Outside Lingyun Peak, lay the rolling Cyan Mountains.

In recent years, with the Ye Family’s development, some Spirit Mountains have been used to raise Cloud Horn Deer by the Ye Family, while others house Mountain-devouring Rats and Forest Pigs, among other spirit beasts.

Every dawn, these spirit beasts would emit low, rumbling calls.

Noisily demanding food.

The Ye family members would board the spiritual ships to attend to them one by one, making the skies above Lingyun Peak bustling at this time.

At the moment, a spirit shadow was darting swiftly, heading straight for Lingyun Peak.

However, before reaching Lingyun Peak, this figure changed direction and headed towards Taihang Market.

Yet, after flying for a short distance, it landed on a mountain.

On the mountain, there was a purple pavilion.

In front of the pavilion, a cultivator was quietly playing chess alone.

Having sensed Ye Jingcheng, he motioned him over.

"Since you’re already here, let’s play a game!" This cultivator was none other than the avatar of True Monarch Zi Ming.

Ye Jingcheng, at this moment, was in the form of a flying puppet, naturally without fear, and sat opposite him.

However, the white pieces currently in play were not in a good position, they were almost in a deadlock, completely encircled by the black pieces.

True Monarch Zi Ming’s avatar, controlling the black pieces, was on the verge of victory, needing only a few more moves to secure a complete win.

Ye Jingcheng glanced at True Monarch Zi Ming, noticing that he remained utterly calm, as if deeply engrossed in the game.

But this chess game seemed too unfair.

For the white pieces, it was already a dead end.

His eyes involuntarily narrowed slightly.

"Your move, Ye Kid!" True Monarch Zi Ming reminded Ye Jingcheng, who had yet to make a move.

Ye Jingcheng shook his head.

"Elder Zi Ming, this game is quite restricted, why not start a new one?" Ye Jingcheng shook his head, retrieving the white piece that was about to be placed.

"Oh!" True Monarch Zi Ming looked at Ye Jingcheng with slight surprise, yet shook his head slightly.

"Once a move is played, there’s no remorse, how can we start a new game?"

"If you invite me into a game, breaking a deadlock is bad for both of us."

"If you win, it’s not a fair win; if you lose, it’s too regrettable."

"Why not enter my game, indulge in a good battle, isn’t it exhilarating?" Ye Jingcheng had certain suspicions, and he spoke confidently.

Without waiting for True Monarch Zi Ming to speak, he waved his hand across the chessboard, causing all the pieces to lift into the air. When the pieces resettled on the board, many black pieces were missing, with white pieces having outnumbered the black ones.

And the situation suddenly reversed.

"Interesting?" True Monarch Zi Ming no longer looked at the chessboard but focused on Ye Jingcheng, his eyes reflecting a peculiar gleam.

Seeing that Ye Jingcheng still displayed no fear, he continued to pick up the chess pieces and arrange them slowly.

"But what if the black pieces keep increasing?"

When True Monarch Zi Ming continued setting up the pieces, turning the game once again to the advantage of the black side,

Ye Jingcheng suddenly understood something.

"Then, please, Elder, allow me three additional pieces. If, after receiving three, I still lose, I will concede!"

"Alright, three it is!" True Monarch Zi Ming nodded.

"However, Ye Kid, remember to add pieces, as more pieces always offer better chances!"

True Monarch Zi Ming stood up, evidently planning to leave, and advised once more as he disappeared into the pavilion.

Ye Jingcheng gazed at the fallen pieces and the unfinished board, his eyes darkening as he watched the distant vanishing figure.

He knew the present situation was much worse than he had imagined.

Furthermore, he increasingly feared the terrifying nature of True Monarch Zi Ming.

Today’s chess game, on the surface, was nothing more than True Monarch Zi Ming finding a way around the Spirit Inquiry Talisman to explain the situation in the Yan Kingdom.

If Ye Jingcheng merely played the game according to True Monarch Zi Ming’s lead without displaying the Ye Family’s strength, True Monarch Zi Ming would have decisively joined the black side to attack the Ye Family.

After all, the agreement between Ye Jingcheng and True Monarch Zi Ming was merely for the Taiyi Sect to obscure and defend in front, allowing the Ye Family and Taiyi Sect to jointly resist the Qinghe Sect.

But the premise was that the Ye Family must not be exposed.

