Within Yanxia Grotto-Heaven, a mass of grey mist surged upward, pushing the purple-gold gourd back in one stroke and sealing it in place so it could no longer continue consuming cultivators.

A grey silhouette rushed over rapidly — an elder of indeterminate age, with snow-white hair and beard but a remarkably ruddy complexion, the very image of a crane-haired, youthful-faced immortal. He said: “Please, everyone, calm your anger.” With a direct push, he returned the purple-gold gourd. Jiang Yichen let out a cold snort and recalled his treasure.

“Who are you?” Jiang Yifei asked.

“I am the Sect Master of Yanxia Grotto-Heaven.”

“No wonder you possess such power — to suppress the purple-gold gourd is no small feat.” Jiang Yifei nodded, then said: “Even so, you would likely still be unable to stop us.”

“Yes — I am aware.” The Sect Master of Yanxia Grotto-Heaven acknowledged this frankly, then continued: “I do not know in what way my Yanxia Grotto-Heaven has truly given offense to bring all of you here in such force. If there is genuine grave wrongdoing, I am willing to dissolve Yanxia Grotto-Heaven and accept whatever punishment is decreed.”

This grey-robed elder was exceedingly candid. In truth, he had no choice — if they truly came to blows with an ancient desolate clan, Yanxia Grotto-Heaven would be reduced to ash in a matter of moments. There was no comparison between the two — once they became enemies, there was not the slightest doubt about the outcome.

“Seeing how forthright you are, I find it difficult to make a great scene after all.”

Jiang Yifei was perhaps twenty-four or twenty-five years old, yet he spoke in this manner to the Sect Master of Yanxia Grotto-Heaven — and the old man felt not the slightest rudeness in it. All of this was simply because the power was right there for all to see.

“You are wise, young master. Please make it clear — what exactly has brought this censure upon us?”

“Two years ago, did a disciple of yours, surnamed Jiang, die within Yanxia Grotto-Heaven?”

The Sect Master of Yanxia Grotto-Heaven heard this and nodded. “If it were anyone else, I might have difficulty remembering, but this young man of remarkable talent left a deep impression on me.”

“He was a member of our Jiang Family — yet he was killed by someone within your Yanxia Grotto-Heaven.” Jiang Yifei said this calmly.

“What? He was murdered?” The Sect Master was stunned. “Who had such audacity!”

“Now you understand why I’ve come.”

The Sect Master of Yanxia Grotto-Heaven was instantly seized with a headache. How had a member of the Jiang Family come to be in Yanxia Grotto-Heaven, and how had they been killed there? This was truly a most thorny matter for him.

“You need not be overly worried — I have not come without reason.”

“Please be at ease, Young Master Jiang. I will punish the perpetrators most severely and show not the slightest leniency!”

“The chief perpetrators have already met justice, but I believe their Masters bore some responsibility for looking the other way. Furthermore, the one who provided the drug to them must also be rooted out…”

“Young Master Jiang, please come inside Yanxia Grotto-Heaven. I will give you a satisfactory accounting and will ensure the chief villains are eradicated.”

Jiang Yifei nodded and said: “What matters most is that this elder and this child are satisfied.”

At this point, Old Uncle Jiang and little Tingting’s eyes were already red and swollen from weeping.

“I understand…”

Jiang Yifei instructed Jiang Yichen to bring out the purple-gold gourd and release everyone who had been drawn inside. He then led Old Uncle Jiang and Tingting inside with the aged Sect Master. The others did not follow — they descended to the ground and waited outside.

Just then, Ye Fan again had the feeling of being watched. He found it was still the arrogant young man, Jiang Yichen. What was going on? He was certain he had done nothing to offend this young man of the ancient desolate clan, and could not figure out why the other party had their eyes fixed on him.

Jiang Caixuan walked over with graceful steps, a light smile on her face: “Little Brother Ye, once things here are concluded, Tingting will be coming back to the Jiang Family with us. If you’re willing, you’re welcome to come along.”

“Well…” At first, the idea had genuinely appealed to Ye Fan. The Jiang Family’s supremacy was extraordinary — an ancient clan passed down since the age of primordial antiquity. There was a chance he might find secrets pertaining to the Sacred Physique there. But after thinking it over carefully, he grew hesitant again. What if someone discovered his secrets? The green copper fragment within him had once thrown the Eastern Desolation into turmoil — if it were detected by some peerless master of the Jiang Family, the consequences would be unthinkable. Moreover, the Scripture of the Dao could also stir up no small amount of trouble — if it were revealed, his situation would be dire.

