After parting ways with Chu Qingyi that day, Li Ye hurried towards the Shenxing Division, his steps swift and urgent, eager to deliver the news as soon as possible.
If not for the fear of causing a commotion in the city, he could have openly used his immortal arts to return to the Shenxing Division. However, bound by various constraints, he had to suppress his immortal aura and rely on his own two legs to make the journey.
Even with his relentless pace, he only managed to step through the gates of the Shenxing Division just as night was about to fall.
At this hour, most of the Shadow Blades in the Shenxing Division had already left, leaving only a few on-duty personnel holding their posts, along with Xu Zhengfeng and his family of three, who resided there.
Today was no different. The vast Shenxing Division was eerily quiet, with only a few flickering lanterns glowing in the distance.
Upon first learning the news, Li Ye had considered gathering all the Shadow Blades to discuss a plan of action. But upon further reflection, he realized the matter was too significant, and rashly informing everyone might not be the wisest course.
Moreover, the various factions in Jinling City who had their eyes on the Shenxing Division would likely seize this opportunity to stir up trouble, which would be highly unfavorable for the division's situation.
And if word spread from one person to ten, and from ten to a hundred, it would inevitably reach the ears of the common people, causing unrest and potentially leading to unforeseen complications.
After careful consideration, he decided to only share the news with Xu Zhengfeng and his wife.
"Brother Xiaoye!"
Just as he had taken a few steps, a clear, cheerful voice called out from behind him, tinged with surprise.
It was none other than his little sweetheart, Xu Ruanyao.
The moment she saw Li Ye, she rushed toward him with delight.
"Yaoyao?" Li Ye missed this enchanting little sprite dearly, and a bright smile immediately spread across his face.
"Why did it take you so long to come back? I missed you so much..." Xu Ruanyao quickly walked up to him, pouting her lips and feigning a look of complaint.
"Slow? I rushed back as fast as I could! Besides, with a little girl like you around, you've been on my mind so much it's unbearable." Li Ye pinched her cheek affectionately.
"You have the nerve to say that! I thought you were so busy with the beauty at home that you forgot all about me!" Xu Ruanyao huffed, puffing out her cheeks in an adorable manner.
Hearing her mention Chu Qingyi, Li Ye's mind flashed to the desolate expression on Chu Qingyi's face as he turned to leave earlier, causing a sharp pang in his heart.
But he pretended nothing was wrong and said, "Nonsense. No woman in the world could compare to my Yaoyao."
"That's more like it." Xu Ruanyao immediately beamed with joy, tugging at his arm as she chattered away.
The two walked together, laughing and talking, toward the backyard of the Shenxing Division.
"Since Brother Xiaoye is back, why don't we..." Xu Ruanyao's cheeks flushed slightly as she tiptoed and whispered something into Li Ye's ear.
Instantly, two faint blushes appeared on Li Ye's face, and his breathing grew slightly uneven.
"You little temptress, just a few days without bedding you and you're already this thirsty?" He gave her pert bottom a firm squeeze.
"It's all because Brother Xiaoye makes me miss you so much..." Already naturally alluring, Xu Ruanyao now gazed at Li Ye with dreamy, passion-filled eyes. Her fingertips lightly traced over his chest, her seductive demeanor enough to make anyone lose control.
She deliberately pressed her full, soft breasts against Li Ye's chest, her agile tongue slightly protruding to sweep lightly over her red lips a few times, exuding an utterly seductive charm.
Li Ye's breathing grew even more rapid. He grabbed her restless little hand, his lower body stirring with desire, wishing he could take her right then and there.
But he had urgent matters to attend to—explaining the situation to Xu Zhengfeng was the most important thing at the moment.
As Xu Ruanyao's body grew increasingly limp, clinging tightly to him and refusing to let go, Li Ye had no choice but to divert his attention. He held her little hand and soothed her, "Be good, Yaoyao. Brother Xiaoye still has important matters to handle. I'll come back to keep you company later, okay?"
"No... I want it now..." Xu Ruanyao, already aroused, paid no heed to his words. Her soft body leaned against him intentionally or unintentionally, her arms wrapped around his neck, her red lips brushing against his ear.
Faced with Xu Ruanyao's deliberate seduction, Li Ye felt the flames of desire burning even more fiercely within him, threatening to consume him entirely.
Especially the gentle, watery Xu Ruanyao, whose soft body deliberately rubbed against his, further igniting his passion.
