Two Realms: I Will Become the Immortal Emperor

Chapter 322: Chapter 294: A Viper’s Malice, A Gecko’s Severed Tail

Meng Qianxun slowly descended from the sky. His face, made youthful by his Core Formation, was stern and filled with undisguised killing intent.

”Ye Juming, you are outrageously brazen to declare war on Jinyun Valley for no reason.”

Elder Meng’s gaze swept down from the sky. Every member of the Ye Clan his eyes fell upon couldn’t help but shiver. ”So this is how the Ye Clan operates? Such a show of might. You owe me an explanation.”

”Meng Qian... no, Elder Meng.”

A complex mix of emotions laced Ye Juming’s fearful words.

Strictly speaking, the man was his junior. Meng Qianxun had trailed him by decades in every stage, from the start of his Cultivation to Foundation Establishment and all the way to Great Perfection. He had always been one step ahead, keeping the other man suppressed for decades. But he never imagined that Meng Qianxun would actually succeed in his Core Formation.

And upon achieving Core Formation, his status and position had skyrocketed. He couldn’t even call him by his full name anymore.

He braced himself and said:

”It was Jinyun Valley who provoked us first, luring us into the ring. I was only acting in self-defense. Nowhere does it say the Ye Clan should just offer up our necks to be slaughtered!”

Before his voice had even faded, an uproar erupted In the Valley.

Many people were now witnessing his talent for twisting the truth and telling bald-faced lies.

Some hot-blooded young disciples were even jumping in fury and cursing him out.

’The evidence has been destroyed anyway. At worst, they’ll blame both sides and let the matter drop.’ Just as Ye Juming was feeling secretly pleased, his pupils suddenly contracted. He saw Chen Yin raise his right hand slightly, and an Impression Bead shot into the air.

Streams of light flowed out from it, forming an image. At the same time, a loud voice echoed throughout the valley:

”Since this is a match, injuries and deaths are to be expected. If you’re worried about accidents, it’s not too late to step down now. That way you won’t use it as an excuse to seek revenge later...”

”...Blades have no eyes; accidental deaths are to be expected. Besides, a warning was given in advance.”

Seeing this, the expressions of the Ye Clan members changed instantly.

Ye Juming’s brow furrowed. ’Didn’t I just destroy the Impression Bead? Why...’

As he wondered, Chen Yin waved his hand, and seven or eight more Impression Beads flew out. They were all old hands in this game; how could he not have an ace up his sleeve?

”Fellow Daoist Ye, do you need one? I have a whole pile...”

An even more humiliating silence fell.

There’s no shame in being less skilled than your opponent. But to turn on them after the fact, using it as an excuse after you’ve already been warned—that’s completely dishonorable. The crucial point was that he had publicly slung mud, thinking he had destroyed the evidence, only for the other party to pull out more.

Anyone else would have been so ashamed they’d wish for the ground to swallow them whole, but Ye Juming’s expression remained unchanged as he said nonchalantly:

”It seems I’m getting old and my memory is failing me. I must have misremembered.”

His words made many people sneer. Could ’I misremembered’ truly be an excuse for nearly starting a war? Many hot-blooded young disciples looked toward Meng Qianxun, hoping he would uphold justice and teach the Ye Clan a lesson.

Then, he added another sentence.

”Of course, today’s mistake was my fault. Since we have offended Jinyun Valley, my Ye Clan will naturally make amends.”

”This man is a venomous snake!”

Many people were trembling with rage.

A dagger hidden behind a smile, a needle hidden in cotton—he embodied these idioms perfectly. With just a few words, he stoked tensions, then downplayed the crisis to shirk responsibility. If the Golden Core True Master who arrived today had been even slightly biased in his favor, he could have used this to resolve the situation.

Meng Qianxun also narrowed his eyes.

Their ancestor had achieved Core Formation very early, and his network of connections was far wider than that of the Meng Family or Jinyun Valley. Most of the Golden Core True Masters under the Primordial Sect’s jurisdiction had friendly relations with him. If their ancestor returned to find his family destroyed, he would undoubtedly retaliate recklessly.

