Male Consort Upgrade System

by Usui Takumii

not mine, ckanda writes, beware bl. Total: 247 Chapters.

25. 231 to 240

Min Liye used only fifty percent of his strength, but he was still easily countered by Yan Ge. This made him realize that he had underestimated Yan Ge. His heart trembled, and he abandoned the idea of probing, instead directly revealing his weapon.

Yan Ge looked at the cotton-candy-like object in Min Liye's right hand with curiosity. What kind of weapon was this?

Seeing his reaction, Li Yue appeared quite pleased, as if Yan Ge had been defeated by Min Liye.

He Chuanfeng's brow furrowed slightly, showing more seriousness than before. Min Liye's weapon was called "Light Mist and Flying Sand." It was a treasure left behind by a senior in the cultivation world. It was crafted using two rare materials: ice silkworm silk and polar ice.

Even though he was sparring with a less powerful opponent, Yan Ge didn't dare to be careless. The "Light Mist and Flying Sand" possessed not only powerful killing ability but also toxicity.

The other disciples moved aside in order not to obstruct Min Liye.

Min Liye's feet moved in a peculiar pattern on the ground, springing up like a sly rabbit. The "cotton candy" in his right hand faded in color, turning into a thin mist that seemed alive as it lunged toward Yan Ge. Countless brown sand-like particles were mixed within the mist, rushing towards Yan Ge at a very fast speed.

In the blink of an eye, the mist was right in front of Yan Ge. Suddenly, it dispersed like a thin veil, revealing a net of intricate holes that were as fine as a honeycomb, descending from above Yan Ge's head.

Yan Ge sensed faint layers of energy fluctuations. He frowned and his figure flickered, instantly appearing several meters away. Unexpectedly, those sand-like particles were alive—they were swarming insects!

Min Liye's eyebrows twitched, a hint of triumph in his expression. These insects weren't ordinary insects; they were called "Ice Worms." They lived within the polar ice, which resonated uniquely with the polar ice material in the weapon. Since the "Light Mist and Flying Sand" recognized Min Liye as its master, there was a connection between him and the insects, so they were under his control.

Thinking that Yan Ge was frightened, Min Liye attacked once again, and made the mist surge over to where he stood.

Yan Ge observed the swarm of insects with disgust. He skillfully dodged, not letting the insects touch him. Raising his right hand, he expelled condensed true qi from his palm. It solidified into water and rapidly heated up, emitting hot steam. It took on the shape of a fishing net, enclosed the mist, and then condensed and compressed it—the process seemed slow, but it all happened in an instant. The mist was compressed into a grape-sized brown bead, and was then heated until it shattered into fragments!

He Chuanfeng looked at Yan Ge in horror. Such strong true qi!

Li Yue and the others were dumbfounded, staring at Yan Ge in shock, even forgetting their fear.

Yan Ge examined the shattered pieces on the ground. He would need someone to clean up the office later, preferably washing it with water.

Min Liye was both shocked and angered. His eyes glinted with a mix of emotions as he gazed at Yan Ge. His eyes were bloodshot with red veins, bulging terrifyingly, as if they were about to pop out of their sockets.

"Yan Ge! I won't spare you!" Min Liye shouted, pouncing on Yan Ge like an enraged lion.

A trace of killing intent flashed in Yan Ge's eyes.

He Chuanfeng realized the situation was bad and moved forward, simultaneously delivering a palm strike to Min Liye's chest.

Yan Ge understood his intention and cast a casual glance his way, thinking: Too late.

He struck out with his palm, and Min Liye let out a muffled groan, falling to the ground.

He Chuanfeng's plan was good: Min Liye had angered Yan Ge, so he wounded Min Liye first, helping him evade Yan Ge's attack. Also, since he had personally dealt with Min Liye, Yan Ge probably wouldn't make another lethal move. After all, the Mimon Mountain was a sect, while Yan Ge and Huangfu Yuchen were alone.

Unfortunately, Yan Ge knew that Min Liye had developed resentment towards him. Even sparing his life wouldn't earn gratitude so he had to eliminate any potential threat. His prior warning when he sealed Li Yue and the others' true qi didn't serve the effect of killing chicken to warn the monkeys, but Min Liye came at the right time.

Poor Min Liye. Having been struck twice, how could he survive? He lifted his head stiffly, looked at He Chuanfeng, and then at Yan Ge, closed his eyes, and died.

He Chuanfeng's chest felt heavy, Min Liye's look was filled with suspicion and hatred. Apparently, he hadn't understood his well-intentioned intervention. Min Liye didn't understand, would the disciples understand his actions?

Yan Ge felt a bit sympathetic for Min Liye, but only a bit.

He glanced at Li Yue, Xiong Wei, and Wu Meng. His expression seemed friendly, and his tone was as if chatting with friends casually, "I didn't do anything to you guys last time. Do you think I'm kind?"

Only now did Li Yue and Wu Meng snap out of their stupor, instinctively taking a few steps back, trembling uncontrollably.

He Chuanfeng took a step forward, "Fellow cultivator Yan, considering that one of my sect members has been harmed, please let go of the past."

Yan Ge waved his hand without looking at him, "I spared you because the number of cultivators in the country is extremely limited, but unfortunately, you don't know how to appreciate it. This time, I won't do anything to you, but I'll prepare coffins for you, waiting for your third visit. Hehe, the feng shui at the foot of the western side of Fengshan is quite good."

Li Yue and Wu Meng were weak in the legs and had pale faces. They didn't even dare to look at him.

Xiong Wei calmed down a bit, after all, he had never taken action against Yan Ge.

He Chuanfeng sighed and bowed to Yan Ge, "I'm sorry for the trouble, we'll take our leave."

His disciples carried Min Liye's body and left in a hurry.

Passersby asked what had happened to Min Liye with concern, and He Chuanfeng simply said he had drunk too much. Since there were no external injuries on Min Liye's body, no one suspected anything.

After leaving the gate of the farm, He Chuanfeng looked back and sighed with regret. Unfortunately, Li Yue and the others were too impulsive, and Min Liye was too greedy. Otherwise, even if they just had a few meals at the farm and stayed for a day, they could have absorbed a considerable amount of spiritual energy.

"Let's go."

They hurried away, not noticing several people watching them from a distance.

"That old man Min Liye is being supported by two people. Could he be seriously injured?" One of the girls with shoulder-length hair in her twenties said gleefully.

The tall and thin young man beside her shook his head and said decisively, "He's dead."

"Oh?"

The others exchanged glances, their expressions becoming more solemn.

One of them said, "This farm is interesting. It seems we need to change our attitude."

The girl flicked her hair and said, "Let's not talk about this for now. Let's go in, have a meal, and then decide. The farm might not allow cultivators to stay, but they didn't say they wouldn't treat cultivators to meals, tours, and entertainment."

The others nodded and walked towards the farm leisurely.

Yan Ge watched them from a distance as they ate honestly and participated in activities. He paid no further attention to them, calling He Xin on the couch.

At the peak of Mount Zhu

The area was covered in ice and snow, desolate and indifferent. Looking into the distance, it appeared as an invincible steel mountain, reflecting the blue of the sky. It was like a massive blue jade, it was truly breathtaking.

On this mountain was a secret cave entrance, inside of which were two individuals.

These two people seemed to be around thirty years old, dignified in appearance and somewhat similar, like a pair of brothers. The older one was chopping wood to start a fire. The younger one was sitting cross-legged on a blanket, emitting strands of cold air that formed a thin layer of frost. About half an hour later, he opened his eyes. There was a slight smile on his face, indicating his satisfaction with this training session's results.

Just as the two were about to speak, a shadow suddenly appeared at the entrance of the cave. They both jumped up instantly, standing side by side and staring warily in the direction of the entrance.

The figure at the entrance was a handsome young man, his expression icy and devoid of any emotion as he looked at them. Despite the deep winter weather and being on the peak of Mount Zhu, he was wearing only a windbreaker, seemingly unaffected by the cold. This made the two brothers even more cautious — this person's cultivation was undoubtedly much higher than theirs, and by a significant margin!

"Are you the Guo brothers?"

Guo Jian stared at him warily, "Who are you?"

"Huangfu Yuchen." Huangfu Yuchen's gaze fell upon the two. This pair of brothers was in perfect synchronization, they stood side by side, one was in a defensive posture, and the other in an offensive one.

"So, it's fellow cultivator Huangfu Yuchen."

Guo Jian was the one who asked, his tone very calm.

Guo Yi remained silent, evidently placing great trust in his elder brother.

Huangfu Yuchen: "Rest assured, I mean no harm. If I wanted to kill you, you would have died long ago."

Guo Jian and Guo Yi continued to fix their gaze on him, not speaking, but inwardly, they believed Huangfu Yuchen's words. They didn't recognize this person at all, so naturally, he couldn't be their enemy. He had come all this way to the snowy mountain for a reason.

With a swift movement, Huangfu Yuchen appeared in front of them. He placed his hands on their shoulders, and in an instant, they were out of the cave. At the same time, everything in the cave, apart from the bonfire, flew out and disappeared.

Guo Jian and Guo Yi were greatly shocked! This man's hand seemed to immobilize them, rendering them unable to move.

Guo Jian was about to speak, but his vision blurred, and he suddenly found himself in a spacious living room.

Sensing the abundant spiritual energy in the area, the two exchanged astonished glances. Were they still in Huaxia? How could there be a place with such abundant spiritual energy in Huaxia?

Guo Jian asked, "What exactly do you want?"

Huangfu Yuchen didn't release them from the immobilization. He sat down on the couch and poured three cups of tea with ease, "This is Fengshan, the capital's imperial city. My farm is set up with a spiritual gathering formation, so there's plenty of spiritual energy here. Because of this, a lot of cultivators have been attracted. However, the farm has rules. We only host cultivators for meals and entertainment, not for long stays. My partner and I are usually too busy to supervise the entering cultivators, so I thought of hiring you two as assistants. The advantage for you is that you can freely use the spiritual energy here for cultivation. What do you think?" He learned about the existence of these two individuals from Wang Zhiyuan.

Guo Jian and Guo Yi were surprised.

"Why us?" Guo Yi asked. He was somewhat intrigued, but more skeptical.

Huangfu Yuchen explained, "I heard that the two of you have a deep bond and trust each other. When one of you is working, the other can go into seclusion, that's one point. Second, you two are independent cultivators without any affiliation to a sect or faction, so you don't have any complicated interpersonal relationships with the cultivation world that could bring trouble. Third, you both are in the Middle of the Foundation Establishment stage, so your cultivation levels are not low and can handle regular cultivators." These were the three reasons he chose them. As for their character, it was secondary. In case Guo Jian and Guo Yi had ulterior motives, he and Yan Ge had control over the situation.

"Why should we believe you?" Guo Jian said coldly. He and Guo Yi were indeed independent cultivators. By now, they were both in their thirties. When they were in their teens, they had encountered a storm while herding cattle and took shelter in a mountain stream at the foot of the mountain. They unintentionally discovered a hidden cave, where they found a cultivation manual, thus, they began their journey on the path of cultivation.

Fortunately, their talents were decent, and in just over a decade, they reached the Middle stage of the Foundation Establishment stage. Due to their obsession with cultivation, they hadn't even married. The fact that Huangfu Yuchen knew so much about them made them uneasy.

Huangfu Yuchen smiled faintly, "As you saw earlier, I can teleport. Only my partner and I know this secret. Do you think I would let you leave alive?"

Guo Jian and Guo Yi were taken aback. Huangfu Yuchen could kill them as easily as crushing ants.

After a moment, Guo Jian said, "We agree."

"Big brother?" Guo Yi was surprised.

Guo Jian shook his head at him. In their current situation, they had no choice but to agree.

With a wave of his right hand, Huangfu Yuchen released them from the immobilization.

Guo Jian and Guo Yi exchanged glances, approached, and each picked up a cup of tea to take a sip.

Huangfu Yuchen raised his hand again, and the various items they had brought from the cave neatly appeared on the ground.

Guo Jian and Guo Yi were astonished once more. Although they were independent cultivators, they had interacted with other cultivators and had a decent knowledge of cultivation. They were aware that Huangfu Yuchen must possess a storage artifact. In the current cultivation world, ancient weapons were scarce, and storage artifacts were even rarer, only found in those well-established sects. However, they had never heard of Huangfu Yuchen's name before. Who exactly was he?

Huangfu Yuchen dialed a number on his phone, "Xiao Ge, I'm back. Where are you?"

There was no reply, but the door opened.

Huangfu Yuchen looked up as Yan Ge entered, waving his phone. He looked at Huangfu Yuchen with a smile and then glanced at Guo Jian and Guo Yi.

"These are the people I've invited over for the second service office. The two brothers Guo Jian and Guo Yi," Huangfu Yuchen walked over to Yan Ge and took the fruit basket in his hands that contained oranges and apples, each one full and ripe, and the apples a vibrant red.

"Hello, I'm Yan Ge. Try some of the fruits from the farm," Yan Ge said as he casually grabbed two pieces of fruit from the basket and handed them to Guo Jian and Guo Yi.

Guo Jian and Guo Yi took the fruits in silence, but Yan Ge had an amiable appearance and a smile, it made it hard to feel any dislike towards him.

Yan Ge then took out two spirit stones from his spatial storage and handed them over, saying with a smile, "Here's a little welcome gift. I hope we can have a pleasant cooperation in the future." He knew that Huangfu Yuchen's "invitation" certainly wasn't a true invitation, but he wasn't opposed to this manner of interaction. In the world of cultivation, strength was respected. Even if Guo Jian and Guo Yi were reluctant, they had no means to resist. Moreover, there was no ill intent towards them from him and Huangfu Yuchen. If they could peacefully coexist, that would be even better.

