289: Chapter 289 Resisting the Golden Core

The smile on Fan Lang's face completely faded, replaced by a look of astonishment that quickly turned into explosive rage.

As the Sect Master of the Lingxiao Sect and a mighty Golden Core Middle Stage powerhouse, when had he ever been so defied by a Foundation Establishment Cultivator?

Even more laughable was that this Foundation Establishment Cultivator actually intended to provoke him with a few Second-Order Demonic Beasts and a strange dagger.

“Courting death!”

Fan Lang let out a low shout as his spiritual energy suddenly surged, his Golden Core pressure becoming several times more intense than before.

The crude wooden table and stools in the bamboo hut instantly began to creak and crack under the pressure, and the tea bags in the corner burst open, sending fine tea leaves flying everywhere amidst the spiritual energy.

“I gave you face, yet you dare to push your luck! A mere Foundation Establishment Family dares to negotiate terms before me? Today, I shall first destroy your Ye Family, then trample the Qingyun Sect, and see who still dares to stand in my way!”

Ye Jing was forced to his knees by this heavy pressure. Swallowing blood, he watched as Fan Lang’s figure flickered and charged forward.

He struck without mercy, clearly thoroughly enraged by Ye Jing and intending to kill him with a single blow.

“Attack!”

The demonic beast phantoms surrounding Ye Jing instantly solidified. Hei Feng, the Golden Corrosion Insect Queen, the Black Water Giant Python, and the White Ice Ape joined forces to block Fan Lang's strike.

“Bang!”

A bolt of spiritual energy slammed into the Golden Erosion Insect swarm with a loud crash. The Golden Erosion Insects were shaken back repeatedly, but they remained firmly blocking the front, their eyes showing no fear.

The other demonic beasts took the opportunity to surround and attack, either biting or spitting out techniques, tightly entangling Fan Lang.

Fan Lang’s expression grew increasingly grim. He hadn't expected these demonic beasts to be so powerful, especially that Golden Corrosion Insect Queen; the swarm's defensive power could actually withstand his strike.

He casually threw out several waves of spiritual energy, blasting away the pouncing black dog and giant python, his gaze fixed firmly on the dagger in Ye Jing's hand.

His tone carried a hint of wariness: “This blade... where did you get it from?”

Ye Jing did not answer. His grip on the dagger tightened as the pitch-black blade seemed to merge with his spiritual energy, emitting a faint black mist.

He knew the demonic beasts could only temporarily entangle Fan Lang; they were ultimately no match for a Golden Core Middle Stage Cultivator. If he couldn't deter him...

Not only would he certainly die, but the entire Ye Family and the Mortals in the valley would also become souls lost to Fan Lang's blade.

“Sect Master Fan, I decline your kindness. It is just that a single house cannot serve two masters. I hope the Sect Master can forgive me.”

Before his voice finished, Ye Jing suddenly used the dagger to push himself up. The blood from his knees smeared against the bluestone floor, leaving two striking red marks. The Foundation Establishment spiritual energy in his body surged frantically, pouring entirely into the dagger.

The dagger vanished instantly; even Fan Lang could not sense where it was.

Fan Lang was momentarily caught in a dilemma because he knew that Xuan Yin had been stabbed directly in the heart by this dagger, and even his Demon Core had been damaged.

He stared at Ye Jing with a sinister gaze, then let out a cold laugh. “Good! Very good! Patriarch Ye, you had better hope that the Frost Moon and Qingyun Sects can protect you forever!”

As his words fell, Fan Lang's figure blurred into a streak of light. Wrapped in majestic spiritual energy, he disappeared into the horizon without looking back, leaving only that suffocating Golden Core pressure which lingered for a long time.

Only when Fan Lang finally disappeared did the houses previously obscured by his spiritual energy finally reappear.

“Father! Are you alright?!”

“Grandfather! What happened just now?!”

After Fan Lang left, Wu Guiyun and Liu Xianglan, who had long sensed something was wrong, gathered around in great concern along with their grandson.

At this moment, Ye Jing could no longer hold on. His legs gave way, and if not for the support of his two daughters-in-law, he would have collapsed directly onto the ground.

The wounds on his knees were torn open again, blood soaking through his trousers and slowly flowing into the cracks of the stone slabs, intertwining with the red marks from before in a shocking sight.

He clutched his chest and coughed violently, each cough tasting of blood. His Foundation Establishment spiritual energy was nearly exhausted from the recent outburst, and his Meridians throbbed with sharp pain as if they were about to snap inch by inch.

