Chapter 23: Endless Terror

In an instant, the power within Ye Jiuyao’s core gathered, surging forth with overwhelming force. He had no true measure of Sun Qigang’s strength, but anything sealed by the Canglang Diagram could not possibly be weak. At that moment, dazzling light erupted, sharp as lightning, as if the might of the heavens was drawn forth and condensed into a colossal rod that descended from above.

The staff bore the destructive power to annihilate worlds, crushing down as if shattering the very fabric of space. Ye Jiuyao moved with it—his steps appeared faltering, yet to the eyes of those in the Hall of Yellow Springs, his speed was beyond comprehension.

In less than a breath, Ye Jiuyao swept in with invincible authority. The immense rod radiated a terrifying aura, causing the air to hum as it pressed through the void. With a deafening roar, the one who had attacked moments earlier was obliterated by the staff’s power—his protective energy, formidable as it was, proved utterly useless, and he was reduced to dust beneath Sun Qigang’s mighty blow.

The faces of those within the Hall of Yellow Springs were now twisted with fear; suspicion had vanished, replaced by terror. None dared meet Ye Jiuyao’s gaze, their heads bowed low.

Bodies trembled, and Ye Jiuyao gave a cold snort as he strode toward them. Their trembling intensified, and they dropped to their knees.

“Senior, we were blind and ignorant—please accept our compensation,” they pleaded.

“Hmph! Is compensation what I desire?” Ye Jiuyao scoffed. “I have lived for a thousand years—there is little I have not seen. Yet I have never steeled my heart enough to eat human flesh. Perhaps… you might let me try?”

The words cut through the old patriarch’s plea, chilling and laden with the scent of death.

Those in the Hall of Yellow Springs were struck dumb with fright, bowing their heads even lower, unable to look at Ye Jiuyao—only his feet remained in their sight.

“You must carry many valuables. Give them all to me. Then, within one hour, bring the sect’s spirit stones—ten billion, no more. Is that clear?” His voice was calm, devoid of emotion, as if such demands were mere numbers to him.

“Any objections?”

“There are…”

“If there are, then leave your lives behind.”

The patriarch tried to speak, but Ye Jiuyao cut him off again, his words sharp as knives.

A cold sweat soaked the old man’s back, and the rest dared not utter a word. Despite their profound cultivation, the patriarch’s seniority was highest, and he was already too terrified to speak. To protest would be to drag them all into oblivion.

“Good. Compared to others, you are clever. It’s been a long time since I sharpened my teeth—almost forgotten what spirit stones taste like…”

The group flushed with embarrassment; ten billion spirit stones, just for sharpening teeth! Did that mean the rest were mere bath salts? Their minds raced, but their hands moved quickly, stripping off their spatial rings lest Ye Jiuyao’s mood suddenly turn.

“Though you’re a bit poor, it will suffice. Pills for children—you all have them. Reminds me of my youth…”

“The rest of you, prepare the spirit stones. As for him—he will stay as collateral, lest you try to flee…”

Ye Jiuyao’s withered hand landed on the patriarch, who, being the weakest in cultivation and having fought him once already, was the obvious choice.

The others, relieved it wasn’t themselves, fled with utmost speed, but dared not forget Ye Jiuyao’s command: one hour to gather ten billion.

Ten billion spirit stones—just one hundred million crystals. For the Hall of Yellow Springs, it was not ruinous, so they felt less aggrieved.

“Sir… Senior, about…”

“Kneel, and call me Grandfather. Continue until they bring the spirit stones to ransom you.”

“What a miserable day—always running into unsavory sorts and wasting my time. Imprisoned for over a thousand years, I’ve never actually tasted human flesh… Maybe…”

Though his words were muttered, the patriarch heard them clearly. Especially as Ye Jiuyao’s gaze lingered, fear gripped him completely.

Ye Jiuyao stared at him for a while. When a strange, unpleasant odor wafted up, he burst into laughter, spat in disgust, and strode into the cave with the Demon-Suppressing Tablet on his back.

The patriarch now wished for death. He had been so frightened he’d wet himself. As he prepared to clean up, a thunderous shout echoed from within:

“Kneel, grandson! Call me Grandfather!”

The patriarch collapsed again, calling out “Grandfather.” At first, it was humiliating, but soon he found himself shouting it with increasing gusto.

“It’s a windfall! Once I’ve conned them, I’ll slip back—after all, the Domain Lord is protecting me. They won’t dare attack outright, with the rules in place.”

Ye Jiuyao meticulously counted the spatial rings, his soul power probing through each. There was a wide array of treasures—spirit crystals numbering in the millions.

“Hm? Bull-tiger spirit beast? Excellent, excellent…”

“Bear’s heart and leopard’s gall? What sort of pervert keeps organs like these…”

“Oh, a dragon’s body—a bit old, but roasted, it should taste fine…”

Ye Jiuyao inspected each ring, finding many spirit beast carcasses and organs—prime meats that stirred his appetite.

A sudden thought struck him. He drew spirit energy from within, and with a flick of his intent, blazing flames appeared. He retrieved a deer leg, as thick as a human thigh, and roasted it over the fire.

Soon, the aroma filled the cave.

“Ah… fragrant, truly fragrant…” Ye Jiuyao snapped off the hoof, shrouded the meat in an illusion so it appeared as a human leg, and carried it outside, blood dripping.

“Grandson, want a leg? A young fellow just came in, and…” Ye Jiuyao waved the bloody leg, taking a hearty bite. The patriarch, seeing this, shouted with renewed fervor, even knocking his head to the ground.

“Come, eat! Human flesh is delicious!”

Ye Jiuyao was delighted, though he maintained a dignified appearance, gnawing the deer leg with relish and thrusting it toward the patriarch, forcibly trying to make him take it.

The old man recoiled ten meters, furiously banging his head. “Grandfather, spare me! I won’t eat meat—I’ll never eat meat again!”

Ye Jiuyao found him rather pitiable—a venerable elder reduced to near madness by fright.

Meanwhile, the patriarch cursed the ancestors of all the Hall’s strongmen, though he was cursing his own lineage, for he was nearly insane.

Imagine—a mad old man thrusting a blood-stained human leg at you, biting into it with yellowed teeth, and extolling the taste of flesh.

Such was the patriarch’s torment: faci