Chapter 2325

Seeing Ye Zhangqing's expression somewhat off, the Wu family patriarch's heart jumped to his throat.

That thing hidden within the family absolutely cannot be known to outsiders; otherwise it would be a calamity that could overturn the entire Wu family.

But facing the Wu family patriarch's cautious probing, Ye Zhangqing merely smiled faintly, speaking with implied meaning.

"Patriarch Wu, your Wu family really has guts, daring to move the Western Border's holy relic."

"Young Master Ye, you....................."

As soon as these words were spoken, the Wu family patriarch's eyes widened in shock, his face filled with astonishment, and his heart instantly sank to the bottom of the valley.

"It's been seen through? But how could that be? That thing is clearly sealed tightly; how did Ye Zhangqing see through it?"

"As a peerless Yāoniè of the present age, Ye Zhangqing's perception is extraordinarily keen; moreover, just not long ago, I myself had seen this thing at Miao Qianqian's place."

"The holy relic of the Western Border, the Wugu Holy Worm."

"The Wugu Holy Worm is a kind of treasure native to the Western Border, similar to heavenly materials and earthly treasures, yet it is also a living creature."

"It is extremely helpful for Xiūliàn witchcraft; after being refined and absorbed into the body, this Wugu Holy Worm can aid cultivators in inhaling and exhaling the spiritual qi of heaven and earth, and can also increase the power of witchcraft."

"However, the Wugu Holy Worm is extremely rare in number; therefore, in the Western Border it is strictly forbidden for ordinary cultivators to possess Wugu Holy Worms."

"If one wishes to possess a Wugu Holy Worm, there is only one way: to be granted it by the Wushen Palace."

"And this Wu family, located near Thus English: Thus English: Dengtianxiancheng, is so far from the Western Border that it is obviously impossible for them to receive a grant from the Wushen Palace."

"Furthermore, given the Wu family's strength, they hardly could even make contact with the Wushen Palace."

"Therefore, the Wu family's Wugu Holy Worm was most likely obtained by chance, and then secretly brought back."

"In fact, Ye Zhangqing's guess was not wrong; this Wugu Holy Worm was indeed obtained by a Wu family Elder during his training in the Western Border."

"When this Wu family Elder first happened upon this Wugu Holy Worm in the Western Border, he also considered turning it over to the Wushen Palace."

"After all, although the Wushen Palace's stipulation is domineering, if one voluntarily presents a Wugu Holy Worm, the Wushen Palace does not take it for nothing; instead, it will exchange it for other treasures."

"Moreover, the price is fairly reasonable, basically able to match the value of the Wugu Holy Worm."

"Furthermore, aside from cultivators of the Western Border, cultivators elsewhere in the Immortal Realm also have little demand for Wugu Holy Worms."

"Exchanging it for other Xiūliàn treasures is actually a better choice."

"However, just when this Wu family Elder came into contact with this Wugu Holy Worm, his bloodline suddenly burst forth with an abnormal movement."

"This Wugu Holy Worm actually can refine the bloodline power of their Wu family."

"In this branch of the Wu family, over eighty percent of the clanspeople possess the same special physique, the Minghuang Body."

"It is precisely by relying on this Minghuang Body that the Wu family has been able to develop to the present day."

"However, this Minghuang Body is not considered a top-tier special physique; thus, after years of development, recent generations of the Wu family have also reached a bottleneck."

"The family's influence is sufficient to maintain the status quo, but lacking in ambition."

"And this Wugu Holy Worm's ability to refine the Wu family's bloodline is undoubtedly a heaven-shaking opportunity."

"Because this amounts to giving the Wu family a chance to transform from the root."

"Although not a guarantee, with this Wugu Holy Worm, over the long term the Wu family's Minghuang Body might perhaps transform into a higher-level bloodline physique."

"The benefit this brings to the Wu family goes without saying."

"Precisely for this reason, that Wu family Elder ultimately chose not to turn over the Wugu Holy Worm to the Wushen Palace, but instead brought it back to the family in private."

