Conquest of Taboo and Debauchery

As Ye Fei met the middle-aged man's taunts with a smirk, the man could no longer contain his rage. "Prepare to die, boy!" he snarled, combining his fingers and thrusting them at Ye Fei again. This time, his speed was faster, and his strength nearly doubled. Ye Fei also noticed the tips of the man's fingers were turning black.

A chill ran through Ye Fei. He hadn't expected his opponent to hold back initially; clearly, he was now using his full power. It was a relief that Ye Fei had pursued him this far, because Liu Junyi wouldn't stand a chance if she faced this man alone.

The realization made Ye Fei acutely aware of the hidden power behind the scenes, capable of sending such formidable fighters with ease. But, impressive as his skills were, this man was still no match for Ye Fei.

What Ye Fei didn't know was that this particular opponent hadn't been sent "casually."

Only after struggling to handle Liu Junyi had the man behind the scenes dispatched Li, one of his top three warriors. Li had initially held back, but Ye Fei's dismissive attitude had angered him, and the young man's remarkable strength stirred jealousy as well. Using a secret technique that came at some personal risk, Li had unleashed his full power in an attempt to end this fight quickly.

These thoughts passed through Ye Fei's mind in a flash. As Li's fingers darted toward him, Ye Fei raised his right hand calmly, pinching Li's attacking fingers with his thumb, index, and middle finger. He grinned. "These two fingers of yours are quite irritating," he said. With a firm squeeze, he crushed them.

"Aagh!" Li cried out in agony, stunned at how easily Ye Fei had neutralized his attack. He realized, with horror, that he was thoroughly outmatched. When he saw his fingers crushed and useless, his pain turned into a scream he couldn't suppress.

"Care to tell me who sent you?" Ye Fei asked, letting go. He was unconcerned about Li escaping, as it was evident that he stood no chance of fleeing successfully.

Li wasn't foolish enough to run, but he didn't answer Ye Fei's question. Instead, he countered, "Who are you?" His fear had grown to the point that he barely noticed the pain in his hand.

As one of the trusted warriors of his master, Li had encountered many fighters over the years, even reclusive experts. Yet he had never seen anyone as powerful as the young man in front of him. The fact that this master was under twenty only added to Li's disbelief—what kind of training could produce someone like this?

Seeing Li's shock, Ye Fei smiled slightly, confidence swelling within him. "My identity isn't important. Now, who are you?"

The middle-aged man's face tensed as he wavered between fear and resignation. Finally, he gritted his teeth and said, "My name is Li Si. I lead this generation of the Xuanyin Sect."

"Li Si?" Ye Fei mused, momentarily amused. For a moment, he imagined the man as a relic from ancient China. But he brushed aside the odd name and continued. "Xuanyin Sect? Never heard of it. No matter what sect you're from, just tell me who sent you here."

Li's face darkened, and he shook his head. "I can't reveal that."

"Are you aware of the consequences?" Ye Fei's tone turned cold, his hand rising to emphasize that he could end Li's life at any moment.

Yet this time, Li seemed less shaken. Instead, he smiled grimly. "Of course, I know the consequences. I never expected to leave here alive once I fell into your hands. The real shame is that I was too confident and came out here alone, unable to relay news of someone as powerful as you back to my master."

Ye Fei was impressed; beneath Li's sinister exterior, there was a certain resilience and honor. His respect for the man increased, yet he still needed his confession. Smiling, Ye Fei said, "Then how about this? If I take you captive and announce it publicly, will your master come out to meet me?"

Li laughed quietly, shaking his head. "He would never risk exposing himself. His ambitions are too grand for that. I'm nothing more than a pawn to him—sacrifices are expected."

"Then why do you work for him?" Ye Fei was genuinely curious. "With your strength, you could have lived a decent life. Why put yourself at his mercy?"

Li's face softened, and a trace of sadness flickered in his eyes. "Because he saved the Xuanyin Sect. Without his intervention, our sect would have vanished long ago. I owe him a debt that even my life couldn't repay."

Ye Fei admired Li's loyalty. It almost made him reluctant to kill him, so he offered, "I don't wish to kill you. But I also can't let you go until I've dealt with your master. How about this: come with me for a while? I promise not to force you to reveal anything you'd rather keep to yourself."

Ye Fei's offer was sincere; although he could use methods to pry into Li's memories, he preferred not to, out of respect. Besides, Ye Fei was confident that he could handle any challenges from this hidden foe without Li's intel.

