"But...? Even though Ye Yunfei is dead, didn't Hudao Academy issue a protection order for the Tianyuan Sect and the Ye Family back in the day? If we deal with them, what if the academy holds us accountable..."
Upon hearing the words of the ash-robed elder, the other high-ranking members of the Chen Clan hesitated slightly.
"Hehe... Xuan'er's letter said that all of Hudao Academy's top brass have suffered severe injuries, causing their strength to plummet drastically. Furthermore, the other four top forces in the Central Continent have joined hands to suppress Hudao Academy. The academy's elite disciples are scrambling to leave and join other top Central Continent factions. Hudao Academy has been hollowed out and won't last much longer," the ash-robed elder sneered coldly.
"Moreover, all our Chen Clan disciples within Hudao Academy have already left the academy and joined another top Central Continent force, the Shenfeng Sect! Xuan'er told us to feel free to deal with Ye Yunfei's clan and the Tianyuan Sect! If Hudao Academy dares to pursue the matter, he will ask the senior leadership of the Shenfeng Sect to stand up for our Chen Clan!" the ash-robed elder continued.
"So that's how it is! Excellent! In that case, we can act against the Tianyuan Sect and the Ye Family with peace of mind!"
The other higher-ups burst into laughter, feeling completely at ease.
Similar conversations began to appear one after another among other major sects and clans in the Eastern Region.
Since these major sects and clans of the Eastern Region all had disciples who had joined Hudao Academy to varying degrees, they all learned of Ye Yunfei's death and the academy's recent plight. They all believed they could safely deal with the Tianyuan Sect and the Ye Family now.
Soon, a piece of news spread rapidly across the Eastern Region.
The major sects of the Eastern Region were uniting to take action against the Tianyuan Sect!
This news caused quite a stir.
Due to Ye Yunfei's influence, the current Tianyuan Sect had undergone a complete transformation! Its strength had grown tremendously compared to the past.
Furthermore, both the Luohai Trading Company and the Divine Medicine Valley had established alliance ties with the Tianyuan Sect. In this alliance, the Tianyuan Sect played the leading role, while the Luohai Trading Company and the Divine Medicine Valley acted in supporting roles!
The Luohai Trading Company excelled in commerce, the Divine Medicine Valley excelled in alchemy; now providing their full support to the Tianyuan Sect, it was difficult for the sect *not* to grow strong. Moreover, awed by Ye Yunfei's fearsome reputation, what force in the entire Eastern Region, regardless of its power, dared not show the Tianyuan Sect some respect?
Thus, the Tianyuan Sect of today was at the peak of its power!
Yet now, the various major sects of the Eastern Region were suddenly joining forces to move against it.
"Impossible! This must be fake news! In our Eastern Region, even the Three Great Sacred Lands wouldn't dare to act rashly against the Tianyuan Sect. If Ye Yunfei were provoked, the consequences would be unthinkable!"
When this news first emerged, many martial artists immediately expressed skepticism.
However, another piece of news soon began to circulate.
Ye Yunfei had been assassinated in the Central Continent!
As soon as this news broke, the entire Eastern Region erupted in shock.
Some believed it, others doubted it, and discussions ran rampant.
The name Ye Yunfei once again became the focal point of the Eastern Region.
"The Chen Clan has begun its move! They've destroyed many of the Tianyuan Sect's branch outposts and properties!"
"The Xiao Clan has also started to act!"
"Powerhouses from the Lei Clan stormed into Luohai City and engaged in a major battle with the senior leadership of the Luohai Trading Company!"
"The only two Foundation Establishment realm experts of the Luohai Trading Company led the remaining forces of the company and fled to the Great Qin Empire's Tianyuan Sect headquarters!"
"Experts from the Huangtian Sect attacked the headquarters of the Divine Medicine Valley. The Divine Medicine Valley's founder fled in disarray with his followers!"
...
One shocking report after another kept spreading.
Within days.
One after another, certain major sects and clans of the Eastern Region made their moves.
Every single one of the Tianyuan Sect's branch outposts and properties was either destroyed or seized, without exception.
