the Holy Land. But the Holy Land’s influence is too vast. It has followers everywhere—not just in the Moon Kingdom, but in the Star Kingdom and the Night Kingdom too.”
“Even the Star Kingdom’s king is a follower of the Holy Land. Though the Night Kingdom has never taken a stance, our intelligence shows that while they’re powerful, they’re not at odds with the Holy Land. In fact, the Night Kingdom’s emperor seems somewhat afraid of them, so they naturally won’t oppose the Holy Land.”
Ye Lanshan asked coldly, “So what are you trying to say? That only the Moon Kingdom has the strength to oppose the Holy Land now, and we should help Yue Jinghong deal with the Sun family?”
“Exactly. To keep the Holy Land from targeting the Ye family for now, we need to create a stronger enemy to occupy them, leaving them no time for you. Then you can recuperate and secretly build your forces.” Mu Ziming’s tone was sincere, as if he truly had her best interests at heart.
“Why are you helping me? What’s your goal?” Ye Lanshan didn’t believe Mu Ziming was getting involved out of genuine goodwill.
“Because you once saved my life—no, not just mine, but everyone’s. During that rebellion, you were truly impressive and outstanding. And after the battle with Yue Jie’ao, I saw how loyal you are. I admire people like you and am willing to befriend you. I’m sincere with my friends, even to the point of going through fire and water for them. So helping you is only natural.” Mu Ziming’s tone was earnest now. He dropped his fake smile and looked at her seriously.
Ye Lanshan regarded him with a bit more respect. She had thought all merchants were profit-driven, seeing only gain, and that any friends they had were just business partners. But now, Mu Ziming’s offer of genuine friendship made her rethink her prejudice.
“I’ll need to think about this. It’s getting late. How about I give you my answer tomorrow morning?” Ye Lanshan glanced at the star-filled sky, a plan forming in her mind.
“Alright, I won’t disturb you further. I’ll take my leave.” Mu Ziming put on his perfect smile again and walked out with measured steps.
“Wearing the same fake mask every day to deal with people—aren’t you tired?” If there was one thing Ye Lanshan hated most about merchants, it was their constant, hypocritical smiles. She was sick of seeing them and couldn’t stand it.
Mu Ziming paused, a hint of helplessness in his eyes. He turned back. “It’s become a habit, a necessary survival skill in the business world.”
“When you talk to me, you don’t need to put on that fake smile. I’d rather you be genuine.” Ye Lanshan understood the cutthroat nature of business and his need for self-protection, but she didn’t want even her friends’ words to be false. Mu Ziming's eyes revealed a very complex emotion. After a few seconds, he softly replied, "Okay."
"You're quite skilled at attracting men, aren't you?" Yun Qingfeng had only been gone for a short while when he appeared in Ye Lanshan's courtyard.
"What are you doing here?" Ye Lanshan's eyes were full of vigilance. It couldn't be helped—after all, Yun Qingfeng was from the Holy Land. Even though he had helped her out earlier, who knew what he wanted this time?
"Don't be so tense. I'm just here to tell you that your method worked well. The side effects of the Dust-Avoiding Art have been effectively suppressed. So I've decided that for at least the next two weeks, I won't touch you, and naturally, I won't touch Futian and the others either."
"You'd better urge them to flee for their lives within these two weeks. If I run into them again after that, I won't show any mercy."
Yun Qingfeng stood with his back to Ye Lanshan, his voice clear and pure. Under the moonlight, he seemed like a true immortal, as if he might ride the wind and fly away at any moment.
"Alright, I understand." Even though Ye Lanshan knew Yun Qingfeng wasn't looking at her, she still gave him a serious reply.
"Then that's good." Yun Qingfeng, in a rather pretentious manner, flew off toward the moon.
Ye Lanshan no longer had the mood to admire the moon. She quickly returned to her room, pondering the path ahead.
...
"Ye Lanshan's charm is truly remarkable. Even Yun Qingfeng has been captivated by her. If she were to actually side with this enemy you hate so much, I'd love to know if you'd kill her." Mo Ran stood opposite Ye Yutian, a sinister smile on his face, as if stating something trivial.
"That's none of your concern. As long as you stay away from Ye Lanshan, your brother will be fine." Ye Yutian's eyes tightened for a moment but quickly returned to their icy state.
Mo Ran took a deep breath, the killing intent in his eyes gradually surfacing. "Do you really think I'm still afraid of your threats now? Since I dared to touch your people, I'm naturally not afraid of what you might do."
Chapter 104: Dou Jingtong's Hatred
"Feel free to try." Ye Yutian's voice was as cold as piercing ice, the only softness in his heart now hardened beyond measure.
"You don't actually think my brother still needs your medicine to survive, do you? The herbs to cure him are already in my hands. As soon as I find Sikong Kuang, I can wake my brother from his violent consciousness." Mo Ran had everything prepared now, so naturally, he was no longer under Ye Yutian's control.
At that moment, as if remembering something, his sinister smile deepened. In an extremely relaxed tone, he said, "But if my brother wakes up and finds out how his dear friend treated his younger brother, I wonder if he'll turn against you?"
Ye Yutian's gaze shifted from cold to deep, becoming extremely dangerous in the silent, slightly chilly night.
"Don't forget, your father hates your brother to the bone. Even if you cure him now, so what?"
"Until you gain absolute control of the Demon Sect, don't try to negotiate with me."
Ye Yutian merely warned Mo Ran, then with a flick of his sleeve, vanished into the ink-black night.
"Father, huh? Tsk, it's about time to make a move." Mo Ran reached out as if to catch something, but all he grasped was the cold moonlight. The rustling leaves around him seemed to mock his audacity in daring to oppose the old sect leader.
But Mo Ran merely deepened his sinister smile, hiding his true self, and slowly walked along the moonlit path, disappearing step by step into the dark night.
...
"Father, are you satisfied with our plan this time?" In the Sun residence, Sun Chenbo stood respectfully below, not daring to lift his head.
