Possessed by my father, I was reborn and became the supreme ruler.

The battle lasted for a long time, and Situ Yun gradually lost patience.

He roared and unleashed his signature technique – "Blazing Flames Burning the Sky".

A burst of blazing flame erupted from the tip of his sword, rushing towards Ye Yunjian like a fire dragon.

Ye Yunjian felt the heat wave hitting him and dared not be careless.

He quickly retreated, simultaneously gathering all his inner energy to unleash the "Frostbite Technique".

A chilling aura erupted from his palm, colliding with the flames and creating a deafening roar.

The collision of water and fire created a mist that obscured everyone's view.

When the mist cleared, everyone saw Ye Yunjian standing unharmed, while Situ Yun lay on the ground in a disheveled state, his clothes tattered, and a trickle of blood spilling from the corner of his mouth.

“You…” Situ Yun looked at Ye Yunjian in disbelief.

Ye Yunjian sheathed his sword and looked coldly at Situ Yun. "You lost."

Situ Yun gritted his teeth, struggled to his feet, glared fiercely at Ye Yunjian, and then slunk away.

The surrounding disciples were in an uproar. They had originally thought that Ye Yunjian would be easily defeated by Situ Yun, but the result was quite the opposite.

Those disciples who had initially believed the rumors also began to doubt whether Ye Yunjian was really as incompetent as the rumors suggested.

Ye Yunjian proved his strength in front of everyone, and his prestige rose accordingly.

He looked up and gazed into the distance.

Lan Xuan walked to Ye Yunjian's side and whispered, "Senior Brother Ye, are you alright?"

Ye Yunjian shook his head and smiled slightly, "I'm fine." He paused, his gaze falling on Elder Lin in the distance, "It's just..."

Elder Lin's deep gaze fell on Ye Yunjian, and he said in a low voice, "Yunjian, I have discovered something, and I'm afraid it is of great importance."

Ye Yunjian felt a chill run down his spine. He keenly sensed the solemnity in Elder Lin's tone, and an ominous premonition welled up in his heart.

The two entered Elder Lin's study, where a faint sandalwood scent filled the air, bringing a sense of tranquility.

Elder Lin walked to the desk, took out a scroll from the drawer, and slowly unfurled it.

The scroll was decorated with complex patterns and symbols that Ye Yunjian had never seen before.

"This is what I obtained from my years of secret investigation into Situ Jiuxiao," Elder Lin said solemnly, pointing to the patterns on the scroll. "These symbols belong to a mysterious force called the 'Netherworld Cult.' They act mysteriously and are ruthless. They have always been hiding in the shadows, intending to overthrow the entire cultivation world."

Ye Yunjian's pupils suddenly contracted, and he felt a chill run from the soles of his feet to the top of his head.

He had seen the name "Netherworld Cult" in ancient books before. It was said to be an extremely dangerous cult that had once caused a bloodbath before being wiped out by a joint effort of various sects.

Could it be that they've made a comeback?

"I suspect that Situ Jiuxiao is colluding with the Netherworld Sect to harm the Xuanhuo Sect," Elder Lin's voice was deep and powerful, like a thunderclap in Ye Yunjian's ears. "We need to find evidence as soon as possible to stop their conspiracy."

Ye Yunjian took a deep breath and nodded solemnly, his eyes filled with determination. "Elder Lin, I am willing to fight alongside you and protect the Xuanhuo Sect!"

After discussing it, the two decided to first go to the forbidden area behind the mountain to look for clues.

It is said that the forbidden area behind the mountain was once a stronghold of the Netherworld Cult, and perhaps some clues can be found there.

However, just as they were about to set off, they discovered that their whereabouts had been exposed.

“Someone is secretly watching us,” Ye Yunjian keenly sensed the strangeness around him, a faint murderous aura permeating the air. “It seems we have been discovered.”

Elder Lin's expression was solemn. He said in a deep voice, "It seems that the Netherworld Sect's influence has infiltrated the Xuanhuo Sect. We must proceed with caution."

