Invincible Soul Emperor

Chapter 281: Chapter 281 Demon King, Demon Core

On a quiet, secluded trail, everyone else had tactfully departed. Only Ye Qingchen and Qin Yue remained, walking slowly as the colorful flowers on either side seemed to drift backward. The fresh floral scent filled the air, allowing their minds, long strained from the battle at Dragon Tiger Mountain, to finally relax.

After their life-and-death ordeal on Dragon Tiger Mountain, the bond between Ye Qingchen and Qin Yue had deepened considerably. They spoke little, often sharing knowing smiles born from an unspoken understanding. Some things needed no words; in those moments, silence was more profound than speech.

After a rare moment of peace, Ye Qingchen turned to Qin Yue. ”I have to see to my father’s situation right away.”

Qin Yue, though reluctant to part, nodded obediently. ”Go, take good care of Uncle Ye. After this battle, Grandfather will have many things to handle, and I need to go back and help him.”

Qin Yue waved goodbye and started to walk away. After a few yards, she paused, turned back, and flashed him a radiant smile. ”Ye Qingchen, when you’re done, remember to come find me at the Rising Sun Pavilion!”

Dazzled by her brilliant smile in the sunlight, Ye Qingchen was mesmerized. It took him several seconds to recover before he nodded. ”Don’t worry. As soon as my father’s affairs are settled, I’ll come to the Rising Sun Pavilion, and we... we can take a walk together again...”

Just a walk? What a blockhead... Qin Yue murmured to herself with a quiet laugh, waving her slender, jade-like hand at him. ”Alright! It’s a promise. I’ll be waiting for you at the Rising Sun Pavilion. Be there or be square!”

After saying his goodbyes to Qin Yue, Ye Qingchen went to his father, Ye Changqing.

Looking at his accomplished son, Ye Changqing was filled with gratification. ”My son,” he said, patting Ye Qingchen’s head, ”it’s been hard on you all these years.”

Fighting back tears, Ye Qingchen smiled. ”Father, being able to rescue you was my greatest wish. Please, rest for a moment while I check your condition.”

Ye Qingchen helped Ye Changqing sit on a large rock, then sent his Soul Power into his father’s body to investigate. As he probed, his brow furrowed ever tighter. Despite the recent ordeal improving his father’s strength, his remaining lifespan had been cut to less than half a year.

Li Zongrui, watching with concern, asked, ”How is Uncle Ye’s condition?”

Ye Qingchen shook his head slightly, but not wanting to worry his father, he said to Ye Changqing, ”Father, come back to the Qingyun Sect with me. Pavilion Master Zhang of the Alchemy Pavilion has divine medical skills. He can definitely heal you completely.”

Ye Changqing knew what his son was thinking. Having just been reunited, he didn’t want to be separated either, so he nodded in agreement. Still, he offered words of comfort, ”My son, being able to see you again is enough. I can die without regrets. A person’s fate is written in the heavens, so don’t you worry too much about me.”

Ye Qingchen nodded, but thought to himself, If fate is determined by the heavens, then I will conquer the heavens themselves!

Li Qingfeng and Venerable Heize, both sharp-witted individuals, had noticed the change in Ye Qingchen’s expression after the examination and knew Ye Changqing’s condition was not optimistic. After bidding farewell to Qin Zhantian, the two of them escorted Ye Qingchen and his father back toward the Qingyun Sect.

Once they arrived at the Qingyun Sect, Ye Qingchen wasted no time in taking his father to see Zhang Dingqiang. The moment he saw him, Ye Qingchen blurted out, ”Pavilion Master Zhang, I must ask for your help with my father!”

Zhang Dingqiang had never seen such an anxious look on Ye Qingchen’s face. Realizing the matter must be urgent, he skipped the pleasantries and immediately took Ye Changqing’s hand to examine him. A moment later, he finished his assessment. ”Qingchen, it’s nothing to be overly concerned about. I’ll arrange for someone to purge the mining poison from his body first.”

With that said, Zhang Dingqiang sent a sound transmission to Vice Pavilion Master Liu. When Liu heard it was Ye Qingchen’s father, he immediately replied that he would personally oversee the removal of the mining poison.

