Heaven-Dominating Martial Emperor

"Ye Chen, are you really going to ruin our plans?"

The black smoke, ethereal and formless, drifted about before coalescing into a human face. It was a bizarre and horrifying sight, and a harsh, grating voice issued from its mouth.

"You know who I am?"

Ye Chen was taken aback. This face before him felt completely unfamiliar.

"These days, is there anyone in Lei Province who doesn't know the name of the Demon Gate's Sect Leader?"

The face sneered and said, "But no matter how capable you are, if you insist on obstructing our plans, the only outcome for you is death!"

"Who exactly are you?" Ye Chen's brow twitched slightly. He paid no mind to the threat in the other's words.

"You're young. It's only normal that you don't recognize me."

"Elder Liu, you've recovered now. Your mind shouldn't be broken, right?"

Amidst the horrified gazes of everyone around, the face in the black smoke suddenly turned to Liu Tianxin and let out a sinister cackle.

"It's you?!"

Liu Tianxin froze, his expression one of utter shock as he said, "Thunder Absolute Immortal?"

As soon as he said this, everyone's gaze—aside from Ye Chen, the World Spirit, and Song Yubing—instantly sharpened, their expressions turning to absolute horror.

Thunder Absolute Immortal!

The previous Patriarch of the Lei family, and also the strongest expert in the Lei family today!

It was rumored that ten years ago, in order to extend his lifespan, he entered secluded cultivation in the mountains behind the Lei family estate, intending to seek a higher path of the Dao.

For the past ten years, not a single piece of news about him had emerged, leading many to believe he had failed in his breakthrough, exhausted the last of his life force, and passed away.

To think he was actually still alive!

"Heh heh… My old friend hasn't forgotten me, I see." Thunder Absolute Immortal chuckled, a cold glint flashing in his eyes.

"You were the one who manipulated a member of my Liu family to poison me, weren't you?"

Liu Tianxin's eyes narrowed slightly. "Why on earth would you do this? How have I offended you?"

"Why would I do this?"

Thunder Absolute Immortal laughed. "If I didn't eliminate you, old man, how could I get the Liu family's Kunlun Key?"

"It's not that I didn't give you a chance to make a fair trade, but you refused the easy way and chose the hard way. You can't blame me for that."

"The Kunlun Key?" Liu Tianxin's expression changed slightly. "So you really are still after it!"

His tone hardened. "But I should have told you long ago that it is an heirloom of my Liu family. No matter what price you offer, I will never compromise!"

"You see? You insist on being so stubborn, disregarding the lives and safety of your Liu family. So, naturally, you can't blame me."

Thunder Absolute Immortal didn't seem angry. His voice carried a biting killing intent. "Since the subtle approach didn't work, don't blame me for being direct."

"And you, young friend Ye Chen."

He looked at Ye Chen, a trace of fear in his eyes. "This is a private matter between myself and the Liu family. It would be best if you didn't interfere."

"Otherwise, you will bear the consequences."

With that, the black smoke dissipated into nothingness, leaving only Liu Jianghe's corpse, like a withered skeleton, to fall to the ground.

Many of the Liu family's servants were shocked by Liu Jianghe's gruesome state, their faces panicked and utterly distraught!

Liu Yuchan quickly covered Liu Yanran's eyes, his expression extremely grim. "The Lei family… how outrageous!"

"Do they really think the Liu family is defenseless?"

Liu Tianxin's expression was also incredibly ugly.

He never would have imagined that the poisoning was a conspiracy orchestrated by the Lei family.

He feared that Liu Jianghe had long been mind-controlled by Thunder Absolute Immortal using a Secret Technique, which was why he had turned against them and joined the Lei family's side.

"That technique just now… why did it resemble that of a demonic cultivator so much?"

"Could it be that the Lei family has colluded with demonic cultivators?"

Song Yubing looked at the desiccated corpse on the floor and spoke, her brow furrowed, though her voice was melodious and pleasant.

"Demonic cultivators?" Liu Tianxin's gaze flickered as he mused, "Thunder Absolute Immortal disappeared for ten years. For the past decade, no one has known his whereabouts."

"It was said that his time was up ten years ago, yet now, a decade later, he is still so full of life, showing no signs of decline!"

"I think either he broke through to a new realm and extended his life… or, just as you said, miss, he has thrown in his lot with demonic cultivators."

The room fell into a heavy silence.

Ye Chen stared out the window, remaining silent.

'I don't quite understand,' he thought. 'With my current power, how does this Thunder Absolute Immortal dare to act so arrogantly in front of me?'

'I destroyed even the Vajra Temple and brought the provincial government to its knees.'

'Even if the Lei family is the head of the four great families of Lei Province, they are far from a match for me.'

"This is bad!"

Suddenly, Liu Tianxin seemed to remember something, and his old face changed.

"Grandfather, what's wrong?" Liu Yuchan and Liu Yanran quickly looked over.

"That old man Lei's plot has been exposed. He's not going to hide anymore."

"If that's the case, I fear our Liu family's main city will be in grave danger!"

His expression was solemn, his tone extremely serious. "Your father is overseeing the Liu family's main estate right now, and you probably don't know…"

"The Kunlun Key is on his person!"

"If the Lei family really decides to make a move, their primary target will most likely be your father!"

Hearing this, the expressions of everyone present changed drastically.

"Grandfather, you rest and recover here for now. We'll take some men and rush to the main estate immediately!"

Liu Yuchan said quickly.

The other Liu family members present chimed in, "We'll go too!"

"We must also return to the main estate and fight those bastards from the Lei family!"

Their fighting spirit surged, and their faces showed not a trace of fear!

"You're not enough!"

Liu Tianxin shook his head dejectedly. "I can't be of any help right now. As long as Thunder Absolute Immortal presides over the Lei family, they will surely be able to suppress our Liu family to the point where we can't even raise our heads!"

"He stepped into the Primordial Mansion Realm thirty years ago, making him the number one expert among our four great families! It's hard to imagine how much his strength has grown over these past decades!"

"Even though he vanished without a trace ten years ago, he has now reappeared and is plotting against my Liu family! I fear the trump cards he holds are far beyond what we can possibly imagine!"

"If we were to truly declare all-out war on the Lei family, you would just be cannon fodder if you went back!"

At this point, Liu Tianxin's gaze suddenly fell upon Ye Chen.

The others seemed to understand something, and a hint of anticipation entered their eyes as they too looked toward Ye Chen.

Liu Tianxin looked ashamed as he spoke helplessly, "Master Ye, you have given this old man a new lease on life, and for that, this old man is eternally grateful."

"But this time, the Liu family faces a matter of life and death. I wonder… could you perhaps make another trip for the sake of the Liu family?"

"Of course, I would never ask Master Ye to trouble himself for my Liu family for no reason…"

Liu Tianxin's gaze flickered. As if he had made some great resolve, his expression firmed up and he said, "If Master Ye is willing to save my Liu family…"

"Then the Kunlun Key will be our Liu family's gift to you!"