Inside Xiaoyao Pavilion, one of the Four Great Sects of the Great Qin Empire.
Within a certain hall.
'Sect Master, the matter has been investigated. The reason Ye Yunfei suddenly possessed such fearsome combat power last time was because he inadvertently triggered an ancient formation within the Tianyuan Sect. The energy of that ancient formation empowered him, causing his battle strength to surge dramatically. Ye Yunfei's true personal strength is only at the Late Stage Earth Realm, utterly insignificant.' A Xiaoyao Pavilion elder began speaking.
In the main hall, the Master of Xiaoyao Pavilion sat erectly upon the central high seat, his face overcast with gloom. The public humiliation of being wounded by Ye Yunfei at the Tianyuan Sect headquarters last time had been a severe blow to his pride. Upon returning, he had immediately dispatched men to investigate.
'Hmph! So that's how it was!' the Master of Xiaoyao Pavilion snorted coldly.
'Sect Master, I've also received word that Ye Yunfei is not currently at the Tianyuan Sect headquarters. He has traveled to the Imperial City,' that elder continued.
'Ye Yunfei publicly wounded me and Elder Ding, and openly insulted my personal disciple Qin An. If this enmity remains unavenged, our Xiaoyao Pavilion will forever become a laughingstock throughout the Great Qin Empire! Immediately dispatch men to the Imperial City to kill Ye Yunfei,' the Master of Xiaoyao Pavilion said slowly, murderous intent blazing fiercely in his eyes.
'Sect Master, I shall go and kill Ye Yunfei!' In the hall, a lean-built elderly man stepped forward and declared loudly. This old man was an expert of Xiaoyao Pavilion, possessing strength at the early stage of the Profound Realm.
'I shall go as well,' a middle-aged female daoist priestess stepped forward and said sternly. It was none other than Elder Ding.
'Good. With Elder Jin and Elder Ding personally taking action, slaying that Ye Yunfei should pose no difficulty,' the Xiaoyao Pavilion Master nodded.
Thereupon, Elder Jin and Elder Ding strode briskly from the hall, preparing to depart for the Imperial City.
'Incidentally, how is Qin An doing now? Has his mental state stabilized and returned to normal?' After watching the two elders leave, the Xiaoyao Pavilion Master suddenly inquired.
'During this period, his state of mind has gradually begun to recover. Moreover, he gives off the impression of a man drawing courage from shame, striving with great determination. It seems the influence Ye Yunfei had on him has already begun to fade. And just moments ago, he broke through to the Heaven Realm Middle Stage!' an elder with a rather aged countenance replied.
'Excellent! Truly worthy of being a Heavenly Spirit Body! It appears then, suffering a setback might have been good for him after all! Qin An possesses a Heavenly Spirit Body, and now having broken through to the Heaven Realm Middle Stage, he is bound to reap significant rewards upon entering the Sky Shadow Small World,' the Master of Xiaoyao Pavilion couldn't help but laugh heartily upon hearing this, his expression filled with satisfaction.
At the same time.
The Imperial City.
Within the mansion of the First Prince.
An opulent banquet was underway inside a hall. Attending maidens were as numerous as clouds, the seats were filled with guests, and every table groaned under the weight of various delicacies and fine spiritual wines.
'Haha, Young Master Tang, being taught by Master Chen Xuan, truly a master raises an outstanding disciple. Your bearing and style are extraordinary,' a man wearing a purple-gold high crown and a golden robe declared heartily.
'Oh, First Prince flatters me,' a young man in apricot-yellow robes beside him gave a faint smile, his demeanor haughty.
If Ye Yunfei were here, he would immediately recognize this person as Tang Feng, disciple of Master Chen Xuan. Moreover, hundreds more were seated within the hall, all trusted confidants of the First Prince.
'For this upcoming Alchemy Competition, I must trouble Young Master Tang to display his divine alchemical skill, secure the championship, and then enter the imperial palace to treat my grandmother's illness,' the First Prince said.
'In the entire Great Qin Empire, aside from my master, Master Chen Xuan, no other alchemist is worthy of my consideration,' Tang Feng said with cold arrogance, displaying extreme confidence.
Everyone present was momentarily taken aback. It was common knowledge that within the Great Qin Empire, there were two Fourth-Grade Alchemists: Chen Xuan and another named Huangfu Sheng.