After Vice Pavilion Master Liu led Ye Changqing away, Ye Qingchen asked Zhang Dingqiang again, ”Pavilion Master Zhang, my father only has six months of life left. Is there any way you can extend his lifespan?”

Ye Qingchen knew Zhang Dingqiang’s earlier words were meant to ease his father’s worries. Now that his father was gone, he could finally ask the question that weighed most heavily on his heart.

Zhang Dingqiang sighed. Seeing Ye Qingchen’s deeply furrowed brow, he explained, ”To extend a lifespan, one needs a sixth-grade Life Extension Pill. While refining a sixth-grade Spirit Pill is not impossible, the ingredients for a Life Extension Pill are exceptionally rare. I have some in my personal collection and can gather most of what you need, but we are missing one ingredient—and it is the most critical component of all.”

Hope surged in Ye Qingchen’s heart. ”Pavilion Master Zhang, what ingredient is it? I’ll find a way to get it. No matter the cost, I will find it.”

Zhang Dingqiang sighed again. ”This ingredient is found in the Demon Region. You must find and kill a Demon King to obtain its Demon Core.”

Ye Qingchen was stunned, asking in confusion, ”The Demon Region? A Demon Core? How do I even get to the Demon Region?”

He had never even heard of the Demon Region, let alone a Demon Core.

Zhang Dingqiang understood his confusion and explained, ”The Northern Desolate Country we live in belongs to the continent’s Northern Domain. The Demon Region is completely separate. While the Northern Domain connects to the Central Domain, the Demon Region exists as an independent, isolated realm. The only way to enter it is via a Teleportation Array.”

Ye Qingchen pressed, ”Where is this Teleportation Array? I’ll go right now.”

Zhang Dingqiang patted his shoulder. ”Not just anyone is qualified to use the Teleportation Array. Each year, the Northern Domain is granted only ten slots for travel to the Demon Region. If our Qingyun Sect can win the upcoming promotion competition and advance from a one-star to a two-star sect, we will be awarded one of those slots. At that time...”

Before Zhang Dingqiang could finish, Ye Qingchen had already departed, too impatient to wait another moment. Watching his retreating back, Zhang Dingqiang could only shake his head and sigh. The sect promotion competition was extraordinarily difficult. Otherwise, the Qingyun Sect would not have remained a one-star sect for all these years. And even if they succeeded and obtained a slot for the Demon Region, killing a Demon King there was a perilous, near-impossible task...

After leaving the Alchemy Pavilion, Ye Qingchen went straight to the Sect Master’s Great Hall to find Li Qingfeng.

Upon entering the hall, he found that Venerable Heize was also there. Seeing Ye Qingchen, Li Qingfeng asked, ”Qingchen, did Pavilion Master Zhang find a way?”

Ye Qingchen nodded. ”Pavilion Master Zhang said he can refine a Life Extension Pill for my father, but it requires an ingredient from the Demon Region. I heard that winning the sect promotion competition will earn us a slot for the Teleportation Array to the Demon Region. Master, I will help the sect fight to become a two-star sect, but I need that slot!”

Li Qingfeng stared at Ye Qingchen’s solemn expression, paused for a moment, then nodded heavily. ”Qingchen, if you can help the Qingyun Sect ascend to a two-star sect, I, your master, will agree to any condition you name!”

Li Qingfeng understood completely. Even though Qingchen is only at the Third Layer of the Martial Spirit Realm, his true combat strength already surpasses my own at the Eighth Layer. If the Qingyun Sect wants to win the promotion competition, we must rely on him. Besides, his father’s life is at stake. How could I possibly refuse?

Venerable Heize also rose and nodded. ”Qingchen, while your strength has increased a great deal, the promotion competition is full of powerful masters. You cannot afford to be careless.”

Ye Qingchen nodded. ”Rest assured, Venerable. No matter what, I will win this sect promotion competition!”

With that, he turned and strode out of the great hall.

Watching Ye Qingchen’s retreating figure, Li Qingfeng and Hei Ze exchanged a wry smile.