"What?
Dad, what nonsense are you talking!
There's nothing between Young Master Ye and me. You mustn't speak nonsense to him."
Qin Xiaoyu, upon hearing her father's Sound Transmission, was first stunned, then her face flushed bright red. Worried her father might say something embarrassing, she immediately sent a Sound Transmission back to explain.
"Hahaha, Xiaoyu, men marry and women marry — such matters are normal. There's nothing to be shy about," Qin Hongyi replied via Sound Transmission.
A young man who could command nine True Gods as subordinates — if Xiaoyu liked him, he certainly wouldn't stand in the way. Because if their branch could forge a connection with this astonishingly powerful Young Master Ye, it would mean they had gained a mighty backer for the future.
"Immediately kill all members of Qin Haoxuan's faction. Leave not a single one," Qin Hongyi surveyed the battlefield and then issued the order.
Previously, his faction had lost many people to Qin Haoxuan's faction, so he felt no obligation to show any kinship or mercy now. He wanted revenge for his faction's many unjust deaths.
Following Qin Hongyi's command, his people, like tigers descending the mountain, began fiercely pursuing and slaughtering members of Qin Haoxuan's faction.
Seeing that even Qin Haoxuan had been captured by the other side, Qin Haoxuan's faction had lost all will to fight. They could only desperately flee.
Meanwhile, Qin Hongyi's people, with their morale soaring, pursued them relentlessly.
"I'll take this chance to harvest some Soul Bodies too," Huang Shang said with a laugh, then emerged from the Illusory Shadow Tower to join the pursuit of Qin Haoxuan's faction.
Soon, Qin Hongyi's side had completely gained the upper hand. Qin Haoxuan's faction suffered heavy casualties.
"Young Master Ye, thank you for coming to our aid," Qin Hongyi brought his faction's higher-ups before Ye Yunfei. Each one appeared extremely enthusiastic and repeatedly expressed their gratitude to Ye Yunfei.
"No need for formalities," Ye Yunfei replied indifferently.
"Young Master Ye, these two have been captured. How should we deal with them?"
At this moment, the Earth Demon Clan's ancestor and the other eight True Gods had severely wounded and sealed the two True Gods from the Autumn Wind Group, bringing them before Ye Yunfei.
Qin Hongyi and the other higher-ups of his faction, seeing the two Autumn Wind Group True Gods captured in such a short time, felt both shock and joy.
Ye Yunfei directly threw the two Autumn Wind Group True Gods into the Illusory Shadow Tower.
"Hongyi, this is enough. Our Qin Family can no longer continue this internal strife."
Just then, a voice suddenly rang out, clearly transmitted to everyone's ears. Then, everyone saw a tall, imposing old man walk into this world with incredible speed, arriving instantly before Qin Hongyi.
"Ancestor!"
Seeing this old man, all members of the Qin Family were greatly astonished, for this old man was none other than the Qin Family's ancestor — a Mid-Level True God.
Next, several other old men successively entered the world from outside. All of them were True Gods.
"Young Master Ye, these are all True Gods of the Qin Family. They didn't step in to stop the internal conflict earlier, but are suddenly appearing now. They definitely don't have good intentions," the Earth Demon Clan's ancestor immediately sent a Sound Transmission to Ye Yunfei.
The Earth Demon Clan's ancestor and the other eight True Gods had already returned to stand behind Ye Yunfei.
"Greetings, Ancestor and esteemed Elders," Qin Hongyi said upon seeing the family ancestor and several Elders suddenly appear. He performed a half-hearted salute, his expression complex.
Earlier, when his faction was being hunted by Qin Haoxuan's faction, this Ancestor and these Elders hadn't stepped in to intervene at all. Now, they suddenly showed up.
"Ancestor, esteemed Elders, save me!
Qin Hongyi's faction wants to rebel! Almost everyone from my faction has been killed.
Ancestor, esteemed Elders, you must uphold justice for my faction!
Qin Hongyi's faction is slaughtering our Qin clansmen on such a large scale—they want our Qin Family to be exterminated! Their hearts are wicked beyond compare!"
