CHAPTER 216: CHAPTER 84: ELIMINATING RONG YAN [FIRST UPDATE]

Watching Rong Yan being swallowed by the explosion of the talisman, Rong Ye’s expression was very calm, while He Wende and Li Xu’s expressions were extremely unpleasant.

They were hired by the Rong Family to protect Rong Yan. If Rong Yan died, it would be difficult for them to account for it upon returning. Given the Rong Family’s capabilities, dealing with the two of them would be quite easy.

When the light dissipated, what appeared in front of Rong Ye and the others was a talisman turned to ashes, and their expressions changed.

"Substitute Talisman!" Rong Ye gritted his teeth as he uttered the name of the talisman, his face very unsightly, "Rong Yuanqiao actually dared to steal the Rong Family’s treasured heirloom!"

The Rong Family is renowned for their talismans, and they have collections of particularly precious ones, such as the Substitute Talisman Rong Ye just mentioned, which is one of them.

The Substitute Talisman in the Rong Family’s collection was crafted by an ancestor who had ascended, and its grade is close to the Immortal Rank.

Otherwise, in such a situation just now, a regular Substitute Talisman would not have been able to withstand such an explosion.

However, items like these are usually kept in secrecy by the Rong Family. To use them, one must obtain permission from the elders and the Family Head.

But now it’s obvious that Rong Yuanqiao gave the Substitute Talisman to Rong Yan without the elders’ permission. If other members of the Rong Family found out, Rong Yuanqiao’s time as Family Head would be over.

Rong Ye’s anger stems from this. In his mind, the Rong Family still holds a certain status, and for Rong Yuanqiao to harm his father for personal gain, and now for personal gain again, give the Rong Family’s treasured Substitute Talisman to Rong Yan!

If he remembers correctly, there are only three of this level of Substitute Talisman in total in the Rong Family, and one was just used by Rong Yan. This is very unfair to the rest of the Rong Family!

As the talisman turned to ashes and drifted away, Rong Yan’s figure appeared before them. He was not in a good state at this time.

His clothes, already rather tattered, were now practically unrecognizable, with various wounds of different sizes, and his face was extremely pale, seeming as if he might collapse at any moment.

"Rong Yan, Rong Yuanqiao actually gave you one of only three Substitute Talismans. If the other elders of the Rong Family knew, his tenure as Family Head would be over." Rong Ye said with a cold face, in an unpleasant tone.

Fear flickered in Rong Yan’s eyes. He understood better than Rong Ye what the result would be if others knew of such a matter.

"Therefore, those who know about this cannot be left alive." Rong Yan’s pale face broke into a strange smile. He pulled out a pure black talisman from his pocket.

Seeing this talisman, Rong Ye’s expression finally changed.

Behind Rong Yan, He Wende and Li Xu’s expressions also changed.

"Young Master Rong, what do you mean by this? Do you intend to eliminate even us?" He Wende asked coldly, looking at Rong Yan.

"Of course, what he holds is one of the Rong Family’s treasures, the Great Xuan Thunder Talisman, containing Immortal Spiritual Power capable of destroying heaven and earth." Rong Ye said mockingly.

Upon hearing this, He Wende and Li Xu’s expressions changed again.

"Brother He, Brother Li, you should not blame me. Blame only that Rong Ye has pushed me too far, and you have discovered my secret, so I cannot let you live. To die under the Great Xuan Thunder Talisman is a privilege for you." Rong Yan started with some guilt but seeing their angry gazes at this point, his expression became calm, speaking righteously.

He Wende and Li Xu glared angrily at Rong Yan, dissatisfied with his words.

Rong Yan no longer paid attention to this. He looked at Rong Ye, the smile on his lips suddenly turning mad, and began to input Spiritual Power into the Great Xuan Thunder Talisman.

Just as Rong Ye was about to rush over to stop Rong Yan, his peripheral vision caught a glimpse of a golden light. The golden light swept past him, carrying a chill, heading straight for the hand Rong Yan was clutching the talisman with.

"Ah!"

Rong Yan suddenly screamed, clutching his severed arm, looking fiercely at Rong Ye’s back.

Rong Ye took the opportunity to snatch the Great Xuan Thunder Talisman in his hand, placing it inside his Qiankun Ring before turning to look behind him.

Only to see Si Lin standing expressionless where he had stood before, holding the Dragon Capturing Sword, and it was Si Lin’s Sword Qi that had just shot out.

