Chapter 30: The Arrogance of the Huangfu Family
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The Sima family patriarch was furious, his eyes bloodshot and his heart filled with hatred for Ye Xinghe. Throwing caution to the wind, he tried to charge forward and kill him.
However, the instant the Immortal-Slaying Formation was destroyed, he suffered a severe backlash.
Earlier, when activating the grand formation, he had poured a vast amount of his own spiritual energy into it in hopes of unleashing its full power. Now that the formation had collapsed, the spiritual energy—forcefully disrupted and thrown into chaos—instantly ran rampant within his body.
The Sima patriarch felt a sharp pain in his chest. His throat tightened, and he could not stop himself from spitting out a mouthful of blood.
His face turned as pale as paper, and his once-powerful aura weakened considerably.
Seeing this, the members of the Sima family hurried over to surround him. But before long, their expressions turned to fury, and they laid all the blame at Ye Xinghe’s feet.
“It is all because of Ye Xinghe! If not for him, how could the patriarch have been injured? If we do not avenge this grudge, then the Sima family will no longer be worthy of the name!”
An elder of the Sima family glared furiously at Ye Xinghe, then brought his cane down heavily upon the ground with a dull thud.
“That’s right! We must make him pay! He dared to destroy our family’s Immortal-Slaying Formation and even injured the patriarch. He is utterly vile!”
A young member of the Sima family shouted through clenched teeth.
The other members of the family chimed in as well. For a moment, waves of furious accusations surged toward Ye Xinghe.
They seemed to have completely forgotten that it was the Sima patriarch who had provoked the conflict first, attempting to massacre the sacred ground.
Ye Xinghe merely gave the enraged members of the Sima family a cold smile.
“Your Sima family sought to swallow up the sacred ground and activated such a vicious Immortal-Slaying Formation. Now that the formation has been destroyed and you have been injured, you have only yourselves to blame. If you dare come again, I, Ye Xinghe, will show you no mercy.”
The Sima patriarch endured the pain raging through his body, raised his hand to wipe the blood from the corner of his mouth, and said viciously, “Ye Xinghe, do not celebrate too soon. My Sima family will repay today’s grudge many times over.”
Seeing this, the Saint Lord spoke with solemn authority. “Patriarch Sima, today’s affair was caused by your Sima family in the first place. Ye Xinghe destroyed the formation to protect the sacred ground; there was nothing improper about it. If you still wish to stir up trouble, the sacred ground will not be afraid of you.”
The Sima patriarch knew that his side no longer had the strength to fight. Continuing to entangle himself with them would only bring greater humiliation.
“Saint Lord, we shall see.”
With that, he slowly departed, supported by members of the Sima family.
The gazes of the people from the sacred ground had changed completely as they looked at Ye Xinghe. The contempt they had once held for him had long since vanished.
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The Peak Master of Spirit Mine Peak stood to one side, his lips parting and closing as though he wanted to speak. In the end, he merely lowered his head in silence, no longer daring to voice the slightest objection.
He suddenly felt somewhat fortunate.
Just as the atmosphere began to settle, a disciple of the sacred ground hurried over, his expression flustered as he delivered his report.
“Saint Lord, members of the Huangfu family have come to pay a visit. They have already arrived outside the mountain gate.”
The moment Zhao Changsheng heard the words “Huangfu family,” his face turned deathly pale, and surging hatred filled his eyes.
He had never imagined that the family responsible for driving him into despair and destroying his entire household would come knocking at this very moment.
Ye Xinghe keenly noticed the change in Zhao Changsheng. He gently patted him on the shoulder, offering a trace of comfort.
“What is meant to come will always come.”
A short while later, a grand procession from the Huangfu family entered the sacred ground.
At its head was a middle-aged man dressed in an ornate brocade robe. He walked with an arrogant swagger, showing not the slightest awareness that he was visiting someone else’s territory.
Several attendants followed behind him, each wearing an imperious expression.
Seeing the Huangfu family arrive with such a display, the Saint Lord slightly furrowed his brows.
“Patriarch Huangfu, what brings you here today?”
The Huangfu patriarch gave a cold laugh. Without even sparing the Saint Lord a glance, he directed his gaze straight at Zhao Changsheng and declared loudly, “Saint Lord, this Zhao Changsheng is a traitorous servant of my Huangfu family. He has committed ten grave offenses. We have come today specifically to take him back to the Huangfu family and punish him according to our clan rules.”
The Saint Lord smiled faintly and asked, “Patriarch Huangfu, then tell us—what crimes has Zhao Changsheng committed?”
The Huangfu patriarch raised his chin arrogantly.
“First, he stole my Huangfu family’s secret cultivation technique, intending to make it his own.”
“Second, he secretly colluded with outsiders, attempting to undermine my Huangfu family’s alliance.”
“Third, he showed disrespect toward his elders and insulted them with his words.”
“Fourth, during a family mission, he misappropriated resources without authorization, causing the mission to fail.”
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“Fifth…”
Hearing these baseless accusations, Zhao Changsheng trembled with rage. He could endure no longer and shouted furiously, “Patriarch Huangfu, stop slandering me! Every one of these charges was fabricated by you. Why are you framing me like this? You know the truth perfectly well!”
The Huangfu patriarch cast him a contemptuous glance.
“You traitor, you still dare argue? Saint Lord, Zhao Changsheng’s crimes are irrefutable. I ask that you hand him over to the Huangfu family for punishment, so that this matter does not affect the friendship between our two clans.”
Ye Xinghe took a step forward and stood in front of Zhao Changsheng, his eyes cold as he looked at the Huangfu patriarch.
“Patriarch Huangfu, you wish to take away my disciple based on nothing more than your own one-sided account. I’m afraid that is inappropriate. Changsheng is my disciple, and I know his character well. He is not someone who would commit such acts.”
The Huangfu patriarch’s expression darkened.
“And who are you? Do not meddle in affairs that do not concern you. This is a matter between my Huangfu family and Zhao Changsheng. It has nothing to do with you.”
Ye Xinghe let out a cold laugh.
“Nothing to do with me? Changsheng is my disciple, so naturally I will protect him. If your Huangfu family wishes to take him away, you will have to get past me first.”
Seeing that the atmosphere between the two sides had become dangerously tense, the Saint Lord hurriedly intervened.
“Everyone, do not act rashly.”
No matter what, the Huangfu family was a major clan of the Central State. They could not afford to offend it.
“Do you really think you can stop our Huangfu family? Zhao Changsheng has committed so many crimes that he must come with us. The position our Huangfu family holds in the Central State is beyond your imagination. Do not overestimate yourself.”
Upon hearing this, fury blazed in Zhao Changsheng’s eyes. Gritting his teeth, he rebuked them angrily.
“You Huangfu scoundrels! You destroyed my entire family, yet you still refuse to let matters rest. Now you even want to capture me. Do you think I am afraid of you? One day, I will kill you with my own hands and avenge the deaths of every member of my Zhao family!”
The Huangfu patriarch snorted disdainfully.
“You? A stray dog with nowhere to go, and you still dare make such wild claims? Do you think spending a few days in the sacred ground has made you capable of standing against the Huangfu family? What a joke.”
Ye Xinghe, however, remained calm and unperturbed. He gently raised a hand to restrain Zhao Changsheng’s anger, then turned toward the Huangfu patriarch and spoke slowly.
“Patriarch Huangfu, since you are so certain that Zhao Changsheng is guilty, there is no need for us to waste our breath.”
“I propose that someone from the Huangfu family fight my disciple. If you win, you may take him away immediately. Of course, if you lose…”
“If our Huangfu family loses, then we will kneel down and kowtow to him today!”
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