13: The lure of resources, Ye Hong's decision

The next day, Nie Li arrived at the Yun Family as promised.

The moment he stepped into the Yun Family's territory, he keenly sensed the difference in the place. The Spiritual Qi in the air seemed several times denser than outside, and every breath filled him with exhilaration. What astonished him even more was that he faintly felt a subtle yet powerful Formation fluctuation enveloping the entire Yun Family. Its complexity and profundity far surpassed the defensive grand Formation of the City Lord's Mansion!

"This Yun Feng... his methods are truly heaven-reaching!" Nie Li thought with a secret chill, his evaluation of Yun Feng rising once again.

Brother Yun Feng personally received him and led him directly to the Family's treasury. When the treasury door opened and Nie Li saw the mountain of Materials piled inside, even with his Heart-Nature as a Rebirth, he couldn't help but gasp!

Herbal medicines, rare outside and hundreds, even thousands of years old, were bundled and stacked here like weeds, each plant brimming with Spiritual Qi and in perfect condition! The Ores used for forging were all crystal clear, with a faint treasure glow circulating within, clearly top-grade Ore embryos that had undergone extreme purification! There were even some rare Materials he had only seen in ancient texts in his previous life, quietly lying in the corner!

This was no treasury; this was simply a treasure mountain capable of driving any force mad!

"Brother Yun Feng, these... these are all..." Nie Li's voice was a little dry.

"The Family recently stumbled upon some Opportunity and collected some Materials," Brother Yun Feng said nonchalantly, picking up a dull, unremarkable piece of ironwood. "For example, this piece of ironwood looks ordinary, but its internal grain has undergone a mutation. If treated with a special method, supplemented by three fen of Phoenix Blood Vine and one liang of Starlight Sand... perhaps it could be refined into a 'Spirit-Nourishing Wood Token' that greatly benefits demon spirit growth."

He spoke eloquently, and the method and formula he described were precisely a lost secret art that Nie Li had accidentally learned in his previous life! Moreover, the proportions and techniques Brother Yun Feng proposed seemed even more optimized and effective than what he remembered!

Nie Li was thoroughly convinced. He no longer doubted Brother Yun Feng's "foundation." At this moment, he had only one thought—he must cling tightly to this unbelievably thick golden thigh!

"Brother Yun Feng is immensely talented! Nie Li admires him!" Nie Li said sincerely, "I wonder about these Materials..."

"Since Brother Nie Li is interested, these are for you," Brother Yun Feng said with a grand wave of his hand, directly pushing half of the Materials—enough to bankrupt a small Aristocratic Family—into an ordinary Storage Pouch and handing it to Nie Li. "Consider it a Meeting gift for our acquaintance."

Such a generous and casual gift made Nie Li feel a bit overwhelmed, but he knew the importance of these resources for his Early Stage development. He ultimately accepted them solemnly, bowing deeply: "Brother Yun Feng's generous gift, Nie Li will remember it in his Heart-Nature! If you ever need anything in the future, Nie Li will not refuse!"

This was the promise Brother Yun Feng wanted. He smiled and helped Nie Li up: "Brother Nie Li, you are too polite. Among friends, there's no need for thanks. I only hope Brother Nie Li grows quickly. When the time comes, perhaps we can join forces and accomplish great things."

Nie Li's Heart-Nature stirred, vaguely understanding Brother Yun Feng's intentions. He nodded vigorously: "I will not disappoint Brother Yun Feng!"

Carrying a vast amount of resources and infinite aspirations for the future, Nie Li left the Yun Family. He believed that with these, his rise in this life would far surpass his previous one!

...At the Ye Family mansion, the atmosphere was as oppressive as the calm before a storm.

Family Head Ye Hong listened with a ashen face to his subordinate's report.

"The five dark guards sent to the academy... their Soul Power lamps are all extinguished!"

"The Yun Family's territory has abnormal Spiritual Qi, suspected to be protected by a highly sophisticated Formation!"

"Nie Li visited the Yun Family today and emerged looking excited, seemingly with great gains!"

"All our hidden sentries near the Yun Family... are out of contact!"

One bad piece of news after another, like heavy hammers, struck the hearts of Family Head Ye Hong and the Elders.