'Hmph! Don't mistake my words for empty boasting. Although Huangfu Sheng is a Fourth-Grade Alchemist, his Pill Fire has encountered issues and suffered a backlash. He can no longer perform alchemy. Therefore, though he retains the title of Fourth-Grade Alchemist, in fact, he can't even be considered a First Grade Alchemist anymore,' Tang Feng stated plainly.
'Something like this?! Young Master Tang, what you say—is it true?!' The First Prince was deeply shocked.
Everyone in the hall was similarly astounded.
'Of course it's true. This matter was spoken personally by my master. First Prince, surely you don't believe my master would lie?' Tang Feng retorted.
'If Master Chen Xuan himself said so, it must be true. Haha! So it seems that within our Great Qin Empire, aside from Master Chen Xuan himself, Young Master Tang's alchemy skills are indeed the highest!' The First Prince laughed heartily, his regard for Tang Feng increasing further.
'By the way, Young Master Tang, Master Chen Xuan left the Great Qin Empire to wander the world four or five years ago. I wonder, when might he return?' the First Prince asked curiously.
'My master is scheduled to return in the near future. After I secure the championship in the Alchemy Competition, it's possible my master and I will enter the imperial palace together to treat His Highness's grandmother,' Tang Feng replied.
'Truly?! That would be excellent! If Master Chen Xuan is willing to personally step forward to treat my grandmother, success would be guaranteed! Young Master Tang, rest assured. When I accede to the throne in the future, I will certainly not treat you poorly! At that time, I will ennoble you as a Prince, granting you lands of your own!' the First Prince exclaimed with extreme excitement. He understood clearly that if his grandmother's illness could be cured, securing the Crown Prince position would be a foregone conclusion!
'Hehe, then I thank His Highness the First Prince in advance,' Tang Feng said with a smug smile.
Others within the hall also showered Tang Feng with praise, eagerly seeking to curry favor. In the world of martial artists, the level of adoration afforded to an alchemist was truly unimaginable.
'Ah, yes, Your Highness. There is one matter I'd like to trouble you with,' Tang Feng suddenly said.
'Help me hunt down this man. I want a certain pill cauldron he possesses. I saw with my own eyes him entering the Imperial City.' Tang Feng produced a portrait and handed it to the First Prince. On the painting was depicted a young man. It was Ye Yunfei!
'No problem. I will dispatch men immediately to attend to it,' the First Prince took the painting, handing it to a trusted aide by his side.
'Oh, I should add, this man has a she-devil following him. That she-devil's strength is not negligible. The entire senior leadership of the Xu Family from Tianteng City had their Dantians shattered by her, rendered cripples,' Tang Feng added.
'What?! The Xu Family of Tianteng City was an auxiliary force I personally supported, belonging to my faction! How dare someone touch them! Young Master Tang, rest assured, this man will definitely die!' the First Prince snarled in fury.
At the same time.
The Imperial City Li Family.
Inside the Li Family residence.
'Reporting to the Patriarch, the contingent of forces we, the Li Family, dispatched to Yuanyue City have been completely annihilated. Not a single one survived to return,' a voice reported within the hall.
Inside the main hall, seated squarely in the central position was a sturdily built middle-aged man with eyes gleaming sharply, his entire demeanor exuding authority. This middle-aged man was Li Jianjun, Patriarch of the Li Family. A steward stood respectfully before Li Jianjun. The voice that had spoken moments ago belonged to this steward.
'Preposterous! What on earth happened? A dozen Heaven Realm experts—can they not deal with a mere small family?!' Li Jianjun flew into a great rage upon hearing this. He had been in secluded cultivation until recently and had just emerged today, only to hear such terrible news.
'Father, I have received word that Ye Yunfei, the one who killed Jianchen, has arrived in the Imperial City,' a young man in blue robes by his side suddenly spoke up. This young man in blue was none other than Li Chaofan, the number one disciple of the Water Peak of Tianyuan Sect. Once the ladder climbing competition ended, he had immediately left the Tianyuan Sect headquarters and returned to the Imperial City Li Family. He was well aware that if he remained within Tianyuan Sect, Ye Yunfei would not let him off.
'Oh! Very well. Immediately ascertain that young bastard's whereabouts and have him killed, no matter the cost! Anyone who crosses our Li Family must pay the price!' Li Jianjun stated coldly.