Before they even took the spirit stones, Guo Jian and Guo Yi sensed the surging spiritual energy.

Guo Yi looked at Ya Ge in astonishment, and asked uncertainly, "Could this be the legendary spirit stone?"

Yan Ge nodded, "But only for today."

Guo Jian and Guo Yi exchanged a glance. There was no harm in accepting benefits, especially since they had no hope of escaping. They could only take it step by step.

Huangfu Yuchen took a map from the coffee table and handed it to Guo Jian, "This is the map of the farm. You'll be working in the second service office from now on. Your living quarters are behind it-it's two rooms and a living room. My partner and I won't interfere with your freedom, but there are two requirements: first, you can't disclose anything about me and my partner; second, no matter how you arrange your schedules, at least one of you must be working. Working hours are from 7 AM to 10 PM. Sundays are off."

Guo Jian and Guo Yi accepted the map and nodded.

Yan Ge took out a duffel bag from his spatial storage and handed it to them, patting their shoulders with a smile, "The farm is quite interesting. You can leave your luggage in your lodging first and then explore around. Tomorrow, you'll start working officially."

Guo Jian and Guo Yi put their simple belongings into the duffel bag, left the room, and glanced back. Yan Ge and Huangfu Yuchen were sitting close together, chatting and laughing. For now, it seemed that the two of them didn't have any ill intent. The two brothers hoped it would stay that way in the future.

"Baby, have you talked to He Xin?" Huangfu Yuchen peeled an apple and asked Yan Ge.

Yan Ge checked the time, turned on the TV, and replied, "Not yet. We've arranged to meet tomorrow night for drinks. Will you come?"

Huangfu Yuchen said, "Sure."

Yan Ge leaned against his leg, found a comfortable position, and got ready to continue watching his favorite TV show.

The next day, the snow fell even more heavily, covering everything in a white blanket. When you step in it, the snow would reach halfway up the calves.

Difeng Road had also been thoroughly covered. Yan Ge arranged for the snow to be cleared, ensuring that it didn't impede the public transportation.

Business at the farm was still thriving.

As evening approached, Yan and Huangfu Yuchen took the bus into the city. They were going to have a drink, so driving wasn't an option.

Most of the frequent visitors to the farm had gotten to know the two proprietors quite well. Seeing the two handsome men board the bus one after the other and take seats in the back row, they found it quite pleasing to the eye. Some people still had reservations about same-sex couples, but both of these men were handsome and impeccable manners. Whether male or female, those who saw them couldn't help but steal a few more glances, mostly out of curiosity.

This was Yan Ge's first time taking a bus since returning to earth. He looked out of the window curiously, watching the snowflakes fall one by one.

Huangfu Yuchen brushed the snow off Yan Ge's beanie and scarf. His face remained expressionless, but his eyes held a tender smile.

A few young girls who had been stealing glances blushed and their hearts raced.

They entered the city and then took a taxi to DREAM Bar. DREAM Bar was an elegant establishment, with soft music playing and low conversations among the patrons.

As soon as they walked in, they drew the attention of many people. They murmured with their friends, most of them praising Yan Ge and Huangfu Yuchen's looks

He Xin had arrived earlier and waved when he saw them.

The three chatted briefly. After Yan Ge and Huangfu Yuchen ordered drinks, He Xin smiled and spoke up, "Is there a reason you two wanted to meet me alone?"

They were all friends, and there was no need to beat around the bush so Yan Ge spoke directly, "We want to offer you a high-paying position to help us manage the farm. Are you interested?"

He Xin was about to speak but was interrupted by Yan Ge. "Don't rush to refuse. Listen to me first. We understand that even if you manage to take back the department store, it will still be quite a hassle. Who knows what kind of situation you and your in-laws will end up in, Miao Miao might be caught in the middle. In that case, why not start your own business independently?"

He Xin leaned back in his chair, took a sip of wine, and sighed, "It's not that I haven't thought about it. It's just…"

Huangfu Yuchen added, "It's just that you don't have the funds, and you're unwilling to borrow from friends. Our idea is to hire you as the CEO of the farm and the two of us will step back from managing it directly. Your annual salary will certainly not be low. After a couple of years, the funds to start your own company will be mostly sufficient."

"That's one aspect. On the other hand—" Yan Ge took over, "as you can see, many of the people visiting the farm are important people. Once you become the CEO, you can quickly build a new network of connections. Coupled with your previous connections, do you think you'll have trouble starting a company?"

He Xin looked at them for a moment, then laughed. "You two have successfully persuaded me."

He raised his glass. "Thank you, my two brothers! I won't say more unnecessary words." He then downed his drink. How could he not know that Yan Ge was offering him a helping hand? He would remember this favor.

With the main topic discussed, the three relaxed and enjoyed their drinks, chatting casually about recent interesting events and gossip.

Not far behind them, there was a commotion. Yan Ge recognized the voice of one of the people and turned to look over. His eyebrows raised in surprise.

Yan Yan? And Xiao Shuai. Yan Yan was holding onto Xiao Shuai's arm, saying something to him. Xiao Shuai seemed patient while listening, but a trace of impatience flashed in his eyes.

What was going on?

"Brother Xiao, I'm hungry. Let's go have supper," Yan Yan looked up and smiled at Xiao Shuai.

"No, I have something to do. It's getting late, you should head home," Xiao Shuai felt he was really naive. He didn't know why, but this kid had latched onto him. Before he agreed to help Huangfu Yuchen bring down the Yan family business, he had only seen Yan Yan once. After agreeing to help Huangfu Yuchen, he thoroughly investigated the Yan family and found out that Yan Yan was Yan Jiaqiang's younger son. To avoid further complications, he hadn't intended to get too close to Yan Yan. But for some reason, Yan Yan suddenly started clinging to him, and whether he wanted it or not, Yan Yan would act spoiled towards him, sometimes even showing a coquettish side. It made him avoid him as much as possible. Unexpectedly, they met at the bar today, and he was once again accosted by him.

Seeing Yan Ge look back, Huangfu Yuchen followed his gaze and raised his eyebrows with interest.

Yan Ge didn't want to get involved with Yan Yan. He quickly looked away, feeling puzzled. Wasn't Yan Yan heterosexual? But the way he looked at Xiao Shuo was very strange, did he think too much?

Huangfu Yuchen grabbed the back of his neck, secretly caressed it twice, and took the opportunity of speaking close to his ear to nibble on his earlobe. "Xiao Shuai is one hundred percent straight. Looks like there will be quite a show."

Yan Ge's mouth twitched. If Yan Yan really had feelings for Xiao Shuai, the Yan family was about to get lively again.

Both of them pretended not to notice Yan Yan and Xiao Shuai.

As they had their backs to Xiao Shuai's direction, he didn't notice them and left the bar. Yan Yan chased after him.

He Xin also noticed, clicked his tongue, and sighed. The current Yan family was pitiful (excluding Yan Ge who had already distanced himself), he felt really sympathetic for Yan Weifeng.

After sitting for a while, the three of them left. Whether they returned home early or late, it didn't matter to Yan Ge and Huangfu Yuchen since their loved one was by their side. He Xin had a family waiting for him, so he headed home.

Yan Ge and Huangfu Yuchen left the bar and hailed a taxi by the roadside.

Suddenly, a black sedan skidded on the snowy ground and rushed toward Yan Ge.

Huangfu Yuchen acted quickly, he wrapped his arm around Yan Ge's waist, and pulled him back a few steps, steadying them both.

The sedan came to a screeching halt about three meters away. A tall man stepped out from the driver's seat and approached Yan Ge and Huangfu Yuchen.

"Sorry—Yan Ge?" The man started speaking and suddenly called out Yan Ge's name.

Yan Ge felt a sense of familiarity upon hearing his voice. He looked closely, paused for a moment, then let out an "Ah," his expression turning into an awkward "囧" face. He glanced at Huangfu Yuchen guiltily.

"So it's President Lin, hehehe, it's been a while."

Huangfu Yuchen narrowed his eyes and pinched Yan Ge's waist hard. What was going on?

Yan Ge forced a dry laugh. This Lin Haoxuan was the man he secretly liked a long time ago. If he hadn't appeared, he probably wouldn't have even remembered him. 'Damn it…'

The name of the man Yan Ge crushed on before transmigrating was mentioned before, but I recall a different from this… perhaps the author decided to change it or just forgot…

"Long time no see." Lin Haoxuan's gaze skimmed Huangfu Yuchen's hand that was on Yan Ge's waist.

Yan Ge patted Huangfu Yuchen's shoulder and spoke in a calm, cheerful tone, "This is my partner, Huangfu Yuchen."

"Mr. Huangfu, it's a pleasure to meet you." Lin Haoxuan nodded at Huangfu Yuchen, "I apologize for earlier, I was in a rush and drove badly. I don't have the chance to properly introduce myself today, so let's arrange a meal to make up for it. Here's my business card."

Huangfu Yuchen took the business card and handed his own card to Lin Haoxuan. He gestured towards Lin Haoxuan's car, "It's okay. You and your friend seem to be in a hurry. We can chat some other time."

A hint of surprise flashed in Lin Haoxuan's eyes. There was so much frost on the car but this person could still tell someone was inside. He didn't think much about it, nodded at the two and quickly left.

Yan Ge watched his departing car with a sense of sentimentality. Suddenly, he felt a pain in his waist. Turning around, he saw Huangfu Yuchen's dark face, his narrowed eyes and pursed lips clearly displaying his displeasure.

Yan Ge quickly explained, "There's nothing between him and me!"

"Is that so?" Huangfu Yuchen trusted Yan Ge and their relationship, so he believed that there couldn't be anything between Yan Ge and Lin Haoxuan. However, seeing Yan Ge watching Lin Haoxuan's departure like that made him uncomfortable. While there might not be anything between Yan Ge and Lin Haoxuan now, there probably was something in the past. What bothered Huangfu Yuchen the most was that Yan Ge had shared many things about his life in this world but never mentioned Lin Haoxuan.

All of Yan Ge's previous cheerfulness faded, and he started feeling uneasy. He felt somewhat amused, but there was also a faint ache in his heart. He preferred seeing Huangfu Yuchen happy. Even though Huangfu Yuchen rarely laughed heartily, his entire presence could exude relaxation and tranquility.

Without explaining, he covered Huangfu Yuchen's ears and pressed his lips against Huangfu Yuchen's slightly cold ones, giving him a soft kiss. He then took his hands off and said, "The snow is getting heavier. Let's head home. I'll explain everything to you in detail."

Huangfu Yuchen didn't say anything, he put Yan Ge's hand in his pocket and held it tightly. They hailed a taxi and then transferred to a bus.

As soon as they returned home, Yan Ge turned to face Huangfu Yuchen. His expression was serious as he confessed, "Yuchen, there's really nothing between Lin Haoxuan and me. I met him at a party—"

Huangfu Yuchen was caught off guard by Yan Ge's sudden confession. The other party had not yet even put off his hat, scarf, and overcoat that were all covered in snow. His heart softened, and he couldn't help but smile. The emptiness he felt was now filled. He removed Yan Ge's beanie and tossed it aside, then cupped the back of his head, imprinting a gentle kiss on his wide eyes.

Yan Ge stared at Huangfu Yuchen's smiling dark eyes, and his lips involuntarily curled up. This Yuchen was so gentle.

Huangfu Yuchen kissed his lips again and removed his scarf, placing it on a nearby chair. He then held Yan Ge by the waist and led him to the bathroom, speaking in a relaxed tone, "Let's take a shower first."

Both of them took a hot shower and then returned in warm robes.

Yan Ge sat at the edge of the bed and Huangfu Yuchen sat behind him. The latter held a white towel and carefully dried Yan Ge's wet hair. He wore a blue towel around his own neck, preventing water droplets from his hair from falling onto the bed.

Yan Ge began explaining the situation between him and Lin Haoxuan in a casual tone, as if narrating someone else's story, "I realized my sexual orientation when I was in my first year of high school. However, I was seeking approval from my parents at that time and had no interest in dating. After graduating, I started my own company and was busy with its affairs, so I still didn't have the time."

Huangfu Yuchen's hand paused. 'So, that meant Lin Haoxuan might have been Xiao Ge's first love?'

Yan Ge gently patted his hand and continued, "I met Lin Haoxuan at a party. I was inexplicably drawn to him, but he had a partner at the time and their relationship was strong. So, I never showed my feelings. Later, I had contact with him due to work and occasionally saw him, but we never spoke. Not long before I was transported to Great Han, I accidentally found out his partner was cheating on him. I had thoughts about confessing, but…"

Huangfu Yuchen's hand slipped, tugging on a few of Yan Ge's hairs. Huangfu Yuchen came back to his senses and gently kissed the top of Yan Ge's head. "Sorry, baby, please continue."

"I was transported to Great Han before I could. I didn't intentionally hide the matter about Lin Haoxuan. A modern person traveling to ancient times has to face too many problems, deal with too many troubles. After entering the palace, I couldn't even think about the past, let alone think about telling you this. Later, I was busy with establishing the company and making money. I didn't have the time to think about the past. After we got together…"

A shallow smile appeared on Huangfu Yuchen's lips. The words "we got together" sounded so pleasant. He tossed the towel onto a chair, wrapped his arms around Yan Ge's waist, and felt a great calmness within him.

"After we got together, I couldn't recall the past. The thing I thought about the most every day was you. How could I possibly remember Lin Haoxuan? If he didn't appear today, I wouldn't even think of him. It's been nine years since we met, and we've been together for over eight years." Yan Ge turned around and planted a kiss Huangfu Yuchen's chin, then leaned against him in a relaxed manner. "Thinking back now, that infatuation at the time was truly inexplicable. I believe everyone encounters a few people in their lifetime, maybe you like someone who doesn't like you, or maybe you don't like someone who likes you. These are all normal. But there's only one person that you can like and who likes you back. Finding this person among the countless people in the world and across different times and spaces, that's the person destined for you. That's the person you must treasure."

