"Our Qin Family's treasure?
All right, I will protect you as you enter your family's ancestral land now."
After listening to Qin Hongyi's words, Ye Yunfei pondered for a moment, then nodded.
He immediately sent sound transmissions to the nine True Gods, including the Earth Demon Clan elder, while Qin Hongyi had already contacted everyone from his lineage.
With a stamp of his foot, Ye Yunfei deployed his Geomancy Technique, instantly laying down dozens of large-scale Earth Formations around them. As the formations took shape, a batch of Earth Dragons surged out from the Phantom Shadow Tower and merged into them, instantly boosting the formations' power.
Ye Yunfei waved his hand again, setting up a large number of additional formations. These Earth Formations and formations instantly enveloped and protected everyone from Qin Hongyi's lineage.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
One deafening roar after another echoed incessantly as immense teleportation energy erupted, soaring skyward.
Among the Earth Formations and formations Ye Yunfei set up, one-third were specifically for teleportation. The teleportation energy they released enveloped Qin Hongyi's people and began the teleportation process.
Because Ye Yunfei's actions were incredibly swift, it wasn't until now that the three experts from the Autumn Wind Group, along with the Qin Family patriarch and several Supreme Elders, reacted.
"No! Stop them quickly!"
Seeing Qin Hongyi's entire lineage teleporting into the ancestral land, the Qin Family patriarch exclaimed in panic and fury, immediately roaring out loud.
He then unleashed his spatial and temporal energy, intending to seal off the space and interrupt the teleportation. Several Qin Supreme Elders and the three Autumn Wind Group experts also sprang into action.
However, the nine True Gods on Ye Yunfei's side were well-prepared. They attacked simultaneously, unleashing a barrage of techniques and martial skills towards the three Autumn Wind Group experts, the Qin patriarch, and the Supreme Elders.
The Earth Formations and formations Ye Yunfei had set up were numerous and formidable. Although a majority were broken instantly by their opponents, the remaining formations forcibly tore through space with Qin Hongyi's people, Ye Yunfei, and his group, instantly transporting them before the Qin Family's ancestral land.
The Qin ancestral land was located within a vast, undulating mountain range. In this range was a scenic valley, and within the valley stood a small temple shrouded in incense smoke, evidently tended to with regular worship.
"Young Master Ye, this is the Qin Family's ancestral land. Our ancestral land is within that temple. My grandfather is there as well."
Qin Hongyi pointed at the temple in the valley as he explained to Ye Yunfei.
Ye Yunfei stamped his foot again, laying out over a dozen more large-scale teleportation Earth Formations that carried the entire group towards the temple in the valley. Behind them, the Qin patriarch, several Supreme Elders, and the three Autumn Wind Group experts were already closing in.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
These True Gods attacked relentlessly, launching violent strike after violent strike from afar, descending upon Ye Yunfei's group like a rainstorm.
While attacking, they also wielded spatial and temporal energy in an attempt to seal off the surrounding space, preventing Ye Yunfei's teleportation Earth Formations from activating.
But after his recent training in the Profound Yellow Continent, Ye Yunfei's Geomancy Technique had improved significantly. The power of the Earth Formations he was laying down now was far superior to before; even True Gods couldn't shatter them instantly.
Amid the teleportation light, the dozen Earth Formations brought everyone before the temple in an instant.
"Damn it! How is that kid's formation mastery and Geomancy Technique so high? What is his origin?"
Seeing Ye Yunfei set up so many Earth Formations and formations with seemingly effortless gestures, the Qin Family patriarch grew increasingly flustered.
"Qin Xiao! What good does bringing your lineage here do? I might as well shut the door and beat the dog, exterminating your entire lineage!"
Qin Zhongyu roared angrily.
This Qin Family patriarch had maintained an aura of calm composure earlier, but ever since Qin Xiao's remnant soul appeared, he had become easily agitated, frequently erupting in furious shouts.
"Hahaha... Qin Zhongyu, do you really think everything is under your control? Hongyi, my good grandson, there is a broken token within Qin Haoxuan's Soul Body. Retrieve it quickly."
Qin Xiao's voice emanated from within the temple.
Simultaneously, the entire temple began to tremble slightly, releasing a mysterious and potent energy that enveloped all of Qin Hongyi's people, Ye Yunfei, and his group.
"What is going on?
The ancestral land seems activated... and its energy is protecting Qin Hongyi's lineage."
