Chapter 3551: Leaf Xuanji Returns

In the Northern Icefield of the Xuan Yang Realm, within the Ice Soul Mountain Range, stood a vast white estate.

Ye Yuxuan and a pot-bellied, red-robed old man were seated in a white stone pavilion, engaged in conversation.

The red-robed old man, Ye Yunshuo, had a round face and small eyes, exuding powerful spiritual pressure. An early-stage Mahayana cultivator, he had been traveling extensively and only recently returned.

"Yuhan and the others have fallen!" Ye Yunshuo stated with a frown.

Ye Yuxuan nodded and confirmed, "Yes, the Mahayana cultivators from the Jia and Medicine clans joined forces, and they even possessed a Xuan Tian Treasure. Our people were simply no match. Patriarch Xuanfeng had invited multiple Mahayana cultivators, and a previous message sent back via the trans-realm communication array indicated that they had already breached the strongholds of the Jia and Medicine clans and were preparing to travel to the Cang Yuan Realm."

"Has Patriarch Xuanji not returned yet?" Ye Yunshuo asked. By seniority, Ye Xuanji and Ye Xuanfeng were the highest-ranking members of the Ye family.

"Not yet. She's been gone for over ten thousand years. She might be returning soon," Ye Yuxuan speculated.

He took out a shimmering golden communication disk and cast a spell. A panicked female voice immediately reported, "Patriarch Yuxuan, something terrible has happened! Patriarch Xuanfeng's life soul lamp has extinguished."

At her words, Ye Yuxuan and Ye Yunshuo's faces both turned grim. Patriarch Xuanfeng's strength surpassed even Ye Yunfei's, and yet he had fallen. It was clear the enemy was formidable.

"It seems something major has occurred," Ye Yuxuan instructed. "Pass down orders to heighten vigilance. Select promising talents from within the clan, provide them with Mahayana spiritual items, and hope they can advance to the Mahayana stage."

In less than two thousand years, the Ye family had lost four Mahayana cultivators, all of whom were veteran practitioners. The family's strength was severely diminished. They would need to cultivate more Mahayana cultivators to survive this crisis.

"Yes, Patriarch Yuxuan," the woman affirmed.

"It seems we must send someone to bring Patriarch Xuanji back, or our Ye family will be in deep trouble," Ye Yuxuan said with a solemn expression.

"I'll go to the Underworld myself," Ye Yunshuo said in a deep voice. "I hope to find Patriarch Xuanji."

Ye Yuxuan picked up the communication disk and cast a spell. A woman's voice, filled with both surprise and joy, immediately sounded: "Patriarch Xuanji has returned! She's in the ancestral hall and asks you to join her there."

"Understood. We're coming right away," Ye Yuxuan replied.

The two arrived at the Ye family ancestral hall, where Ye Xuanji stood before the ancestral spirit tablets, her expression icy.

She had traveled to the Underworld but had not found the person she sought among the countless souls. Shangguan Tianhong, who had been severely wounded, returned with her. While in the Underworld, she had also encountered a fortuitous opportunity and advanced to the mid-Mahayana stage.

"Greetings, Patriarch Xuanji," Ye Yuxuan and Ye Yunshuo said in unison.

"I heard the family is looking for the Qiankun Bottle, a time immortal artifact?" Ye Xuanji asked, her tone flat.

Ye Yuxuan recounted the entire incident. Upon hearing that Patriarch Xuanfeng and three other Mahayana cultivators had perished, Ye Xuanji's brows furrowed deeply.

"Use the large communication array to contact Human Mahayana cultivators across the Xuan Yang Realm and ask for their assistance," Ye Xuanji instructed. "As long as they participate, each Mahayana cultivator will receive five items: an eighth-tier pill, an eighth-tier talisman, a high-grade Heaven-reaching Spirit Treasure, and alchemy and artifact refining materials. There will also be a reward afterward: whoever helps us obtain the Qiankun Bottle will be rewarded with a fragment of a Xuan Tian Treasure."

"This... aren't these conditions too generous?" Ye Yunshuo asked with a frown.

