Invincible Soul Emperor

Chapter 322: Chapter 322 The Ye Family is Annihilated

Ye Qingchen and Ye Changqing traveled together toward Qingyun Town, their hearts racing with anticipation for the wonderful reunion that awaited them. However, they were unaware that at this very moment, the Ye Family was facing a crisis of life and death.

「...」

The Cangqiong Sect and the Shenhuo Sect had both failed in the recent Sect Advancement Tournament. After returning and analyzing the reasons for their failure, both sects unanimously concluded that the blame lay with Ye Qingchen of the Qingyun Sect.

The Shenhuo Sect was hit particularly hard. Not only was their disciple, Lie Buqun, discovered to have been secretly taking Forbidden Medicine during a match and killed on the spot by Ling Xiaoyu of the Wuji Immortal Palace, but the sect was also permanently stripped of its eligibility to advance to the Two-Star rank. When this news reached the Shenhuo Sect, the old Sect Master flew into a thunderous rage. He immediately sent men to inquire about Ye Qingchen’s whereabouts while he personally traveled to the Cangqiong Sect to discuss revenge with Feng Xingpo.

Feng Xingpo himself had been thoroughly terrified by Ye Qingchen. If the Cangqiong Sect were to act alone, he would never dare to seek trouble with him. But that did not mean Feng Xingpo harbored no hatred in his heart. So, when the old Sect Master of the Shenhuo Sect presented a sixth-grade Spirit Pill, Feng Xingpo was swayed. A pill of that grade was enough to help him break through to the Martial King Realm. Although they had heard that Ye Qingchen had defeated Li Chenyang, an expert at the second level of the Martial King Realm, they believed that by joining forces with the Shenhuo Sect’s old master—a first-level Martial King—they stood a chance.

Later, a disciple from the Shenhuo Sect reported that Ye Qingchen hailed from the Ye Family of Qingyun Town. Furthermore, the strongest members of this so-called family had not even reached the Martial Master Realm.

The two men exchanged a look, a single, vengeful idea forming in their minds. If they exterminated the Ye Family, the trauma of his clan’s annihilation would surely cause Ye Qingchen’s Dao Heart to descend into chaos, perhaps even halting his cultivation progress forever. Overwhelmed by rage, he might even come seeking revenge against their sects. At that point, with the advantage of their powerful sect formations, killing him would be effortless.

Thinking this, Feng Xingpo and the old Sect Master of the Shenhuo Sect reached an immediate agreement. They set off for the Ye Family’s estate, planning to wipe them out before Ye Qingchen could return.

The Cangqiong Sect and Shenhuo Sect moved swiftly. Led personally by Feng Xingpo and the old Sect Master, their group arrived in Qingyun Town and soon located the Ye Family’s residence.

”Who are you?” a Ye Family disciple on guard duty shouted, noticing the hostile expressions of Feng Xingpo’s group as he blocked their attempt to barge in.

”Who are we?” Feng Xingpo sneered. ”We’re the ones who’ve come to take your lives!”

With a cold grunt, he shot his hand out, grabbing the disciple by the throat and lifting him into the air with one arm.

CRACK.

The sickening sound of breaking bones came from the disciple’s throat as he let out a piercing, agonized scream. The shriek immediately drew the attention of passersby, many of whom stopped to watch. This was precisely Feng Xingpo’s intention. He wanted as many people as possible to witness their actions so that the news would travel quickly to Ye Qingchen, filling him with rage and disrupting his Dao Heart.

BANG!

The next moment, the disciple’s neck was snapped. His corpse was hurled toward the Ye Family’s main gate, landing with a dull thud that shattered several stone bricks into dust.

”Who dares cause trouble at the Ye Family’s gates?” an elder responsible for the family’s security bellowed, flying over at the sound of the commotion. Seeing the slain disciple, he was overcome with fury and charged directly at Feng Xingpo.

”Your life, and the lives of everyone in your family, are mine for the taking!” Feng Xingpo jeered. He threw a punch at the charging elder, and a violent wave of Spiritual Power coalesced into an Energy fist several times the size of a man’s.

BANG!

The Energy fist struck the Ye Family elder squarely. He cried out once before his body slammed into the ground, a mangled and bloody mess, killed on the spot. The guardian elder had not even managed to touch the corner of Feng Xingpo’s robes.

”Trash.” Feng Xingpo shook his head with a look of utter disdain. How could such a weak family give rise to a monstrous genius like Ye Qingchen?

”A Martial King! He’s a Martial King expert!” someone in the crowd of onlookers exclaimed, stunned by the immense power Feng Xingpo had just displayed.

As far as anyone could remember, a Martial King expert hadn’t been seen in Qingyun Town for many, many years. The crowd began to murmur amongst themselves. The Ye Family had actually provoked such a powerful figure! How could a minor family like them possibly contend with a Martial King? It looked like the Ye Family was going to be wiped out today!

RUSTLE! RUSTLE! RUSTLE!

A flurry of hurried footsteps sounded as the Ye Family Patriarch, Ye Changyun, and the Grand Elder arrived with a large group of clansmen.

Seeing the approaching crowd led by Ye Changyun, the old Sect Master of the Shenhuo Sect said, a playful look in his aged eyes, ”Feng Xingpo, it seems the Patriarch of the Ye Family has arrived.”

Feng Xingpo sneered, ”Perfect. They’ve come to die, saving us the trouble.”

As his words faded, Feng Xingpo took a single step, crossing over ten meters in an instant. He aimed for Ye Changyun and the Grand Elder.

”Protect the Patriarch!”

”Protect the Grand Elder!”

A dozen Ye clansmen lunged forward to intercept Feng Xingpo, but their strength was no match for his. The first two were killed instantly, while the rest were sent flying, crashing heavily to the ground. Feng Xingpo’s punch continued unabated, hurtling straight for Ye Changyun’s face.

