At the Ye Lineage's arrival, every gaze instantly converged, and everyone looked up.
"Well, well, as expected of our immortal ancient imperial clan, the Ye Lineage. Such a grand entrance, keeping us all waiting." A sarcastic voice rang out.
Hearing this, the various factions grew curious.
Who was courting death by provoking the Ye Lineage here?
At those chilling words, the Ye Lineage disciples all turned cold gazes toward the faction that had spoken.
Ahead stood a group clad entirely in black robes, their bodies giving off a dark, gloomy presence. Even the light around them seemed to dim.
"Boss, did you hear something? Who brought a canine spirit pet? Why do I hear a dog barking?" Taiyi drawled lazily.
Coupled with his childish voice, the words were truly devastating.
Ye Wushuang also smiled faintly. "Taiyi, don't insult dogs. I'd say these are just rats in the shadows."
"Hmph, you arrogant brat!" The old man leading that faction snorted, and a streak of dark Sword Qi condensed and slashed toward them.
The Ye Lineage's grand elder narrowed his eyes slightly. The Sword Qi actually dissipated straight into the world, while a streak of radiant Sword Qi slashed back.
The old man's mouth stiffened. Forcibly suppressing the turmoil inside him, he let a trickle of blood escape his lips.
"I was wondering who it was. So it's you creatures from the Nine Nether Imperial Dynasty, neither human nor ghost. Grown men standing there without a trace of masculine bearing," the Ye Lineage's grand elder sneered coldly.
"Nine Nether Imperial Dynasty, are you lot any good? The Ye Lineage mocked you like that, and you don't have the slightest temper?" The Ancient Qilin Cave's people sneered from the side.
Perhaps it was because of the characteristics of divine beasts and their small population.
Only a few people from the Ancient Qilin Cave had come this time, yet every one of them looked supremely arrogant.
The leader of their younger generation glanced toward the Ye Lineage and spoke mockingly.
"Has your Ye Lineage run out of people? That white-haired one doesn't give off the slightest presence. Did you bring him here as a pretty vase?"
His brazen words made the other factions sigh inwardly.
The immortal ancient Ye Lineage was the hardest steel plate among the imperial clans, and they had kicked it just like that. The Ancient Qilin Cave certainly had guts.
"You certainly talk big. I just wonder whether your strength can take a beating as well as your face turns heads," a sharp-tongued female qilin beside him said with a giggle.
The Qilin Ancient Clan's elder felt dizzy. Even when mocking someone, this little girl didn't forget to compliment his looks?
"Lin Zhan, I see you've forgotten the lesson I beat into you last time."
"Ethereal Sword Art."
A black-robed youth appeared on the distant horizon.
In an instant, he appeared before them and drove Lin Zhan back several steps with a single sword strike. The spilling Sword Qi sent the qilin woman, Lin Yu'er, flying as well.
Everyone was startled, inwardly marveling at the terror of that strike. As Sword Qi swept in all directions, all things fell silent, and the light twisted.
Realizing that no one had seen that person's sword technique clearly, everyone broke into cold sweats. Dead silence settled over the surroundings.
Lin Yu'er came back to her senses, her body trembling. "You're the Ye Lineage's Throne of the Ethereal Sword, Ye Jinghong!"
Not far from the Ye Lineage, a youth with two ancient swords on his back stood proudly.
"The Ye Lineage's Son of Heaven is not to be insulted." Ye Jinghong's cold voice rang out.
The leaders of the various factions could not help drawing sharp breaths. That white-haired young master, so handsome it was uncanny, was actually this generation's Son of Heaven of the Ye Lineage!
Lin Zhan put away his contemptuous gaze, his expression turning ugly. Even if he were an idiot, he could tell now that Ye Wushuang was no ordinary person.
Now, the Ye Lineage's sixth Throne of Order had driven him back with a single strike, making his earlier provocations look like a clown hopping about.
"Son of Heaven Wushuang." Ye Jinghong approached Ye Wushuang and cupped his hands in greeting.
"Thank you, elder cousin." Ye Wushuang returned the greeting.
Have I finally met my first Throne of Order in the Lineage? I've waited so long for this day. Ye Wushuang's eyes lit up as he considered it inwardly.