He looked up at Huangfu Yuchen, his expression tender and his eyes warm.

"Baby, you're my only true love." Huangfu Yuchen's heart felt as sweet as honey. He rolled over, pressing his lover beneath him. With a wave of his hand, the lights went out…

After the matter with Lin Haoxuan was revealed, the bond between Yan Ge and Huangfu Yuchen grew even stronger.

Lin Haoxuan later invited them to dinner, and the two went happily. Lin Haoxuan had also brought his partner along, a different one from before. This partner was two years younger than Lin Haoxuan. He was a renowned software engineer, and appeared to be much more reliable. The two of them were even planning to get married abroad after the New Year.

The four chatted happily throughout the whole dinner.

After resigning, He Xin came to Fengshan Farm and became its CEO. With Guo Jian and Guo Yi taking care of the cultivators visiting the farm, Yan Ge and Huangfu Yuchen practically became hands-off managers.

After the New Year passed, their cultivation reached the early Crossing Tribulation stage. They continued their domestic travels, arriving at the highest mountain in the country, Mount Langma. Basking in the sun, sipping beer, and enjoying the scenery on the snowy mountaintop, life couldn't be more relaxing.

They spent five to six days on the mountaintop before returning to the human world — specifically, to Province Y.

—"You are my little, little apple…"

Huangfu Yuchen's phone rang.

Yan Ge shook his head and walked to a shop by the roadside, planning to buy some local specialties to bring back for He Xin and Xu Kai.

"Xiao Shuai."

"We couldn't get through when we tried calling you guys before." Xiao Shuai's voice sounded playful over the phone, "So, where have you and Yan Ge been having fun?"

Huangfu Yuchen raised an eyebrow. They had been on the snowy mountain top; it would have been strange if they had a signal.

"Is something wrong?"

"Yes, something is." Xiao Shuai's tone turned serious, "I gave Yan Yan a light reprimand. You and Yan Ge don't mind, do you?"

"No." Huangfu Yuchen rarely gossiped but he couldn't help asking curiously, "What did he do to you?"

"Nonsense! What can he do to me?" Xiao Shuai laughed in exasperation, "I think he has a brain problem. I've told him countless times that I like women and that I have a girlfriend. Still, he insists on pestering me. Now it's even affecting my girlfriend. It's really infuriating. I pursued my girlfriend for four years. If he really manages to upset her, I will put him in compromising situations with a few different men and send the pictures to the Yan family." Xiao Shuai's voice turned cold. Liking men is fine, but clinging to a man who has a girlfriend is a dead-end path. He had long lost any sympathy for Yan Yan.

"I'll pay the courier fee for you." Huangfu Yuchen generously offered.

"Okay, I'll send you the receipt afterward." Xiao Shuai joked. They chatted for a few more moments before ending the call.

Huangfu Yuchen put his phone back into his pocket and looked up. The female shop owner of a fruit store was striking up a conversation with Yan Ge, a big smile on her face. He quickly walked over, pulling Yan Ge close, "Baby, it's lunchtime. Where do you want to eat?"

Yan Ge tilted his chin and signaled forward, "There should be a restaurant up ahead. It's not convenient to drive here, let's just walk."

They hadn't gone far when they exchanged a glance. The two people who had been following them since they entered the city were still there.

Unconcerned, the two of them found a restaurant and enjoyed some delicious local specialties. After leaving the restaurant, they drove to the outskirts and parked the car.

Stepping out of the car, they looked behind them curiously.

Following them were a child and an elderly man around sixty. The child was around eight or nine years old, with delicate features that showed he'll be a handsome man in the future. He was dressed in what appeared to be a school uniform.

The old man had graying hair and a sharp spirit. His expression was impassive, and his fierce eyes were fixed on Yan Ge and Huangfu Yuchen.

"Who are you?" Yan Ge asked casually, not expecting a response.

Surprisingly, the old man answered, "I am Tong He. You should be able to tell that I'm also a cultivator. Someone offered a high price for me to kill you two. Don't blame me; blame your farm for being so tempting, yet you're unwilling to open it to cultivators."

"Killing people with a child in tow? That's not a good habit." Yan Ge chuckled.

The child hid behind Tong He, not saying a word.

Tong He looked at Yan Ge and Huangfu Yuchen. Their faces showed no trace of tension and he grew wary. He glanced at the child. "This is my grandson, Tong Rui. I had no one to leave him with when I went on this trip, so I had no choice."

"Is that so?" Yan Ge remained noncommittal. He wasn't really interested in dealing with Tong He. His current cultivation was at the early Crossing Tribulation stage, would it be interesting to fight against someone in the Foundation Establishment stage? Not at all.

He turned to look at Huangfu Yuchen, a signal that seemed to say, "It's your turn," then sat at the front of the car and took out a banana to eat.

Huangfu Yuchen felt that things couldn't go on like this. He and Yan Ge had come to Earth mainly for leisure, and establishing the farm was meant to counter the Yan family. The fact that those cultivators were coveting the farm was getting quite annoying.

He walked over to Yan Ge, leaned in, and took a bite of the banana. "I've got an idea."

"What idea?" Yan Ge asked.

Huangfu Yuchen explained, "Who has the highest cultivation level in the country? If we defeat him, others won't dare to bother us."

Tong He's pupils contracted. 'What audacious words!'

Yan Ge stroked his chin and licked the banana off his lips, "Good idea. But won't it be too high profile?"

"Are you afraid of being high profile?" Huangfu Yuchen looked at him with a smile.

Yan Ge smiled as well. "Afraid of what?"

The two of them decided on their plan and moved to get into the car.

Since Tong He had taken up this job, he had to follow through. Otherwise, what face would he have left in the cultivation world? Seeing them about to leave, he quickly dashed over, launching a surprise attack on Yan Ge from behind.

Yan Ge acted as if he didn't notice. He opened the car door, and got in.

Huangfu Yuchen delivered a swift palm strike behind him. The move was as elusive as the wind, and it hit Tong He right in the chest.

Tong He was horrified. He retreated three or four steps and had to press his feet tightly against the ground to stabilize himself. The friction between his shoe soles and the ground made a squeaking sound, even emitting a faint puff of smoke. His feet were also burning.

Huangfu Yuchen turned around to get in the car. However, the child suddenly rushed toward him, launching an unexpected ambush. His speed was like a meteor crashing down, the momentum like a rolling wave surging in, filled with killing intent.

Without even turning his head, Huangfu Yuchen lifted his right hand and condensed his true qi into a sword. With a gentle swing, he struck Tong Rui's waist.

Tong Rui fell silently to the ground. His upper and lower body suddenly began to change, elongating gradually. His childish face transformed into a weathered appearance.

He was actually an adult who had practiced a technique to disguise himself as a child. He intended to ambush Huangfu Yuchen and Yan Ge from the shadows, catching them off guard. However, fate played its hand.

Tong He stared at Huangfu Yuchen in horror. His hands were trembling slightly, and his heart was like ashes.

"You, deliver a message to the cultivator with the highest cultivation level here. Three days from now, we'll be waiting atop Mount Baichang."

Huangfu Yuchen delivered these words coldly.

Tong He thought he was destined to die. He watched their car disappear from his sight before finally releasing his tension, falling to the ground with his back hunched. He knew that fear had taken root in his heart. Unless he could kill Huangfu Yuchen, further progress in his cultivation path would be nearly impossible.

He remained seated for a long time before standing up, exhaling lightly, and hurrying away.

Mount Baichang was located in the northern part of the country. Even though it was now March, the air was still chilly, and the mountain was covered in gleaming white snow. Even if there was a commotion here, it wouldn't attract the attention of ordinary people.

By the time Huangfu Yuchen and Yan Ge arrived, quite a number of people had gathered on the mountain. If they hadn't recognized that all these people were cultivators, they would have thought they were in the wrong place. A quick glance revealed around a hundred or more individuals.

Yan Ge was surprised. Wang Zhiyuan had mentioned that there were slightly over a hundred cultivators in China. Were they all here now? Upon further thought, it made sense. The allure of the farm was too great, and these cultivators naturally wanted to know the strength of both him and Huangfu Yuchen, and whether they could be challenged.

They walked amidst the gazes of the onlookers and calmly ascended to the mountaintop.

There were shrewd people among the cultivators; at a glance, it was evident that Huangfu Yuchen and Yan Ge were calm and their aura didn't radiate the slightest trace of true qi, almost as if they were ordinary people. This showed that the two were quite formidable and the cultivators felt excited yet uneasy. Excited, as they were about to witness a splendid battle; uneasy, as if even the highest-level cultivator couldn't defeat Huangfu Yuchen and Yan Ge, their hopes for the spiritual energy of the farm would be shattered.

Where there were smart people, there were foolish ones. Some cultivators seemed dismissive. In their eyes, Huangfu Yuchen and Yan Ge were just some youngsters who had popped up from nowhere. Especially Yan Ge, who had been an ordinary person a little over two years ago. How much could his cultivation have possibly advanced in just two years? Head Elder Yuan would definitely be able to defeat them and show them their place.

The anticipatory gazes of the crowd were directed towards a middle-aged man standing solidly at the mountaintop, his eyes were closed as if resting. Looking down at his feet, one could see that he hadn't sunk even half an inch into the snow. Even the minuscule snowflakes fluttered around him, avoiding him as if in awe, falling silently to the ground.

The middle-aged man heard the commotion, opened his eyes slightly, and cast a fleeting glance downward. His expression was calm, his gaze tranquil, exuding a righteous spirit.

He was undoubtedly the cultivator with the acknowledged highest level of cultivation in China — Yuan Luoheng, the head of Danyang Palace. At this moment, his cultivation was at the late Golden Core stage.

Single-mindedly devoted to cultivation, Yuan Luoheng rarely concerned himself with worldly matters. Hearing that someone was challenging him, he had to respond. If he didn't, outsiders might think he was afraid. He saw that he couldn't discern Huangfu Yuchen's and Yan Ge's cultivation levels, and he had a bad premonition, but he remained unfazed.

Yan Ge and Huangfu Yuchen stood before Yuan Luoheng, and noticed that Tong He was also present.

Tong He stood quietly not far away, expressionless, as if he had grown indifferent to something, probably deeply affected by his previous defeat.

How could something this big in the cultivation world be hidden from the shadow operatives department force? Ji Chang, Ruan Mingwei, He Hong, and Zhang Jian were also there, trying to minimize their presence. As Yan Ge's gaze swept over them, the four nodded respectfully.

"Fellow Cultivator Yan, Fellow Cultivator Huangfu," Yuan Luoheng nodded slightly, very composed. "I have heard of your great reputations. I'm fortunate to learn from you."

"Fellow Cultivator Yuan, pleased to meet you," Yan Ge smiled gently. "We've been a bit presumptuous this time. If it weren't for some people repeatedly causing trouble with us, we wouldn't have disturbed your cultivation. We hope you won't take offense."

Seeing that Yan Ge was easy to talk to, Yuan Luoheng pondered for a moment, and responded, "Fengshan Farm is indeed privately owned by the two of you, that's beyond question. However, Fellow Cultivator Yan, you're also a cultivator and should understand the aspirations of fellow cultivators. I fear that in the future, conflicts with Fengshan Farm might persist. I believe opening the farm to cultivators wouldn't be a bad idea. I trust that fellow cultivators will possess sufficient resources to exchange."

On hearing this, everyone's gaze shifted onto Yan Ge and Huangfu Yuchen, and they voiced their agreement, their eyes filled with eagerness.

Huangfu Yuchen observed coldly. He and Xiao Ge had intended to compromise, but the specifics would be decided by them.

Yan Ge gestured noncommittally. "We can talk more after you've defeated me."

Yuan Luoheng nodded. "Very well. Please."

The others quickly retreated to a distance. Yuan Luoheng was in the Golden Core stage, and his formidable power was not something those of lower cultivation levels like them could withstand.

Huangfu Yuchen only stepped back four or five paces before he stopped retreating altogether.

The cultivators frowned. Was he planning to secretly aid Yan Ge?

Yan Ge chuckled inwardly at their assumptions, but still directed Huangfu Yuchen, "Yuchen, step back a bit more."

Only then did Huangfu Yuchen take a few more steps back, staying two paces closer than the other spectators.

Yan Ge addressed Yuan Luoheng, "Fellow Cultivator Yuan, please."

Yuan Luoheng's two junior disciples, Liu Yuandao and Gong Zhicheng, wore displeased expressions. They noticed that Yan Ge didn't even remove his hat, as if he didn't take their master seriously.

Yuan Luoheng remained calm, not a hint of fluctuation in his expression or gaze. He nodded and said, "Since that's the case, I won't hold back."

With that, he made a semi-circular motion, arriving in front of Yan Ge and launching a punch.

This punch was as fast as lightning, and its force was astonishing.

Even those standing behind Yan Ge felt it, as if a tall stone wall were collapsing toward them. Snow on the ground also burst into the air, as if someone were vigorously using an industrial fan. The snow struck their faces like they were being hit by small stones. It was stinging and painful.

Liu Yuandao hurriedly shouted, "Step back even further!"

The cultivators quickly retreated nearly a mile.

Liu Yuandao and Gong Zhicheng, relying on their high cultivation levels, remained in place without moving, frowning as they looked at Yan Ge.

Yan Ge calmly raised his hand, and the snow on the ground was pulled up as if it were a piece of white cloth, forming a barrier in front of him. He casually struck his palm against this barrier, and the "white cloth" instantly solidified into a snowball, shooting toward Yuan Luoheng like a cannonball.