Qin Haoxuan's Soul Body was sealed, and he hadn't dared make any movement while in front of Ye Yunfei. Now, seeing the family Ancestor and several Elders appear simultaneously, as if seeing hope, he began to desperately shout.
"Hahaha! Qin Haoxuan, you have the nerve to say that?
Earlier, when you led your faction and colluded with the Autumn Wind Group to slaughter our faction's clansmen, the entire family witnessed it. Now you dare to turn around and slander us? Is that possible?
I believe the Ancestor and the Elders could never believe your words," Qin Hongyi, hearing Qin Haoxuan's words, laughed in extreme anger. Not long ago, Qin Haoxuan's faction and the Autumn Wind Group had jointly launched a large-scale massacre against his faction, witnessed by the entire Qin Family.
"Qin Hongyi, the reason I acted against your faction is that your faction secretly robbed two of our Qin Family's Divine Crystal Veins and killed all Qin members within those veins. I was clearing out traitors for the Qin Family!" Qin Haoxuan shouted loudly.
"Qin Haoxuan, in truth, everyone in the Qin Family is well aware that those two Divine Crystal Veins were robbed by your faction. The Qin members within were killed by your people.
No matter how you slander us, I believe everyone in our Qin Family understands this. So there's no need for you to spout this nonsense.
In fact, I already have substantial evidence proving that the two Qin Family Divine Crystal Veins were robbed by people you sent. The Qin members stationed there were killed by your people.
Ancestor, esteemed Elders, I will soon organize all the evidence and present it to you. I trust the Ancestor and Elders will restore justice to my faction," Qin Hongyi declared loudly.
Listening to Qin Hongyi's words, most Qin Family members inwardly nodded in agreement.
Because everyone understood that the mysterious force that robbed the Divine Crystal Veins was most likely Qin Haoxuan's people, though no one dared speak out.
Now, everyone's gaze turned toward the Qin Family Ancestor and the several Elders, waiting to see how they would handle this matter.
"Enough, Hongyi. Say no more. Our Qin Family has already lost too many people these past days. It is enough. We cannot continue this internal strife. Let this matter end here.
Release Haoxuan. Your two factions should make peace. After all, you are all Qin Family members. There's no need to fight to the death."
Under everyone's watchful eyes, the Qin Family Ancestor slowly spoke.
Hearing the Ancestor's words, Qin Hongyi's face instantly darkened.
Earlier, when Qin Haoxuan led people to massacre his faction, the Qin Family Ancestor and these Elders all hid away; not one stepped in to stop it.
At that time, Qin Haoxuan's faction held absolute advantage, seemingly on the verge of annihilating all of his people. Fortunately, at the critical moment, Qin Xiaoyu suddenly returned with a mysterious young man, completely reversing the situation.
Now, just as his side had gained the upper hand, the Qin Family Ancestor and Elders immediately appeared, demanding he release Qin Haoxuan. Such blatant favoritism was simply unacceptable to Qin Hongyi.
Not just Qin Hongyi; all other Qin Family members present were somewhat surprised by the Ancestor's words.
The conflict between Qin Hongyi's and Qin Haoxuan's factions ultimately boiled down to competing for the next Family Head position—something the whole Qin Family knew.
But Qin Haoxuan actually colluded with the Autumn Wind Group to launch a large-scale massacre against fellow clansmen. Apart from Qin Haoxuan's own faction, every other Qin Family member inwardly disapproved. Yet now, the Ancestor was saying such a thing.
"Ancestor, esteemed Elders, this is unfair!
Earlier, Qin Haoxuan's faction colluded with the Autumn Wind Group to exterminate our faction, attacking without mercy. Almost half our people died because of Qin Haoxuan! According to clan rules, anyone who dares conspire to harm fellow clansmen is guilty of a heinous crime deserving death by a thousand cuts. How can we spare him?
Do the innocent members of our faction have to die in vain?"
Hearing the Ancestor's words, Qin Xiaoyu instantly refused to accept it. She stepped forward and spoke loudly.