But the Sun family head seated in the main position had a kindly face like a Maitreya Buddha, yet everyone seemed afraid of him. In the vast hall, no one dared to breathe loudly.
"Satisfied, of course I'm satisfied. So satisfied that I couldn't help but intervene." His voice was very calm, so calm that one couldn't tell if he was pleased or angry.
Sun Chenbo was startled, lowering his head even further, trying to keep his voice from trembling as he asked, "May I ask where my plan went wrong? I hope Father can guide me so I can correct it in the future."
"Do you know that the Mu family has long known of our ambitions, and now the Ye family is watching from the sidelines like a tiger eyeing its prey?" His voice finally shifted from calm to authoritative.
"How... how is that possible? Could there be a mole in our family?" Sun Chenbo couldn't believe that his foolproof plan had been discovered by the Mu family in advance.
"If it weren't for the Mu family valuing profit and not wanting to get involved, our Sun family would already be prisoners. You always do things with so many loopholes. How can you inherit my position in the future?" The Sun family head's tone carried a strong sense of frustration.
"I know I was wrong. I will be more careful with everything in the future." Sun Chenbo swallowed his hatred for the traitor and bowed to his father.
The family head let out a heavy sigh and waved his hand to dismiss everyone.
After leaving the hall, Sun Chenbo hurried to Dou Jingtong's residence.
"Brother Dou, Brother Dou, this is urgent. I really need your help." Before he even reached Dou Jingtong's door, his voice had already entered.
"What is it? Speak." Dou Jingtong's voice was hoarse, his complexion extremely poor, as if he had been seriously ill with no one to care for him.
Sun Chenbo's words got stuck in his throat. Instead, he took out some silver from his pocket and placed it on the table. "If you're not feeling well, buy some pills. Don't drag it out. I'll come back when you're better. Farewell."
Dou Jingtong forced a smile and saw him to the door, but inside, a voice kept screaming, "Kill him, kill him now."
He knew that Yi Shui's death had nothing to do with Sun Chenbo, but he couldn't help it. He couldn't help but hate everyone who had contributed to Yi Shui's death.
If Sun Chenbo hadn't asked him for advice, he wouldn't have gone to Dream Red Pavilion to negotiate with the owner. If he hadn't gone to negotiate, he wouldn't have sent Yi Shui because of the owner's arrogance. If he hadn't sent Yi Shui, Yi Shui wouldn't have died.
"If you have any difficulties, you must tell me. I'll help you as much as I can." In his chaotic mind, he vaguely heard Sun Chenbo's somewhat concerned words. He nodded randomly, as if agreeing.
When he returned to his room, he realized what Sun Chenbo had just said. A wave of regret washed over him. If he had used this opportunity to make Sun Chenbo kill the owner of Dream Red Pavilion, wouldn't he have avenged Yi Shui by now?
Sigh! Sun Chenbo walked down the busy street, looking up at the sky. He shielded his eyes from the glaring sun with his right hand and squinted, muttering to himself, "Dou Jingtong is sick now, so naturally he can't come up with any better ideas. It seems I'll have to implement the only plan I have."
"The Empress wants you to enter the palace secretly." Someone accidentally bumped into him and whispered in his ear.
Sun Chenbo naturally wouldn't believe it immediately. It wasn't until that person showed him a token that he followed him to the palace with some skepticism.
"Aunt, what happened? Why did you summon me so urgently?" As soon as Sun Chenbo arrived at the palace, he saw the Empress holding her forehead as if she had a headache. Her complexion looked very tired, almost as haggard as Dou Jingtong's.
"I called you here to tell you that the Emperor has discovered our plan to rebel. He has already made preparations in secret, waiting for us to walk into the trap."
"So go back and tell the family head immediately not to act rashly for now. Wait until the Emperor's suspicions fade." The Empress rubbed her temples, her voice extremely weary, even a little breathless.
Sun Chenbo pursed his lips and said with concern, "Aunt, rest assured. I will report everything to Father truthfully. You must take care of yourself in the palace."
"Mm, I know. With me in the palace, you can all rest assured." The Empress saw his concern and forced a smile in response.
"The Emperor has arrived!" The announcement of the Emperor's arrival threw both of them into panic. They hadn't expected the Emperor to come at this time.
What to do? If the Emperor caught them, the charge of rebellion would be even more solid. Surely he wouldn't show any mercy.
Just as the Empress was panicking, one of her maids quietly tugged at her sleeve and whispered a suggestion, "Since there's nowhere to hide, why not let the young master put on eunuch's robes and blend in for now?"
With no time to think, the Empress immediately decided, "Alright, do as you say."
Chapter 105: Taking the Initiative
"Your concubine greets the Emperor." The Empress heard the Emperor's footsteps getting closer, but Sun Chenbo had only just entered the room. Her heart raced with anxiety. Suppressing her discomfort, she barely managed to bow to the Emperor, leaning into him to buy some time.
"The Empress's health seems to be worsening. Has the daily toil of managing the harem worn you out?"
"How about letting Consort Li handle the harem affairs for now? Once you recover, you can take over again?" Yue Jie'ao supported the Empress, appearing gentle, but only she knew how rough his movements were.
The eunuch Xiao Li standing beside the Emperor felt an urge to eliminate the Emperor first.
The Empress smiled weakly, struggling to free herself from the Emperor's grasp, forcing her body to stand upright. "Your concubine merely has a cold. It's a minor ailment, nothing serious. A bowl of medicine and a good night's sleep will cure it. The harem affairs are not many, so there's no need to trouble Consort Li with them."
"With such a pale complexion, how can it be a minor illness? And you servants, how do you do your work? You can't even take care of the Empress properly. Take them all away!" Truly, serving the Emperor is like serving a tiger. One moment he's gentle, the next he's furious.
"Since you're unwell, don't stand outside. If the wind makes it worse, I'll be worried. Come, let's go inside." After his outburst, the Emperor softened again. He supported the Empress's back with one hand and held her hand with the other, slowly leading her inside.