"Yun Feng! It's that Yun Feng again!" an Elder gritted his teeth, his eyes filled with venom. "Unless this child is eliminated, our Ye Family will never have peace!"

"How do we eliminate him?" another relatively calm Elder retorted, his voice bitter. "We sent a Silver-rank three-star, and he was instantly killed with one finger! His Yun Family is now heavily fortified with Formations, making it difficult for us to even get close! Moreover, is there an even more terrifying existence behind that Yun Feng?"

These words silenced everyone. The strength and mysterious methods displayed by Brother Yun Feng made them hesitant to act.

Family Head Ye Hong's eyes were sinister, his fingers digging into the armrest of his chair. How he wished he could immediately tear Brother Yun Feng into ten thousand pieces!

Just then, a confidant rushed in and reported in a low voice: "Family Head, Lord Guisha of the Dark Guild has sent word, asking... asking if our Ye Family still wants that batch of 'goods'? If not, they will find other buyers."

"Goods?" Family Head Ye Hong was startled at first, then a frantic gleam suddenly shot from his eyes!

He remembered the secret transaction with the Dark Guild—a batch of powerful demon spirits that had been corrupted by the Dark Guild's secret methods and were on the verge of losing control! They were originally intended to be used to ambush other Aristocratic Families at a critical moment or to unleash them into a beast tide to create chaos. These demon spirits were extremely dangerous and difficult to control, but if used well... a vicious plan instantly formed in Family Head Ye Hong's Heart-Nature.

A sinister smile appeared on his face: "Reply to Guisha that we want that batch of goods! And, tell him to find a way to deliver this batch of 'gifts' to the vicinity of the Yun Family's territory! Remember, it must be done cleanly; no one must be able to trace it back to our Ye Family!"

If direct methods wouldn't work, then he would resort to insidious ones! Using another's hand to kill! Let those uncontrolled, berserk demon spirits test the Yun Family's Formations and exhaust Brother Yun Feng's strength! Even if they couldn't destroy the Yun Family, it would at least make them scramble and expose weaknesses!

"Yes!" The confidant took the order and left.

Family Head Ye Hong looked at the Elders below and said coldly: "Pass down the order: all Family forces are to temporarily lie low and tighten defenses. At the same time, closely monitor the movements of the Yun Family and the Dark Guild. What we need to do is wait... wait for the Yun Family to be torn apart by those monsters, or wait for both sides to suffer heavy losses!"

Upon hearing this, although the Elders felt this method was somewhat risky, there seemed to be no better option at the moment, so they all accepted the order.

Family Head Ye Hong walked to the window, looking in the direction of the Yun Family, his face filled with venom and anticipation.

"Yun Feng... I'd like to see how you'll act so arrogantly this time!"

...The night deepened.

The Yun Family's territory was peaceful. The Nine Palaces Myriad Manifestations Formation operated silently, drawing in Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi and guarding the tranquility within.

Brother Yun Feng was in his quiet room, further familiarizing himself with and guiding the vast power within him. Suddenly, he frowned slightly, and his Divine Sense, like mercury spilling across the ground, instantly spread out, covering dozens of miles.

He "saw" them! At the edge of the Black Forest, less than ten miles from the Yun Family's territory, several figures shrouded in dense black Qi, exuding madness and ferocity, silently appeared. They varied in form: some were giant apes, some were demon wolves, and there were even flying demon birds. But without exception, their eyes were blood-red, their auras violent and unstable, their strength at least Silver-rank five-star, and the strongest giant ape even reached Gold-rank one-star!

More importantly, the dark Qi Entanglement around them was being guided by some invisible force, pointing directly at the Yun Family's territory!

"The Dark Guild's methods? Or... the Sacred Aristocratic Family?" Brother Yun Feng's eyes instantly turned cold. "Trying to test me with these corrupted beasts? Truly... courting death!"

He slowly stood up, and a chilling killing intent permeated the air.

"Since you've delivered the 'gifts' to my doorstep, then I... will not be polite!"

"Perfect, I'll use the essence blood and Soul Power of you beasts to... sharpen the blade and raise the banner for my Yun Family's Formation!"