Ye Family Crisis

Standing atop the Giant Dragon's head, feeling the distorted space rushing past him, Lin Ming's emotions, like the Space Passage itself, fluctuated wildly. Leaving East Dragon Island meant the official end of a relatively peaceful period of cultivation; next, the stage of the Middle Continent, where heroes would gather, would begin.

Their destination was very clear— Pill Region, the Ye Family.

When he left Jia Nan Academy, he promised Xin Lan that he would participate in the Pill Gathering in the name of the Ye Family to help her family retain their position as Pill Tower Elder.

However, plans often go awry. Upon exiting the Space Wormhole, they were immediately pursued and targeted by several sects. To avoid implicating Xin Lan, they had to send her back to the Ye Family to report. Although they successfully escaped, their journey was delayed again due to their trip to Blazing Flame Valley to refine the Fire Bodhi Pill. After leaving Blazing Flame Valley, they were already nearing the Ye Family's location, only a few days' journey away, when they were ambushed by Ice River Valley, nearly suffering total annihilation. Fortunately, Hei Qing sensed Zi Yan's presence and arrived in time, turning the tide and taking them back to East Dragon Island for healing and cultivation.

This delay lasted for several months. Now that his injuries have fully healed and his strength is vastly different from before, fulfilling his promise to Xin Lan is of utmost urgency.

"Big Brother Hei Qing, go directly to Ye City Pill Region, to the Ye Family," Lin Ming said to the Giant Dragon beneath him.

"Roar!" Hei Qing roared in response, its massive body deftly swaying its tail in the Void Space, adjusting its direction and increasing its speed once more as it sped towards the core area of Pill Region. With the Ancient Void Dragon, this darling of space, leading the way, the long journey would be greatly shortened.

Meanwhile, in Pill Region, Ye City, at the Ye Family mansion.

The usually peaceful front yard of the Ye Family was now shrouded in a tense atmosphere, as if swords were about to be drawn.

The spacious Courtyard was artificially divided into two distinct camps. On one side were the Ye Family members, led by the patriarch Ye Zhong. Most of them wore worried expressions, their eyes filled with anger and resentment, yet also with a hint of barely concealed fear.

On the other side stood nearly a hundred figures dressed in uniform light red robes. Each of them stood ramrod straight, their expressions arrogant, exuding a formidable aura. Their gazes toward the Ye Family were filled with undisguised contempt and arrogance. Given the Cao Family's current dominant position in the Pill Region, they certainly had the right to look down upon the increasingly declining Ye Family.

At the very front of the Cao Family's procession stood four people, who were particularly eye-catching.

Behind them were two indifferent-looking, imposing old men in red robes, their hands tucked into their sleeves, their eyes sharp as eagles; they were clearly the elite forces of the Cao Family.

But what's most intriguing are the two people standing in front of them.

One of them was an elderly man dressed in a gray robe.

His face was covered in wrinkles, making him look frail and as if a gust of wind could blow him over. Yet, just by standing there, he exuded a chilling aura of danger. This aura was not as outwardly powerful as that of the red-robed elder behind him, but rather inwardly deep and restrained, like a venomous snake lurking in the abyss, making people even more uneasy.

Anyone with a discerning eye could see that this person was the most terrifying one in the group.

The other person was a young man dressed in a noble purple Alchemist's robe.

He looked to be no more than twenty-seven or twenty-eight years old, with a rather handsome face, but an inescapable air of arrogance lingered between his brows. This arrogance seemed perfectly natural, especially with the gleaming badge on his chest.

The badge was pale blue, with flames swirling around it. At the center of the flames was an ancient tower-shaped pattern. On the tower, seven dazzling purple-gold stars were arranged like the Big Dipper, radiating a dazzling light!

Seventh Grade Alchemist!

Furthermore, it is Seventh Grade Alchemist badge certified and awarded by the Pill Tower!

Such a young Seventh Grade Alchemist would cause a sensation anywhere in the Middle Continent and be regarded as a prodigy. He certainly has the right to be proud.