The two exchanged a glance, their eyes filled with wariness.

Suddenly, a whooshing sound came from the sky, and several dark figures descended from the sky, surrounding them.

"Ye Yunjian, Elder Lin, you are surrounded," a cold voice came from the shadows. "Surrender now, or you will suffer."

Ye Yunjian gripped his longsword tightly, his eyes icy cold. "If you want to capture us, let's see if you have the ability!"

A fierce battle is about to break out.

Ye Yunjian and Elder Lin stood back to back, warily watching the surrounding shadows, the atmosphere extremely tense.

"It seems someone has leaked the news..." Elder Lin said in a low voice, his gaze sweeping over the surrounding shadows of the trees, as if trying to drag out the enemy hiding in the dark.

In the deep back mountain, the shadows of the trees sway and cast dappled light, like countless eyes lurking in the darkness.

Ye Yunjian held a long sword, its blade gleaming coldly in the moonlight. He walked cautiously ahead, each step light as a feather, yet carrying an undeniable determination.

Elder Lin followed closely behind, and faint fluctuations of spiritual energy could be seen beneath his sleeves, ready to deal with any unexpected situation.

The surroundings were eerily quiet; even the wind seemed to be held back by some force. The only sound was the faint rustling of leaves underfoot. This deathly silence only made people feel more oppressed and uneasy.

A faint smell of decay permeated the air, mixed with the earthy stench, making one feel slightly uncomfortable.

Ye Yunjian's gaze was as sharp as a hawk's, scanning the surrounding vegetation, trying to catch any suspicious movement.

He felt the cold touch of the sword hilt on his fingertips, which made him more alert and constantly reminded him that he was in danger.

Elder Lin frowned and slowly extended his divine sense, spreading it outwards like an invisible net, trying to detect any hidden threats.

However, he discovered that the area seemed to be shrouded in a special barrier, which greatly hindered his divine sense's detection, making him even more vigilant.

Suddenly, a dark shadow appeared out of nowhere in the open space ahead, like a blob of ink spilled on the ground.

The shadows slowly coalesced, revealing a group of mysterious figures dressed in black, exuding a suffocating sense of oppression.

The leader was tall and imposing, his face hidden in shadow, with only the cold curve of his lips visible.

"Heh heh, you've got the road to heaven but you're choosing the path to hell." The mysterious man let out a hoarse laugh, as chilling as an owl's.

He slowly raised his head, revealing a pair of mocking eyes, and sneered, "Ye Yunjian, Elder Lin, I thought you two were capable of something, but I didn't expect you to obediently deliver yourselves to my door."

Ye Yunjian's eyes narrowed; the other party's appearance startled him.

He quickly scanned his surroundings and realized that this was not a simple ambush, but a carefully laid trap.

But there was no panic on his face. Instead, he calmly gripped his sword, his gaze icy and tinged with mockery: "You think you can trap me with your cowardly and secretive ways?"

The mysterious man seemed surprised by Ye Yunjian's composure. "Interesting, kid," he said in a low voice, a hint of danger in his tone.

He then raised his hand, and a suffocating sense of oppression enveloped the entire open space.

"Do it."

As soon as the mysterious man finished speaking, the men in black around them pounced on Ye Yunjian and Elder Lin like ghosts.

Swords clashed and flashed, a chilling aura instantly spreading.

Ye Yunjian brandished his longsword, the sword energy like a rainbow, the fierce sword wind swirling up the surrounding fallen leaves, forming a rotating barrier.

Elder Lin formed hand seals and chanted incantations. Golden runes flew from his hands, transforming into blazing flames that forced the approaching men in black to retreat.

However, the mysterious man's strength far exceeded their expectations.

With a simple wave of his hand, he deflected the attacks from Ye Yunjian and Elder Lin.

Ye Yunjian felt a powerful force coming towards him, and the long sword in his hand almost slipped out of his grasp.