"To be honest, your father and grandfather are having a very difficult time in the Ye family these days. There are reports of a traitor. Huoque Mountain, which should have been guarded by Ye Xuanqing, has been occupied by Spirit Realm cultivators. Ye Xuanqing lost his position as clan leader, Ye Yuze cannot even protect himself, and as the young clan lord, you have long been nothing more than a figurehead."
Qin Lüsha spoke these words next to Ye Nantian without showing a trace of emotion.
The more detailed she was, the paler Ye Nantian's face became.
"The Ye family is one of the three great families of the Central Domain. Grandfather and Father were planning to form an alliance with the Yu family. Our Ye family cannot possibly have a traitor!"
"You…" Qin Lüsha intended to continue revealing the truth.
Yao Ranran raised a hand. "Believe it or not is up to him. I'm only giving him one choice: either find the Ye family treasure vault or be reborn."
Ye Nantian's pupils constricted sharply, fear flickering deep in his eyes.
Qin Lüsha flung a strip of light silk to coil around his throat. "If we hadn't captured you, you would already be dead at the hands of the Ye family traitor!"
Terrified, Ye Nantian raised both hands and clutched the thin silk around his throat. "Take me to the Central Domain. I need to see the Ye family for myself before I can agree to your demands!"
Qin Lüsha glanced at Yao Ranran.
Yao Ranran nodded slightly.
Qin Lüsha said, "Good. Immediately follow me to the Central Domain."
Ye Nantian did not expect her to agree so simply, and a sense of answer seemed to settle in his heart.
Qin Lüsha led Ye Nantian away. Yao Ranran watched them leave through the teleportation array, then withdrew her gaze and continued looking at the sky.
"Hopefully the Ye family treasure vault hasn't been seized by Spirit Realm cultivators. Otherwise, there will be some trouble."
Not long after Qin Lüsha and Ye Nantian transmitted away, Mu Xin's fleeing light appeared on the horizon.
"That Spirit Realm cultivator escaped. Did you set up the grand array in the Eastern Wilderness?"
Mu Xin asked bluntly.
Yao Ranran watched Mu Xin return to Gu Ling Mountain and nodded. "I know. He hasn't escaped the Eastern Wilderness. Sooner or later, he will come after us again."
"Are you really that certain?" Mu Xin questioned, staring at her.
Yao Ranran smiled. "As your master, I am very certain."
Mu Xin ground his teeth in frustration. He shouldn't have asked that question! Talking to Yao Ranran never gains him any advantage. He crouched in the corner, swearing to break this master-servant contract!
On the other side, the Phoenix watched him warily, then ran to Yao Ranran's side, brushing its head gently against her sleeve.
"You will never surpass my position in my master's heart!"
"Who's speaking?" Mu Xin opened his eyes and saw the Phoenix's provocative gaze. His mouth twitched. "No one even cares about surpassing you!"
Mu Xin turned angrily, not wanting to see the Phoenix anymore.
The Phoenix, seeing he dared not respond, felt increasingly triumphant. "A mere little wild soul cannot compare to me, a divine beast Phoenix!"
It joyfully transmitted its voice to Mu Xin.
Mu Xin clenched both fists inside his sleeves, forcing himself to endure the humiliation of the telepathic words. "As soon as I break the master-servant contract, this annoying Phoenix and that arrogant woman will become my pets!"
He fantasized about the bright future, unconsciously closing his eyes again to cultivate.
Time passed little by little.
A night later, Qin Lüsha led the dejected Ye Nantian back to Gu Ling Mountain.
"Ran Ran Xiānzhǔ, he revealed the location of the Ye family treasure vault. Luckily, we transmitted it using a small teleportation array. If we had been even a moment later, the Spirit Realm cultivators would have emptied the vault!"
Her pretty face showed an unrestrained smile.
Yao Ranran observed the stark contrast in expressions between the two and smiled faintly.
"Well done. Has the Ye family already become a puppet of the Spirit Realm cultivators?"
"Yes. Ye Xuanqing was killed. Ye Yuze escaped heavily wounded and is missing. The Ye family is now only an empty shell!"
No sooner had Qin Lüsha finished speaking than Ye Nantian banged the ground and performed a deep bow before Yao Ranran.
"I will avenge my father. I will avenge my Ye family!"
Caught off guard by the deep bow, Yao Ranran's expression remained calm. "Is the reason you came back with Qin Louzhu for this?"
Ye Nantian lifted his head, tears soaking his clothes. "Yes. I cannot survive in this world while the traitors of my Ye family go unpunished. Only Ye family members can deal with them!"
Yao Ranran appraised him coolly.
"Weak. Useless. If Qin Louzhu wants to keep him, you can do it."
She then turned away, ignoring Ye Nantian.
Qin Lüsha froze for a moment, then left Gu Ling Mountain with Ye Nantian, tears streaming down his face.
Yao Ranran looked at the tranquil sky and casually raised her hand. A beam of spiritual light flew swiftly into her palm, forming a few lines of words in the void.
"Old Ancestor of Wuxiang Sect, your disciple Han Huijun has failed to bear the heavy responsibility, letting the sect fall into peril. Now Miao Yun Sect's ascended ancestor descends to attack Wuxiang Sect. This unfilial disciple only hopes you can hear our plea and save Wuxiang Sect in its moment of crisis!"
Yao Ranran watched the words dissipate in surprise.
"If this plea reached the Eastern Wilderness, doesn't that mean the fleeing Spirit Realm cultivator is very likely the Wuxiang Sect's ancestor?"
"Yes. It's Mo Rui!" Mu Xin spoke beside her.
Information about Mo Rui quickly surfaced in Yao Ranran's mind.
"I see. Spirit Realm cultivators are all cut from the same cloth."
She crushed the spiritual light in her palm, a trace of killing intent flickering in her eyes.
"Mu Xin, go force Mo Rui out."
With a light, effortless command, Mu Xin's cultivation was immediately interrupted. He rose uncontrollably and leapt into the air.
"Damn it! What kind of master-servant contract is this? Why is it so powerful!"
While begrudgingly following the order, Mu Xin cursed continuously.
-
Eastern Wilderness, Kumu Mountain Range.
Mo Rui touched his right eye, which twitched unnaturally.
"This is not a good sign. My whereabouts may already be exposed!"
He immediately dove deeper into the mountains, leaving no time to delay.
A gentle breeze swayed the tender grass.
A ghostly figure suddenly appeared. Mu Xin squinted, staring into the depths of Kumu Mountain Range, smirking.
"If she said you're hiding inside, then I'll go in and see for myself!"
Creak! Creak!
He crushed the dry branches underfoot and pursued the direction of Mo Rui.
-
Central Domain.
Wuxiang Sect.
Han Huijun's face revealed a rare hint of joy.
"Junior Brother, I can feel that the immortal scripture has been seen by the ancestor!"
Shen Yuefu pressed his lips together. "Good."
"Yes. He will descend very soon!" Han Huijun's exhausted body felt relaxed.
Shen Yuefu's gaze shifted slightly, as if sensing something.
"Sect master, Elder Yue is here."
Han Huijun's briefly relaxed expression tightened abruptly.
"Isn't he supposed to be caring for Pei Xianqiao? How does he have time to come here?"
If possible, he wished Yue Qingsu would stay beside Pei Xianqiao. Then he wouldn't have to deal with the problem he couldn't solve.
"Han Huijun, I will kill Yao Ranran!"