"And then there are the nine true inheritors. The most recent newcomer is Xu Qingshan from the Xu Family, who is currently at the Fourth-Layer of Foundation Establishment. Below the true inheritors are the core disciples, who are the personal disciples of each peak’s Peak Master. They are exceptionally talented and not bound by the Inner or Outer Sect, numbering around sixty to seventy. Your Wei Family’s arch-nemesis has a clan member who is a core disciple."
As for the four Golden Core Elders, she did not elaborate further, as characters of the Golden Core level are already considered common knowledge in the Cultivation Realm of the Yan Kingdom.
Chen Ye was greatly shocked upon hearing this.
Lingyin Sect is indeed the overlord of the Yan Kingdom, with nearly a hundred Foundation Establishment cultivators on the surface alone!
This kind of strength far exceeded his expectations.
But upon hearing Bai Susu mention the Wei Family, Chen Ye couldn’t help but frown and ask,
"Besides Wei Shu, is there another Foundation Establishment cultivator from the Wei Family in Lingyin Sect? Which Peak Master’s disciple is this person?"
Bai Susu pinched her chin, thought for a moment, but couldn’t remember this person. She simply shrugged and said,
"How would I know about such a minor figure? I’ve only heard a little about them. Besides, core disciples are constantly cultivating and wouldn’t specifically target you. In front of the Great Dao, what does a mere family matter? Wei Shu is just hopeless for the future, reduced to a guardian, and hence entangled with you due to reliance on the family."
Wei Shu, Wei Family...
Chen Ye’s eyes turned cold.
At the time in the Grotto Heaven, Wei Shu repeatedly plotted to harm him.
And now, if he were to return to the sect, the Wei Family would inevitably target Lisong Valley.
He must thoroughly eliminate this hidden threat before returning to the sect.
However... he couldn’t just openly storm the Wei Family.
Just as Chen Ye was deep in thought, suddenly someone outside the valley called invitingly.
The visitor was actually a cultivator from the Wei Family!
Chen Ye and Bai Susu looked at each other in disbelief.
Bai Susu was surprised, "It seems what you were worried about just now, is indeed the Wei Family... How unexpected, the Wei Family still has the face to invite you?"
She frowned, unable to fathom the Wei Family’s intentions.
Wasn’t it obviously an ambush?
But the Wei Family, surely wouldn’t directly set up a banquet to murder Chen Ye? That would be disregarding Lingyin Sect and her, Bai Susu!
The black-haired little girl, insightful as ever, calmly said,
"Master, just as Zhao Xiangzhen left, someone from the Wei Family has come to invite. It’s likely the Wei Family had someone monitoring outside the valley earlier. They knew someone was here today to meet Sister Susu, maybe they mistakenly thought Sister Susu had already left... that’s why they invited immediately."
"But even if I left, it’s not like I wouldn’t come back..."
Bai Susu always had great confidence in herself; she didn’t believe the mere Wei Family would dare offend her.
Zhiwei shook her head, "I boldly speculate that the Wei Family might indeed think Master would assume this, thus lowering her vigilance. Moreover, once Sister Susu leaves, they might have the chance to harm Master. Perhaps they have already figured out some excuse to make Master’s death seem reasonable."
The more Bai Susu listened, the more confused she felt.
So, in Zhiwei’s eyes, the Wei Family is indeed here for Chen Ye’s life?
Chen Ye pondered, what Zhiwei said was not without reason.
"The Wei Family sets a banquet to welcome me? Feels more like Xiang Zhuang brandishing a sword, really intending to strike Pei Gong."
He sneered and cupped his hands to Bai Susu,
"True Inheritor Bai, I kindly ask you to hide your presence and accompany me in secret. Since the Wei Family dared to send this invitation of death, they must assume you are no longer in the valley. Let’s give them a surprise."
Who are Xiang Zhuang and Pei Gong?
Bai Susu listened with a confused face, was this yet another little girl?
She narrowed her eyes dangerously and, seeing Chen Ye’s puzzled look, she snorted coldly:
"Whatever!"
...
Half an incense stick’s time ago.
At a hidden mountain depression outside Lisong Valley, a bearded cultivator was concealing his presence, secretly observing.
When he sensed the domineering streak of light tearing through the clouds, he couldn’t help but click his tongue, "That Zhao True Inheritor, truly deserves to be the young master of the Zhao Family, so arrogant..."
The bearded cultivator’s face showed an expression of enjoying the show.
The Bai and Zhao families frequently intermarry, and Zhao Xiangzhen’s affection for Bai Susu was no secret within the sect.
Many believed the two would become Dao companions in the future.
But this True Inheritor Bai... after leaving the Grotto Heaven, didn’t return to the sect but instead lived in a Medicinal Farmer’s home.
Moreover, within the sect, rumors had long suggested a special relationship between the two.
Tsk tsk, no wonder Zhao True Inheritor would be so furious.