Now, the chessboard was a clear reminder from True Monarch Zi Ming that the Ye Family had countless enemies around it.

Even the Taiyi Sect couldn’t hold them back.

These enemies, Ye Jingcheng didn’t need to think to know—they were the Qinghe Sect, Cyan Spirit Trading Association, and the Bai Family.

If the three forces acted, there would be at least three Nascent Soul cultivators involved; naturally, Ye Jingcheng wouldn’t believe that any of them would just send three Golden Core cultivators to watch the Ye Family.

This was why True Monarch Zi Ming came to wait for him.

Of course, perhaps besides waiting, True Monarch Zi Ming was also ready to prevent the Ye Family from leaving behind mortals and abandoning the mountain.

At this moment, Ye Jingcheng even entertained the thought of using the grotto heaven to move the Ye Family members away.

However, he knew that every cultivator at Lingyun Peak was being watched by True Monarch Zi Ming, and any missing person would trigger a response from the latter.

Furthermore, even when leaving as a flying puppet, he might still be inspected!

This whole time, Ye Jingcheng processed True Monarch Zi Ming’s words, recalling rumors of Tian Dao True Monarch’s early retreat.

He understood that True Monarch Zi Ming’s suggestion of adding pieces meant adding Tian Dao True Monarch and the Demon Emperor.

But the Ye Family had no Demon Emperor!

Left with little choice, he headed toward Lingyun Peak.

He touched his storage bag, finding a bottle of White Willow Dew inside.

The mountain where the purple pavilion was located wasn’t far from Lingyun Peak, and soon, Ye Jingcheng arrived there.

Lingyun Peak was still enshrouded with mist, many cultivators were busy in the Spirit Medicine Garden, while others were occupied in the Pill Pavilion and Artifact Refining Pavilion.

The rising earth fire wasn’t weak, and Ye Jingcheng also saw Lingyun Lake and the Ye Clan’s Academy Hall.

There was an even greater bustle there, with Ye Jingyun absent from the Assembly Hall and being present at the Clan Academy.

Ye Jingcheng then took out a clan token, and sent transmissions to Ye Jingyun, Ye Jingli, and Ye Xingqun.

The meeting place was precisely the Bamboo Forest of Ye Xingqun.

He first sat down in the pavilion within the Bamboo Forest and then applied a simple Array to isolate it.

After completing these tasks, he took out Tier Three White Willow Dew and a Tier Three Half-Flood Dragon Body.

How could Tier Three Spirit Wine be paired with ordinary Spirit Fish Spiritual Cuisine?

This Half-Flood Dragon Great Demon was also slain by Ye Jingcheng during the beast tide in the Cyan Cloud Sea Domain, and it was the perfect time to take it out.

In no time, Ye Xingqun, Ye Jingyun, and Ye Jingli arrived.

But they saw that Ye Jingcheng had already warmed the wine and prepared the Spiritual Cuisine.

"Uncle Xingqun, Brother Liu, Brother Jiu, please sit!" Ye Jingcheng waved his hand.

"Jingcheng, you shouldn’t have come!" At this moment, Ye Jingyun couldn’t help but speak.

"Indeed, we were already well-prepared. To be able to break through to the Middle Stage of Foundation Establishment, I’m much better off than your uncle," Ye Xingqun also spoke.

He used the Foundation Establishment Pill given by the clan and the Longevity Spiritual Peach.

However, they soon realized Ye Jingcheng seemed to be a Spirit Puppet, as at this moment, Ye Jingcheng had opened the Spirit-Blocking Robe, revealing a slightly bruised face.

So, the three naturally sat down.

They didn’t find any issue with Ye Jingcheng using a Spirit Puppet. In fact, they thought it was more sensible! 𝐟𝕣𝕖𝐞𝐰𝕖𝚋𝐧𝗼𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝗰𝐨𝐦

"Is this Flood Dragon Cuisine?" Ye Jingli exclaimed first, as if transported back seventy years.

"Jingcheng, I won’t stand on ceremony then. I’ve never had Flood Dragon Cuisine at my age. The Blood Qi is really immense!"

He marveled at the Spiritual Cuisine Meat before looking at the Spirit Wine.

Once the aroma of Spirit Wine wafted into his nostrils,

he immediately exclaimed in surprise:

"Tier Three Spirit Wine, where’s it from?"

