Chapter 1626

After a deafening boom, terrifying winds surged outward in all directions, forcing everyone to stagger backward in fear.

And that spatial rift was violently shattered!

"Puff!"

A disheveled figure shot upward from the altar—it was Ye Xiao, his face pale, blood trickling from the corner of his mouth.

That blow nearly took half his life!

"What the hell, how is this old guy still alive? He was clearly shredded by that spatial rift just now!" Seeing the vanished figure in the air, Ye Xiao froze, then stared in utter shock.

"What's going on?" Ye Xiao couldn't help rubbing his nose, utterly baffled.

Shhh!

Suddenly, Ye Xiao felt his body grow light—he shot upward, hurtling toward one direction.

"No way, is this the old guy's doing?" Ye Xiao was startled, and without thinking, followed after him.

Not long after, he stopped before a grand palace gate—this hall spanned several mu, majestic and vast, its doors wide open, from within came a deep, aged voice: "Young friend, come in!"

Hearing this, Ye Xiao stepped into the palace—it was empty, devoid of any object.

Ye Xiao scanned the surroundings, then suddenly, a pale yellow orb appeared before him, floating in midair, radiating brilliant light.

Ye Xiao narrowed his eyes, fixing them on the yellow orb, his mind brimming with caution—he could sense that this orb contained an indescribable power; to touch it would mean certain death.

He didn't know what lay inside the yellow orb and dared not act rashly; he stood still, pondered for a moment, then asked: "What is this?"

No sooner had he spoken than the floating yellow orb emitted the old man's voice again: "A drop of essence blood."

"A drop of essence blood? Then why are you giving it to me?" Ye Xiao asked, puzzled.

"Heh, young friend, you may understand it as me repaying a debt. Long ago, I owed you a promise—today, I fulfill it," the yellow orb chuckled.

Ye Xiao lifted his eyelids and asked: "What use does this drop of essence blood have?"

"This drop of essence blood contains my full strength—if you assimilate it, you will instantly reach the Wu Wang realm," the old man's voice within the yellow orb spoke with grave seriousness.

Hearing this, Ye Xiao's eyes flickered; he pondered for a moment, then said: "What price must I pay?"

Inside the yellow orb, the old man fell silent briefly, then said: "Protect the Ye family."

At this, Ye Xiao froze, then asked: "What exactly must I do?"

"I only hope someone will care for my Ye family descendants," the old man sighed: "Long ago, the ancestral founder of the Ye clan clashed with the Demon Clan and perished here—his body shattered, yet his essence, spirit, and vitality clung to his corpse and remained undying…"

After hearing the old man's tale, Ye Xiao was stunned.

He himself was a transmigrator—he naturally knew the terror of a Wu Huangjing cultivator.

In the Xuanhuang Region, even in Xuantian City, the strongest cultivators were merely Zhu Wushi.

And the strongest in Xuantian City was only at Zhu Wushi Third Layer.

Zhu Wushi Third Layer might rule the outside world, but here in the Xuanhuang Region, it was utterly insignificant.

Moreover, according to Ye Xiao's knowledge, beyond the Xuanhuang Sacred Land and the Four Royal Clan Families, there were countless hidden factions and sects, many of which were guarded by Wu Huangjing cultivators.

Here, Wu Huangjing cultivators were but ants.

And the ancestral founder of the Ye clan perished here, his essence, spirit, and vitality clinging to his corpse and remaining undying—how many such cultivators existed across the entire Xuanhuang Continent?

"Fine!" Ye Xiao agreed: "I promise to protect the Ye family for a hundred years. But during these hundred years, if anyone dares attack the Ye family, I will exterminate them without hesitation!"

He paused, then added: "And I will not interfere in the Ye family's decisions!"

With that, Ye Xiao vanished in a flash, leaving the place.

"Hahahaha, good child, thank you!" After Ye Xiao departed, a hearty laugh echoed from within the Ye family palace.

At the same moment, deep within the Ye family, in a cave, a colossal form opened its eyes.

Its eyes glowed crimson as blood, radiating a bloodthirsty light—as if murmuring to itself: "My soul mark has finally been claimed—hahahaha! I've waited too long for this day!"

…

Ye Xiao left the Ye family and headed straight toward Yunhai City.

Along the way, he recalled the earlier scene, still shaken: "Damn, lucky I didn't try to devour this drop of essence blood—I'd have been vaporized instantly!"