"Senior Brother, how did you get in?" Rong Ye looked at Si Lin with some surprise.

"Geng Geng was worried about you, so I came in to check." Si Lin sheathed the Dragon Capturing Sword, glanced at Rong Yan, who looked at him with both fear and hatred, "Don’t waste time, we still need to find the other keys."

"Alright, I understand." Rong Ye glanced at Rong Yan and answered.

Si Lin had only come to remind Rong Ye. Seeing that Rong Ye alone could handle things, he directly turned around and left.

After Si Lin left, Rong Ye turned to look at Rong Yan.

"Originally, if I hadn’t run into you in the Trial Land, I intended to deal with you outside, letting you see the fate of your parents. But since you’re so eager to die, I’ll grant your wish directly." Rong Ye looked at Rong Yan with a face full of sarcasm, his eyes extremely cold.

Before Rong Yan could speak, a golden talisman appeared in Rong Ye’s hand. This was a talisman he had created upon advancing, and he had only successfully drawn one. Using it on Rong Yan, he felt somewhat regretful.

"This is a new talisman I have recently created, called the Nine Heavens Divine Talisman. To be the first to be used with this talisman is also your honor." He returned Rong Yan’s words to He Wende and Li Xu back to Rong Yan.

Rong Yan was full of discontent and anger, looking venomously at Rong Ye, just about to speak, only to see Rong Ye already activating the talisman in his hand, the golden talisman rushing towards him.

He wanted to dodge, only to find, in horror, that his body was fixed. He looked at Rong Ye, his face filled with disbelief.

Rong Ye looked at him calmly, and the golden talisman instantly reached him. As it burned, the golden light directly enveloped Rong Yan.

"Brother He, Brother Li, save me!" Rong Yan was enveloped in the light, not forgetting to scream for help from He Wende and Li Xu.

Unfortunately, the two, having felt disheartened by his actions earlier, had no desire to help him.

"Ah! Rong Ye, my father will never let you go!" Rong Yan roared, and then there was silence.

The golden light gradually shrank, finally dissipating into the air, and this time, without the Substitute Talisman, Rong Yan perished completely.

Rong Ye’s expression remained calm throughout. With Rong Yan dead, he let out a long breath and turned his gaze towards He Wende and Li Xu.

"We all previously received favors from the Rong Family Master and agreed to help him. It wasn’t our intention to go against you." He Wende explained himself immediately upon noticing Rong Ye’s gaze fixed on him.

Just now, they had witnessed Rong Ye’s formidable skills. Rong Ye was nothing like what Rong Yan and Rong Yuanqiao described. The fact that the three of them, together with Rong Yan, at ninth rank couldn’t manage to defeat Rong Ye proves that Rong Ye’s cultivation is very high.

Though they promised Rong Yuanqiao, it was only to accompany Rong Yan through the Trial Land, not to help Rong Yan confront Rong Ye!

"That’s right, we didn’t mean to oppose you." Li Xu added, after being pulled by He Wende.

Rong Ye glanced at them indifferently, then withdrew his gaze and turned to walk outside.

As soon as Rong Ye turned around, He Wende and Li Xu’s expressions suddenly changed. The two exchanged a glance and drew their weapons to attack Rong Ye.

It was as if Rong Ye had eyes on his back. The Heavenly Awakening Record immediately formed a wall of talismans behind him, blocking the attacks from both of them.

"Heavenly Awakening Thunder Flash Talisman!"

Without even turning back, he uttered coldly, and a silver talisman flew out from the Heavenly Awakening Record. Under He Wende and Li Xu’s horrified gazes, two thick bolts of lightning struck them directly.

The expressions on their faces froze, their bodies turning charred black, and they finally fell straight to the ground.

As Rong Ye reached the cave entrance, he glanced back before turning around, passing through the waterfall, and arriving at the shore.

"Is it resolved?" Si Lin asked Rong Ye.

"Yes." Rong Ye nodded, his expression very calm.

"Then let’s continue to find the next key." Si Lin turned to the others and said.

Everyone naturally had no objections and promptly got up to search the next location marked on the map.

...

At the Rong Family Master’s residence, in the courtyard where Rong Yuanqiao resides.

Since Rong Yan and the others entered the Trial Land, Rong Yuanqiao had been thinking about them. However, he was relatively confident in Rong Yan, after all, he had not only told Rong Yan many secrets but also provided him with means for self-preservation. Rong Yan would surely succeed!

