Chapter 100: The Patriarch of the Li Family

“Step back!”

Ye Tianci growled lowly and charged forward with a swift step, slamming his palm fiercely onto the flowerbed ground.

“Bang!”

Dust billowed up as the earth trembled beneath his hand.

Suddenly, the soil beneath his feet rippled, as if something was rapidly burrowing underground.

“Come out!” Ye Tianci shouted, reaching out abruptly to grab.

To everyone’s shock, he pulled from the soil a massive earthworm with a deep greenish-blue hue!

The worm was over twenty centimeters long!

It looked more like a small snake.

Terrifying!

The enormous earthworm twisted its body with force, wriggling with the agility of a loach, breaking free from Ye Tianci’s grip and darting straight for his eyes!

“Mr. Ye, be careful!” Li Zhenhua shouted anxiously.

Nearby, the elderly Mr. Li was also struck with alarm.

The strange earthworm’s speed was simply too fast!

So fast that everyone feared Ye Tianci might lose an eye.

But Ye Tianci was quicker still!

“Snap!”

He firmly caught the worm again.

“Hold still!”

A silver needle pierced the worm’s body, and it immediately calmed.

Li Zhenhua stepped forward. “Mr. Ye, a few days ago, when my father was loosening the soil and fertilizing here, I saw this worm. At that time, it even licked my father once.”

“Dad, is your leg alright now?” Li Zhenhua asked.

The elderly Mr. Li bent slightly, rolling up his pant leg to reveal the spot on his calf where it had been licked.

“Dad! What happened to your leg?!” Li Zhenhua exclaimed.

Everyone saw the calf — covered with a patch of bruises, blackish and eerie in color, clearly abnormal.

“Yes, why did it suddenly turn like this? I... I didn’t feel anything at all,” the elderly man said, astonished.

Ye Tianci spoke calmly, “Old sir, the poison in your body is caused by this creature.”

“Mr. Ye, what on earth is this thing?” Li Zhenhua asked in disbelief.

“It’s neither snake nor earthworm,” Li Zhenhua said, astonished.

Ye Tianci held the worm, glancing it over, then said gravely, “It’s indeed neither snake nor earthworm. It’s called the ‘Lingyin Eel.’ It feeds on various spiritual herbs and is naturally gifted with the ability to locate gemstones and precious jade.”

“This creature is poisonous. Its venom is colorless and tasteless, with a peculiar toxicity. Those poisoned won’t die but will gradually wither away like plants deprived of vitality.”

Li Zhenhua’s face lit with understanding. “I see!”

“Mr. Ye, please help detoxify my father.”

“Rest assured, Mr. Li.”

As he spoke, Ye Tianci pricked the tail of the Lingyin Eel, squeezing out a few drops of blood which he applied to the elderly man’s calf.

“The toxin isn’t severe. Its blood is a natural antidote. The poison in the old man’s body will soon be neutralized.”

After finishing, Ye Tianci looked at the woman beside Li Zhenhua.

“Now, do you still think I’m some charlatan of the martial underworld?”

“Mr. Ye, this is my younger sister Li Hongying. She’s a doctor at the hospital.”

“Hongying, quickly apologize to Mr. Ye!” Li Zhenhua immediately scolded.

Li Hongying frowned, staring incredulously at the Lingyin Eel in Ye Tianci’s hand.

Clearly, even with the truth before her eyes, she found it hard to believe.

“Why should I apologize?” she retorted, ignoring her brother’s words.

“Xiaoying, I order you to apologize to Mr. Ye,” the elderly Mr. Li said firmly.

Pouting with a proud expression, Li Hongying declared, “No! I’m a dignified overseas returnee and top medical student. Why should I apologize to a so-called charlatan?”

“Smack!”

Before she could finish, the elderly man slapped her across the face.

Stunned and covering her cheek, tears welled in her eyes. “Dad, you’ve never spoken harshly to me before. How come you hit me now, all for a charlatan?”

“Shut up!”

“Any more disrespect towards Mr. Ye, and get out! I have no such willful daughter!” the old man roared.

“Fine, I’m leaving!” Li Hongying cried and rushed out.

“Mr. Ye, it’s all my fault for spoiling my daughter too much, making her so headstrong. I apologize on her behalf,” sighed the elderly Mr. Li.

Li Zhenhua also said, “Mr. Ye, I apologize too for my sister’s behavior.”

Ye Tianci waved his hand coolly. “It’s nothing. By the way, I have an impertinent request.”

“Mr. Ye, please say whatever you wish,” said the elderly Mr. Li.

“May I keep this Lingyin Eel?” Ye Tianci asked.

The elderly man laughed heartily. “You caught it yourself and are the only one who can subdue it. It’s useless to us, so take it!”

“Old Mr. Li, I haven’t finished. Where this creature lives underground, there’s likely spiritual stones and herbs—precious treasures. So… I want the treasures below ground.”

Ye Tianci spoke sheepishly.

He was certain that beneath the Li family estate lay such treasures.

Otherwise, the Lingyin Eel would never appear.

Though asking outright for the underground treasures felt bold, those unknown treasures could greatly strengthen him in a short time.

He expected resistance, but to his surprise, the elderly man’s laughter grew louder.

“Little Ye, you cured my poison and saved me. You’ve done a great favor to the Li family.”

“Don’t mention a mere treasure—if you desire this entire estate, it’s yours immediately!”

“Yes, Mr. Ye, whatever spiritual treasures lie underground are yours! Besides that, I have a great gift for you!” Li Zhenhua chimed in.

Ye Tianci waved his hand, “I only want what’s below ground. Nothing else.”

The elderly man summoned someone to bring a shovel and handed it to Ye Tianci.

Finding the right spot, Ye Tianci dug swiftly.

“Clang!”

After just three strikes, the shovel struck something hard. He flipped it over and unearthed a stone!

The stone was fist-sized, half green and half red.

“It’s a Blood Spirit Jade!” Ye Tianci whispered in amazement, both excited and disappointed.

Excited because the Blood Spirit Jade was a true spiritual treasure, brimming with abundant earthly spiritual energy.

Disappointed because the green half’s energy had been completely drained by the Lingyin Eel!

Meaning the jade now held only half its spiritual power.

Even so, it was immensely valuable to him.

“Mr. Li, Li Sir, thank you,” Ye Tianci said, satisfied, pocketing the Blood Spirit Jade.

“We should be the ones thanking you, Little Ye. You’re too polite,” the elderly man said.

Li Zhenhua took out a bank card and handed it over. “Mr. Ye, there’s not much money—only one million—but it’s for your consultation fee. Don’t think it’s too little.”

Ye Tianci politely declined and was about to leave when the elderly man called him back.

“Little Ye, may I have a word?”

“Old Mr. Li, is there something else?”

The elderly man nodded solemnly. “I have something to show you. I think you’ll be very interested.”