The energy within this drop of essence blood was terrifyingly immense; despite Ye Xiao now being Wu Tu Ninth Layer, his true combat power couldn't match even an ordinary Zhu Wushi.

If the energy within this drop of essence blood truly exploded, he would be obliterated—reduced to ashes.

"Sigh, the cultivators here in the Xuanhuang Region—pull out any random one, and they're all prodigies defying heaven. No wonder this is the core region of the Xuanhuang Continent—truly extraordinary!" Ye Xiao sighed, pondering inwardly.

"The geniuses here are truly defying heaven," was Ye Xiao's only thought.

During this journey, Ye Xiao encountered many prodigies—each one a Zhu Wushi, and several youths whose cultivation had reached Zhu Wushi Sixth Layer.

Especially among those youths, three possessed Seventh-Rank Wu Mai and had mastered Sword Intent—truly terrifying!

"Though my cultivation has surged to match Zhu Wushi Fifth Layer, compared to these prodigies, I'm still far too weak!"

Ye Xiao shook his head, suppressing his inner distractions.

Soon, Ye Xiao arrived at Yunhai City, preparing to return to the Ye Manor.

But at that moment, Ye Xiao's brows twitched, his steps halted, and he turned his gaze sideways, coldly saying: "You've trailed me long enough—come out now!"

Shhh! Shhh! Shhh!

As he spoke, figures emerged from the shadows, surrounding Ye Xiao.

"Kid, you're quite perceptive," a man in green robes stepped forward slowly, staring at Ye Xiao with icy, bone-chilling eyes.

"Zhao family!" Ye Xiao's gaze darkened, his voice cold.

The Zhao family was a top-tier clan in this region, its patriarch being Zhao Qiankun, head of the Zhao clan.

The young man before him was Zhao Hao—the son of Zhao Qiankun, the Zhao clan patriarch, a young master!

"How did you find me here?" Ye Xiao asked coldly, his gaze hostile as he fixed it on Zhao Hao.

"Boy, it's better for you not to know too much! Come with me quietly, and maybe you'll keep your dog's life," Zhao Hao spoke coldly, his words icy.

"You want to capture me to trade for Elder Ye's essence blood?!" Ye Xiao sneered.

Zhao Hao said nothing, only gazing silently at Ye Xiao, his eyes holding a hint of mockery, as if deeming Ye Xiao oblivious to his own death.

"If that's how it is, don't blame me," Ye Xiao snorted, slamming his right foot hard against the ground. Instantly, a dense hail of whistling sounds filled the entire street as countless arrows sliced through the air toward the Zhao family members.

Shii! Shii! Shii!

Each arrow, carrying fierce Jian Jingfeng, hurtled toward the Zhao family with astonishing speed.

"Hmph!" Seeing this, Zhao Hao's face darkened. He flicked his arm, and a precious blade appeared in his hand, its blade gleaming with a dark luster. Waves of lethal Ning Daoqi surged forth, forming a wall before him that effortlessly shattered every arrow.

"How dare you resist? So unwise! Kill!"

"Attack!"

The Zhao family members roared in fury, drawing their weapons and charging toward Ye Xiao. Blades flashed, covering sky and earth, enclosing all directions.

Ye Xiao's gaze turned solemn. Facing this combined assault, he dared not slacken. Clutching his broken dagger, he activated Phantom Step; his figure blurred, evading every attack.

1391 brimmed with murderous intent.

The Zhao family members froze, then their faces twisted with rage—they never expected that under these circumstances, Ye Xiao still had the leisure to dodge.

This filled them with fury and murderous intent: "Kill him!"

"Kill him!" Zhao Hao bellowed, swinging his precious blade as he charged forward first. Thick Earth Yuan Qi flooded into the blade, causing it to blaze with brilliant purple radiance.

"Kill!" The Zhao family members roared in unison, each unleashing their martial techniques.

"Hmph!"

Ye Xiao snorted, meeting the blade with his broken dagger—a deafening clang of metal rang out.

"Puch!" Ye Xiao grunted, staggering backward.

"Seventh-layer Wu Tu peak—the gap isn't slight," Ye Xiao thought.

"Hey, where are you running now?!" Seeing this, Zhao Hao sneered, stomping the air with his foot, lifting himself into the air as he surged toward Ye Xiao once more.

"Die!"

Zhao Hao roared, bringing his blade down. Blade light crisscrossed, dazzling and brilliant, as if capable of tearing through all things.

Wum wum!