At this moment, Ye Zhong, the head of the Ye Family, stared at the purple-robed youth with a grim expression, suppressing his anger, and said in a deep voice, "Young Master Cao Dan, it is true that our Ye Family was in the wrong to withdraw the marriage agreement. However, when this matter was first raised, your Cao Family did not make a clear statement. Now, you have come to question us in such a grand manner. What is your intention?"

Upon hearing this, the purple-robed youth named Cao Dan smiled faintly, toying with a wisp of deep blue flame dancing on his fingertip, and said casually, "Elder Ye Zhong is mistaken. Marriage is a serious matter; how can it be treated like child's play? Your Ye Family took the initiative to propose the marriage, but now that things aren't going well, you're withdrawing it just like that. Where does that leave the face of my Cao Family? If word gets out, won't outsiders laugh at my Cao Family for daring to play games with a declining Ye Family so easily?"

His words were light and casual, yet each one was like a knife, piercing the hearts of everyone in the Ye Family.

Ye Zhong's face turned pale and then flushed, his chest heaving violently, but he dared not openly contradict the Cao Family because of their power.

"Cao Dan! You're just making excuses!"

Standing beside Ye Zhong, Xin Lan's pretty face was now ashen. Unable to contain her anger any longer, she stepped forward and shouted, "Who doesn't know the wolfish ambitions of your Cao Family! This so-called marriage alliance is nothing more than a pretext to annex my Ye Family! Stop pretending to be kind with this marriage contract!"

A shadow of gloom flashed in Cao Dan's eyes after Xin Lan publicly reprimanded him, but his smile remained unchanged. His gaze swept over Xin Lan's shapely figure with a hint of possessiveness as he smiled and said, "Xin Lan, no matter what, I'm nominally your fiancé. Your shouting at me like this is quite unbecoming and shows a lack of manners. Once you're officially part of the Cao Family, I'll have to teach you some proper etiquette..."

These flippant and insulting words drew angry stares from everyone in the Ye Family, with Xin Lan trembling with rage and her hands clenched tightly.

"Young Master Cao Dan, please have some self-respect!" Ye Zhong took a step forward abruptly, shielding Xin Lan behind him. His face was ashen, and his tone was resolute.

"This marriage was merely a preliminary agreement between our two families; it was never truly finalized, and no marriage certificates or tokens were exchanged! My Ye Family naturally has the right to withdraw it! From this day forward, this marriage is hereby terminated, as if it never existed! I hope Young Cao Dan will not continue to pursue this matter!"

"Hehe... hahaha!" Cao Dan laughed as if he had heard the biggest joke in the world, his laughter filled with sarcasm.

The laughter abruptly stopped. His eyes narrowed, flashing with cold light as he stared at Ye Zhong. His tone suddenly turned sinister. "Elder Ye Zhong, it seems that after the last battle in Ye City, having only managed to repel a few insignificant fellows, your Ye Family has forgotten its own worth? Do you really think you can restore your former glory?"

He took a step forward, his Soul Pressure, belonging to Seventh Grade Alchemist, mixed with the aura of Dou Zong level, pressing down on Ye Zhong without any politeness.

"My Cao Family is not like the Black Fire Sect, which only relies on brute force! My Cao Family has many Alchemists and connections throughout the Middle Continent. Countless Dou Zun expert owe my Cao Family favors! As long as my Cao Family raises its arms, your Ye Family... will be reduced to dust in an instant! Do you believe me or not?"

This blatant threat, carrying an overwhelming aura, instantly turned Ye Zhong and the Ye Family members behind him pale. They had no doubt about the truth of Cao Dan's words; the Cao Family indeed possessed such power! It was a disparity that could instill despair.

Seeing that Ye Zhong and the others were intimidated, Cao Dan's smugness deepened.