Li smiled, shaking his head. "I can't join you. But rest assured, the Xuanyin Sect won't support him further." His voice carried a hint of finality.

Seeing the resolve in Li's expression, Ye Fei felt uneasy. "What are you planning?"

Li glanced up at the sun filtering through the dense forest canopy, his face reflecting a mix of nostalgia and relief. "The man I serve doesn't trust anyone. Those who work for him take a poison that only he can suppress, and it's incurable by any other means. Without his antidote every three months, it's a slow and agonizing death. Rather than wait for that day, I've triggered the poison within me now."

As he spoke, a dark hue spread over his face, a clear sign of the poison taking effect.

Ye Fei couldn't help but feel sympathy. "Why do this? If you'd joined me, we could have searched for a way to cure you."

Li staggered, clutching a tree for support, but he managed a faint smile. "I'm done with this life. Over the years, I've done things that betray my conscience, dragging the Xuanyin Sect into darkness for a debt that can never be repaid. Now, they can be free. I can finally rest." As he spoke, pain clouded his expression.

Ye Fei watched quietly, saddened but helpless. Even if there were a cure for the poison, it wouldn't be found in time.

"Will you grant me a final request?" Li asked, his voice strained.

"Tell me," Ye Fei nodded solemnly.

"When I'm gone, I hope my disciples in the Xuanyin Sect can survive without facing hardship. They've focused only on martial arts; without guidance, they'll be lost. I managed things for them before, but after today… please, help them if you're able." He paused, embarrassment evident. "Of course, I understand if you refuse. We were enemies, after all."

Ye Fei agreed without hesitation. "You have my word. But how will I find them?"

Li's relief was palpable. With his trembling hand, he drew out a small, intricately designed iron token and handed it to Ye Fei. "This is the Xuanyin Sect leader's insignia. Show it in Linhai, and my disciples will know you come in peace." He then provided detailed directions to their location.

Ye Fei was surprised; he'd expected Xuanyin Sect to be closer to the capital. Instead, Linhai was a distant city. This would make it simpler for Ye Fei to locate them later. He nodded. "I promise they'll be safe."

Li's gratitude was evident, but he had one more request. "Please… end my life now."

Startled, Ye Fei asked, "Why?"

Panting, Li replied, "As a warrior, I'd rather die fighting than succumb to poison."

Ye Fei hesitated, feeling reluctant to fulfill the request. But Li, sensing his reluctance, urged him, "Have courage, young man. If you're soft-hearted now, you'll struggle against an enemy who wouldn't hesitate to kill their own kin. Don't allow mercy to cloud your judgment."

Ye Fei, moved by Li's words, finally nodded. He placed a hand over Li's heart, applying just enough strength to end his life swiftly.

"Thank you," Li whispered, gratitude evident in his final moments. And with that, he passed on.

"I should be thanking you," Ye Fei murmured quietly, laying Li's body down with respect. Li's final words echoed in his mind, reminding him of his need for resolve. He realized that he still had a lot to learn in order to face an enemy as ruthless as Li's master.

After reflecting beside Li's resting place for a long time, Ye Fei finally rose and dug a grave beneath several towering trees. Li's loyalty had earned Ye Fei's respect; he believed they could have been friends under different circumstances. With a final whispered promise, Ye Fei left the gravesite.

As he turned to leave, Ye Fei noticed something gleaming on the ground where Li's body had been lying: a ring with a distinct, dark golden hue. It was shaped like an ordinary diamond ring, but the color was black with a slight sheen of dark gold. The gem on it was also dark gold, though a bit lighter than the ring itself.

Ye Fei had examined Li closely during their fight and had seen nothing on his hand, nor had he noticed the ring while placing Li's body down. It was as if the ring had materialized from thin air.

Driven by curiosity, Ye Fei picked up the ring. As soon as his fingers touched it, a strange message seemed to echo in his mind: "Li Si's Ring of Wish: Wearing this ring can enhance the wearer's Xuanyin Sect martial arts by one level."

The information felt like something out of a game, with the ring's powers described almost like an item from a fantasy adventure. Ye Fei couldn't help but feel surprised. Was this some kind of magical artifact?

Was he meant to find rare items like this whenever he defeated or killed a powerful foe? And if so, why hadn't he discovered anything similar after killing the hundreds of enemies just a few days ago?

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Something in this chap may seem fast and all but please read further to know more! Also I do deserve a gift now with 190+ chapters on tow!