"All of you, step back a bit. In a moment, when I cast the spell, I wouldn't want to accidentally harm you!"
Master Ma let out a cold, arrogant snort and walked to Guo Huaiyuan's bedside. He clasped his hands into a seal and began chanting under his breath.
In an instant, Guo Huaiyuan's whole body began to tremble, and strands of black energy started emerging from the top of his head, forming a cloud of black mist.
"This... This is..."
Upon seeing the black mist, the Guo Family collectively gasped.
After all, they were just ordinary people, unaccustomed to witnessing such mysterious phenomena.
Only Ye Fei shook his head with a faint smile.
What was this?
This was nothing more than leftover ghost energy from the Evil Spirit that Ye Fei had subdued and absorbed earlier.
If left alone, the ghost energy would naturally dissipate on its own.
Who would have thought that Master Ma had gone to the trouble of drawing out this residual ghost energy, creating the spectacle at hand?
Master Ma was currently basking in the awe-struck stares of the Guo Family members. Seeing Ye Fei's half-smiling, half-mocking expression, he felt displeased and said coldly, "This is a man-eating Evil Spirit. If it weren't for my expertise in taming such entities, Guo Huaiyuan would already be dead!"
Man-eating Evil Spirit?
Upon hearing Master Ma's words, everyone in the Guo Family, apart from Elder Guo and Liu Shan, turned to look at Ye Fei with a peculiar expression.
Because just moments ago, Ye Fei had claimed that Guo Huaiyuan was already healed and only needed dietary care!
Guo Can spoke out first: "I knew you were a fraud! Cheated my grandfather last time and now you're back again? If it weren't for Master Ma, my dad would've been killed by you!"
"Xiao Can, what's going on here?"
Hearing that Ye Fei had deceived his father, Guo Wenyuan, the eldest son, immediately pressed for answers.
"Uncle, it's this guy! That day on Qingyun Mountain, he acted all supernatural… even tricking Grandpa into believing he's some so-called Innate Martial King!"
Guo Can angrily recounted the Qingyun Mountain incident.
After hearing this, Guo Wenyuan was about to speak, but Master Ma sneered and said, "Innate Martial King? Ha, what a joke! The Innate Realm is a domain that only Kings of Martial Arts can reach. I've met a senior Innate Martial King myself, but he was already past forty years old. And this young man dares to claim such a title?"
"Master Ma, I saw with my own eyes that Mr. Ye could release his Inner Strength. How could it be false?" Elder Guo said indignantly.
Despite his age, he had faith in his observations.
Ye Fei's abilities displayed on Qingyun Mountain that day, even if they weren't at the level of an actual Innate Martial King, were at least very close!
Moreover, Elder Guo, being a former soldier with a straightforward demeanor, had already grown displeased with Master Ma's arrogance since his arrival. Since Ye Fei was someone he invited, he naturally wasn't going to hold back his words.
Master Ma was about to retort, but Guo Wenyuan tugged at his sleeve.
The Guo Family's success today was largely due to Elder Guo's efforts in Yuntai after his retirement from the military. Therefore, no one dared to openly defy Elder Guo.
Guo Wenyuan had noticed his father's dissatisfaction, so he quickly intervened to prevent further conflict between Master Ma and Elder Guo.
"Forget it!"
Seeing Guo Wenyuan restrain him, Master Ma chose not to press the issue.
He had come this time primarily for wealth and the ancient tomb. Since they were paying him, he didn't want to provoke them further. Master Ma simply cast a contemptuous glance at Ye Fei and said to Guo Wenyuan, "Judging by the ghost seen earlier, I suspect the tomb is likely far more perilous than you described. The previously agreed payment will need to double!"
"That's no problem! As long as Master Ma can help the Guo Family explore the tomb, anything can be negotiated!" Guo Wenyuan promptly replied.
At this point, he was already overwhelmed by Master Ma's earlier display and agreed without hesitation.
"Very well then. Find me a place to rest so I can refine the Evil Spirit. We'll depart this afternoon!"
As Master Ma spoke, he gestured with his hand. The black mist hovering mid-air emitted a strange noise before falling into his palm, which he swiftly flipped shut, sealing it within. With his chin held high, he turned and left the room.
Guo Wenyuan quickly followed to make arrangements, while Guo Can returned to his father's side to tend to him, leaving only Ye Fei, Elder Guo, and Liu Shan together.
Ye Fei, seeing that matters here were settled, immediately walked toward the door.
Elder Guo, assuming Ye Fei was upset by the attitudes of Master Ma, Guo Wenyuan, and Guo Can earlier, quickly stepped forward and said, "Mr. Ye, please don't take it personally. Although Master Ma appears proficient in Daoist skills, I still place more trust in you!"
"Heh, indeed, Master Ma has some minor skills!" Ye Fei replied with a faint smile.
He had already discerned that Master Ma had inherited some cultivator techniques, which, to ordinary people, were indeed impressive.
But they were merely impressive at best!
For someone like Master Ma, who hadn't even properly entered the cultivation stage, he was incomparable to Ye Fei, who was already at the Foundation Establishment Stage.
Elder Guo felt relief upon hearing Ye Fei's remarks.
Meanwhile, Liu Shan curiously asked, "Then, Mr. Ye, if you were to face Master Ma in combat, who would win?"
Ye Fei smiled faintly as his aura shifted dramatically. Suddenly, an imposing force akin to the Devouring Spirit Demon Venerable filled the room—a sensation of absolute dominance. He slowly extended a single finger and said, "Taking him down would only require one finger!"
Feeling the sheer weight of Ye Fei's aura.
Both Elder Guo and Liu Shan, as martial artists, shuddered involuntarily, then stared in awe, saying, "Mr. Ye's divine might is unmatched. Our Guo Family relies entirely on you for this mission!"
"It's merely a mutually beneficial arrangement," Ye Fei replied indifferently, then departed like a breeze...
By three o'clock in the afternoon.
The Guo Family and their group arrived in grand style outside a village in the Yuntai Suburb.
This area was originally a Tujia ethnic village, but the Guo Family had acquired it from the Yuntai City government for the ancient tomb located within.
Normally, discovering an ancient tomb would mean handing it over to the government.
However, the Guo Family's position in Yuntai, born out of bloodshed and turmoil, meant they played by different rules.
However, during their excavation process, incidents of people like Guo Wenyuan being possessed by Evil Spirits began to occur. This forced them to halt operations and invite Master Ma and Ye Fei to address the threat.
Along the way.
Master Ma, having displayed his mystical prowess and being naturally arrogant, led the way at the front. Guo Wenyuan, the recovered Guo Huaiyuan, and Guo Can all treated him with utmost respect.
The more arrogant Master Ma was, the humbler the three seemed in return.
In their eyes, the solution to the dangers of the tomb still hinged on Master Ma.
As for Ye Fei, only Liu Shan followed beside him. Even the car he traveled in earlier was a plain bus, incomparable to the luxury vehicle used to escort Master Ma.
Still, Ye Fei didn't mind.
Because from his perspective, the dark haze of ghost energy ahead had already come into view—this place would be an excellent opportunity for him to refine and cultivate!