Chapter 78: Solution

Ye Fan had already imprinted a three-legged, two-handled round cauldron in his mind. However, the actual forging of "divine patterns" within the Sea of Bitterness proved extremely difficult; just condensing the nineteen "divine patterns" together took a long time.

Eventually, he slowly melted the nineteen "divine patterns," forming a lump the size of a pea. Yet, it was impossible to cast or shape it; it bore no resemblance to a cauldron whatsoever.

Ye Fan tried many times. Not only could he not forge it into the shape of a cauldron, but he couldn't even engrave any patterns. Forging the cauldron was indeed incredibly difficult.

However, he wasn't anxious. After all, this was just the beginning, and he would have plenty of time to refine it later. This would be a long and arduous process, not just for him, but likely even more so for others.

As dusk fell, Ye Fan caught a badger and headed back. Just as he sat down in the small restaurant, the old man set a table full of enticing food and wine before him.

Little Tingting had changed into new clothes. Her rosy little face was full of sweet smiles, revealing two adorable dimples. The little girl's definition of happiness was simple: as long as she could eat her fill and wasn't bullied, she was perfectly content. Moreover, now she even had new clothes to wear.

"Today, the Li family is on high alert, having gathered many strong young men. They seem to be guarding against something," said Elder Jiang at the dinner table.

"What happened?" Ye Fan asked.

"The Li family has an adversary who lives dozens of miles away. That family also has members who cultivate immortals outside, and both are powerful local clans that have always been at odds. The Li family suspects their rivals set fire to more than ten carts of their goods. Today, they sent people to gather information, but one steward was detained, and the rest were beaten half to death and chased back."

Ye Fan chuckled softly. "I originally wanted to cause them some trouble, but now it's even easier. This time, I guarantee they'll be too busy dealing with their own problems to suspect anyone else. Let these two families, who prey on the villagers, be suspicious of each other."

After Ye Fan gathered detailed information, he quietly slipped out of the town that night and headed straight for a manor dozens of miles away.

He stealthily made his way inside. Although some members of this family cultivated immortals elsewhere, none were currently present at the manor, making it effectively undefended to Ye Fan. He spent more than half an hour and found a person tightly bound in a woodshed.

"Are you Steward Zhang?"

The person in the woodshed, whose voice was thin and sharp, much like Elder Jiang had described, immediately replied, "It's me. Who are you?"

"Steward Zhang, I've come to rescue you." Ye Fan walked over, easily broke the ropes binding him, and said, "Your young master has descended from the Misty Cloud Cave Heaven, and this time, he intends to completely wipe out the Wang family."

"What...?" Steward Zhang seemed very surprised. "Who are you?"

Ye Fan's voice suddenly grew cold. "Calm down. Your young master has invited several fellow disciples, and I am one of them."

"This humble one greets the Immortal Lord." Despite hearing that the other person was young, Steward Zhang immediately prostrated himself like a kowtowing insect upon learning he was an immortal cultivator.

"No need to bow. I have something to tell you now, listen carefully."

"Please tell me, Immortal Lord."

"There are a few barrels of oil here. Go outside and set fires everywhere. Once the fires are lit, shout that your young master will wipe out the entire Wang family."

"Ah, if I do that, won't they catch and kill me?" At that moment, Steward Zhang thought of nothing else but whether he could save his own life.

"Don't worry. Your safety is our responsibility. We intend to torture them slowly, letting the Wang family die in fear."

"Alright, I'll go set the fires now. Then I'll charge in with the Immortal Lords."

Ye Fan patted his shoulder and said meaningfully, "You've rendered a great service!"

Praised by someone he perceived as an immortal, Steward Zhang's blood immediately boiled. He unleashed all the spite he usually reserved for bullying villagers, grabbed a few barrels of oil, and strode out.

Ye Fan picked up the broken ropes from the ground, then turned and vanished into the darkness.

Soon, flames shot into the sky from the manor, with four or five locations simultaneously catching fire. Just then, Steward Zhang's thin, sharp voice rang out, particularly piercing in the dead of night: "Sons of turtles from the Wang family, your turtle's nest is on fire! Just you wait, my young master will wipe out your entire clan!"

