Eastern Desolate, deep within the vast ancient mountains.
Ye Qingyun, dragging the heavily wounded Li Guangrui, stepped into this desolate valley. Both their faces were pale, their Qi chaotic, yet their expressions were incredibly resolute.
Just at this moment.
An ancient jade pendant hanging from Ye Qingyun’s waist emitted a soft glow.
A gaunt figure slowly approached. It was Shou Lao, who had previously discussed the marriage alliance with the Fan Family’s Old Ancestor.
“Grandpa Thin (Venerable)...” Ye Qingyun’s heart was filled with unbearable grief upon seeing the newcomer, and his throat choked up.
Seeing this, Shou Lao’s expression became stern. He gazed deeply at them but said nothing. Instead, he unleashed his Divine Thought, sweeping across the boundless mountain range.
After a long while, he finally exhaled a long breath of turbid Qi.
“Come, let’s go in first.”
Before he finished speaking, he waved his large sleeve, and the steep cliff, dozens of feet high, vibrated violently. A stone door boomed open, rocks and debris tumbled down, and a dark, deep Immortal Cave slowly appeared.
He casually conjured several ancient banners and inserted them into the Void Realm.
In an instant, array patterns intertwined, and brilliant light scattered. The entire valley seemed to be erased by heaven and earth, completely hidden within the cracks of space, making it impossible for even Divine Sense to detect its existence.
This was the supreme illusion array left by Fire Lotus City. Only a few survivors knew its deployment method, and even a Quasi-Emperor’s eye could not penetrate it.
After completing all this, Shou Lao finally let out a slight sigh of relief and led Ye Qingyun and Li Guangrui into the Immortal Cave.
Inside the Immortal Cave, the azure stone walls gleamed, and spiritual springs flowed, but the atmosphere was extremely heavy.
Ye Qingyun, feeling down, said, “Shou Lao, I went to the Fan Family, but I unexpectedly encountered Jiang Ye, Divine Son of the Jiang Clan, halfway there...”
“Alas, I already know about this matter.”
Before he could finish, Shou Lao sighed and interrupted him.
His eyes held an indescribable sorrow and regret.
Days ago, he had received a message from Granny Yun and vaguely felt that something was amiss.
So he rushed over overnight. Passing through the Fan Family’s outer domain, he projected his Divine Thought and happened upon Granny Yun and Blood Butcher clashing with the Jiang Clan.
But at that time, the Jiang Clan had already set up a Lock Immortal Array. Although Shou Lao wanted to rescue them, he knew the situation was irreversible.
Even if he forced his way in, it would only be a futile sacrifice.
So he didn’t dare to act.
Shou Lao frowned deeply. He truly had not expected this.
Ye Qingyun’s journey would be so disadvantageous, even Blood Butcher, a Quasi-Emperor, had fallen, and Granny Yun was captured alive... Things happened too quickly, caught by surprise.
He was also very helpless.
That Ye Qingyun would encounter the Jiang Clan when he went to the Fan Family seemed like fate.
The actions of Jiang Ye, Divine Son of the Jiang Clan, were also quite strange.
He inexplicably targeted Ye Qingyun.
Ye Qingyun gritted his teeth and whispered, “Grandpa Thin (Venerable), after much thought, Jiang Ye’s targeting of me must be because of my marriage alliance with Fan Ying, which made him jealous and hateful...”
“His actions are ruthless and completely unreasonable.”
Li Guangrui also added, “Brother Ye was courteous and meticulous in his etiquette at the Fan Family, being cautious in everything he did.”
“But that Jiang Ye seemed to have premeditated it. I went to the Fan Family to support Brother Ye, but he forcefully attacked after only a few words! He forcefully attacked!”
“If not for the help of two Seniors, we would probably have died on the spot.”
As Shou Lao listened, he released his Divine Thought to meticulously examine Ye Qingyun and Li Guangrui, checking if the Jiang Clan had planted any Restrictions or tracking talismans on them.
He found no abnormalities.
But his expression remained solemn, and he pondered inwardly.
“The Jiang Clan has always acted unreasonably. It’s reasonable that Qingyun was targeted by Jiang Ye because of Fan Ying...”
“But... why did the Jiang Clan set up the Lock Immortal Array in advance? It’s as if they knew someone was protecting Ye Qingyun?”
“Did they detect something at the Fan Family?”
Shou Lao thought, feeling an ominous premonition.
When Blood Butcher charged at Jiang Ye, the Origin and power of that Emperor Seal were truly terrifying and inconceivable.
