Chapter Sixty-Seven: The First Signs of Conspiracy

“What happened?”

It wasn’t just the great demon beasts of Sunset Mountain; the experts of the Wu clan from Flying Dragon City and the Ye clan from Cloudwater City all sensed the disturbance and looked toward the distant horizon.

A streak of crimson lightning, like a dragon of fire, descended from the heavens, saturating the air with boundless, divine might. It felt as though a massive stone weighed upon their hearts, making it hard to breathe.

“Heaven displays a strange omen; surely there’s something unusual at work!”

In the main house of Cloudwater City, Ye Haiyi stood in midair with his hands behind his back, gazing toward Sunset Mountain, lost in thought.

Elders emerged from their residences, and upon seeing their lord suspended in the sky, their eyes filled with envy.

To soar through the air was a wondrous ability reserved for those of the Golden Core stage!

Though there were secret techniques that could grant flight, they were exceedingly rare, and a minor clan like the Ye could not possibly possess them.

“Send someone to investigate,” Ye Haiyi said quietly.

“Yes!” Several cultivators of the Ye clan at the Foundation Establishment stage took the order and sped toward Sunset Mountain at their fastest pace.

At the same time, the Wu clan of Flying Dragon City dispatched several Foundation Establishment cultivators into Sunset Mountain.

Neither clan could have imagined that such a breathtaking celestial phenomenon was entirely caused by Ye Yun’s breakthrough to the Foundation Establishment stage.

The power contained in the crimson lightning was terrifyingly strong—almost tearing his body apart. Instinctively, he activated the Crimson Flame Demon Body, frantically circulating his cultivation technique, devouring and refining the rampant thunder energy invading his body.

The Nine Heavens Ten Earths Demon Arts, a secret skill never passed down from the ancient Limitless Demon Palace, was not only intricate but utterly tyrannical. Only after the lightning gradually faded and calm returned did a mysterious message suddenly flood into his consciousness.

“Those with the potential of man and demon shall be baptized by divine thunder from heaven!”

Such words had never been recorded in the Crimson Flame chapter. Now, appearing abruptly in his mind, they filled Ye Yun with deep suspicion.

---

But he soon realized that the ancient masters were capable of anything. Perhaps, when creating this demonic art, they embedded such information within the cultivation technique, so when he broke through to Foundation Establishment, the ancient imprint in the method was triggered, naturally transmitting the message to the practitioner.

“The ancients are truly awe-inspiring!” Ye Yun could only marvel at such miraculous means, unable to fathom how it was accomplished.

Just then, the sound of clothing slicing through the air echoed from outside the valley. Ye Yun’s brows furrowed. Looking around, he saw that the Crimson Flame chapter was indeed accurate. He had successfully broken through, but the area within ten miles was now a wasteland; all flowers, grass, and trees had been reduced to ashes by the crimson fire.

With his cultivation advanced to Foundation Establishment, his internal energy transformed into true energy, greatly enhancing his strength. Spreading his arms, he swept through the air like a giant roc, gliding dozens of meters before landing and leaping again like a howling wolf, hiding himself in a nearby stone forest.

“There are traces of fire everywhere, a crimson thunder from the heavens turned ten miles to ruins.”

“The thunder struck that valley ahead—let’s take a look.”

A few Ye clan Foundation Establishment cultivators, sent by order, exchanged words and fixed their gaze on the valley where Ye Yun had ascended.

Shortly after entering the valley, Wu clan cultivators arrived as well.

The two clans were now bitter rivals; when their cultivators met, death was inevitable. What followed was no surprise: over ten Foundation Establishment experts clashed chaotically in the valley.

Ye Yun, hidden in the stone forest hundreds of meters away, watched the battle unfold but did not reveal himself.

Both sides were evenly matched, none able to gain the upper hand after prolonged fighting. Eventually, they sent signals, calling for reinforcements from their respective lords.

Before long, more Ye and Wu clan cultivators arrived, and what began as a melee among a dozen expanded to a grand battle among hundreds.

Later, even elders at the peak of Foundation Establishment joined the fray, leading to heavy casualties on both sides.

In the end, the elders from both clans held back and withdrew after cleaning the battlefield, wary of each other.

This chaotic battle left many great demon beasts of Sunset Mountain terrified, unwilling to show themselves. The phenomenon of ten miles of scorched land was deemed a natural disaster; apart from some intense fluctuations of spiritual energy, nothing else was found at the scene.

At sunset, Ye Yun returned to Cloudwater City, unnoticed by anyone, but he sensed the entire Ye clan was enveloped in a heavy, tense atmosphere.

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That night, in a private room at Moonwatch Pavilion in Cloudwater City, Ye Peng sat cross-legged, fine wine and delicacies arranged on the table before him.

Across from him sat a plain-looking man in blue, his face dark as he spoke coldly: “Today at Sunset Mountain, our Wu clan suffered heavy losses. How is your plan progressing?”

“We Ye clan also lost many experts. As for my side, there seems to be a problem. Ye Qian was rescued—your Wu clan failed!” Ye Peng frowned.

“What?” The man in blue shot up from his seat.

Ye Peng was puzzled by the reaction, watching as the man nearly roared: “Do you realize that one of those involved in your plan was the son of our Wu clan chief?”

Ye Peng was startled by this revelation. Since Ye Qian had been rescued, it meant the one tasked with the plan was already dead.

“I want you to investigate immediately and find out who sabotaged this plot!” the blue-robed man demanded coldly.

Ye Peng glanced at him, snorted, and retorted: “The plan failed—are you blaming me? I was willing to use my own wife as a pawn, and your Wu clan lost a son. I advise you not to let a minor issue disrupt our greater scheme!”

“You…” The blue-robed man was left speechless, and a deep sense of dread toward Ye Peng welled up inside him.

Just as Ye Peng said, he could sacrifice his own woman as a chess piece; he even schemed to murder his mentor, who had guided him since childhood. What wouldn’t he dare do?

Such ruthless, unscrupulous men are contemptible, yet also deeply feared and unsettling…

“The higher-ups have already pressured our Wu clan. I’ll report to the chief and ensure all preparations are made. Once your plan succeeds, we’ll seize control of Cloudwater City in one stroke!” With that, the blue-robed man turned and left.

He could not bear to spend another moment in Ye Peng’s presence.

(Thanks to the Ashura Hall's ◆Lazy for another generous reward. May you all enjoy your reading in the new day~)