At this thought, Meng Qianxun looked at Chen Che, his gaze questioning.

Chen Che nodded slightly:

”How do you intend to make amends?”

Ye Juming glanced at Chen Che, his eyes turning cold:

”Two hundred thousand Spirit Stones...”

”Not enough.”

Chen Che shook his head.

”With a single word, you were about to engulf my valley. Both Jinyun Valley and the Ye Clan would have faced widespread death and destruction because of your carelessness. Two hundred thousand Spirit Stones is a lot, but it can’t buy back the lives of all those people. I don’t want Spirit Stones...”

”Leave your life here, and this matter will be wiped clean.”

”Unacceptable! At worst, we’ll fight him to the death...”

Before he could finish, Ye Xingwang jumped in and shouted.

The faces of the Ye Clan members changed again. This was demanding that Ye Juming take his own life as atonement...

”So you’ve decided not to make amends?” Chen Che’s face grew cold.

’This is how it should be,’ Meng Qianxun thought. ’Ye Juming is far too venomous. If he ever achieves Core Formation, he’ll be a much greater threat than anyone else.’ ”Indeed,” he said. ”Today’s events were started entirely by you. You must answer for this.”

”Fine!”

Unexpectedly, Ye Juming agreed.

Just as everyone was wondering if he would really kill himself, the Owl Snake beside him suddenly opened its massive maw and, without warning, swallowed Ye Xingwang who was at its side. A scream, accompanied by a CRUNCH and a splash of blood, was cut short.

The people of Jinyun Valley were all stunned speechless.

Ye Juming was ruthless to outsiders, and just as cruel to his own family. Yet, his expression remained unchanged as he explained:

”It was Xingwang who sounded the Sea Snail. He bears seventy percent of the responsibility for this affair. I have publicly executed him. I trust this is a sufficient explanation.”

Ye Xingwang was the Third Elder.

His status and position were second only to Ye Juming’s. No one could argue with that kind of atonement.

Even Meng Qianxun hadn’t expected him to do this, and he sneered in fury:

”Enough.”

”We take our leave!”

Ye Juming cupped his fists, then simply beckoned, boarding the Spiritual Boat with the Owl Snake.

Before leaving, he didn’t forget to shoot a glance at Chen Che. Then, the Spiritual Boat turned and slowly departed from Jinyun Valley.

”Letting that man live today was a mistake. He’ll be a terrible scourge.”

Chen Xi felt his scalp tingle.

Chen Yin slowly nodded, agreeing with the junior’s point of view. It was a perfect example of ’an open spear is easy to dodge, but a hidden arrow is hard to defend against.’

Chen Che took a moment to take stock.

In truth, he hadn’t suffered much of a loss, aside from the disruption to the Grand Competition. And that was nothing compared to the alternative of making a mortal enemy of the Ye Clan.

On the contrary, the other side’s losses were significant. Losing face was the least of it; the loss of five Foundation Establishment Cultivators—four of them at Great Perfection—would surely sting for a long time to come.

But what was done was done; there was no point dwelling on gains and losses now. He wasn’t a fish on a chopping block, to be carved up at will. Whatever schemes the other party wanted to play would be a matter for the future. With Meng Qianxun having achieved Core Formation, the Ye Family would have to be more restrained.

...

”Meng Qianxun has achieved Core Formation. This is big trouble. None of our schemes will work now. We can only wait for the Ancestor to return.”

Aboard the Spiritual Boat, Ye Wuchang clenched his fists. All plots and schemes were nothing but bubbles in the face of absolute power.

At the same time, his doubts deepened:

”Weren’t Jinyun Valley still collecting Materials? Could they have already refined the Qingxu Guiyuan Pill? Why was there no sign at all before Meng Qianxun’s Core Formation? Where did they get that Pill from?”

”Indeed.”

Fifth Elder Ye Xiuyu also sighed. A Foundation Establishment Race and a Golden Core Race were two entirely different concepts.