The Empress followed his steps obediently. Though she appeared calm on the surface, inwardly she was panicking. She feared that Sun Chenbo hadn't changed clothes in time, or that he might fumble and give himself away.
"Your servant greets the Emperor." Fortunately, Sun Chenbo had already put on the eunuch's robes and was mimicking a eunuch quite convincingly.
"What are you doing here?" The Emperor's authoritative voice rang out, as if he was about to get angry again.
"Your Majesty, this servant saw that the Empress seemed unwell, as if she had caught a cold. I thought of using a folk remedy—burning incense—to alleviate her discomfort." Sun Chenbo kept his head low, afraid the Emperor might recognize him.
"Hmm, you may go." The Emperor smelled the fragrance filling the room and didn't suspect anything.
"Yes." Sun Chenbo walked quickly toward the door, imitating a eunuch's manner.
"Wait." Just as Sun Chenbo stepped over the threshold, the Emperor suddenly turned back.
The Empress's heart skipped a beat, but she showed nothing on her face.
"Your Majesty, do you have further instructions?" Sun Chenbo immediately turned around, bending his entire body in a fawning posture.
"This incense smells wonderful. Where did you get it? Send some to my palace another day." So it was just about the incense. Sun Chenbo's tightly clenched hands relaxed slightly.
"Yes." With a nervous heart, he didn't relax until he had left the palace.
Walking through the bustling streets, he kept thinking about what his aunt had said: "The Emperor has discovered our plan to rebel. He has already made preparations in secret, waiting for us to walk into the trap."
The more he thought about it, the more uneasy he became. Then he suddenly remembered that today his father was supposed to meet with General Feng to discuss the rebellion. He immediately muttered, "Oh no."
"What happened? Why are you so flustered? We have a guest. What kind of behavior is this?" Sun Chenbo had rushed back to the Sun residence as fast as he could, intending to tell his father what his aunt had said, but he hadn't expected General Feng to be there.
"It's fine. Young people should have some vitality." General Feng laughed heartily, not minding Sun Chenbo's recklessness.
"Haha, indeed." The Sun family head turned to Sun Chenbo and said gently, "You may go now. Your Uncle Feng and I have more to discuss."
With an outsider present, Sun Chenbo naturally wouldn't speak of the matter openly. So he kept the secret to himself and returned to his own courtyard.
...
"So many forces have infiltrated the capital, yet it remains so calm. It's unsettling." Ye Lanshan sat by the chessboard, placing a white stone.
"The calm before the storm. It seems we should use this time to prepare thoroughly." Mu Ziming picked up a black stone and placed it next to the white one.
"You could easily avoid this mess. Why drag me into it?" Ye Lanshan scanned the board, as if contemplating where to place her next stone.
"You don't need me to tell you that most of these forces are targeting you. At the center of the storm, how could you possibly stay clean?" Mu Ziming casually placed another black stone.
"I want to know, if the Holy Land goes all out against the Ye family, would you help me?" Ye Lanshan placed a white stone right after the black one.
"Of course. Though we merchants value profit, we also value loyalty. Especially when it comes to a life-saving debt of gratitude, I would never refuse." Mu Ziming answered without a moment's hesitation.
"I hope you mean what you say." Ye Lanshan placed the last white stone on the board, a smile curling at the corner of her mouth. "You lost."
"The Ye family head's chess skills are truly exceptional. I've lost every game against you all night." Mu Ziming didn't seem upset by his loss, as if he didn't care about winning or losing.
"In truth, the Sun family is nothing to fear. Even if we don't intervene, the royal family will win, and they'll clean out a batch of parasites in the process." Ye Lanshan stood up, thinking about everything she had recently uncovered.
"True, but the royal family currently lacks a blade—a blade to uproot the Sun family completely." Mu Ziming put away the chess set.
"So you want me to be that blade? You take all the benefits in the shadows, while my Ye family is pushed to the forefront, bearing all the pressure from the Sun family."
"Tsk, tsk. What a brilliant plan." Ye Lanshan looked at him with a knowing smile, as if she had seen through his thoughts.
Mu Ziming let out a long sigh. "Nothing escapes you. Yes, I do want you to be that blade, but I never intended to push you into the spotlight."
"Since that's the case, then regarding the Sun family's rebellion, you must follow my lead." Ye Lanshan had said all this just to gain the upper hand. After all, it was better to jump into the water willingly than to be dragged in.
Mu Ziming thought seriously for a moment before asking, "Will the Mu family's power suffer any losses?"
Chapter 106: Scheming
"If you trust me, then naturally there will be no losses. If you don't, I can't guarantee what might happen to the Mu family." Ye Lanshan looked calm and composed, as if everything was under her control.
Earlier, she had been extremely reluctant to get involved, but now she appeared so strategic. It was hard to fathom what she was thinking.
Mu Ziming had been in the business world for many years. Though he lacked his father's experience and ruthlessness, he was quite tactful and skilled at reading people. Yet now, he couldn't figure her out, nor could he discern any joy or anger from her expression.
He had talked with her for so long, seemingly successfully persuading her to align with him. But in reality, it felt like this was all part of her plan—to minimize her own losses while maximizing her gains.
After analyzing the current situation and Ye Lanshan's personality traits, he nodded. "Alright, I agree. But I have one condition."
"Speak." Ye Lanshan was feeling a bit drowsy, and even her cold "speak" came out with a soft, lazy tone.
Mu Ziming said gently, "I want half of the Sun family's private treasury, and their Dragon Scale Blood Coral as well."
When Ye Lanshan heard this, her drowsiness vanished instantly. She silently calculated the benefits she could gain and let out a cold laugh. "Your lion's mouth is wide open. Aren't you afraid of choking?"
Mu Ziming's smile remained unchanged. "The Ye family head is mistaken. Even if I take half the treasury and the Dragon Scale Blood Coral, the remaining half and other items are still yours, aren't they?"
