Chapter 397: Call for Help

Chapter 397: Chapter 397: Call for Help

Qin Ying, having provoked Yi Xiaoyao, was slain by a single sword strike.

The expressions of everyone present changed in shock.

Some were horrified by Yi Xiaoyao’s strength, which was completely disproportionate to his Cultivation, while others were shocked by the Power of Will he had just displayed.

The Power of Will was a force that only those with exceptionally high talent had a chance of awakening, and even then, only upon reaching the Late Stage of the Void-Entering Realm.

Yet Yi Xiaoyao, who was only at the early stage of the Void-Entering Realm, had already mastered this power that dramatically increased one’s combat strength. And it wasn’t just any ordinary Power of Will.

With such power, not only was he invincible within the Same Realm, but killing enemies of a higher realm was also to be expected.

Meanwhile, the Guardian Elder and guardians from the Cyan Cloud Sect were all filled with rage. As Ji Hao had just remarked, they looked as if they were about to fly off the handle.

After all, the fact that Qin Ying could represent the Cyan Cloud Sect in the battle for the mine vein meant his status in the sect was by no means inferior to Ji Hao’s status in the Ji Family.

Moreover, these Cyan Cloud Sect guardians were well aware that Qin Ying possessed the Wood Spirit Body. This constitution was exceedingly rare, allowing him to sense the Power of Cyan Wood. The Sect Leader of the Cyan Cloud Sect valued him immensely, making him a priority for nurturing, and even intended to elevate him to the position of Saint Son.

However, this treasured genius of the Cyan Cloud Sect had just been slain by Yi Xiaoyao with a single sword strike.

This was not only a loss for the Cyan Cloud Sect, but also a great humiliation.

Fortunately, however, the Ji Family’s Guardian Elder and guardians were keeping a close, hard watch on the people from the Cyan Cloud Sect.

As for the members of the Liu Family, shocked as they were, they had no intention of getting involved in these muddy waters.

Thus, after Yi Xiaoyao killed Qin Ying, no one dared to make a move, and he and Ji Hao left without a backward glance.

"Xiaoyao, you’re still such a monster. I originally thought I could compete with you, but now I see I was overthinking things."

On the road, Ji Hao remarked to Yi Xiaoyao with great admiration.

The recent battle had shown him just how vast the gap was between himself and Yi Xiaoyao. Even he wouldn’t have been confident of victory against Qin Ying.

Yi Xiaoyao didn’t respond to Ji Hao directly, instead remarking thoughtfully, "That Qin Ying must have held a high position in the Cyan Cloud Sect. I’m afraid this might bring some trouble for the Ji Family."

He had gathered as much from the furious expressions on the faces of the Cyan Cloud Sect members.

"Don’t worry. The three great powers of Cyan Cloud City have been in a deadlock for many years. The Cyan Cloud Sect can’t do anything to our Ji Family," Ji Hao said.

"Let’s hope so."

Yi Xiaoyao nodded, and he and Ji Hao returned to the Ji Family.

Within the Ji Family, everyone they encountered pointed and whispered about Yi Xiaoyao with looks of rejection. Worse still, no one greeted him with the respect due to a Young Master.

Yi Xiaoyao paid them no mind. He was planning to find Ji Jingsong, get some Cyan Essence Stones, and achieve a breakthrough for his Cyan Wood Nascent Soul.

"Yi Xiaoyao!"

A vaguely familiar voice stopped Yi Xiaoyao in his tracks.

He turned to see that it was He Lin.

Yi Xiaoyao sighed softly. Ji Hao had already told him that He Lin was in a relationship with the Patriarch’s son, Ji Mu, so he truly wanted nothing to do with her.

As for his earlier threat to kick He Lin out of the Ji Family, it was just talk. He couldn’t very well drive Ji Mu’s girlfriend out of the Ji Mansion.

’She must have figured this out,’ he thought. ’And now, encouraged by everyone else, she’s come to cause trouble for me again.’

"Ji Hao, I’m going to see the Patriarch. You hold her off for me," Yi Xiaoyao said to Ji Hao with a helpless smile.

Ji Hao just shrugged and stepped forward to block He Lin.

"He Lin, can you please stop letting yourself be used as a pawn? Even Ji Mu hasn’t said a word, so why are you in such a rush?" Ji Hao reasoned.