At this moment, the Grey-robed Old Man, who had been meditating with his eyes closed like a withered tree, slowly raised his eyelids. His cloudy eyes looked at Ye Zhong, and his voice was as hoarse as sandpaper rubbing together:

"Ahem... Ye Zhong, some words, once spoken, are like water spilled, impossible to take back. Since your Ye Family brought it up in the first place, your unilateral reneging now certainly makes the Cao Family lose face." He paused, his tone calm, yet carrying an undeniable air of authority.

"Today, I, Ku Yi, have come on the orders of the patriarch. We are taking the people with us. As for the Ye Family... if they know what's good for them, they might still have a place to stay in the Pill Region in the future."

Bitter Robe Venerate!

Upon hearing this name, Ye Zhong's heart sank, and a deep sense of apprehension and bitterness appeared in his eyes.

This person was raised by the Cao Family from a young age and is utterly loyal to the Cao Family. Moreover, it is said that he had already advanced to the Dou Venerate realm more than ten years ago.

Given the Ye Family's current situation, the Cao Family has even sent a Dou Venerate! It seems the Cao Family is determined to win today!

"The Bitter Robe Venerate's personal presence is truly an overwhelming honor for the Ye Family." Ye Zhong's voice was hoarse, filled with endless weariness and despair. "A marriage alliance with the Cao Family might solve the immediate crisis, but the price would be the complete transfer of the Ye Family to the Cao family! This matter concerns the survival of the Ye Family, and I, Ye Zhong, am utterly unable to comply!"

"Stubborn and obstinate"

The Bitter Robe Venerate shook his head, seemingly losing his last bit of patience. He slowly took a step forward.

Just one step!

"Boom--!"

A terrifying aura, like a massive tsunami, suddenly erupted from his seemingly withered body, instantly filling the entire front yard! The space groaned under the strain of this aura, and the stone slabs on the ground cracked inch by inch!

Those Ye Family members who were slightly weaker turned deathly pale on the spot under this oppressive force, which was like the might of heaven. A large number of them knelt down with a thud, and even breathing became extremely difficult!

The pressure from Dou Zun expert is terrifying!

Ye Zhong also let out a muffled groan, his internal Dou Qi surging wildly as he desperately supported his body, a trickle of blood seeping from the corner of his mouth. His eyes were filled with despair; faced with such absolute power, any resistance seemed so pale and powerless.

Cao Dan's lips curled into a cruel smile, as if he could already see the Ye Family submitting and Xin Lan being forcibly taken away.

However, at this critical moment—

"Snort!"

A cold snort, like a thunderclap from the heavens, exploded without warning from the depths of the void!

The voice wasn't particularly loud, but it carried an indescribable majesty and vastness, as if it resonated directly deep within everyone's soul!

Immediately following, an aura of destruction, no less powerful than that of Bitter Robe Venerate, and even more domineering in some aspects, filled with the destructive energy of flames, appeared out of nowhere, like Giant Dragon that had been sleeping for countless ages awakening.

This surge of power immediately transformed into an invisible barrier, firmly standing in front of the Ye Family, completely resisting the overwhelming pressure of Bitter Robe Venerate's aura!

In an instant, the suffocating pressure in the front yard eased, and the Ye Family members kneeling on the ground gasped for breath, feeling as if they had survived a disaster.

Xin Lan suddenly looked up, her eyes flashing with disbelief, staring into the void from which the sound came.

Cao Dan's smile froze instantly, and his brows furrowed.

The usually serene and unmoved Bitter Robe Venerate, for the first time, showed a genuine solemnity in his cloudy eyes. He slowly raised his head, looked at the distorted space, and spoke in a hoarse voice:

"Who is this distinguished guest? The Cao Family is handling some private matters here; please grant us your convenience."

The void rippled slightly, parting like waves on water. Then, a voice, calm yet containing undeniable power, slowly rang out, clearly reaching the ears of everyone present:

"Although the Cao Family is powerful, their bullying and forced marriage is far below the standards of the Five Great Families of the Pill Region."