Draw Yang Fire
Lin Ming's chillingly cold "kill" word, imbued with a chilling Killing Intent, exploded like thunder in the front yard, instantly igniting the fuse!
"Buzz--!"
The Ice Puppet and Frost Puppet' previously empty eye sockets suddenly erupted with a terrifying, bloodthirsty light! Although they lacked intelligence, they perfectly inherited the instinct for battle and absolute obedience to orders.
The chilling Killing intent mixed with the metallic coldness transformed into a tangible tide, surging and sweeping outwards, instantly engulfing the entire front yard of the Ye Family!
Most of the Cao Family followed Cao Dan were only at the Dou Wang or Dou Emperor level. Under this terrifying pressure, which was like that of a prehistoric Fierce Beasts, they felt their blood freeze, their legs trembled uncontrollably, their faces turned as white as paper, and some even collapsed to the ground with a thud, unable to even hold their weapons!
Cao Dan was the first to be affected; he was closest to the scene and felt the impact most clearly.
The deathly aura emanating from the Ice Puppet and Frost Puppet Puppet felt like cold shackles gripping his throat, making it extremely difficult for him to breathe.
The color drained from his face instantly, all his previous arrogance and haughtiness vanished, leaving only boundless fear and horror. He struggled to turn his stiff neck and look at his last support beside him— the Bitter Robe Venerate.
At this moment, the Bitter Robe Venerate had an extremely solemn expression on his wrinkled old face, and a hint of fear, which he himself did not notice, even flashed deep in his eyes. He shook his head at Cao Dan, almost imperceptibly but with great determination.
The meaning couldn't be clearer: You can't fight them head-on! Retreat immediately!
Upon receiving the signal from the Bitter Robe Venerate, Cao Dan's last shred of hope vanished completely.
Overwhelmed by immense fear, he no longer cared about his dignity as the young master of the Cao Family or his pride as a Seventh Grade Alchemist, and let out a near-collapsed roar:
"Let's go! Let's go! Hurry up!!"
His voice was hoarse, filled with panic and embarrassment.
Before he finished speaking, he was the first to turn around and practically tumble and crawl as he frantically fled towards the Ye Family's gate. His appearance was an ironic contrast to his arrogant demeanor when he arrived.
With their master gone, the Cao Family guards, who were already terrified, felt as if they had been granted a pardon. They scrambled after him, wishing they had more legs. The scene was chaotic and disgraceful.
In the blink of an eye, the Cao Family's large force, which had been so aggressive and had driven the Ye Family to the brink of despair, retreated completely like a receding tide, leaving behind only the stone slabs cracked from the clash of their forces, and a group of the Ye Family members still in a state of extreme shock and bewilderment, unable to recover their senses.
An eerie silence fell over the front yard.
You could hear a pin drop.
All eyes were drawn to him as if by a magnet, fixed on the composed young figure standing there. Sunlight streamed down, illuminating his serene face and the two puppets beside him that radiated a cold metallic luster and overwhelming Sectarian Qi Puppet.
It was he who, with just a few words and without even lifting a finger, terrified the arrogant Cao Family so much that they fled in panic and disarray, as if swatting away flies!
The silence lasted for a long while before Ye Zhong was the first to recover from the stark contrast.
He let out a long, long sigh, as if releasing all the humiliation and pressure he had endured over the years. His slightly hunched body trembled slightly, and his old eyes were filled with the excitement of surviving a disaster, an indescribable fear, and a surge of overwhelming relief and gratitude.
Ye Zhong strode forward, bypassing the two terrifying Puppet, and stood before Lin Ming. No longer treating him as an equal, he bowed deeply and respectfully to Lin Ming, his voice trembling uncontrollably.
"Young friend Lin Ming... no, Mr. Lin Ming! Your kindness today has saved my Ye Family from annihilation. This favor and virtue will be forever etched in the memory of my Ye Family! Please accept my Ye Zhong bow!"
Xin Lan was already in tears. She quickly went to Lin Ming's side, looking at his familiar face that seemed incredibly imposing at this moment. A thousand words stuck in her throat, finally turning into a choked cry with a heavy nasal tone:
"Big Brother Lin... thank you... really... thank you!"
If Lin Ming hadn't arrived in time, she couldn't even imagine what a miserable fate the Ye Family would have faced today.
Lin Ming turned around, the coldness on his face instantly melting into a warm smile. He helped Ye Zhong and nodded to Xin Lan.
"Elder Ye Zhong, Xin Lan, there's no need for this. Xin Lan, since I've promised you, I naturally won't stand by and watch the Ye Family be bullied. This little trouble is easily resolved."
Lin Ming spoke casually, as if he had only done a trivial matter, but this composure impressed the Ye Family even more.
With the crisis averted, Lin Ming and his companions, who had demonstrated absolute strength and ruthless tactics, were naturally treated as honored guests by the Ye Family, who had survived the ordeal, and received with the highest level of etiquette.
