Chapter 209: Chapter 21: Ye Huang Is Executed, the Mother-in-law Rises to Power

With things having come to this, could they truly have let Ye Huang go and allowed him to continue his rampage?

But with Ye Huang dead, wouldn’t all the power in the Ye Family fall into the hands of the third branch...?

A moment later, the strange phenomena in the sky dissipated.

The azure sky was washed clean, as if nothing had ever happened.

Ye Huang’s body and soul were utterly destroyed, leaving not a single trace of him in the world.

The Ye Family Elders recalled the great battle on Jiachen Island a month ago. Now, they couldn’t help but look at each other, and as they gazed at Madam Ye’s figure, they began to vaguely suspect many things.

But from this day forward, these questions could only be buried deep in their hearts.

After all, both the Late-Life Talisman Stage Mad Daoist and Ye Huang were dead. Who would dare to be next?

Just as everyone was unsure of what to say, Ye Yu suddenly cried out in grief, "Grand Elder!"

Everyone turned to look and saw the Grand Elder sitting cross-legged in the void. His expression was serene, but all signs of life were gone from his body. He had, at some unknown point, passed away.

A Ye Family Elder sighed. "The Grand Elder was already near the end of his lifespan. He exhausted a great deal of his mental energy and vitality just now while presiding over the Grand Array... In a single day, our Ye Family has lost three Elders!"

Ye Yu stood guard by the Grand Elder’s side, his expression bitter. In a low voice, he said, "The Grand Elder dedicated his entire life to the Ye Family, asking only for its prosperity and peace. That he could do one last thing for the family before his passing means he achieved his final wish."

Madam Ye slowly flew before the Grand Elder. After a moment of silent mourning, she said softly, "Farewell, Grand Elder."

The other Ye Family Elders also drew near, mourning in silence.

A moment later.

Madam Ye’s sharp eyes swept over the Elders present. She spoke slowly, "The Ye Family cannot be without a leader for even a single day. I intend to take on this great responsibility and oversee all of the Ye Family’s affairs. Does anyone have any objections?"

Everyone’s expression shifted, but no one spoke first.

At that moment, Ye Yu, one of only two Mid-stage Life Talisman Cultivators present, spoke up. "The person the Grand Elder was most satisfied with before his death was none other than Fellow Daoist Feng. I support Fellow Daoist Feng succeeding to the position of Grand Elder."

Hearing this, the others exchanged glances before speaking in unison, "We have no objections either."

Madam Ye nodded. "Adversity strengthens a clan. After this tribulation, I believe the Ye Family will be more united than ever. We must stand together as one and lead the Ye Family back to its former glory."

Everyone responded in unison with their assent.

...

「Yinluo Island, Demon Lion Peak, Canglan Cave.」

Clouds and mist swirled around towering ancient trees under a gloomy sky as a fine, silken rain fell.

Within the magnificent Cave Mansion, the lingering notes of a zither sounded like music from the heavens.

Fang Cheng walked out of the bedroom and retrieved a Golden Sword that was caught in the restrictive spell outside the Cave Mansion’s entrance.

The sword had arrived two hours ago, but unfortunately, he had been busy "plowing the fields" and couldn’t get away.

After reading the message on the Golden Sword Communication, he raised a sharp eyebrow and immediately returned to the bedroom.

Ye Yan was leaning languidly against the headboard, a pair of slender, jade-like feet, as white and smooth as snow, peeking out from under the silk quilt.

"Husband, who was that message from just now?" she asked in a cloying voice. On her devastatingly beautiful face, the flush had not yet faded, her expression a mix of lazy and elegant.

She was usually demure, quiet, and coldly alluring, but now she appeared flirtatious and enchanting.

Fang Cheng smiled. "It was a message from your mother. Something big just happened in the Ye Family. Ye Huang’s cultivation went awry; he suffered a qi deviation and turned into a Demon Fiend. He caused trouble on Xiaocang Island and killed an Elder before being suppressed and slain by the combined forces of the Ye Family."

Ye Yan was taken aback. Concerned, she asked, "Mother wasn’t injured, was she?"

Fang Cheng shook his head. "In that battle, the Ye Family’s Grand Elder personally presided over the array, suffered a massive loss of vitality, and has since passed away. Now, your mother has succeeded the position of Ye Family Patriarch and is in charge. The ceremony will be in three days."

Die’Er, who was listening from the side, immediately exclaimed with joy, "Congratulations, Young Miss and Young Master! The Madam taking control of the Ye Family, this is a joyous occasion of the highest order!"

As she spoke, she excitedly sat up, clutching the quilt, and in doing so, pulled the blanket off Dong Qing, revealing a wide expanse of alluring skin.

A rosy blush appeared on Dong Qing’s snow-white cheeks. A woman carved from jade, she quickly crossed her arms over her chest in flustered embarrassment, which only made her appear more radiant and stunningly beautiful.

She quickly pulled the quilt back to cover her body, chiding in embarrassment, "Die’Er, can you please be a little more proper?"

Die’Er paid her no mind. She leaped gracefully from the bed and took Fang Cheng’s arm. "Young Master, how about we celebrate a little more?"

This girl had a slender waist, long legs, and a perfectly rounded bottom. She looked pure and innocent, but she concealed a sly, coquettish charm.

