"Alright, Hu Miao, put away your Charm Art."
Ye Yunfei said helplessly.
"Master, do you really dislike your servant that much..."
Hu Miao sounded deeply wronged, her voice alluring and pitiful.
"That's enough. Your Charm Art is useless against me. If you keep this up, I won't be polite."
Ye Yunfei glared at her.
"Fine. Master, whenever you need it, just say the word."
Hu Miao let out a playful laugh and gave Ye Yunfei a charming glance.
At the same time, in Yuanyue City, the Ye Family had become the sole superpower of the city! Over half of the industries in Yuanyue City now belonged to the Ye Family. Simultaneously, most of the forces within the city had declared their allegiance to the Ye Family, becoming its subordinate factions. This was because the high-ranking members of these forces had all been forced to ingest poison pills concocted by Ye Yunfei. Only Ye Tianpeng possessed the antidote. Therefore, these factions had no choice but to pledge loyalty to the Ye Family; disobedience meant death.
Additionally, Yuanyue City had a new City Lord. The previous lord had long been arrested and taken away by people sent by the Third Prince, allegedly charged with a grave crime and imprisoned in the death cell. This new City Lord was a close confidant of the Third Prince. Before arriving, the Third Prince had instructed him that upon reaching Yuanyue City, all matters were to defer to Ye Tianpeng. The entire Yuanyue City was now under the control of the Ye Family. Their power had reached its peak.
On this particular day, a massive contingent of people suddenly arrived outside Yuanyue City. Their numbers were immense, surging into the city like a tide, their aura fierce and imposing, heading directly for the main gates of the Ye Residence.
"Surround it!"
The leader was a black-robed elder with a sinister, ruthless face brimming with killing intent. At his command, team after team of murderous fighters swiftly dispersed. In moments, they had encircled the entire Ye Residence so thoroughly that not even water could leak through.
"Move. Go inside, arrest everyone from the Ye Residence. Kill anyone who dares resist!"
The black-robed elder waved his hand, leading the way towards the Ye Residence's main gate.
"Who are you people? This is the Ye Residence. Loiterers are not permitted..."
Several Ye Family servants stationed at the gate witnessed this scene, both shocked and enraged. Some ran inside to report, others stepped forward to question the intruders.
The black-robed elder swung his palm, striking several times in succession, instantly killing all the gatekeepers of the Ye Residence.
Then, he approached the main gate. With a single punch aimed at the two copper-studded doors...
BOOM!
The two gates, forged from refined iron, flew inward into the Ye Residence with an ear-shattering crash, presumably smashing numerous rockeries and ponds in their path. The black-robed elder, followed by a large contingent, charged into the Ye Residence.
Immediately, chaos erupted throughout the compound. The sounds of combat and agonized screams became incessant. Among the forces led by the black-robed elder were over a dozen Heaven Realm experts! The strongest members of the Ye Family, however, were only at the Late Stage Earth Realm. They were simply no match. The disparity in power was far too great.
"The Ye Residence seems to be under attack!"
Only now did the people of Yuanyue City notice the commotion at the Ye Residence, flocking from all directions. Especially the Ye Family's subordinate forces, who began organizing their own men, rushing towards the Ye Residence.
"We are from the Imperial City Li Family. Today, we have come to Yuanyue City specifically to deal with the Ye Family. Uninvolved parties should stay far away. Otherwise, kill first and ask questions later."
The black-robed elder proclaimed loudly, the chilling tone in his voice sending shivers down spines.
"What? People from the Imperial City Li Family!"
Hearing his words, everyone in Yuanyue City was stunned. They all halted in their tracks. Even the Ye Family's subordinate factions were alarmed. The Li Family was one of the great families of the Imperial City, a force of formidable strength, renowned throughout the entire Great Qin Empire.
"What should we do?"
The members of the Ye Family's subordinate factions wavered indecisively, looking at each other uncertainly.
"If the Ye Family falls, we are finished too. Let's charge in. Our only option is a desperate fight."
Some of the higher-ups from these factions gritted their teeth, leading their men in a charge into the Ye Residence.
"Kill them."
The black-robed elder waved his hand impassively.
Immediately, a team from his contingent advanced to meet them. The forces of Yuanyue City were far too weak; they barely had a handful of Earth Realm experts among them, with most being at the Body Tempering Realm. Within moments, half of them were slaughtered, and the survivors fled desperately. Some factions simply didn't dare to advance, slipping away quietly.
A little over an hour later, the fighting inside the Ye Residence had concluded. The majority of the Ye Family members had been captured. Some had been killed during their resistance.
"Why are you doing this?! Our Ye Family has never provoked your Imperial City Li Family!"
Ye Tianpeng, bound tightly, dripping with blood, roared furiously at the black-robed elder. After learning Ye Tianpeng was the Ye Family's Patriarch, the black-robed elder had personally intervened, severely injuring him before ordering his subordinates to capture him.
"Ye Yunfei is your son, correct? He killed a direct descendant of our Li Family. Therefore, your Ye Family must pay the price of utter annihilation. Now you know the reason."
The black-robed elder's indifferent gaze fixed on Ye Tianpeng as he spoke slowly.
"Men, take all members of the Ye Family—men, women, old, young, even the servants—transport them to the city gates of Yuanyue City. Bind them to the city walls under the scorching sun. Provide no food or water. Continue this until every single one of them dies. This is the consequence of provoking our Imperial City Li Family."
The black-robed elder proclaimed loudly, the stark coldness in his tone bone-chilling.
At his command, the men he brought immediately began moving, wielding leather whips, lashing and herding the captured Ye Family members as they were marched out towards Yuanyue City's main gate.
"The Ye Family is finished!"
"Their rise and fall have been incredibly swift! Not long ago, they were the overlords of our Yuanyue City. Who would have thought, in the blink of an eye, they would face extermination."
"That Ye Yunfei truly has a death wish, daring to provoke the Imperial City Li Family. Now, it's brought ruin upon his entire family."
Laments and sighs rose throughout Yuanyue City.
"Halt!"
Suddenly, a loud shout rang out. From the direction of the City Lord's Manor, a contingent came charging over. At its head was a tall, middle-aged man—the new City Lord of Yuanyue City.
"The City Lord has arrived."
Immediately, someone on the main street called out softly.
"I am the City Lord of Yuanyue City! What is the meaning of this? Release these people at once!"
The City Lord shouted.
"Hmph. The Imperial City Li Family is conducting business. How dare a mere City Lord interfere?! Get lost!"
The black-robed elder sneered.
Whoosh...
A formidable spiritual energy fluctuation, vast and mighty, erupted from the black-robed elder's body and surged towards the City Lord.
The City Lord was sent flying on the spot, soaring over a hundred meters before crashing to the ground in a pitiful state.