On this day, the Ye family of the Forbidden Yin River suffered a devastating blow.
All members of the Ye family perished.
Under the onslaught of sword energy, the Ye family’s millennia-old foundation was reduced to ruins in an instant.
When Ye Yu and Lin Miaoxue left, only a wasteland remained, along with countless sword energy ravines scattered across the ground.
They were unaware that throughout it all, within the cliffs of the back mountains, an elderly man in a purple robe was watching everything unfold.
Yet he had not made a single move.
This man was named Ye Xuanji.
He was the Supreme Protector of the Ye family. A late-stage Ascension Realm great cultivator, the guardian of the Ye family. He had hidden in the back mountains of the Ye family for twenty thousand years.
Fewer than three people knew of his existence.
As Ye Zhouhao faced death, he looked to the north. In truth, he was hoping to see whether this guardian of the Ye family would lift a finger for him, the head of the family.
Clearly, he did not.
Ye Zhouhao did not believe that with Ye Xuanji’s strength, he could be oblivious to everything happening here.
Indifferent and unresponsive.
That was his attitude.
Even as he watched the members of the Ye family being slaughtered, Ye Xuanji showed no reaction whatsoever.
As if everything were none of his concern. He was merely a passerby, observing the surrounding onlookers.
Calm and detached.
Ye Xuanji stood still for a moment. Then, his figure vanished.
When he reappeared, he was already inside a grand hall in the depths of the back mountains. It was spacious and cold.
The only feature was a dark red blood pool located in the center.
Ye Xuanji approached the blood pool, softly saying, “The Ye family is gone, all thanks to Lin Miaoxue and a male cultivator.”
“That man is quite strange; I cannot see through his fate.”
The blood pool began to boil gradually.
Then, it solidified into a humanoid form, with clear features.
If Lin Miaoxue were present, she would undoubtedly recognize him.
This man was the Ye family head she was searching for, Ye Jiunian.
“In this vast world, there are all kinds of wonders; it is only natural not to see through fates.”
“The Ye family has diminished with each generation; a life of too much ease has rotted them to the core.”
“Weren’t there still over thirty Ye family members searching for Lin Miaoxue’s whereabouts outside? As long as they’re alive, it’s fine. The Ye family’s legacy endures.”
“Hatred will make them stronger.”
“Moreover, as long as I perfect my technique, the two of us can join forces to establish a new Ye family anywhere!”
Ye Xuanji slightly parted his lips, wanting to say something, but ultimately could only let out a sigh.
He slowly walked outside.
Looking at the dark hall, he felt an overwhelming chill.
Ye Xuanji was not a heartless person.
Had he been a little more ruthless back then, he would have long since ascended to the Heavenly Realm. Instead of standing here, watching his kin being slaughtered.
To be honest, when he saw Ye Zhouhao being killed just now, he wanted to rush out and help.
But he was stopped by Ye Jiunian’s voice in his mind, reminding him not to forget his mission.
Mission?
Yes, his mission was to protect Ye Jiunian within the blood pool.
For over twenty thousand years, he had devoted himself to this task without a single moment of neglect.
But unexpectedly, what he ultimately faced was a massacre.
As the Supreme Protector of the Ye family, he could do nothing at all.
This was nothing short of a joke.
For over twenty thousand years, although Ye Xuanji had never left the back mountains, he had always been watching the children of the Ye family.
From childhood to adulthood, then to standing on their own. Ye Xuanji observed everyone here in the quietest way.
But now, everything had changed.
As he stepped out of the grand hall and onto the ground of the back mountains, he caught a whiff of the strong scent of blood in the wind.
For the first time, Ye Xuanji felt that the decision he made long ago might have been a mistake.
…
On the spirit boat, Ye Yu looked at the figure standing at the very front.
He couldn’t help but let out a faint sigh.
As the Ye family was wiped out, Ye Yu initially thought Lin Miaoxue would feel a sense of joy at avenging her family.
But unexpectedly, Lin Miaoxue asked him one question.
“If I didn’t have the Pure Sword Heart, would my brother have died?”
The answer was, in fact, obvious.
Without the Pure Sword Heart, the Ye family would not have orchestrated this conspiracy. Lin Fengyuan would not have died at the hands of the Ye family.
But in this world, there is no “if.”
Lin Fengyuan’s death was fated.
Even if Lin Miaoxue had not possessed the Pure Sword Heart, who could guarantee they would live long?
In the world of cultivation, even Ascension Realm cultivators dare not be sure they will see the sun tomorrow.
Why should Lin Miaoxue feel guilty?
Ye Yu patiently comforted her for a while.
Then he summoned the spirit boat, planning to let her cool down for a few days, to think about the path ahead.
She must not let inner demons arise. Otherwise, it would be troublesome.
For this reason, Ye Yu even took the time to observe Lin Miaoxue on the deck for a long while.
After noticing her aura gradually calming down, he understood that Lin Miaoxue’s emotions were stabilizing and that she should be alright.
Only then did Ye Yu feel relieved.
He then prepared to take this opportunity to return to his room and enter a dream again.
So he said to Lin Miaoxue, “I’m a bit tired. I’m going to sleep for a while!”
Upon hearing this, Lin Miaoxue turned around and nodded.
But after watching Ye Yu enter the room and close the door, Lin Miaoxue suddenly felt a bit strange.
Tired? Sleeping for a while?
These words shouldn’t have anything to do with a Tribulation Realm great cultivator, right?
Do cultivators even need to sleep?
Especially after reaching the Golden Core stage, sleep has nothing to do with cultivators at all. Just a moment of sitting in meditation is enough to restore all energy.
Sleeping? It’s simply a waste of time.
As for being tired, that’s even more impossible.
The extermination of the Ye family was mostly done by Lin Miaoxue herself, to vent her anger. Ye Yu hardly lifted a finger. How could he possibly be tired?
So what did Ye Yu really mean?
Lin Miaoxue furrowed her brows slightly.
Then her face suddenly flushed red, remembering the promise she made to Ye Yu a few days ago.
It was she who had personally vowed; as long as what Ye Yu said was true, then she owed him an immense favor. Even something impossible to repay.
The next sentence would have been to pledge herself to him.
Now that everything was settled, it was time to fulfill that promise.
Ye Yu’s earlier words might have been a hint.
Before leaving the Azure Cloud Sect, Lin Miaoxue had thought about being by Ye Yu’s side in the future. But when it came down to it, she felt a bit at a loss.
Looking at the closed door, going in directly seemed a bit inappropriate.
She truly felt very shy.
But if she didn’t go in, Lin Miaoxue felt somewhat unwilling.
In truth, she had long since felt good about Ye Yu. Pledging herself to him was not fulfilling a promise for her; it was a reward.
On Wuzhi Peak, Lin Miaoxue had personally witnessed the disparity between an “outsider” like Yun Roumu and a main wife like Li Ruowang and Tuoba Qiyue.
She didn’t want to become the former.
So naturally, she couldn’t miss this opportunity today.
Thus, she gathered all her courage and walked towards Ye Yu’s room.
After taking two deep breaths, she raised her hand, preparing to knock on the door.