The vast crowd watching below saw the flames of battle spreading downwards, and immediately began cursing and fleeing frantically, causing the whole boundless area to become suddenly chaotic.
Meanwhile, Ye Xiaofan and others seized the opportunity to break out towards the east. With endless cultivators disrupting the terrifying enemy forces, the encirclement formation high above was instantly reduced by more than half.
However, this method could only dodge the slightly weaker Self-Slaying Realm experts, as the overwhelming number of enemies continued to pursue them relentlessly.
At a certain moment.
"Ye, you won’t escape, surrender, and maybe I’ll leave you a whole corpse."
Boom——!!!
A voice echoed from behind Ye Xiaofan, as countless swords and blades suppressed with terrifying might descended.
Facing the dozens of Self-Slaying Realm peak cultivators in pursuit, Ye Xiaofan did not hesitate. He immediately wielded his sword to strike back, slaying over a dozen True Self Realm peak cultivators, unstoppable in his advance.
However, two fists couldn’t fend off four hands, and due to a momentary overlook, a terrifying Self-Slaying Realm peak cultivator managed to get close for a sneak attack, an ancient sword pointing directly at Ye Xiaofan’s vital spot on his back.
Feeling the chill from behind, Ye Xiaofan’s expression changed slightly, instinctively turning to defend.
But it was already too late.
Yet just before the imminent thunderous strike.
Suddenly.
Boom——!!!
Pfft——!!!
First came an ear-piercing sound at his ears, followed by the sound of an ancient sword piercing through flesh and blood.
As Ye Xiaofan turned back, the first thing he saw was a large black cauldron, shattered on the spot, breaking into pieces and shooting out in all directions.
Seeing that familiar cauldron, Ye Xiaofan couldn’t help but tremble inside.
This cauldron, though not overly familiar to him, was not unfamiliar either; it was the Ye Race’s treasured artifact, the Ye Family’s Three-legged Cauldron.
Yet, clearly, an artifact treasured by a rural clan seemed so insignificant on a battlefield involving Self-Slaying Realm experts. Despite its ability to unleash the power of a seven or eight-tenths Self-Slaying Realm spiritual artifact, it was crushed in one blow.
Upon recognizing the cauldron, Ye Xiaofan’s heart couldn’t help but tremble slightly, and when he followed the sight of the cauldron’s explosion, he saw an old pale face, looking at him with full kindness.
"Clan Leader Grandpa?"
Ye Xiaofan looked at the familiar figure, his eyes instantly reddening, especially when he saw the ancient sword that penetrated the elder’s chest, causing his nose to sting.
This elder was none other than Ye Wuyuan.
Evidently, Ye Wuyuan had traversed the void utilizing that giant cauldron to intercept the sneak attack for Ye Xiaofan.
Yet now in Ye Wuyuan’s eyes, there was no longer any past loathing or hatred, only endless regret and atonement: "Child, over the years, I was wrong. Can you forgive Grandpa, forgive the Ye Race?"
After speaking, the ancient sword was instantly withdrawn, and the already frail figure became even paler.
However, the enemies wouldn’t give them a moment to breathe.
While Ye Xiaofan was in a daze, another ancient sword descended from above, launching another sneak attack.
But at this moment, a figure broke through the air, striking away the assailant with a sword.
The newcomer was none other than Ye Xiaotian.
"Grandpa——???"
Ye Xiaotian watched as Ye Wuyuan slowly fell, and after driving off the assailant, immediately flew over, cradling the frail figure in his arms, tears unknowingly falling from his eyes.
To Ye Xiaofan, Ye Wuyuan was the clan leader, a family elder, hence he called him Clan Leader Grandpa. However, to Ye Xiaotian, Ye Wuyuan was truly a grandfather, his father’s father.
Over the years, Ye Xiaotian was willing to allow the clan members to continuously consume the resources he obtained in the Divine Sword Sect due to Ye Wuyuan’s presence, as he was undoubtedly the one who cared the most for him and Ye Xiaofan. This could be seen from Ye Wuyuan’s attitude towards the brothers and Ye Xiaofan since childhood.
Now, watching his most beloved grandfather collapse in front of him, Ye Xiaotian’s heart instantly shattered.
Ye Xiaofan stood there, dumbfounded, unable to react. The past deeds of the Ye Race against him were still vividly remembered, yet the sight before him instantly threw his mind into chaos, preventing him from immediately catching the frail figure.
At this moment, Ye Wuyuan also gazed at Ye Xiaotian, continuously bleeding from his mouth, seemingly wanting to tell him something. Regrettably, he could not say it before slowly expiring.
In truth, there was no need to think to know that what Ye Wuyuan likely wanted to say was for him and Ye Xiaofan to reconcile, for the brothers to work together towards a broader horizon, but those words ultimately did not reach their ears.
"Grandpa——???"
Ye Xiaotian held Ye Wuyuan’s cold body, looking to the sky and lamenting. Regardless of whether the old clan leader of the Ye Race was biased, in his and Ye Xiaojiang’s eyes, he was the best grandpa in the world.
"Clan Leader Grandpa?" Ye Xiaofan looked at Ye Wuyuan, now devoid of life, and subconsciously called out softly.
In that moment, all past dissatisfaction and resentment seemed to dissipate, his heart trembling.
But compared to Ye Xiaotian’s heart-wrenching pain, Ye Xiaofan’s eyes were filled with more anger, an irrepressible fury, as he slowly looked at the killer of Ye Wuyuan, his killing intent surging to the sky: "Old geezer, I will make you disappear into ashes!"
Boom——!!!
Ye Xiaofan immediately struck with a sword, the terrifying Sword Qi engulfing the assailant, instantly blasting them into countless fragments. The assailant, momentarily dazed in their fall, found no other opportunity as they were reduced to ashes.