Yuan Luoheng quickly stepped back, but the snowball was fast. In an instant, it reached him, almost hitting his chest. He leaned backward just in time, and the snowball whooshed past him, making a "boom" as it collided with a mature pine tree about ten meters away.

The pine tree trembled violently, and the accumulated snow on it burst out like fireworks, leaving not a trace of snow behind. The towering green pine shed its snowy cover, its verdant green contrasting sharply with the surrounding white ice and snow.

Before the onlookers could recover from their astonishment, they heard a "crack" sound. The pine tree had snapped, and the break was so clean, as if it had been cut with a single horizontal stroke of a blade!

The crowd involuntarily sucked in a cold breath. With their strength, they could break a tree as thick as that, but Yan Ge had done it with a snowball, and from such a distance. It was evident just how immense the power contained within the snowball was!

The expressions of Liu Yuandao and Gong Zhicheng turned solemn at this moment.

The leaders of several other sects also wore somewhat grave expressions. While there had been conflicts between their sects and Danyang Palace in the past due to the competition for cultivation resources, they now stood on Yuan Luoheng's side. If Yuan Luoheng defeated Yan Ge, they might still have a chance to negotiate with him. However, if Yuan Luoheng lost, they would be faced with a substantial opportunity, yet they couldn't seize it. Wouldn't they feel stifled for the rest of their lives?

The situation was not looking good. They exchanged glances and focused even more intently on Yan Ge and Yuan Luoheng.

Yan Ge's perfect counterattack didn't surprise Yuan Luoheng, as he wasn't sure about the depth of Yan Ge's cultivation. This move was merely a test.

Yuan Luoheng attacked again, his right fist leading the way. As he struck, he twisted forward, employing a clever angle to assault Yan Ge.

This was the "Startling Snake Enters the Grass" technique from Danyang Palace's Snake Fist. Yuan Luoheng's right arm moved like a serpent, shooting, twisting, and drilling, aiming for Yan Ge's heart. If Yuan Luoheng's figure hadn't vanished, everyone would have mistaken him for a snake, his movements were so swift.

As the fist neared Yan Ge, it abruptly opened, resembling the jaws of a fierce serpent ready to bite.

A cold sensation surged in Yan Ge's heart. He shifted his weight, like a slender boat gliding across turbulent waters, raised his right arm with his fingers splayed like claws, and caught Yuan Luoheng's wrist.

Yuan Luoheng tugged with force, but Yan Ge's arm remained unmoved.

Yan Ge exerted strength through his right hand, and a surge of true qi flowed into Yuan Luoheng's arm. Yuan Luoheng trembled and swiftly retreated. His lips parted and his true qi congealed into a crystalline white sword of Qi that shot out like lightning.

Yan Ge executed a series of steps on the ground, reappearing behind Yuan Luoheng. His right hand grabbed Yuan Luoheng's shoulder blade.

Yuan Luoheng was immobilized and he was startled. He sighed and said calmly, "Yuan has lost."

In just a few moves? The cultivators gaped at Yan Ge in astonishment.

Yan Ge smiled faintly and released his grip. "I accept your surrender."

Yuan Luoheng cupped his hands. "May I ask what stage Fellow Daoist Yan's cultivation has reached?"

Yan Ge looked modest, his gaze seemingly absent as it swept over a distant spot. "I recently formed the nascent infant soul."

Yuan Luoheng exclaimed, "Yuan has been impolite. So, Cultivator Yan has already reached the Nascent Soul stage."

Yan Ge smiled but didn't answer and walked toward Huangfu Yuchen.

Perhaps due to his victory, he felt quite relaxed. Just like before, his aura was completely concealed, as if he were an ordinary person.

However, at this moment, a gray figure streaked through the air like a shooting star, heading swiftly toward his back. The sharp killing intent compressed into a pointed Qi arrow, piercing toward his heart.

An ambush!

Yuan Luoheng was taken aback. He was about to warn, but Yan Ge continued walking toward Huangfu Yuchen, his speed unbroken. A silver flash of light emanated from his right hand and he swept it backward. When the radiance descended, and the silver light faded, nobody could comprehend what had just occurred.

A gray-clothed person let out a miserable cry, crashing heavily to the ground, a large hole in their abdomen, crimson blood staining the snowy ground.

"Zhao Chuanjin, a demonic cultivator?" Yuan Luoheng identified the person with astonishment. "You've already reached the Nascent Soul stage?"

The other cultivators stirred, their faces marked with shock. Zhao Chuanjin's cultivation had not been much lower than Yuan Luoheng's before. It was unimaginable that he had entered the Nascent Soul stage without them realizing it. Not only that, Yan Ge had defeated him so effortlessly!

Someone remembered the recent auction. Could it be that the person who had bought the Nascent Infant Pill was Zhao Chuanjin?

"You, didn't you claim to be in the Nascent Soul stage… despicable…" Zhao Chuanjin glared at Yan Ge, as if he wished to devour him alive. Anger and fear filled his eyes, his aura growing weaker.

Yan Ge raised an eyebrow, put his hands behind his back and looked at him with amusement. "It seems like you didn't learn your language well. I said I recently formed the Nascent Infant Soul. I never said I'm in the Nascent Soul stage."

Zhao Chuanjin stared at him in disbelief, shaking his head incessantly. "Are you saying you're already in the late Nascent Soul stage or beyond? No, impossible…"

Yan Ge smiled without a word, his gaze sweeping over the others. His eyes were curved and without malice, yet as his gaze passed over the cultivators, they couldn't help but shiver and have their hairs stand on end.

Zhao Chuanjin looked at Yan Ge resentfully, his gaze gradually growing dim, his breath fading completely.

Silence reigned for a moment on Baichang Mountain , with only the occasional wind rustling through the treetops, creating a faint whisper.

Yuan Luoheng looked at Yan Ge and Huangfu Yuchen with shock and doubt. Had their cultivation really surpassed the Nascent Soul stage?

Seeing the fear and dread in their eyes, Huangfu Yuchen felt highly satisfied. He and Xiwo Ge should be able to enjoy some peace from now on.

He hugged Yan Ge's waist. "Xiao Ge, let's say what needs to be said and then leave. Boarding time is approaching."

Yan Ge nodded and addressed everyone, "For those who wish to enter the cultivation grounds, there will be a competition. Names will be ranked by cultivation level, from highest to lowest. Four people will be allowed in at a time for a month, taking turns. Once everyone has had a turn, a new round of competition will begin, and so on. You can inquire about the specific rules and requirements from Guo Jian and Guo Yi at the cultivation grounds. Farewell."

With that, the two soared into the distance. No need to say more about the others; after today's events, no one dared to underestimate them.

The remaining people stared blankly as the figures in the sky turned into small dots and disappeared. Everyone suddenly came back to their senses, and dashed madly toward the foot of the mountain.

Ruan Mingwei, Ji Chang, He Hong, and Zhang Jian exchanged a glance, shrugged, and descended the mountain. They needed to report today's events to their superiors.

Yan Ge and Huangfu Yuchen boarded the plane, heading to a coastal city and continuing their travels within the country.

Thinking about the cultivators fighting fiercely to gain entry to the advanced cultivation grounds, Yan Ge grinned cunningly. With the constraints of the Hidden Operations Department, the competition wouldn't be a matter of life and death, but it would certainly be intense, with minor injuries being unavoidable. Those who wanted to gain something would have to pay a price. Isn't that normal? There's no such thing as a free lunch in the world.

Yuanhai City was one of the most beautiful coastal cities in the country. Red tiles and green trees, blue sea and sky, the coastline was charming and magnificent. Lush paths wound through verdant trees, providing a delightful and unforgettable experience.

Though this scenery was slightly inferior to what Yan Ge could conjure within his space, the presence of visitors added vitality. Yan Ge and Huangfu Yuchen spent two days in Yuanhai City and a few days in Qizhaigou before intending to head to Nanhai. However, a phone call disrupted their plans.

Guo Jian spoke with urgency, "Mr. Yan Ge, please come back with Mr. Huangfu. A foreigner named Wei Wen insists on meeting you both. He said if you don't appear within three days, he'll level the cultivation grounds. We're no match for them."

A foreigner? Yan Ge immediately thought of the incident at Fengshan Mountain.

"Understood, we'll return now." Yan Ge turned to Huangfu Yuchen.

Huangfu Yuchen stood up to pack their luggage. "I'll make him regret disturbing our journey."

Four hours later, Yan Ge and Huangfu Yuchen stepped off the bus.

Guo Jian quickly approached them, likely having spotted them on the surveillance footage.

"What's going on?" Huangfu Yuchen inquired.

Huangfu Yuchen spoke in his usual icy tone, void of emotion. Guo Jian wasn't sure if it was his imagination, but now Huangfu Yuchen's voice sounded extremely indifferent, carrying a kind of coldness. He recounted, "Early this morning, a foreigner named Wei Wen showed up with four subordinates. They directly sought out Guo Yi to meet the two bosses. Wei Wen said that if you don't appear within three days, he'll level the cultivation grounds. Guo Yi and I escorted them out, but Wei Wen's skills are extraordinary. The two of us aren't a match for him. The day after you two left, the competition among cultivators in the cultivation grounds began. Head Yuan Luoheng and his two disciples happened to be at the cultivation grounds. However, the of them aren't a match for Him either. Cultivator Ruan and the others can't do anything to him either."

"Master Yuan and the others also made a move?" Yan Ge pursed his lips and smiled, "Are they all right?

Seeing that Yan Ge and Huangfu Yuchen didn't look worried, Guo Jian felt relieved, "They were slightly injured. "Wei Wen seems to be only focused on dealing with the two bosses, and has no intention of making life difficult for them. "

"Where is he now? " "Huangfu Yuchen asked in a cold voice. While talking, they had already entered the farm.

Guo Jian said: "In the dining area."

Huangfu Yuchen: "Let him go to the back mountain." "

Yan Ge took his luggage from him. "You guys go ahead. I'll go check on Head Yuan Luoheng and the others." Since the cultivation grounds were open to cultivators, Yuan Luoheng and the others were essentially just visitors to the farm. While their help was appreciated, they did have their own motivations when they intervened. However, their actions were real.

Guo Jian went to inform Wei Wen.

Huangfu Yuchen exited the farm and headed toward the back mountain.

Yan Ge returned home to drop off the luggage before seeking out Yuan Luoheng. On the way, he encountered Yu Mingqi and Ji Chang.

Ruan Mingwei hurried over, his expression serious. "Mr. Yan, you're back."

Yan Ge gestured for them to walk and talk. "What's the background of that person? You should know, right?"

Ruan Mingwei nodded. "Wei Wen is the Archbishop of the Holy See. His strength is formidable, likely on par with the mid Nascent Soul stage of cultivation."

"Nascent Soul stage?" Yan Ge was quite surprised. He hadn't expected such a significant gap in strength between the Holy See and cultivators in China. If the Holy See had ill intentions toward the Hauxia cultivation world, wouldn't China be defenseless?

Ruan Mingwei thought Yan Ge also found the opponent too strong and his heart sank. Although Wei Wen wasn't here to target the Hidden Operations Department or China, Yan Ge and Huangfu Yuchen had become their source of spiritual strength. If even they were powerless against Wei Wen, then China…

Ji Chang also misunderstood their reactions, and his eyes were filled with gloom. "The people from the Holy See are too arrogant. If not for… Mr. Yan, can you and Mr. Huangfu handle him together?"

Yan Ge was momentarily taken aback, then chuckled. "We'll know in a little while."

When he arrived at the courtyard Yuan Luoheng was, he found Yuan Luoheng preparing to leave with his two disciples, likely having received the news as well.

The three of them greeted, "Mr. Yan Ge."

Inside the farm, there were many ordinary people, so once inside, they no longer referred to each other as "Fellow Cultivator"; this was an unspoken rule among cultivators.

Yan Ge waved his hand at Yuan Luoheng. "Mr. Yuan, thank you for your assistance earlier."

Yuan Luoheng was very polite. "You're welcome."

Yan Ge scanned the three of them and nodded. "Fortunately, your injuries aren't severe. Otherwise, I'd feel too guilty. I have some elixirs with me. I'll have someone deliver them to you later."

Yuan Luoheng and his disciples quickly expressed their gratitude, fully trusting that Yan Ge's elixirs would be extraordinary.

The group then walked together toward the farm's main gate.

Guo Jian and five foreigners approached from a different path. Among them were Allen, Barry, Daisy, and Borg. The fifth foreigner was around forty years old, tall and sturdy, with deep-set eyes, a high-bridged nose, and only a gray vest on his upper body, exposing his arms. He walked unsteadily, looking somewhat intoxicated.

"He's Wei Wen," Ji Chang whispered.

Yan Ge and Wei Wen's gazes locked.

Wei Wen shamelessly assessed Yan Ge from head to toe, lifting the corners of his mouth and revealing a sinister glint in his eyes. His gaze slowly shifted downward, landing on Yan Ge's waist. He stuck out his tongue and licked his lips. Yan Ge smiled, then his eyes suddenly became sharp and intense. A fierce light surged within them, like rays of light transformed into solid form, shooting directly into Wei Wen's eyes.

Wei Wen felt as if his eyes had been pierced by two invisible arrows. His heart shook, and his footsteps imperceptibly stuttered. He quickly activated his inner qi, gathering it within his mind to relieve the discomfort in his eyes. He retracted the smugness on his lips, no longer daring to underestimate Yan Ge. However, his gaze remained fixed on Yan Ge. Was this his opponent?

The two groups met at the entrance of the estate.

Wei Wen was about to speak, but Yan Ge walked past him without even glancing in his direction. Yan Ge's right hand was casually in his pocket as he walked at a leisurely pace, appearing composed and graceful. He exited the farm and turned right.