"Yes, Tier Three Spirit Wine. Uncle Xingyu sent it over!" Ye Jingcheng nodded.

Ye Jingcheng also picked up the wine cup to pour for the three of them.

"This wine would be wasted on us!" Ye Xingqun said somewhat regretfully.

In fact, Tier Three Spirit Wine is best given to Cultivators on the verge of a breakthrough, not casually to their people.

Saying so, Ye Xingqun began to take out Cyan Bamboo Wine.

"Jingcheng, drink your Uncle’s brewed wine. It may not be the best tasting, but it’s always rich with the bamboo taste of Lingyun Peak!" Ye Xingqun continued pouring it.

Ye Jingcheng did not refuse.

Only three cups had already been poured.

"Uncle Xingqun, Brother Liu, Brother Jiu, this first cup I offer on behalf of Uncle Xingyu!" Ye Jingcheng raised his cup.

Ye Jingli and Ye Jingyun took theirs first, sitting with straight backs.

They didn’t disgrace the Ye Family; they believed they were worthy to drink this wine.

Ye Xingqun hesitated for a moment, then also took his.

The three of them drank down a cup of Spirit Wine, feeling the Spiritual Energy surging.

Ye Jingli was the first to taste the Flood Dragon Cuisine.

"Eating this has even heated my Five-Colored Bone Fire Bead. This Spiritual Cuisine and Spirit Wine are truly excellent; I can brag about this later!" Ye Jingli said with a smile.

But before getting a response, Ye Jingcheng raised his cup again.

"Uncle Xingqun, Brother Liu, Brother Jiu, this time I toast on behalf of the family, for all your hard work over the years!" Ye Jingcheng proclaimed.

The three drank once more.

Ye Jingcheng continued to pour wine.

This time, Ye Jingcheng held the jug of Cyan Bamboo Wine.

"Uncle Xingqun, Brother Liu, Brother Jiu!"

Ye Jingcheng raised his cup, pausing for half a beat before speaking.

"Do you trust me?"

"Of course!" the three responded without hesitation and downed their Cyan Bamboo Wine.

"This Tier Three White Willow Dew is still too sharp, unlike the crispness of Cyan Bamboo Wine!" Ye Jingyun remarked with a smile.

At this moment, Ye Jingcheng appeared extraordinarily solemn.

"Uncle Xingqun, Brother Liu, Brother Jiu, I will seal part of your memories with the Forget Dust Pill. Meanwhile, remember to pass the message secretly: I took some clan members to explore the Secret Realm for treasures, while Jing Hu went on an adventure to prepare for his breakthrough. These will align with the commoner’s speculations!"

"This time, their incoming individuals are likely at the Nascent Soul stage, but True Monarch Zi Ming is on our side, so they won’t be able to perform a Soul Search immediately or uncover the Forget Dust Pill’s flaws. They will probably use a Spirit Inquiry Talisman, which can buy you some time, so don’t do anything foolish before a Soul Search; it will ruin everything!"

"Additionally, Uncle Xingqun, you must choose to go into closed-door seclusion at the first opportunity. They’ll definitely break the Array and interrogate you!"

"Drag out the time as long as possible!"

...

Ye Jingcheng gave his instructions and discussed every possible response with the few of them.

When the discussion ended, Ye Jingcheng directly stood up, distributing the gifts from Ye Xingyu to the others.

After inquiring about information regarding the Tian Dao Sect, he left Lingyun Peak.

The current situation was indeed urgent; the three could afford to delay, but Ye Jingcheng could not.

And, as expected, True Monarch Zi Ming’s avatar appeared again, but only his Divine Sense swept over him.

Clearly, he wanted to see if Ye Jingcheng had taken away any of the Ye clan members or if he possessed any Magical Artifacts and Magical Treasures with him.

Since it was just a Flying Puppet, he naturally had no interest.

Seeing this, Ye Jingcheng realized there should be a few days left at present.

His target wasn’t the Tian Dao Sect but first the Chixia Ridge.

Since the Qinghe Sect’s Bai Family and the Cyan Spirit Trading Association were so intent on finding the Beast Desolate Wasteland, Ye Jingcheng planned to trigger a massive Beast Tide.

Since the Ye Family’s Cultivators and mortals might perish, it would be better to gamble big!

After all, it’s merely the destruction of the Taihang Mountains Branches. The Ye Family’s foundation remains preserved!