Chapter 131: The Fires of War Ignited

Elder Ye’s face, previously aged and weary, erupted with irrepressible ecstasy. Yet, seemingly struck by a sudden thought, he quickly used internal energy to transmit his voice, his tone heavy and grave: "Cheng'er, remember, your life is no longer just your own; it is the hope of the Ye family. Whatever happens, you must survive."

Ye Cheng smiled, returning a look of reassurance to his grandfather. He could feel the elder’s deep concern and felt a warmth in his heart. He then gestured for the man standing behind him to step forward. "Grandfather, this is Commander Wang Yang, whom I invited from the Nangong family in Yongle City to help our Ye family weather this crisis."

"Oh?" Elder Ye was taken aback.

"Senior Ye," Wang Yang said, cupping his fists in a respectful salute.

"Hmm?" Elder Ye sensed the aura of a Great Perfection Origin Realm practitioner emanating from Wang Yang. His expression instantly brightened, a glimmer of hope surging within him. "Commander Wang, your arrival is like rain after a long drought. Once the Ye family survives this crisis, I will certainly reward you handsomely."

Elder Ye had not held much hope for surviving the Luo family's assault, but with the addition of Commander Wang Yang, the situation had shifted. He himself could hold off two Great Perfection Origin Realm experts, and with Commander Wang and Ye Zhan pinning down another, Ye Hong could barely manage to hold off one more.

By this calculation, if Ye Zhan, the Commander, or he himself could finish their opponent early and clear their hands, the tide of battle might yet be turned.

"Grandfather, why do I not see the Great Elder?" Ye Cheng realized the Great Elder was missing from the crowd, though he did notice Ye Wei staring at Luo Sen and his cohorts with eyes full of hatred.

Elder Ye fell silent for a moment before saying slowly, "Half a month ago, he was ambushed by the Luo family while out on a journey and died."

"Dead?" Ye Cheng recalled the stern Great Elder, a man who had dedicated his life to the Ye family. To think he was gone just like that—a chill deepened in Ye Cheng’s eyes. It was no wonder the man had not appeared during this time of crisis.

"Ha! Ye Cheng, I was just lamenting that you weren't here, yet here you are, daring to appear before us," Luo Long stared intently at Ye Cheng, laughing loudly. "You escaped my grasp in the Demon Forest, but you won't find it so easy to flee this time."

"Hmm?" Elder Ye and the others frowned upon hearing Luo Long's words. It was clear they had gathered that Ye Cheng had once escaped from the man's hands. They turned their gazes toward Ye Cheng with confusion. "Did Cheng'er not go off to train with his mysterious master? How could he have ended up in such a predicament? Did his master not intervene?"

His mysterious master had used unfathomable means to take Ye Cheng away without ever showing his face, appearing to be an incredibly powerful figure—so much so that even Elder Ye could not gauge his strength. How could he have allowed Ye Cheng to be hunted by an enemy family?

Seeing the strange looks from the others, Ye Cheng gave a wry smile. It seemed he would have to weave a story to patch up the lie he and Elder Mu had concocted. He dismissed the matter by claiming his master had only taught him for a short time before departing to let him train on his own, while truthfully recounting how he had managed to escape Luo Long's pursuit.

"Ye Cheng’s talent is too great a threat to our Luo family; this boy must not be left alive," said the Luo family’s Great Elder, Luo Huo, who had remained silent until now, his eyes locked on Ye Cheng from the moment he appeared.

"Agreed," Luo Sen and the others nodded. In their hearts, they had also placed Ye Cheng on their list of people who must be eliminated. Once such a genius matured, he would be capable of destroying the century-old foundation of their Luo family.

"Hmph, you have had enough time to reminisce. I won't waste any more breath. I am giving you two choices," Luo Sen said, his patience wearing thin as he watched the group whisper. He bellowed, "Either cripple your own dantian and crawl out of Luoyang Town, or die!"

"Idiot!" Ye Cheng sneered, meeting Luo Sen’s gaze.

"Hmph! If you won't accept a toast, you shall be forced to drink a forfeit."

Luo Sen snorted and turned toward the two mysterious figures in golden and silver robes. Pointing at Elder Ye, he said respectfully, "I ask that you two protectors help us hold off this old man, Ye Zhongqi. His strength reached the peak of the Origin Realm many years ago; only the two of you working together can restrain him."

Seeing Luo Sen treat those two with such deference, Ye Cheng frowned. He locked his gaze on them and asked Commander Wang Yang, "Are those two from the Blood Fiend Gang?"

"Yes," Wang Yang nodded. "They are the Gold and Silver Protectors of the Blood Fiend Gang. Both are at the Great Perfection of the Origin Realm and excel in combined attacks. Together, they are enough to contend with a half-step Ancient Pill Realm expert. Given their posture, they have clearly been hired to deal with your grandfather."

"I see!" Ye Cheng’s eyes grew cold as he watched them.

The members of the Ye family stood on high alert, guarding against the encroaching forces of the Luo family.

"Elder Ye, by any count, your family only has four Origin Realm experts, while my Luo family has five, all of whom are at the Great Perfection of the Origin Realm. How can you fight us? One last chance: will you cripple your own dantian, or will you die?" Luo Sen asked, seemingly unwilling to give up. He knew that destroying the Ye family would come at a high cost, and if he could secure Luoyang Town and remove the threat without losing a single soldier, that was what he preferred.

"Hmph, enough talk. It is not yet certain who will be the victor," cold, sharp words spilled from Elder Ye’s lips, his voice filled with newfound resolve.

"Fine, fine. You have brought this upon yourself." Luo Sen let out a sinister laugh and swung his palm down abruptly. A loud roar, bolstered by vast internal energy, echoed throughout Luoyang Town: "Attack!"

The moment the command was given, waves of powerful internal energy erupted from everyone present. Elder Ye, his body brimming with terrifying power, narrowed his eyes and locked onto Luo Sen. Believing in capturing the leader to capture the gang, he moved first, intent on taking his life.

The Gold and Silver Protectors behind Luo Sen let out a strange cackle. Moving in perfect unison, they drew their long blades, leaped from their horses, and surged forward. Their formidable energy condensed into their blades, and two arcs of blade light intercepted Elder Ye.

"Clang! Clang! Clang!"

As Elder Ye clashed with the Gold and Silver Protectors, Luo Sen and Luo Huo moved to confront the brothers Ye Zhan and Ye Hong.

Seeing this, Ye Zhan was enraged. He threw his fists toward the faces of Luo Sen and Luo Long with fierce intensity. Ye Hong drew his long blade and charged, but being a level lower in cultivation, he was forced back several steps by a single strike from Luo Sen. Luo Sen’s strength was such that he was likely only a single step away from breaking through to the peak of the Origin Realm.

"Commander Wang, go help my uncle. I fear he won't be able to hold out against Luo Sen and the others for long," Ye Cheng said upon seeing the scene.

"What about Luo Long? Can you handle him?" Wang Yang asked, his face etched with worry.