451: Chapter 451 It's you who are courting death.

He leaped out of the Sea-Transformation Pond, and the water vapor on his body evaporated instantly.

After changing into a clean green robe and stepping out of the palace, he saw the Imperial Dynasty's Old Ancestor standing with his hands behind his back under the white jade corridor outside the hall, as if he had been waiting for a long time.

"How do you feel?" The Old Ancestor turned around, his gaze gentle.

"The harvest was significant. Many thanks for your generous gift, Old Ancestor." Ye Tian bowed and saluted.

The Old Ancestor nodded and waved his hand. The old eunuch retreated silently, leaving only the two of them in the corridor.

"You already know what you saw at the bottom of the pond."

The Old Ancestor went straight to the point: "That remnant soul of the Nether Abyss General has been suppressed until now, using the Luck of the Imperial Dynasty as a prison.

However, Luck has its ebbs and flows, and there are times when the Seal loosens.

Yin Wujiang is neither the first, nor will he be the last."

He looked at Ye Tian, his gaze deep: "The Nether Abyss is determined to obtain it.

And you, possessing the Chaos Legacy and having condensed the Thunder Gang, are the perfect candidate to restrain its Death Qi.

The Imperial Dynasty can protect you, provide you with resources, and help you grow.

But you must shoulder this responsibility of guarding it!

When necessary, assist in reinforcing the Seal, slay invading enemies, and even...

When you have sufficient ability, completely eliminate this hidden danger."

Ye Tian was shocked upon hearing this.

His guess was indeed correct.

This responsibility was too heavy, involving an Upper Realm power like the Nether Abyss, and it might even drag him into a deeper vortex.

But if he were to refuse...

Setting aside the attitude of the Imperial Dynasty, his own grudges with the Nether Abyss were already impossible to escape.

Accepting the protection and resources of the Imperial Dynasty would, at the very least, make him much safer before he grew strong enough.

"This matter is of great importance. This Junior needs time to consider."

Ye Tian did not agree immediately, nor did he refuse.

He needed to weigh the pros and cons, and he needed to understand more.

The Old Ancestor seemed to have expected this and did not force him, only saying indifferently: "I will give you three days to think it over.

Regardless of your decision, you killed Yin Wujiang and upheld our national prestige; the rewards you deserve will not be lacking."

He cast his gaze outside the palace gates, where a faint clamor could be heard, his tone slightly cold: "However, for now, I am afraid you must deal with a small trouble first."

No sooner had the Old Ancestor finished speaking than a heaven-shaking roar filled with Killing Intent erupted from the direction of the main gate, instantly spreading throughout the entire outer area of the ancestral grounds:

"Ye Tian, you little thief! Get out here and die!!!"

It was the voice of Nangong Lie!

He had actually brought people to block the entrance to the Imperial Dynasty's ancestral grounds!

Ye Tian's eyes suddenly turned cold, and he looked up toward the palace gate.

The Killing Intent that had just settled showed signs of rising once again.

The Old Ancestor patted him on the shoulder, his voice still indifferent: "I do not care about disputes between peers or the snatching of opportunities.

But if the older generation wants to bully the young and surround and kill a meritorious official...

The Imperial Dynasty is not just for show.

Go, do what you must do.

Remember, you only have three days."

After speaking, the Old Ancestor's figure slowly faded and disappeared.

Ye Tian took a deep breath, suppressed the surging thoughts in his heart, clenched his fists, and then turned around, walking toward the palace gate from where the roar had come.

In the square in front of the imperial palace, the crowd had formed a large circle, three layers inside and three layers outside, packed tightly.

There were Loose Cultivators watching the excitement, spies from various forces, and many citizens of the Imperial Capital who had rushed over upon hearing the news.

Everyone's gaze was focused on the center of the square.

There, five figures wearing robes with the Nangong Family's flame patterns stood in a pentagonal Formation, their auras connected, forming a transparent light barrier that sealed off an area in the center.

Outside the light barrier, more Nangong Family disciples held weapons, watching like tigers with covetous eyes, full of Killing Intent.

Standing in the center of the pentagonal Formation, facing the palace gate, was none other than Nangong Lie, his eyes bloodshot.

He stared fixedly at Ye Tian as he walked out of the palace gate; that hatred was almost enough to erupt into tangible flames.

"Ye Tian, you little thief! You finally dare to come out!"

Nangong Lie roared in a hoarse voice, which spread far and wide:

"You killed my grandsons Chi'er and Yu'er, severely injured Xiao'er, and repeatedly acted against my Nangong Family in the Secret Realm. Today, this old man will make you pay in blood and forfeit your life for the disciples of my Nangong Family who died!"