Wei Wen's eyebrows twitched slightly, but he followed without a word. After a few steps, he caught up and walked beside Yan Ge, his steps light and casual, seemingly implying a subtle challenge.

Yan Ge frowned and increased his pace, yet Wei Wen effortlessly caught up again.

Wei Wen looked at him with a triumphant expression.

Allen and Barry exchanged a glance, sharing a wordless smirk.

Yuan Luoheng, Liu Yuandao, Gong Zhicheng, Ruan Mingwei, and Ji Chang all showed concern in their eyes. Judging from Yan Ge's condition, he seemed to be slightly inferior to Wei Wen in strength. However, none of them detected any signs of worry on Yan Ge's face.

Yan Ge's consistently composed demeanor left them uncertain, so they refrained from speculating and continued forward.

Guo Yi stepped out a bit slowly.

Behind Fengshan was Lingxiao Mountain, its northern side was already developed, while the southern side remained untouched. A valley lay in between Fengshan and Lingxiao Mountains. It was covered with thick bushes, bizarre rocks, and numerous poisonous insects and ants. No one had ever ventured into this area. Wild peach trees in the valley were in full bloom with pink blossoms that looked like clusters of pink clouds from a distance. A gust of wind blew, causing petals to flutter down like gentle rain, creating a scene of beauty.

Huangfu Yuchen stood nonchalantly on a peach tree branch. He casually glanced over and noticed the lecherous look that Wei Wen was directing at Yan Ge. With a flick of his right hand, he casually tossed something into the air.

Two thin yet fierce streams of killing intent shot towards Wei Wen's eyes. He tilted his head slightly in time to see two pink petals streaking past like bolts of lightning. It turned out to be two peach blossom petals! These petals traveled nearly a mile before slowly descending.

Wei Wen quickly turned to look at the cold, stern man standing on the branch and fully abandoned his contemptuous attitude. Given Huangfu Yuchen's strength earlier, if he hadn't evaded, those two petals could have pierced both his eyes like sharp blades.

A milky-white glow materialized beneath Wei Wen's feet, suspending him in mid-air. Silently, he landed on another peach tree not far from Huangfu Yuchen, exhibiting his skill by casually moving around the peach blossoms. His gaze remained just as arrogant as ever as he examined Huangfu Yuchen.

"I've heard that there are many handsome men in China, and it's true after seeing you today," Wei Wen's Chinese was extremely fluent. If not for his appearance, one would think that a native Chinese speaker was speaking. However, his voice carried an obscene tone that sent shivers down one's spine.

Huangfu Yuchen responded calmly, "I've also heard that there are many ugly people in Y Country who cause trouble, and today's meeting confirms it."

Wei Wen's eyes flickered slightly after Huangfu Yuchen's retort, his anger bubbling. Truthfully, Wei Wen wasn't ugly at all; he possessed a three-dimensional beauty and deep blue eyes that blinked with a gaze as alluring as an electric shock. He had always been proud of his appearance, and today was the first time someone had called him ugly.

Huangfu Yuchen successfully infuriated him, but he didn't immediately lose his temper. With a stern tone, he inquired, "Are you the one who injured my subordinates?"

"I've actually been regretting that I let them go. Your arrival is quite timely," Huangfu Yuchen chuckled.

"Just you?" Wei Wen snorted disdainfully. His gaze shifted toward Yan Ge and he laughed heartily, "In that case, let's have a fight. The two of you can attack together, and I promise to make you both submit."

Yan Ge waved his hand with a smile, "No need to trouble yourself. After you're defeated, I'll move their four bodies. One coffin will be enough after cremation."

Ji Chang couldn't help but chuckle.

Ruan Mingwei, Guo Jian, and Guo Yi also relaxed a bit. It seemed that both Yan Ge and Huangfu Yuchen were quite confident.

Huangfu Yuchen raised his hand to set up a barrier, preventing the commotion from drawing the attention of others nearby.

Wei Wen's hands darted into his trouser pockets, retrieving two identical curved blades. The tips were sharp like thorns, resembling inverted spikes. He held the two blades aloft and slightly crouched over, his cold gaze fixed on Huangfu Yuchen, resembling a poisonous snake fixated on its prey.

Yan Ge used his true qi as a blade, cutting off a section of green bamboo and gave it to Huangfu Yuchen.

Huangfu Yuchen was as steady as ever, his gaze fixed on Wei Wen.

Both were searching for the opportune moment to attack, hoping to seize control of the battle's rhythm.

Both remained motionless yet seemed to be in motion. The peach tree beneath their feet trembled slightly. Brilliant peach blossom petals detached from the branches silently, fluttering in an unseen wind and forming an unusual whirlwind.

Suddenly, Huangfu Yuchen's right foot slipped.

'An ppening!' Wei Wen propelled himself off the tree, leaping like a cunning rabbit and lunging towards Huangfu Yuchen. His right-hand curved blade cleaved towards Huangfu Yuchen's chest.

Huangfu Yuchen casually used the bamboo pole to defend.

Wei Wen was certain that since Huangfu Yuchen dared to use a bamboo pole as a sword, the pole's strength could ensure it remained intact. So, he knew that this strike wouldn't do much to Huangfu Yuchen. He flicked his right curved blade with the force on the bamboo pole, creating a momentary pause, while his left curved blade attacked, intercepting the bamboo pole. Simultaneously, his right-hand curved blade shot forward like a frog's tongue, attempting to snag Huangfu Yuchen's flesh. How does a frog catch insects? Its tongue rapidly shoots out from its mouth, capturing a mosquito flying by in just 0.3 seconds before swiftly retracting it back into its mouth.

The speed of the curved blade was just as swift!

Huangfu Yuchen's shoulders relaxed, his back arched, and his chest retracted. He suddenly distanced himself from the curved blades, while simultaneously withdrawing the bamboo pole from his right hand. With a swift movement, he swept it towards Wei Wen, and with a loud "smack", hit Wei Wen's shoulder.

Wei Wen was slightly taken aback. Huangfu Yuchen's reaction speed wasn't slower than his. Moreover, the strike held a substantial force. If his cultivation weren't profound, he would have been left coughing up blood.

"Swish", peach blossom petals fell from the trees like raindrops.

A "whoosh" sound came from the side as Huangfu Yuchen's bamboo pole swung again. Without needing to ponder, Wei Wen brought his two curved blades together, clamping down on Huangfu Yuchen like a pair of scissors and sharply cutting down.

Huangfu Yuchen leaped into the air, generating wind beneath his feet like a released arrow. Suddenly, he executed a backflip while in mid air, and the bamboo pole fiercely struck towards Wei Wen's head.

Wei Wen abruptly crouched down, performing a frog's leap to the side.

Huangfu Yuchen's force found no target, instead striking the peach tree with a resounding "bang." The tree split in two, and a brisk wind rapidly lifted countless petals, like water droplets sprayed upwards by a waterfall.

Wei Wen soared through the air, his two curved blades slashing in rapid succession, creating an extremely fast pace, making even the air pop and crackle as if it were exploding.

Ruan Mingwei and the rest had slightly lower cultivation levels, listening to these sounds made their hearts thud in response, and their scalps tingled.

Huangfu Yuchen expertly manipulated the bamboo stick, creating a strong, supple wind as he moved it flexibly. The bamboo stick twisted and met the blades at an oblique angle, which prevented it from snapping.

The impact was huge. Wei Wen felt as if he had been struck by a heavy hammer. The bamboo stick struck him repeatedly, numbing his wrists. Were it not for his profound cultivation, he would have lost his grip on the blades!

Wei Wen was not afraid of Huangfu Yuchen, but he realized just how difficult Huangfu Yuchen was to deal with. From the moment they began fighting until now, half an hour had passed, and he hadn't gained any advantage. He had been struck by that wretched bamboo stick three or four times.

Suddenly, he stopped, and his momentum changed.

The nearby peach blossoms swayed vigorously, and several pink petals continuously detached from the branches. In less than half a minute, the beautiful peach blossom trees had turned bald, and the petals, like snowflakes swept by a storm, twisted rapidly in the wind, densely packed, almost blocking everyone's vision.

While this was an extremely beautiful scene, Yuan Luoheng and the others didn't appreciate it. The surging air of slaughter swept beneath the surface, causing them all to feel a chill down their spines and their palms to sweat.

A petal accidentally petal darted out from the center of the storm and brushed past Ruan Mingwei's face. He felt a sharp pain, and when touched his face, his hand came away bloody.

He quickly pulled Ji Chang backwards.

However, Yan Ge remained composed and graceful in his stance, still keeping the nonchalant pose of one hand in his pocket. The storm of peach blossoms seemed to fear him as it diverted its course over him.

Wei Wen shouted loudly and tossed his left-hand curved blade. The blade spun at high speed like a meteor, hurtling towards Huangfu Yuchen.

Huangfu Yuchen raised his "sword" defensively, twisting his waist and evading.

Wei Wen seemed to have anticipated his response. His other curved blade swung viciously, and the hook caught onto Huangfu Yuchen's clothing, ripping a long gash.

After the single strike, Wei Wen retreated, leaping halfway into the air. He thought it was a pity. If he had attacked from a closer distance just now, he could have surely carved out a large piece of flesh from Huangfu Yuchen's body. Who knew if Huangfu Yuchen could still maintain his calm façade at that point?

Huangfu Yuchen frowned, looking down at his clothes.

Wei Wen was overjoyed—this was his chance! Immediately, like a mountain crashing down, he swooped downward at a rapid pace. The tip of his curved blade aimed for the neck, so long as he could catch Huangfu Yuchen's throat, he could slash his head off with a single motion!

In the last second that Wei Wen closed in, Huangfu Yuchen suddenly leapt up, his long legs rising, and he kicked forcefully, striking Wei Wen in the abdomen. Meanwhile, Wei Wen's curved blade only brushed past the top of Huangfu Yuchen's head, not even severing a single strand of hair. This was the "rabbit kicking the eagle"!

With a muffled groan, Wei Wen, who was still in mid-air, spat out a mouthful of blood. Before he could recover his composure, a black figure streaked like a meteor toward him, landing a heavy blow into his back. He fell to the ground, his head tilting back as he spat out another mouthful of dark blood. Yet, even in this state, he struggled to lift his head, his gaze fixed on Huangfu Yuchen in disbelief, seemingly unable to accept that he had been defeated.

This single kick was powerful—his ribs must be broken. He tried several times but couldn't manage to get up.

Huangfu Yuchen narrowed his eyes and glanced at him, elegantly retracting his bamboo pole.

Suddenly, Yan Ge walked a few steps to stand in front of Huangfu Yuchen. He used his hand to close up and press down the torn part of the clothing, shooting him a slightly displeased glance, as if reproaching him for exposing his skin in front of others.

Huangfu Yuchen was taken aback, then couldn't help bursting into hearty laughter.

The joyous laughter made Ji Chang, Yuan Luoheng, and Guo Jian all stare in surprise, looking at Huangfu Yuchen with the same thought in their minds: 'So, this person can laugh like this too.'

Yan Ge's face turned a bit hot. He took Huangfu Yuchen's hand and placed it on his waist. "Cover yourself!"

Huangfu Yuchen touched his earlobe. His laughter had stopped audibly, but the smile in his eyes hadn't diminished one bit.

Wei Wen stealthily shifted his body, he was preparing to escape when Huangfu Yuchen suddenly swung the bamboo stick, releasing a burst of qi that shot straight into his heart.

"Wait!" Ji Chang tried to stop him in vain.

Huangfu Yuchen waved his hand to eliminate the other four members of Wei Wen's group before casting a faint glance at Ji Chang.

Ji Chang muttered, "Their bishop died within our borders. I'm afraid…"

Yan Ge showed him a tranquil smile and asked in response, "You think they won't cause us trouble if we spare them?"

Ji Chang and Wu Mingwei were momentarily speechless.

Yan Ge said meaningfully, "Even though we're a nation of propriety, giving them courtesy once is enough. When it's time to be firm, we should be firm. Waiting until others trample all over us is self-inflicted humiliation."

"I leave this matter to you." Huangfu Yuchen left these words for Ji Chang and Ruan Mingwei before walking away, resting his hand on Yan Ge's shoulder. "Baby, cover the torn area for me."

"Cover it yourself," Yan Ge replied, looking up at the sky.

"My hand is sore from the fight."

…

The two of them bantered as they walked away.

Yuan Luoheng, Liu Yuandao, Guo Jian, and the others exchanged glances. The excitement in their hearts hadn't settled yet. Although this battle had nothing to do with them, they still gained valuable insights.

They soon departed.

Ji Chang and Wu Mingwei were left in despair, they had to deal with the five bodies.

Ji Chang and Wu Mingwei walked to Wei Wen's body.

"You lift his legs, I'll lift his head, and we'll pile them together before burning them." Ji Chang said to Ruan Mingwei.

Ruan Mingwei bent down to lift Wei Wen's feet and accidentally saw that Wei Wen's right hand was tightly clutching a broken silver-gray cross about the size of a key.

His expression suddenly changed, and he picked up the cross. "Ji Chang, do you know what this is?"

Ji Chang's expression also changed when he saw the cross, and his eyes widened in shock. "Quickly, go and tell Mr. Yan and Mr. Huangfu! Leave this to me."

Ruan Mingwei dashed back to the farm. At this moment, it started to rain. The cold rain fell on his face, making his heart even colder.

Yan Ge and Huangfu Yuchen had returned home. Huangfu Yuchen went to change clothes, while Yan Ge lay on the sofa contemplating Wei Wen's matter. Wei Wen's strength wasn't low; he likely held an important position within their organization. For someone like him to die in China, could the opposing side's leader really stay idle? Or perhaps, should he and Yuchen simply go to Country Y?