Both the Luohai Trading Company and the Divine Medicine Valley—these two forces—were annihilated within a single day.
Their surviving members all fled to the Great Qin Empire's Tianyuan Sect headquarters.
Casualties were heavy among the Tianyuan Sect, the Luohai Trading Company, and the Divine Medicine Valley alike!
As one shocking piece of news after another spread, the martial artists of the Eastern Region became completely convinced that those major sects and clans of the Eastern Region were indeed taking action against the Tianyuan Sect!
And the news of Ye Yunfei's assassination was also most likely true!
Consequently, various forms of opportunist attacks began raining down upon the Tianyuan Sect.
Not only the major sects and clans, but other forces large and small also rose up to assail the Tianyuan Sect, either through mockery or direct attacks, targeting it by every possible means.
For a time, the Tianyuan Sect seemed rather like a rat scurrying across the street, with everyone shouting for its beating.
Any forces or individuals who previously maintained friendly relations or regular contact with the Tianyuan Sect swiftly distanced themselves by every means possible.
"One moment watched him erect towering mansions, the next watched him host lavish feasts, only to soon watch his mansions crumble into dust!"
Some martial artists couldn't help but sigh inwardly.
Witnessing the Tianyuan Sect's meteoric rise over the past few years, reaching its zenith, only to suddenly plummet into decline now, inevitably evoked a sense of rueful pity in everyone's hearts.
Without Ye Yunfei, the Tianyuan Sect was nothing!
**Tianyuan Sect Headquarters.**
**Assembly Hall.**
Elder Ren and the other high-ranking members of the Tianyuan Sect, Ren Xuantang and the other high-level personnel of the Luohai Trading Company, along with the leadership of the Divine Medicine Valley, were all present.
Ye Tianpeng and several Ye Family elders were also there.
The atmosphere within the hall was heavy and stifling.
"Elder Ren... has Yunfei really... really been assassinated?"
Ye Tianpeng asked Elder Ren, his face full of grief. He had already asked this question repeatedly, again and again.
"Based on the current situation... it is likely true. Otherwise, those sects and clans from the Eastern Region would not dare to act against us so brazenly," Elder Ren sighed and said.
"That's correct. If Young Master Ye were still here, none of these Eastern Region forces would dare to lay a finger on us," the Valley Master of the Divine Medicine Valley nodded in agreement.
"Why... why did it have to come to this..."
Hearing this, Ye Tianpeng grew even more sorrowful, his heart feeling as if slashed by a knife.
"True talent is indeed envied by the heavens!"
"Our Ye Family finally produced a prodigy after so much difficulty. Who could have imagined he would die young? Could something be wrong with the Feng Shui and energy flow of our Ye Family ancestral graves?"
...
The Ye Family elders also sighed long and deep, hanging their heads in dejection.
It was all because of Ye Yunfei that the Ye Family had soared to prominence, not only leaving a small backwater like Yuanyue City but becoming renowned throughout the entire Eastern Region. Given enough time, it wouldn't have been impossible for them to develop into a major clan of the Eastern Region.
Who would have thought that Ye Yunfei would suddenly meet with misfortune?
For the Ye Family, this blow was simply too devastating!
"Founder, the most pressing matter we currently face is that the forces of those Eastern Region sects and clans will soon arrive to besiege the Tianyuan Sect headquarters! We must think of a solution!"
The Valley Master of the Divine Medicine Valley said.
"Everyone, rest assured. Young Master Ye is definitely not dead. The actions of those Eastern Region forces are a death sentence!"
Ren Xuantang, the head of the Luohai Trading Company, suddenly spoke up, a cold sneer appearing on his face.
"Correct. The Master is not dead.
Zhang Zhe also nodded and said.
Next, Elder Wu and the other senior members of the Luohai Trading Company also chimed in one after another, stating with absolute certainty that Ye Yunfei was not dead.
This was because Ye Yunfei had planted a Soul Restriction within the Sea of Consciousness of each of them.
If Ye Yunfei truly died, this Soul Restriction would vanish and cease to exist.
But at this moment, the Soul Restriction within their Sea of Consciousness remained perfectly intact.
This proved that Ye Yunfei was not dead!