That strike, with its crimson Emperor Qi soaring to the sky, almost crushed heaven and earth. With a single palm, it shattered Blood Butcher, a Quasi-Emperor, body and soul, leaving no trace of his remains.
That terrifying power was not something an ordinary Emperor Seal could possess; it even subtly contained the Origin will of Empress Hongye.
Had Su Hongye already reached this level?
Moreover, only the Jiang Clan Heavenly Guard acted today; even the Jiang Clan’s Old Ancestor did not appear. In the shadows, there were probably endless experts, which made people feel somewhat despairing.
“Heal your injuries first. We’ll discuss other matters after you recover,” Shou Lao said in a low voice.
Ye Qingyun and Li Guangrui nodded silently.
Shou Lao sat cross-legged on the ground, a pill light appearing between his brows. An ancient pill slowly rose, its fragrance permeating, like a surging immortal spring, instantly filling the entire Immortal Cave.
Ye Qingyun and Li Guangrui immediately sat cross-legged, drawing the pill’s fragrance into their bodies. Spiritual power repaired their Meridians, solidified their Dao Foundation, and gradually alleviated their internal injuries.
The two exchanged glances, seeing both anger and sorrow in each other’s eyes.
Ye Qingyun’s heart grew cold. Granny Yun had fallen into the hands of the Jiang Clan, so she was likely doomed.
And Li Guangrui also knew that his Bixia Heavenly Palace was probably finished!
Perhaps even his family would be implicated because of him.
“Jiang Ye’s actions are unscrupulous and vindictive; he is definitely not a good person.”
He gritted his teeth and whispered.
Ye Qingyun said in a deep voice, “Brother Li, we must both survive! Only by living can we hope for revenge!”
Li Guangrui nodded fiercely.
Although Jiang Ye was of noble status and formidable strength, revenge seemed almost impossible.
But looking at Ye Qingyun, a glimmer of hope arose in his heart.
Although Ye Qingyun was still very weak, Li Guangrui had a feeling.
One day, Ye Qingyun would become so powerful that even the Jiang Clan would have to look up to him... A day passed.
Ye Qingyun and Li Guangrui sat cross-legged, spiritual light swirling around their bodies, their Qi stable. Their severe injuries had recovered by seventy to eighty percent, at least without damaging their Foundation.
Shou Lao stood silently at the Immortal Cave entrance, his aged face clouded with gloom.
“This place is not suitable for long stays. Let’s return to Wangchen Village first.”
However, Ye Qingyun did not get up for a long time.
His eyes were dim, his brows filled with struggle and pain, as he quietly asked, “Grandpa Thin (Venerable), what about Granny Yun?”
Shou Lao’s expression froze, and a hint of unconcealable sorrow flashed in his eyes. He wanted to say something but only opened his mouth, ultimately failing to utter a single word.
After a long while, he slowly spoke, his voice low and like iron: “The Jiang Clan captured her most likely to search her Divine Soul and force out our whereabouts...”
“However, Granny Yun is quite accomplished in the Dao of Divine Soul, so this is not an easy task. In the short term, the Jiang Clan may not succeed.”
“For now, we can only return to the village first, and then the Old Village Chief will decide.”
After speaking, his gaze fell on Ye Qingyun’s face.
His heart grew heavier.
He knew Ye Qingyun’s character all too well; this child was loyal and righteous. How could he tolerate a close person falling into enemy hands without being able to save them?
But how can everything in this world be decided solely by emotions?
Their identities had been exposed, and they were in a dangerous situation.
Although Wangchen Village, after two hundred thousand years of management and arrangement by them old fellows, was impregnable.
But facing an transcendent existence like the Longevity Jiang Clan, they had no certainty of victory!
At this moment, Ye Qingyun said with a tone of self-reproach, “Grandpa Thin (Venerable), it’s all my fault. If it weren’t for me, this wouldn’t have happened.”
Shou Lao, hearing this, only shook his head and said, “Qingyun, how can you blame yourself? The people of the Jiang Clan have always been domineering and unreasonable. Encountering the Jiang Clan at the Fan Family this time can only be blamed on bad luck...”
“Moreover, this matter is not so simple. I had arrangements when I asked you to form a marriage alliance with the Fan Family, but I didn’t expect the Ancient Immortal Domain to be turbulent recently, causing the Jiang Clan to be suspicious. They probably detected some secret hidden by the Fan Family, which is why they sent Jiang Ye, Divine Son of the Jiang Clan, to the Eastern Desolate personally...”
“Alas, it truly is a stroke of bad luck...”