291: Chapter 291 Speculation and Suspicion

"But Grandpa, the Lingxiao Sect is the strongest. If things are really split, can the Qingyun and Frost Moon Sects compete with them?"

Ye Tianyao frowned, she couldn't help but feel some worry. If it was as Ye Jing said, this negotiation would be quite dangerous.

"Oh, right, Grandpa, Brother gave me this and told me to hand it to you."

Ye Tianyao rubbed her head sheepishly and took a jade box out of her Storage Pouch. Once opened, a wave of heat immediately filled the room.

Inside the box was a fiery red crystal ore. It was only the size of a palm but felt as heavy as a thousand catties when picked up. Within the nearly transparent crystal, Ye Jing could vaguely see flames flowing inside.

"Second-Order Lava Fire Crystal, it can be used to upgrade fire-attribute Spirit Beasts or Spiritual Artifacts."

Seeing this, Ye Jing simply smiled slightly and said, "Tianyao, come with me."

It seemed it was time for Ye Tianyao's Spirit Beast, Xiao Chi, to upgrade.

Ye Jing led her straight into a secluded Fire Vein Node deep within Lingyun Valley.

The earth fire here was slightly stronger, making it most suitable for fire-attribute Yao Beasts to advance.

He waved his hand to set up a Fire Gathering Array and a Sound-Proofing Stealth Formation. Two layers of spiritual light overlapped, completely sealing off the surrounding ten-zhang area.

"Call Xiao Chi out."

Ye Tianyao immediately performed a hand seal. With a flash of red light, that Blazing Yao Fox, its entire body covered in flaming fur, leaped to the ground. Sensing the thick fire-element aura in the air, it let out an excited low cry, its tail sweeping out sparks.

Ye Jing crouched down and lightly tapped Xiao Chi's forehead with his fingertip: "Steady your mind, do not resist."

As he spoke, his palm opened, and the Second-Order Lava Fire Crystal floated up. The flames within the crystal flowed like a living thing, emitting an oppressive heatwave.

Ye Jing's brow glowed slightly as he quietly activated his Immortal Light, transforming it into a gentle yet domineering white-gold thread of light that wrapped around the fire crystal.

"Hum—"

The fire crystal suddenly burst with blinding red light. A massive amount of pure fire spiritual energy was forcibly drawn out and poured entirely into Xiao Chi's crown.

Xiao Chi's fur stood on end, and it let out a suppressed fox howl. The flames around it surged, and its body began to expand.

Its fur changed from crimson to a brilliant dark gold, and even its tail began to split, directly transforming into three fox tails.

Ye Jing was surprised to see this: "Bloodline Awakening?"

Fox Yao Beasts generally consider nine tails as the ultimate form. Now, Xiao Chi was starting to grow two more tails upon reaching the second order. This showed that Xiao Chi was exceptionally gifted, perhaps even carrying some Divine Beast Bloodline.

Ye Jing's expression was focused as he continued to use Immortal Light to stabilize its Meridians, helping it digest the violent power of the Second-Order fire crystal to avoid spiritual energy backlash.

The earth fire from the Fire Vein Node was drawn in, swirling around Xiao Chi to form a flame cocoon.

A moment later.

The flame cocoon exploded, and a dark-gold red fox nearly two zhang tall with three tails stood proudly in its place, its fur burning with eternal molten fire.

With every step it took, a layer of crimson fire patterns appeared on the ground. Its pressure was now completely different—Second-Order Demonic Beast: Three-Tailed Molten Fire Fox.

Ye Jing spoke calmly, announcing its new rank:

"Second-Order Molten Fire Fox, fire-attribute High Grade, Bloodline advanced. Divine Abilities: Molten Fire Claw, Fire Crystal Heavy Armor, Three-Tailed Heaven-Burning Sweep."

Ye Tianyao looked at Xiao Chi, who seemed to have been reborn, and was incredibly excited.

"Grandpa! Xiao Chi has become so powerful! Is this a Second-Order Demonic Beast?!"

"Yes."

Ye Jing withdrew his hand. He had consumed quite a bit of Immortal Light, but his expression remained normal. "The Lava Fire Crystal is inherently domineering, and with the addition of Immortal Light Body Tempering, it is now a standout among Yao Beasts of the same rank.

In your future cultivation, it will be your greatest reliance."

He paused and then cautioned: "However, a Second-Order Demonic Beast consumes a massive amount of spiritual energy. You must regularly feed it with Fire Spirit Stones and not let it fight to exhaustion.

