Soul Emperor Martial God

Chapter 49: Chapter 48: The Angry Fifth Elder

Xiao Family’s Mine, atop the mountain, a young man sat cross-legged, facing the Sun.

One couldn’t see his features, but his back was majestic, blocking much of the sunlight. The shadow cast underneath seemed like a sanctuary offering infinite security.

Just then, two people ran up the mountain and stood in this shadow, gazing at the figure, momentarily mesmerized.

To be exact, the silhouette wasn’t that broad, as it was only that of a young man. Yet, it exuded a comfort and relaxation that seemed as though no storm could breach.

The young man seated cross-legged suddenly opened his eyes and stood up, the sunlight illuminating his handsome face, enchanting indeed.

His face bore a mix of laziness, determination, and coldness, making it irresistible to onlookers.

Indeed, the young man was Xiao Yi.

He had recently gotten used to cultivating atop the mountain, facing the Sun, bathing in the sunlight-filled air that was rich in fire attribute Heaven and Earth Spiritual Energy, allowing his Fire Control Beast Martial Soul to absorb the Spiritual Energy faster.

Together with the Ice Phoenix Sword Soul, with Twin Martial Souls activated simultaneously, his cultivation speed was faster than below the mountain.

”Xiao Zhuang, Xiao Zimu, why have you come up here?” Xiao Yi asked indifferently.

The ones who had just run up were indeed Xiao Zhuang and Xiao Zimu.

”Hm? What are you dazed about?” Xiao Yi, seeing them staring blankly at him, couldn’t help but furrow his brows.

”Ah.” The two immediately snapped back to reality, looking somewhat embarrassed.

”Don’t you have to patrol the minor mines today? Why are you free to come here?” Xiao Yi asked.

Xiao Zhuang scratched the back of his head awkwardly and replied, ”No one dares to snatch at the minor mines anymore, so we don’t need to patrol them often now.”

Xiao Zimu also smiled and said, ”Young Master, after the incident you dealt with last time, nobody dares to mess with our Xiao Family’s minor mines anymore. After all, you even dared to kill Murong Qianjun, others certainly don’t dare provoke us.”

The two had been awake for several days, and when they woke, they astonishingly found themselves having broken through to the Postnatal First Layer, thrilled beyond measure. And upon learning that it was thanks to Xiao Yi, their gratitude towards him was boundless.

After all, at their cultivation speed, breaking through to the Postnatal First Layer would have taken years.

And in cultivation, naturally, the younger and higher the cultivation, the better.

Later, when they learned that Xiao Yi had even killed the captain of the Iron Blade Demon Hunting Team and had Murong Qianjun chased down like a dog losing its home, their admiration for Xiao Yi grew immensely.

”You still haven’t told me what you came here for?” Xiao Yi asked with a smile.

”Oh, I almost forgot the main issue,” Xiao Zhuang replied, ”The Fifth Elder and Xiao Ruohan have arrived, the Fourth Elder asked you to come down the mountain.”

”Oh?” Xiao Yi’s eyebrows slightly knitted.

Xiao Zhuang explained, ”Young Master, you often stay up here and rarely deal with mine matters, so it’s normal not to know. The Purple Cloud Iron mined from the vein is periodically transported back to Purple Cloud City by the family. This time, it is under the Fifth Elder’s charge.”

Xiao Zimu also said, ”The Fifth Elder came today, so all of us disciples haven’t gone out. The Fourth Elder, fearing the Fifth Elder might find an excuse to trouble you, specifically sent us to call you back.”

”Oh, that’s it, you guys go back first, I’ll follow shortly,” Xiao Yi nodded.

”Yes.” Xiao Zhuang and Xiao Zimu bowed slightly and departed.

”Whew.” Xiao Yi took a deep breath, glanced at the far-off Purple Cloud Iron covering the hillsides, truly beautiful.

”It’s been almost a month since I came here to the mine. If there’s nothing else, it’s about time to go back to the family,” Xiao Yi said with a light smile.

No matter how beautiful the scenery, it couldn’t compare to the sweetness of Yiyi’s smile or her sweet voice calling ’Young Master Xiao Yi’.

...

In the Council Hall, the Fourth and Sixth Elders, along with various deacons, were already seated.

With the arrival of the Fifth Elder, everyone naturally put aside their work and welcomed him.

”Young Master.”

”Young Master.”

”....”

Xiao Yi walked down the mountain, and the clanspeople he encountered all respectfully called him ’Young Master’ and bowed slightly.

Their gazes towards Xiao Yi were filled with admiration and trust.

”Young Master.”

