Heavenly Profound Divine Ring, Hidden Mission, Old Grandfather Saintess

"I did nothing wrong. Why should I kneel and apologize to him?"

Ye Fan spat blood, his chest caved in and his mouth filled with thick, crimson blood. Yet not only did he refuse to yield, he glared at Chu Tian and roared:

"I, Ye Fan, kneel neither to Heaven nor Earth—I kneel only to my parents."

"So what if he's first on the Hengtian Earth Ranking? If my meridians hadn't been severed since childhood, I wouldn't be inferior to him. Give me more time, and Chu Tian won't be my match either."

"If you have any grievances, come at me. Don't drag Elder Hongwu into this, you bastards!"

"Congratulations, Host. You have dealt a severe blow to Son of Destiny Ye Fan's mental state. Reward: 1,000 Destiny Points."

Chu Tian walked over, crouched halfway down, and looked down at Ye Fan. Calmly and indifferently, he said, "Trash, with your talent and strength, you weren't even worthy of catching my attention."

"You were even less worthy of making me kill you personally. You'd only dirty my hands."

"But Ye Hongwu and certain others went so far as to scheme against me behind the scenes for your sake, wanting you to suck blood from me. They truly have no regard for law or order."

"Tell me, who else is behind you? Is it only Grand Elder Ye Hongwu?" Chu Tian seemed to be questioning Ye Fan, but his eyes turned toward Ye Tianxiong, the corners of his lips lifting slightly. "Uncle Tianxiong, you are the Sacred Heaven Sect Master and know more than anyone."

"Do you think Grand Elder Ye Hongwu alone truly had the ability to control the sect's overall situation, evade the notice of so many experts from my Chu Family, toy with the Liu Family in the palm of his hand, obtain the sect's deepest secrets, and take numerous supreme treasures and Divine Medicines from my Chu Family to prolong this trash's life?"

"Why do I feel that there's an even greater figure hiding deeper behind the scenes?"

Ye Tianxiong stared at Chu Tian's childish little face, his expression incomparably grim. No one knew what he was thinking. Only after a long while did he speak. "Grand Elder Hongwu is a Half-step Emperor Venerable. He has overseen many of the sect's vital departments, made immense contributions to the sect, and is greatly respected. Little Tian, if you don't consider even him a major figure, then who do you consider one?"

"The masters of the various halls? The peak masters? Or perhaps... this Sect Master?"

Ye Tianxiong's gaze was cold, revealing little emotion, but the hand clutching the chains had already tightened. A terrifying aura spread outward, causing the heavens to darken and shift.

"Slandering a Grand Elder is a grave crime. It has even affected the overall unity and stability of the Sacred Heaven Sect. Little Tian, though you are the Holy Son, you are still young. There are many things you do not understand or know. Do not let traitors influence you."

Ye Tianxiong cast a murderous glance at Chu Tianyun.

He believed someone from the Chu Family must be causing trouble behind the scenes—most likely Chu Tianyun, one of the Chu Family's top-ranking great figures and the master of the Law Enforcement Hall.

"Someone is scheming against me behind the scenes. My Third Uncle is standing up for me—how did that become my Chu Family sabotaging the overall unity and stability of the sect?"

A chill hung over Chu Tian's childish face as he said each word distinctly, "Sect Master, that hat you're trying to pin on me is far too large. You should take it back and wear it yourself."

"Since this involves Grand Elder Ye Hongwu, then detain Ye Hongwu first and interrogate him thoroughly. Let us see who exactly is ruining the unity and stability of the Sacred Heaven Sect."

"Uncle truly underestimated you before, Little Tian."

Ye Tianxiong gave Chu Tian a deep look and said in a low voice, "Every Grand Elder has made great contributions to the Sacred Heaven Sect and holds a high-ranking position. There must be a thorough investigation and sufficient evidence before an arrest can be made."

Ye Tianxiong looked to Chu Tianwang and said deeply, "Tianwang, there must be some misunderstanding here. Do not be misled by fabricated information. One careless step in this matter could plunge the sect into turmoil. As the Sect Master and Vice Sect Master, you and I bear enormous responsibility. We absolutely cannot be led astray by our emotions."

"Misled? That Little Ju'er underwent Soul Searching. Everything in her memories was recorded clearly—she was a death warrior cultivated by Ye Hongwu." Yet at this moment, Chu Tianwang unusually raised his head and coldly questioned Ye Tianxiong, his eyes filled with Baleful Intent.

