After all, each of the Taiyi Five Peaks can represent aspects of the Taiyi Sect.

Of course, Supreme Taihao coming over can also help discuss solutions to the Spirit-Slaying Locust problem.

For the Ye Family, they are not keen to see any trouble befall the Taiyi Sect at the moment.

What the Ye Family needs now is time.

Once everything was arranged, Ye Jingcheng sat in his chair, leaning back, sipping a mouthful of Spirit Tea, letting the tea linger in his throat.

Meanwhile, he practiced the Celestial Soul Technique, striving to make his thoughts clearer.

Though he had reached the middle stage of Purple Mansion, it was crucial to decide when to expose himself and deal with the current situation.

Ye Jingcheng pondered for a while but still couldn't determine the key to breaking the situation.

He stopped worrying for now, as the family's current predicament was not as dire as before when various forces were eager to test the Ye Family's strength.

They wanted the family's treasures and resources.

This time, it is out of fear their nest might fall.

Instead, the Ye Family is just a minor role in this.

Thus, the Ye Family still has some time to prepare, and the risk isn't as great.

He took out the storage bags of those four individuals.

When the four fell, he recognized them as loose cultivators active in other cultivation kingdoms, the Celestial Yellow Cranes.

One excels at killing, one at arrays, the remaining two are skilled in concealment and alchemy and artifact refining, respectively.

Among loose cultivators, they were quite famous.

Now they came to the Ye Family, clearly under someone's direction.

Then he recalled seeing Hua Yu Sect cultivators at Taichang Market with Ye Xingyi.

Unfortunately, Hua Yu Sect didn't act directly, nor did the Jade Cloud Yuan Family make a move.

His plan to use Ye Jinghe as bait had completely failed.

Ye Jingcheng took out the four storage bags one by one and began inspecting them.

After all, having invited Supreme Taihao, they must prepare a decent gift.

If none of the four have treasures worthy of presentation, the Ye Family needs to select some from their own inventory.

Otherwise, it would be inappropriate for the Taiyi Sect's Ascendant to initiate negotiations unprovoked.

Even if relying on connections, it's acceptable.

But from today onwards, obtaining help from the sect won't be as easy for the Ye Family.

In the Cultivation Realm, matters have always revolved around exchanging favors.

As long as the Ye Family's gifts are acceptable, it won't be troublesome.

Even Supreme Taihao knowing that the Ye Family uses him as a shield won't conjure too many thoughts.

After all, it's mutually beneficial.

Since the Celestial Yellow Cranes were Foundation Establishment Cultivators, Ye Jingcheng decided to take out all the treasures at once.

The spirit stones of the four weren't many, totaling just over ten thousand.

But for loose cultivators, having spirit stones readily available in their storage bags is normal.

Regarding spirit medicine and treasure materials, Ye Jingcheng shook his head after glancing.

No significant treasures were found.

Among the magical artifacts, however, there were some decent items: two Tier Two High-grade Spiritual Artifacts, three Tier Two Middle-grade Spiritual Artifacts, three Tier Two Lower-grade Spiritual Artifacts, and even four Defensive Spiritual Artifacts.

Even in the market, these could fetch four or five thousand spirit stones.

For Ye Jingcheng, it's not a small sum.

In the spirit talisman category, there was also a Tier Two Array-Breaking Talisman, the most expensive among same-tier spirit talismans, involving complex talismanic principles.

Even experienced Spirit Talisman Masters seldom succeed.

There were many miscellaneous items too, and Ye Jingcheng found a treasure diagram among them.

However, this kind of treasure diagram was similar to those seen in the market, generally nine falsehoods and one truth.

Ye Jingcheng put away all the treasures and flew out to inspect the remnants of the Spirit-Slaying Locust eggs.

The Ye Family had already faced several disasters, their mortal population scarce, and if these Spirit-Slaying Locusts emerged, they would have to endure further calamity.

...

The next morning, as dawn broke, a spiritual ship appeared in the distance.

However, it wasn't Supreme Taihao, but Elder Tianzhen.

"Elder Tianzhen!" Ye Jingcheng continued to show deference as a junior, curious if Elder Tianzhen could discern his cultivation.

After all, his divine soul was akin to the middle stage of Purple Mansion, enhanced by the Supreme Turtle Concealing Qi Technique, making his ability to conceal his aura quite strong.

"Your Senior Brother Taihao is occupied, he's gone to Taiqing Commandery. Did the Spirit-Slaying Locusts appear here?" Tianzhen didn't bother with pleasantries, directly inquiring about the locusts.