“Let’s go back to the manor first, then we’ll talk.”

Ye Jing said in a heavy voice. He looked in the direction Fan Lang had departed, gritting his teeth with extreme indignation.

Was this the power of a Golden Core Cultivator? Dealing with a Foundation Establishment Cultivator like him was as easy as blowing away dust.

Inside the bedroom of the Ye Family manor.

Ye Xuan hurriedly had someone bring healing Spirit Medicine, while Ye Tianhui took several trusted aides to patrol the surroundings of Lingyun Valley, fearing that Fan Lang might return.

They even reported the matter of Fan Lang's arrival to both the Frost Moon and Qingyun Sects.

Three days passed.

Yun Ling sent a message, merely telling Ye Jing to be at ease and that the two Sects would surely protect the Ye Family.

Hearing such a message, Ye Jing was not satisfied. The Lingxiao Sect had come with such aggressive momentum and strange behavior, yet they just sent someone to casually deliver a message; it felt far too perfunctory.

Ye Jing felt uneasy. Since the Spirit Sparrows and crows were already known to the Frost Moon and Qingyun Sects, he sent out the Poisonous Variant Bees, which were skilled in stealth and reconnaissance, to monitor the movements of the three Sect Masters.

They were to report back immediately if anything was wrong.

After a somewhat gloomy month at home, while Ye Jing was sitting cross-legged and cultivating, the Immortal Willow within him suddenly spoke: “The second grandchild of the Ye Family, Ye Tianyao, has promoted to Foundation Establishment. Rewarding five hundred Immortal Lights.”

The moment these words were spoken, Ye Jing immediately stood up.

At this time, within the Qingyun Sect, Ye Tianyao had achieved a Breakthrough to Foundation Establishment, the spiritual energy surrounding her body not yet fully dissipated.

Having reached Foundation Establishment, she gained a bit more elegance and composure.

“Tianyao, congratulations on your successful Breakthrough to Foundation Establishment!”

A gentle voice came from nearby; it was none other than the Qingyun Sect Master, Yun Ling.

Dressed in a moon-white Daoist robe and holding a fly-whisk, his eyes were full of praise. Several Elders of the Qingyun Sect stood behind him, their gazes toward Ye Tianyao containing both gratification and a hint of subtle importance.

Ye Tianyao had known about the matters regarding her Family and the Qingyun Sect while she was in seclusion. Seeing Yun Ling now and noticing his spirited appearance, it seemed the injuries he had previously sustained were mostly healed.

Ye Tianyao quickly rose to salute, her tone respectful but not humble: “Thank you, Sect Master, and thank you, Elders, for your guidance. Without the resources and support of the Sect, Tianyao would not have been able to break through so smoothly.”

Yun Ling nodded. Looking at this woman of the Ye Family, he thought to himself that the Ye Family now had three Foundation Establishment Cultivators.

After speaking a few words of advice, he said: “Tianyao, stabilize your cultivation within a month, then accompany me to Red Copper Mountain.”

Red Copper Mountain?

Hearing this name, Ye Tianyao was stunned for a moment. Wasn't that the border between the Lingxiao Sect and Ganglei?

After a brief exchange of pleasantries, Yun Ling departed with the Elders.

Ye Tianyao saw that her brother had not come. Lu Shaoyou, standing to the side, saw the questioning look in the young woman's eyes.

He gave Ye Tianyao a look, signaling her to step aside to speak.

Ye Tianyao's heart stirred, knowing that Lu Shaoyou must have something that was inconvenient to say in public.

She immediately nodded to the fellow disciples who had come to congratulate her, used the excuse of needing to regulate her breath, and followed Lu Shaoyou to a secluded bamboo path on the back mountain of the Qingyun Sect.

Ancient trees towered on both sides of the bamboo path, surrounded by spiritual energy. The wind rustled the bamboo leaves, perfectly masking their conversation.

“Does Senior Brother Lu know where my brother went?” Ye Tianyao asked, getting straight to the point.

Lu Shaoyou sighed and said: “Junior Brother Ye went to the Frost Moon Sect to help the Qingyun Sect negotiate important matters. Before he left, he entrusted me to give a treasure to you and told you to go down the mountain to find Patriarch Ye.”

With that, he handed a jade box to Ye Tianyao.

After receiving it, Ye Tianyao checked it with her Divine Sense and was slightly startled.

She then quickly cupped her hands and said: “Thank you, Senior Brother, for delivering this on his behalf.”