When Xiao Yi arrived at the Council Hall, he entered on his own while the deacons all greeted him.

”Xiao Yi.” The Fourth and Sixth Elders were smiling broadly.

Xiao Yi casually found a spot and sat down.

Sitting below the two elders were the newly arrived Fifth Elder and Xiao Ruohan. Upon seeing Xiao Yi, their expressions changed simultaneously, and a flicker of hatred flashed across their faces.

”Has this little waste gained so much prestige here at the mine?” thought the Fifth Elder inwardly.

”Fifth Elder,” the Fourth Elder spoke first, ”since you’ve travelled from afar, why not stay a few more days here at the mine? The clan will take care of the Purple Cloud Iron. You can just take it away after a few days without any extra hassle.”

”That would be wonderful, the Fourth Elder has thought of everything,” the Fifth Elder replied with a smile.

At this point, the Fifth Elder continued, ”Actually, there’s another reason for my visit.”

”Oh? What might that be, Fifth Elder?” inquired the Fourth Elder.

The Fifth Elder smiled, looked towards Xiao Yi, and said, ”I heard that recently the Young Master acquired three Demon Blood Flame Heart Fruits. I’m shameless enough to ask for one for my son Ruohan.”

Xiao Yi sneered inwardly. No wonder it was the Fifth Elder who came this time; the transportation of Purple Cloud Iron was just a pretext, the real motive was to acquire the Demon Blood Flame Heart Fruit.

”Fifth Elder, you know yourself how thick-skinned you are. However, the Demon Blood Flame Heart Fruits have all been consumed, I’m afraid,” said Xiao Yi directly.

The Fifth Elder’s face darkened upon hearing Xiao Yi’s unyielding words, but he managed to say, ”Young Master must be joking. The Demon Blood Flame Heart Fruit is an exceedingly rare spirit fruit; it hasn’t been sold in Purple Cloud City for many years and is priceless.”

The Fifth Elder continued, ”Such a rare fruit should be managed and distributed by the clan. It is naturally intended for the most outstanding youths in the clan. One for you, Young Master, one for my son Ruohan, and the other to be managed by the Great Elder.”

Xiao Yi shrugged and said, ”I’d agree with you, but unfortunately, they’ve really all been consumed.”

”Young Master, are you deliberately making things difficult for me?” The Fifth Elder’s expression turned ugly as he said, ”If the Young Master is really so stingy, I’ll buy it. Just like the last time Ruohan entered the Purple Cloud Cave, just name your price.”

The Demon Blood Flame Heart Fruit was too rare, and its effects too significant for Postnatal Realm Martial Artists; anyone would desire it.

Xiao Yi chuckled and said, ”They’ve really all been consumed. If you don’t believe me, you can ask the Fourth and Sixth Elders.”

”Hmm?” The Fifth Elder’s expression changed, and he looked towards the Fourth and Sixth Elders.

The two elders nodded and said, ”Among the three Demon Blood Flame Heart Fruits, one was used by Xiao Zhuang and Zimu to restore their Dantian, and the other two have already been consumed by Xiao Yi. Honestly, given Ruohan’s talent, he wouldn’t be affected much without such fruits.”

The elders couldn’t speak too bluntly; they had to save some face for the Fifth Elder and purposely gave him a way out.

However, the Fifth Elder exploded in rage, ”What? They’ve really all been consumed? How could such a decision be made so carelessly? What are Xiao Zhuang and Zimu compared to my son Ruohan? Are they more qualified to consume them?”

”And Xiao Yi, why should you monopolize two spirit fruits? This... when I return to the clan, you will all be accused of corruption!” the Fifth Elder roared.

The Fourth Elder initially tried to give the Fifth Elder a way to step down gracefully but was met with hostility instead. He coldly said, ”Fifth Elder, the three Demon Blood Flame Heart Fruits were regained by Xiao Yi. It’s his prerogative to decide whom to give them to. If he has consumed them all, no one can blame him.”

The Sixth Elder bluntly mocked, ”We’ve already reported this matter to the Great Elder, and he left the disposal of the three fruits to Xiao Yi. Fifth Elder, there’s no need for you to go any further to the clan to seek retribution.”

”You... you... this is bullying too much,” said the Fifth Elder, fuming with anger. He waved his sleeves fiercely and said, ”Ruohan, let’s go.”

As they were leaving, a malicious expression flashed across their faces, and they thought to themselves, ”Since you are being unkind, don’t blame us for being unjust. You forced this upon us.”

The two left angrily. The other elders and deacons did not notice their expressions.

But Xiao Yi noticed and frowned, muttering to himself, ”What evil schemes are these two plotting now?”