Chapter 46: Falling Out

“Yu Yuehai, what are you doing!”

The five clan leaders were struck by a mixture of shock and fury.

Although they were all veteran Foundation Establishment cultivators, they had just had most of their lives drained by the anomaly and possessed no strength to resist; furthermore, they had never expected Yu Yuehai to strike so suddenly.

In an instant, they were all subdued.

It was unclear what method Yu Yuehai had used, but while their minds remained clear, they found themselves unable to use any spiritual power or divine sense, and unable to move even an inch.

“Hehe, do not panic, fellow Daoists. I merely wish for you all to help me with a task. Fearing that you might be unwilling, I had no choice but to resort to this desperate measure.”

Yu Yuehai chuckled.

With a tap against the small boat beneath his feet, the vessel instantly expanded, becoming more than twice its original size.

Without offering any explanation to Ye Jingyun, he brought the five heads of families and Zhao Zhengyuan onto the boat and activated the flying spiritual tool, soaring into the sky.

At this moment, the anomaly had been shattered into pieces and a portion of the Spirit Essence had been seized, leaving it completely incapable of descending its red threads again. Yu Yuehai flew into the distance without hindrance.

They encountered two beast attacks along the way, but Yu Yuehai dispatched them as easily as cutting vegetables.

Once again, he demonstrated his overwhelming strength.

Finally, they landed in a mountain hollow.

Chen Lin had remained silent throughout the entire journey, merely watching in silence. He estimated roughly that they were now over a hundred miles away from Yuan City.

As for Yu Yuehai's objective, even he could not fathom it.

Ye Jingyun had asked twice during the journey, but he had not answered.

In Chen Lin's view, ever since they severed the red thread and left Kaiyuan City, Yu Yuehai's attitude toward Ye Jingyun had changed drastically. While he wasn't glaring at her with hostility, he was certainly not being kind.

Back within Kaiyuan City, the two of them had been deeply affectionate.

What had caused such a change between them?

Chen Lin glanced at Ye Jingyun. Her previous actions seemed to suggest she was making some sort of preparation.

However, Ye Jingyun maintained a calm demeanor, showing no signs of abnormality.

The flying vessel landed on a flat area. Yu Yuehai performed a hand seal to shrink the boat and put it away, and everyone stepped onto the ground.

“Let us stay here. This place is quite scenic, which might prevent the clan leaders from harboring too much resentment,” Yu Yuehai said gloomily, looking at the five clan leaders as if they were rare treasures.

“Yu Yuehai, what exactly do you want to do? And Pavilion Master Ye, our Han family believes we have treated you well. Is this not going too far!”

The five clan leaders all had a sense of impending doom. Among them, Han Yuhe, who had a good relationship with Ye Jingyun, could not help but demand an explanation.

Ye Jingyun, who had remained silent until now, finally spoke, though her expression was extremely cold.

“I suspect my Senior Brother intends to refine you all into the Five-Children Heart-Link Pill!”

As soon as her words fell, Yu Yuehai spun around abruptly, saying with a smile, “Junior Sister indeed knows of this pill. It seems you have been quite attentive to my actions!”

Ye Jingyun smiled back.

“Since Senior Brother has gone this far, would I be a fool if I didn't see through it? Refining the Five-Children Heart-Link Pill requires not only Spirit Essence as a catalyst but also the true essence of a Golden Core cultivator, as well as a Dharma Treasure-grade cauldron. Are you certain you can succeed, Senior Brother?”

Upon hearing this, Yu Yuehai's expression shifted slightly.

But he immediately regained his composure and said, “Junior Sister is indeed well-versed in this pill. But there is no need to worry; I already possess the modified recipe improved by Elder He using the Luck-Refining Alchemy technique. It does not require such high standards.”

“On the other hand, I am quite envious of your inheritance, Junior Sister. Back then, I went through so much trouble just to understand this pill. Had I known you knew it so clearly, I wouldn't have wasted so much effort.”

Yu Yuehai shook his head, appearing regretful.

Seeing this, Ye Jingyun let out a cold laugh. “Hehe, if Senior Brother is interested, you could have simply told me. Could I possibly keep secrets from you? However, looking at the current situation, what you want is not just the inheritance, but likely my life as well!”

“Hahaha, Junior Sister, you joke! Have you not felt my feelings for you all these years? How could I ever act against you? I don't understand what you are talking about.”

Yu Yuehai laughed loudly, but his expression appeared somewhat unnatural.

Ye Jingyun continued expressionlessly, “Senior Brother only has one chance. How could you possibly use a method like Luck-Refining Alchemy that relies on chance? I see that what you intend to use is the Inverted Five Elements Blood-Refining Great Method!”

“You actually know of the Inverted Five Elements Blood-Refining technique!”

Yu Yuehai's expression changed violently.

Immediately, his face turned ferocious.

“Hahaha! To think that despite how deeply I hid it, you still saw through it. It seems you never truly believed in me! But even if you know, what of it? No one is escaping today. You shall all become stepping stones on my path to the Golden Core!”

Having said that, he looked coldly at Ye Jingyun. “I might as well tell you: it was I who killed your father and took the Tianyuan Token. Lu Qingfeng was merely a scapegoat, and I have already killed him as well. Well? Was my work clean and efficient enough, Junior Sister?”

Seeing the fire in Ye Jingyun's eyes, Yu Yuehai's expression grew even more sinister. “All of this is what your family brought upon itself! I worked like a beast for your family all these years, only to find out you intended to leave the inheritance to that idiot Lu Qingfeng. Did you truly think of me as a mere servant? Since your family is unwilling to give it, I shall simply take it myself!”

Standing there, Chen Lin watched the two of them turn against each other, his heart turning cold.

Although he had long suspected there was friction between Ye Jingyun and Yu Yuehai, he hadn't expected it to be this deep. This was a blood feud!

But was Ye Jingyun a fool? Why would she choose this moment to expose the truth?

Did she think Yu Yuehai would repent?

Chen Lin was at a loss for words.

Logically, since she knew Yu Yuehai was her enemy, she should have chosen an appropriate moment to launch a sneak attack to maintain even a sliver of a chance. Why lay everything bare like this?

Given the various methods Yu Yuehai had displayed and his thick-skinned, black-hearted nature, even their combined strength wouldn't be enough to stop him!

Unless...

The five Foundation Establishment experts beside him still had the strength to fight.

Chen Lin glanced at the five clan leaders, and his heart grew even colder.

These fellows were paralyzed with fear; their faces were filled with terror, showing no sign that they could strike in combat.

He slowly placed his hand on his storage bag. Although he didn't know what the Five-Children Heart-Link Pill or the Inverted Five Elements Blood-Refining Great Method were, if there truly was no chance of survival, he wouldn't let the other man go easily either.

“Five-Children Heart-Link Pill? Yu Yuehai, you actually dare to refine us into such a demonic pill? Do you know the consequences of doing so?”

The Zhang family head finally could not hold back and shouted in rage.

“Oh? Fellow Daoist Zhang knows of this pill as well? It seems this pill is not as mysterious as the legends suggest!”

Yu Yuehai glanced at the Zhang family head, looking somewhat surprised.

The Zhang family head spoke coldly, “It seems Fellow Daoist Yu did not stumble into Kaiyuan City by accident; you came here specifically for us!”

“However, although the Five-Children Heart-Link Pill can increase one's lifespan, its use inevitably invites heavenly retribution. It is no different from suicide. You achieved Foundation Establishment at such a young age; why seek your own death!”