The Qin clansmen arriving from behind felt the profound, mysterious energy spreading from the temple and were greatly shocked.
This temple was the Qin Family's ancestral land, the very foundation of the clan. After Qin ancestors perished across generations, their spirit tablets were enshrined here.
Thus, the temple was the most sacred place in the hearts of all Qin clansmen. For it to now actively release energy protecting Qin Hongyi's lineage left every member astonished.
"If the ancestral land itself is protecting Qin Hongyi's branch... then how can they be traitors?"
Many Qin Family members privately wondered.
"Qin Xiao! What despicable methods have you employed? How dare you activate the protective barriers within the ancestral land!
Qin Xiao, the ancestral land is our Qin Family's most sacred place! It is not something a traitor like you may defile!"
Witnessing this, Qin Zhongyu, the Qin Family patriarch, erupted in shock and fury, immediately bellowing his rebuke.
"Hahaha... Qin Zhongyu, the ancestral land's protective measures were not triggered by me, but by several others you murdered, working together.
You thought you had completely annihilated us, even diligently eradicating our remnant souls and soul power imprints. But you never imagined, did you, that we all left a remnant soul within this ancestral land, waiting for the moment to settle scores with you!"
Qin Xiao laughed heartily.
"Qin Xiao! Traitor! Stop spouting demonic nonsense to confuse the people! It is you, the traitor, who used some shady method to activate the protective barriers within the ancestral land! But mark my words, today I shall annihilate you completely!"
Qin Zhongyu raged.
"Everyone, let's attack!"
He said to the three Autumn Wind Group experts and the Supreme Elders.
Then, stepping forward, a golden, square cauldron shot out from his head, rapidly expanding in size.
"That's our Qin Family's ancestral treasure cauldron—a True God-level magical treasure!"
Many Qin clansmen recognized it instantly, exclaiming in surprise.
The golden, square cauldron rumbled forward, attacking Qin Hongyi's lineage. But the temple promptly erupted with billowing divine radiance, forming a light barrier that clanged loudly, blocking the square cauldron.
"Using the Qin Family's ancestral treasure to attack the Qin Family's ancestral land..."
Many Qin clansmen saw this and couldn't help but ponder privately.
"Grandfather, do you mean this token?"
At that moment, Qin Hongyi had already followed Qin Xiao's instructions, finding an incomplete token within Qin Haoxuan's Soul Body. It appeared to be only half remaining.
"This token... it looks somewhat similar to the one my father left for me."
When Qin Hongyi extracted the broken token from Qin Haoxuan's Soul Body, his heart stirred.
He then took out a token of identical aura from his own person. Both tokens were incomplete, broken pieces.
Even more astonishingly, when placed together, the two broken pieces merged into one complete token.
"How is this possible?!
The other half of our Qin Family's ancestral token... was actually with Qin Hongyi all along?!"
Seeing the two broken token pieces in Qin Hongyi's hand, Qin Family Patriarch Qin Zhongyu couldn't help but cry out on the spot.
"Hahaha! Qin Zhongyu, never imagined it, did you? I know you've spent all these years searching for the other half of the token. But you never, in ten thousand years, expected that I sealed it away long ago with a secret technique, passed it on to my son Qin Dong, and he in turn passed it to my grandson!"
Qin Xiao's triumphant laughter echoed from the temple.
"I've always awaited this opportunity. I knew long ago the other half was hidden within your grandson Qin Haoxuan's Soul Body.
All these years I dared not act, fearing you'd discover me and ruin everything. But now, both halves of the token are in my grandson's hands! What can you possibly say now?"
Qin Xiao's smug voice continued resonating from the temple.
"Damn it!
Everyone! Hurry and break through these protective barriers! We must seize both token halves back!"
Qin Zhongyu was now thoroughly flustered, roaring loudly.
He began attacking frantically, trying to shatter the protective light barrier emanating from the temple.
The three Intermediate True Gods from the Autumn Wind Group had also commenced their assault. Each retrieved their magical treasures, unleashing their most potent techniques and secret arts. Their attacks rumbled as they bombarded the temple ahead.
"What in the world is truly going on here?"
The four Qin Supreme Elders hesitated, motionless.
They recalled a closely guarded secret of the Qin Family: the clan possessed an ancestral token that held a certain secret.
For reasons unknown, that token had split into two halves, and both halves vanished from sight.
