Ye Yu's expression turned grave. He immediately formed seals with both hands, and Spiritual Seals gathered before him.
The next moment, a gleam flashed through Ye Yu's eyes, and the workings of the entire sect-protecting formation were laid bare before him.
After watching for a while, Ye Yu took a deep breath, his brow knitting tighter and tighter.
"How is it? Can it be broken?" Qin Ruoxian asked.
Ye Yu shook his head. Just as he was about to speak, a startled cry rang out beside them.
The two turned to look and saw Spiritual Seals emerging around Ye Xuan, densely packed, numbering no fewer than a thousand.
A trace of surprise crossed Qin Ruoxian's face, but that was all.
Ye Yu, however, had expected it. His expression remained calm. Ye Xuan's talent had never been poor; he had merely been concealing it all this time.
After a long while, Ye Xuan's delighted voice rang out. "Though this sect-protecting formation is formidable, it has endured the ravages of time and retains less than a tenth of its peak power. So long as Imperial Brother cooperates with me, I am confident I can break it."
As soon as those words fell, everyone's gaze turned to Ye Yu, filled with anticipation.
The ruins of a sect that had once dominated Azure Prefecture stood right before them. Who would not be tempted?
Even Qin Yue and Qin Xiong became excited.
"I do not know how to break formations. I advise you not to break it either. It would be better to find another way up," Ye Yu said, looking at the mountain before them.
Just as Ye Xuan had said, this sect-protecting formation had been worn down by time until it was on the verge of collapse. If Ye Yu truly wanted to break it, he absolutely could.
But when Ye Yu had observed the formation's flow just now, he had not detected even a trace of Nine Nether Blood Qi.
There were clearly so many blood corpses at the foot of the mountain, yet there was no Nine Nether Blood Qi on Sacred Pill Sect Mountain. That alone was abnormal.
According to Ye Yu's judgment, Sacred Pill Sect's sect-protecting formation was likely more than a simple defense for the sect. More likely, it was sealing the Nine Nether Blood Spring.
"I know Imperial Brother dislikes me, but this concerns everyone's well-being. I ask that Imperial Brother lend me a hand," Ye Xuan said with considerable sincerity.
Seeing Ye Xuan like this, everyone's gazes toward Ye Yu grew solemn. Even Qin Yue and Qin Xiong's expressions turned rather unpleasant.
"Why are you asking him? I think he simply cannot stand seeing you do well. He lacks the ability to break the sect-protecting formation, and he does not want you to break it either. A person like him has nothing but darkness in his heart," Liu Ruyan mocked.
"Say whatever you want. I can only remind you that the price of breaking this formation may be more than you can bear," Ye Yu said, pulling Qin Ruoxian a few steps back.
He had said all that needed to be said and done all that benevolence required. If they still chose to break the formation, there was nothing he could do.
Qin Ruoxian naturally supported Ye Yu without condition and silently stood at his side.
"Heh, failing to break the formation is one thing, but now you are even spreading alarmist nonsense. It is only an ancient ruin. Could there really be any danger?" Liu Ruyan said disdainfully.
Ye Qingshuang frowned as she looked at Ye Yu, her feet unconsciously taking a step back.
"Since Imperial Brother insists, then do as you please. However, once the formation is broken, I hope Imperial Brother will not rely on his higher cultivation to seize the leading position. If you need that position, just tell me. I will yield it to you," Ye Xuan said to Ye Yu with a smile.
As soon as those words fell, the hostility of those around them toward Ye Yu deepened.
Yet to everyone's surprise, Ye Yu smiled upon hearing this. "Fine. Then I'll have to trouble you, Imperial Brother."
The smile on Ye Xuan's face instantly froze. He had never expected Ye Yu to suddenly pull something like this.
"Ye Yu, have you no shame? How can you possibly have the nerve to make Xiao Xuan give up his place for you?" Liu Ruyan snapped.
"What? Wasn't it his own offer? Surely Imperial Brother isn't reluctant now?" Ye Yu said, his gaze falling on Ye Xuan, amusement written all over his face.
Ye Xuan's mouth twitched. Putting on a troubled expression, he said, "Naturally, I am willing, but I fear everyone else may not be."
"Oh? Which of you disagrees with Imperial Brother yielding his position to me?" Ye Yu asked lightly, sweeping his gaze over the crowd.
Everyone swept by Ye Yu's gaze was startled and tacitly shut their mouths. For some reason, none of their Guardians had followed them in. With no Nascent Soul Realm cultivators present, none of them dared to provoke Ye Yu.
This was an internal matter of Great Flame. Since it did not threaten their own interests, naturally they would not interfere.
"See? No one objects. What do you say, Imperial Brother?" Ye Yu raised a brow and smiled.
Ye Xuan's face flushed red, but he did not know how to refute him. After all, he had said it himself. If he went back on his word now, would not the image he had cultivated for so long be ruined?
"Ye Yu, enough! Xiao Xuan only said it casually. Why are you taking it seriously?" Ye Qingshuang could no longer watch and immediately spoke up.
Ye Yu turned to glance at Ye Qingshuang. "Oh, he said it casually. I understand. Do not worry, I will not make things difficult for your good little brother."
Ye Yu had never cared about this so-called leading position to begin with, much less such a dangerous one.
Ye Qingshuang was stunned by Ye Yu's sudden easygoing attitude. Then a trace of joy rose in her heart. Ye Yu was still willing to listen to her!
Only after Ye Yu walked away did Ye Xuan finally let out a long breath. He then said to those behind him, "Friends who have some understanding of formations, please come forth and lend me a hand."
As soon as he spoke, more than a thousand Spiritual Seals condensed around Ye Xuan and merged into the formation before him.
Several people also stepped out from behind him. Spiritual Seals appeared around them as well, though they had far fewer than Ye Xuan, each possessing only a little over three hundred.
At once, a humming sound rang out. A curtain of light lit up across the entire Sacred Pill Mountain, revealing the whole sect-protecting formation as it began to dissolve at a speed visible to the naked eye.
Seeing this, Qin Yue could not help saying, "Ninth Sister, is there really danger? In a secret realm like this, taking one step too slowly is like falling a whole stretch behind!"
"Do not worry. Ye Yu will not be wrong," Qin Ruoxian said with a smile to Qin Yue, though her eyes remained fixed firmly on the sect-protecting formation before them.
As time passed, the curtain of light that had originally shrouded all of Sacred Pill Mountain was left covering only a portion of the summit. The rest had been cleared away almost completely.
Crack!
Suddenly, a faint sound of breaking rang out. The entire mountain trembled, and amid a humming roar, the sect-protecting formation collapsed with a thunderous crash.
Ye Xuan opened his eyes at that moment, his face brimming with smug satisfaction.
"Heh, certain people said there would be danger. Now that the formation has been broken, why do I not see any danger? Some people cannot do it themselves, yet refuse to let others do it. They envy others, without realizing that they simply are no match for Xiao Xuan," Liu Ruyan sneered, every word barbed.
Qin Yue and Qin Xiong looked at the completely empty mountain path, their expressions no better.
"Sister Ruyan, Imperial Brother meant well too. Please do not blame—" Before Ye Xuan could finish, someone beside him suddenly cried out.
"What is that!"
Everyone looked up and saw a red mist rising from the forest. Within several breaths, it swept down toward the people at the foot of the mountain.
"This is... Nine Nether Blood Qi!" After Ye Qingshuang saw it clearly, she cried out, her expression turning ugly.
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