45: Chapter 45 Killing the Li Family Patriarch

"Ninety-Nine Li Fire Grand Array—Form!"

Following his low shout,

the spiritual light from the sky-filling Talismans suddenly flared brilliantly,

connecting with each other completely,

transforming into a scorching, crimson cage of flame,

trapping the two members of the Li Family firmly within!

Distorted heatwaves rippled through the air,

as nine lifelike Fire Pythons manifested from the Talisman Array,

baring their fangs and claws as they lunged toward the two in the center!

The fierce winds whipped up by the Fire Pythons instantly tore the masks from their faces,

revealing two terrified, elderly faces.

"So it really is you two old dogs."

Ye Changge stood outside the array with his hands behind his back, his voice chillingly cold.

"Fellow Daoist Ye! Let's talk this through! We are willing to pay compensation!"

The Li Family is willing to serve the Ye Family faithfully, as a vassal for all eternity!"

As the shadow of death loomed over him,

Li Yuanhao no longer cared about his dignity as an Old Ancestor, hoarsely begging for mercy.

Li Chengyun also shouted along:

"Fellow Daoist Ye! We are willing to swear a Dao Heart oath!"

Ye Changge's eyes remained indifferent, showing no emotion at all:

"Nine Pythons Li Fire, Burn!"

“Boom!!!”

The nine Fire Pythons suddenly exploded,

turning into a sea of raging, crimson-gold flames,

completely swallowing the two of them!

"No—!!!"

“Puchi! Puchi!”

Their protective spiritual lights shattered like paper under the high temperature,

their shrill screams lasting only for a few short breaths,

before abruptly ending.

"The Heavens want to destroy my Li Family!"

Li Yuanhao's final, unwilling roar echoed within the flames.

After a few breaths, the flames slowly dissipated.

In the center of the Talisman Array, only two charred corpses remained,

along with two perfectly intact Storage Pouches, floating quietly.

Ye Changge was slightly taken aback.

"Hm? Just like that... they're dead?"

The number of Talismans he used for this 'Ninety-Nine Li Fire Grand Array'—

was set according to the strength needed when he encountered those three Foundation Establishment Bandit Cultivators outside Qingxuan Immortal City.

Ye Changge thought for a moment and then had a sudden realization.

Those three were hardened bandits who lived on the edge of a blade year-round,

with rich combat experience, and even they could struggle for a bit.

Although Li Yuanhao and Li Chengyun were at the Foundation Establishment stage,

after reaching it, they likely spent their years living in comfort within their Family's spiritual lands,

guarding their own little patch of ground.

How many opportunities for life-and-death combat could they have had?

They were probably more than a level below those Bandit Cultivators who were constantly out in the world.

They possessed the cultivation level but lacked the matching combat power and Heart-Nature.

“Clack!”

Ye Changge shook his head with a light sigh and waved his hand to deactivate the Talisman Array,

while simultaneously sending out a gentle force,

pulling the two corpses and their Storage Pouches to him.

"Hopefully, this will help me recoup some losses."

Ye Changge thought to himself.

This trip to the Immortal City for his Foundation Establishment,

had already spent the vast majority of the Spirit Stones he had saved up.

...

Although there was a thunderous noise outside the array at this moment,

inside the grand array, there was a dead silence.

The Lu Family disciples stared blankly at the two corpses in the air,

then looked at Ye Changge in his fluttering green robes,

forgetting to breathe for a moment.

Just now... those two who had suppressed them until they couldn't breathe,

those Foundation Establishment Cultivators who were seen as demon gods... were just gone like that?

"Son-in-law... is mighty!!!"

No one knew who was the first to let out an excited roar,

but it instantly ignited the emotions of the entire crowd!

"Son-in-law is mighty!"

"Senior Ye's Divine Ability is invincible!"

In mid-air, Ancestor Lu, who had just arrived nearby,

also had his mouth hanging open.

Being a Foundation Establishment Cultivator himself,

he could see more clearly than those juniors.

The power of that Talisman Array was certainly astonishing, but what shocked his soul even more,

was that surging and pure Spiritual Qi fluctuation in Ye Changge's every movement!

A Foundation Establishment Cultivator under thirty years old...