She was, in short, a feisty and alluring little filly.

...

「Yinluo Island, Holy Spring Peak.」

Inside the Cave Mansion of True Disciple Ye Junxian.

A Ye Family Elder sat across from him, recounting the recent upheavals in the family one by one.

"In three days is the Patriarch’s ceremony. *She* has specifically requested your return," the Elder said slowly.

Ye Junxian was a core figure of the Ye Family’s main branch and was held in high regard by Ye Huang.

Now that Ye Huang was dead, the main branch was like a dragon without a head, so they had elected a representative to come and consult with Ye Junxian.

After all, Ye Junxian was backed by Holy Spring Peak, and his master was that Inner Sect Elder from the Ye Family. His future was limitless.

After listening to his clan uncle’s account, Ye Junxian let out a long sigh and said, "Feng Qingyao is quite capable!"

The Ye Family Elder’s expression changed. "Junxian, was it really Feng Qingyao’s doing?"

Ye Junxian waved his hand dismissively. "At this point, whether it was her or not is no longer important."

"Then you..."

Ye Junxian said coolly, "Go back and relay a message to the Patriarch. Tell her that I am following my master’s orders to enter seclusion for cultivation and cannot get away for the time being. I will go pay my respects and congratulate her later."

The Ye Family Elder hesitated, wanting to say more but holding back. He knew that Ye Junxian was completely giving up the power struggle with the third branch. These words were a declaration of his stance to Madam Ye, stating that he would no longer participate in the Ye Family’s internal affairs.

This also meant that the day the main branch could make a comeback seemed to be a long, long way off...

The Ye Family Elder pondered for a moment, then said, "Junxian, I heard that the Wang Family has a peerless beauty who has reached marriageable age. Since you are not yet married, why not extend the family’s bloodline sooner rather than later?"

Ye Junxian nodded. "Very well. You can make the arrangements for this matter."

...

「Three days later.」

Xiaocang Island, Cangshan Hall.

The gates of the hall were wide open. Inside the main hall stood over thirty cultivators, all of whom had Life Talisman Cultivation.

Outside the hall, there were over a hundred Sensing Realm cultivators.

Among the cultivators inside the hall, more than ten wore the robes of the Ye Family. The rest were guests from the various prominent families of the Abyssal Marsh, as well as several Outer Elders from the Yinluo Sect.

At the forefront stood a man and a woman.

The man was in his twenties, dressed in a Profound Black Robe of the Wave Tamer, tied at the waist with a silk sash, its large sleeves flowing like clouds. His expression was composed. He was tall and straight, with sharp eyebrows and star-like eyes, exuding a spirited and dashingly handsome air.

The woman wore a magnificent Cloud Silk Long Skirt embroidered with butterflies. Her skin was snow-white and delicate. Not only did she possess a devastatingly beautiful face, but she also had a tall, slender figure with exquisite and graceful curves.

The long skirt clung to her graceful figure, and below her slender, rounded waist, a pair of long, well-proportioned, beautiful legs formed a heart-stirring silhouette.

These two were none other than Fang Cheng and Ye Yan.

Beside Ye Yan stood Feng Ling, whose beauty was just as legendary.

This time, she was representing the Feng Family of Flame Demon Island to attend the inauguration ceremony for the Ye Family’s Patriarch.

The two sisters stood together, each as lovely as a flower and as precious as jade. Their competing beauty brightened the entire Cangshan Hall.

At this moment, however, everyone wore a solemn and dignified expression, standing silently in the hall as they waited.

After a short while.

Suddenly, a rumbling sound like a tide came from outside the hall, as if ten thousand waterfalls were crashing down and a thousand rivers were surging at once!

Everyone looked outside, curious, only to see a clear river stretching across the horizon. Its vast Spiritual Qi made it seem like the Milky Way was falling from the sky.

In the blink of an eye, everyone saw a speck of light suddenly appear. Like a magnificent, trailing firework, it arrived in an instant, entering the hall and landing on the main seat at the head of the room.

The newcomer was dressed in a Feathered Robe, with a dangling hairpin in her hair and jade pendants on her ears. She had a full, voluptuous figure, and on her forehead was the mark of an ice-blue snowflake. Her aura was one of dignified grace and boundless poise.

It was Madam Ye.

After she sat down, she raised a sleeve and with a light wave, retracted the vast waters from outside. It was as if a boundless heavenly ocean had fallen all at once. A loud BOOM was heard, and the great hall trembled slightly. When they looked again, the great waves had vanished without a trace.

Only a deep, rumbling echo remained, reverberating endlessly.

With this single act, everyone knew that she had taken complete control of the Ye Family’s island-guarding Grand Array.

The members of the Ye Family, both inside and outside the hall, bowed deeply to Madam Ye in a gesture of utmost respect, saying in unison:

"We greet the Grand Elder."

Madam Ye sat upon the main seat, her dignified and beautiful face filled with authority. Her sharp eyes swept across the crowd, pausing for a moment on her son-in-law, Fang Cheng, before moving on. In a melodious voice, she said, "Everyone, please rise."

Hearing her words, the members of the Ye Family all straightened up.

Next, it was the other guests’ turn to come forward one by one to pay their respects, present their congratulatory gifts, and offer their well wishes.

...