Yun Tianying didn't expect that his father's embarrassing secret was still known by someone. Back then, his grandfather, after realizing the potential for massive damage caused by the Eight-headed Serpent, knew that it might end in mutual destruction. Therefore, he ordered Yun Tianying's father, Yun Shan, to return to Yunlai Sect midway through the battle.
"Kill him!" Yun Tianying said with a grim expression at Ye Qingyi.
As soon as the words fell, the four people behind Yun Tianying moved. The burly man at the late stage of Foundation Establishment was the fastest, instantly appearing beside Ye Qingyi.
The burly man reached Ye Qingyi and threw a punch at him.
At the same time, a broken sword flew out from the forest towards the burly man's hand. The burly man's expression tensed, and he flipped backward. The broken sword pursued, striking one after another.
"Who's there?" A crooked staff appeared in the burly man's hand, and he swung it towards the broken sword. However, the broken sword's material was inherently mysterious. With a flash of sword light, the staff was instantly split in two.
"What a sharp sword!" The burly man narrowed his eyes, knowing that the newcomer was not to be trifled with. His cultivation might be similar to his own, making him a formidable opponent.
"Stop!" the burly man shouted sternly. Yun Tianying, who was about to act, halted his movements.
Yun Tianying and the others looked at the burly man in confusion. Only when they saw the sword floating in mid-air and the staff split in two in the burly man's hand did they understand what was happening.
"Who's hiding in the shadows? Sneaking around, what kind of righteous sect is that?" Yun Tianying spoke.
"I have no sect, nor am I a righteous one," Ye Bufan's voice echoed through the area. "Several grown men attacking two girls, aren't you ashamed?"
Yun Tianying's face turned extremely ugly, "They are like my father, so they deserve to die."
"Then how should we settle the score for your slanderous words towards two girls earlier?" Ye Bufan asked.
"I merely said that we are here to propose marriage, when did I slander?" Yun Tianying retorted.
Upon hearing this, Ye Qingcheng couldn't help but roll her eyes. "With that lecherous look of yours just now, it was as if you wanted to devour us alive."
Yun Tianying glared fiercely at Ye Qingcheng, wanting her to shut up. Ye Qingcheng stuck her tongue out at him and said, "What? You don't even let me speak?"
"I am the Young Sect Master of Yunlai Sect. It is your fortune that I fancy you," Yun Tianying declared. "There are so many girls who want to marry this Young Sect Master, yet I don't even spare them a glance."
"Disgusting," Ye Qingcheng remarked. "Do you think you're handsome?"
"You!" Yun Tianying looked at Ye Qingcheng, momentarily speechless.
"Old Xu, do you have a chance?" Yun Tianying transmitted his voice to the burly man, wanting to assess the current situation.
"Young Sect Master, the opponent is in the shadows, and I cannot yet discern their strength. However, this broken sword is extremely peculiar. My staff is a Profound tier magical artifact, yet it was destroyed before this artifact," the burly man replied.
The burly man was named Xu Chang, an elder of Yunlai Sect, who had been taken in by Yun Shan, the current Sect Master of Yunlai Sect.
"Alright, then we leave. We will meet again, and at that time, we will definitely make them regret it!"
Yun Tianying felt that the situation was not entirely in his favor and saw no need to do something that yielded no benefit and only caused trouble.
"Very well, I have noted you down. We are all heading to deal with the Eight-headed Serpent together, so we will meet again. By then, I hope you can take care of yourselves and won't beg us for help." Yun Tianying issued a parting threat.
"Hahaha, don't be too confident in your strength," Ye Qingcheng said. "We'll see who helps whom then."
Yun Tianying glanced back at Ye Qingcheng, cursing inwardly, "I hope by then, you'll still have the energy to talk to me from my bed."
Xu Chang followed Yun Tianying's footsteps, and the other three elders at the early stage of Foundation Establishment also followed.
After they had walked a distance, Yun Tianying angrily struck a nearby tree with a palm. Several surrounding trees collapsed in unison.
"Outrageous! Outrageous!" Yun Tianying stamped his foot in anger. "Old Xu, you don't have a chance against the person in the shadows?"
Xu Chang frowned and said, "It's hard to say. The opponent's sword control is extremely skillful, coupled with his broken sword. Unless he appears and engages in close combat with me, the outcome is uncertain."
"Hmph!" Yun Tianying said with a grim expression. "Then we'll wait for the Eight-headed Serpent to revive. We'll hide in the shadows and let them suffer a bit first, then reap the benefits. At that time, those two girls will have to beg me."
Hearing Yun Tianying's plan, Xu Chang sighed helplessly. Yun Tianying's thinking was still too simplistic, blinded by the dogma of the sect. He finally understood why the Sect Master had sent Yun Tianying out for trials.
"Careful!" At this moment, Xu Chang leaped towards Yun Tianying, knocking him down.
"Bang—" The spot where Yun Tianying had been standing suddenly exploded, and many figures dressed in black emerged from all directions.
"What... what is happening?" Yun Tianying looked at these people in confusion.
"We've been targeted by people from Sakura Island," Xu Chang said.
As soon as he spoke, a voice descended from the sky. Upon seeing the newcomer, Xu Chang's brow furrowed. Another late stage Foundation Establishment cultivator.
"Young Sect Master, it seems we're in for a tough fight," Xu Chang said.
"I was just looking for an outlet for my anger. This is perfect. You handle that late stage Foundation Establishment cultivator. As for these insignificant minions, they haven't even reached Foundation Establishment, and they're not enough to fill my teeth." Yun Tianying said.
...
Meanwhile, Lin Zhi, who had been healing for nearly six hours, finally opened his eyes from his cultivation.
"Hoo—" Lin Zhi exhaled a breath of turbid air.
"Eh—"
Seeing Ye Qingcheng, a flicker of shock crossed Lin Zhi's eyes.
"Little girl... are you together?"
"Elder, we are indeed together," Ye Qingcheng replied. "Do you remember when we were dealing with the Shikigami, the purple flames that ignited the weaker Shikigami were the masterpiece of this friend of mine."
Upon Ye Qingcheng's mention, Lin Zhi finally understood.
"To possess such cultivation at such a young age is a blessing to our Jiuzhou Continent," Lin Zhi said. "The odds of success in this expedition to围剿 the Eight-headed Serpent have increased by another point."
"Elder, your injuries are not yet healed, and the people you brought are also inconvenienced to act. Why don't you come with us?" Ye Qingyi suggested.
Hearing Ye Qingyi's words, Ye Qingcheng looked at her in confusion...