"Get lost."
Thunder boomed and the winds and clouds shifted. The instant that voice rang out from the Ye Household's forbidden grounds, they felt an enormous threat.
"Not good, there's danger! Retreat, quickly! If we don't retreat now, we're finished. Whatever you do, don't provoke those old monsters, or we'll be in for more than we can handle."
"Big Brother, what exactly is going on? We were only one step away from success. Are we really going to give up just like that?"
"Everyone, don't stay here any longer. The consequences will be severe. Listen to me, and you won't go wrong."
A furious shout erupted, its divine might impossible to resist. The group of mysterious Black-Clad Men seemed to have been struck by lightning. Their minds reeled as they frantically considered their next move.
"Retreat!"
Looking at everything before him, the leader's eyes filled with terror. Without turning his head, he ordered the retreat. The group had arrived swiftly and left just as swiftly, vanishing without a trace.
Whoosh!
One after another, their bodies transformed into streaks of light and disappeared. When they reappeared, they had already reached a place a thousand li from the Ye Household's sect.
"That was close. The Ye Household has been passed down for more than ten thousand years. It truly deserves its reputation as a mighty power that once produced a Martial God. Who would have thought those two old monsters were still alive? Weren't they said to have failed their Heavenly Tribulations? What exactly is going on?"
Even a dying camel was bigger than a horse. Anyone who could command respect and remain in people's memories naturally possessed an unfathomable power that could not be resisted.
They had never expected that, despite believing they had left no stone unturned and could manipulate their opponents perfectly, they would end up shut out. If word got out, where would they put their faces?
Their chests heaved violently. This was one of their strongholds. They had fled all the way here, afraid that if they were even a little slower, those two monsters would catch up with them. Then they would be in deep trouble.
After quite some time, they finally calmed down. Even so, they still did not dare relax in the slightest.
A quarter of an hour later...
"Big Brother, we can't answer to our superiors now. Although our mission was only to monitor them, we still need something to show for it. Otherwise, how are we supposed to explain ourselves to our lord?"
After taking a slight breath, they had finally settled their nerves following all that commotion. At least they were no longer as flustered as before.
"That's enough. Are you trying to teach me how to do my job?"
The leader was furious when he heard that. He flashed in front of the other man and seized him by the throat with one hand.
"Big Brother, don't misunderstand. I was only saying it casually."
Everything happened extremely quickly. Before the man could react, his body had already left the ground, hanging suspended in midair.
He could not breathe at all. His face turned crimson, his consciousness blurred, and he nearly fainted.
"Big Brother, don't be rash. There's no need to get angry over such a trivial matter. I have a plan that can resolve our current predicament!"
This mission had ended in failure, which had already left him furious. On top of that, the other man kept pressuring him. Perhaps the words had been unintentional, but to him, they sounded like a reprimand.
His rage flared, and he nearly ruined everything and damaged the brotherly bond between them.
"Speak. I hope you're not deceiving me. Otherwise, you'll bear the consequences!"
He looked like a beast that had been thoroughly enraged. His eyes were wide, his fury blazed, and he was only missing an outlet before he erupted completely.
"Big Brother, don't be angry. I know the pressure you're under. We must be cautious. Just listen while I explain everything slowly."
"Hmph. Even you wouldn't dare deceive me. Go on, what should we do?"
Everyone in the world knew that Ye Yang was a useless piece of trash within the sect. Yet few knew that he bore tremendous heavenly fortune and was the legendary Heaven-Chosen.
As long as he did not die prematurely or fall halfway, once he matured, he would surely stand shoulder to shoulder with the Heavenly Dao—or even replace it.
Normally, this would not have mattered much. But how could a mere Ye Household possibly produce such an extraordinary figure? It had already threatened the existence of the other sects and attracted the attention of several Sacred Grounds.
"Big Brother, this is what I mean. We can secretly send people to observe him and coordinate from within and without. Isn't he going to White Cloud City of Central Province to challenge the Number One Heaven's Chosen on the Prodigy Ranking, Qin Hao? He'll definitely pass through that place. That's our best opportunity."
The man felt the same way. The lesson of the past could not be ignored. Since they could not obtain him, they would destroy him!
If they could not have him, and could not control him for themselves, they certainly could not let someone else benefit. They would destroy him with their own hands. Thus, Ye Yang was destined to become a pawn that everyone fought over, openly and secretly.
"Fine, we'll do that. We have no other choice!"
The group had suffered a hidden loss. At this point, they could only act when an opportunity arose. If they ambushed that brat at a place he had to pass through, they had a very good chance of killing him.
"Let's hope so. Otherwise, this matter will become troublesome. If we can't complete the mission, not only will we lose our lives, we won't be able to answer to our superiors either." The leader could only agree at this point. There was no other way. Things had already reached this stage, and refusing was not an option.