The doorbell rang urgently, and Yan Ge's spiritual sense picked up on Ruan Mingwei. He noticed his anxious expression and he used his spiritual sense to open the door.

"Mr. Yan!" Ruan Mingwei rushed into the living room and saw Huangfu Yuchen who had already changed into a different outfit coming from upstairs. Not bothering with propriety, he said directly, "Mr. Yan, Mr. Huangfu, before he died, Wei Wen sent a message to the Holy See. They might come knocking soon!"

"How do you know?" Huangfu Yuchen wasn't surprised, and his tone was calm as he asked. He took down Yan Ge's long legs that were propped up and sat beside him, then pulled them onto his lap.

Ruan Mingwei took out the cross and explained, "This is a cross used by the Holy See's people to send messages, it uses holy light as the medium. They carry these crosses wherever they go and if a cross breaks, it's sensed by the other side, indicating the cross's owner has died. Wei Wen must have already sent the message back to their organization."

Both Yan Ge and Huangfu Yuchen remained calm and still, which made Ruan Mingwei grow restless. If Wei Wen hadn't sent out the message, as long as they dealt with the body, the Holy See's people wouldn't have evidence to suspect them. But now that Wei Wen had sent the message back, the other side knew he died in China, and they wouldn't just let it go.

"Above an Archbishop is a Cardinal, who is much stronger in strength. What should we do?"

Ruan Mingwei was worried not only about Yan Ge and Huangfu Yuchen's safety but also about the potential trouble that the death of Wei Wen might bring to China. He also blamed himself and Ji Chang for not considering this earlier. If they had warned Huangfu Yuchen earlier, things might have been different.

Little did he know that Huangfu Yuchen had concealed his strength during his fight with Wei Wen.

Where there are people, there's bound to be conflict. Both Yan Ge and Huangfu Yuchen had experienced both the court and the martial world, so they understood this truth well.

Huangfu Yuchen understood what Ruan Mingwei was worried about. "Xiao Ge and I have a plan. Report the situation here to Wang Zhiyuan."

Ruan Mingwei was momentarily stunned, then quickly agreed, "Understood."

…

The headquarters of the Shadow Operatives.

Wang Zhiyuan listened to Ruan Mingwei's report and fell silent for a moment. Going back to the root, it was because of the Shadow Operatives that Wei Wen had come here. Killing Wei Wen wasn't a mistake. Moreover, while Fengshan Farm wasn't under the Shadow Operatives yet, they needed to consider it as their own and protect it. Otherwise, if any trouble arose, they'd have to deal with it themselves. Right now, he worried only about one thing: after Yan Ge and Huangfu Yuchen left, would they have the ability to keep Fengshan Farm secure? The most urgent task was to improve the relationship between them and Yan Ge and Huangfu Yuchen. No matter what Yan Ge and Huangfu Yuchen did, as long as they didn't threaten China, they would offer their help. Another priority was enhancing the Shadow Operatives' strength.

The Cardinal would arrive soon. Yan Ge and Huangfu Yuchen abandoned their plans for outings and, like an ordinary couple, strolled around the city.

He Xin hurried out with his briefcase, he had to go into the city to negotiate business. Just then, he noticed the two with casual backpacks, leisurely walking towards the farm's entrance. He couldn't help but feel envious and jealous.

Seeing He Xin's envious expression, Yan Ge couldn't help but chuckle and waved at him. "Are you heading out? Take care."

He Xin touched his forehead in exasperation, wondering how he was so easily fooled by these two back then? He raised his head, but they had already slipped away, quickly boarding a bus.

He shook his head and headed towards the parking lot.

In a castle in Country Y, a handsome young man in ted robes was elegantly seated at a luxurious dining table, enjoying breakfast. Chadwick stood behind him, respectful and not daring to look anywhere else.

At this moment, a servant rushed in. "Lord William, something's not right! Archbishop Wei Wen's cross has split!"

"What did you say?" William's gentle face turned sharp, a fierce expression replacing his tranquility. He spoke slowly, his tone oozing out a frightening pressure. The utensils in his hands warped and twisted into a lump of silver, emitting a faint white light. The lump morphed into a silver sphere the size of a grape, rolling off the table and leaving a bowl-sized dent on the floor upon impact.

Chadwick's feet went cold, his nerves tense, and his throat felt dry as he swallowed.

The servant couldn't bear the overwhelming pressure, his legs trembling and his voice quivering, but he had to repeat the words, "The Archbishop Weyland's cross… it split…" Splitting meant dead, but Archbishop Wei Wen was Lord William's prized disciple. How could he dare to mention "death"? The possibility of incurring his master's wrath made his knees weaken, and he knelt heavily on the ground, his face pale as ashes.

Sure enough, the immense pressure burst open like a bomb, and the servant flew out like a broken kite. He crashed into the wall, his brain splattering and staining the pure white wall a vivid crimson. Following that, the servant slumped to the ground like a pile of mud, motionless.

Chadwick hurriedly knelt down, kowtowing so hard that he bled from his forehead. If he didn't, Archbishop William might direct his anger towards him. Yet, amidst his obedience, he harbored a malicious delight: 'I warned you that those two from China were formidable, but you wouldn't listen, accusing me of exaggeration. Well, look at it now. There's no remedy for regret; Wei Wen is gone, and from now on, I'll be your sole disciple!'

He thought this way, but didn't dare show the slightest hint on his face; otherwise, William would shred him to pieces.

Indeed, William did intend to vent his anger on Chadwick. If it weren't for him, how could he have sent Wei Wen to China? Just as he raised his hand, preparing to tear Chadwick apart, the blood on Chadwick's head brought him back to his senses. He needed to find out more about those two people's strength and background.

"Speak." Just a simple word, but it brought Chadwick's heart to his throat. He knew what William was asking, so he didn't hesitate, "Those two are called Yan Ge and Huangfu Yuchen. They emerged a few months ago…"

At this moment, William was seething with anger, and with no outlet, Chadwick recounted every detail as clearly as possible, and only then did her dare let out a silent sigh of relief.

He looked at the wooden stool beneath William, and found that it was embedded several inches deep into the ground.

"Very well, it's been a long time since I've been to China." William stood up slowly, and the chair beneath him collapsed, vanishing without a trace.

In China, Yan Ge and Huangfu Yuchen exited the Oceanarium. They had just stepped onto the square when a thunderous roar echoed overhead.

They looked up to see bright sunlight, a brilliant blue sky, and white clouds drifting lazily. There was no sign of rain whatsoever.

Besides them, numerous tourists also looked up, their faces puzzled. The thunder had sounded right above them, yet there were no storm clouds overhead. This thunder was indeed odd.

As they continued observing, another explosion rang out. This time, the sound seemed closer.

"Huh? That's strange." A young man sipped from his girlfriend's unfinished milk tea, looking up at the blue sky and white clouds with wonder.

"The weather's going to change," Yan Ge said with indifference, then turned to Huangfu Yuchen.

Huangfu Yuchen nonchalantly responded with an "Mhm," raising his camera and gesturing to Yan Ge, "Step back a bit."

After taking a few more pictures, the two continued on their way.

Across the street, Du Rulan walked slowly along the sidewalk. Her face looked worn, her attire and makeup much simpler than before.

Yan Ge glanced at her for a moment, pausing for two seconds before moving his gaze away.

Huangfu Yuchen positioned himself behind Yan Ge, blocking the view of the people behind them. After confirming that no one was watching, he lowered his head and stole a quick kiss from Yan Ge's lips before walking shoulder to shoulder, "The Yan family's business is on the brink of collapse. Yan Jianqiang will probably declare bankruptcy."

Yan Ge nodded, "I know. I'll give them twenty thousand yuan every month from now on. It should be enough to get by. That's all." As for whether Yan Jianqiang would spend the money on his mistress or illegitimate child, whether Du Rulan would spend it on herself or her son, that had nothing to do with him.

"Baby," Huangfu Yuchen patted his head, "Have you thought about bringing your parents over for a few days? They'd have a lot of fun."

Yan Ge's eyes lit up, his interest piqued, "Good idea. But we can't let them find out I'm not their original Yan Ge."

"That's simple," Huangfu Yuchen said, "China is huge, avoiding acquaintances is a piece of cake."

Thinking about the expressions his father and mother would make upon encountering all sorts of peculiar things, Yan Ge couldn't help but laugh, his excitement barely containable, "Let's bring them over after dealing with this trouble."

Seeing him so happy, Huangfu Yuchen's heart also lightened and filled with joy.

Yan Ge and Huangfu Yuchen arrived at the valley behind the mountain, laying a soft blanket on the grass and placing some food on it. Needless to say, the valley was bathed in sunlight, with a gentle spring breeze. The delicate fragrance of wildflowers and the refreshing scent of grass wafted through the air, making it an excellent spot for a picnic. However, the peach trees were bare due to the previous battle, so theh didn't quite match the scenery.

After a moment's thought, Yan Ge condensed a small amount of spiritual energy in his hand and cautiously infused it into the peach trees.

Flower buds bloomed on the peach trees at a speed visible to the naked eye, and lush flowers blossomed. In the blink of an eye, the bald trees turned into large pink spheres.

Yan Ge stopped in time. Regular trees couldn't withstand excessive spiritual energy infusion; too much would cause them to burst and die.

This was his first attempt at something like this, and he hadn't expected the effect to be so good. He smiled at Huangfu Yuchen.

"Amazing," Huangfu Yuchen praised as he popped a strawberry into Yan Ge's mouth.

As Ji Chang, Ruan Mingwei, He Hong, and Zhang Jian approached, they witnessed the scene of Yan Ge's display of power, and they were amazed. They had special access routes to come here, and they were aware that someone would come knocking at their door soon.

The four of them approached together, respectfully greeting, "Mr. Yan, Mr. Huangfu."

"Hello," Yan Ge had a certain fondness for these four. They were close to him and Yuchen due to vested interests, yet they maintained a good balance—neither overly obsequious nor overly ambitious. They were relatively easy to get along with.

Not long after, more people arrived from the farm, including Yuan Luoheng's group and several cultivators they had met on Baichang Mountain. Being closer to the capital, they had hurried over upon hearing from Yuan Luoheng that foreign cultivators had come to trouble Yan Ge and Huangfu Yuchen. These cultivators had relatively higher levels of cultivation, having performed well in the ranking competition among cultivators. It wouldn't be long before they entered the farm for cultivation. Although they might not be of much help, their presence was a gesture.

Everyone politely greeted Yan Ge and Huangfu Yuchen.

Yan Ge smiled and replied to each one.

To their surprise, Huangfu Yuchen didn't give them a cold shoulder and nodded in response.

The two of them leisurely enjoyed their fruits. After awhile, a series of thunderclaps sounded above them, going from muffled to resounding, from low to high. Within a few breaths, two figures streaked through the air like meteors, landing before Yan Ge and Huangfu Yuchen.

Only after they landed did the others notice the presence of another person behind them—Chadwick.

Chadwick looked at Yan Ge and Huangfu Yuchen, disdainfully raising his thumb, then giving them the thumbs-down gesture.

William and Grey saw the only two individuals who were sitting among the crowd and knew that they were Yan Ge and Huangfu Yuchen.

William's gaze darkened. Suddenly, a massive pressure descended like a storm cloud, bearing down heavily.

While the pressure made Yuan Luoheng's group uncomfortable, as if they were carrying a thousand-pound weight on their heads, and invisible hands pressed them down, making their faces turn red and their inner energy churn uncontrollably, not one of them fled. Despite the grievances among them, they were all citizens of China at this moment, united against a common foe, determined not to lose face before outsiders.

Meanwhile, Grey stared at Yan Ge and Huangfu Yuchen, his eyes gleaming with admiration. These two were not only remarkable in temperament but also exceptional in appearance.

'Flexing your muscles?' Yan Ge thought. He casually extended his right hand with his palm up, and caught a drifting peach blossom. Swift currents of air then surged forth, as if a huge fan had fanned upwards.

The pressure above everyone's heads dissipated immediately, and they let out relieved breaths before calmly retreating.

A battle between experts was beyond their ability to intervene.

William's gloomy gaze shifted to focus on Yan Ge.

Yan Ge lazily leaned back on the blanket, his left hand propping him up, one leg stretched out while the other was casually bent. His right hand rested on his bent knee, looking relaxed and natural, and exuding an air of nonchalance and tranquility. His eyes even held a faint smile as he met William's gaze, devoid of any hostility or intent to fight, as if he was merely curious about the purpose of their visit.

'Hmm? He's not simple at all.' Grey, who was standing beside William, crossed his arms and raised an eyebrow. When William invited him to come to China, he had agreed without hesitation. But his motivation wasn't for Wei Wen or the so-called dignity of the Holy See; he was genuinely curious about Yan Ge and Huangfu Yuchen. People who dared to provoke William were no simple.

He now felt that coming to China this time was the right decision.

"Was it you who killed Wei Wen?" William's gaze was sharp.

Yan Ge raised an eyebrow. "Don't you want to ask why?"

"Is that necessary?" William's demeanor changed abruptly, the rustle of his robe sounding like cloth brushing against a blade. It was as if he was clad in clothes crafted from killing intent. "Since you dared to kill him, you should have anticipated today."

Yan Ge chuckled. "Oh. Since you sent him to China to cause trouble, you should have anticipated that he would die."

William no longer wasted words. "Grey, deal with the other one."

After saying that, he raised his palm and struck towards Yan Ge.

Huangfu Yuchen raised his right palm in front of Yan Ge's face, redirecting the force back. He calmly remarked, "I'm the one who killed Wei Wen."

"Even better!" William's killing intent surged forth as he lunged towards Huangfu Yuchen.

In a flash, Huangfu Yuchen's figure shifted, moving as if he vanished for a moment. By the time everyone realized, he was already standing before William. His right fist was clenched and enveloped in true qi, striking towards William's chest, while his left hand traced a large circle in the air, creating a transparent barrier that isolated the four of them from the others.