Suppressing Jinyun Valley alone was already enough of a headache.

And now, the Meng Family had emerged too:

”Ancestor, please come back soon.”

Staring at Jinyun Valley, which had already been left far behind, Ye Juming finally withdrew his gaze, clenching his fists:

”After we return to the clan, seal the gates immediately. I’m going to attempt Core Formation too!”

”But, the Ancestor said your chances of Core Formation are less than thirty percent. Without waiting for him to return, even with a Qingxu Guiyuan Pill, your chances are barely fifty percent...”

Ye Wuchang’s expression grew serious.

Originally, Ye Juming had been preparing to attempt Core Formation in the next few years. Their Ancestor had already procured the necessary Pill from the Primordial Sect for him.

However, the matter had been delayed due to the Black Tortoise Calm Sea incident.

”Fifty percent is enough. Even if I wait a few more years, my chances would only increase to seventy percent at most.”

Ye Juming sighed deeply.

Ye Wuchang wanted to persuade him further, but then he sighed again:

”Forget it.”

After today’s events, the Ye Clan had lost all face. Their carefully prepared strike had been forcefully pushed back. Several Major Cultivators had died, one of them at Ye Juming’s own hand. This was on top of the deaths of Ye Jiuming and Ye Leyou.

When the Ancestor returned, he would surely be punished, and might even be stripped of his eligibility for Core Formation.

The only way to avoid punishment was to achieve Core Formation beforehand.

...

「Jinyun Valley.」

In the square, after the Ye Clan’s departure, a silence fell. The many disciples stood there, exchanging confused glances.

”The Grand Competition will continue!”

Only after Chen Che’s announcement did the valley liven up again.

However, the disciples’ enthusiasm for the Grand Competition had not waned because of the Ye Clan’s disruption; on the contrary, they competed with even more vigor. After all, they had witnessed their Valley Master’s strength and had just seen the arrival of a Golden Core True Master with their own eyes.

”You don’t hold it against me for not finishing off the Ye Clan, do you?”

Chen Che had intended to offer the seat of honor to Meng Qianxun, but the latter stopped him, and the two sat together at the same table. Pouring a cup of tea, Meng Qianxun pushed it smilingly before Chen Che.

”Elder Meng has his reasons...”

Chen Che accepted the cup of tea and said lightly:

”If we had forced them to stay now, it would have been a mutually destructive fight, and then we’d have to face the relentless revenge of the Ye Family’s Ancestor. This way, we can buy ourselves some more time. If a second or third Golden Core appears on our side, the Ye Family will have no choice but to accept it.”

”It’s rare for you to have such foresight.”

Meng Qianxun nodded in satisfaction. He had only just achieved Core Formation, and his Realm had not yet stabilized.

If they had forcefully detained them, given the Ye Family’s penchant for ”decapitation strikes,” they would have undoubtedly targeted him and Chen Che. The Ye Clan’s hidden reserves were not limited to what was shown on the surface; if a real fight broke out, even a Golden Core could be killed.

The only question was whether it was worth it...

”Where is my father-in-law?”

Chen Che hadn’t seen Meng Changtu.

”He witnessed my Core Formation and had an epiphany. He is now in seclusion to digest his insights. When he emerges, he’ll likely be just one step away from Core Formation himself.”

Meng Qianxun continued.

This was another reason he was unwilling to start a war immediately. Before long, the Meng Family would have two Golden Core cultivators.

And it wouldn’t be long before Chen Che could achieve Core Formation as well. With three Golden Cores, even the Primordial Sect would have to take them seriously, to say nothing of the Ye Family.

”That’s wonderful news!”

Chen Che nodded in delight.

The Golden Core Celestial Tribulation contains the laws of the Dao and fate. A moment of insight is worth more than decades of arduous cultivation. But such things depend on serendipity and have nothing to do with talent. There were precedents on Earth Element Star of people who had paid to observe nearly a hundred Core Formations and gained nothing at all.

’Looks like my father-in-law’s luck is pretty good.’