Seeing his growing reaction, a triumphant smile curled at the corner of Xu Ruanyao's lips. She intensified her efforts, slightly lifting her right leg so that her knee pressed against his crotch. Finding a distinct bulge, she began to gently rub against it.
"Doesn't Brother Xiaoye want to fuck me..." she whispered softly in Li Ye's ear, her voice filled with magnetism.
"You little temptress..." Li Ye's throat moved as he swallowed hard.
Her warm breath sprayed freely against his ear, the tingling sensation making his heart itch with desire.
It had to be said that Xu Ruanyao had perfectly inherited Ruan Ruan's enchanting allure. Every smile and glance was utterly captivating; with just a slight gesture, she could exert an irresistible attraction over men, making them willingly fall at her feet.
If the Xu Ruanyao before adulthood was like a green apple—adorable and innocent but lacking a woman's charm—then the current her could be called a long-ripened red apple. Her appearance alone was enough to make people stop and stare. One bite, and they would be haunted by thoughts of her day and night.
At this moment, her seductive power was on full display. With just a few subtle tricks, Li Ye was nearly reduced to a plaything in her hands.
"So... do you want me or not..." Xu Ruanyao continued her advance, her little hand wandering downward to grasp his already erect member.
That touch completely shattered Li Ye's inner defenses. All his earlier reservations vanished in an instant. He responded passionately to Xu Ruanyao's advances, his mouth covering her red lips as he sucked greedily, while his hand slipped beneath her clothes to knead her exceptionally full, soft breasts.
Only then did he realize—this little minx wasn't wearing any undergarments at all!
Her two full breasts were completely unrestrained, swaying with tumultuous waves. Two distinct peaks stood proudly at the center of each soft mound, faintly visible.
The discovery sent a buzzing through Li Ye's head, and his blood surged instantly.
"Have you been acting wild while I was away these past few days? Even your tits have been set free," Li Ye whispered softly in Xu Ruanyao's ear. "Who are you dressing so provocatively for, hmm?"
After days of loneliness, Xu Ruanyao felt the warm breath spraying near her ear, as if mischievous electric currents were darting into her body, teasing her heart with an unbearable itch.
"Mmm... it's all because I missed you so much..." she cooed, wrapping her arms around Li Ye's neck.
After a round of teasing, the flames of desire within them burned even brighter. They embraced each other, lost in a passionate kiss.
"Ahem."
Just as their passion reached its peak, an untimely cough echoed in the air.
The sound carried a hint of immortal aura, like the booming of a great bell exploding beside their ears, instantly dampening their ardor.
Realizing something was amiss, the two quickly released each other, frantically straightening their clothes. When they looked up, they saw none other than Xu Zhengfeng, his face stern and imposing.
"Si... Si Zhu, what are you doing here?" Li Ye's cheeks were still flushed, his eyes darting around, unable to meet Xu Zhengfeng's gaze.
He and Xu Ruanyao had been together for a long time. During this period, although many in the division had speculated about their relationship, they had tried to avoid appearing together in public to steer clear of gossip.
Li Ye had thought they had been discreet enough, but he never expected that Xu Zhengfeng and his wife had somehow learned of their affair.
Ruanruan was fine—she had openly discussed the matter with him without any hint of opposition. However, Xu Zhengfeng's attitude was far from friendly, his words laced with reproach for daring to involve himself with his daughter.
His stance left Li Ye uneasy, for the fault indeed lay with him. Had he been unmarried, it might have been different, but the mistake was that he was already a married man yet still pursued love with another woman—and that woman happened to be Xu Zhengfeng's only beloved daughter.
Considering this, Xu Zhengfeng's attitude was understandable. If it were him, he too would be outraged to see his daughter sharing a husband with another woman.
Thus, Li Ye could no longer face Xu Zhengfeng as he once had and made every effort to avoid being alone with him.
"Daddy, how come you walk without making a sound?" Xu Ruanyao pouted, coquettishly complaining to Xu Zhengfeng.
"It's clearly the two of you who were too absorbed. Now you blame your father?" Xu Zhengfeng shook his head helplessly. How had this become his fault?
For his only daughter, he usually treated her like a precious treasure, afraid she might fall if held too tightly or melt if kept too close. Whenever she spoke, all his temper would vanish without a trace.
"Whatever, Daddy shouldn't have disturbed us," Xu Ruanyao turned away, pretending to be angry.
"You silly girl, if you want to fool around, you can go back to your own room. Don't you see where we are? How improper is it to do such things in broad daylight? If others saw, where would your father's dignity be?" Xu Zhengfeng's temper flared at her words, speaking with exasperation.
