Chapter 845: Burning in Fury
Ye Mo ceased cultivation and examined the storage bags. From Li Bailin, he acquired 10,000 low-grade spirit stones, 300 middle-grade stones, several level 5 runes, herbs, and beast materials. Tong Zhentan's contribution consisted of a few low-quality spirit stones. Ye Mo gathered the materials, storage bags, and low-level magical artifacts for later sale. His total now exceeded 13,000 low-grade and 300 middle-grade spirit stones—a considerable sum.
He then exited the Golden Page World, intending to return to Song Yangzhu and Ye Ling. Arriving at the valley, he discovered his spiritual sense had expanded to 150 kilometers—a startling increase. It was morning. He mounted his flying sword and vanished in a purple streak before the nearby bear could react. The indolent bear, unconcerned unless directly threatened, made no attempt to pursue. The journey, which previously took two days, now lasted only four hours.
Not far from Li Bailin's death site, four Chi Gathering cultivators battled a level 3 horned tiger. Though weaker than the crocodile he’d previously encountered, the tiger proved a formidable opponent for these cultivators, who were clearly outmatched. The fire-element beast unleashed a fireball, launching a Chi Gathering stage 8 cultivator into the air. The remaining three were desperate but dared not flee, knowing the tiger prioritized pursuing escapees.
Seeing one of the cultivators was from his sect, Ye Mo intervened. The tiger, barely a match for a Foundation Establishment stage one cultivator, was no match for Ye Mo’s flying sword. A swift sword chi pierced the tiger’s vitals before it could unleash a second volley of fireballs. To avoid undue attention, Ye Mo then used a three-meter-long sword chi to decapitate the beast.
The three surviving cultivators were stunned. A level 3 tiger slain so easily? Even an ordinary Foundation Establishment cultivator would struggle. Their gratitude was palpable. Ye Mo seized the opportunity to inquire about the date, having lost track of time during his cultivation.
“Senior Brother Ye is also from the Zheng Yuan Sect?” one Chi Gathering cultivator asked, awestruck.
Ye Mo nodded. “Yes, I haven’t returned in a while. Has the disciple intake period passed?” He recalled arriving at the sect days before the recruitment period.
The sect member replied cautiously, “Three months ago.”
Three months? Ye Mo was dumbfounded. He hadn't anticipated such a lengthy absence.
“Senior Brother Ye, have you heard about Li Baisen’s wedding? Many of our sect’s Foundation Establishment cultivators are returning to celebrate,” the cultivator added.
“Li Baisen’s wedding? Which Li Baisen? What’s happening?” Ye Mo asked, puzzled.
The cultivator, equally surprised by Ye Mo’s ignorance, explained, “Three months ago, Li Bailin—Li Baisen’s brother—was killed in the All Herb Mountain Ranges. Li Baisen investigated, discovering members of the Three Star Lan Feng Sect were responsible. He retaliated, attacking the Lan Feng Sect itself.”
Ye Mo frowned. He was the killer, yet Li Baisen had shifted the blame. While understandable within the context of this world, it left him uneasy.
“Li Baisen later learned he'd wrongly accused the Lan Feng Sect. Yet, he declared he would kill every member, regardless of guilt, if even a shred of suspicion remained.”
Ye Mo sneered. Even at peak Foundation Establishment, Li Baisen’s audacity in threatening a greater power was appalling.
The cultivator whispered, “When the Lan Feng Sect leader confirmed Li Bailin’s death was unrelated to them, and offered a union marriage between Li Baisen and their genius disciple, Ji Yan, Li Baisen agreed, abandoning his plans for annihilation.”
Ye Mo’s expression hardened. “Since Li Baisen knew the Lan Feng Sect was innocent, did he discover the true culprit?”
The cultivator nodded. “Someone from our sect, now missing. His wife and sister remain. Li Baisen intends to deal with them first.”
“Bastard!” Ye Mo’s rage exploded, and he vanished.
The other cultivator muttered, “I think he just called Li Baisen a bastard…”
Ye Mo felt his naiveté. He'd believed Song Yangzhu and Ye Ling would be safe under a Golden Core middle-stage master’s protection. Yet, faced with power and advantage, others proved unreliable. He'd planned to find Yimo first, but now resolved to keep Song Yangzhu and Ye Ling close, regardless of his destination. His desire for power intensified. Truth Realization would allow him to bring them into the Golden Page World—or eliminate the need to run altogether. A simple gesture would reduce Li Baisen to dust.
Ye Mo pushed his speed to the limit. Within hours, he covered nearly 10,000 kilometers. Two hours later, he arrived at the sect, instinctively scanning his quarters. He planned to proceed directly to Yan Yuan Peak. Even if the elder held Golden Core power, he would take Song Yangzhu and Ye Ling.