Chapter 126: The Dungeon

Just as Ye Yan had anticipated.

Facing fourteen Quansheng experts.

The outcome was entirely predictable.

No one managed to withstand even a single blow, not even Ding Dao’an or Tu Junfang, both highly regarded and coveted by many.

The battle lasted nearly three minutes from start to finish, but for two minutes and fifty seconds of that time, the Old Taoist Master was relentlessly hunting down and subduing all fourteen Quansheng opponents.

The latter managed to incapacitate them all in just ten seconds.

Fourteen people lay sprawled on the ground in a row, lifeless as dogs; after a single strike, not one could rise again.

With just one person alone, the fight was instantly over... The ten elders who witnessed the entire scene were stunned, their eyes wide in disbelief—it was even more astonishing than seeing Lu Jin defeated in an instant.

Only at this moment did Zhao Fangxu, an outsider, gape in astonishment and truly grasp the terrifying prowess of the Old Taoist Master—this was the genuine power of a supreme master.

Having taken down fourteen Quansheng experts, the Old Taoist Master’s face remained calm, his breath steady.

Whether facing one opponent or ten, for him, it made no difference.

After subduing all fourteen, the Old Taoist Master did not leave immediately. Instead, he stood with hands clasped behind his back, seemingly waiting for someone.

Zhao Fangxu was particularly puzzled by this.

“Ye, the fight is clearly over. What is the Old Taoist Master waiting for?”

After hearing Grandfather Lu’s precise analysis, Ye Yan’s stature in Zhao Fangxu’s mind had risen significantly; his authority was unquestionable.

“Perhaps he’s waiting for the mastermind,” Ye Yan replied after some thought.

If his memory served him correctly, the chaos surrounding the Taoist Master’s descent ended with the death of the Quansheng acting sect leader, Gong Qing.

Since the Taoist Master had already subdued all fourteen Quansheng members but showed no intention of leaving, it was very likely he was waiting for Gong Qing.

Or, to put it another way, the Taoist Master’s grand commotion might have been not only for vengeance but also to force Gong Qing to show himself...

As these thoughts crossed his mind, a faint smile curved Ye Yan’s lips.

The situation was becoming increasingly intriguing.

While Ye Yan pondered these things, Zhao Fangxu suddenly gasped softly beside him.

“Someone’s really coming...”

Following his gaze, sure enough, a small figure approached from the direction the fourteen Quansheng had come.

The person appeared quite ordinary—about a teenager in age, face covered with freckles, long hair draped over the shoulders, hiding ears and neck.

Zhao Fangxu’s eyes widened in astonishment, unable to believe Ye Yan’s speculation had truly come to pass.

The Old Taoist Master was indeed waiting for someone.

Upon seeing the newcomer, even the Old Taoist Master—renowned for his mastery over qi cultivation—found it difficult to suppress his anger. Dark clouds thickened above his head, and the thunder rumbled louder.

The freckled youth approached leisurely, neither hurried nor slow, and greeted with a respectful bow, “Quansheng acting sect leader Gong Qing pays respects to Master...”

...

Gong Qing had appeared.

Ye Yan and the others, along with the ten elders, were ordered to leave beforehand.

The ensuing conversation was evidently not intended for their ears.

“Ye, why do you think the Taoist Master expelled us all just to talk with Gong Qing?” Feng Zhenghao pushed up his glasses, curious.

“I don’t know,” Ye Yan shrugged casually.

He had no interest in those past events; they held no relevance to him, and he was reluctant to delve into them.

Whether it was the Thirty-Six Thieves, the Eight Strange Techniques, or even the Jia Shen upheaval, to him they were mere trivial anecdotes, easily heard and forgotten.

While others were willing to fight to the death to uncover such secrets or master an ultimate skill, Ye Yan simply did not care.

In short, he lacked interest.

And found it meaningless...

Given the time, he’d rather focus on improving his dominion, care for those around him, and contemplate how to better his own life.

To borrow the phrase Wang Ye often muttered: no matter how chaotic the world, he could protect himself and his family to live peacefully.