Yuan Luoheng's group had previously witnessed the power of the barrier so they confidently moved closer to observe.

Other cultivators dared to stand closer as well.

Grey watched Yan Ge with amusement, beckoning him with his finger as he used rudimentary Chinese, "Come, let's have some fun. I'm Grey, what should I call you?"

Before the words had fully left his mouth, he suddenly darted to the right. A sharp silver light nearly grazed his hand as it shot past.

He took a deep breath, realizing how close that was. If he hadn't moved quickly, that light would have severed his fingers!

William glanced over but didn't say anything. This was the result of Grey underestimating Yan Ge. In fact, it would have been better if that strike had hit Grey earlier, then Grey's attacks would be even fiercer against Yan Ge. His purpose today was to ensure Yan Ge and Huangfu Yuchen's deaths!

"Swish—" A surge of energy shot toward William's head.

William spread his arms, swooping up like a hawk and evading the killing intent. In mid-air, he made a turn and charged downward, both fists acting like twin cannons, shooting out energy like bullets.

"Boom—Boom—Boom—" The ground was pounded into large craters. Soil and stones scattered like sparks in all directions. Even the boundary trembled from the torrential force.

Huangfu Yuchen made a few flowing movements, his true qi resembling a series of darting projectiles. They struck the "pellet-like" spheres of energy coming from the opposite side, and there were loud bangs as they exploded.

Suddenly, he leaped up like a carp jumping through the Dragon Gate, arching in mid-air. In the blink of an eye, he was before William, and an elusive yet intangible punch landed right in William's chest.

William's chest trembled. Around the center of impact, the ribs faintly ached. The bones weren't broken, but William felt it—they had cracked. Instantly, his rage surged, and he lunged at Huangfu Yuchen, engaging in close combat.

Outside the boundary, spectators watched Huangfu Yuchen's fist techniques create a whirlwind of energy, openings and closures, distancing and approaching, appearing and disappearing like shadows, sometimes solid, sometimes gentle. They were unpredictable, leaving them in awe, and they didn't dare to blink.

William wasn't any less capable. Initially, he thought he could take care of Huangfu Yuchen within fifty moves. Now, his anger grew with each attack. His strikes became more fierce and brutal; the sound of his long nails slicing through the air resembled someone forcefully tearing through sturdy fabric.

For a moment, the ground within the boundary quaked, and debris flew.

Turning attention back to Yan Ge and Grey.

Grey looked at Yan Ge's harmless face and found himself hesitating to deliver a fatal blow. He considered toying with Yan Ge for a while, planning to let Yan Ge live until William killed Huangfu Yuchen, allowing William to personally kill Yan Ge.

However, he quickly realized he was mistaken—it wasn't Yan Ge he was toying with, he was the one being toyed with.

Yan Ge's movements were incredibly agile, striking and retreating with every move. He wasn't launching lethal attacks against him; it was more like he was taunting him. To him, the air seemed to have an invisible staircase, and he maneuvered within it, climbing, descending, and leaping, dodging left and right.

At first, Grey remained composed, but Yan Ge's teasing gradually provoked his impatience. Grey launched a fierce pursuit, but Yan Ge continued to evade, only swooping in for an attack whenever an opportunity arose. Unknowingly, Yan Ge gained control over the rhythm of the battle. Grey felt like prey, caught by a well-fed tiger, played with.

Outside the boundary, some onlookers began to see through the situation and couldn't help but laugh.

Those who were bolder even laughed heartily. Although Yan Ge and Grey's fight wasn't as grand as the battle between Huangfu Yuchen and William, and didn't involve spectacular clashes, it was satisfying to watch.

Unable to bear it any longer, Grey let out a roar and lunged at Yan Ge.

An overwhelming force surged towards Yan Ge's forehead in an instant. Yan Ge's lips curled into a smile. His body subtly shifted in mid-air, resembling a leaf detached from a tree, gliding along the wind's course. He was like a skiff on a swift river, smoothly evading Grey's assault.

The exquisite footwork caused Yuan Luoheng outside the barrier to exclaim involuntarily, "Impressive!"

Within this display was not only Yan Ge's profound cultivation but also his agile body and quick-wittedness in battle. Each of these aspects was worthy of contemplation and emulation.

Ruan Mingwei and his companions stared without blinking, afraid to miss a single detail. In fact, they should consider themselves fortunate. If it weren't for Yan Ge and Huangfu Yuchen intentionally suppressing their cultivation, they wouldn't be able to discern the battle within the barrier at all.

Yan Ge continued to tease Grey, he was like a little monkey in the woods, sneakily tapping someone's shoulder from behind before darting away.

Grey was thoroughly infuriated.

He made a flicking motion with his right hand, and a weapon appeared in his grasp—a tan-colored scepter. The top of the scepter featured a circular design, with three pitch-black holes at its center eerily resembling a skull. It looked quite menacing.

To make someone perish, one must first drive them to madness. Yan Ge had initially mocked and played with Grey, his main objective was to enrage Grey. Once Grey was furious, he would undoubtedly become fiercer and more ruthless. However, this would also expose more vulnerabilities. Under these circumstances, defeating Grey while concealing his true strength would be easier.

"Boom—" A white light burst forth from one of the scepter's holes, the laser-like beam aimed straight at Yan Ge.

Yan Ge jumped and evaded. The white light struck the ground, creating a deep well-like crater.

Before he could catch his breath, the second strike came.

As agile as a fox, Yan Ge dodged once again, casting a curious glance at the scepter in Grey's hand. He wondered if the energy within the scepter was limitless.

Thus, one strike and one dodge repeated over a dozen times. Grey never managed to hit Yan Ge. His brown eyes shifted in color, verging on black. This was due to the rapid circulation of energy.

"Very good!" Grey stopped, standing several meters away from Yan Ge. The corners of his mouth curled with a cold, unyielding grin, "Originally, I was reluctant to kill you, but now it seems sparing you would be a waste of your skills!"

With his hands behind his back, Yan Ge smiled playfully, "Come on."

"Clang—Clank—" Two bursts of white light shot out from the two "eye holes" of the scepter.

These two bursts were denser and larger than before. As they sped forward, the air friction emitted a hissing sound similar to crackling electricity.

Yan Ge knew these two strikes were stronger than the ones before and he didn't dare to be careless. He interlocked his palms, condensing a similar energy sphere from his true qi, meeting the attack head-on.

"Boom!" A deafening explosion resounded. The dazzling white light suddenly detonated, shooting out in all directions. The surging explosive force spread with an unstoppable momentum. Both Yan Ge and Grey were sent flying backward by the shockwave.

Even Huangfu Yuchen and William on the other side were affected. They continued to battle but also evaded toward a distance further away.

Fortunately, the barrier was sizable; otherwise, had they not managed to dodge in time, all four would have been injured.

"Ahh!" Grey missed his strike and was completely infuriated. He swung the scepter and landed in front of Yan Ge.

From the three holes on the scepter shot out three white beams simultaneously. Not only that, these beams could freely change angles and directions, as if they were intelligent, continuously sweeping towards Yan Ge.

"Bang bang bang—" The ground was covered in densely packed black holes from the impact.

Yan Ge twisted his waist, leaped into the air, and suddenly appeared in front of Grey. With a flash of white light, he slashed at Grey from the shoulder to his right abdomen.

Grey let out a miserable cry, and fell to the ground. The scepter in his hand flew out and crashed heavily.

He looked down in disbelief. The gash on his chest was like a deep trench, exposing white bone. He looked towards Yan Ge, only to realize there was a sword in his hand, its silvery blade glistening. The sword was not ordinary; it had traces of blood, but the blood slowly dripped from the blade and left it pristine.

This young man actually had a weapon! A spiritual sword at that!

"You…" Grey's words were cut short as he fell to the ground, lifeless, his eyes fixed on the sky in unwillingness.

"Ah!" Chadwick cried out in shock, his face turning pale. Cardinal Grey was dead!

In an instant, he felt a chill. He sensed everyone's eyes on him, filled with ill intentions on how to launch a surprise attack on him.

Seeing Grey's red robes become even redder because of fresh blood, Chadwick thought that if William also fell, he would face certain death. Overwhelmed with fear, he suddenly fainted.

Ruan Mingwei and Ji Chang exchanged glances, understanding each other's thoughts. They continued to observe the battle without a hint of emotion.

Zhang Jian and He Hong, on the other hand, burst into laughter without any hesitation.

William was engaged in a fierce battle with Huangfu Yuchen. When he noticed the absence of movement behind him and Grey's aura vanishing, a look of horror flashed in his eyes. Grey's strength was on par with his; could he have truly died so easily? Yan Ge's strength must be incredibly formidable if he could defeat Grey. If that's the case, Huangfu Yuchen's power probably wasn't far off!

Seeing that matters were settled on Yan Ge's side, Huangfu Yuchen smiled faintly and decided to conclude his battle with William.

William seemed to anticipate his intention. Crossing his hands in a circular motion, he gathered a large sphere of holy light that emitted a hissing sound, causing the ground to tremble as if in an eighth-level earthquake.

Hus face turned beet red and with a loud shout, he propelled the sphere of holy light towards Huangfu Yuchen.

Huangfu Yuchen also channeled his true qi to respond.

However, at that moment, William abruptly veered in the opposite direction. He hurled a cross, nearly a person's height, towards Yan Ge and simultaneously struck the barrier with a powerful blow. Then, he darted away from the barrier, took a few swift steps, and vanished from sight in the blink of an eye!

The cross shot forth with a powerful radiance, directly aimed at Yan Ge.

Yan Ge resisted the attack of the cross and understood William's tactics. As soon as Grey died, he knew he would be next. Faking a full-on assault on Huangfu Yuchen while attacking Yan Ge to prevent pursuit, he took the opportunity to flee.

Yan Ge and Huangfu Yuchen never expected this proud man would resort to fleeing.

Yet, considering it again, William knew his limits. Otherwise, he would undoubtedly face certain death.

Yan Ge and Huangfu Yuchen pursued immediately, but William seemed to use a secret technique or had other treasures on him. He vanished without a trace, leaving no sign behind.

Huangfu Yuchen furrowed his brows. William would appear again, and even though the enmity with Wei Wen wouldn't go unresolved, William's prideful personality meant he would surely seek revenge for today's humiliation.

"I was careless," Yan Ge sighed. William managed to escape from them who were at the Crossing Tribulation stage, and he felt frustrated.

Huangfu Yuchen looked at the cross that was now palm-sized. He picked it up from the ground and suggested, "This still carries some residual energy. Let's see if we can use it to locate him."

Yan Ge immediately agreed, "Good idea!"

"Ji Chang, we leave this to you," Huangfu Yuchen addressed Ji Chang. He and Yan Ge weren't concerned about Chadwick.

Jì Chang nodded swiftly, "Mr. Huangfu, rest assured, we'll be cautious."

Yan Ge and Huangfu Yuchen ascended into the air, and flew into the distance.

As the two dots became smaller, the spectators left with a mixture of emotions.

Yan Ge and Huangfu Yuchen pursued the direction of Y Country, even entering its territory. However, they failed to sense any aura similar to that of the cross, though they unexpectedly discovered a few others emitting the same energy fluctuation as William.

Not wanting to escalate conflicts between cultivators from Y Country and China, they didn't provoke them and turned back.

Not long after returning home, a call from Wang Zhiyuan came. He mentioned he would visit at 3 PM.

Yan Ge agreed, and afterward, neither he nor Huangfu Yuchen left the house, waiting for Wang Zhiyuan's arrival.

The three of them settled in Yan Ge's sturdy.

"Mr. Wang's honored visit must be for something important," Yan Ge could vaguely guess his purpose.

After sitting on the sofa for barely five seconds, Wang Zhiyuan stood up and respectfully bowed to Yan Ge and Huangfu Yuchen, "Both seniors are esteemed masters, nothing escapes your discerning eyes. Allow me to get straight to the point."

"Please."

Yan Ge motioned for him to sit and speak, his tone casual and demeanor composed, which somewhat relieved Wang Zhiyuan's nervousness.

Wang Zhiyuan began, "The battle between Cardinal William and Cardinal Grey was sparked by me, causing both seniors to be affected. However, William has always been arrogant, proud, and incapable of reason. With Wei Wen and Grey dying in seniors' hands, he won't stop seeking vengeance. I fear that if he's not dealt with, he'll cause trouble in China when the seniors leave. At that point, we'll have no protection and might become Pawns. Our lives are trivial, but if friction between cultivators escalates into a conflict between countries, it will bring endless troubles."

Huangfu Yuchen's expression turned cold, "So, what do you propose?"

Wang Zhiyuan's heart trembled, but he pressed on, "I don't dare to ask seniors to eliminate William, but I hope seniors can find a way to intimidate the Holy See, so their followers won't act recklessly in the future. Both seniors are aware that the spiritual energy on Earth is becoming thinner, and cultivators generally have low cultivation levels. If not for this, I wouldn't dare make such a request."

"What if we refuse?" Huangfu Yuchen's lips curved into a cold smile. Intimidation was a long-term strategy, and the target was an organization. However, eliminating a single person was achievable in the short term and had a smaller scope. Judging from his tone, intimidating the Holy See seemed easier to him than eliminating William? Toad yawning — what an arrogant attitude!

Wang Zhiyuan sighed deeply, and rose from his seat, "Then I'm afraid the state machine…" He didn't finish his sentence.

*The state machine is some kind of weapon. He's threatening Yan Ge and Huangfu Yuchen.