“What’s wrong — are you still reluctant?” Jiang Caixuan was somewhat surprised. Countless cultivators had sharpened their heads trying to get into the Jiang Family, yet this boy was still deliberating and hesitating over an invitation.

Ye Fan politely declined: “I thank Young Miss Jiang for her kind invitation, and I mean it from the bottom of my heart. But I’ve grown lazy by nature, and I fear I’d only cause trouble inside the Jiang Family. I’d rather roam the world on my own for now. If the day comes that I’m in dire straits and need to seek refuge with the Jiang Family, I hope Young Miss Jiang will still take me in.”

At that moment, Jiang Yichen on the other side gave a cold laugh: “What do you take the Jiang Family for — an inn? The Jiang Family is not a place where just anyone can come and go as they please. If you want to join, say so now, and stop talking nonsense.”

“Jiang Yichen, shut your mouth!” Jiang Caixuan rebuked him sharply, then turned back with a smile: “Little Brother Ye, pay him no mind — he’s always like this; he’s been spoiled. Rest assured, the Jiang Family’s doors will be open to you at any time. If you have any difficulties in the future, feel free to come find me at the Jiang Family.”

“Many thanks, Young Miss Jiang.” Ye Fan expressed his gratitude, while inwardly feeling greatly puzzled. He had not provoked this young lord of the Jiang Family in the slightest — why would the boy act this way? The more he thought about it, the more certain he became: he could not enter the Jiang Family right now. The Sacred Physique, the Scripture of the Dao, the mysterious green copper fragment — all of these were dangerous secrets. He had no desire to take such a risk.

“You should know, boy, that those who wish to join our Jiang Family are as numerous as carp crossing a river. If you pass up this opportunity, you’ll regret it for the rest of your life.” Jiang Yichen stared at him with a cold smile.

Ye Fan’s heart gave a jolt, and he grew even more puzzled. This young lord of the Jiang Family seemed to want him to join immediately — what on earth was going on?

Jiang Caixuan scolded Jiang Yichen a few more times before he finally said no more, simply standing at a short distance and watching Ye Fan every so often.

“This rotten scoundrel — he’d better not be one of those with crooked intentions. Damn him!” Ye Fan muttered to himself inwardly.

After a while, Jiang Yichen finally stopped staring at him and began wandering around the perimeter of Yanxia Grotto-Heaven, which allowed Ye Fan to breathe a little easier. Very quickly, he thought of his fellow classmates — two of them should be inside Yanxia Grotto-Heaven, though he was not quite certain who they were.

A full hour passed before Jiang Yifei came out with Old Uncle Jiang and Tingting. The Sect Master of Yanxia Grotto-Heaven and a number of senior figures came out in person to see them off. Both the old man’s and the little girl’s eyes were swollen red — they had clearly wept a great deal.

“Old Sect Master, there is no need to escort us further. My Jiang Family is not without reason — the matter here has been resolved, and you need not worry any longer.”

The aged Sect Master of Yanxia Grotto-Heaven finally breathed a long sigh of relief. Faced with a colossus like the Jiang Family, anyone would have been trembling with anxiety — in all the Eastern Desolation, there were few great powers that dared stand against them.

The people of Yanxia Grotto-Heaven watched them depart until they disappeared from sight before returning inside.

Jiang Yifei’s party went directly back to Qingfeng Town, purely to fulfill the old man’s wish to take one last look at the place. For Tingting’s sake, Old Uncle Jiang resolved to enter the Jiang Family — he did not want his granddaughter to suffer any further hardship.

“Big Brother, come with us.” Tingting tilted her little face up and pleaded.

Ye Fan tapped her on the nose and said: “Big Brother has nothing more to offer. The Jiang Family is filled with experts — I’d be even less than a common soldier there. Tingting will live very well in that place.”

“Big Brother, I really don’t want to be apart from you. Come with us — otherwise Tingting will miss you every single day.” Tingting looked as though she was about to cry.

“I still have some things to attend to and truly cannot go right now. I promise you — I’ll come and visit you one day.” Ye Fan said softly to comfort her.

“No — if Big Brother won’t come, then I won’t go either.” Tingting was actually prepared to make such a decision.

