Ye Xiu did not want Nangong Yue’s group of seven, let alone the entire External Thirteen Families, to dedicate their lives to following him. Unleashed upon society, the External Thirteen Families would be a powerful force, capable of even changing the landscape of the Xuanse Ancient Martial Circle. However, he already had more than enough subordinates and truly had no room for them. It would be better to let these people do something more meaningful.

"I’ve long thought of a way out for the External Thirteen Families, but I’m afraid you won’t agree," Ye Xiu said, deliberately avoiding the topic of them becoming his followers. He waved his hand, draining Long Zhibo dry before flying over to do the same to the bodies of three dead Long Family members who had taken Blood Pills.

"What way out?" Nangong Yu asked. The other members of the External Thirteen Families also looked curious.

"To guard Xuanse, to protect this country," Ye Xiu said. "The Official Family’s Ancient Martial power is too weak. If the External Thirteen Families could align with the Eight Great National Protector War Gods, then the Official Family would have the strength to intimidate all martial artists in the country."

"Mr. Ye, you must be joking," Nangong Yu said, his words characteristically straightforward and humorous. "Apart from a bit of martial prowess, we’re clueless about everything else. We’ve never even used a mobile phone and have no social experience. If you ask us to protect the country, I feel like we’d be tricked and killed by the cunning people out there."

"That’s right, Brother Ye," Nangong Yue added. "You ask us to protect the country, but the country has to allow it first. Besides, we have no access to the high ranks of the Official Family. Those high-and-mighty officials won’t believe that people like us, who came out of nowhere, would genuinely protect the country."

"My relationship with the Eight Great National Protector War Gods is quite good. With my recommendation, the Official Family won’t doubt your identities or your strength," Ye Xiu replied.

This statement stunned the members of the External Thirteen Families. Nangong Yue’s group of seven practically worshipped Ye Xiu now. Brother Ye even knows the Eight Great National Protector War Gods and is on good terms with them! That’s incredible!

"In that case, we will trouble you, Mr. Ye," Nangong Yu said.

"Mm," Ye Xiu nodded. He immediately called Qing Luan. "The eight of you, come to the Guoyang Long Family Manor. I have a great gift for you."

After speaking, he hung up without waiting for Qing Luan to reply. The members of the External Thirteen Families looked at each other in bewilderment. This is what he calls a good relationship with the Eight Great National Protector War Gods? He sounds more like their leader!

Ye Xiu ignored their surprise and beckoned with his hand. Suddenly, a dozen people wearing black masks ran into the Long Family Manor.

"Take all the bodies of the Medicine King Valley members with you," Ye Xiu ordered. Jiang Yuan had left thirty bodies behind tonight, and the Totem Inheritor of Medicine King Valley was surely among them. Ye Xiu wanted the bodies taken back to see who would resurrect; that would be the Totem Inheritor.

"Brother Ye, who are they?" Nangong Yue asked.

"My subordinates," Ye Xiu said with a faint smile. "Alright, everyone go and rest. In a few hours, the Eight Great National Protector War Gods will come for you."

With that, he and the dozen subordinates of Mo Luo left the Long Family Manor together.

「Four o’clock in the morning!」

Ergouzi stepped out of the house with a knife. He had spent his entire life imitating Ye Xiu, even down to the time he woke up to practice.

"What was the outcome at the Long Family Manor and the unfinished residential area?" Ergouzi asked Wu Yiping, who was already waiting in the farmhouse courtyard, as he drew his blade and began his practice.

"No news has been sent back," Wu Yiping said.

Ergouzi paused his practice. "How is that possible?"

"Could there have been an accident?" Wu Yiping asked.

Ergouzi fell silent for a moment, then plunged his knife into the ground. He took out his mobile phone and dialed Hua Niang’s number. The call connected quickly.

Ergouzi asked, "Medicine King Valley raided the Long Family Manor tonight. What were the casualties on both sides? My men also raided the unfinished residential area. What were their gains?"

"Hua Niang is already dead, and all the people you sent to the unfinished residential area are dead too," a cold voice came through the phone.

"Gong Jin?" Ergouzi recognized her voice and exclaimed, "You... how... how do you have Hua Niang’s phone?"

Gong Jin replied, "Did you really think that little bit of scheming between you and Hua Niang could escape the Young Master’s notice?"

Ergouzi’s face turned ghastly pale. He had considered that Hua Niang might be exposed; after all, he knew Ye Xiu all too well. However, he never expected it to happen so soon. Hua Niang had been his eyes. With her dead, he was blind. From now on, he would have no idea what Ye Xiu was doing or where he was.

"Pack up immediately and leave this place!" Ergouzi hung up and urged Wu Yiping.

"Why?" Wu Yiping was puzzled.

"You don’t understand You Ming’s abilities," Ergouzi said, crushing his phone to powder. "He can use my conversation with Gong Jin to lock onto my position, and he can monitor my phone to track my movements at any time."

"You mean You Ming, one of Huang Quan’s Thirteen Protectors? Is he really as formidable as the legends say?" Wu Yiping asked.

"I don’t know his exact capabilities, as I’ve never met him. Of Huang Quan’s Thirteen Protectors, I’ve only met Gong Jin, Mo Luo, and the Ghost Doctor. The others have always remained a mystery," Ergouzi said gravely.

Qin Qing was awakened by her 4 a.m. alarm. She sleepily reached for the alarm clock on her nightstand, but her hand suddenly touched a face. Opening her eyes, she saw Ye Xiu lying next to her, grinning at her.

"Not bad, not bad. Your power has soared to the Second Realm War God level," Ye Xiu said, pleased.

Qin Qing was taken aback. She checked her power internally and saw that it had indeed surged. Astonished, she asked, "What’s going on? Why has my power suddenly increased so much?"

"A Totem Inheritor normally has to cultivate to the peak of the First Realm War God before they can awaken. Once awakened, their power jumps an entire level. Since you directly stole Jiao Fuping’s totem, you naturally inherited his power as well," Ye Xiu explained. 𝗳𝐫𝚎𝗲𝚠𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝘃𝚎𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝗺

Blinking her large, dazzling eyes, Qin Qing didn’t quite understand. "So you’re saying if I were an Eighth Realm War God and I stole someone else’s totem, my power would soar to the Ninth Realm?"

"You wish," Ye Xiu chuckled. "The power of a newly awakened totem is roughly equivalent to that of a Second Realm War God. This means that a War God of the Second, Third, or even higher realms would only gain the strength of a Second Realm War God after inheriting a totem. Of course, totems can continue to awaken. If an ordinary person obtained the power of a Ninth Stage totem, they could become a Ninth Realm War God in minutes. Then again, an ordinary person couldn’t handle such immense power and would simply explode."

Now Qin Qing understood. "How do I continue to awaken the Medicine King Valley’s totem?" she asked.

"I don’t know," Ye Xiu said, shaking his head. "I’ll have to capture a Medicine King Valley totem and study it to find out."

"Alright then!" Qin Qing was slightly disappointed. Still, she was happy that her power had surged so much, narrowing the gap between her and Ye Xiu. Suddenly, she remembered she was supposed to be giving him the cold shoulder.

She instantly got back into character. With an icy expression, she said, "What are you doing back here? Go sleep with your little lover, you scumbag!"

What in the world? Why is she suddenly acting up again?