Perhaps... the Wei Family might not even need to act, this Zhao True Inheritor, burning with jealousy, might finish off Chen Ye himself.
He awaited expectantly for a moment, then heard a thunderous roar from within the valley, followed by a raging surge of spiritual power.
Until finally, the space trembled, and an escape light flew swiftly out.
The bearded cultivator, only at the Qi Cultivation Stage, did not know it was a Third Tier escape talisman, much less could he imagine Zhao Xiangzhen would actually flee.
However, the spatial fluctuation was very real.
The bearded cultivator thought Zhao Xiangzhen was eager to return to the sect and used a teleportation talisman, feeling secretly pleased:
"Looks like Zhao True Inheritor has already left? When Zhao True Inheritor arrived, he would surely take Bai Susu away... if he hasn’t killed Chen Ye, then let our Wei Family handle it!"
Once Bai Susu leaves, Lisong Valley’s biggest backing would have departed, giving them the chance to take measures to ambush and kill Chen Ye!
With a thought, he quickly took out a sound transmission talisman from the storage bag and began to communicate with Patriarch Wei, Wei Zong.
Only to see the jade talisman give a few instructions, the bearded cultivator nodded repeatedly, then carefully put the jade talisman away.
No longer having any hesitation, he adjusted his robe, and then boldly walked towards the entrance of Lisong Valley.
The bearded cultivator stood outside the array’s light curtain, and spoke loudly:
"I am Wei Hai, a Consecrator of the Wei Family! Steward Chen, how have you been since we last met? I heard you returned safely from the Grotto Heaven and successfully achieved Foundation Establishment, my Patriarch was overjoyed, and specially sent me to host a banquet to wash away the dust for you!"
He utilized his spiritual power, transmitting his voice into the valley.
Only to see the array’s light curtain at the valley entrance open, and Chen Ye stepped out alone.
Seeing no trace of Bai Susu behind Chen Ye, Wei Hai felt reassured, quickly putting on a broad smile, full of enthusiasm:
"Steward Chen... oh no, now it should be Guardian Chen! Congratulations on your Foundation Establishment, a cause for celebration indeed! The Patriarch has already prepared a humble banquet at the residence and has specifically instructed me to earnestly invite the Guardian for a chat, and also... to resolve any past misunderstandings. Turn swords into plowshares."
His manner was extremely humble.
If Chen Ye hadn’t been prepared, he might have thought: the Wei Family felt motivated by his Foundation Establishment to lower themselves and set up a banquet to apologize.
"Misunderstandings?" Chen Ye feigned hesitation, "Between me and the Wei Family... there seem to be no small misunderstandings."
"Ah, they’re all misunderstandings, all misunderstandings!" Wei Hai waved his hand repeatedly, "The Patriarch said, old scores should be settled rather than prolonged. Now that the Guardian is a Foundation Establishment True Man, with a bright future ahead, our Wei Family should make amends!"
Chen Ye pondered for a moment, finally sighed, "Since Patriarch Wei is so gracious, if I continue to refuse, it would seem ungrateful of me. Lead the way."
Wei Hai’s confidence grew even stronger, replying in the affirmative, diligently guiding the way.
He originally thought that if Chen Ye was ungrateful, he would offer a heavy gift to make Chen Ye believe they were sincerely apologizing.
But Chen Ye agreed readily; perhaps he didn’t want to further antagonize the Wei Family, or mistakenly thought they wouldn’t dare to kill him...
...
The Wei Family estate was situated halfway up a mountain with decent spiritual Qi, outside the Peach Mountain District, sprawling across a considerable expanse, with numerous pavilions, truly befitting a Cultivation Clan with three Foundation Establishment cultivators.
Chen Ye, as if on a leisure hike, showed no vigilance, nodding continuously:
"Not bad, not bad. This Second Tier array is quite impressive, capable of killing Foundation Establishment cultivators, I suppose?"
Wei Hai’s smile grew even brighter, proudly saying, "This is one of the Wei Family’s legacies spanning hundreds of years, called the Mountain Covering Array, capable of both offense and defense. A hundred years ago, it once killed a reckless Foundation Establishment Loose Cultivator!"
Chen Ye clasped his palms together and laughed, his expression full of admiration.
Indeed.
This treasure, it was meant to be his!
The First Tier grand array of Lisong Valley now seemed like a common family’s fence, good against gentlemen, not against villains.
But if he had the Mountain Covering Array, even Zhao Xiangzhen wouldn’t be able to come and go freely.
Though it might not be able to do anything to him, it could at least hold him at bay for a moment.
Sometimes, buying a few moments can carve out a path to survival!
Wei Shu watched coldly from the side, secretly sneering.
This Chen Ye, still thinking he’s out enjoying himself?
He glanced around, seeing they had reached the Wei Family’s main hall, and subtly smiled sinisterly, bowing slightly as he said,
"Guardian Chen, please!"