"Don't think I don't know. The Ministry of Justice and the Ministry of Punishments are both under your Mu family's control. Even if I get involved in this matter, I'd only be splitting the spoils with the three of you." Ye Lanshan's eyes narrowed slightly, a trace of killing intent silently spreading through the air.
In the end, Mu Ziming compromised, agreeing to give up another thirty percent of the treasury's wealth.
Only then did Ye Lanshan feel satisfied. She thought carefully and said, "Tomorrow at the Hour of the Boar, go to Dream Red Pavilion and find the owner. She will tell you all the plans, including some intelligence. Don't worry, when it's time for the Ye family to act, we will." Although everyone had already gone to bed by the Hour of the Boar, that was likely the busiest time for the brothel. In this vast imperial capital, who didn't know I was a man of integrity? Making me go to a brothel at that hour would ruin my lifelong reputation.
Mu Ziming hesitated at this: "Are you sure it's the Hour of the Boar at Dream Red Pavilion?"
Ye Lanshan naturally understood his concerns, but only at that time could they infiltrate the Sun residence and the imperial palace. After all, a windy, moonless night was perfect for murder—the ideal time to get things done.
Ye Lanshan pulled a mask from her spatial storage and tossed it to Mu Ziming, adding, "If you're afraid someone will recognize you, put on the mask. And change your clothes too—wearing white in the dead of night is far too conspicuous, don't you think?"
"Fine. In that case, I'll take my leave." Mu Ziming caught the mask, a glint of understanding flashing in his eyes. He resumed his usual refined and elegant demeanor and returned to the Mu residence.
"Is the show finally about to begin?" She murmured, looking at her hands. "I really hate this version of myself—so weak that I have to rely on others to get things done."
After Mu Ziming had gone far enough, Ye Lanshan dipped a brush in ink and used spiritual power to draw very strange patterns on a piece of yellow paper. This was a listening talisman.
In her past life, she had been far too powerful to bother with such childish things as listening talismans, so she had never prepared any. But now, in this foreign world, her own strength was still far too weak. To take down the Sun family in one fell swoop, these listening talismans would certainly come in handy, so she had no choice but to draw them now.
She had originally wanted to draw several more listening talismans, but considering she didn't have much talisman paper left for making talismans, she only made two or three. Though few, they would be enough to deal with the Sun family.
At the Hour of the Boar, all was still. Heaven and earth were immersed in darkness, except for one place that was extremely lively—Dream Red Pavilion, where most men drowned their sorrows in pleasure.
"Quite lively indeed." Mu Ziming muttered softly under his mask, then stepped into the building.
"You must be Young Master Mu. Please follow me upstairs. Master Shan is waiting for you in the room." Qingdai had been guarding the entrance ever since Ye Lanshan came by in the afternoon, whispered a few words to her, and showed her a picture. She had been loitering around the entrance ever since, and now she had finally waited for him.
"Mm, thank you for guiding me, Miss Qing." Mu Ziming wore his familiar warm and refined smile.
"It's my duty. No need to thank me." Qingdai casually glanced at him. Though his entire face was hidden beneath the mask, the warmth in his eyes still sent a jolt through her.
She hastily averted her gaze, quickly opened Ye Lanshan's door, and pushed Mu Ziming inside.
"Master Shan, we meet again." Mu Ziming's eyes were full of curiosity. Indeed, by now he had begun to suspect Shan Luo's identity, because he had found no connection between Ye Lanshan and Shan Luo.
"You're here. Have a seat." Ye Lanshan had been dozing in her chair, but at the faint sound at the door, she immediately woke up.
Before Ye Lanshan could say anything, Mu Ziming struck first: "May I ask if the head of the Ye family has informed you of her plan? How exactly am I supposed to cooperate with you?"
Ye Lanshan smiled mysteriously, took out the few listening talismans she had drawn earlier from her spatial storage, and replied, "On a windy, moonless night perfect for murder, this is the best time to work. Miss Ye asked me to tell you to fill these talismans with profound energy and hide them in the Empress's bedchamber and the Sun family head's residence."
"What are these?" Mu Ziming reached out and took the talismans, curiously feeling them all over, but still couldn't figure them out.
Seeing his puzzled expression, Ye Lanshan explained, "These are listening talismans. They can record everyone's voices."
Mu Ziming's eyes flickered, and he immediately understood Ye Lanshan's meaning: "Tell the head of the Ye family that I'll take care of this matter. But please ask her not to forget our agreement."
Ye Lanshan replied coldly, "I understand."
...
In a desolate forest, two figures stood facing each other.
One wore white robes, ethereal and otherworldly, exuding a sense of holiness. The other wore black, his aura cold and fierce, as terrifying as an Asura.
The one in white spoke in a most sacred tone: "Ye Yutian, I never thought you'd actually have the skill to break the voodoo poison. But even if you have, so what? Our Sacred Ground could control you once, and we can certainly control you again."
Chapter 107: Forest Fight
"You? Do you really think a mere Sacred Son of a minor Sacred Ground can control me? You're far too arrogant." Ye Yutian was surrounded by killing intent and pressure.
"Arrogant? Someone with damaged meridians who can only use seventy percent of his strength—what right do you have to call me arrogant? Don't forget, I'm ranked first on the Genius List." Yun Qingfeng produced a crystalline sword, his eyes practically overflowing with smugness.
Ye Yutian let out a disdainful snort. A purple spear appeared in his hand, with faint flashes of lightning flickering within it.
"Even with damaged meridians, dealing with you is more than enough." Ye Yutian already hated the Sacred Ground deeply, and now Yun Qingfeng dared to covet Ye Lanshan—how could he tolerate that?
Though he wasn't entirely sure what his feelings for Ye Lanshan were, after struggling for many days without being able to shake them off, he had finally given up resisting. Now that he had figured things out, he absolutely would not allow anyone to lay a hand on Ye Lanshan.
"Do you know what I hate most about you? It's that arrogance of yours, acting like nothing in the world matters." Yun Qingfeng gently stroked his sword, then his eyes suddenly sharpened. His speed was like the wind as he thrust toward Ye Yutian.