"Big Brother, the facts and evidence are all here, yet you're telling me this is misleading?"

"The Heavenly Origin Fruit, the Star Spirit, the Dragon Blood Vine, and even the Sacred Vein Flower Fruit this time—which one of these was not a sect treasure?"

"Little Tian is my son, and he is also your nephew. How could you say such things so brazenly?"

"Fortunately, Little Tian acted decisively and arrested Little Ju'er this time. Otherwise, in a few years, when Little Ju'er suddenly disappeared and word of these stolen Divine Medicines and treasures leaked out, even if Little Tian jumped into the Heavenly Star Sea, he would never wash these crimes clean."

"How would the other families, experts, and hundreds of thousands of disciples in the sect view Little Tian, this young Holy Son?"

"Tianwang, don't get agitated. There may be some misunderstanding here. Let your big brother return and question Uncle Hongwu first," Ye Tianxiong said in a deep voice. He understood that with this matter involving a Ye Family Grand Elder and Chu Tian, Chu Tianwang was truly enraged this time.

Chu Tianwang abruptly raised his head, his eyes bloodshot. "Big Brother, I can yield and make certain compromises for the greater good of the sect, but that does not mean I will permit others to scheme against my son behind the scenes."

"I thought it was merely children fooling around."

"But your Ye Family went too far this time. Ye Hongwu must pay a terrible price."

A terrifying aura surged from Chu Tianwang's body and pressed against the other. The sky itself twisted—then shattered outright.

A huge black vortex appeared in the heavens, terrifying beyond measure and enough to make one tremble.

This was a confrontation between two Emperor Venerables renowned on the Heaven Ranking, both figures who could be counted among the greatest in the history of Hengtian Continent.

"Tianwang, for the stability of the sect—and with this involving Uncle Hongwu—can't you let your big brother return and investigate carefully first?" Ye Tianxiong's gaze was imposing and cold as he refused to yield a single step.

The heavens seemed to suffocate. Within the Sacred Heaven Sect, no one knew how many experts had gone cold all over in fright.

The Sacred Heaven Sect had not faced a crisis of this magnitude for far, far too long.

The Sect Master and Vice Sect Master stood in confrontation, and behind them stood two Founding Families. One misstep, and the sect would fall into civil war—a World Destroyer-like catastrophe that could even split the Sacred Heaven Sect apart.

"If you want to kill or torture someone, come at me. You're not allowed to hurt Grandpa Hongwu!"

At the side, Ye Fan trembled in terror. Yet no matter how he struggled and roared, he could not move even an inch. A mere wisp of Chu Tianwang's leaking aura caused blood to seep continuously from every pore of his body.

At that moment, a faint wisp of aura suddenly enveloped his body, shielding him from most of the oppressive force leaking outward.

Everyone's attention was fixed on the two Emperor Venerables, but Chu Tian had been watching Ye Fan all along. He immediately spotted the Black Ring on Ye Fan's left middle finger.

Just now, a flash of black light had flowed through that ring.

"It seems the Heavenly Profound Divine Ring has begun to awaken. I wonder whether the Heavenly Profound Saintess inside has awakened yet."

Cold light flickered in Chu Tian's eyes. He suddenly stepped forward and stomped on Ye Fan's arm, saying icily, "My father and the Sect Master are speaking about matters involving a Grand Elder. Is it your place, trash, to spout such nonsense?"

He exerted force beneath his foot, grinding Ye Fan's arm bones into powder. Yet his other hand moved like lightning, removing the Black Ring from Ye Fan's finger and slipping it into his possession.

The Heavenly Profound Divine Ring—this was the source of the Heavenly Profound Emperor in the original work.

Ye Fan had risen to prominence through this Ancient Divine Ring and the Heavenly Profound Saintess within it.

The Heavenly Profound Saintess was equivalent to an old grandfather. Given this opportunity, Chu Tian naturally would not allow Ye Fan another chance to rise.

Ye Fan let out a shrill scream. His arm had been completely crushed, and he did not even notice that the Black Ring on his hand had vanished.

Moreover, Chu Tian deliberately crouched down to block everyone's line of sight. The many gazes in the sect were focused on Ye Tianxiong and Chu Tianwang, so no one noticed him take the Black Ring from Ye Fan's hand.