Furthermore—"

Ye Jing looked at his granddaughter, his gaze becoming a bit more serious: "Tian Hao had you hand over this fire crystal because he clearly calculated that it was time for Xiao Chi to advance and also expected that you wouldn't be willing to use it.

As a Sword Cultivator, he consumes a great deal of resources himself, yet he left the most precious thing for you... Seeing you siblings support each other, Grandpa is very relieved."

Ye Tianyao's cheeks turned slightly red as she whispered, "Brother has always protected me."

"That's good."

Ye Jing nodded and suddenly mentioned: "Tianyao, I heard you have some feelings for the eldest Disciple of the Qingyun Sect. Have you taken a liking to him?"

Hearing this, Ye Tianyao's cheeks flushed crimson, and she stammered, "Yes... a little... but don't worry, Grandpa, I won't let him delay my cultivation..."

Ye Jing smiled: "Tianyao, I'm not an old fogey. If you like him, then you like him. Lu Shaoyou has good talent and is the Senior Brother of the Qingyun Sect, so it's not like you're being wronged."

Hearing this, Ye Tianyao's face turned even redder, and she lowered her head in embarrassment.

"Silly child."

Ye Jing affectionately rubbed her head and laughed frankly: "It's nothing. If you like him, just say so.

However, you must remember that with the Sect negotiations imminent, the Qingyun Sect is our ally. Your relationship with Lu Shaoyou is both a private matter and concerns the Family. You must never act impulsively, and even more so, you cannot let the Lingxiao Sect catch any leverage to blackmail us."

Ye Tianyao quickly looked up, her gaze firm: "Grandpa, I understand! I definitely won't cause trouble for the Sect, and I won't let Brother or you down."

Looking at his granddaughter's mature face, Ye Jing was also happy. His Ye Family was finally going to branch out and multiply. He hoped for many more children; even if his granddaughter liked several men, he wouldn't mind.

Just then, the Poisonous Variant Bee that Ye Jing had sent out flew over, dancing up and down in front of him and making a "buzzing" sound.

Ye Jing's eyes suddenly narrowed.

"Grandpa, what's wrong?"

Ye Jing said calmly: "Tianyao, the Poisonous Variant Bee I sent to scout the surroundings discovered people from the Xuanyou Sect appearing near Red Copper Mountain."

"Grandpa, are you going to deal with them then?" Ye Tianyao asked.

After thinking for a moment, Ye Jing said: "Tianyao, I've been to Red Copper Mountain before. There is an Ancient Battlefield there with overwhelming resentment. Your father once suffered a loss there.

For the three Sects to choose this place as the negotiation site is truly suspicious. I suspect..."

At this point, Ye Jing's eyes were full of unease: "Perhaps I am overthinking, but it is very likely that the Lingxiao Sect and the Xuanyou Sect have cooperated with each other."

"What?! Grandpa, this... this is impossible, right?!"

Ye Tianyao was startled.

But Ye Jing still held onto his suspicion, saying: "Tianyao, for Golden Core Cultivators of equal strength, it is difficult to determine a winner.

If one wants to take down a Golden Core Cultivator, it requires the cooperation of at least two Golden Core Stage Cultivators. Moreover, the battle would cause the heavens and earth to change color, being extremely impactful. Yet, the Ganglei Sect Master died mysteriously.

This means someone lured him to a certain place and set up a Shielding Formation in advance to trap and kill him.

The only one who could do this is the Lingxiao Sect Master, Fan Lang, because he is a Golden Core Middle Stage Cultivator, and the other Golden Core Middle Stage Cultivator is the Xuanyou Sect Leader, Xuan Yin."

Ye Tianyao's heart rate suddenly accelerated, her fingertips turning white from gripping tightly, and her voice trembled slightly: "But... but the Lingxiao Sect and the Xuanyou Sect have always been at odds.

The Xuanyou Sect Cultivates sinister Cultivation Techniques, while the Lingxiao Sect has always considered itself a righteous Sect. How could they possibly join forces?"

Ye Jing slowly stood up, looking toward the horizon outside Lingyun Valley, his expression as grave as iron: "At odds?

In the face of absolute interests, the so-called distinction between righteous and evil is nothing more than a facade to deceive people.

Once the Ganglei Sect Master died, the balance between the three Sects was broken. The Lingxiao Sect was already ambitious and wanted to swallow the resources of the three Sects alone.

But with his power alone, he might not be able to suppress the alliance of the Qingyun and Frost Moon Sects. However, if he has the help of the Xuanyou Sect, the situation becomes entirely different."