Invincible Soul Emperor

Chapter 578: The Furious Elder Yang

Zi Xing felt somewhat relieved when he saw Elder Yang intervene personally, but his concern for Ye Qingchen lingered. He hurried over to the Teleportation Array to await news about him.

When Elder Yang reappeared, he was already at Mu Changfeng’s side, asking him what had happened in the Secret Realm.

Mu Changfeng had sensed early on that something was amiss. However, since the matter involved the Ten Ancient Clans, he understood he had little say and resigned himself to suffering a hidden loss this time. Thus, when Elder Yang questioned him, Mu Changfeng’s answer was that the other three major academies had colluded with the Ten Ancient Clans to target Central Celestial Academy. Their goal was to ensure the academy finished last in this assessment.

"Foolish!" Elder Yang couldn’t help but scold loudly upon hearing Mu Changfeng’s words.

Luckily, a barrier surrounded them, preventing their conversation from being overheard. Otherwise, anyone who saw someone daring to scold the Headmaster of Central Celestial Academy would have probably been shocked to death.

Mu Changfeng’s face flushed slightly. "What do you suggest then, Elder Yang?"

Elder Yang snorted coldly. "Central Celestial Academy has been at the bottom year after year. Do they even need to target us specifically? And do you really think those three trash academies could order around people from the Ten Ancient Clans? It seems your closed-door cultivation has addled your brain."

Mu Changfeng began to understand the crux of the matter. Elder Yang’s words made perfect sense, but he still couldn’t fathom what the Ten Ancient Clans’ motive could be.

Aware of the urgency, Elder Yang didn’t explain further but asked Mu Changfeng which of the Ten Ancient Clans had provided the Secret Realm this time.

Mu Changfeng frowned but still answered, "Elder Yang, this Secret Realm was provided by the Jiang Clan..."

"Those old coots!"

Before Mu Changfeng could finish, Elder Yang vanished, leaving only an angry curse hanging in the air.

「Within the territory of the Jiang Clan, one of the Ten Ancient Clans.」

Elder Yang stormed in, yet no one dared to stop him. This was, after all, the territory of one of the Ten Ancient Clans. Even the Sect Leaders of Nine-Star Sects had to be courteous and send someone to announce their arrival. But Elder Yang charged straight in, and rather than attempting to stop him, the members of the Jiang Clan had to hurry and bow to him in greeting.

Soon, several elderly men with an ethereal, immortal-like bearing appeared before Elder Yang, smiling as they spoke, "Old Yang, long time no see. What wind blew you here?"

Elder Yang snorted coldly and said, "What wind blew me here? I think you old bones are itching for trouble again. You’ve gone so far as to bully my disciple!"

Hearing Elder Yang’s furious rebuke, the disciples of the Jiang Clan all turned their heads away, not daring to watch. The ones being scolded by Elder Yang were all figures of noble status within the Jiang Clan, revered as patriarchs and ancestors. They were usually greeted with the utmost respect, yet now an outsider was chastising them.

The elders’ expressions were complicated, but they knew all too well of Elder Yang’s notoriously protective nature. Now that he had arrived in a fury claiming someone had bullied his disciple, the situation would not end well if they responded poorly and angered the old man.

A leading elder spoke up quickly, "Old Yang, let’s discuss this calmly. Our Jiang Clan has been in seclusion for a long time, only leaving for the Demon Clan battlefield. We haven’t been active on the mainland. What are you implying? Could a disciple from our clan have clashed with your disciple on the Demon Clan battlefield?"

Elder Yang snorted again, speaking in annoyance, "If it were a fair fight, I’d have nothing to say even if my disciple were killed by one of yours. But your clan’s so-called Saint Heir, under the pretext of providing a Secret Realm for the Four Great Academies, used it to target my disciple. How do you expect me to be civil?"

Elder Yang’s words left the elders slightly stunned. After whispering among themselves for a moment, one of them said to Elder Yang, "Old Yang, I will summon the Saint Heir this instant to get to the bottom of this. You’re getting on in years, please, try to calm down."

Elder Yang snorted coldly and said nothing.

One of the elders began to send a message to the Saint Heir, and in a short while, he hurried over. After greeting the clan elders, the Saint Heir was taken aback when he saw the furious Elder Yang. He then bowed to him as well, saying, "Greetings, Elder Yang."

Elder Yang snorted and ignored him. A Jiang Clan elder immediately asked, "Saint Heir, did you provide a Secret Realm to the Four Great Academies?"

The Saint Heir nodded. He knew doing so would offend Elder Yang, but he hadn’t expected the man to show up on his doorstep so quickly.

Just as the Jiang elders were about to ask more, Elder Yang interjected, "I can’t control you youngsters’ jealous rivalries, but if you’re going to compete with my disciple, do it like a man—openly and fairly. Using underhanded tricks is a disgrace to the Ten Ancient Clans! I think it’s time we re-evaluated your position as Saint Heir."

Greatly alarmed, the Saint Heir hurriedly explained, "Elder Yang, you misunderstand me. The Secret Realm was provided because a follower of mine has a clan brother in the Four Great Academies who asked to borrow the realm. I was not aware of anything else."

Elder Yang waved his hand dismissively. "I don’t care to hear your explanations. Just do what was agreed upon beforehand, and I won’t meddle. If my disciple is defeated, it’s because his skills are lacking. But if someone plays tricks behind the scenes... hmph. If you don’t know what my temper is like, you can ask these old ancestors of yours."

After speaking, Elder Yang vanished on the spot.

The Saint Heir clenched his teeth. After the Jiang elders admonished him for a while longer, he departed sullenly. He understood that for Elder Yang, stripping him of his title was a trivial matter. But now, the Saint Heir was filled with a murderous intent for Ye Qingchen and had no intention of letting him go.

Lost in thought, the Saint Heir made his way back to the Lotus Pond.

Li Rui excitedly reported to him, "Reporting to the Saint Heir, that Ye Qingchen is now surrounded! I’ve set up three layers of encirclement; this time, the boy can’t escape even if he sprouts wings!"

The Saint Heir waved his hand. "Let him advance!"

Li Rui blinked, asking uncertainly, "Saint Heir? What did you just say?"

"I said, let him advance!" the Saint Heir snapped irritably.

Though puzzled, Li Rui nodded and activated the Teleportation Array inside the Secret Realm.

Staring at Ye Qingchen struggling against dozens of men in the Secret Realm, the Saint Heir gritted his teeth. "Ye Qingchen, don’t think I won’t dare to touch you just because Elder Yang has your back! This Holy Son has countless ways to kill you!"