That morning, just after finishing breakfast and preparing to go to the study to handle affairs, a servant watching over the ancestral hall came running over, stumbling in urgency.

"Master, something is wrong, something is wrong!" The servant shouted as he ran.

"What’s wrong, speak properly!" Rong Yuanqiao’s chief steward, Rong San, scolded coldly at the servant who ran over.

Though Rong Yuanqiao didn’t speak, his sentiment matched Rong San’s, showing displeasure towards the servant’s words.

"Master, the Young Master, he, he..." The servant stuttered under Rong Yuanqiao’s gaze, too nervous to continue.

"What about Yan’er?" Rong Yuanqiao suddenly stood up from his chair and approached the servant, asking nervously.

"The Young Master’s soul lamp... the soul lamp has gone out!" The servant closed his eyes and said what he needed to say.

Upon hearing this, Rong Yuanqiao felt as if the sky was collapsing. His vision went black, nearly causing him to topple over, but Rong San quickly helped him stay on his feet.

"Master, are you alright?" Rong San, equally shocked by the news, was more concerned about Rong Yuanqiao’s condition and quickly asked, nervous and worried.

Rong Yuanqiao waved his hand, looked at the servant kneeling on the ground, and after a while, when the blackness in front of him had lessened, he finally opened his mouth, "What happened? Explain it to me clearly."

"Responding to the master, while I was cleaning the ancestral hall just now, I happened to be near the Mixed Lamp of the Young Master. I saw the Young Master’s soul lamp flicker and then go out." Having said the most difficult words, the servant, no longer stammering, quickly explained the situation.

In families and sects like the Rong Family and Lingxi Sacred Land, a soul lamp is left for disciples, considering that these disciples venture out into the world after coming of age. As long as the soul lamp remains lit, it indicates that the person is alive. If it goes out, it signifies that the person has died.

Both Rong Yan and Rong Ye naturally have soul lamps in the Rong Family. Now that Rong Yan’s soul lamp is out, it implies that Rong Yan may already be dead!

"How is this possible?" Rong Yuanqiao found it hard to believe. He had prepared so much for Rong Yan’s survival; how could Rong Yan possibly be dead? "What about Rong Ye? Is Rong Ye’s soul lamp still intact?"

"Young Master Rong Ye’s soul lamp," under Rong Yuanqiao’s predatory gaze, the servant spoke softly, "Young Master Rong Ye’s soul lamp is still intact."

"Bang!"

Rong Yuanqiao slammed his palm on the nearby wooden table, shattering it completely.

"Outrageous!" His expression was full of anger. "My son’s soul lamp has gone out, while Rong Ye’s soul lamp is still intact. This is outrageous!"

Rong Yuanqiao found it hard to accept this truth. He never expected his highly anticipated son, Rong Yan, to perish, while Rong Ye, whom he had always looked down upon, was still alive!

If Rong Ye appeared in front of him at this moment, he might even be tempted to kill Rong Ye outright!

Seeing Rong Yuanqiao so furious, and the servant on the ground frightened by his demeanor, Rong San quickly waved his hand, gesturing for the servant to leave quickly. The servant, casting a grateful look at Rong San, glanced once at the seemingly deranged Rong Yuanqiao and, like before, stumbled and tumbled out of the front hall of the courtyard.

"Master, please restrain your grief." The servant could leave, but Rong San could not. Not only that, he had to advise Rong Yuanqiao, urging him to accept this matter quickly. "The Trial Land is inherently perilous; perhaps the First Young Master was simply unfortunate."

Rong Yuanqiao, still immersed in the fact that Rong Ye turned out to be stronger than Rong Yan, had always undervalued Rong Ye over the years. Even when Wen Guiyun took Rong Ye as a disciple, he didn’t pay much attention, believing that Rong Ye was always rather mediocre.

This notion was deeply ingrained in his mind, and if not for it, he might have taken care of Rong Ye long ago instead of letting him be. How could he have imagined that, one day, this person he underestimated would corner him like this!

He had even given Rong Yan a Substitute Talisman and a Great Xuan Thunder Talisman. These were treasures of the Rong Family, not to be used indiscriminately. If the elders of the Rong Family discovered this, they wouldn’t even wait for Rong Ye to emerge from the Trial Land; they’d depose him as Family Head immediately!