The ensuing conversation was naturally filled with joy. After the news spread that Lin Ming Xin Lan had been granted the title of guest elder by the Blazing Flame Valley for refining Tier 7 High-Grade pill, Lin Ming informed all the core members that Lin Ming had promised to represent the Ye Family at the Pill Gathering and to reserve an elder position for their Ye Family.
Upon learning this, the Ye Family was overjoyed! A person capable of refining Tier 7 High-Grade pills, appointed as a guest elder by the Blazing Flame Valley, representing them in battle—the thought alone was...
Now that he has arrived, in addition to those, he is also guarded by Dou Zun expert, and can even take out Dou Venerate Puppet at will. Moreover, after being asked, he is still willing to represent the Ye Family in the battle. For the Ye Family now, this is simply a pie falling from the sky, no, it is a huge golden pie falling from the sky!
With just over a month left until the official start of the Pill Gathering, the Ye Family has almost unhesitatingly placed all their hopes and resources on Lin Ming.
In order to provide Lin Ming with an absolutely quiet and undisturbed cultivation environment, Ye Zhong made a major decision—to designate the Ye Family's most precious ancestral land, the Yang Fire Ancient Altar, and several core buildings connected to it as Forbidden Area, exclusively for Lin Ming and his companions!
Ye Zhong personally announced to the entire clan, "From this day forward, the Yang Fire Ancient Altar area is designated as the clan's highest Forbidden Area! No one may enter without Mr. Lin Ming's permission, and violators will be severely punished according to clan rules! Even I am no exception!"
This sincerity is truly commendable.
It is important to know that the Yang Fire Ancient Altar holds special significance for the Ye Family. Although for some unknown reason, the core "Earth Eye" has not emitted precious Earth Core Fire Seedling for many years, it remains a symbol of the Ye Family's spirit and contains extremely rich and pure fire-attribute energy.
After a moment's hesitation, Lin Ming readily accepted the Ye Family's generous gift.
He did need a quiet place to digest his recent surge in strength, especially to familiarize himself with the physical changes brought about by the first level of the <Rainbow Lightning Venerate Body Technique>, and also to make final preparations for the upcoming Pill Gathering.
Moreover, this Yang Fire Ancient Altar also happens to meet one of his expectations.
So, Lin Ming, Xiao Yi Xian, Elder Yao, and Hei Qing temporarily settled down in the Forbidden Area of the Ye Family.
We arrived at the Yang Fire Ancient Altar on the Back Mountain of the Ye Family.
This is a rather ancient stone Altar, constructed entirely of a dark red, Fire Temperature Stone. Over the years, its surface has been covered with mottled marks. In the center of the Altar is a recessed, circular Earth Eye.
It was noon, and beams of slightly scorching light poured down from the sky, precisely targeting the Altar and bringing a warm, comforting sensation.
Lin Ming stood at the edge of the Altar, took a deep breath, and felt the fire-attribute energy in the air, which was far more concentrated and purer than the outside world. A look of satisfaction flashed in his eyes.
"The fire elemental energy here is indeed extremely abundant... Although it has lost its Yang Fire, the energy foundation accumulated over so many years is still not to be underestimated." Lin Ming stroked his chin, his gaze falling on the silent Earth Eye.
The Ye Family didn't know why the Earth Eye in the center of the Altar no longer emitted that magical Earth Core Fire Seedling from the earth's core, but that didn't mean Lin Ming didn't know.
Knowing the root cause of the Yang Fire Ancient Altar's "extinguishing" and understanding the considerable use the hidden "Yang Fire" was for him, was one of the reasons he initially agreed to help the Ye Family and was willing to stay here temporarily. Consider it a form of advance payment.
After a moment's hesitation, Lin Ming made up his mind. He walked slowly to the center of the Altar and squatted down in front of the Earth Eye. Dense Dou Qi swirled around his palm, and then his eyes narrowed as he gently pressed his palm against the center of the Earth Eye!
"Suck!"
With a low shout, a powerful suction force suddenly surged from his palm, acting deep within the Earth Eye!
"Whoosh--"
With the surge of suction, the once silent Earth Eye was suddenly stirred up like a deep pool. Thick, almost viscous, crimson fire-elemental energy was forcibly pulled out and scattered above the Altar, causing the surrounding temperature to rise sharply.
However, despite the immense energy, the so-called Earth Core Fire Seedling that could combine with the beams of light from the sky to generate "Yang Fire" did not appear.
Upon seeing this, Lin Ming frowned slightly, then a cold smile curled at the corner of his mouth.
"You've been hiding it well... I really don't believe I can't get even a spark out of you today!"
With a fierce determination in his heart, Lin Ming suddenly increased the strength of the suction! Within his dantian, a vast amount of Dou Qi poured out like a flood, all of it flowing into the suction force in his palm!
"Boom!"
This time, the reaction within the Earth Eye was even more intense, as if something had been disturbed. A much larger and hotter crimson energy surged out like a fountain, almost turning the entire sky above the Altar fiery red, and a wave of scorching air rushed towards us.