"Hmph! Of course I have to stand up for Ji Mu! Besides, he’s gone to the Cyan Prison and doesn’t even know what’s happened. Otherwise, do you think this Yi Xiaoyao would still be acting so brazenly?"

He Lin huffed, dodged Ji Hao’s attempt to block her, and chased after Yi Xiaoyao.

"He went to see the Patriarch! Are you really going to follow him there to argue?" Ji Hao called out from behind her.

Hearing this, He Lin’s delicate brows shot up. She stopped and shouted after Yi Xiaoyao’s retreating figure, "Running to the Patriarch for protection the moment you return? How can a coward like you be worthy of competing with Ji Mu for the position of Young Master! I’d like to see just how long you can hide!"

However, Yi Xiaoyao didn’t even turn his head, continuing on his way to see Ji Jingsong.

Though Ji Jingsong resided deep within the mansion, he was aware of everything that happened in the Ji Family, big or small. Naturally, he knew of Yi Xiaoyao’s recent predicament and understood his difficult position.

Thus, as soon as he saw Yi Xiaoyao, he greeted him with a teasing smile and said he would personally speak with He Lin.

Yi Xiaoyao could only respond with a wry, helpless smile. He informed Ji Jingsong about killing Qin Ying and finally left with a large number of Cyan Essence Stones.

As he was leaving, Yi Xiaoyao stood at the door and said, "Ji, I will attend the battle for the mine vein."

After saying this, Yi Xiaoyao returned to Ji Hao’s residence.

Ji Jingsong had offered to arrange a separate residence for Yi Xiaoyao, but he had refused. Living with Ji Hao was perfectly fine with him.

The moment he returned, Yi Xiaoyao had Ji Hao take him to a Cultivation Chamber. Ji Hao asked in surprise, "Xiaoyao, you’re going into Cultivation again?"

"I just got some Cyan Essence Stones from the Patriarch. I’m preparing to break through to the Void Third Realm in one go," Yi Xiaoyao said with a smile.

"Breaking through again?" Ji Hao’s eyes went wide. Any thought he’d had of catching up to Yi Xiaoyao vanished completely.

Yi Xiaoyao immediately began his Cultivation in the Cultivation Chamber. Three days passed in a flash, yet he didn’t take a single step out.

However, rumors began to spread throughout the Ji Mansion that Yi Xiaoyao was hiding because he was afraid of being challenged by other members of the Ji Family.

During this time, He Lin came looking for Yi Xiaoyao more than once, but always left empty-handed. Later, after the Patriarch personally summoned He Lin for a talk, she never came to bother Yi Xiaoyao again.

Many observant people noticed that after the Patriarch himself intervened, the rumors about Yi Xiaoyao gradually subsided, as if someone was manipulating things from behind the scenes to let the storm pass.

During these three days, Yi Xiaoyao not only successfully advanced his Cyan Wood Nascent Soul to the Void Third Realm, but he also elevated his other three Nascent Souls as well.

With this, he was even more confident in his ability to seize the Cyan Essence Stone Vein.

Yi Xiaoyao’s heart filled with anticipation, especially at the thought that the Cyan Essence Stone Vein contained something that could advance his Heaven and Earth Wood Essence.

On this day, Yi Xiaoyao emerged from the Cultivation Chamber. He was just about to find Ji Hao and enjoy a hearty meal when he ran into He Lin the moment he stepped out.

However, this time, He Lin was completely different from before.

He Lin was now wearing a veil. The moment she saw Yi Xiaoyao, she rushed over as if he were her savior and knelt directly in front of him.

"What are you doing?"

Yi Xiaoyao was startled. ’Could it be? Does she realize she went too far and has come to ask for my forgiveness?’

’But still, there’s no need to kneel, is there?’

"What happened before was my fault. Please, Young Master, forgive me."

The first part of her sentence was just as Yi Xiaoyao had expected, but what came next was something he could never have imagined.

She lifted the veil from her face, revealing several bloody gashes so deep they seemed to reach the bone. These wounds appeared to have been treated with some kind of medicine that prevented them from healing. Moreover, her face was stamped with a purplish-red Palm Seal.

Tears streamed from He Lin’s eyes, flowing into the gashes on her face and causing her immense pain. Still, she kowtowed heavily before Yi Xiaoyao, pleading, "Please, Young Master, save me!"

Full of confusion, Yi Xiaoyao quickly pulled He Lin to her feet and asked, "What in the world happened to you? And how can I possibly save you?"

...