Will it be like the plots of those novels from my previous life, with this heaven's favored son refusing to accept me and coming to blows?
That would be the perfect chance to test the power of this Human Emperor Divine Ability.
"Look, I'm still so young. Why don't you become the Ye Lineage's Son of Heaven instead?" Ye Wushuang asked with a beaming smile.
At these words, the grand elder beside him nearly choked on air, while Ye Kongling and Ye Yanling covered their mouths and laughed.
The young master is so wicked, teasing the very first Throne of Order he meets like this.
Hearing this, Ye Jinghong waved his hands repeatedly, as though by reflex.
After all, he was still only a child just past ten, and those astonishing words had given him a fright.
Younger Cousin Wushuang, stop testing me!
"Younger Cousin Wushuang, the Lineage must have its reasons for choosing you as this generation's Son of Heaven to lead us. How could we casually question its decision?" Ye Jinghong said solemnly.
Then, even changing how he addressed him, Ye Jinghong spoke solemnly once more.
"Son of Heaven Wushuang, I believe you will shine with your own light and lead our Ye Lineage to wage war in this great era. When that time comes, we will surely stand above all the heavens and myriad worlds, unrivaled beneath heaven."
Those moving words left Ye Wushuang thoroughly stunned. Why isn't he following the script?
The Ye Lineage's nine years of compulsory education really are something.
He's paved himself such a broad road. Do all the disciples have such a grand outlook?
Looks like I'll have to rely on this bunch of turncoats outside if I want to show off in a big way.
Ye Wushuang laughed heartily. "Elder Cousin Jinghong, your words have taught me something too. It seems the Thrones of Order of our Ye Lineage truly are extraordinary."
The two exchanged smiles, each reaching out a hand and clasping the other's tightly.
Then Ye Jinghong turned toward the Nine Nether Imperial Dynasty and the Ancient Qilin Cave, his expression sharp as he changed the subject.
"My first meeting with my Lineage's Son of Heaven happened under such circumstances, with certain scum spoiling the mood. What a pity. Son of Heaven Wushuang, let me clear them away for you in advance out here."
Strands of Sword Qi encircled both groups. The older generation had just moved to intervene when the grand elder held them down outright.
"Let the young people settle their own affairs. If you old bones dare make any reckless moves, I won't hold back."
Ye Wushuang perked up as well. "Elder Cousin Jinghong, your kindness is hard to refuse, but leave the Ancient Qilin Cave to me."
The other factions watched this scene, thick with the smell of gunpowder, waiting with great interest.
By now, having witnessed Ye Jinghong's strength, both the Nine Nether Imperial Dynasty and the Ancient Qilin Cave had long since lost their initial composure.
The younger generations of both sides were even more speechless, grumbling inwardly.
You're so noble, so refined, using us to show off your deep brotherly bond.
On the Ancient Qilin Cave's side, Lin Zhan's face twisted viciously. "Since you're determined to have the fish die and the net break, we'll fight you to the end today."
"What makes you think you have what it takes to make the fish die and the net break against me?"
Ye Wushuang did not even raise his head, looking as though he had long since disregarded the Ancient Qilin Cave.
"You might be strong, but how can you alone contend with all of us joining forces?"
The other prodigies of the Ancient Qilin Cave each moved to a different position.
They were actually about to deploy the Ancient Qilin Cave's secret art, the Heavenly Qilin Combined Attack Formation.
They all revealed their true forms, and the formation they condensed took shape. A phantom of a Primordial Ink Qilin slowly formed.
At the formation's center was Lin Zhan, who had revealed his true form as an Ink Qilin.
He grinned viciously. "Today, we'll teach you a lesson you won't forget, you Ye Lineage brat."
"Oh?" Ahead of them, Ye Wushuang narrowed his eyes slightly, and a Human Emperor's pressure emerged.
The combined attack formation, already operating at its utmost limit, actually began collapsing outright!
Within moments, the Ink Qilin phantom shattered. Lin Zhan spat blood, his scales in disarray.
"How is that possible!"
"How can he be so strong? His presence alone pressed down on us until we couldn't breathe, and the formation collapsed outright."
"I thought you might give me a little surprise. Is this all you've got?" Ye Wushuang's expression remained calm, as though nothing had happened.