"Since then, this Wugu Holy Worm has remained kept within the family."

"And that girl is a witch clan maiden that the Wu family painstakingly sought."

"Her purpose is to conceal the aura of this Wugu Holy Worm, using witch clan blood to mask the worm's aura; this is not some profound technique, but can only be a bloodline-specific method."

"I originally thought there would be no leaks, but who would have known that as soon as we entered the door, Ye Zhangqing saw through it."

"In order to deal with Ye Zhangqing, the Wu family patriarch did not even show his face, but personally guarded that Wugu Holy Worm, yet it was of no use at all."

"Looking at Ye Zhangqing with a complex expression, his eyes carried a hint of fear."

"Once the matter is exposed, if it reaches the ears of the Wushen Palace, they will certainly send people to investigate and assign blame."

"Moreover, with reason and evidence, even the Heavenly Family would probably not intervene in this matter."

"\"Young Master Ye, our Wu family is merely acting for the family's development. \""

"Looking at Ye Zhangqing's calm, unchanging expression, the Wu family patriarch gritted his teeth and spoke, his tone resolute."

"As for this, Ye Zhangqing merely smiled faintly and said."

"\"I have no interest in these matters, but I had previously suspected why you Wu family insist on holding onto a witch clan girl and not letting go; it turns out it's for this Wugu Holy Worm. \""

"\"Today I came only for the person; as for that Wugu Holy Worm, I have no interest—you Wu family can handle it as you see fit. \""

"Ye Zhangqing naturally has no interest in managing these trivial affairs."

"Although the Wugu Holy Worm is precious, that is for the witch clans of the Western Border; for Ye Zhangqing, it is of some benefit, but not great."

"Moreover, if I wanted a Wugu Holy Worm, I could just say a word to Miao Qianqian; if I sent a strip, she could still decide."

"Having said that, Ye Zhangqing intended to leave; anyway, I have taken the witch clan girl, and as for how this Wugu Holy Worm is to be handled, that is the Wu family's own business."

"The Wu family patriarch naturally also understood Ye Zhangqing's meaning, but this secret has after all been exposed."

"At the moment when he was feeling anxious and torn, a voice from his family's ancestor suddenly came from beside his ear."

"\"Stop him, force him to swear a heavenly oath, otherwise our clan is in peril. \""

"\"This.................. \""

"Hearing these words, the Wu family patriarch was stunned."

"The ancestor actually intended to act against Ye Zhangqing; although he dared not kill, he wanted to compel him to swear a heavenly oath in order to safeguard this secret."

"This is definitely gambling with one's life."

"To act against a present-day Yāoniè, the consequences are absolutely extremely severe."

"After only a brief hesitation, the Wu family patriarch gritted his teeth and shouted."

"\"Young Master Ye, wait. \""

"Heh............."

Hearing that, Ye Zhangqing stopped, turned, and looked at the Wu family head whose expression changed again, as if guessing the other's meaning, he said with a smile.

"What, the Wu family head still wants to forcibly keep me? Have you considered the consequences?"

Directly exposed in one sentence, the Wu family head simply threw caution to the wind, his eyes gradually turning cold and stern as he spoke.

"Young Master Ye, please understand, I have no choice but to do this for my family; I only hope Young Master Ye will swear a Heavenly Dao oath, so that my Wu family can feel a bit more at ease—as long as Young Master Ye complies, my Wu family will certainly not harm you in the slightest."

Although those words were polite, Ye Zhangqing couldn't help but laugh in anger.

The Wu family actually still wants to force him to swear a Heavenly Dao oath—are they treating him like a soft persimmon to squeeze?

Leaving aside whether the Heavenly Dao oath is harmful, even if it isn't, the Wu family's actions still make Ye Zhangqing extremely displeased.

I believe no one in this world likes feeling coerced, let alone Ye Zhangqing, a Yāoniè of the age.