He roared thunderously, positioning himself as the aggrieved party seeking revenge.

A wave of discussion immediately arose from the surrounding crowd.

"It really is Nangong Lie! He actually came personally?"

"His cultivation has reached the Fourth Stage of Sea Transformation!"

"Not just him, look at the five people setting up the Formation; they are all Elders of the Nangong Family, and the lowest is at the Sea Transformation Third Stage!"

"Five Elders setting up a Formation, plus Nangong Lie... This is clearly to ensure Ye Tian's death!"

"Isn't that too shameless? So many of the older generation personally attacking a Junior?"

"Exactly, the Supreme Ranking just ended, and they are already blocking the gate to kill someone. The Nangong Family has no shame left!"

"Shh, keep your voice down, don't let them hear you..."

The discussions were mostly filled with disdain and contempt for the Nangong Family's actions.

Disputes among peers are a matter of life and death, but for the older generation to lose face and personally surround and kill someone, it is unjustifiable anywhere.

The people from the Liuli Xuan Sect had also arrived. Elder Qinglan and Elder Xing Tiexin stood at the front of the crowd, their faces livid.

Shui Qingdie, Yun Wuji, Yu Miaoqing, Xiahou Ba, and others were also there, all with expressions of anger and worry.

The tuft of green grass on Xiahou Ba's head had not yet fully disappeared, and at this moment, it was trembling with rage.

"Nangong, you old scoundrel! Do you have no shame!"

Xiahou Ba shouted at the top of his lungs: "You call your parents when you can't win; is your Nangong Family made of unweaned babies?

If you have the guts, fight your Grandfather Xiahou one-on-one!"

Nangong Lie's eyes turned sharp, and he glanced at Xiahou Ba, full of Killing Intent: "You little beast of the Xiahou Family, if you dare to run your mouth again, I will slaughter you too!"

"Come on then! Do you think I'm afraid of you!"

Xiahou Ba rolled up his sleeves and was about to rush forward, but was held back tightly by Yu Miaoqing and Feng Xuan beside him.

"Senior Brother Xiahou, don't be impulsive!" Yu Miaoqing whispered.

"They have set up a Formation, and the Imperial Dynasty..."

Feng Xuan looked toward one side of the square, where several expressionless Imperial Dynasty retainers were standing, implicitly blocking the path between the Liuli Xuan Sect group and the Nangong Family's Formation.

Elder Qinglan stepped forward and cupped her hands toward the Imperial Dynasty retainers:

"Retainers, the Nangong Family is acting like this, openly surrounding and killing our sect's inner disciple in front of the imperial palace. Where does this put the laws of the Great Yan and the rules of the Supreme Ranking?

I ask the Imperial Dynasty to uphold justice!"

An old retainer with a withered face lifted his eyelids and spoke slowly: "Elder Qinglan, calm yourself.

The Old Ancestor has decreed: Disputes between peers, or the contention for opportunities, are matters of life and death; the Imperial Dynasty will not intervene.

But..."

He paused, his gaze sweeping over the murderous Nangong Lie and the five Elders: "If there are members of the older generation who wish to bully the young and surround and kill them...

Then it depends on the ability of that Junior himself."

This sounded like neutrality, but it was actually profound.

It meant that the Imperial Dynasty would not stop Nangong Lie from acting, but would not stop Ye Tian from resisting either.

Elder Qinglan and Elder Xing Tiexin's expressions darkened further, but they understood the implication.

The Old Ancestor wanted to use the Nangong Family's blade to further gauge Ye Tian's weight!

If they were to forcibly intervene now, these Imperial Dynasty retainers would likely stop them.

"Elder, trust Junior Brother Ye."

Yun Wuji suddenly whispered. He watched Ye Tian, who was facing the strong enemy alone in the Formation, his eyes complex: "Since he dared to walk out, he must have a plan."

Shui Qingdie bit her lip tightly, her beautiful eyes fixed on Ye Tian's back, praying in her heart: "Junior Brother Ye, you must not be harmed..."

In the center of the Formation, Ye Tian walked down the steps, step by step, onto the square, stopped a few feet away from the transparent light barrier, and looked at the seemingly crazed Nangong Lie inside.

"Nangong Chi and Nangong Yu brought this upon themselves. Nangong Xiao was simply not skilled enough."

Ye Tian spoke: "As for acting against your Nangong Family?

From the moment you hired the Red Hand Hall in the Land of Flowing Fire, from the moment you colluded with Yin Wujiu and Nangong Zhaotian to ambush and kill me in the Secret Realm, it was no longer just acting against you; it is you who are seeking death."