Currently, the Taiyi Sect and Qinghe Sect are poised for war, an unavoidable conflict.

If something goes wrong in Taihang Commandery now, and a Beast Tide emerges, Taichang Commandery will face enemies on two fronts.

"Please take a look, Elder Tianzhen!" Ye Jingcheng continued to call him senior, relieved.

He presented four Spirit Beast Bags.

"These are loose cultivators from Zhao Kingdom, likely hired hands!"

"This matter is a merit for your Ye Family, I must go to Taihang Market immediately. By the way, your Ye Family should have spirit beasts that can curb these locusts, right?" Tianzhen seemed quite anxious.

"Yes, both the Wan and Ye Family can help, though the Wan Family might be more adept!" Ye Jingcheng nodded, offering no resistance.

He assured Elder Tianzhen that the Ye Family would promptly provide various spirit beasts capable of exterminating the locusts to assist cultivators.

The venom of the Spirit-Slaying Locust causes fear among many cultivators, but spirit beasts that can kill insects are generally immune to such toxins.

Spirit beasts like the Earth Lizard and Toad have a fondness for these locusts.

"Good, it's settled then. I won't stay long; Taihang Commandery will certainly send reinforcements." Tianzhen nodded.

Seeing Elder Tianzhen about to depart, Ye Jingcheng handed over a storage bag filled with some spirit stones, two Jade Soul Pills, and several Antitoxic Pills.

If too valuable, it wouldn't be proper for Elder Tianzhen to accept, but only offering Antitoxic Pills wouldn't suffice.

"Elder Tianzhen, these are some Antitoxic Pills, easily crafted by me!" Ye Jingcheng explained.

Hearing this, Elder Tianzhen nodded.

"Don't be overly concerned; the sect has already made plans." Tianzhen seemed to be subtly hinting to Ye Jingcheng.

Upon hearing this, Ye Jingcheng was elated, unafraid of battling Qinghe Sect.

His fear lay in the Taiyi Sect's upper echelon fleeing.

Now, Elder Tianzhen's confidence suggested that something encouraging might have emerged within the sect.

"Elder Tianzhen, remember to dispatch people to Jade Dragon Valley as well, we absolutely mustn't let loose cultivators enter the mountains!" Ye Jingcheng reminded once more as Tianzhen was about to leave.

Hearing this, Tianzhen cast Ye Jingcheng another glance before nodding again.

The spiritual ship headed towards Taihang Market.

Taihang Market is the center of Taihang Commandery, not far from each family.

Elder Tianzhen's thoughts mirrored Ye Jingcheng's—the Spirit-Slaying Locust likely wouldn't only appear near Buqing Mountain.

It might affect a large part of Taihang Commandery.

Even Taichang Commandery might be affected.

This is essentially a pre-war sabotage.

The identity of the mastermind isn't crucial anymore.

How to counterattack is the Taiyi Sect's responsibility.

After chatting with Elder Tianzhen, Ye Jingcheng hurried back to Lingyun Peak.

Besides being vigilant in Jade Dragon Valley, Ye Jingcheng was concerned the Yuan and Wei families might target the Demon King's descendants in Taihang Mountain Range.

This is the likeliest cause of a Beast Tide.

Upon returning to Lingyun Peak, he saw Turtle Ancestor and Ye Haicheng waiting under the apricot tree in front of his courtyard.

The apricot blossoms were more abundant, attracting numerous Spirit Bees.

These Five Poison Bees specialized in collecting honey; their stingers were turning white, reducing their toxicity.

Naturally, this was to be expected, as Ye Jingcheng had stopped cultivating the Five Poison Bees, thus reducing poison flower cultivation.

He now had enough to supply his more than a hundred Five Poison Bees specialized in spirit sensing.

The other Five Poison Bees now only collected Spiritual Honey, so degradation was normal.

"Jingcheng, you broke through?" Ye Haicheng was evidently delighted by Ye Jingcheng's swift breakthrough.

"Thanks to the family preparing the Tier Three Demon Beast Core." Ye Jingcheng nodded, feeling no need to hide among family.

He eagerly awaited the news Ye Haicheng might bring.

"Jingcheng, your strength and spirit beasts are exceptional; the second patriarch is likely to break through to Golden Core in half a year. Then, you should join him in Cyan Cloud Sea Domain!" Ye Haiyun said.

Compared to the turmoil in Yan Kingdom, the second patriarch's breakthrough to Golden Core is paramount for the Ye Family!

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