287: Famous in the East

Yuxu Prefecture, Heavenly Sword Pavilion, the summit of the Solitary Peak.

The biting mountain wind swept across the sheer cliffs, making Ye Qingtian's ink-black long hair dance wildly.

He stood still by the precipice, his posture as straight and imposing as a drawn divine blade. His gaze pierced through the rolling sea of clouds, cast toward the distant East—the direction of the Eastern Desolate Prefecture.

"The Di Clan... the Godfall Di Clan..." The whisper was shredded by the wind, leaving only the sword-sharp glint deep within his eyes, lingering endlessly.

Footsteps sounded from behind.

"Brother, the news... it's confirmed." Ye Gucheng' voice carried an almost imperceptible hoarseness, the residual echo of intertwined shock and lingering fear.

"The Jade Void Sacred Land, two Saint Ancestors... personally went to the Godfall Di Clan and offered exorbitant compensation."

He paused, each word carrying immense weight, "The Sacred Land's Vice Sacred Master, Cloud Void Jade Venerable, didn't even have a chance to resist before being devoured and killed! The Sacred Master, Immortal Master Kai Xuan, and Saint Jian Jian were also severely wounded! If the other party hadn't held back, the Sacred Land... might have been overthrown!"

The mountain wind seemed to freeze upon hearing this news.

Ye Qingtian slowly turned around. The sharp aura unique to the Nine Revolutions Sword Body circulated around him. A tiny wisp of Sword Qi at his fingertip, capable of piercing gold and stone, silently dissipated.

"This Di Clan is indeed extraordinary!"

"Their strength is far beyond what our Heavenly Sword Pavilion can match!"

Ye Gucheng let out a long breath, as if trying to expel the terror from his chest.

"What great fortune... what great fortune, Brother!" His eyes held the relief of surviving a disaster. "If you hadn't taken me personally to the Eastern Desolate Prefecture to humble ourselves and reconcile... who knows if the fate of the Jade Void Sacred Land today wouldn't be the tomorrow of our Heavenly Sword Pavilion? A single thought's difference leads to the abyss!"

Ye Qingtian nodded slightly, his gaze once again sweeping over the turbulent sea of clouds, deep as an abyss: "The Di Clan's rise is like the reverse flow of the Heavenly River, unstoppable. I just didn't expect that besides Di Qianjie, the Di Clan has other Prodigies."

"The name Di Xingyun, carrying the might of the Star Body, shook the Thirty-Six Prefectures of the Eastern Domain in a single day. The Star Body... is synonymous with invincibility."

The corner of his mouth curved into an extremely faint arc, yet it was filled with Battle Intent. "Brother Thousand Tribulations... I wonder what level your sword has reached now?" The sword bones within his body emitted a low, clear hum—the excitement of meeting a strong opponent.

Deep within the Law Enforcement Hall, in a pitch-black secret chamber covered in runes.

The air was thick like solidified ink, the only light source being the pale white altar suspended in the center.

Upon the altar, an ancient ring floated quietly. The ring's surface bore complex, dizzying ancient patterns, emanating an aura of vastness that suppressed eternity.

If Di Shenglong were present, he would certainly recognize this as the "Di Clan Ancestral Ring" stolen from the Di Clan five years ago!

A figure entirely shrouded in a voluminous black robe emerged silently from the shadows, appearing at the edge of the altar.

He extended a hand, withered like an eagle's talon, pale and unlike that of a living person, carefully stroking the layer of restrictive light film surrounding the Ancestral Ring.

Every time his fingertip touched, the light film rippled.

"Impossible... absolutely impossible!"

A hoarse, low voice emerged from under the hood, filled with shock, anger, and greed.

"Five years ago! Only five years ago! The Di Clan in Xuantian City had a maximum strength of only Purple Mansion ants! The Clan Chief was near death, the clansmen scattered... In the span of a breath, five years passed! How could they possess the power to crush a Sacred Land? A Great Saint expert? The unfathomable Di Shenglong?"

He suddenly looked up, two points of eerie green Soul fire flickering violently beneath his hood, staring fixedly at the Ancestral Ring.

"Legacy? No! What kind of Legacy could allow a dying clan to ascend to this level in five years? Unless... they possess another, even more earth-shattering Treasure Trove!"

He recalled the effort spent years ago piecing together fragments of ancient Di Clan lore and records of the astonishing secret treasure contained within the Ancestral Ring from a damaged copy of the "Myriad Realms Secret Records."

It was for this reason that he orchestrated the raid five years ago, dispatching Xue Wuhui to seize the ring.

"Di Shenglong... Di Xingyun... Star Body... Great Saint"—each name brought deeper apprehension and fiercer desire.

"This Di Clan... could they have another secret Treasure Trove unknown to the world?"