"What's shameful about two people truly in love? If you can't stand it, Daddy, you can just leave!" Xu Ruanyao retorted defiantly.
"You!" Furious and at a loss for words, Xu Zhengfeng stared at his daughter's unrepentant, stubborn expression.
"Master, please don't be angry. It's all my fault," Li Ye quickly interjected as he saw the father and daughter locked in a stalemate. "I rushed back this time because I bring important news regarding the beast disturbances. If you have a moment now, shall we move to the main hall to discuss?"
Hearing this was related to the beasts, Xu Zhengfeng's anger subsided, and he promptly asked, "Oh? There's news about the beasts?"
"Yes," Li Ye nodded emphatically.
"Follow me," Xu Zhengfeng said, waving his sleeve as he headed toward the main hall.
Li Ye hurriedly followed.
"Brother Xiaoye!" Xu Ruanyao, left behind, called out anxiously.
"I'll be back soon," Li Ye turned and said before quickly catching up with Xu Zhengfeng.
Their figures soon vanished around the corner of the alley, leaving Xu Ruanyao alone, fuming as she watched them disappear.
"Earlier, you said there was news about the beast disturbances—is it true?" Xu Zhengfeng asked eagerly as soon as he sat down.
"Yes. I went out specifically to investigate this matter, and my efforts were not in vain. I finally found some clues," Li Ye nodded, addressing Xu Zhengfeng. "However, the outcome is truly unexpected..."
His brows furrowed with deep concern.
"Regardless, tell me the results quickly," Xu Zhengfeng urged from the side.
Li Ye had no choice but to recount the entire sequence of events, including the condition of the several Sword Wolf corpses.
After hearing the full story, Xu Zhengfeng's brow tightened, and he remained silent for a long time.
Clearly, the situation had developed beyond his expectations.
"This matter is too absurd. Are you certain it's true?" Xu Zhengfeng asked, his tone filled with doubt.
"It's understandable that you think that way. When I first discovered this fact, I was also unwilling to believe it. But this matter was investigated jointly by me and Fairy Qingyi, so there can be no mistake," Li Ye said, picking up the tea from the table and drinking it in one gulp.
Upon hearing the name "Fairy Qingyi," the doubt on Xu Zhengfeng's face lessened considerably.
If it were only Li Ye making such a judgment, he might still have reservations, given how absurd the matter seemed. But with Fairy Qingyi involved, the outcome was likely as Li Ye described.
After all, even he, far away in Jinling City, had heard of Fairy Qingyi's reputation. She had displayed prodigious talent from a young age, and despite her youth, her cultivation achievements were no less than those of the older generation. It was no exaggeration to say that Fairy Qingyi could be considered a leader among the younger generation, with few able to match her.
Thus, if Fairy Qingyi had personally handled this matter, he had no choice but to believe it, even if he was reluctant.
But this matter actually involved the Slave Seal—a sinister art that had once dominated the continent centuries ago!
He had also heard of the Slave Seal. It was said that a person with malicious intent had once used this sinister art to enslave cultivators, becoming unrivaled for a time. Relying on the Slave Seal, they slaughtered innocents and ravaged cities, causing rivers of blood to flow. It was only through the joint efforts of several powerful sages of extraordinary cultivation that the matter was eventually resolved.
But this Slave Seal... wasn't it supposed to have been sealed as a forbidden art long ago? How could it have reappeared?
Even if we take a step back and assume what they say is true—that the Slave Seal has reemerged—it would likely plunge the continent into an unpredictable crisis once again.
Xu Zhengfeng, having absorbed too much information at once, was clearly unable to process it immediately, his brow furrowed with worry.
Seeing his troubled expression, Li Ye, standing nearby, spoke up again, "Master Xu, what are your thoughts on this Slave Seal?"
"This... I've only occasionally heard about the Slave Seal, but I never imagined something from centuries ago would resurface," Xu Zhengfeng replied, his tone grave.
Li Ye nodded, his suspicions confirmed. When Xu Zhengfeng heard the words "Slave Seal," he hadn't shown any confusion but instead fell into deep contemplation, indicating he must know something about it.
"But from what you've said, this Slave Seal seems... different from the previous one?" Xu Zhengfeng keenly grasped the key point and pressed further.
"To be honest, it was Qingyi who noticed this, and her understanding of the Slave Seal is far deeper than mine. Her words are likely reliable," Li Ye explained. "According to her, the Slave Seal pattern differs slightly from what you described. Compared to previous appearances, the pattern in the pupils of these Sword-Wolf Beasts is more intricate and obscure, and its color is an eerie shade of gray."