Many within the Qin Family had been searching for the missing token halves. Only now did everyone learn that one half had been hidden within Qin Haoxuan's Soul Body, and the other half with Qin Hongyi. And now, both were in Qin Hongyi's hands.
"Does this two-part token truly hold our Qin Family's secret?"
Seeing Qin Zhongyuan attacking the temple's protective barrier like a madman, everyone secretly speculated.
It was clear Qin Zhongyu must know the secret of those two halves. Otherwise, he wouldn't act this way.
"My good grandson, take those two tokens and come inside now. An opportunity awaits you within the ancestral land."
Qin Xiao's voice sounded once more from the temple.
"Understood, Grandfather. I will enter now."
Hearing his grandfather's voice, Qin Hongyi did not hesitate. He strode directly towards the temple.
"Qin Hongyi! Halt!
The ancestral land is our Qin Family's most sacred ground! You are merely a junior; you may not enter without permission!"
Seeing Qin Hongyi holding the two token halves and about to enter the temple, Qin Zhongyu grew frantic, immediately shouting.
"Old beast Qin Zhongyu! You murdered the previous patriarch, along with two successive family leaders! You are the Qin Family's true traitor! What right do you, a traitor, have to command me?!"
Qin Hongyi shot an enraged glare back at Qin Zhongyu, then stepped into the temple ahead.
"Damn it!"
Seeing Qin Hongyi enter the temple, Qin Zhongyu, the Qin Family patriarch, was livid with shock and fury. Roaring continuously, he attacked relentlessly.
"You four! What are you waiting for?! Why are you still not helping?!"
Suddenly noticing the four Qin Supreme Elders standing idle to the side, Qin Zhongyu roared angrily.
Meanwhile, the three Intermediate True Gods from the Autumn Wind Group, coordinated with Qin Zhongyu, kept up their barrage. Yet the protective light barrier emanating from the temple was astonishingly sturdy. Even under the combined assault of four Intermediate True Gods, it showed no sign of damage.
"We should attack as well."
After glancing at the four Intermediate True Gods relentlessly assaulting the barrier, Ye Yunfei spoke to the nine True Gods, including the Earth Demon Clan elder.
As soon as he finished speaking, Ye Yunfei stamped his foot, immediately laying down several dozen large-scale Earth Formations.
Once deployed, these formations moved forward like massive boulders, rumbling with tremendous speed. In an instant, they assaulted the positions of the four Intermediate True Gods.
"Damn it!"
The four Intermediate True Gods struck out simultaneously. Within less than two breaths, they shattered all the large-scale Earth Formations Ye Yunfei had deployed.
But Ye Yunfei simply waved his hand again, releasing dozens more formations that surged toward the four Intermediate True Gods.
Forced to deal with them, the four Intermediate True Gods had no choice but to divert their efforts to dismantle these new formations.
Thus, Ye Yunfei continuously conjured even more Earth Formations and formations, directing an endless stream of them towards the four Intermediate True Gods.
Though these Earth Formations and formations couldn't inflict actual harm on four Intermediate True Gods, they served as a significant distraction.
Especially those Earth Formations containing nine-colored supreme Earth Dragons or even ten-colored Earth Dragons—even True Gods would be wary.
"What on earth is truly happening?
Why is the ancestral land actively protecting Qin Hongyi's lineage?
And Qin Xiao… he was a renowned ancient powerhouse of our Qin Family. He claims he was murdered by Patriarch Qin Zhongyu… is that true or false?
Moreover, according to Qin Xiao, our previous patriarch and two successive family leaders were all killed by Patriarch Qin Zhongyu…"
Meanwhile, the four Qin Supreme Elders stood frozen, hesitating to move.
Their previous experiences now stirred doubt in their hearts. Initially, they had firmly sided with Patriarch Qin Zhongyu. But now, uncertainties gnawed at them.
If Qin Xiao's words were true, then this current Patriarch had indeed committed grievous crimes against the Qin Family.
Setting aside other offenses, murdering two successive family leaders and the previous patriarch alone constituted unforgivable sins.
If they assisted Qin Zhongyu under these circumstances, wouldn't they be abetting an evil tyrant?
"You four! What exactly are you doing? Why are you still not attacking?! Whose side are you on?! Think carefully before making your decision!
If you make the wrong choice… regret may not be an option in the future."
Seeing the four Supreme Elders' hesitation, Qin Zhongyu immediately understood their thoughts. His expression darkened as his sinister gaze fell upon them.