A short while later, Ye Yunfei returned to the Luohai Trading Company headquarters.
"Young Master Ye, during this period, the Lingzhen Pavilion has been continuously suppressing our Luohai Trading Company," Ren Xuantang spoke up as soon as he saw Ye Yunfei.
"Oh? The Lingzhen Pavilion?" Hearing this familiar name, Ye Yunfei couldn't help but be slightly taken aback.
"That's right. During this time, the Lingzhen Pavilion has openly suppressed our operations in various cities across the Eastern Region. I suspect it's highly likely because they've discovered that our Trading Company suffered heavy losses, greatly damaging our vitality. So, they want to seize this opportunity to marginalize, or even swallow up, our company," Ren Xuantang explained.
"Mmm." Ye Yunfei nodded.
The Lingzhen Pavilion and the Luohai Trading Company were somewhat similar in nature, both being organizations primarily focused on commerce. One could say they were competitors.
Indeed, the Luohai Trading Company had suffered significant losses recently. The Lingzhen Pavilion probably intended to take action against them during this weakness. However, now that the Luohai Trading Company was Ye Yunfei's force, he naturally wouldn't allow the Lingzhen Pavilion to suppress it.
"Whatever troops come, we'll deploy defenses; whatever waters rise, we'll build dams. Our Luohai Trading Company will not show weakness. Even if the Lingzhen Pavilion wants a full-scale war, we'll meet them head-on," Ye Yunfei stated.
"Understood. I know what to do," Ren Xuantang replied.
"By the way, have Elder Wu come see me," Ye Yunfei said.
"Yes, sir." Ren Xuantang immediately took out a message jade slip to send a summons.
Shortly after, Elder Wu arrived in a hurry.
"Young Master Ye." Elder Wu respectfully saluted Ye Yunfei.
"Elder Wu, you've been stuck at the Late Stage True Manifestation Realm for about ten years now, correct?" Ye Yunfei inquired.
"That's right. A full ten years." Elder Wu was momentarily surprised by the question, then answered.
"These three treasure pills. After consuming and refining them, you should be able to break through to the Yuan Foundation Realm." Ye Yunfei took out three radiant pills and handed them to Elder Wu.
"Three treasure pills!" Elder Wu's hands trembled as he held the three pills, utterly astounded.
"Young Master Ye... these three, are they truly... treasure pills?" Elder Wu stammered, his words faltering.
"Indeed. Elder Wu, these three are definitely treasure pills. This is Young Master Ye's intentional cultivation of us," Ren Xuantang interjected from the side.
"Thank you, Young Master Ye! Wu Sen pledges to forever follow by your side and serve you with utter loyalty!" Elder Wu trembled with excitement and bowed deeply to Ye Yunfei.
Once he became a Yuan Foundation Realm expert, from then on, he would belong to the top tier of powerhouses in the vast lands of the Eastern Region. He could establish his own prestige, dominate a region!
"By the way, Young Master Ye, I've already dispatched people to investigate the Great Qin Empire. The situation concerning the Tianyuan Sect and the Ye Family members is... not ideal. There are several groups of people lying in ambush around the Tianyuan Sect headquarters, with ill intentions. Once the Hudao Academy revokes the protective order for the Tianyuan Sect and the Ye Family, I'm afraid those groups will undoubtedly be the first to charge into the Tianyuan Sect headquarters and unleash a bloody massacre," Ren Xuantang reported.
"Very well. I understand." A cold, murderous glint couldn't help but appear in Ye Yunfei's eyes.
A dragon has its reversed scales; to touch them is to court its wrath! Family, clan—they were Ye Yunfei's greatest reversed scales!
"Those who dare threaten my clan and sect... there's no need for them to exist," Ye Yunfei said calmly.
"Young Master Ye, should we deploy personnel from the Luohai Trading Company to deal with those groups?" Ren Xuantang offered.
"No need. Leave it to me to handle." Ye Yunfei shook his head.
"I'm preparing to depart. If anything comes up, just send me a message." Ye Yunfei took out several message jade slips and tossed them to Ren Xuantang.
He had personally refined these slips, each containing a trace of his soul imprint. They would allow for rapid communication with him.
"I understand." Ren Xuantang accepted the slips and nodded.
"I'm leaving." Ye Yunfei summoned a flying boat and boarded it.
The boat soared into the sky and swiftly vanished into the distance.
Two days later.
Great Qin Empire, Tianyuan Sect Headquarters.
Several groups of people surrounded the headquarters, encircling it completely, forming a tight blockade.
Members of the Tianyuan Sect could no longer come and go normally.
"I say, why don't we just charge in and slaughter everyone inside? Why go through all this trouble guarding out here?" A burly man holding a gleaming steel blade glared toward the Tianyuan Sect headquarters, his face full of impatience.
"What's the hurry? Ye Yunfei is dead. Sooner or later, the Hudao Academy will lift the protective order on the Tianyuan Sect and the Ye Family. Then we can charge in and kill to our hearts' content."
"Exactly. After all, the Hudao Academy is the top academy on the continent, no trifling matter. We mustn't provoke them, or the consequences are unpredictable."
...
Several other men nearby tried to persuade him.
"Hmph! Damn it, I've been stuck here for six or seven days already! A barren mountain wilderness, not even a single woman in sight! It's pure torment! When the time comes, I'll hack everyone from the Tianyuan Sect and the Ye Family to death. That's the only way to vent my hatred! And those young female disciples of the Tianyuan Sect—I'll definitely grab a few for a good time!" the burly man roared.
"Haha, well said! When the time comes, remember everyone: those young, beautiful women absolutely cannot be killed. Keep them for all of us to enjoy properly!" The others also laughed boisterously.
At that moment, inside the Tianyuan Sect Headquarters...
Within the meeting hall, all the high-ranking members of the Tianyuan Sect, Ye Tianpeng, and several elders of the Ye Family were gathered.
The atmosphere was thick with silence.
Every single person hung their heads dejectedly, their faces etched with worry.
"Tell everyone to pack their belongings. Once the Hudao Academy revokes the protective order for our sect and the Ye Family, those groups outside will certainly charge in immediately, showing no mercy. Then... we can only try to escape as many as possible. We'll have to leave our fate to heaven," Elder Ren suddenly sighed and said.
No one else spoke.
Everyone understood: the strength of the Tianyuan Sect and the Ye Family was far too weak. They were no match for the forces outside.
Once those groups charged in... few would likely manage to escape.
"I have an intuition... that my son Yunfei is not dead. He will definitely return." Ye Tianpeng suddenly spoke up.
"Ah, Patriarch Ye... please accept the change and find peace. That day in Luohai City, countless people witnessed with their own eyes that Ye Yunfei's heart was pierced. It's impossible for him to have survived," Elder Ren shook his head and sighed.
"No. I don't know why, but this intuition of mine is very strong. It seems... Fei'er truly isn't dead." Ye Tianpeng insisted.
The others remained silent.
Everyone felt that Ye Tianpeng was perhaps so deeply grief-stricken that he was speaking nonsensically.