Ye Yutian casually placed his spear across his chest, blocking the downward slash.
"Light Sacred Bird." Just as Ye Yutian blocked that strike, Yun Qingfeng instantly condensed a profound technique and hurled it at the unprepared Ye Yutian.
"Thunder Flash." While locking blades with Yun Qingfeng, Ye Yutian condensed another technique to divert the Light Sacred Bird aside.
Taking advantage of the force from the block, Yun Qingfeng leaped back several meters, pointing his sword at Ye Yutian as he condensed "Ten Thousand Light Swords."
"Thunder and Lightning." Taking advantage of the distance Yun Qingfeng had created, Ye Yutian raised his arm, pointing the spear straight at the sky, summoning vast swaths of lightning.
"Let's see whose is faster—my sword or your lightning." Yun Qingfeng glanced at the terrifying lightning filling the entire sky without looking particularly worried. Just as Ye Yutian had said, this man was truly arrogant.
Not even bothering to take the lightning covering the sky seriously—what gave him the confidence to think his sword would be faster than lightning?
A strong wind howled, and the lightning overhead crackled. Yet Yun Qingfeng's sword remained motionless.
Just as the lightning was about to strike, Yun Qingfeng still only had his sword pointed at Ye Yutian.
But this wasn't because Yun Qingfeng had a change of heart and stopped opposing Ye Yutian. Rather, his entire body was now frozen, unable to move. Even his profound energy was unusable. He was simply stuck there, waiting for the lightning to fall.
"You... what did you do to me? Why can't I move? Ye Yutian, I never thought you'd resort to such despicable means." Yun Qingfeng had been somewhat calm before, but now he was completely panicked.
"I did it. And it's not just you—he can't move either." Ye Lanshan's voice suddenly rang out from the air, startling them both.
Hearing her voice, Yun Qingfeng asked uncertainly, "Ye Lanshan? What are you doing here?"
"This is the territory of the Moon Kingdom. I can go wherever I please. What business is it of yours?" Ye Lanshan had originally come out for a walk after finishing her discussion with Mu Ziming, but she hadn't expected to run into the two of them here. Since that was the case, not taking the opportunity for revenge would be a disservice to herself.
"What despicable trick have you used? Release me at once, or neither you nor Futian will get away." Yun Qingfeng was no longer calm. Though he didn't think much of Ye Lanshan, Ye Yutian was still here. If the two of them joined forces, it was hard to say who would win.
"Do you take me for a fool? Even if I released you, you probably wouldn't let me go." Ye Lanshan's voice carried a hint of a mature woman's charm, as if she had finally stopped maintaining her ethereal image.
"Are you determined to oppose me to the end? How disappointing. And here I thought I helped you last time. If you keep being so ungrateful, don't blame me for breaking my promise." Though Yun Qingfeng was furious enough to climb the walls, he still maintained the dignity of a Sacred Son.
Before Ye Lanshan could react, Yun Qingfeng suddenly unleashed "Ten Thousand Light Swords," catching her off guard.
"Ten-Sided Fire Shield." Ye Lanshan immediately flew toward Ye Yutian, trying to use him to block Yun Qingfeng's attack.
At that moment, Ye Yutian, who had been silent with a dark expression, also moved. "Thunder and Lightning" shot toward Yun Qingfeng at incredible speed, as if it would tear him apart in the next second.
Taking advantage of their fight, Ye Lanshan slipped out of the battle circle. Standing behind a tree, she stared blankly at her palm, thinking, "Still too weak, huh? After all these days of intense training, my immobilization talisman can only control them for this short a time?"
"How is this possible? You've already advanced to the eighth rank of Profound God General. Your strength wasn't this powerful just a moment ago." Yun Qingfeng's usually calm face cracked slightly, but he still tried to maintain his composure, quickly returning to his usual serene expression.
"I told you long ago that you're no match for me. You just wouldn't believe it." Ye Yutian looked at Yun Qingfeng with exasperation. His intelligence used to be so high—why had he become so foolish lately? It seemed the Sacred Ground really was the best place to turn people into useless wastes.
Yun Qingfeng looked at Ye Yutian's expressionless face, feeling as if he were being mocked. Meanwhile, Ye Lanshan was hiding behind a tree, arms crossed, enjoying the show with great amusement. His breathing quickened.
"Yun Qingfeng, what are you doing here?" Ye Fenlan had originally been searching for Futian's whereabouts. Passing by and hearing a familiar voice, he decided to check it out. When he arrived, he saw Yun Qingfeng and Ye Yutian facing off.
"Elder Ye, long time no see." Ye Lanshan greeted Ye Fenlan with a smile.
"Ye Lanshan? What a stroke of luck—I searched high and low for you, and here you are. Now that Ye Luotian isn't around, let's see who can protect you." Ye Fenlan's attention had been entirely on Ye Yutian and Yun Qingfeng, so he hadn't noticed Ye Lanshan's presence.
Yun Qingfeng glanced at Ye Fenlan, feeling a bit more at ease. Two against two—no matter what, he could definitely reinsert the voodoo worm into Ye Yutian's body.
Yun Qingfeng's calculations were perfect. Unfortunately, he didn't know that Ye Lanshan had many ways to deal with voodoo worms. Though she wasn't an expert in voodoo arts, she had some knowledge of them.
"Senior Ye, don't you think you're speaking too soon? What makes you so confident you can subdue me?" Ye Lanshan was already speechless at the Sacred Ground's inexplicable confidence. She had no idea where they got it from.
"Hmph, a mere junior like you dares to speak so arrogantly. As your elder, if I don't teach you a proper lesson, it would be truly inexcusable." Ye Fenlan put on the airs of an elder disciplining a junior, using this as an excuse to give Ye Lanshan a good thrashing.
Chapter 108: Wood Ghost Beast
"Teach me a lesson? Do you even have the right? I only address you as 'elder' out of courtesy because you're much older than me. Strictly speaking, you're a traitor to the Ye family. As the head of the Ye family, even killing you would be justified."
