Chapter 197: Chapter 16: Bridge of Helplessness, Cyan Snake Staff, Mad Daoist (2)

Back then, it was with his protection that Qian Shaoning dared to openly oppose the Dong Family. After he slaughtered a scion of a prominent family on the Ye Family’s Cloud Viewing Platform, no one even dared to hold him accountable.

"Ye Junxian of Holy Spring Peak greets you, Senior." Ye Junxian bowed to the Mad Daoist.

"What business do you have with me?" the Mad Daoist asked coldly.

Ye Junxian replied with composure, "This junior has come on the orders of Ye Family Elder Ye Huang to propose a deal with you, Senior."

"Elder Ye Huang is aware that you, Senior, were defeated in a duel with the Nine Dragon Peak Master and that your injuries have yet to heal. Now, a disciple of our Ye Family has found a Spiritual Ore vein on a Demon Beast Wilderness Island. If you simply agree to one matter for Elder Ye Huang, you may occupy that Spiritual Ore mine for a year."

Ye Junxian looked at the Mad Daoist and added with a smile, "That Spiritual Ore mine can produce over five hundred thousand Lower-Grade Spirit Stones a year. Elder Ye Huang hopes that with this assistance, you, Senior, can recover your strength soon."

The Mad Daoist stared at Ye Junxian with bloodshot eyes, asking in a deep voice, "What does that brat Ye Huang want me to do?"

Ye Junxian smiled faintly. "Only to kill a single person. Speaking of which, this person has some old history with Fallen Thunder Island. Your former subordinate, Qian Shaoning, was slain by this very person."

The Mad Daoist sneered, "Isn’t that man your Ye Family’s son-in-law? What, is the Ye Family having internal strife and looking to borrow a knife to kill someone?"

Ye Junxian was noncommittal, only asking, "Are you willing, Senior?"

The Mad Daoist snorted and said coldly, "Don’t think that just because I’m in seclusion year-round, I’m unaware of the outside world. The person you want to kill is the disciple of Sun Fuguo, the Peak Master of Demon Lion Peak. If I kill him, Sun Fuguo will surely cut me down with a single sword strike."

Ye Junxian said with an air of nonchalance, "Senior, your cultivation is profound. As long as the deed is done without a trace, even someone as formidable as Sun Fuguo will not necessarily find the killer."

The Mad Daoist grew thoughtful.

Five hundred thousand Spirit Stones was no small sum for him!

Although his cultivation was profound, the resources of the Abyssal Marsh were all monopolized by the Yinluo Sect and the various prominent families. Especially after being grievously wounded by the Nine Dragon Peak Master, he was like a tiger brought low, tormented by lesser beasts.

In his early years, he had gotten his start as a Tribulation Cultivator to accumulate resources. Now, it seemed he had no choice but to return to his old trade.

"Where is that Demon Beast Wilderness Island?" the Mad Daoist suddenly asked.

A smile appeared on Ye Junxian’s face. Knowing the mission was complete, he relaxed and told the Mad Daoist the location of the Demon Beast Wilderness Island.

Finally, he added, "Senior, this matter must be kept secret. There are already Ye Family cultivators stationed on that wilderness island. When you get there, you need only drive them away. Under no circumstances should you let slip Elder Ye Huang’s name."

The Mad Daoist sneered, "As if I wouldn’t know a simple rule like that? I don’t need you to state the obvious."

...

「Half a day later.」

In the northwestern waters of the Abyssal Marsh, a densely forested Demon Beast Wilderness Island dotted the vast expanse of water.

There were two small mountains on the island. In the valley between them was a pile of rubble, and next to it, a gaping, dark cave.

At this moment, a beautiful woman with a captivating face, dressed in ornate robes, sat cross-legged on a large boulder beside the cave. Her aura was powerful and surging, her Life Talisman Cultivation on full display.

Suddenly, a streak of Escape Light flew in from the horizon. A Sensing Realm cultivator descended from the light, came before the large boulder, bowed to the beautiful woman, and said, "Elder, I have procured the Second Order Array from Star-picking Platform."

As he spoke, he took out a set of Array Flags and an Array Disc from his storage bag and handed them to the beautiful woman.

The beautiful woman took the Second Order Array, a look of joy on her face, and said with a smile, "Did Madam Ye have any other instructions?"

The man replied, "Madam Ye said that she originally intended to come personally to set up the array and arrange matters, but her daughter, Ye Yan, just happened to break through to the Life Talisman Realm, so she couldn’t get away. She said that all matters here are to be decided by you, Elder."

The beautiful woman nodded and said, "With Niece Ye Yan’s breakthrough to the Life Talisman realm, our branch’s strength has grown once again. We’ll have more confidence in our future struggle against Ye Huang’s side."

This statement touched upon the struggle for the new Ye Family Patriarch, so the man pretended not to hear and dared not respond.

The beautiful woman said, "Alright, go to the mine and supervise the recruited Loose Cultivators. I’ll set up the array."

The man accepted the order and, with a flicker of his body, flew into the dark mine.