And looking at the thickness of his Foundation,

and the purity of his spiritual power, his Dao Foundation quality was definitely extremely high!

Given time, he might even be able to attempt the False Core stage!

At that time, the Ye Family might even be able to join the ranks of False Core Families!

The Ye Family... has truly produced a True Dragon!

Ancestor Lu's heart was in turmoil.

He felt secretly fortunate,

that he had married his granddaughter Lu Shiqing to him back then.

With a flash of his body, he arrived before Ye Changge,

and actually gave a solemn bow with cupped hands.

"Thank you, Fellow Daoist Changge, for your assistance! You have saved my Lu Family from disaster, and the Lu Family will never forget this kindness!"

Ye Changge quickly stepped aside to avoid the bow and returned the gesture with cupped hands, his attitude humble:

"Ancestor Lu is too polite.

Sister Shiyin is Shiqing's elder sister, and thus she is my Family.

When a relative is in danger, how could Changge sit by and watch? It was merely my duty."

There was not a trace of arrogance on his face.

Seeing him like this, Ancestor Lu was first stunned,

and then couldn't help but laugh heartily,

the slight sense of distance caused by the other's strength,

instantly dissipated quite a bit.

This Qilin of the Ye Family possessed unfathomable strength,

yet his Heart-Nature remained modest.

It made one feel a natural fondness for him.

"The Lu Family will certainly provide a heavy reward!"

Ancestor Lu stroked his beard and smiled, his eyes full of appreciation.

Ye Changge waved his hand, and just as he was about to say something,

he suddenly felt something and turned to look toward the core of the Qingmao Mountain Spiritual Vein.

There, the massive Spiritual Qi vortex in the sky,

was slowly accelerating its rotation.

Lu Shiyin's Foundation Establishment had reached its most critical moment!

Everyone's gaze was simultaneously drawn there,

holding their breath and praying in their hearts.

Success or failure depended on this one moment!

Ye Changge watched for a moment and felt that there was nothing to do for now,

and his wife and Family were still worrying back at Biluo Lake, so he said:

"Ancestor Lu, I will return to Biluo Lake first to inform the Family, and I'll bring Shiqing over while I'm at it."

He knew that his wife was very close to her elder sister,

and she would often nag him about how much she missed her.

Now that her sister's Foundation Establishment was imminent,

she would definitely be very happy to be there to witness it.

Ancestor Lu nodded upon hearing this,

his opinion of Ye Changge rising even higher.

He knew his granddaughter well;

she had been spoiled since childhood and was a bit willful,

yet Ye Changge still cared for her so much,

thinking of her in everything. It seemed he was a man of deep sentiment and righteousness!

"Good, little friend Changge, you may go. As for Shiyin's side, this old man will personally act as her Protector; there won't be any more mishaps."

...

Meanwhile, at Longmai Mountain, the Li Family.

The mountain range here was continuous, surrounding a large spiritual lake.

Spiritual fields and medicinal fields were everywhere. It was precisely these superior geographical conditions,

that allowed the Li Family to rise and possess three Foundation Establishment Cultivators.

The Li Family disciples in this area had always been arrogant and overbearing.

At this moment, in an exquisite courtyard,

a young man was lying leisurely on a rocking chair,

a confident smile playing on his lips.

It was the Li Family's Third Ancestor, the newly advanced Foundation Establishment Cultivator, Li Xuanfeng.

He was quietly waiting for good news from the two Old Ancestors.

If this trip went smoothly, they might even be able to take down the Lu Family of Qingmao Mountain directly.

He had mentioned to the Old Ancestors,

to keep an eye out for Lu Shiyin for him. If they could capture her alive...

Thinking of the number one beauty in this region and her cold, exquisite face,

Li Xuanfeng felt a surge of heat in his heart.

He had long wanted to know what kind of passion lay beneath that icy shell.

"Third Ancestor! Third Ancestor!"

Just as he was lost in his fantasies,

a Li Family disciple came scrambling into the courtyard,

his face as pale as paper, his voice trembling.

"Oh? News already?"

Li Xuanfeng sat up, his brow arching slightly as he rubbed his hands excitedly.

"How is it? Are the Old Ancestors back? Did they... bring a woman?"