284: Chapter 284 Swallowing the Bitterness

"The Ye Family you mentioned—is that the same Family that's been causing trouble for your Xuanyou Sect?"

Fan Lang asked playfully.

His eyes were full of admiration. "If such a Family could be used by me, they would be a hundred times more useful than that Li Family, who are better at ruining things than achieving them!"

Xuan Yin was already heavily injured. Hearing Fan Lang's desire to win over the Ye Family, he was so enraged he nearly suffered a Qi Deviation.

"Fan Lang! You and I are partners. Now that I am in trouble, you actually humiliate me like this?!"

Xuan Yin roared. The sharp pain in his chest made his whole body twitch, and every word he spoke strained the Devilish Essence in his Dantian, which was on the verge of collapsing.

"That old fogey Ye Jing holds a strange artifact; his sneak attacks are impossible to guard against. If it were you, you might not have escaped unscathed!"

Fan Lang walked slowly to Xuan Yin and looked down at him. The faint Spiritual Qi radiating from his body seemed peaceful.

However, it contained the pressure of a Golden Core, firmly suppressing Xuan Yin's Devilish Qi and leaving him without even the strength to stand up.

A cold smile curled at the corner of his mouth, and his tone was indifferent to the point of being heartless. "Partners?

My Sect partnered with you to use the Xuanyou Sect to eliminate Yun Ling and clear the obstacles for the Lingxiao Sect's expansion. It wasn't to watch you get beaten into a shameful retreat by a mere Foundation Establishment Family head."

He paused, his gaze deep as if calculating something. "That devilish artifact that hides in the void and ignores defenses, as well as the Ye Family's beast-taming method—if they could fall into my hands, never mind one Yun Ling, even those Nascent Souls...

I might just be able to take a shot at them! A mere Ye Family, guarding such treasures, is like a commoner carrying a jade—it's a crime in itself. Sooner or later, they will belong to someone else."

At this point, Fan Lang said helplessly, "Xuan Yin, don't you understand? The more helpers we have in our hands, the greater our chances of winning!"

"It won't be that easy for you to target the Ye Family's treasures."

Xuan Yin gasped for breath, his voice raspy and cold.

"Ye Jing is a meticulous old fox, and that strange artifact has recognized its master. If anyone else touches it, they will be incinerated by devilish flames. Now that the two Sects are so alert, if you rashly try to win them over and fail, you'll be playing with fire."

"Playing with fire?"

Fan Lang sneered, a ruthless glint flashing in his eyes. "I don't need your guidance on how I conduct my affairs.

You can barely save yourself right now; you'd better worry about the survival of the Xuanyou Sect.

If you can't get through this, that loose sand known as the Xuanyou Sect will be swallowed by other devil Cultivator forces within days. When that happens, I wouldn't mind taking over that force myself before slowly dealing with the Ye Family."

After saying this, Fan Lang withdrew his spiritual energy and turned to vanish into the shadows without leaving a trace.

Xuan Yin gnashed his teeth, wanting to curse that damned Fan Lang. But since his own recklessness had led to this outcome, he could only grit his teeth and swallow the bitter pill.

Returning to his Sect, Fan Lang pondered along the way how to bring the Ye Family under his command. Because of the Ganglei Sect's destruction, a rift was growing between him and the Qingyun and Frost Moon Sects. He believed they would soon discover he was the one who killed Murong Xiao.

When that time came, they would unite to kill him.

Thinking of this, Fan Lang cursed Xuan Yin again for being a useless failure.

Anger aside, Fan Lang came up with another plan after returning to the Sect. The Ganglei Sect hadn't been destroyed long, and it had left behind many industries. He might as well take the lead and swallow them all for himself.

When that time came, he didn't believe Yun Ling and Gui Suer could resist letting him keep such a large piece of fatty meat. When the time for division arrived, he would carry out assassinations.

If he could convince the Ye Family to pledge loyalty to his Lingxiao Sect during that period, he might be able to take them down in one go with their combined strength.

Fan Lang was very confident in his plan, but the only trouble was that Xuan Yin's cultivation had regressed, making him like a cripple. He couldn't be rash and had to proceed slowly.

Meanwhile, inside the Ye Family courtyard.

"Grandfather."

