Chapter 278 A Wrong Step
“Greetings to the Crown Prince!”
At the gates of the Ye family ancestral grounds, Ye Wansheng stood with numerous Ye family
members, waiting in anticipation to welcome Baili Mozun.
“Let’s head inside,” Baili Mozun said calmly as his eyes swept over the gathered Ye clan
members.
Under Ye Wansheng’s guidance, Baili Mozun was escorted into the grand palace within the Ye
family’s ancestral grounds.
Inside the palace, it was already bustling with figures of power and authority—Lin Chuqiu, the
ancestor of the Wangyue Lin clan; Lu Yurong, the ancestor of the Chuanyin Lu clan; and other
notable clan leaders and strong cultivators had all gathered.
When Baili Mozun entered the hall, Lin Chuqiu, Lu Yurong, and the other gathered ancestors
and experts rose hastily, bowing respectfully. “Greetings to the Crown Prince!”
“There’s no need for such formalities,” Baili Mozun said with a dismissive wave of his hand as
he strode toward the seat of honor and settled himself.
A servant girl from the Ye family stepped forward, offering him spiritual tea and an assortment of
spiritual fruits and snacks.
“This gathering,” Baili Mozun began, his voice cold as his eyes swept across the room, “I trust
you all know why I called for it.”
“In a few days, I will ascend to the throne and claim the title of emperor.
From that point forward, I will rely on all of you for your support.
But let me make one thing very clear—I will not tolerate anyone scheming or causing trouble in
the shadows after my ascension.”
Lifting the teacup from the table, Baili Mozun took a small sip before continuing, his gaze sharp
and unwavering.
He had been summoned back from the border by the current emperor, his father, who intended
to pass the throne to him. This gathering at the Ye family ancestral grounds, organized by Ye
Wansheng at Baili Mozun’s behest, was meant as a warning to the various clan leaders and
powerful figures present.
As for the Yun Cang Yun clan, Baili Mozun had no worries. His father had specifically told him
that they were trustworthy.
It was these other clans that needed watching.
The hall was silent as Ye Wansheng, Lin Chuqiu, Lu Yurong, and the other clan leaders listened
to Baili Mozun’s words. No one dared to speak, the atmosphere heavy with tension.
“Over the years, I have been stationed at the border and rarely returned to the capital. I imagine
there are still some who don’t fully understand my capabilities,” Baili Mozun continued, his tone
carrying an edge.
“Allow me to make things clear so you all know exactly what kind of person you’re dealing with.
Perhaps then you’ll think carefully about your actions moving forward.”
As his words fell, an overwhelming pressure suddenly erupted from Baili Mozun’s body.
The terrifying aura surged like a tidal wave, instantly engulfing the entire palace.
The immense pressure caused the grand palace to tremble uncontrollably, as if it were about to
collapse.
Seated below, Ye Wansheng, Lin Chuqiu, Lu Yurong, and the other clan leaders and experts
turned pale, their faces twisted in fear and shock.
The ninth level of Qi Refinement—at its very peak!
“Who would’ve thought that after all these years at the border, the Crown Prince would achieve
such a terrifying level of cultivation?”
“No wonder His Majesty chose to pass the throne to him!”
“Indeed! With such strength and years of experience honed at the border, the Crown Prince
surpasses not only his peers but even many elders.
If he ascends to the throne, it will undoubtedly strengthen the court’s authority and bring the
great clans under tighter control.”
“It seems we’ll have to tread even more carefully in the future,” the gathered ancestors thought,
their minds racing.
A cultivator at the peak of the ninth level of Qi Refinement was only a step away from
Foundation Establishment. If Baili Mozun reached that stage, the royal family’s power would
soar to unprecedented heights.
Seated at the head of the hall, Baili Mozun retracted his aura. He keenly observed the changes
in expression among the clan leaders and experts below, a faint smile playing on his lips.
Unlike his father, who always acted cautiously and kept numerous trump cards hidden, Baili
Mozun preferred to display his strength openly.
Sometimes, the royal family needed to show its power.
Only by revealing their strength could they instill fear in the hearts of these schemers, forcing
them to behave and preventing any reckless actions.
“We pledge our unwavering support to the Crown Prince and the prosperity of Yue Country!”
Ye Wansheng rose from his seat, bowing deeply toward Baili Mozun.
Lin Chuqiu, Lu Yurong, and the other clan leaders and experts quickly followed suit, their
expressions respectful and deferential.
“If you truly hold such intentions, I am greatly pleased,” Baili Mozun said, his voice calm yet
commanding.
“Remember this—only when the royal family is strong can you find protection under its shadow.
Only then can your families continue to thrive.
Without the royal family, there would be no future for any of you.”
His piercing gaze swept over the room, landing briefly on each person.
“The Crown Prince speaks the truth!” the gathered clan leaders echoed in unison, their voices
filled with reverence.
The assembled clan ancestors and experts all voiced their agreement in unison.
