Chapter 1501: The Imposter

The streets were bustling, with flowers in full bloom, the old tea exuding a faint fragrance, rich and mellow, carrying the taste of ancient times.

The entire city was abuzz with discussions, but Ye Chen sat steadily at the tea stall, quietly sipping his tea like a reclusive sage, oblivious to the world's affairs, his gaze only reflecting in the tea water.

After some time, he finally stood up, left a Yuan Shi on the table, and melted into the crowded throng. In his mind, a map illusion formed, and he had selected the location for collecting the ransom.

This ransom collection spot was chosen with care—it couldn't be too close to the Kunpeng Clan, in fact, it had to be far away to avoid the Kunpeng old ancestor and the Emperor Weapon.

Soon, a ethereal voice spread across the nine heavens, unrestrainedly extending to all directions and realms:

"Kunpeng Clan, if you wish to ransom your people, come to Tai Shan in Nan Yu. No extensions will be granted, and furthermore, your crown prince must be present. It's been many days since we've met, and this old one misses him greatly."

This single statement stirred up another wave in the already lively Nan Yu, turning the discussions under the heavens into roaring tides.

"I told you so! After robbing the Yuan Shi mine, there had to be more to it. Demanding ransom is just like with the Jinwu Clan, and on top of that, the crown prince must be there."

"From what I can tell, this ransom won't be small." The old folks stroked their beards, their expressions meaningfully profound as they pondered. "I still remember that Ye family ancestor, who didn't hesitate to risk his own life to make the Jinwu Clan suffer greatly. This one is probably another madman who doesn't care about his life."

"The Kunpeng crown prince has wiped out quite a few families, but no one knows which one this time belongs to."

"To find out which family, we'll just have to watch." Groups of people were already gathering, heading toward the teleportation arrays in various ancient cities, converging from all sides with their sights set on Tai Shan in Nan Yu.

"Seeking death." A cold voice echoed from the Kunpeng Clan, as the Kunpeng Emperor raged, causing the grand hall to tremble.

"This situation is strikingly similar to the Jinwu Clan's. Their target is clear." The Kunpeng Clan great elder snorted coldly, not forgetting to glance at the Kunpeng crown prince, his face extremely grim. It was all because of this fellow that the Kunpeng Clan had suffered heavy losses, including his own direct descendant grandson.

"Since they've specifically named me to go, this king will certainly go." The Kunpeng crown prince gritted his teeth, his eyes bloodshot, his expression ferocious, his terrifying killing intent reaching an uncontrollable level.

"Stay obediently in the clan." The Kunpeng Emperor suddenly scolded coldly, "Have you forgotten the Jinwu Clan's miserable state? The clan is about to seal itself, and this king doesn't want any more trouble from you."

"But that person specifically demanded the crown prince's presence." The Kunpeng great elder spoke gravely, "If the crown prince isn't there, that person might go mad, and if it leads to mutual destruction, who knows how many more clan members will perish."

"This is simple." A Kunpeng elder immediately activated a secret technique, transforming into the likeness of the Kunpeng crown prince, even mimicking his aura perfectly. "This way, that person won't be able to tell the difference."

"Exactly as I intended." The Kunpeng Emperor said, stepping out of the Kunpeng grand hall and personally leading the way, taking eight Great Saints with him from the immortal mountain. Behind him came a commanding voice:

"Order the first and seventh branches to each dispatch one hundred thousand troops to surround Tai Shan in Nan Yu for this king."

Tai Shan, the highest mountain range in Nan Yu, stood like a symbol, allowing one to overlook all directions from its peak.

There were also legends about Tai Shan, much like Cang Mang Mountain, connected to a great emperor from ancient times, though which one remained unknown, as the years were too distant for verification.

Spectators had already gathered from all sides, a dense crowd hovering in the air, surrounding Tai Shan in layers. Without exception, their gazes fixed on a massive boulder at the mountain's summit.

There sat a person, cloaked in black robes and wearing a ghost mask, his true face hidden.

It was Ye Chen—or more precisely, one of Ye Chen's clones. This time differed from the Jinwu incident; the Kunpeng Clan would surely be on guard, and it was uncertain if they could lure out the Kunpeng crown prince.

Thus, he sent his clone to collect the ransom and draw attention from all sides, while his true self hid on another mountain peak, keeping a close watch to handle any sudden changes.

"Sending a clone to collect the ransom—this person's smarter than the Ye family ancestor." Discussions rose one after another. "It looks like after getting the ransom, they'll make a quick escape. That makes sense."

"Can't see his true face or bloodline—don't know which family's ancestor he is." The older cultivators stroked their beards, their piercing eyes wide open, yet they couldn't discern anything, leaving them dizzy.

"From what I can tell, the Kunpeng Clan is going to bleed heavily. If it were me, I'd demand the ransom to the death too."

"The Kunpeng Clan has arrived." Someone called out, and everyone's gazes shifted to one side. Amid rolling clouds, nine figures soared through the mist, accompanied by domineering thunder, their pressure so strong it made the air tremble along their path.

"We should pull back a bit—looks like there's a cultivator army again." The sharp-eyed ones retreated on their own, as if spotting an overwhelming horde in the distance.

"At least two hundred thousand strong—is that the branch army?" People exclaimed in surprise, not slowing their steps as they withdrew several dozen li. A cultivator army wasn't to be trifled with—it was ferocious.