He neither aspired to be a pure stream nor to sink into the murky waters with the corrupt; the scheming and treacherous nature of the martial world was not what Ye Yan desired.

Ye Yan’s apparent lack of enthusiasm might seem surprising, yet somehow it was not.

Ever since Feng Zhenghao met Ye Yan, he always saw him as a lazy individual.

Such a reaction was understandable.

“The Wang family is gone... so what are your plans now? Do you have any goals? I heard Chairman Zhao wants to help you become one of the Ten Elders, to fill the vacancy left by Wang Ai...”

Though Zhao Fangxu’s intention to support Ye Yan had not yet been completely disclosed, for someone like Feng Zhenghao, it was hardly a secret.

He looked at Ye Yan with some envy.

He had toiled painstakingly to manage the Tianxia Association, enduring hardship for half his life before finally entering this circle and achieving his position.

Yet, the things he pursued were effortlessly within reach for a young man like Ye Yan, who didn’t even have to fight for them—others simply handed them over.

People are truly different.

Feng Zhenghao felt a mix of emotion.

But more than sentiment, he felt clarity.

He was glad to be Ye Yan’s ally, standing on the same side.

The stronger and more successful Ye Yan became, the more beneficial it was for the Feng family and the Tianxia Association.

Ye Yan smiled softly.

“Although the Wang family has fallen, I still have a lot of mess on my hands.”

“Thanks to Wang Ai, my enemies have now all stepped out of the circle...”

“Stepped out of the circle?”

Feng Zhenghao was puzzled by Ye Yan’s words.

Since it involved Purgatory, only a handful of participants and the company’s upper echelons like Zhao Fangxu knew about the Wang family’s affairs.

Even the Ten Elders were not privy to it.

Lu Ci counted as a participant at best.

Ye Yan smiled without answering directly.

Seeing Ye Yan silent, Feng Zhenghao did not press further but changed the subject.

“Xiao Ye, your strength is already formidable, and you qualify to be one of the Ten Elders. Have you considered building your own faction?”

“Going it alone isn’t sustainable. Having your own people under you makes many things easier to handle.”

“I have considered it.”

Ye Yan was candid with Feng Zhenghao.

Recently, he had indeed been contemplating assembling his own force.

On one hand, the share from the Wang family was substantial; on the other, his time in slumber had made him keenly aware of the drawbacks of fighting alone.

Thus, the matter of forming a personal faction had to be addressed.

“That’s good to hear.”

Feng Zhenghao patted Ye Yan’s shoulder in encouragement.

“You control the details yourself. If you need help, just ask Uncle Feng—don’t hold back.”

“I won’t,” Ye Yan replied with a smile.

He trusted Feng Zhenghao fully, unconditionally—more than he did the company.

“All right, I won’t keep you. I have some things to handle here. I need to hurry back to Jinmen. When you return, let’s have a proper drink.”

“Sure!”

After seeing Feng Zhenghao off, Ye Yan did not linger on the grasslands.

He took a vehicle to the nearest airport in Zhelimu League, met briefly with Xu Si, and caught the last flight back to Eagle Qian Longshan.

For the next week,

the entire supernatural community was eerily quiet.

News of the Taoist Master’s descent had fallen silent after the Xilin Gol Grassland incident.

Except for a few insiders, hardly anyone knew the fate of the Old Taoist Master or the Quansheng experts involved in the battle.

These details were sealed as confidential files under the company’s control.

But the calm did not last long.

Following a major announcement by the company, the previously stable supernatural circle erupted again—this time even more fiercely.

One of the Ten Elders, Wang Ai, and his family had been expelled and purged for colluding with foreign supernatural beings and threatening national security.

The message was brief, only two simple sentences, but the implications were enormous; a few casual words sealed the fate of an entire family.

Yet, the announcement made no mention of Ye Yan or who conducted the purge.

Thus, Ye Yan’s peaceful life remained largely undisturbed.

...

Lü Family Village.

Dungeon.

Lü Liang hung unconscious on a massive cross.

After nearly a month of torture and brutal interrogation, his flesh was torn, joints deformed; dried blood crusted on his skin, making him look utterly miserable.

