King Ye's Mansion... Crumbled!

Ye Jiangshan obediently paid up!

Because if he didn't, Ye Qiu planned to keep tearing away his dignity. After all, he had plenty more to say.

Over the past ten years, he had gone over everything Ye Jiangshan had done again and again in his mind. Whenever he had time, he dragged it all out and cursed him for it.

That was better than bottling it up and stewing alone, wasn't it?

Ye Jiangshan had no choice, either.

He was strong. Truly strong!

As head of the Ye Clan, he ranked among the strongest in all of Southern State!

He could have crushed a hundred Ye Qius with one hand.

But he couldn't!

First, Ye Qiu was already a registered Academy disciple.

Second, if he killed Ye Qiu—even if Ye Qiu died within the Ye Clan—he would never be able to hold his head high again!

Great clans cared about their reputation.

Kill his own son?

Summon him back after sending him away for ten years, only to kill him?

The talk would never end!

Third... there were still things he needed Ye Qiu to do!

Ye Jiangshan took a deep breath and calmed his surging emotions once more. "There are things you'll learn later. I can't explain them now."

"Don't bother. I don't want to hear it." Ye Qiu lightly counted the Spirit Crystals in his hand. Three hundred thousand, not a single crystal more.

What a miser!

Ye Jiangshan said, "I also called you back this time because of an important matter."

Ye Qiu looked at him.

Go on, say it. I'm not doing it!

But Ye Jiangshan said it anyway. "You still have a marriage agreement with Miss Lu Li, don't you?"

Ye Qiu stared at him. "What about it?"

His mother had arranged that marriage when he was five, during a visit to her relatives on South Mountain.

Lu Li was an orphan taken in by the South Mountain Lu Family. Later, something happened to the family, and his adoptive parents died tragically.

Driven out to wander the streets, Lu Li was brought back to the Wen Family by Ye Qiu's mother, who had taken pity on him.

His mother had genuinely liked Lu Li. She had personally taught him for a while and arranged his marriage to Ye Qiu.

Ye Qiu had been young then. Lu Li had been fair and clean, sweet and obedient—an honest child, even a little timid. Whatever Ye Qiu told him to do, he obediently did.

But after only a few months with the Wen Family, he vanished.

And now...

Who could have imagined it?

Back then, he had been a little crybaby.

He really had changed beyond recognition!

But what did any of that have to do with Ye Jiangshan?

Ye Jiangshan said, "Break off the engagement."

Ye Qiu frowned. "Why?"

Ye Jiangshan thought for a moment. "Lu Li is one of Nanzhou Academy's Ten Core disciples, and the youngest ever at that. His talent is beyond anything you can imagine. You'll never catch up to him!"

"You and he don't belong to the same world!"

"You're not suited to each other!"

Ye Qiu froze. Then he seemed to understand. A faint smile played on his lips. "So you want me to break off the engagement, then propose on behalf of your illegitimate son?"

Ye Jiangshan said, "Your younger brother has a Heavenly King Body. His gifts complement Lu Li's. A perfect match... Their union is crucial to the Ye Clan's future!"

"Rest assured, once you break off the engagement, I'll bring you back into the Ye Clan at once. You'll still be a direct descendant!"

"Resources, cultivation methods, Divine Abilities—you can have anything you want!"

"I'll also arrange another marriage for you. You won't be shortchanged."

Ye Qiu suddenly laughed, loudly and without restraint.

What a joke you are!

He did want to break off the engagement. In fact, he had come to South Capital to settle the matter with Lu Li.

But—

A father telling one son to break off his engagement so the woman could marry his illegitimate son?

That was handing an elder brother's betrothed to his younger brother!

A great clan? Proper conduct?

To hell with you!

As he laughed, anger suddenly surged through him. "Ye Jiangshan, how can you even say that?"

Ye Jiangshan's face darkened. "Marriage is decided by one's parents. I'm your father, and what I say goes!"

"Father?" Ye Qiu regarded him with an unreadable smile. "If I called you that now, would you have the nerve to answer?"

"I still remember when you sent me away at seven. No, you drove me out of the family, didn't you?"

"You turned and walked away. I ran after you crying, lost my shoes along the way. Did you look back at me even once?"

"In all these years, you visited South Mountain only once. I still remember exactly what you said: 'While you're out there, don't use the Ye Clan's name to swagger around and swindle people!'"

"So... father?"

Ye Qiu shook his head. "From that moment on, there was nothing left between us."

"I, Ye Qiu, have been well and truly done with you, Ye Jiangshan, for years!"

"You unfilial son!"

Ye Jiangshan erupted.

His aura burst forth.

Heaven and earth changed color!

But Ye Qiu stood amid the raging storm, gripping his blade without taking a single step back!