Ye Lanshan stood there, cool and aloof, radiating contempt for Ye Fenlan.
"You... you insolent brat! I'll teach you a lesson today if it's the last thing I do!" Ye Fenlan's face turned green with rage. His hand trembling as he pointed at Ye Lanshan, he moved toward her like the wind.
"Heh." Ye Lanshan quickly retreated, simultaneously tossing an immobilization talisman onto Ye Fenlan.
For an instant, Ye Fenlan's body went completely stiff, unable to move. Due to inertia, he fell to the ground in an extremely awkward position, his face covered in dust.
"What have you done? What kind of evil sorcery is this? The Sacred Lord was right—you really are a calamity that will bring disaster to the world." Ye Fenlan's voice was muffled with his face pressed against the ground, making it sound ridiculous.
"Evil sorcery? No, no, no—this is divine magic. A calamity? Do I look like a calamity to you? With a face like mine, how could I possibly belong to a calamity?" Ye Lanshan walked up to him, using a dagger to lift his chin. Her bright, radiant smile made her look like a pure, flawless elf who had strayed into the mortal world.
"You really are narcissistic." Yun Qingfeng, while fighting Ye Yutian, heard her praising her own appearance and immediately revised his opinion of her.
"Narcissistic? Where does that come from? I don't recall ever saying anything particularly narcissistic. Where did you get that conclusion? If anyone's narcissistic, it's your Sacred Ground." Ye Lanshan rolled her eyes at Yun Qingfeng's remark.
"Hmph." Hearing her words, Yun Qingfeng's attacks became noticeably more severe, as if trying to prove that he truly had strength and wasn't just arrogant.
Suddenly, Ye Lanshan's expression turned serious. She quickly retreated and condensed a "Ten-Sided Fire Shield" for protection.
"Oink, oink." A pig-like sound rang out from deep in the forest. A pair of幽绿色 eyes blinked, adding an extra layer of terror to the already silent space.
A night breeze blew, rustling the leaves. Ye Lanshan could no longer spare any attention for Ye Fenlan. She stared warily at the幽绿色 eyes deep in the forest.
Ye Fenlan stared ahead for a moment, then said dismissively, "Just a mere fifth-rank magical beast, and it scares you this much? I thought you were actually impressive."
"Are you sure there's only one fifth-rank magical beast?" Ye Lanshan's face was serious and tense, all traces of playfulness gone.
"Isn't it just one..." Before he could finish, several more pairs of eyes emerged from the depths of the forest.
Ye Fenlan broke out in a cold sweat. "Damn it, it's Wood Ghost Beasts. We need to get out of here now. If they get a hold of us, we're in trouble. Ye Lanshan, hurry up and undo this sorcery!"
Ye Lanshan gave him a thoughtful look. "If I leave you here, you might draw their attention and keep them from chasing us. Either way, we're enemies. What difference does it make if I don't release you?"
"You... ugh!" Ye Fenlan was so anxious he spat blood, but this actually freed him from the talisman. He scrambled to his feet, intending to punch Ye Lanshan and throw her in front of the Wood Ghost Beasts.
But just as he threw his punch, Ye Lanshan dodged it. Instead, he stumbled forward a few steps from the force.
"Looks like the people from your Sacred Ground aren't all that impressive. In this moment of danger, Yun Qingfeng abandoned you and fled on his own." Ye Lanshan turned to look at Ye Yutian, only to find that both he and Yun Qingfeng had disappeared.
"Hmph, instead of mocking me, you'd better think about how to survive the Wood Ghost Beasts' jaws." Taking advantage of Ye Lanshan's distraction, Ye Fenlan shoved her toward the Wood Ghost Beasts.
Ye Lanshan lost her balance and nearly fell right onto the Wood Ghost Beast's mouth.
"Oink, oink." The stench from the Wood Ghost Beast's mouth nearly made Ye Lanshan pass out.
Fighting back her nausea, Ye Lanshan quickly ran to the side.
But before she could get far, another Wood Ghost Beast blocked her path.
They formed a circle, tightly surrounding Ye Lanshan.
Ye Lanshan looked at the six Wood Ghost Beasts, thinking of a countermeasure. Six in total. The one surrounding me from the north looks slightly fiercer than the others. It seems to be the leader.
Capture the leader first, and the rest will be no problem.
Ye Lanshan immediately pulled out her dagger and struck at the Wood Ghost Beast. But to her surprise, the beast's skull was as hard as iron. With a "clang," Ye Lanshan's hand went numb from the impact.
This action thoroughly enraged the Wood Ghost Beasts. They let out a loud roar and charged at her together.
But at this moment, Ye Lanshan was not panicked at all. In fact, her eyes lit up slightly, thinking this was a good opportunity. She leaped up and landed on a tree branch nearby, while the six beasts below crashed into each other with a "bang."
Taking advantage of their daze, Ye Lanshan jumped down from above, driving her dagger straight at the leader's neck.
I refuse to believe your neck is as hard as your head.
Unfortunately, she failed again. Fortunately, this dagger was forged from leftover pieces of thousand-year profound iron in her past life, so it wasn't that fragile. An ordinary dagger would have shattered by now.
The Wood Ghost Beast had clearly recovered by now. It roared loudly at Ye Lanshan.
Ye Lanshan covered her nose and jumped back onto the tree branch.
But the Wood Ghost Beasts had already lined up, gathering their strength to ram the tree.
Within a minute, they had snapped the tree in half.
Ye Lanshan leaped to another tree. One of the Wood Ghost Beasts immediately ran over to ram it, but the leader let out a roar, as if giving an order. The beast immediately stopped and obediently sat behind him.
Oh, so these Wood Ghost Beasts are quite intelligent. They realized that even if they broke the tree, they couldn't catch me, so they stopped.
Before Ye Lanshan could relax, the Wood Ghost Beasts below began spitting vines from their mouths, trying to bind her.