Ye Tianhui walked over slowly, his expression solemn. "The Family's losses have been tallied. The mountain-protecting array is mostly destroyed, over ten Cultivator residences have collapsed, fourteen Mortal households were wiped out, four Retainers are dead, and twenty are injured."

Ye Jing nodded and said, "Bury the dead and give Spirit Medicine to the injured. All Retainers who fought today are to be rewarded with fifty Spirit Stones and Spirit Medicine.

From today on, the Ye Family is on full alert. Clan members are not allowed to go out without permission. Accelerate the repairs on the mountain-protecting array. Take out the advancement pills stored in the warehouse and distribute them to the Disciples with superior Aptitude. We must increase the Family's strength in a short time."

"Yes, Grandfather!"

Ye Tianhui agreed, but the young man's face still held some unease as he said, "Grandfather, Eldest Brother only stayed home for a few days before leaving. I don't know how things are on his side..."

Ye Jing smiled and said, "Your eldest brother is a Sect Disciple. Naturally, he had to follow the Sect Master back to the Sect. Don't worry."

"Grandfather, I..."

Ye Tianhui's words were a bit hesitant, as if there was something he wanted to say.

"Tianhui, if you have something to say, just say it," Ye Jing said calmly.

Ye Tianhui quickly asked, "Grandfather, will I also have to go to the Qingyun Sect eventually?"

"From the sound of it, you don't want to go to the Qingyun Sect?" Ye Jing asked.

Ye Tianhui was now seventeen years old with a Qi Refining Seventh Layer cultivation. He had always been responsible for helping the Family expand its business dealings.

Ye Tianhui's hands hanging at his sides clenched slightly. The young man's brow had lost the steadiness of handling Family affairs, replaced by a bit of stubbornness and sincerity as he looked up at Ye Jing.

His gaze was firm, without the slightest dodge. "Grandfather, I do not fear the bitter cultivation of a Sect, nor do I look down on the Qingyun Sect's status. I simply do not want to enter a Sect."

The faint smile on Ye Jing's face slowly faded, and his expression became serious as he raised his hand to stroke his white beard.

He said in a deep voice, "The Qingyun Sect is one of the top cultivation Sects within a hundred miles. Countless children from noble families break their heads trying to enter its gates. Your eldest brother has outstanding talent and has been personally taught by the Sect Master since childhood; he is the glory of the Ye Family.

You are only seventeen and have reached Qi Refining Level 8. Your Aptitude far exceeds your peers. If you enter the Qingyun Sect and Cultivate diligently, you will surely succeed in Foundation Establishment in the future, becoming a pillar of the Ye Family and even entering the inner Sect to bring honor to our name. Why are you so unwilling to go?"

As his voice fell, the courtyard was silent for a moment.

Ye Tianhui took a deep breath and spoke in a deep voice, his tone full of conviction. "Grandfather, Eldest Brother's heart is set on the Dao. He is suited for Sect cultivation and can go further, but I am different."

He turned his head to look at the messy Cultivator residences outside the courtyard, at the clan members who were still cleaning up the aftermath with sorrowful faces. His voice was steady and powerful. "Eldest Brother cultivating in the Sect is to fight for a long-term future for the Ye Family, to strive for a higher cultivation Realm.

But now the Ye Family has just suffered a disaster. The mountain-protecting array is broken, the clan members have suffered heavy casualties, there are enemies watching from the outside, and a mess to be cleaned up inside. Business dealings have been mostly cut off, the clan's Disciples need management, the injured need care, and the Family business needs stabilizing."

At this point, Ye Tianhui said, "Grandfather, I am good at managing mundane affairs. I understand business and human hearts. By staying in the clan...

I can make the Ye Family's Foundation firm, let the clan members live and work in peace, and accumulate strength for the Family. This is what I can do for the Ye Family, and it is no worse than cultivating in a Sect."

Ye Jing looked at the young man and smiled helplessly. "Tianhui, since that's the case, I naturally won't force you. Just do what you want to do well."

How could he not see through it? This boy Tianhui was speaking eloquently, but he had been a bit mischievous since he was a child. As he grew up, he learned to do business and loved a free and casual life.

To ask him to go to the Qingyun Sect and Cultivate by the book—he was absolutely unwilling.

However, Ye Jing believed that as long as it was beneficial to the Family and not some bad behavior, he would be relatively lenient.

Moreover, he couldn't let all the Family's descendants be confined within the Qingyun Sect.