"What puzzles me even more is that whenever I tried to probe deeper with my spiritual sense, the Slave Seal seemed to have a consciousness of its own. The moment it detected an external force, it activated a self-protection mechanism, releasing a powerful force to repel my spiritual sense," Li Ye recounted, recalling the scene as vividly as possible.
"Oh? So you're suggesting the Slave Seal might have mutated?" Xu Zhengfeng asked.
Li Ye nodded, then shook his head.
Xu Zhengfeng looked at him, puzzled by this contradictory response.
"That's what I initially thought," Li Ye continued. "But upon reflection, none of us experienced the last appearance of the Slave Seal. Our understanding is limited, relying solely on accounts from our predecessors. So, whether the current Slave Seal has mutated compared to the past remains uncertain. Perhaps it was never as simple as we imagined."
"..." Xu Zhengfeng fell silent, lost in thought.
The atmosphere grew heavy.
Suddenly, as if remembering something, Li Ye waved his hand, and several Sword-Wolf Beast corpses materialized on the empty ground before him.
"Master Xu, look. These are the corpses of the Sword-Wolf Beasts," Li Ye said.
The corpses had long been dead, their bodies stiffened, emitting a faint, putrid odor.
Their expressions remained frozen in the fear and ferocity of their final moments, with sharp fangs bared, sending a chill down one's spine.
Xu Zhengfeng immediately stepped forward to examine the corpses.
He activated his spiritual sense, his eyes glowing with an intense light as he focused on the pupil of one of the Sword-Wolf Beasts.
After about half a quarter of an hour, the light in his eyes gradually dimmed, and the worry on his face deepened.
Clearly, after his investigation, his suspicions had been confirmed.
"Indeed, this Slave Seal is different from what I once knew," he said, his tone heavy.
"Hmm, this matter is far more complicated than we initially imagined," Li Ye concurred. "Moreover, we suspect that behind these series of incidents, it is likely the Mystic Spirit Serpent manipulating everything."
Previously, they had believed that the recent monster disturbances were at most the work of someone pulling strings in the shadows, aiming to plunge Jinling City into panic. But what they never expected was that this affair would involve the forbidden technique of the Slave Seal. And even more horrifying was that the mastermind behind the chaos might not be human at all, but rather a monster of extremely high cultivation!
Having gradually come to accept the reality of the Slave Seal, Xu Zhengfeng's mental resilience was forced to strengthen. He was no longer as shocked by the idea that the instigator might be a monster.
"This Mystic Spirit Serpent..." Xu Zhengfeng murmured, his brow furrowed with deep concern.
"Do you remember when I told the Chief that Qingyi and I came to Jinling City by sheer coincidence?" Li Ye said with a faint smile.
"Oh?" Xu Zhengfeng fell into thought. Suddenly, a flash of insight crossed his mind, and he exclaimed in surprise, "Could it be... you've encountered this Mystic Spirit Serpent before?"
Li Ye nodded and continued, "However, the Mystic Spirit Serpent we fought back then was far less powerful than it is now. It must have experienced some extraordinary encounters to reach its current level."
"For an ordinary Mystic Spirit Serpent to cultivate to the Mystic Tier is already quite remarkable. But judging by the situation, if this vile creature is truly capable of such shocking deeds, its strength must have reached a terrifying level. We must prepare early," Xu Zhengfeng agreed.
Li Ye lowered his head in contemplation, as if recalling something, and suddenly spoke up, "When we fought it last time, it was still at the Mystic Tier. In such a short period, even exceptionally talented humans cannot achieve a major breakthrough in realm, let alone a monster."
He pondered, his expression growing increasingly grave.
"Oh? What are you thinking?" Xu Zhengfeng asked tentatively, noticing his thoughtful demeanor.
A hesitant look appeared on Li Ye's face. After a moment of internal struggle, he said, "If it has inherited the bloodline of an ancient monster within its body, then there might be some possibility."
"What?! An ancient monster?!"
An incredulous cry escaped Xu Zhengfeng's lips, his face filled with astonishment.
"It's just a guess. The truth is still unknown," Li Ye explained, frowning slightly, startled by Xu Zhengfeng's reaction.
It must be understood that although ancient monsters are a type of monster, they are not at all the same concept. If monsters are compared to the branches and leaves of a towering ancient tree, then ancient monsters are the roots and trunk of that tree. Without the birth of ancient monsters tens of thousands of years ago, there would be no myriad monsters of today.
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