It was said that a thousand years ago, the Ye Household had produced a peerless genius who broke through to the legendary Martial God realm, leaving behind an immortal legend that shook the heavens and suppressed the ages!
Then, when a heaven-shaking war began, he vanished completely. Some said he had left behind his inheritance and ascended directly. Others said he had fallen inside a secret realm. No one knew whether he was alive or dead!
Even a dying camel was bigger than a horse. The Ye Household had been passed down for so many years, so naturally, no one dared look down on it.
"Let's go. At this point, we have no other choice. We should adjust ourselves properly so everyone can give their all when the time comes!"
A furious roar left them trembling in terror. At this point, they could only avoid its edge and wait for another opportunity.
The Ye Household's forbidden grounds were a mysterious place shrouded in mist year-round. A sign stood at the entrance, bearing the words "Trespassers Forbidden," and it contained tremendous might.
Apart from the sect master and the Grand Elder of Law Enforcement, no one in the entire sect had ever set foot inside.
A pair of Heaven-Chosen had emerged from one household. The last time this place had been opened was when the two of them competed for the position of sect master. The outcome was obvious to everyone.
"Big Brother, your blade is still sharp indeed. Your Buddhist Lion's Roar has even surpassed your master."
"Little Brother, you're too polite. The two of us have been imprisoned in this realm for endless years. Wasn't it all for the arrival of this very moment?"
"Of course. Otherwise, as members of the Ye Household, we wouldn't have chosen to remain behind instead of ascending."
At that moment, the two Old Ancestors in the forbidden grounds did not remain idle. They urgently summoned Ye Yang.
"I see. What kind of Heaven-Chosen is he, exactly? In that case, have him come here. We'll personally examine him and see what kind of extraordinary figure he is and what trump cards he possesses. How dare he challenge Qin Hao, the Paragon of Central Province?"
At that moment, two ancient yet imposing figures appeared and vanished within the Ye Household's forbidden grounds, perfectly blending into the surrounding mist and making them impossible to fathom.
Faint spiritual energy swirled around their bodies. They resembled two ancient deities quietly guarding this wondrous land.
At the center of the forbidden grounds stood an ancient altar emitting a dim glow. Complex runes were carved across it, each containing indescribable power.
"How many years has it been? We've finally awaited this moment. I'm truly looking forward to seeing whether that boy can pass our trial."
A gentle breeze swept past. The runes on the altar seemed to activate, their mysterious radiance flowing and inspiring awe.
"Buzz."
At that moment, the ancient altar suddenly burst into dazzling light that shot straight into the sky. The entire forbidden ground trembled.
"Wait, what's going on? Why has the formation in the sect's forbidden grounds suddenly activated? Could a powerful enemy have invaded?" Ye Wushuang was deeply annoyed. He had just been thinking about how to resolve this trouble when something like this happened. Even they had been affected slightly.
"Buzz..."
As the pillar of light grew brighter and more intense, a power of bloodline spread outward. Every member of the Ye Household could sense it.
"That's not right. Someone must have awakened an extraordinarily pure bloodline. Who is it? Could it be that piece of trash?"
Even those of the Ye Household who were outside the sect could sense the pride and awe that originated from the depths of their bloodline.
As they gazed at the pillar of light, it was as though they could see their ancestors hacking through thorns and brambles to establish the glorious foundation of the household.
"Grand Elder, I already checked earlier. There's no one there. Could the Second Ancestor be testing something?"
Seeing this, the subordinate did not hesitate. He honestly told the other man everything he had discovered.
The entire Ye Household focused on sword cultivation. It was one of the foremost sword-cultivating sects in Central Province, and in recent years, it had even produced a pair of Heaven-Chosen.
A thousand years ago, it had produced a legendary figure as well. It had merely declined now. But even a dying camel was bigger than a horse, and no one dared underestimate it.
"Grand Elder, should I arrange for someone else to go over and investigate? Otherwise, I truly can't find out anything."
The entire sect was under his control. Apart from that wondrous region, he had never entered it again after the last struggle for the position of sect master.
"No need. At this point, there's only one possibility. Perhaps the powerful enemy being suppressed there has started acting up again."
Ye Wushuang stood before the window, watching the brilliant light rising from the forbidden grounds, and began making his own little calculations.
"Brat, no matter what happens, since you've accepted the Challenge Letter, you have no way out. A month from now, you'll still end in defeat. For now, I'll let you stir things up and see what kind of waves you can make."
He raised his head and looked toward a certain direction without saying anything more. He knew that after tonight, everything would be uncertain.
"Young man, you've finally arrived."
When the light finally faded, a young figure appeared within the forbidden grounds. It was none other than Ye Yang, who possessed the bearing of a Heaven-Chosen!
Before you continue