Devouring Soul Emperor

Chu Qingyun couldn’t help but feel that the actions of the Four Elders of the Ten Thousand Treasures Tower were rather strange.

It made perfect sense for Second Elder Dong Jingshan to be deliberately targeting him.

After all, he had crushed the eye of Dong Jingshan’s only grandson; it was only natural for the man to want revenge.

However, as for the other three, even though Chu Qingyun had injured some of their younger descendants, none of the injuries were untreatable. There was absolutely no need for them to turn against Qin Ya over such a trivial matter.

After all, as Elder Qin’s only granddaughter, Qin Ya’s position in the Ten Thousand Treasures Tower was by no means low.

’When things are this abnormal, there must be something wicked at play...’

Faced with the aggressive stance of the four Celestial Spirit Realm Elders, Qin Ya, though still standing firmly in front of Chu Qingyun, felt immense pressure. Her composure began to falter, and she grew nervous.

Clearly, she hadn’t expected these four Celestial Spirit Realm Elders—who were usually at odds, constantly scheming against one another—to suddenly present such a united front to pressure her.

Seeing her reaction, a cold sneer flashed in the eyes of the four Elders.

’Hmph, she really is just a naive little girl. A few words are all it takes to intimidate her. She wants to fight us? She’s still far too green for that!’

Just then, the Great Elder, who had maintained an air of solemn authority, stepped forward, ready to add fuel to the fire and state things more explicitly.

He said in a heavy voice, "Miss Ya, there is one more thing I feel it is necessary to tell you."

"As an unmarried woman, we four believe it would be best for you to stay at home more often. You shouldn’t always be out parading yourself in public."

"Elder Qin doesn’t have much time left. You should spend more time with him and just wait quietly at home for your marriage."

"As for the business of the Ten Thousand Treasures Tower, you needn’t trouble yourself with it. We, your elders, will take care of everything for you."

Hearing this, Chu Qingyun raised an eyebrow. He seemed to have figured something out.

’It seems the Four Elders of the Ten Thousand Treasures Tower weren’t here for me at all. They came for Qin Ya...’

Elder Qin didn’t have long to live.

After his death, the sole heir to the Qin Family would be Qin Ya. And the Qin Family, in turn, held the largest share of the Ten Thousand Treasures Tower.

So, while they were ostensibly here to cause trouble for Chu Qingyun, their true purpose was to intimidate and pressure Qin Ya. Even if he hadn’t been here, they would have found some other pretext.

The specific pretext didn’t matter at all.

What mattered was forcing Qin Ya to yield and surrender her authority. That way, it would be easier for them to control the Ten Thousand Treasures Tower and, in time, seize the Qin Family’s assets!

’Four old Celestial Spirit Realm masters, ganging up to bully a defenseless woman... How utterly shameless...’

Having figured this out, Chu Qingyun couldn’t help but feel utter contempt for the four of them.

He wasn’t worried, though.

For all their plotting and scheming, those four could never have predicted that he, Chu Qingyun, could produce a Spiritual Longevity Pill. And right now, Elder Qin was in the back room, Refining that very pill...

Qin Ya was no fool, either. Now that things had come to this, she also understood the four men’s true intentions.

On the surface, they were here to stand up for Dong Mingfan and the others by causing trouble for Chu Qingyun. In reality, they were after her!

Realizing this, Qin Ya felt her resolve harden.

She cast a sidelong glance toward Elder Qin’s small house, and her confidence surged. ’Since you’ve all taken it this far, there’s nothing left to say,’ she thought. ’I’ll let you be smug for a little while. Just wait until Grandfather comes out. We’ll see what you do then!’

"You Elders certainly have a wide reach, meddling even in whether I leave my home. What’s next? Are you going to decide who I marry as well?"

Qin Ya’s expression turned completely cold, her voice becoming flat and emotionless.

The four Elders exchanged glances. The Fourth Elder, who always wore a placid smile, rubbed his hands together and stepped forward. "Niece Ya," he said, still smiling, "since we’ve already come this far, let’s just be blunt. Who you wish to marry is, naturally, your own decision."

"However, as your elders, it is our duty to look out for you and ensure you aren’t deceived by some scoundrel who covets the Qin Family’s assets and the Ten Thousand Treasures Tower."

"Therefore, after some discussion, we have concluded that your future husband must be chosen from among the descendants of us four Elders. As for which one you choose, we will absolutely not interfere."

"Of course, this little fiancé game you’re playing with that Chu Qingyun ends now. We previously dismissed it as a childish tantrum and let it go, but if you insist on carrying on... well, things could get unpleasant."

When the Fourth Elder finished, he continued to beam at Qin Ya, but he looked every bit the smiling tiger.

In their eyes, Elder Qin only had a few days left anyway. They had no need to pay any mind to that old fossil who had one foot in the grave—a man so decrepit he couldn’t even open a Pill Furnace anymore.

Qin Ya’s previous announcement within the Ten Thousand Treasures Tower, declaring Chu Qingyun her fiancé, had indeed provoked the four Elders. It instilled in them a sense of crisis, which was why they had joined forces to come here today.

"A childish tantrum?" Qin Ya couldn’t help but sneer. "And if I do insist on carrying on, what exactly do you four Elders plan to do about it?"

"Qin Ya, you’d better know what’s good for you, or else..."

Second Elder Dong Jingshan sneered.

However, just at that moment, a powerful, resonant voice boomed from the house behind them, cutting him off mid-sentence.

"Or else you’ll *what*!?"

Hearing this voice, everyone in the courtyard was stunned.

They were all, of course, very familiar with this voice. Yet, something seemed wrong. It was powerful and resonant, each word carrying weight—nothing like the weak, listless voice of a man on the verge of death.

A moment later, the door opened, and Elder Qin emerged with a solemn expression.

The Elder Qin of this moment had a ruddy complexion and a ramrod-straight back. His gait was unhurried yet steady and powerful. Even his previously dry, brittle white hair now looked healthy and full of luster.

The decrepit aura of Death Qi that had clung to him, the aura of a man with one foot in the grave, had vanished completely. In its place was a burgeoning, vibrant vitality!

To look at him now, no one would doubt that he could live for another few decades, or even a century!

Clearly, the Upper Grade Spiritual Longevity Pill had taken effect!

"Dong Jingshan, what were you just saying? You said if Ya doesn’t know what’s good for her, you’ll do what?"

Elder Qin’s face was grim, his expression radiating an authority that needed no anger to be felt. His gaze, sharp as lightning, bored into Dong Jingshan as he pressed his question.