Chapter Forty-Six: Apologize Immediately
Ye Xinghe slightly lifted his eyes, sharp as a sword, piercing straight toward the Lord of Spirit Ore Peak.
The Lord of Spirit Ore Peak suddenly felt a chill rise from his spine, spreading throughout his body in an instant.
All the carefully prepared excuses lodged in his throat, leaving him momentarily speechless.
Ye Xinghe said nothing, merely gazing silently at him. The unspoken pressure surged like a tide, overwhelming the Lord of Spirit Ore Peak.
Swallowing hard, the peak lord’s voice trembled as he spoke again, “Lord Ye, you understand the significance of the Sacred Land in this cultivation world. If you leave now, who can guarantee that those with ill intentions won’t stir up trouble again? Your staying would be a blessing for the Sacred Land and a fortune for all cultivators.”
“I, Ye Xinghe, have always acted according to my own heart. You needn’t waste more breath. Matters of the Sacred Land are for the Sacred Lord and the other peak lords to handle—what concern is it of mine?”
“I have my own path of cultivation to follow; do not obstruct me any longer.”
With that, he lightly flicked his sleeve, and a powerful force gently pushed the Lord of Spirit Ore Peak aside, after which he strode forward with long, determined steps.
Seeing Ye Xinghe refuse the peak lord’s request and insist on leaving, the other peak lords immediately panicked.
No one wanted to take on this troublesome burden!
They quickly gathered around, faces plastered with flattering smiles, each eager to flatter him.
“Lord Ye, your strength is simply breathtaking. We are utterly in awe. If you stay, you will surely scare off those schemers lurking in the shadows!”
One peak lord beamed with sycophantic praise.
“Indeed, Lord Ye, you are the pillar of our Sacred Land, absolutely indispensable!”
Another peak lord chimed in.
Their flattery was loud and clear.
Some even demeaned themselves to elevate Ye Xinghe.
“We have dwelt in the Sacred Land for many years without achievement. Compared to Lord Ye, we are but fireflies beside the bright moon.”
Yet Ye Xinghe scorned such flattery entirely.
A flicker of annoyance crossed his eyes, as if their praises were nothing but the buzzing of flies in his ears, unable to disturb his composure.
His footsteps did not falter as he strode straight through the encircling peak lords, as if they did not exist.
Before, they were like flies to him; now, when he needed help, he would not even entertain them.
Ye Xinghe paused, turning his gaze to the Sima family still lingering nearby, expressionless as he asked, “Why is your Sima family still lingering here? What, no plans to leave?”
The leader of the Sima family hastily forced a smile and respectfully replied, “Lord Ye, there’s been a misunderstanding. We came with reverence to pay respects to the Sacred Lord, but the sudden upheaval in the Sacred Land delayed us. Now that the matter is settled, we are preparing to leave immediately.”
Ye Xinghe’s lips curled into a mocking smile. “Pay respects to the Sacred Lord? Hmph. What scheme is your Sima family playing at? Do you think I’m blind?”
“You and your large entourage lurking around the Sacred Land—if not to seize opportunity amid chaos, then what? A sightseeing tour? Spare me the act and put away your false masks.”
The Sima family’s faces darkened instantly at Ye Xinghe’s merciless exposure.
“Lord Ye, there must be some misunderstanding. Our Sima family has always held the Sacred Land in high regard, with no disrespect intended.”
The leader’s earlier arrogance had vanished.
Ye Xinghe’s cold gaze fixed on them as he said, “Misunderstanding? Your Sima family’s intentions are plain to all. If you are sincere, leave something behind to atone for troubling the Sacred Land; otherwise, don’t blame me for being harsh.”
Unable to contend with Ye Xinghe, the Sima family could only compensate.
Ye Xinghe stood firm, eyes icy as he regarded the tributes placed on the ground.
Those so-called precious spiritual items and pills were nothing but common trinkets in his eyes, failing to impress him in the slightest.
He frowned slightly, displeased. “Is your Sima family sending off beggars? You bring these as compensation and dare call it atonement? How stingy.”
The Sima family’s hearts tightened at Ye Xinghe’s words.
The leader gritted his teeth and said, “Lord Ye, these spiritual items and pills are extremely precious in our Sima family. Please show mercy and do not trouble us further.”
Ye Xinghe remained unmoved, eyes disdainfully sweeping over the offerings as he said slowly, “Precious? Hmph. Your Sima family has some standing in the cultivation world, yet this is all you offer? Are you mocking the Sacred Land? It seems you have not truly grasped the gravity of your mistake.”
The Sima family looked at each other helplessly. They knew Ye Xinghe was not easily fooled but were unwilling to part with more valuable items.
After much hesitation, the leader bit his lip and took several spiritual weapons and some higher-quality spirit crystals from his storage ring. Carefully, he said, “Lord Ye, these are spiritual weapons treasured by our Sima family for many years, each with formidable power, along with these spirit crystals of exceptional purity, highly beneficial for cultivation. We sincerely repent and hope you will forgive us this once.”
Ye Xinghe glanced casually at the newly presented items, a mocking smile curling his lips. “These weapons seem remarkable but are hollow at their core, and the number of spirit crystals is pitifully small.”
“If this is all the sincerity your Sima family has, then today’s matter will be hard to resolve peacefully.”
The Sima family’s faces grew darker still, feeling as if they were roasting over a fire, caught in a no-win situation.
Suddenly, Ye Xinghe’s eyes gleamed with a sharp light, as if recalling something. “I have heard your Sima family possesses a special pill aiding cultivation called the ‘Spirit Source Creation Pill.’ It is said to have miraculous effects, helping cultivators break through bottlenecks. It is a closely guarded secret of your family.”
“Today, if you produce some of these ‘Spirit Source Creation Pills,’ I will consider letting you off.”
The Sima family was startled.
The “Spirit Source Creation Pill” was their clan’s treasured heirloom, extraordinarily difficult to refine, requiring rare herbs, with the slightest error causing the entire batch to fail.
Each pill was priceless, reserved only for the most gifted and honored core disciples. Offering them to ordinary members was unthinkable.
The leader’s face tightened as he stammered, “Lord Ye, the ‘Spirit Source Creation Pill’ is exceedingly precious, the result of countless efforts by our ancestors, and its quantity is scarce.”
“According to our clan rules, this pill is strictly forbidden to leave the family; otherwise, severe punishment will follow. We simply cannot produce it.”