Ye Tian felt he'd heard that voice somewhere before. The person was dressed in black and their face was masked, so he couldn't get a clear look, but he was sure he knew them.
His mind raced, trying to place the person. Suddenly, a realization struck him. 'Could it be him? The Ye Family's Grand Elder? What's he doing here? Is he here to kill me?'
Ye Tian came to this conclusion based on what the man in black had just said. He had called out Ye Tian by name, which meant this was a targeted visit, and the mask was clearly to hide his identity.
Anger flared in his heart. 'They actually want to kill me? They're courting death.' Ye Tian would never spare those who wanted him dead. Mercy toward one's enemies was cruelty to oneself.
The Eight-winged Golden Scale Python seemed to sense Ye Tian's rage. "Boss, it looks like these people are after you. Let me go and slaughter them all!"
"They have to die, that's for sure, but I want to get some practice in," Ye Tian said, a wicked smile spreading across his face. "You take on the strongest one. Just play with him for a while. I'll handle the other two. Hopefully, this will help me get stronger."
The other two men in black were likely at the First or Second Layer of the Second Vein. Ye Tian would have no problem taking one of them on alone, but he wanted to fight both at once. By not leaving himself any room for retreat, he might be able to unleash his true potential in a moment of crisis.
"Then be careful, Boss. If you can't handle them, I'll turn those two into charcoal for you as quickly as I can!" the Eight-winged Golden Scale Python said.
The thought of Ye Lin's terrifying Thunder Attack sent a shiver of residual fear through Ye Tian. If he really let Ye Lin fight those two, it would be over in a matter of breaths. He just wondered how long the Ye Family's Grand Elder could hold out.
"This area is huge. Why don't we split up to find him? As long as Ye Tian is somewhere in this vicinity, he won't be able to escape!" said the leader of the men in black.
"An excellent idea. No matter how capable Ye Tian is, he dies by our hands today! Grand Elder, rest assured, we won't show any mercy," another man in black said.
Ye Tian found this hilarious. 'I was just thinking it would be a bit of a hassle to deal with you all at once. Now you want to split up? I couldn't ask for a better outcome!'
"Ye Lin, follow that Grand Elder, but don't kill him just yet. Wait until I've taken care of the other two, then we'll deal with him. I'm going to make him understand the consequences of making an enemy of me, Ye Tian," Ye Tian said to Ye Lin.
"Boss, is that really a good idea? Those two are both quite strong. I'm a little worried about you. How about I help you take one of them out?" said the Eight-winged Golden Scale Python.
"Have that little faith in me? Relax! I never do anything I'm not sure of! Just wait for my good news!" Ye Tian said with a laugh.
Just then, the three men in black sped off in three different directions. Ye Tian chose a direction and gave chase, while the Eight-winged Golden Scale Python naturally went after the Grand Elder.
Ye Tian was incredibly fast, catching up to his target in no time. "Hey, what's the rush? Still wearing a mask and all black at this hour? Aren't you hot?"
Ye Tian's voice startled the man in black. He spun around, and a wave of delight washed over him when he saw who it was.
"Ye Tian, I can't believe you showed up here. Talk about saving us the trouble! We were just looking for you!" the man in black said.
Ye Tian glanced at him and chuckled. "What for? I don't believe we've met."
"Cut the act, Ye Tian. I'm sure you know who I am by now! The reason I'm here today is simple: to kill you!" the man in black said.
"Kill me? Why? And how am I acting? Who are you, exactly?" Ye Tian continued to feign ignorance.
"Out of respect for your status as a genius of the Ye Family, I'll make your death a quick one. I am a Protector of the Ye Family, and I've come specifically to take your life." With that, the man in black pulled down his mask.
"Oh, so you're one of our own. That's strange. I haven't done anything to offend you, so why do you want me dead? If you dare kill me, the Patriarch will never forgive you!" Ye Tian said, pretending to be terrified.
"Heh, if we kill you, the Patriarch will never find out. You see, the Black Iron Guard is looking for you too! Do you really think the Patriarch will suspect us? We were originally going to let your miserable life continue for a few more days, but the Black Iron Guard's appearance forced the Grand Elder to change his plans," the man in black said.
"So that's how it is. The Grand Elder wants me dead? All because I injured his son in the arena?" Ye Tian chuckled, but his expression had already shifted subtly.
"That's right. And now that you know, isn't it time I sent you on your way?" As he spoke, a silvery-white longsword appeared in the man's hand.
Seeing this, Ye Tian chuckled. "Are you sure you can kill me?" The words had barely left his mouth when the Black Glaze Sword appeared in his hand.
"Ye Tian, you are truly a genius of the Ye Family. To die by my hand today is an honor, in a way. In your next life, I hope you learn who you can and cannot afford to provoke," the man in black said.
Then, with a flicker of movement, he slashed his longsword toward Ye Tian. Ye Tian could clearly feel the potent Sword Qi radiating from its tip.
But he didn't panic. On the contrary, a wicked grin spread across his face. "Nice one! You really think I'm some kind of pushover? Today, I'll make you regret your foolishness!"
The Dragon Spiritual Power inside Ye Tian surged, pouring with all its might into his arm and then into the Black Glaze Sword. The Dragon-shaped Mark on his palm erupted with a dazzling white light, instantly resonating with the sword.
A massive Dragon's Roar erupted from the blade of Ye Tian's sword, followed by a powerful blast of Sword Qi that shot toward the man in black with the force of a thunderbolt.
This attack thoroughly terrified the man in black. The very space around them trembled. He could feel it in his gutβYe Tian's strike possessed even greater Attack Power than his own. He would almost certainly be injured by this blow, and badly.
Ye Tian had no intention of showing mercy. He had already learned everything he needed to. 'The only questions left are how the Grand Elder knew I was here in the back mountains, and how he found out about the Black Iron Guard. The Guard is supposed to be a top secret.'
BOOM! After a deafening explosion, Ye Tian was thrown back dozens of steps by the force of the recoil before regaining his footing. The man in black, however, was not so lucky. His entire body shot backward like a kite with a snapped string, a spray of red mist trailing behind him in the air.
"ARGH!" A cry of agony escaped the man's lips as he crashed to the ground, kicking up a cloud of dust.
This time, Ye Tian was mostly unharmed. He had done his best to dodge the man's Sword Qi, minimizing the damage he took. The man in black, however, was another story entirely. As for whether he was dead or alive... Ye Tian would have to go and see for himself.