Chapter 871: Coercion

Yan Jun and the other two wept in each other's arms for a while before finally calming down.

He led his wife and daughter before Ye Yuan and knelt to kowtow.

“Master Ye saved my family’s lives. I, Yan Jun, have nothing to repay you but this meager wealth. Please accept it, and do not disdain it.”

Yan Jun raised his hands and offered a storage ring, causing an uproar among the crowd.

Without a doubt, the ring contained a considerable amount of Earth Essence Crystals, making everyone’s eyes burn with envy.

But no matter how bold they were, none dared to provoke the new city lord.

Unexpectedly, Ye Yuan pushed the storage ring back and said calmly, “Chief Yan, no need for such formalities. Leave this place of trouble and live a good life with your wife and child.”

A struggle flickered across Yan Jun’s face. Suddenly he pushed Yan Ling before Ye Yuan and said, “I know this is presumptuous, but I don’t want Ling’er to live as miserably as we have in the future! Master Ye, I beg you to take Ling’er as your disciple. My wife and I would be eternally grateful!”

Ye Yuan was somewhat surprised by Yan Jun’s move. He could sense Yan Jun’s deep love for his daughter, yet they were willing to send Yan Ling to him as a disciple.

Ye Yuan said, “This isn’t for us to decide; it depends on Ling’er’s own wishes. Ling’er, would you like to learn alchemy from Brother Ye Yuan?”

Ling’er nodded without hesitation. “Of course I do! Ling’er wants to become the greatest alchemist! But… Ling’er can’t bear to leave her parents.”

Ling’er was clever; she knew that becoming Ye Yuan’s disciple would likely mean leaving her parents.

Ye Yuan smiled. “That’s easy. I’ll write a letter for you. Go to the Scarlet Dawn Holy Land in the White Martial Domain and say I sent you. They will take you in.”

Yan Jun was overjoyed and quickly thanked Ye Yuan.

After settling Yan Jun’s family, Ye Yuan suddenly said to the crowd, “Tan Si, do you intend to just keep watching like this?”

At these words, Yan Jun, Liu Yusheng, and the others were startled.

They hadn’t expected Tan Si to be hiding among the crowd.

Sure enough, a scarred face emerged from the crowd—it was Tan Si.

“The expert hidden in the merchant caravan was indeed you!” Tan Si said, his face dark as he stared at Ye Yuan.

At this, Liu Yusheng’s expression changed.

If he still didn’t realize that Ye Yuan had secretly intervened, he would be too stupid.

But the question was, how had Ye Yuan done it? After all, he was the one controlling the Spirit Harmony Symbiotic Array, yet he hadn’t noticed when Ye Yuan made his move!

Hearing this, Ye Yuan merely smiled.

At this moment, Tan Si was extremely wary of Ye Yuan and said, “I only came to watch; I have no ill intentions!”

Yet Tan Si’s appearance caused a stir.

“He… he’s Tan Si, ranked 458th on the Earthly Fiend List! Heavens, why is Tan Si in Yuncha City?”

“I heard Tan Si made it onto the Earthly Fiend List for the first time and shot straight to 458th place—a legendary existence!”

“But… but he’s backing down to City Lord Ye!”

Tan Si’s rank was a few spots higher than Xie Ying’s, meaning he was even stronger.

Yet such a figure was yielding to Ye Yuan, shocking everyone.

Ye Yuan looked at Tan Si with a half-smile. “Don’t you think that explanation is rather weak? If I hadn’t called you out, would you have followed Chief Yan out of Yuncha City and killed them halfway?”

Yan Jun’s face changed. This Tan Si still hadn’t given up!

If Ye Yuan hadn’t exposed Tan Si’s hiding place, he might indeed have made a move against him.

Tan Si’s face shifted. “I have no such intention.”

Ye Yuan smiled. “Good that you don’t! I happen to be heading to the Killing Plains and need a companion. I’ll trouble you to come with me.”

This time, Tan Si truly lost his composure. “You… you’re going to the Killing Plains? I… I won’t go!”

Ye Yuan said calmly, “Going or not is not up to you.”

Tan Si’s face turned ashen. “Do you really think I’m afraid of you?”

Ye Yuan remained indifferent. “So-called Earthly Fiend List experts mean nothing to me. Killing one is the same as killing two.”

Arrogant!

Presumptuous!

In the Chaotic Demon Sea, Ye Yuan was the first to dare despise an Earthly Fiend List expert!

To Heaven Initiation Realm martial artists, Earthly Fiend List experts were invincible. Yet Ye Yuan said they meant nothing!

“You! I swear I won’t kill them. Isn’t that enough?”

Tan Si backed down again. He didn’t even have the courage to fight Ye Yuan.

Tan Si’s behavior shattered everyone’s perception of Earthly Fiend List experts.

In their eyes, Earthly Fiend List experts were omnipotent. Yet faced with Ye Yuan, Tan Si, ranked 458th, didn’t even dare to make a move!

“You have only two choices: come with me, or be killed by me!” Ye Yuan said calmly, ignoring Tan Si’s words.

This was outright coercion, or rather outright kidnapping.

Ye Yuan was probably the only one who dared speak to an Earthly Fiend List expert like this.

Tan Si’s hand holding his saber trembled. He desperately wanted to draw, but recalling Ye Yuan’s punch, he couldn’t muster the courage.

Xie Ying hadn’t seen Ye Yuan’s punch clearly, and neither had he.

Tan Si could sense that under that punch, he had absolutely no chance of survival!

Who would have thought a Heaven Initiation Second Layer martial artist could be so powerful?

“I… I’ll go!” After agonizing for a long time, Tan Si finally yielded.

All the martial artists looked at Ye Yuan with awe.

This man had coerced an Earthly Fiend List expert into entering the Killing Plains.

Too shocking!

Ye Yuan walked slowly to Liu Yusheng and said, “Deliver Yan Jun’s family safely to Tianluo City. If anything goes wrong, the Green Sea Mercenary Corps will no longer need to exist.”

Liu Yusheng was skilled but spineless. If he had stood up earlier when Xie Ying provoked them, Ye Yuan would have thought more of him.

Now, there was no need to be polite.

Having arranged everything, Ye Yuan led Tan Si to the teleportation array leading to the Killing Plains.

This array could only be activated with a Death Token.

A flash of light, and the two vanished.

When they reappeared, they stood on a barren plain.

In the distance was a magnificent city, visible even from thousands of li away.

That great city was the legendary Asura City!

“If I’m not mistaken, you came from Asura City, didn’t you?” Ye Yuan asked Tan Si.

“You’re clearly entering the Chaotic Demon Sea for the first time, so why are you so familiar with this place?” Tan Si replied, avoiding the question.

Ye Yuan carried no killing aura, standing out from the Chaotic Demon Sea martial artists—clearly a newcomer.

Yet what amazed Tan Si was that Ye Yuan seemed completely unacquainted with this place.