“That’s enough for today. Consider this meeting my formal greeting to you all,” Baili Mozun said,
rising from his seat.
“I have personal matters to attend to, so I won’t stay longer.
And don’t forget—three months from now will be my coronation ceremony. I expect to see all of
you there.”
Having demonstrated his strength, Baili Mozun chose not to prolong the pressure he had
exerted on the gathered clan leaders. Rising gracefully, he smiled warmly at them.
“Crown Prince, won’t you stay for a meal at our Ye family estate?”
Seeing Baili Mozun about to leave as quickly as he had arrived, Ye Wansheng couldn’t help but
ask in surprise.
“Another time,” Baili Mozun replied with a wave, departing the hall alongside his attendant, Elder
Qu, while the gathered clans watched him leave with respectful gazes.
As the Crown Prince left, Lin Chuqiu, Lu Yurong, and the other clan leaders and ancestors also
took their leave, one after another.
Before long, the once-bustling grand palace grew quiet and desolate.
“For years, the emperor has kept the Crown Prince stationed at the border, sealing off nearly all
news about him.
I used to think the Crown Prince was an unremarkable figure, his talent mediocre, and that his
mother’s status as a mere palace maid had made him undeserving of favor, leading the emperor
to exile him to the border.
Who would have thought that the emperor’s true intent was to shield the Crown Prince from us,
preventing anyone from learning the truth about him and plotting against him in the shadows?”
As Baili Mozun and the other clan leaders departed, Ye Wuwei sat down, murmuring to himself
in admiration of the emperor Baili Xi’s cunning and foresight.
“Our emperor is truly a man of deep strategy! Always holding his cards so close to his
chest—he’s impossible to guard against,” Ye Wansheng added with a sigh. He couldn’t help but
feel that with someone as shrewd as Baili Xi on the throne, it was a constant struggle for the
clans to gain any advantage.
“Let’s just hope the Third Patriarch succeeds in breaking through,” Ye Wuwei said suddenly.
“Right now, the future of the Ye family rests solely on him.”
“The matter of the Third Patriarch must not be leaked under any circumstances,” Ye Wansheng
said gravely.
“Rest assured, everything has been arranged. Aside from the three of us—myself, you, and Ye
Wusheng—no one else in the clan knows about the Third Patriarch’s existence,” Ye Wuwei
replied with determination.
This secrecy was critical. Any slip could attract the imperial court’s attention, leading to
interference or even sabotage of their plans to aid the Third Patriarch’s breakthrough into the
Foundation Establishment stage.
“Good. Right now, the Third Patriarch is our family’s only trump card.
If he successfully breaks through, the Ye family can return to its former glory.
Combined with the many talented spiritual-rooted offspring and skilled cultivators our clan has
produced over the years, as well as the elite rogue cultivators we’ve recruited, we’ll finally have
the strength to overturn the rule of Baili Xi and the royal family.
One day, Yue Country will bear the Ye name, and we’ll no longer have to endure the humiliation
of serving the royal family!”
As Ye Wansheng spoke, his eyes glinted with cold resolve and ambition.
“Big Brother!”
Just then, a figure hurriedly entered the hall—it was Ye Wusheng.
“What is it?” Ye Wuwei asked, his brows furrowing.
“The mission… it failed,” Ye Wusheng replied, his face pale.
He had just received word that Li Nanting and the death warriors he had led had all perished
outside Canglan County.
“Was there any information leaked?”
“There shouldn’t have been. I personally trained Li Nanting and his men. They wouldn’t reveal
anything about me so easily,” Ye Wusheng said, his voice trembling slightly.
“What do you mean by ‘shouldn’t’?
You know my approach—everything must be flawless, without even the smallest margin for
doubt. I won’t accept a vague ‘shouldn’t’!”
Ye Wuwei’s eyes narrowed, a sharp glint flashing in their depths as he fixed Ye Wusheng with a
stern gaze.
“I understand. I’ll take care of it,” Ye Wusheng said weakly, his face as pale as paper as he
staggered out of the hall.
“Li Nanting was supposedly the strongest death warrior trained by Wusheng, wasn’t he?” Ye
Wansheng asked, his brows furrowing as he watched Ye Wusheng leave.
“Yes, his cultivation was at the fifth level of the Qi Refinement stage,” Ye Wuwei replied.
“If I recall correctly, Yun Yanshuang is only at the peak of the third level of Qi Refinement. Even
if she has comprehended sword intent, she shouldn’t have been able to kill Li Nanting.
It seems Yun Yanshuang and her group had the protection of a powerful figure.
The Yun Cang Yun clan is clearly not as simple as we thought!”
“It appears we underestimated the Yun Cang Yun clan,” Ye Wansheng muttered, his tone heavy.
“What will Wusheng do about this?”
“He’ll take responsibility for everything. You don’t need to worry,” Ye Wuwei replied.
“Let this be a lesson. Next time, gather all the information before making a move!
One misstep, and it could lead to irreversible disaster.”