Just as Feng Xingpo was certain Ye Changyun was about to die—

WHOOSH!

A figure shot out from behind Ye Changyun, meeting Feng Xingpo’s attack with a punch of his own.

BANG!

When their fists collided, the newcomer stood firm, not moving an inch. Feng Xingpo, however, was thrown back three meters before regaining his footing.

”A Martial King expert!” Feng Xingpo and the Shenhuo Sect’s old master exclaimed in shock.

How could a minor family like the Ye have a Martial King expert? Could our information have been wrong?

Just then, someone in the crowd outside cried out, ”That’s a Martial King from the royal family of the Northern Desolate Country!”

”The Ye Family is connected to the royals! That’s unbelievable!”

Feng Xingpo and the old Sect Master exchanged a stunned glance. They never imagined that the insignificant Ye Family could attract the protection of the royal family of the Northern Desolate Country.

As it happened, it was a coincidence. The royal family had learned of Ye Qingchen’s brilliant performance in the Sect Advancement Tournament and, already wishing to curry favor with him, were eager to seize the opportunity. They sent scouts to see if Ye Qingchen had returned. Upon learning he had gone to the Demon Region, Emperor Cai Wentao decided it was best to visit the Ye Family first. By establishing good relations with his family, they could demonstrate their sincerity for when Ye Qingchen returned.

Originally, Cai Yunji was supposed to represent the royals on this visit. However, she had failed to help Ye Qingchen at Dragon Tiger Mountain, and it was feared her presence might remind him of the slight. In the end, the Retired Emperor himself made the trip, a clear and powerful demonstration of the royal family’s sincerity. The Retired Emperor just so happened to be a guest in the Ye residence when Feng Xingpo and the old Sect Master arrived to throw their weight around.

The Retired Emperor was furious. How dare they act so presumptuously within the borders of my Northern Desolate Country? This is unacceptable!

Without a second word, he confronted Feng Xingpo head-on.

”To arms! Protect the Ye Family!” the Retired Emperor commanded with a wave of his hand. The royal experts he had brought with him engaged the forces from the Cangqiong and Shenhuo Sects, finally giving the Ye Family members a moment to breathe. The Retired Emperor himself took on both Feng Xingpo and the old Sect Master alone.

Ye Changyun and the Grand Elder felt a wave of cold fear wash over them. Thank goodness the Retired Emperor is visiting. Otherwise, our Ye Family would have been annihilated by now!

”Members of the Ye Family, to battle! Repel these fiends!” Ye Changyun and the Grand Elder commanded, leading their clansmen into the fray. Their enemies had come to destroy their family and had already murdered their kin. How could they just stand by and watch?

The battle raged for an hour, with both sides locked in a fierce stalemate. Due to his advanced age, the Retired Emperor was gradually growing weary from fighting two Martial King experts. But he knew he could not retreat. This visit was meant to strengthen ties with the Ye Family, and he could not let such a perfect opportunity slip away. Besides, this was no longer just about protecting the Ye Family. By intervening, he was now defending the honor of the royal family itself. If word got out that the Retired Emperor of the Northern Desolate Country was forced to flee on his own territory by two foreign experts, the nation’s prestige would plummet, possibly inviting unwanted attention from neighboring kingdoms.

However, Feng Xingpo and the old Sect Master knew that having already offended the Northern Desolate royal family, it would be difficult to escape the country unless they secured a decisive victory. Thus, they fought with increasing ferocity. Although the Retired Emperor held on with all his might, he slowly began to lose ground.

Everyone understood that at this rate, it wouldn’t be long before the Retired Emperor was defeated. Once he’s defeated, not only can we annihilate the Ye Family, but we can also use the Retired Emperor to blackmail the royal family of the Northern Desolate Country. That would kill two birds with one stone, Feng Xingpo and the old Sect Master thought, a thrill of excitement running through them.

「...」

Meanwhile, Ye Qingchen and Ye Changqing arrived at the outskirts of Qingyun Town.

Staring at the scenery, both familiar and changed, Ye Changqing was overcome with emotion and muttered, ”Ten years... Qingyun Town, I’m finally back!”

Ye Qingchen was also deeply moved. Father has been away from home for far too long. Watching his father’s trembling hands, he finally understood the meaning of the saying, ”The closer to home, the more hesitant the heart.”

Ye Qingchen supported his father, describing the changes in Qingyun Town as they walked. When they entered the town proper, the pedestrians on the street saw Ye Qingchen and immediately stopped to make way for them.

In the current Qingyun Town, the Ye Family was the sole power, and its members enjoyed a greatly elevated status. The townspeople still remembered when Qin Dahai had come to cause trouble. For many, it was the first time they had ever seen a Martial Spirit Realm expert. Yet, that seemingly god-like expert had been slain by the very youth now walking before them. It was then that people realized the Ye Family’s rapid rise over the past couple of years was entirely due to Ye Qingchen’s efforts. And so, upon his return, the townspeople’s eyes held nothing but sincere respect.

Ye Changqing was astonished. Although the Ye Family had once been one of the town’s three great families, they had never been treated with such reverence. He could see that the respect these people showed Ye Qingchen was genuine. He gave his son a questioning look, but Ye Qingchen simply smiled without a word. Now that Father is back, he’ll find out about everything eventually. If I tell him myself, it will only make him worry about the hardships I’ve faced these past few years.

Some of the older residents of Qingyun Town looked at Ye Changqing with puzzled expressions. He seemed familiar, but they didn’t dare to presume. As Ye Changqing looked at these familiar faces, another wave of nostalgia washed over him.

But at that moment, Ye Qingchen’s brow furrowed. He could feel a murderous aura emanating from the direction of the Ye Family estate.