Ye Lanshan immediately used her dagger to block, but the dagger couldn't cut the vines. With no other choice, she condensed a fire dagger to fend off the vines' attacks.
Logically, Ye Lanshan shouldn't have been able to withstand the vines. But since she was using Red Lotus Karmic Fire, each strike was effective.
However, the Wood Ghost Beasts below seemed tireless, attacking with vines relentlessly. Before long, Ye Lanshan was already panting heavily. No, I can't keep this up any longer. I need to find a way to kill them all. Ye Lanshan finally took out the dagger she had contracted with from her space, filled it with profound energy, and stabbed downward with all her strength.
Chapter 109: Wood Ghost Beasts 2
As expected, this dagger was different. Carrying an ancient aura, it plunged straight into the Wood Ghost Beast's head. The beast let out a frenzied roar, thrashing its head wildly, nearly throwing Ye Lanshan off.
Ye Lanshan gripped the dagger tightly, her body swaying with the beast's movements.
How could this beast's vitality be so tenacious? The dagger had already pierced through its head, yet it still had this much strength.
Ye Lanshan struggled to climb onto its back, but its violent shaking made it impossible for her to muster any strength.
The other Wood Ghost Beasts were waiting for an opportunity to swallow her whole, but they dared not approach due to the pressure of their leader.
During the shaking, Ye Lanshan caught sight of those restless Wood Ghost Beasts. Alarms blared in her mind, and she immediately summoned the Flame Tiger.
"Why are there so many Wood Ghost Beasts? This is it, we're doomed." The Flame Tiger appeared dumbfounded within the Wood Ghost Beasts' line of sight.
"Fire counters wood, and you're a fifth-rank magical beast too. I don't expect you to beat them, but at least hold them off for a while." Though Ye Lanshan was being flung through the air, her words came out clearly.
"Master, if it were any other beast, I could hold out, but against Wood Ghost Beasts, I really can't last long. How did you even provoke them? They're notoriously troublesome."
After an immense effort, Ye Lanshan finally pulled out the dagger, flipped backward a few times, and landed steadily on the ground.
"Are Wood Ghost Beasts really that terrifying? Not only do humans fear them, but even beasts are afraid of them."
Ye Lanshan looked at the Wood Ghost Beast leader, now weakened and collapsed on the ground, and found it no different from other fifth-rank beasts.
Seeing Ye Lanshan land safely, the Flame Tiger hurried behind her to explain: "It's not that they're incredibly powerful, but they almost always appear in pairs, and their vitality is extremely tenacious. No beast can outlast them. Once they set their sights on prey, it's a fight to the death."
"So unless it's a divine beast, no magical beast dares to provoke them."
"A fight to the death? Looks like we can't shake them off." Ye Lanshan flicked the dagger in her hand, and a bell-like sound rang out, carrying an ancient fragrance.
The Flame Tiger nodded mournfully, silently praying that some powerful person would come to rescue Ye Lanshan in a heroic act. If that happened, he wouldn't have to die either.
At this point, the Flame Tiger had really integrated into human society, even using phrases like "hero saves beauty."
But on this dark, windy night, who would come to this godforsaken place? The Flame Tiger's hopes were destined to fail.
Ye Lanshan stared solemnly at the Wood Ghost Beasts, not expecting them to be so troublesome. But so what? As a genius, how could she lose to a few small beasts?
She wrapped Red Lotus Karmic Fire around the dagger and slashed straight at the weakened Wood Ghost Beast leader. But she miscalculated—the beast's weakness was feigned, waiting for her to take the bait.
However, Ye Lanshan's reflexes were no joke. She twisted her body at an impossible angle mid-air, dodging the beast's attack.
How is this possible? I already pierced its head. How can it still attack me with such vigor?
Ye Lanshan thought that even with their strong vitality, hitting a vital spot would weaken them significantly. Plus, the dagger drained blood. After being shaken for so long, its blood should have been mostly drained. Yet it looked as if it hadn't been stabbed at all.
Fearing the Flame Tiger couldn't handle the other Wood Ghost Beasts, Ye Lanshan summoned the Flood Dragon. With the Flame Tiger and Flood Dragon's help, the other beasts couldn't attack her for now, giving her time to defeat the leader.
Ye Lanshan stood on the ground, facing it, running countless strategies through her mind.
Since stabbing its head didn't work, the head must not be its weak point. Where is its weak point?
Before Ye Lanshan could figure it out, the Wood Ghost Beast attacked first. She immediately dodged to the side.
Forget it, I'll just try everything. I'll stab every part of its body until I find its weak point. With a fierce look, Ye Lanshan raised the dagger and, as it charged, stabbed it in the neck.
But this time, luck wasn't on her side. The moment the dagger pierced its neck, the vines it spat out tightly bound her.
The vines tightened, cutting into her skin, making it hard to breathe.
Gradually, her hand holding the dagger lost strength, nearly letting go.
No, I can't let this continue. I need to break these vines. In her daze, Ye Lanshan used her will to pull the dagger out of the Wood Ghost Beast's neck.
She slashed the dagger across herself, and the suffocating feeling vanished instantly. She greedily gasped for air.
Ye Lanshan wanted to take a pill from her space to heal herself, but embarrassingly realized she had none left.
The Wood Ghost Beast outside spat out more vines to entangle her. Ye Lanshan, ignoring the lack of pills, quickly used the dagger to block the vines.
"Slaughter Wings" "Flying Fire Meteor" "Blazing Wildfire"
Ye Lanshan unleashed all her profound techniques at once, but the Wood Ghost Beast only suffered minor scratches, barely affected.
Ye Lanshan gripped the dagger tightly, muttering to herself: "How is this possible? Even a fifth-rank beast, hit by such a fierce attack, should be dead or crippled. Why is it completely unharmed?"
"Roar!" A deafening roar shook the sky, and a powerful pressure radiated toward the Wood Ghost Beasts. The Flood Dragon stopped hiding its strength, swiftly swallowing the remaining beasts into its mouth, chewing fiercely as if to vent its anger before swallowing.
