"Young Master Ye, Snowy and I took the pills you gave us, and we've both improved a lot! I can actually feel warm energy stirring in my dantian!" Li Zhong said excitedly as soon as he saw Ye Yunfei.
Xue'er's complexion was also rosy and radiant, incomparably better than before.
"I think I've grown a little taller!" Xue'er said to Ye Yunfei with pleasant surprise. Not only had her dantian been shattered, rendering her unable to cultivate, but her body's growth had also stopped. Even her mental development had stagnated, remaining in the state of a nine-year-old. Ye Yunfei had specially concocted some body-healing Dao Pills for her last time.
"Young Master Ye, the effects of your pills are truly miraculous! Even during the most glorious period of our Tang Clan in the past, we never had such miraculous pills," Li Zhong remarked.
"Don't worry. I can heal both your and Xue'er's bodies," Ye Yunfei said with a smile.
"Young Master Ye, I believe you!" Li Zhong nodded emphatically, his expression filled with anticipation.
"Can you tell me about the situation on the night the Tang Clan was destroyed?" Ye Yunfei inquired.
"Of course! I'll tell you all the details," Li Zhong nodded.
He then proceeded to recount the events of that night in detail to Ye Yunfei.
"You saw billowing demonic aura?" Ye Yunfei's heart stirred upon hearing a particular detail, prompting him to ask.
"That night, I saw many tall figures. Even their casual movements released waves of demonic aura," Li Zhong replied.
"So, one of the murderers of the Tang Clan really was the Ancient Demon Race after all," Ye Yunfei stated.
"That's exactly my thought. Our Tang Clan and the Ancient Demon Race share a blood feud!" Li Zhong said through gritted teeth.
"So you already knew as well," Ye Yunfei was slightly surprised. It seemed this Li Zhong must have kept many things hidden from him. However, that was to be expected. Over the years, living with Xue'er in Heavenly Dao City, suffering humiliation and hardship day by day, one would naturally become cautious and circumspect. So, Ye Yunfei decided not to pry deeper.
"Big Brother, do you think... my brother is still alive? I miss him so, so much. Mom and Dad are gone... in this world, my brother is the person I care about most," Xue'er said softly to Ye Yunfei, her voice wavering even before she finished. Large teardrops began to fall from her face.
"I don't know either. But don't worry, if your brother is alive, I will definitely find him," Ye Yunfei comforted her.
"Mm! I'll look for him with you!" Xue'er nodded forcefully.
Just at that moment, Li Zhong secretly took out a jade slip and sensed its contents. Then, his face drastically changed, his body trembling uncontrollably.
"Grandpa Li, what's wrong?" Xue'er immediately asked.
Ye Yunfei also looked towards Li Zhong.
"Tan Family Village is under attack. The situation is critical! Fifth Elder Tang Wu sent a message telling me and you to hide immediately," Li Zhong said.
"They've found Tan Family Village! What should we do!" Xue'er's face also paled upon hearing this.
"What's going on?" Ye Yunfei asked.
"Young Master Ye, given the circumstances, I won't hide it from you anymore. In fact, during that calamity years ago, a portion of our Tang Clan members survived. All these years, they have been living in seclusion in a very remote location, waiting for the day they could take revenge. But just now, Fifth Elder Tang Wu suddenly sent a message. The place where our clansmen are hiding has been attacked!" Li Zhong explained.
"Most of the Tang Clan survivors from back then are there. If anything happens to these remaining clansmen, then... the Tang Clan would truly be finished!" Li Zhong sighed.
"Grandpa Li, let's go back and see!" Xue'er said anxiously.
"You and I going back would be useless. Both of us do not possess any strength to speak of. We couldn't help at all," Li Zhong shook his head.
"Take me there to see," Ye Yunfei suddenly said.
"Young Master Ye, although your strength is commendable... it still wouldn't be much help. Our Tang Clan's enemies are too powerful. It would drag you into danger," Li Zhong said.
"Don't worry. Even if I can't defeat them, retreating unscathed would still be very easy for me," Ye Yunfei replied.
Li Zhong repeatedly refused. He didn't want Ye Yunfei to risk it, and he certainly didn't want Xue'er to go back into danger either.
Finally, Ye Yunfei showed him the uncanny body technique of moving through space. Only then did Li Zhong agree.
Thus, Ye Yunfei immediately left the Heavenly Dao Academy secretly. Guided by Li Zhong, he arrived at a desolate and extremely remote mountainous region after half a day.
Here were range upon range of undulating peaks, with many villages dotting the landscape.
"That mountain village is where our Tang Clan has been hiding," Li Zhong pointed to a village in the distance and told Ye Yunfei.
Ye Yunfei's Soul Power immediately reached out.
"There truly is a group of people, completely surrounding that village!" Ye Yunfei said.
"Three Primordial Soul Realm, several dozen Grand Core Realm, a large number of Lesser Core Realm..." Ye Yunfei analyzed the strength of the forces surrounding the village.
"Such a formation could easily wipe out the Houtu Sect!" Ye Yunfei was a bit shocked. Then, he extended his Soul Power into the village.
"One Primordial Soul Realm expert, ten Grand Core Realm experts... It seems the once mighty Tang Clan is reduced to just these numbers," Ye Yunfei quickly gauged the strength within the village clearly.
"Kill! Exterminate every last remnant of the Tang Clan!" Outside the village, an elder roared.
A large force, having already tightly encircled the village, began their assault at the elder's command.
From all directions, waves of attackers charged towards the village.
Boom...!
Suddenly, from within the village, one defensive formation after another erupted.
"Hahaha... The Tang Clan, once influential throughout the Northern Wastes Domain, now thinks they can save their lives relying on these paltry formations? Go! Destroy these formations!" The elder directing the offensive laughed and shouted.
Boom...!
The attackers surrounding the village began frantically breaking the formations.
"Everyone, prepare to break through!" Within the village, a white-haired and bearded elder said with an extremely grave expression.
Behind him, gathered a large group of people: able-bodied young men and women, elders, women, and children — entire families.
"These are Guardian Daoist's clansmen. I must save them," Ye Yunfei observed the situation within the village from afar and said to himself.
Without further hesitation, Ye Yunfei took a step and slipped into space.
A moment later, Ye Yunfei's figure suddenly appeared in the middle of the village, right in front of the white-haired elder.
"Who goes there!" The white-haired elder was shocked to see someone suddenly appear, retreating a few steps in full alert, shouting sternly.
Ye Yunfei didn't speak. He directly teleported Xue'er and Li Zhong out of the Phantom Tower.
"Princess Xue!" Immediately, everyone in the village looked at Xue'er with extreme joy and surprise.