"Fearing the Qi family?" Ye Ling raised an eyebrow. "Villages at the foot of the mountain already have eighth-rank extraordinary individuals, and you still fear the Qi family?"
No matter how powerful the Qi family was, they were merely one of the Four Great Families. Based on the strength displayed by the Kyoto Qi family, their leaders could at most possess eighth-rank cultivation, certainly not Red Dust Immortals. Otherwise, with the Qi family's ostentatious nature, China would have no other three great families.
The Earth God forced a smile. "Your Majesty, you may not know, but the Qi family is a cultivation family that has been passed down since the Spring and Autumn period. Their ancestors were once celestial gods in the immortal realm. Due to violating heavenly laws, they were punished by the Heavenly Emperor and confined to Mount Wuling."
"Those who leave the Qi family are merely those without cultivation talent within the family. Their strong individuals of ninth-rank and above are forbidden from stepping beyond Mount Wuling for their entire lives."
Ye Ling chuckled, "This Qi family is truly interesting. Since they are a long-standing cultivation family, why meddle in China's affairs instead of remaining detached from the mortal world?"
As one of China's Four Great Families, the Qi family had members in the military, government, and business sectors, wielding profound influence over China. If it were a secular family doing such things, it would be understandable, as fame, profit, and power are pursuits for everyone in the mortal world. But the Qi family was different. As a cultivation family passed down through the ages, with connections to the immortal realm, Ye Ling couldn't fathom what benefit they gained from rashly interfering in mortal affairs.
The Earth God continued, "Actually, in the past, the Qi family did not interfere in external affairs. Their clan members focused solely on cultivation, hoping that one day the Heavenly Emperor would show mercy and allow them to return to the immortal realm."
"However, a hundred years ago, the Qi family suddenly began to interfere in external affairs. They frequently dispatched Qi family members outside Mount Wuling, and I heard they have achieved considerable status in Kyoto."
At this point, the Earth God sighed heavily. "As a cultivation family, excessively interfering in the mortal world, even acting recklessly in the mortal realm, will eventually bring retribution. I see that group of people no longer wishes to ascend."
Ye Ling smiled in agreement, "What you say is not wrong. See, isn't their retribution here?"
Upon hearing Ye Ling's words, the Earth God was initially stunned, then he reacted, staring blankly at Ye Ling and trembling, "Could it be... the Qi family has offended Your Majesty?"
Ye Ling smiled, "Otherwise, why do you think I would be running to this mountain for no reason?"
Seeing that Ye Ling was indeed here to cause trouble for the Qi family, the Earth God's face showed anxiety. He paced back and forth, sighing, "Alas... what is to be done?" Although he was an Earth God of the mortal realm, he held a divine position. Unlike the Qi family, he was not ill-informed and knew what a terrifying existence Emperor Ye Ling was. The Qi family offending Ye Ling would surely lead to a grim end!
Ye Ling, seeing the Earth God's anxious demeanor, asked again, "Why do you look like that? Are you very worried about the Qi family?"
The Earth God clasped his hands in a salute. "Your Majesty misunderstands. I have no dealings with the Qi family. It's just that something major happened to the Qi family over ten years ago – they lost a supreme treasure. If the item is not recovered and the Qi family is annihilated, disaster might descend."
Ye Ling frowned, "I don't understand what you mean. What does the Qi family's lost treasure have to do with disaster descending?"
"Please, Your Majesty, listen to me explain slowly." The Earth God bowed deeply to Ye Ling again. "The treasure lost by the Qi family was a scroll. In reality, that scroll is not a treasure, but an artifact that sealed an ancient demonic spirit."
"When the Qi family's ancestor was banished to Mount Wuling, they were also ordered to guard that demonic spirit."
"As the Qi family has been passed down to this day, they have forgotten their ancestor's mission. Instead, they have enshrined the scroll containing the demonic spirit as a family heirloom."
"I should have come forward to remind them, but the strong individuals of the Qi family can never step beyond Mount Wuling, and the scroll containing the demonic spirit has always been stored in the forbidden area. Therefore, whether they enshrined the demonic spirit or imprisoned it, there was effectively no difference, so I didn't intervene."
"But now, the demonic spirit has escaped Mount Wuling, and I was hoping the Qi family could bring back the scroll. If Your Majesty annihilates the Qi family, and this scroll falls into the wrong hands, the demonic spirit will truly be free!"
Hearing the Earth God's words, Ye Ling smiled, "The ancient demonic spirit has escaped, and you are not reporting it to the Heavenly Court to have the celestial realm capture it, but rather relying on the Qi family to do so. Isn't that putting the cart before the horse?"
The Earth God quickly knelt before Ye Ling and kowtowed, "Your Majesty, I have no choice! I also bear responsibility for the demonic spirit's escape. Once reported to the Heavenly Court, my head will not be spared!"
"The demonic spirit has been sealed for thousands of years and must be extremely weak. It certainly won't cause any major trouble in a hundred years. With the Qi family's influence... they should be able to find the demonic spirit, so I wanted to rely on the Qi family..."
At this point, the Earth God dared not continue speaking, kneeling before Ye Ling and trembling.
Ye Ling looked deeply at the Earth God. "Get up. This has nothing to do with me, and you don't need to apologize to me."
The escape of the demonic spirit was a matter of great importance. A minor deity like the Earth God could not bear such responsibility. While his failure to report to the Heavenly Court was a mistake, it was also understandable. Moreover, in the past decade or so, Ye Ling had not heard of any demonic spirit causing havoc. Since the Earth God had not caused a major disaster, and Ye Ling was not from the Heavenly Court, he saw no need to overstep his bounds and pursue the Earth God for dereliction of duty.
Seeing that Ye Ling was not holding him accountable, the Earth God breathed a sigh of relief, but he dared not get up. He knelt on the ground and pleaded, "Your Majesty, the demonic spirit has not yet been found. Could Your Majesty, for the sake of all living beings, spare the Qi family this time?"
"It's not too late for Your Majesty to act after they retrieve the demonic spirit."
Ye Ling refused, "There is no room for negotiation. Since the Qi family dared to provoke me, their fate is sealed. As for the demonic spirit, do not worry too much. The Heavenly Dao's authority is currently with me, and every blade of grass and tree in this world is under my control. Even if this so-called demonic spirit truly awakens, it will not be able to stir up any significant trouble."
For Ye Ling, the true crisis now only came from beyond the domain. He did not take the so-called ancient demonic spirit seriously. A mere creature that even the Qi family could guard could not be that powerful.
Hearing Ye Ling's words, the Earth God opened his mouth, realizing he could not change Ye Ling's mind. He could only respectfully say, "Since Your Majesty has spoken, I shall not say more. If Your Majesty has no other matters, I shall take my leave."
Ye Ling nodded. "Go."
"Thank you, Your Majesty." The Earth God replied, then transformed into a wisp of smoke and drilled into the mountain.
Ye Ling watched the spot where the Earth God disappeared, a subtle curve forming on his lips, a hint of amusement flashing in his eyes.
Tian Ling noticed Ye Ling's smile and asked curiously, "Senior Brother, is something wrong?"
Ye Ling said, "That Earth God is lying."
Tian Ling blinked, "Lying?"