The Wang family instantly fell into chaos. There were women's cries and men's angry shouts. Soon, people wielding gleaming swords and knives charged toward Steward Zhang.

At this moment, Steward Zhang was highly excited. With an immortal supporting him, he felt no fear and set another four or five fires.

Seeing all this, the Wang family's eyes turned red with fury. They roared and charged, swinging their knives. The gleaming long blades were particularly dazzling in the firelight.

Only then did Steward Zhang feel fear, for the immortal had not appeared by his side. By then, it was too late to escape. He let out a terrified scream, took one step to turn around, and was immediately struck in the neck. Blood gushed out, and he died with his eyes wide open.

Seeing Steward Zhang killed, Ye Fan quietly retreated from the shadows. However, he did not leave the area. He used the chaos to ignite more than a dozen large fires. The intense flames burned fiercely, turning half the sky crimson.

Only then did Ye Fan swiftly depart, vanishing into the darkness in the blink of an eye.

The next day, when the news reached Qingfeng Town, the entire Li family was instantly shaken.

"Half of the Wang family's manor burned down?!"

"What? Steward Zhang did it?"

"That bastard, Steward Zhang! I'll kill your whole family!"

The entire Li family panicked, like ants on a hot pan. They gathered all their able-bodied men, preparing to face the Wang family's retaliation.

With half their manor reduced to ashes, the Wang family was beyond enraged. That same day, they burned down the Li family's shops in the county town, plundered all their gold and silver, and gathered their household guards to march towards Qingfeng Town.

On this day, outside Qingfeng Town, a fierce bloody conflict erupted between the two families. Both sides suffered significant casualties. There was nothing left to explain; only blades and blood could resolve the matter.

The two sides retreated only by dusk. Clearly, the matter could not end here, and there would undoubtedly be more bloodshed in the coming days.

That very night, the Wang family returned, storming into Qingfeng Town and heading straight for the Li family to set fires. Had the Li family not been prepared, they might have been completely reduced to ashes. Even so, many rooms collapsed due to the fire, and they had no peace all night.

The residents of Qingfeng Town all clapped their hands in delight. The Li family's oppression of the villagers had long incited public resentment, but no one dared to stand up. Now, something they had only dreamed of doing but never dared had come to pass.

Elder Jiang witnessed all this and couldn't help but show concern. Seeing this, Ye Fan smiled and said, "Don't worry, these two families are not good people. It's just dogs biting dogs."

The old man nodded and said, "Child, try not to do such things in the future..." He was somewhat worried about Ye Fan, fearing that a boy of eleven or twelve, capable of instigating such a great upheaval with just a couple of tricks, might stray onto a wicked path if his mind grew deeper.

Ye Fan immediately chuckled. "Don't worry, Elder. I never have the heart to harm people; I only act this way towards those who deserve it."

"The Li family's immortal cultivators who are away will probably be returning soon," the old man said with a sad expression, reminded of his own son.

"I thought so too. With what's happened to the Li family, they must have sent a message to the Misty Cloud Cave Heaven."

"Even if this hadn't happened, the Li family's immortal cultivators should be back by now."

"Why?" Ye Fan asked, somewhat puzzled.

"The Li family usually spends a lot, mainly to collect spiritual herbs to send to their family members who cultivate immortals elsewhere. A while ago, it seems they acquired something called 'Source.' It's said a herb collector found it in an ancient cave deep in the mountains, and it's supposedly of immense benefit to cultivators."

Ye Fan's heart instantly trembled!

According to ancient records, during the era when heaven and earth converged to create all things, plants flourished, creatures were powerful, and spiritual herbs were endless. Many "Sources" also formed, crystalline like amber, yet containing vast amounts of life essence within.

Some rare "Divine Sources" even sealed powerful creatures from the primordial era of heaven and earth. When such "Sources" were excavated, they could provide immense quantities of life energy.

"A 'Source' found in an ancient cave deep in the mountains! The Li family has truly given me a great gift!" Ye Fan displayed a brilliant smile.