But at that moment, dark clouds gathered rapidly in the sky, crackling with purple lightning.
"Quick, let me back into the space! The laws of heaven have sensed my presence. Only the space can shield me." The Flood Dragon looked at the swiftly approaching clouds, speaking urgently to Ye Lanshan.
Ye Lanshan glanced at the purple lightning above and immediately sent the Flood Dragon and Flame Tiger back into her space.
The dark clouds lingered for a while but, unable to find their target, reluctantly dispersed.
Ye Lanshan also entered her space, sensing many presences rushing toward her. To avoid exposure, she had to hide.
Chapter 110: Divine Beast Appears
"Strange, I clearly sensed a fluctuation here. Where did it go?" A young man arrived first, surveying the brutal scene around him. Though the area was ravaged and bloodstained, there was no one—not even a corpse.
"Young friend, care to make an acquaintance?" Patriarch Sun arrived with a hearty laugh.
"Patriarch Sun, your family already has enough talents. Why not let this one go to me?" A voice came from afar just as Patriarch Sun finished speaking.
Patriarch Sun's expression stiffened. "That's not how it works. One can never have too many talents."
"That depends on the kind of talent." The voice drew closer, revealing its owner's face.
"Ah, Patriarch Wood. You're right, but your family probably doesn't need talents like this." Though the Sun and Wood families weren't at odds, their relationship was as cold as ice.
"Annoying." The young man ignored both elders and turned to walk deeper into the forest. Since the beast had vanished, there was no reason to stay.
"Young friend, we've been debating for you, and you just walk away? That's rather rude." Patriarch Sun subtly released his pressure, trying to force the man to submit.
"How dare you. You've already offended me, and I let it slide. Now you push further." The young man's eyes flashed green, and two beams of light shot straight at their hearts.
Patriarch Wood and Patriarch Sun casually deflected the beams.
"Young friend, I advise you not to be too arrogant, or you won't know how you died." Patriarch Sun, humiliated, wore a grim expression.
But the young man didn't take his threat seriously. "I'll give you the same advice: don't be too cocky before you know someone's strength."
"Wind Arrow." Countless arrows formed from profound energy flew at them, so dense they could only defend and retreat.
Though a simple technique, it left them helpless.
"I, Wood, have failed to recognize a true master. Please forgive my ignorance." Amid the barrage of arrows, Patriarch Wood suddenly apologized.
"Hmph, since it's your first time seeing me, I'll spare you. Next time, I won't be so lenient." The young man's tone was petulant, more like a rebellious teenager than a mature adult.
"The Wood family truly has fallen, if you have to bow to a mere youth." No sooner had Patriarch Wood spoken than Patriarch Sun's mockery followed.
Patriarch Wood chuckled, not bothering to argue with a family on the verge of extinction.
"Hmph, I was going to let you off, but since you don't cherish the chance, don't blame me."
"Wind Scatters Clouds." Instantly, clouds churned with the wind, darkening the sky, and the wind-driven clouds rushed toward them.
"Golden Mountain, Ten Thousand Needles." Patriarch Sun still underestimated the young man, thinking him a novice with some talent who didn't know his place.
But unfortunately, he wasn't a novice—he was a divine beast, a second-rank one at that. Why would he care about Patriarch Sun?
"Pfft." Within a quarter-hour, Patriarch Sun was defeated, spitting blood as he leaned against a tree.
"Who are you?" Only then did Patriarch Sun realize the man's extraordinary nature.
"Who I am is none of your business. Be grateful I don't feel like killing today, or you'd be dead a hundred times over." After speaking, the young man vanished into the forest.
"Truly, the older, the more foolish. Well then, Patriarch Sun, I'll take my leave. Farewell." Patriarch Wood, beaming with satisfaction, headed back to the Wood family.
Patriarch Sun cursed his own impulsiveness. He shouldn't have been so eager to recruit talent. But this man was so powerful, and his attire didn't seem from Moon Country. What was his purpose here?
He didn't dwell on it long. Taking a healing pill, he treated his wounds briefly, then hurried back to the Sun family.
"Phew, they're finally gone." Ye Lanshan emerged from her space. Without returning to the Ye family, she disguised herself as Shan Luo and headed to Dream Red Pavilion.
"Brother Shan Luo, smell this incense. Isn't it lovely?" Tao Yao offered her latest creation.
She thought smugly, "This is my newest charm incense. I bet you won't resist." Her lips nearly split with glee.
But reality was harsh. She waited, yet Ye Lanshan's eyes remained clear, unaffected.
"Brother Shan Luo, don't you think I'm beautiful?" Tao Yao held the incense with one hand and played with her collar, more alluring than the most popular girl in the brothel.
But Ye Lanshan didn't even glance, spitting out a venomous remark: "What a waste you're not a prostitute."
"You—" Tao Yao's face changed completely. She threw down the incense and pointed at Ye Lanshan. "Don't be ungrateful."
"I just meant you're beautiful—not in a cold, pure way, but in a captivating, enchanting way. If I weren't already taken, I'd fall at your feet." Ye Lanshan smiled, instantly calming Tao Yao's anger.
"Even with all my skills, I can't win your heart. I wonder what stunning woman has caught your eye?" Tao Yao was confident in her beauty and charm, but Ye Lanshan had dealt her blow after blow.
She was curious what kind of beauty could tame Ye Lanshan.
"That's a secret. I promised I wouldn't tell anyone." In Ye Lanshan's mind, Yu Ying's face appeared—the first person to confess to her. Though she couldn't love a woman, the image of Yu Ying taking an arrow for her was etched into her memory.
"What's so hard to say? If you're going to brush me off, at least make it convincing." Tao Yao pouted, about to speak, when a thought struck her: Wait, is he into men?
She closed her mouth, her expression shifting from indifference to sympathy. She patted Ye Lanshan's shoulder. "Even if your relationship goes against the norm, if you ever come out, I'll support you."