"Congratulations, Host. You have seized the protagonist's great opportunity, the Heavenly Profound Divine Ring. Reward: 10,000 Destiny Points."

"The Host has seized Son of Destiny's supreme treasure, the Heavenly Profound Divine Ring, triggering a hidden mission: subdue the Heavenly Profound Saintess."

"Go, Host! Subdue the Heavenly Profound Saintess, and you will receive generous rewards from the system." A gentle, pleasant female voice cheered Chu Tian on.

"What a vicious little beast." Ye Tianxiong's gaze subconsciously swept over Chu Tian. Believing that Chu Tian was merely taking revenge on Ye Fan, he turned his eyes to Chu Tianwang.

"Tianwang, what do you think of this?"

"Your big brother will immediately return to detain Ye Hongwu and question him personally. Within three days at most, I will certainly give you a satisfactory explanation."

Faced with Ye Tianxiong's forcefulness, Chu Tianwang's expression shifted darkly. His eyes were heavily bloodshot, and though he keenly sensed that something was wrong, he found it difficult to refuse outright.

After all, Ye Tianxiong had personally escorted his nephew Ye Fan here to apologize. His manners had been impeccable, and he had given the Chu Family ample face.

Ye Hongwu was indeed a major figure in the Ye Family, an elder of Ye Tianxiong's generation. Arresting him directly would have an enormous impact.

"Uncle Tianxiong, your nephew thinks that would be inappropriate."

Seeing Chu Tianwang about to back down again, cold light flashed in Chu Tian's eyes. He immediately rose to his feet and spoke calmly, no longer paying attention to Ye Fan's wails.

"Three days is too long. What if Ye Hongwu has other accomplices behind him, or an even greater figure? Wouldn't that give him the chance to clear himself of all ties?"

"Furthermore, as a Grand Elder, he knows many of our sect's critical secrets. If he defected, or did something irrational, the damage to the sect's interests would be immense. He must be brought under control immediately and interrogated strictly."

"Tianwang, is this your intention as well?" Ye Tianxiong questioned coldly, unwilling to keep tangling with Chu Tian.

He could not understand it either. Chu Tian was the Holy Son, but he was so young—how could he analyze matters so clearly, and repeatedly dare to interrupt their conversation?

At such a young age, he seemed to have Chu Tianwang completely wrapped around his finger.

This was not normal!

In the past, Chu Tianwang should have been the unquestioned authority within the Chu Family.

Too many things today had exceeded his expectations.

Chu Tianwang's face was ugly and gloomy. He ignored Ye Tianxiong's question, not only because he had promised to let Chu Tian handle this matter, but also because his heart was filled with fury.

Seeing this, a ruthless decisiveness utterly unsuited to his age appeared on Chu Tian's childish face. He abruptly turned to Chu Tianyun, Sha Qi surging around him, and said, "Third Uncle, this is a matter of great importance. Time waits for no one. As the master of the Law Enforcement Hall, you have the authority to act first and report afterward—to make decisive judgments."

"Little Tian, you're right. He must be arrested and questioned immediately."

"If you hadn't acted decisively last time and arrested Ju'er, the Liu Family would have nearly smuggled her away."

Having received Chu Tian's direct signal, Chu Tianyun's Sha Qi surged. He did not hesitate, immediately roaring, "Law Enforcement Hall, heed my order! Seal off the Sacred Heaven Elder Secret Realm at once. No one is permitted to enter or leave."

"If anything goes wrong, this Hall Master will bear the responsibility."

Chu Tianyun's Sha Qi surged as he flew off directly, without even seeking the consent of Chu Tianwang or Ye Tianxiong.

It had been Jian Kongzhu who said that this matter should be handled by his nephew Chu Tian, and Chu Tianwang had personally agreed to it. No blame could fall upon him afterward.

Clatter, clatter...

On the other side, above Law Enforcement Peak, thick Golden Chains pierced through the heavens. Runes covered them, divine light flashing as they bound a massive secret realm deep within the void.

One supreme expert after another flew from Law Enforcement Peak, following Chu Tianyun toward the secret realm, Sha Qi filling the sky.

The entire Sacred Heaven Sect was shaken!

The Chu Family's third-ranking figure had actually led the Law Enforcement Hall to seal off the Elder Secret Realm.

Something truly major was about to happen.