"Hongyi, she's your daughter, right?
Given her junior status, speaking to the Ancestor like this shows no respect for one's elders," an Elder said disapprovingly.
"Enough, Hongyi. Even if you hold grievances, let it go. End this matter here.
This conflict has cost our Qin Family too many. It must end. Release Haoxuan," the Ancestor spoke again.
"And, young friend, release the Autumn Wind Group members. Our Qin Family does not wish to incur their enmity.
If something happens to Autumn Wind Group members here, our Qin Family will be held accountable," the Ancestor then turned his gaze toward Ye Yunfei.
Simultaneously, he was constantly wondering about the origins of this suddenly appearing strange young man. He actually had nine True Gods as followers? Such a display of power couldn't be matched by any young genius from any major power throughout the Sixth Void.
In fact, from the moment they arrived, this Qin Family Ancestor and the Elders had been secretly speculating about Ye Yunfei's background.
"Xiaoyu, which faction does the young man you brought back belong to?" the Qin Family Ancestor directly sent a Sound Transmission to Qin Xiaoyu.
"Ancestor, my friend's identity is not convenient to disclose.
Ancestor, I disagree with releasing Qin Haoxuan.
Qin Haoxuan colluded with the Autumn Wind Group to slaughter Qin Family members. His crime is heinous. If he isn't executed, our faction will not accept it," Qin Xiaoyu declared loudly.
Previously, she used to fear this Ancestor deeply. But returning this time to see half her faction nearly wiped out, with heavy casualties, feelings of grief and indignation made her throw caution to the wind.
Moreover, having Ye Yunfei standing beside her gave her the courage to directly question the Ancestor.
"Hongyi, control your daughter! How can she question the Ancestor's actions? If everyone acted like her, where would the rules of seniority and respect be in our Qin Family?
Utterly absurd!"
Hearing Qin Xiaoyu's words, the faces of all Qin Family members changed slightly. Never before had anyone dared to question the Ancestor to his face like this.
"Elder, I agree with Xiaoyu. Qin Haoxuan must be executed!
Otherwise, if Qin Family members follow this example, and whenever conflicts arise internally, they collude with external enemies to massacre their own clansmen, how long can the Qin Family last?
This concerns the very safety of our Qin Family. What's more important—family safety or some rigid rules?"
Qin Hongyi took a deep breath and then spoke.
"Qin Hongyi, you..."
Hearing Qin Hongyi's words, that Elder's face contorted with anger. Pointing a finger at Qin Hongyi, he wanted to say something but couldn't find the words.
"That's right. Qin Hongyi makes sense. If in the future, whenever conflicts arise within the Qin Family, people collude with external forces to attack their own clansmen, how long can the Qin Family last?"
Hearing Qin Hongyi's words, many Qin Family members around secretly nodded in agreement.
"Qin Hongyi, what do you mean by this?
Do you intend to openly disobey the Ancestor's words?" an Elder angrily questioned.
"Elder, I am only asking the Ancestor to act justly. Qin Haoxuan killed so many fellow clansmen—a heinous crime. If he is not executed, who will atone for the lives of those innocent clansmen?"
Qin Hongyi took another deep breath and proclaimed clearly.
He had just sent a Sound Transmission to Qin Xiaoyu, and she assured him that if things came to a fight, Young Master Ye would definitely stand on their side. Thus, Qin Hongyi decided he absolutely must seek justice for his faction's many unjust deaths.
"Qin Hongyi, are you truly refusing to listen even to the Ancestor?
Do you intend to betray the Qin Family?"
Hearing Qin Hongyi, an Elder stepped forward, releasing the energy pressure of his True God realm, a vast and mighty force meant to suppress Qin Hongyi.
However, before this energy pressure could reach Qin Hongyi, it was blocked by another, far more powerful energy.
"Daring to show off your meager abilities before Young Master Ye? Have you no wish to live?"
The Earth Demon Clan's ancestor suddenly spoke, reprimanding him harshly.