His hands moved like lightning, fingers dancing like butterflies through flowers. Runes imbued with chilling Law Power flowed from his fingertips, pouncing on the Ancestral Ring like living creatures!

"Buzz—!"

The moment the runes were about to touch the ring's surface, the ancient patterns on the ring flared brightly!

A vast, mighty force erupted suddenly!

"Pfft!" The Black-robed Person staggered as if struck by lightning, spitting out a mouthful of blood emanating a stench of decay.

The pale white altar flickered violently. The restrictive runes, which had taken immense effort to set up, rapidly dissolved and vanished under the impact of the Ancestral Ring's autonomous power!

"Insolent!" The Black-robed Person was filled with shock and rage, his voice sharp and piercing.

He forcibly suppressed the surging Qi and blood and the vibrating Primordial Spirit, his withered claws forming seals with lightning speed. More viscous dark energy surged up from beneath the altar, desperately trying to repair and reinforce the crumbling Restrictions.

"Such strong protective power! Di Clan... what exactly are you hiding?!"

The Soul fire in his eyes burned frantically, his greed almost becoming tangible.

"I cannot delay any longer... I must speed up! I must unravel the secret of this ring before the Di Clan's wings are fully spread and their gaze turns toward the Law Enforcement Hall! Otherwise..." The fate of the Jade Void Sacred Land sent a chill down his Soul.

The current Di Clan was not something he could easily handle alone.

Godfall Di Clan.

"Clan Chief, the news has spread completely," a respectful voice sounded from behind.

Grand Elder Great Elder Di Chengyuan appeared quietly, his aura perfectly balanced. The characteristic of the Myriad Dao Origin Flow Physique—to encompass and analyze all Daos—allowed him to blend almost seamlessly with his surroundings.

"The Jade Void Sacred Land has bowed its head, and compensation is in the treasury. The Eastern Domain is shaken, and powers from all directions are frantically inquiring about our clan."

"Many envoys have already arrived, wishing to form good relations with our Di Clan!"

Di Shenglong curved his lips into an extremely faint arc: "Inform the envoys that the Di Clan does not seek trouble, nor do we fear it. Those who are compliant, our Di Clan will naturally maintain friendly exchanges with them. If anyone harbors malicious intent..."

Great Elder Di Chengyuan acknowledged respectfully: "Yes! Clan Chief, rest assured!"

"Good." Di Shenglong nodded slightly, his gaze cast toward the farther horizon, seeming to pierce through space to the direction of the Law Enforcement Hall.

"The tree desires stillness, but the wind will not cease. The Jade Void Sacred Land is just the beginning; the real jackals are still lurking in the shadows. Law Enforcement Hall... I want to see how much longer you can remain hidden."

Eternal Night Divine Capital.

Sacred Pill Workshop, where tranquility and intense heat intermingled.

In the Alchemy Chamber, Di Qingge sat cross-legged.

Her eyes were slightly closed, her expression focused and serene. The aura of the Myriad Medicine Saint Body flowed like warm spring rain, silently nourishing countless rare Spirit Medicine seedlings within the room.

Suspended before her was the ancient-looking heaven burning ancient zither.

On the zither body, dual-colored flames of crimson gold and dark blue coiled and flowed like spirit dragons, emitting an aura that was distinctly different yet perfectly merged.

Her slender jade fingers occasionally brushed the strings, not to play music, but for precise fire control.

Every light touch drew forth a thread of faint dual-colored flame, which was accurately directed into the Pill Furnace before her.

"Hum..."

The Pill Furnace chimed softly, the pill patterns on its walls lighting up sequentially, emitting a refreshing, exotic fragrance.

Inside the furnace, the essence of several Spirit Medicines with conflicting and violent attributes were forcibly refined and purified under the dual forces of ice and fire from the Nine Nether Profound Darkness Fire. The violent medicinal properties were gradually tamed and merged, transforming toward a higher level.

This was the profound mystery of the quasi-Emperor level Cultivation Technique, the Myriad Flames Return to Origin Art—using myriad fires as the source to refine all spirits!

Di Qingge's long eyelashes trembled slightly as she sensed every minute change within the furnace.

The outside clamor seemed to be sealed off.

Her mind held only one thought: "The Nine Revolutions Soul Returning Grass from the Sacred Land's compensation... is finally obtained. Brother's Divine Demon Transformation, the upper and lower volumes, seem to have flaws... With this item, combined with my Myriad Medicine Saint Body and the Sacred Fire Elixir Sutra, I can surely refine a supreme treasure pill to mend the defects!" A gentle yet resolute light flashed in her serene eyes.

Gentle on the outside but firm within, protecting her closest kin—this was her instinct carved into her very bones.