The lead steward's name was Gu Qing.
He compared a sealed sect document with Lei Yongbiao's records, completing the handover.
"Where's the prisoner?" Gu Qing asked.
Lei Yongbiao bowed immediately.
"Reporting to Steward Gu. We fed the prisoner a Cultivation-Dispersing Pill. The effects haven't fully activated yet—at the soonest, it will take until tomorrow."
He spoke carefully, clearly taking no risks.
"We have kept the Pipa Hooks on him for safety. If we remove them too early, his cultivation may recover."
"For everyone's safety, please stay in the branch hall overnight. Everything has already been arranged."
Gu Qing nodded.
How Yu Baiji had been captured didn't interest them.
Their job was simple:
bring him back.
But Lei Yongbiao was right.
If the pill hadn't taken effect yet, it was too dangerous.
"Fine," Gu Qing said calmly.
"None of you are to leave the branch hall freely."
"We three stewards will personally guard the prison tonight."
"At noon tomorrow, we return to the sect."
"Yes, Steward."
Lin Ye memorized the time.
Tomorrow at noon, they'd fly back on the Wind-Riding Birds again.
It was insanely convenient.
Only an hour of travel—
saving an enormous amount of effort.
"Such an easy job… and we got lucky enough to land it," one core disciple laughed.
"Senior Brothers, why don't we change into normal clothes and go out for some fun?"
"I've been to Thunder River City several times. Come—today, I'm treating!"
Then his gaze shifted to the cold and elegant woman.
"Senior Sister Miaoyu?"
The woman—Shen Miaoyu—shook her head.
"I'm cultivating."
The disciple's eyes dimmed slightly, but he didn't push further.
He'd just find another way.
Lin Ye walked out of the branch hall, asked for directions—
and headed straight for the Zhang Clan.
Zhang Clan Estate
When Zhang Clan's patriarch heard that a core disciple from Wind-Thunder Mystic Sect had come to visit, he nearly jumped out of his chair.
He immediately sent people to welcome the guest.
Lin Ye met him at the entrance.
The patriarch was Zhang Heng.
"Patriarch Zhang," Lin Ye said calmly. "My name is Lin Ye."
"I'm Zhang Wenxu's good friend."
Zhang Heng's eyes brightened at once.
"So it's Nephew Lin!"
"My useless son… is he doing alright in the sect?"
"He hasn't caused trouble, has he?"
Zhang Heng didn't need to verify Lin Ye's identity.
Anyone walking around wearing a core disciple robe while impersonating the sect—
would be executed on the spot.
Besides, Lin Ye had shown his core disciple token.
It was real.
Lin Ye sighed softly.
"I came precisely because of Wenxu."
"Brother Wenxu… he…"
He hesitated, as if struggling to speak.
Zhang Heng's heart instantly tightened.
"What happened?!"
Lin Ye lowered his voice.
"To be honest… Brother Wenxu offended someone he shouldn't have."
"He's not dead. But if…"
"…the consequences could be unbearable."
Zhang Heng's face turned pale. He panicked instantly.
"Nephew Lin, please—just tell me!"
"No matter what, my son can't have anything happen to him!"
Lin Ye's expression remained calm and serious.
"Brother Wenxu… offended the Young Sect Master."
"He's currently being held inside the Young Sect Master's private courtyard."
"If he doesn't pay the ransom…"
"I'm afraid he won't be coming back."
"And even after that… his future days may not be easy."
Zhang Heng's eyes widened.
Then his fury exploded.
"That little bastard!"
"I told him to cultivate properly and stop causing trouble!"
"And he dared offend the Young Sect Master?!"
He clenched his fists so hard his knuckles turned white.
Then he looked at Lin Ye urgently.
"Nephew Lin… what can be done?"
Lin Ye spoke like someone carrying bad news.
"Patriarch Zhang, don't worry."
"My relationship with the Young Sect Master is… decent."
"He said as long as you pay twenty million spirit stones, this matter will be settled."
"And from then on, everyone will still be fellow disciples."
"But…"
Lin Ye's voice dropped colder.
"This cannot be made public."
Zhang Heng stumbled back as if struck.
"Twenty… million?!"
"My Zhang Clan doesn't earn that much in a year!"
He stared at Lin Ye, suspicion flickering in his eyes.
Could this be a scam?
But Lin Ye looked convincing.
His identity couldn't be faked.
And twenty million…
was a terrifying number.
Even a Third-Grade pill only cost around five million.