Come on, then!

"Enough. Why must father and son be so estranged?" Liu Xiu stepped in to smooth things over again.

After all, this concerned the marriage between her son and Lu Li.

It had to be settled!

Smiling, she walked up to Ye Qiu. "There's a great deal involved here, large and small."

As she spoke, she opened her Storage Ring and took out a pill. Purple light shimmered over its crystalline surface.

It was no low-grade pill!

It was a High-Grade Spirit Pill!

Pills were graded from one to nine. Only those above the ninth grade were called Spirit Pills, and even the cheapest Spirit Pill was worth a hundred thousand Spirit Crystals.

This one was at least third grade, worth three hundred thousand—perhaps even five hundred thousand!

Holding out the pill, Liu Xiu stepped up to Ye Qiu. "You've certainly suffered over these ten years. It's only natural to bear some resentment... Take this pill as a gift from me."

Ye Qiu glanced at her. "It isn't poisoned, is it?"

Liu Xiu smiled. "It's a Fourth-Grade Spirit Pill!"

Ye Qiu considered it, then reached out, picked up the pill, and popped it straight into his mouth.

He wouldn't fear it even if it were poisoned. Brother Snake had told him that when it came to the Pill Dao, he could sweep aside anyone in the mortal world!

Even poison could be neutralized with ease.

Nothing to fear!

The pill dissolved quickly in his mouth. A vast surge of energy flowed into his abdomen and spread through him.

At that moment, his Qi and Blood and cultivation began to grow at a startling speed.

He had to admit... it tasted good, and it worked even better!

Good stuff!

Watching Ye Qiu swallow the pill, Liu Xiu's smile softened further. "No grudge between father and son should last overnight. You're bound by blood, after all."

"Your younger brother has a unique constitution. He won't stay in Southern State forever. Once he leaves, won't the Young Master Position of the Ye Clan still be yours?"

Ye Qiu smiled at her. "Really?"

Liu Xiu nodded. "As long as you agree to break off the engagement, you'll be the one leading the Ye Clan sooner or later."

Ye Qiu nodded. "Sure. Come find me when he's gone."

With that, he turned to leave.

You thought one pill would buy me?

Well, I ate it!

No sense letting it go to waste!

You were the one who offered!

Liu Xiu's expression turned ugly. Staring at Ye Qiu's back, she demanded, "Tell me what it'll take for you to agree!"

Without turning around, Ye Qiu said, "Die right now, and I'll agree at once!"

"You..." The killing intent behind him suddenly turned icy.

Ye Qiu remained unmoved.

Ye Jiangshan roared, "Do you have any regard for me as your father?"

Ye Qiu laughed. "Isn't it obvious? None at all!"

Ye Jiangshan fell silent.

Ye Qiu looked at him. "I used to, though... Before I turned seven, I called you Father so affectionately. But I'm not seven anymore!"

"Unfilial wretch!" Ye Jiangshan's Qi and Blood surged. He breathed hard for a long while before continuing. "You and Lu Li aren't even on the same level! Even if you cling to this engagement, the two of you will never be together!"

"Lu Li is Southern State's foremost genius. Why would he ever choose you?"

His voice grew heavy. "And do you know how many Aristocratic Clans, great clans, and monstrous young talents in Southern State have their eyes on Lu Li?"

"How many people at Nanzhou Academy care about him?"

"Once word of your engagement spreads, it'll bring you endless trouble!"

"You won't even know what killed you!"

Ye Qiu strode toward the Ye Clan's exit. "Don't worry. Put your heart back in your chest. Even if I die, I, Ye Qiu, won't die in the Ye Clan!"

"Besides, it's not like I haven't nearly died before..."

During his ten years with the Wen Family, he had fought in countless battles and brushed against death more times than he could count.

Once, he had lain in bed for three months, unable to open his eyes, his life hanging by a thread.

Wen Zheng had written to the Ye Clan many times, but never received a single reply...

Once, he had lain buried beneath corpses for three days and three nights. Wen Zheng had dug him out of the mangled flesh, weeping as he worked.

There had been other times...

So many others.

He was used to it!

Bang—

Ye Qiu left without hesitation, his head held high. Outside the Ye Clan estate, he kicked its gates to pieces. His mother had hired someone to install them when the mansion was renovated years ago.

Then he stepped over the splintered gates, reached the street, turned left, and strode toward the Academy.

He did not know that, as he walked away, the plaque behind him bearing the three characters "King Ye's Mansion" trembled faintly. The farther he went, the harder it shook.

Once Ye Qiu vanished from sight, the plaque suddenly jolted. The guards looked up in surprise, then their eyes widened.

Crack—

A fissure split the plaque.

Boom—

The plaque exploded!

King Ye's Mansion... crumbled!