"At this critical juncture, if the conditions aren't generous, what Mahayana cultivator would be willing to help?" Ye Xuanji's face turned cold as she reprimanded him without ceremony. "If the Ye family is wiped out, all these things will just become the enemy's spoils of war. I am the highest-ranking member of the entire clan now, and what I say goes. Do you have an objection?"

Ye Yunshuo offered an awkward smile, not daring to say another word. Even before she left the Ye family, Ye Xuanji was considered the top talent among the younger generation. Now that she had reached the mid-Mahayana stage, in terms of strength, no other clan member was truly her match.

"I am preparing to comprehend the Aperture Opening Scripture to open my apertures. During this time, do not allow anyone to disturb me," Ye Xuanji instructed. She had obtained some aperture-opening materials in the Underworld, and by taking additional ones from the Ye family's treasury, opening one aperture would not be an issue.

This trip to the Underworld had not yielded the person she sought, and Shangguan Tianhong had been severely wounded. However, it had presented a fortuitous opportunity. Ye Xuanji had not only advanced to the mid-Mahayana stage but had also acquired some aperture-opening materials, which she considered an unexpected bonus.

"Yes, Patriarch Xuanji," Ye Yuxuan and Ye Yunshuo replied in unison, accepting her command before departing.

Qinglin Valley on the Qianling Continent was bustling with human voices and the clamor of carriages and horses.

In a quiet estate, Wang Qingcheng sat in a green stone pavilion, holding a green jade slip in his hand and wearing a thoughtful expression.

Wang Yixin stood beside him, presenting a report.

"You've done very well; I appreciate your hard work," Wang Qingcheng praised.

After leaving Canghai, Wang Qingcheng piloted the Azure Lotus to the Qianling Continent, a journey that took over two hundred years. Wang Xiangrong had already entered seclusion to attempt a breakthrough to the Mahayana stage.

Before entering seclusion, Wang Xiangrong had given a jade slip to Wang Yixin, instructing her to deliver it to the family's Mahayana cultivators. The slip contained information regarding Xu Bin.

"This is merely my duty," Wang Yixin replied modestly.

Wang Ruyi and Long Qingfeng entered and were about to salute when Wang Qingcheng stopped them.

"Dispense with the formalities. Return to the Xuanling Continent with me," Wang Qingcheng said pleasantly. The Wang family planned to support Long Qingfeng in becoming the Palace Master of the Nine Dragon Palace, as a contingency measure.

"Yes, Patriarch Qingcheng," Wang Ruyi and Long Qingfeng readily agreed.

"Oh, right, Patriarch Qingcheng," Wang Yixin said, recalling something. "Senior Su Jianjia has advanced to the Mahayana stage and is hosting a grand celebration, inviting many guests. We've also received an invitation."

Wang Qingcheng nodded and said, "I'll lead a team there. It's a good opportunity to purchase some cultivation resources from the Jiuyuan Merchant Alliance. Ruyi, Qingfeng, you two come with me!" The Jiuyuan Merchant Alliance was a powerful organization; purchasing resources from them would save time and increase efficiency. Furthermore, Wang Qingcheng wished to establish a connection with Su Jianjia, which would facilitate future dealings with the alliance.

"Yes, Patriarch Qingcheng," Wang Ruyi and Long Qingfeng readily agreed.

Wang Yixin took out a shimmering golden communication disk and cast a spell. Her expression immediately shifted as she reported, "Patriarch Qingcheng, there's news that Senior Ye and his companions were ambushed by multiple Mahayana cultivators and suffered heavy losses."

"Immediately contact the clan and inquire about the condition of Seventh Brother's life soul lamp," Wang Qingcheng instructed, a hint of worry in his eyes.

He hoped it was false news. Wang Qingshan had just achieved mastery of the Spiritual Domain, so he should be safe.

"Yes, Patriarch Qingcheng," Wang Yixin affirmed, then departed to carry out the order.

In less than fifteen minutes, Wang Yixin returned, a smile on her face. "Patriarch Qingcheng," she reported, "Patriarch Qingshan's life soul lamp shows no abnormalities, so he's definitely unharmed."

Wang Qingcheng breathed a sigh of relief and smiled. "I knew it," he said. "Oh, and send someone to investigate who released that information. Just because Seventh Brother is fine doesn't mean others are."

Wang Yixin acknowledged his command and departed.