Just as the beautiful woman was about to set up the array, a single, heavy, dark cloud suddenly drifted across the previously clear sky!

She looked up and sensed the immense and terrifying aura within the dark cloud, her expression immediately turning grave.

A flash of Thunder Light flickered in the cloud, and a bolt of lightning as thick as a water bucket fell from it.

BOOM! RUMBLE!

The beautiful woman had no time to worry about setting up the array. She hurriedly summoned a Five-Colored Smoke Luo Magical Artifact, which flew around her, protecting her.

The lightning struck in front of the mine. A tall, burly figure slowly emerged from the Thunder Light.

The newcomer’s entire body was bulging with muscles, and his dark, bluish-black skin had a ferocious quality. It was obvious at a glance that he was a Cultivator who had succeeded in Body Refining.

His bloodshot eyes stared at the beautiful woman, looking her up and down as if she were a dead object.

"This place is mine now. Scram if you don’t want to die!"

the Mad Daoist said flatly, looking at the beautiful woman.

The beautiful woman’s fine brows furrowed. She only had an Early-stage Life Talisman Cultivation, and the aura of the old man before her was far superior to her own. If they were to fight, she had almost no chance of winning!

She chose her words carefully. "Are you the Mad Daoist of Fallen Thunder Island? My Ye Family discovered this place first. According to the rules set by the Yinluo Sect, it should belong to the Ye Family."

The Mad Daoist gave her a dismissive glance. A spark of lightning flickered in his bloodshot eyes, and a mocking smile touched the corner of his lips.

When those eyes stared at her, it was as if her sea of consciousness was struck by lightning. A huge roar echoed, shaking her very soul.

Suddenly!

A Cyan Snake Staff, crackling with brilliant electrical light, abruptly pierced through the beautiful woman’s back and emerged from her lower abdomen.

The cyan snake opened its ferocious maw. Sparks of lightning flickered on its tongue, which was mottled with blood.

The beautiful woman cried out in pain. Turning her head, she saw that an ugly old crone had appeared behind her at some unknown point. With a single strike, she was annihilated, body and soul.

BOOM!

A dazzling burst of Thunder Light erupted from the Cyan Snake Staff. The beautiful woman’s slender body disintegrated inch by inch in the light, turning to ash.

A dignified Elder of the Ye Family, dead just like that.

...

「Xiaocang Island, Cangwu Mountain, Star-picking Platform.」

Cangwu Mountain was majestic and towering, piercing the clouds. Fang Cheng passed through the Island Defense Array and flew down to Star-picking Platform.

Beside the clear, rippling Ping Lake, strange rocks were arrayed. A massive boulder, over a hundred feet wide, protruded into the lake. It was covered in verdant bamboo, and within the grove stood a jade table and stool. A zither lay on the table, and an incense burner sat before it.

The water and stone were pure and elegant, the scenery all the more ethereal.

The incense smoke curled upwards.

A mature, beautiful woman in plain clothes, possessing a dignified and elegant temperament, sat before the jade table. Her jade-like hands deftly handled an exquisite tea set, brewing a pot of fragrant floral tea.

Beside her, an exceptionally beautiful young woman sat by the lake’s edge. The dress spread out beneath her was like a blooming flower. She stretched out a pair of snow-white, bare feet, placing them in the lake and kicking gently.

In the clear lake water, her feet appeared all the more slender, her insteps rounded and perfectly shaped. Her jade-like toes, pale and slightly curled, were adorned with bright red nail polish, making them indescribably alluring.

When Ye Yan saw Fang Cheng fly down, a sweet smile bloomed on her face, and she called out, "Husband!"

As Fang Cheng stepped onto the stone platform, he smelled a faint, refreshing fragrance of snow plums drifting on the wind.

Ye Yan lifted her jade-like feet from the water and rose gracefully. Her slender, jade-like hands took hold of Fang Cheng’s large hand, and she said, seeking praise, "Well? I didn’t hold you back, did I?"

Her voice was soft and melodiously sweet.

Fang Cheng sensed the potent aura emanating from her and nodded. "It seems your breakthrough went quite smoothly."

With that, he went before Madam Ye to pay his respects.

Madam Ye’s beautiful eyes, clear and lively, sized up Fang Cheng for a moment before she said, "Have some tea."

With her perception, how could she not see that Fang Cheng’s cultivation had greatly improved and was far beyond that of a cultivator who had just entered the Life Talisman Realm? But she didn’t ask any further.

Fang Cheng and Ye Yan sat across from Madam Ye, sipping tea and making small talk.

From what Madam Ye said, it seemed she had no intention of holding a Life Talisman Ceremony for Ye Yan’s breakthrough to the Life Talisman Realm.

It was enough just to let the news spread. It was better to minimize the number of times Ye Yan made public appearances.

This was also a form of protection for Ye Yan.

As the three were talking, another Ye Family Elder flew up to Star-picking Platform, his expression grief-stricken, and said, "Elder, Yu Shuang’s Soul Lamp was just extinguished!"

...