Suddenly,

the dungeon door clanged open.

Soon, Lü Ci, dressed in a clean long robe, entered slowly, accompanied by Lü Gong.

“Has he confessed?”

“Not yet, Great Grandfather...” Lü Gong’s voice was low and uncertain.

“Not even with the Soul-Clarity Technique?”

“No. His Soul-Clarity is even better than mine...”

Lü Ci snorted lightly, glanced at his incompetent great-grandson beside him, and did not press further.

It was expected.

Except for the already deceased Lü Huan, the one hanging on the cross was the most proficient in the Soul-Clarity Technique in Lü Family Village.

“Great Grandfather, give me some time. I will definitely get Lü Huan’s secrets out of A-Liang’s mouth...”

Lü Gong’s eyes flickered with struggle.

Before he could finish, Lü Ci cut him off coldly.

“Wake him up.”

“Yes, sir...”

Faced with Lü Ci’s sharp gaze, Lü Gong deflated like a punctured balloon, meek and silent.

He hurried aside to fetch water, splashing cold water on Lü Liang’s face to rouse him.

The icy water shocked the unconscious Lü Liang awake.

Opening his eyes, he saw Lü Ci standing before him with hands clasped behind his back.

“Great Grandfather...”

“We’ve come to this. Aren’t you going to clarify Lü Huan’s death?”

Lü Ci spoke bluntly, cutting to the chase.

Lü Liang forced a bitter smile, his voice hoarse.

“Great Grandfather, I’ve said all there is to say about Lü Huan.”

“Besides, you’ve used the Soul-Clarity Technique. Whether I’m lying or not, you should know.”

“Hmph, I’m asking you one last time—don’t make me do it myself...”

Lü Ci seemed indifferent to the truth of Lü Liang’s words.

His eyes gleamed fiercely; the hands behind his back slowly rose, enveloped in azure qi, the signature Lü family technique, “Ruyi Jin.”

Seeing Lü Ci’s resolve, Lü Gong trembled like a frightened quail.

But Lü Liang was calm, his dead eyes now tinged with a hint of resignation.

No matter what he said, the village wouldn’t believe him; Lü Huan’s death wasn’t his fault, and he wouldn’t escape.

Better to face death than endure endless torture and torment here.

“Great Grandfather, believe it or not, Lü Huan’s death has nothing to do with me. But since it’s come to this, kill me if you will.”

Lü Liang closed his eyes slowly, waiting for death.

Yet, after a long time, the pain of the “Ruyi Jin” strike never came.

Instead, he heard two chains snapping, and his body collapsed.

He slumped heavily against the wall, opening his eyes in confusion.

Lü Ci’s qi dissipated.

“Consider yourself lucky, kid. Ye Yan actually spoke up for you.”

“Since he has spoken, I’m willing to give you a chance to redeem yourself.”

“From now on, Lü Huan’s matter will be closed. No one in Lü Family Village will pursue it further. You remain part of Lü Family Village, but you must sever ties with Quansheng.”

Lü Ci’s words were cold and harsh, yet Lü Liang was stunned.

He never imagined that at such a desperate moment, someone still remembered him.

And that it was someone as high-ranking as Ye Yan.

Moreover, Ye Yan had personally intervened and negotiated with the Great Grandfather...

This filled Lü Liang with mixed emotions; his once dead heart revived.

Who would choose death if they could live?

“Big Brother...”

In Lü Liang’s mind, Ye Yan’s image had never been so grand.

With Lü Ci’s declaration, Lü Huan’s matter was finally laid to rest.

From now on, Lü Liang would no longer live as a fugitive, exposed to wind and rain.

Having said this, Lü Ci did not want to remain in this dark, foul place.

He turned to leave the dungeon.

The rest was Lü Gong’s responsibility; no need for his involvement.

Just as Lü Ci was about to step out, Lü Liang, leaning against the wall, seemed to recall something and asked,

“Great Grandfather, do you know what the Double Complete Hands technique is?”

Hearing this, Lü Ci paused mid-step.

Turning his back to Lü Liang, his eyes instantly darkened like a vulture’s.