The six Yuan Foundation Realm elders of the Chen Clan stood in silence, their gazes fixed on the direction where Ye Yunfei had vanished.
This time, the Chen Clan had suffered grievous losses.
Forty to fifty True Manifestation Realm experts alone had been killed.
The number of Saint Realm and lower cultivators slaughtered was even greater.
And on top of that, they had been forced to pay a vast compensation.
“Honored Ancestors…”
After Ye Yunfei’s departure, the remaining True Manifestation Realm experts of the Chen Clan emerged from their headquarters and gathered behind the six elders, each of their faces etched with anger and indignation.
“That little thief Ye Yunfei, he’s just too…” one of the True Manifestation Realm experts began to speak.
“Silence!”
His words were cut off by the furious scolding of one of the elders.
“Speak! Who was it that provoked Ye Yunfei in the first place? All those responsible shall be punished severely!” the elder roared, his wrathful gaze sweeping over the gathered True Manifestation experts.
Hearing these words, the expressions of many among them immediately changed.
“Chen Tianhui, as the clan chief, you cannot escape responsibility for the state our Chen Clan has been reduced to. Your blame is heavy. I believe you should first relinquish your position as chief and enter seclusion to reflect deeply. We will reconsider the selection of a new chief,” the same elder declared, looking towards a grey-robed man around sixty years old.
This grey-robed man was Chen Tianhui, the current chief of the Chen Clan.
“Third Ancestor, I…” Chen Tianhui’s face drastically changed color.
He had worked hard to attain the position of Chen Clan chief, a role of great power and standing, making him one of the major figures in the Eastern Region. But now, his position as chief was gone.
“Less talk. It is decided,” the elder said impatiently, flicking his sleeve.
“Yes,” Chen Tianhui replied with an ashen face, not daring to say another word.
For within the Chen Clan, the true authority resided with these six elders.
“Furthermore, from this moment on, members of our Chen Clan are forbidden from provoking Ye Yunfei again. Anyone who disobeys shall be punished most severely according to the clan rules!” one of the other elders commanded.
With that, the six elders, their faces grim, transformed into six beams of light and vanished in an instant, disappearing deep within the Chen Clan headquarters.
A day later, the news spread, shaking the entire Eastern Region!
“I heard Ye Yunfei stood alone, blocking the Chen Clan headquarters, and the entire clan dared not come out!”
“Over forty True Manifestation Realm experts of the Chen Clan were killed by Ye Yunfei!”
“All six ancestors of the Chen Clan emerged from seclusion, but in the end, they could only choose to submit and sue for peace!”
“Even six Yuan Foundation Realm experts were unable to deal with Ye Yunfei!”
“I heard the Chen Clan even had to pay Ye Yunfei a massive sum as compensation!”
…
As one shocking detail after another was revealed, all who heard of it were profoundly shaken, finding the events completely unbelievable.
Although Ye Yunfei’s fearsome reputation had already spread throughout the Eastern Region before, this time was different. This time, Ye Yunfei had confronted the entire Chen Clan head-on!
He had marched right up to their doorstep and blocked the entrance to their headquarters!
Even more incomprehensible was that, in the end, the Chen Clan had submitted, sued for peace, and actively paid compensation!
As the news spread, it caused an uproar in all directions, sweeping through like a hurricane.
“Ye Yunfei isn’t even twenty years old yet, and already he is such a monster. Once he grows to his full potential, who in the entire Eastern Region will be his match?”
“For one man, alone, to force a major Eastern Region clan to such a point… even the old monsters and antiques within the Eastern Region couldn’t accomplish that!”
“I’ve heard that many sects and clans in the Eastern Region have already secretly given the order: Do not provoke Ye Yunfei.”
…
Everywhere in the Eastern Region, people were frantically discussing the matter.
***
“Ye Yunfei! So it was you!”
In a concealed location somewhere within the Eastern Region, a short, gaunt old man clad in black robes gnashed his teeth, his eyes burning with towering fury.
This black-robed elder was precisely Elder Xing of the Tianyou Tomb.
After Ye Yunfei destroyed the Tianyou Tomb’s Eastern Region branch, Elder Xing had led the twenty remaining assassins to a temporary hideout to lay low.
Upon hearing about what transpired at the Chen Clan headquarters, he instantly realized that the person who had acted against the Tianyou Tomb not long ago must have been Ye Yunfei!
“Elder Xing, Ye Yunfei destroyed our branch and over a dozen branch strongholds. Let us go and take our revenge!” said one of the three other elders standing beside Elder Xing.
“This matter cannot be rushed. We must plan carefully. That kid Ye Yunfei has already grown formidable. With just the few of us, we cannot go and seek revenge against him. First, report this matter to the headquarters in the Central Continent and let them decide,” Elder Xing thought for a moment, calming himself, before speaking decisively.
Not even the Chen Clan’s five Yuan Foundation Realm experts had been able to handle Ye Yunfei. The Eastern Region branch of the Tianyou Tomb now had only one Yuan Foundation Realm expert left—there was simply no way they could confront Ye Yunfei.
***
At the same time.
Within the other major sects and clans of the Eastern Region, orders were quietly given: do not provoke Ye Yunfei again.
The Chen Clan’s experience had made these great powers deeply wary of Ye Yunfei.
***
Divine Medicine Valley, Eastern Region.
“Ye Yunfei is not dead! And he alone forced the Chen Clan to submit and sue for peace!”
Upon receiving the news, the higher-ups of the Divine Medicine Valley were all utterly shocked.
“Not only is Young Master Ye a Master Alchemist, but his prowess in martial arts is also so monstrous. It’s simply astonishing!” The valley master could not help but sigh in amazement.
“At such a young age, Young Master Ye possesses such ability. His future achievements are simply unimaginable!” The many higher-ups of the Divine Medicine Valley all sighed with awe.
“Fortunately, we of the Divine Medicine Valley did not sever ties with the Tianyuan Sect,” one higher-up said, feeling a sense of relief.
“However, our relationship with the Tianyuan Sect has noticeably cooled during this period. Moreover, when the Tianyuan Sect was besieged by the forces of several major powers before, we, the Divine Medicine Valley, did not go to their aid. If Young Master Ye were to find out, I fear…” another higher-up said hesitantly.
Hearing this, the expressions of the other Divine Medicine Valley higher-ups changed slightly.
Previously, after news of Ye Yunfei’s death had spread, several powers had dispatched forces to surround the Tianyuan Sect headquarters, readying an attack. At that time, these higher-ups of the Divine Medicine Valley, believing Ye Yunfei to be dead, saw no need to maintain relations with the Tianyuan Sect. Thus, they had stood by and done nothing.
Now, however, Ye Yunfei had suddenly returned with overwhelming force.
If Ye Yunfei were to pursue the matter later, the Divine Medicine Valley would be in trouble.
Just the thought of it made these higher-ups feel a wave of anxiety and dread.
Even the Chen Clan had been forced to bow their heads and submit to Ye Yunfei. What did a mere Divine Medicine Valley amount to?
With Ye Yunfei’s current strength, destroying the Divine Medicine Valley would be as easy as turning his hand.
“We shall go to the Tianyuan Sect immediately! We must use every means possible to befriend, even to curry favor with, the Tianyuan Sect!” the valley master declared after a moment’s thought.
Shortly after, the valley master and a group of higher-ups, laden with generous gifts, departed from the Divine Medicine Valley, swiftly heading towards the direction of the Great Qin Empire.