This ransom was absurd.
Zhang Heng hesitated, teeth grinding.
"Then… I'll go to the sect personally."
"I'll beg the Young Sect Master myself."
Lin Ye nodded slowly.
"Very well."
"If Patriarch Zhang doesn't trust my negotiation…"
"then go explain to the Young Sect Master yourself."
"And also explain the… situation involving Brother Wenxu…"
"…and the Young Sect Master's fiancée."
"Ah—?!"
Zhang Heng's face turned deathly white.
He nearly fainted on the spot.
He hadn't expected something that serious.
His son…
had gotten involved with the Young Sect Master's fiancée?
That wasn't just trouble.
That was lightning-from-the-heavens level suicide.
If that was truly the case…
then twenty million to settle it…
was actually cheap.
Lin Ye stepped back.
"This is something Brother Wenxu told me to give you."
"He said once you see it, you'll believe me."
"I still have a sect mission. Farewell."
He tossed down a jade pendant.
That pendant was something Lin Ye had taken from Zhang Wenxu's storage ring.
Most likely a personal item.
Sure enough—
when Zhang Heng saw it, his mind buzzed.
"That… that's Xu'er's pendant!"
This pendant was special.
Zhang Heng had warned Zhang Wenxu many times:
never give it to anyone.
Only use it in the most critical moment.
"Nephew Lin! Wait!"
Lin Ye had only taken a few steps before Zhang Heng rushed forward and grabbed him.
"I was foolish! I nearly misunderstood your good intentions!"
"Give me a moment!"
He turned and roared.
"Steward! Steward!"
"Go to the treasury and withdraw twenty-five million spirit stones, immediately!"
The steward trembled.
"Master… that amount—"
"Stop talking! Do it!"
"Yes, Master!"
Although the Zhang Clan's yearly profit was limited, raising that much cash on short notice wasn't impossible.
Liquidating assets, selling property—
the clan could manage it.
Not long after, the steward returned carrying a special storage pouch overflowing with spirit stones.
Zhang Heng handed it to Lin Ye with shaking hands.
"Nephew Lin… everything happened so suddenly."
"Here are twenty-five million spirit stones."
"Use them to smooth things out."
"Take the remainder for yourself."
"When Wenxu returns, I will reward you heavily!"
Lin Ye accepted the pouch without expression.
"Brother Wenxu's matter… leave it to me."
Zhang Heng clasped his hands desperately.
"Please. I'm counting on you."
Lin Ye nodded.
"Don't worry."
"It's on me."
He left the Zhang Clan estate.
From start to finish…
less than half an hour had passed.
Lin Ye looked at the pouch containing twenty-five million spirit stones and felt nothing.
To him, this was trivial.
Some things were easier solved by force.
But other things…
were best solved with the mind.
And this?
This was effortless.
Now he could focus on the real goal:
the Blood-Asura treasure.
Grand Fortune Auction House
The intel said the item would be auctioned here.
Lin Ye knew his core disciple robe would attract too much attention, so he casually bought a black cloak and covered himself.
Decisiveness didn't require being flashy.
Low-key could achieve the same outcome.
Half an hour before the auction began, Lin Ye bought an entry ticket for ten spirit stones and took a seat in a remote corner.
While waiting, he cultivated the Nine Revolutions Asura Art.
As his cultivation rose…
the endless Blood Sea within his mind seemed to shift subtly.
Strange.
"Why is there… a reef?"
When Lin Ye's consciousness entered the Blood Sea, he saw something new:
Beside the Blood Peak…
a small jagged rock had emerged.
Only a corner of it was visible above the blood-red waves.
But beneath the surface, it felt massive.
Like another hidden structure.
Just like the Blood Peak.
Lin Ye's consciousness couldn't penetrate the Blood Sea itself.
Which meant whatever was carved into that "reef"…
remained unknown.
Another seal? Another inheritance?
His eyes narrowed.
Then—
a voice rang out from the auction stage.
"Thank you all for your patience."
"The auction officially begins."
Lin Ye opened his eyes.
Even though he had been cultivating, he had remained half-alert the entire time.
On the platform, an elderly auctioneer held the hammer.
Two beautiful attendants pushed a wooden cart forward.
A red cloth covered the item on it.
Lin Ye's gaze swept around.
He sensed several Earth Transformation Realm cultivators hidden among the crowd.
Only Earth Transformation Realm?
For a major auction house like this…
shouldn't there be at least one Heaven Phenomenon Realm expert?
Too weak.