Yan Ge's smile faded. He understood Wang Zhiyuan's perspective but didn't necessarily agree. Wang Zhiyuan had implicated them but now he was trying to coerce them to do the clean up. It seemed his perception stemmed from their generosity and tolerance, making him think they were easy to manipulate. William's status was higher than Wei Wen's, and mishandling this situation would indeed lead to a series of troubles. While he and Yuchen had intended to eliminate all potential future troubles, willingly acting and being coerced into it were entirely different concepts.

Wang Zhiyuan must have already thought through various scenarios and responses before coming. He suddenly knelt on the ground, forced a drop of blood from his body and enveloped it with true qi before suspending it in the air. He offered it to Yan Ge. "This is my heart's blood. After Senior Yan refines it, you can control my life and death. I only ask that the two seniors to consider my unwavering dedication to the country and grant my request."

Huangfu Yuchen frowned, glancing at Yan Ge. He wasn't from Earth and didn't hold any sentiment toward it. This matter was for Xiao Ge to decide. Wang Zhiyuan must have realized that Xiao Ge cared more which was why he knelt before him. It had been a while since anyone dared to scheme against them like this.

A chilling aura emanated from Huangfu Yuchen.

Although Wang Zhiyuan trembled under the oppression, he maintained his posture with trembling hands.

Yan Ge suddenly felt his goodwill dissipating. He leaned on the sofa and spoke with indifference, "We'll agree to this, but on the condition that before we leave, neither the members of the Shadow Operations Group nor the leaders behind it have any authority over the farm." As for the pressures Wang Zhiyuan would face due to this decision, it had nothing to do with him.

Wang Zhiyuan opened his mouth but couldn't utter a word. After a while, he managed to say, "Okay."

He still extended the blood toward Yan Ge.

Yan Ge didn't accept it. He pulled Huangfu Yuchen upstairs, not sparing another glance at Wang Zhiyuan. "We're going to rest now. You're free to go."

With a deep sigh, Wang Zhiyuan rose and left.

Yan Ge and Huangfu Yuchen arrived in the second-floor room.

Worried that Yan Ge might dwell on the matter, Huangfu Yuchen said, "Baby, this is for the best. Let's turn a blind eye to them from now on. If you're still unsatisfied, we can leave right now. With our cultivation level, what can the state machine do to us?"

"We can leave, but what if the Shadow Operations Group uses our friends as leverage?" Yan Ge asked.

Huangfu Yuchen nodded in understanding, "That's a valid point. If Wang Zhiyuan could orchestrate today's event, he might resort to using hostages against us."

Yan Ge chuckled at his response.

Huangfu Yuchen pushed him back and guided him to lie down before embracing him. "However, we still don't know the true strength of the Holy See. How should we intimidate them."

"I actually have an idea about that," Yan Ge mumbled against his shoulder, seeking his opinion. "We can undergo the Tribulation on Earth, right within the Holy See's territory. I've asked Ji Chang before. Due to the gradual thinning of spiritual energy, no cultivator has reached the Crossing Tribulation stage in nearly eight hundred years. Imagine how the Holy See's members would react to witnessing us go through the Tribulation. What do you think?"

"Hmm?" Huangfu Yuchen fell silent for a moment. "It's a good idea, but the spiritual energy on Earth is sparse. Undergoing the Tribulation here might be more challenging."

Yan Ge responded, "We'll have to find a way to gather more spiritual stones and set up an array when the time comes."

Thinking of Yan Ge's system store, Huangfu Yuchen felt reassured. "Alright then."

He pinched Yan Ge's face and continued, "Our current priority is still to find William. Once we've dealt with him, we can then have our parents come over."

Yan Ge caught his words and corrected him, "Father-in-law and mother-in-law!"

Huangfu Yuchen adapted smoothly, "Alright, father-in-law and mother-in-law." Since his beloved had an accommodating expression, he had to let him have a little victory in words. And so, Yan Ge playfully bit his neck.

Huangfu Yuchen chuckled softly, pressing him into his embrace and then onto the bed…

He Xin carried his briefcase and left the farm after work, and noticed some oddly imposing people heading towards Division Two. He felt puzzled. It wasn't the first time he had seen these people coming in and out of the farm. It had been a few months since he started managing the farm, yet he knew nothing about Division Two. It seemed like an entity entirely independent of the farm. He had thought about asking Yan Ge, but since Yan Ge hadn't told him, there was a reason he wasn't being told. Asking would likely be in vain. Still, his curiosity persisted. He also had some curiosity about Yan Ge and Huangfu Yuchen's current identities and had a feeling there was a secret beneath it all.

He shook his head, deciding not to think about it any further, and went to the parking lot, retrieved his car, and drove home.

On the way, he felt something heavy hit his car. He stopped the car and looked down. He suddenly feeling dizzy, then lost consciousness and plunged into darkness…

In the past few days, Yan Ge and Huangfu Yuchen hadn't been busy. After searching for William for a few days to no avail, they gave up searching and decided to live their lives normally, waiting for William to approach them.

Just as they were about to have dinner, Yan Ge's phone rang. It was an unfamiliar number.

Thinking it might be a business call, Yan Ge handed the phone to Huangfu Yuchen. He took a few pieces of freshly cooked braised pork from the pot and began eating.

"Who's this?"

"This is Huangfu Yuchen, right?"

William!

Yan Ge recognized his voice and a sense of unease struck him.

"Your good friends, Xu Kai and He Xin are in my hands," William said with a smile.

"What do you want?" Yan Ge's eyes emitted a dangerous glint. Kidnappings were hard to defend against. Even if William kidnapped some ordinary people to threaten them, they couldn't refuse. The only way was to eliminate him and prevent future threats!

William: "It's simple. I want you to retrieve something for me. Of course, you have the right to refuse. However, there will be consequences if you do refuse, and you understand that."

Yan Ge furrowed his brows. If Xu Kai and He Xin had something that could be accurately sensed by their spiritual awareness, they could find them no matter where William hid them. But the problem was, Xu Kai and He Xin were just ordinary people.

This time, they had no choice but to agree to his terms.

Huangfu Yuchen saw that it was a domestic phone number and expanded his spiritual sense to cover the entire country. He searched for William's presence, but found nothing. He shook his head at Yan Ge.

Yan Ge spoke into the phone, "Go ahead."

William's voice came through with amusement, "You're aware of the Bermuda Triangle, right?"

Yan Ge responded coolly, "You'd better get to the point."

William chuckled again and fell silent.

Yan Ge remained silent too. He knew William would continue, considering he wanted them to go to the Bermuda Triangle. He would reveal it eventually.

William seemed to find his lack of response boring, but he continued, "I want you to retrieve a pure black cross that is half as tall as a human and has a powerful sacred energy. It was thrown into the Bermuda Triangle by the Pope over two hundred years ago. I want you to find the cross, and when you do, call this number. You have ten days at most."

Yan Ge asked calmly, "Is that all?"

"Yes," William replied.

Yan Ge hung up the phone without hesitation.

Huangfu Yuchen was puzzled, "Is the Bermuda Triangle dangerous?" Otherwise, why would William ask them to go there? William might want them to die in that dangerous place, or he might genuinely want them to find the cross. It didn't matter. But regardless of whether William's intentions, they had to make the trip.

While explaining to him, Yan Ge opened his notebook, "You know, Earth is a huge spherical body. Latitude 30° North is a special line on Earth, with many mysterious areas and symbols, including the Bermuda Triangle, Egyptian pyramids, the Sphinx, Mount Everest, the Dead Sea… see."

They both leaned over the notebook to examine the information about the Bermuda Triangle.

Huangfu Yuchen grew curious, "Why are all these places along the same latitude? It's quite peculiar."

Yan Ge wasn't sure, "There are many scientific hypotheses, but none seem reliable. Regardless, the Bermuda Triangle is indeed a dangerous area."

After reading a few pieces of information about the Bermuda Triangle, Huangfu Yuchen was eager to explore. With their abilities to fly and manipulate the elements, he felt confident about venturing into the Bermuda Triangle.

"We only have ten days. Let's depart as soon as possible."

Yan Ge nodded and first made a call to Xu Kai and He Xin's families, explaining that they were joining a mysterious travel group and wouldn't be able to contact the outside world. The call was made secretly, and they would return in a few days. Both families trusted Yan Ge's words, given their close relationship with , and wished them a safe journey.

Since most of their essentials were stored in their storage rings and system space, Yan Ge and Huangfu Yuchen didn't need to pack much. They briefly informed Guo Jian and Guo Yi, bought some equipment they might need, and then flew towards the Bermuda Triangle.

Looking at the shoreline, the Bermuda Triangle's waters were eerily calm. The blue sky was reflected on the water's surface, and the sea appeared as deep blue as the sky above, creating a mesmerizing sight that resembled a crystal palace.

By the seaside, members of the beach rescue team, dressed in uniform attire, gathered in groups of two or three, leisurely sipping beer. They awaited distress signals from shipwrecks. Once a ship hot a rock, numerous vessels would quickly sail toward the incident site, rescue survivors and receive generous rewards in return. This industry brought them immense wealth. It wasn't that they were callous; they had simply become numb from witnessing so much. This was a distinctive industry unique to the Bermuda Triangle.

Because they had already researched thoroughly on the internet, Yan Ge and Huangfu Yuchen didn't linger to savor the sea view. They became invisible and flew straight to the location where anomalies often occurred.

Yan Ge paused his steps, his face showing a mix of surprise and intrigue, "Yuchen, did you notice?"

Huangfu Yuchen nodded and pulled him down towards the surface. As they descended, they stopped just tens of meters above the water surface. Gazing at the water, Huangfu Yuchen said, "There's a strong spiritual energy here."

Yan Ge had a sudden thought, "Yuchen, do you think it's possible that the frequent anomalies at 30° North are caused by spiritual energy? Or perhaps, it's due to formations?"

Huangfu Yuchen wasn't sure, "Your theory might hold some merit. Shall we investigate further?"

"Mhm," Yan Ge nodded.

The two landed on the water's surface and slowly descended, submerging into the water. Huangfu Yuchen took out two large stones they had prepared in advance. Each held one, hastening their descent and conserving their true qi.

Due to their advanced cultivation, the seawater didn't affect their vision. Fish of various sizes swam around, seemingly detecting the danger posed by the two and avoiding them from a distance.

It was still morning, and sunlight projected onto the water, tinting the deep blue sea with a touch of gold. The water gently rippled, resembling a gem. It was truly a delightful sight.

Huangfu Yuchen sighed inwardly, thinking that after rescuing Xu Kai and He Xin, he would return with Xiao Ge. He knew Xiao Ge was worried about Xu Kai and He Xin so it wasn't the right time to discuss this now, but he stored this thought in his heart.

The two calmly breathed as they sank, until their feet touched the ocean floor. They had chosen a spot deep underwater and had been descending for nearly forty minutes from the time they submerged.

"A cross that's half as tall as a human isn't small, but compared to the vast ocean, it's like finding a needle in a haystack. How are we going to find it?" Yan Ge felt helpless.

Huangfu Yuchen had thought about this, "Don't worry, my love. Let's start by searching. If we can't find it, we'll create a fake one that possesses earth-shattering power. I refuse to believe that William won't be swayed by that."

His calm demeanor and confident words eased Yan Ge's heart. He leaned in and kissed Huangfu Yuchen's lips with a smile, "You're right. I refuse to believe that two Crossing Tribulation cultivators like us can't deal with him. He kidnapped our friends, right? If all else fails, we can kidnap his relatives and friends too. Let's see who will win!"

Huangfu Yuchen smirked, "Exactly."

Having made up their minds, they didn't hesitate any longer. They focused on the area where the spiritual energy was stronger and moved forward.

As they distanced themselves from the surface and ventured deeper, the water grew darker.

Yan Ge checked the depth gauge they brought and exclaimed in surprise, "We've already descended over 8,000 meters."

Huangfu Yuchen looked at the steep slope ahead, "It seems we'll have to continue going deeper."

For about half an hour, they moved along the steep slope. Yan Ge checked the depth gauge again and was suddenly pulled by Huangfu Yuchen.

Looking up, Yan Ge saw a snake-like creature flash past him like lightning, almost brushing his shoulder. The creature's girth was taller than him, its length reaching over fifty meters. It resembled a snake but had additional centipede-like legs, its open mouth as dark as a hole, utterly terrifying.

"What is this…?" Yan Ge gazed at Huangfu Yuchen in astonishment. "I didn't sense its aura."

The creature suddenly leapt towards Huangfu Yuchen. In that instant, Huangfu Yuchen signaled to Yan Ge with a nod, and then he brandished his spiritual sword, attacking the creature.

The creature's body was extremely agile, even in the depths of the sea. It caused the seawater to churn violently, creating huge ripples. This demonstrated how powerful the creature's strength was!

Yan Ge quickly focused the energy in his dantian to stabilize himself.

Huangfu Yuchen held up the spiritual sword and thrust it toward the creature's neck.

The creature was remarkably nimble in the water, with no hindrance from the seawater. It lifted its head to evade the attack, simultaneously swinging its tail around to strike at Huangfu Yuchen.

Yan Ge and Huangfu Yuchen were unaware that at this moment, the sea's surface was turbulent like a tsunami. Violent winds rose from the sea, attacking the sky. Dark clouds rapidly gathered, as if a severe storm was imminent!

And the instigator of this impending tempest was none other than the sea creature beneath!

On a nearby ship, a young crew member gazed into the distance with puzzlement, "This storm has come in a rather peculiar manner."

Another slightly older crew member chuckled dismissively, "Such storms are quite normal in this area. There's nothing odd about it. Let's get inside; the storm is about to arrive."

The young crew member glanced at the distance, the confusion on his face not fading. He still found the onset of the storm quite strange. But unable to make sense of it, he shook his head and also entered the cabin.

Beneath the sea, Huangfu Yuchen continued to battle the creature.