“You’re still young; there are some things you don’t yet understand. When you grow up, you’ll naturally see. Go to the Jiang Family with a happy heart. Don’t be too playful while you’re there — learn their cultivation methods diligently. Who knows, perhaps someday I’ll need Tingting’s help.”

Old Uncle Jiang, too, could not understand it, and he very much hoped Ye Fan would come with them — but in the end he could not force him.

At the moment of parting outside Qingfeng Town, Tingting wept loudly and threw her arms around Ye Fan’s legs, refusing to let go no matter what, tears rolling down her cheeks one after another.

Ye Fan wiped away her tears and said: “Don’t cry. Tingting, remember what I said just now — we’ll see each other again.”

In the end, Tingting was reluctant to leave, weeping through her words: “I’ll definitely learn how to cultivate, and someday I’ll come find Big Brother. If anyone bullies Big Brother, Tingting will chase them all away.”

Ye Fan burst out laughing: “Go on now — they’re all waiting for you.”

Just at that moment, Ye Fan caught sight of Jiang Yichen — the young lord of the Jiang Family — and a flash of cold light crossed the boy’s eyes as he looked over. Ye Fan’s heart sank instantly.

“Jiang Yichen — the look in your eyes seems off…” Jiang Caixuan suddenly said precisely this.

Jiang Yichen’s heart gave a startled lurch: “Older Sister Xuan, why would you say something like that?”

“Stop doing underhanded things and don’t let your mind turn to wicked schemes. It seems Grandfather really has spoiled you rotten.” Jiang Caixuan said coldly: “I noticed you a long time ago. You seem to want to make a move against Little Brother Ye — what has he ever done to you?”

Jiang Yifei turned to glance at the two of them: “What’s going on?”

“Nothing,” Jiang Yichen said, looking a little guilty.

“Speak!”

Though Jiang Yifei appeared refined and scholarly, he seemed to command great authority — even his fellow clan member Jiang Yichen was clearly afraid of him.

“I…”

“Say it!”

Left with no choice, Jiang Yichen had to speak the truth: “That boy has a precious treasure on him — and not just any ordinary precious treasure. You know that the most remarkable thing about my mount is not its battle power, but the jade spirit-sensing horn on its head, which can detect the presence of divine objects. Today it was flashing five-colored light continuously — unusually bright and brilliant.”

His mount was a cyan-hued beast in form resembling a lion-tiger hybrid, with long cyan fur of remarkable cleanliness. Upon its head grew a single jade horn, crystalline and translucent, blazing with five-colored divine light — capable of detecting the existence of divine treasures.

“I may have gotten myself into trouble…” Ye Fan thought, as he noticed the three figures in the distance looking over in his direction.

“Child, what is it?” Old Uncle Jiang asked.

Tingting also wiped away a tear and said: “Big Brother, are you in trouble? I’ll ask Older Sister Caixuan to help you.”

Ye Fan gave a bitter smile.

At this moment, Jiang Yichen was walking over with a cold smile, and Jiang Yifei and Jiang Caixuan followed behind him.

“I’m truly very curious — what precious treasure do you carry on your person?”

Ye Fan’s heart lurched sharply. He would never have imagined Jiang Yichen would come right out and say such a thing. Had something truly been discovered?

Jiang Yifei smiled: “Little Brother Ye, there’s no need to worry — we mean no harm. The Jiang Family has precious treasures as numerous as grains of sand; we would never covet yours.”

Jiang Caixuan cautioned him: “Little Brother Ye, since you carry precious treasures on your person, you must be careful going forward…”

Only after hearing her explanation did Ye Fan understand the marvel of the five-colored beast — that it could detect divine treasures. This sent cold sweat running straight down his spine. If the green copper fragment and the Scripture of the Dao were exposed, the consequences would be unthinkable.

“It’s a good thing I didn’t agree to enter the Jiang Family…” he said to himself inwardly.

“Alright — we part here. Rest assured, I’ve already warned Jiang Yichen; he won’t act on any ill intentions.” Jiang Caixuan smiled.

At last, the group mounted their beasts and soared into the sky. Tingting wept bitterly, waving her small hand over and over until she disappeared at the edge of the heavens.

Ye Fan was gripped by a powerful sense of crisis. He did not return to the small town, but went straight for the deep mountains — he felt he needed to put as much distance between himself and this place as possible.