By the time they spoke, the Kunpeng Emperor had already reached the mountain summit, followed closely by the eight Great Saints, including the one disguised as the Kunpeng crown prince, making a total of ten Great Saints.

"No wonder they're the Kunpeng Clan—this lineup is no small matter!" Ye Chen's clone spoke up, scanning the ten with interest, his gaze finally settling on the one posing as the Kunpeng crown prince.

As the clone spoke, Ye Chen's true self activated a secret technique, linking to the clone's line of sight.

He couldn't help but narrow his eyes slightly. Though the Kunpeng Great Saint had hidden it well, it didn't escape his immortal eyes—this was no Kunpeng crown prince, but someone else in disguise.

"A clever switcheroo." Ye Chen's true self sneered, not at all surprised. With the bloody lesson from the Jinwu Clan, the Kunpeng Clan had naturally become vigilant.

"You dare raid my Kunpeng Clan's mine and kidnap my clan members—you must be no ordinary figure." The Kunpeng Emperor spoke, staring straight at Ye Chen without glancing away. With his cultivation and insight, he could tell it was a clone, but regrettably, he couldn't see through the true face.

"South Heaven City, Wang Family." Ye Chen's clone stretched his neck and casually glanced at the Great Saint impersonating the Kunpeng crown prince. "Your crown prince should know all about it."

"Of course I do." The Great Saint chuckled coldly. "No need for more words—release my Kunpeng Clan members."

"I'll release them, naturally." Ye Chen's clone summoned a spirit talisman and released a young man in purple robes from within—it was a Kunpeng Clan prince of lesser birth, miraculously the eighth in line.

"Your eighth prince, nine million Yuan Shi—fair price." Ye Chen's clone looked at them with a smile.

"Very fair." The Kunpeng Emperor replied indifferently, not showing anger, but secretly transmitting a message to the Great Saints beside him: "He's a clone—have you located his true self yet?"

"It's very strange—we can't find it." The Great Saints replied, their brows furrowed tightly. "He's used secret techniques to obscure the mysteries; that faint connection in the void keeps breaking off."

"Do we have confidence to seal him instantly?" The Kunpeng Emperor glanced at Ye Chen's clone and continued transmitting.

"He's set up formations around him." The Kunpeng great elder said gravely. "If anyone steps into that area, the clone will self-detonate, and all the captured Kunpeng people will perish with him."

"Indeed, no ordinary opponent." The Kunpeng Emperor snorted coldly and directly ordered the surrounding cultivator army: "Activate the Heaven-Sealing Barrier. Kill anyone who makes a reckless move from outside."

"Be straightforward—pay up or not." Ye Chen stretched lazily, looking impatient. "Learn from the Jinwu Clan—they hand over the money without hassle. You all should hurry it up."

And to his surprise, this remark made the Kunpeng Emperor act even more decisively, tossing over a storage bag containing nine million Yuan Shi.

"If it's just money you want, the Kunpeng Clan can afford it."

"I like dealing with straightforward people." Ye Chen's clone beckoned to take it, opened it for a look, and then began counting piece by piece, as if no one else was around, leaving the spectators from all sides feeling awkward.

The Kunpeng Emperor and the Great Saints weren't in a hurry either—they needed time for the Heaven-Sealing Barrier to be set up and to search for Ye Chen's true self. They were more than happy to let him take his time.

Since they weren't rushing, Ye Chen's clone was even less so—he needed to buy time for his true self.

With the Kunpeng crown prince not showing up, there was no need for his true self to linger here. To eliminate the Kunpeng crown prince, he had to go straight to the Kunpeng Clan's lair, though he was extremely reluctant to do so.

After all, the Kunpeng Clan's lair housed a Quasi-Emperor and a terrifying Extreme Dao Emperor Weapon. With an Emperor Weapon suppressing the heavens, his forbidden heavenly dao would be useless.

It was a place of great danger, where entering might mean never leaving.

Even so, Ye Chen's true self would still go. Hatred had twisted his mindset, driving him to madness and turning him into a reckless madman.

More importantly, the Kunpeng Clan was about to seal itself. Once sealed, he wouldn't be able to kill the Kunpeng crown prince, and who knew when they might unseal—perhaps by then, he would no longer be in this world. He didn't want to leave regrets; he had to eliminate the Kunpeng before his death.

It was a crazy move that could cost his life, but he was willing to take the gamble.

The scene at the summit of Tai Shan had become strangely quiet. Ye Chen's clone was contentedly counting the money, while the Kunpeng Emperor and the others waited patiently, each with their own agenda, an unspoken understanding between them.

Neither side was in a hurry, but it was making the spectators from all sides anxious. Demanding ransom should be quick and clean—what was this performance? Counting piece by piece—would it go on until the year of the monkey and the month of the horse?

Looking from afar, many onlookers had already conjured clouds behind them to sit on, arms crossed as they watched. We'd just sit here and see how long you take.

The Kunpeng Great Saints' brows furrowed deeper and deeper. As dignified Great Saints, they had used various secret techniques to trace Ye Chen's true self but found nothing, underestimating his capabilities.

"Keep searching until you find it." The Kunpeng Emperor issued a stern order, his face ashen. He was also tracking Ye Chen's true self but came up empty after searching.

"Search with all your might." On a distant mountain peak, Ye Chen sneered and turned to vanish.