Shen Li stepped slowly into the courtyard, a sinister smile curling his lips like a venomous snake lurking in the shadows. His gaze was fixed intently on Shen Xian.

The Heart-Eroding Blade in his hand gleamed with an eerie green light, its edge wreathed in faint wisps of bloody mist.

His cultivation at the late Foundation Establishment stage was now fully revealed!

“Third Brother, oh Third Brother…” Shen Li’s voice hissed, carrying a bone-chilling coldness. “Do you know how long I’ve waited for this day?”

Shen Xian’s gaze remained calm as he let out a light chuckle. “Second Brother misses me so much? I’m truly flattered.”

But Shen Li suddenly raised his hand, pointing the Heart-Eroding Blade directly at the side chamber shrouded by the starry net. “From the day you were born, I’ve wished I could strangle you, you waste!”

His voice abruptly rose, echoing explosively through the courtyard.

“Why?!” Shen Li suddenly roared, veins bulging at his temples. “Why should a waste with a ninth-grade spiritual root receive Mother’s doting affection? Why should you, idling around all day, get to enjoy the family’s resources without lifting a finger?”

With each sentence, he took a step forward, the bluestone slabs beneath his feet cracking inch by inch.

Shen Xian narrowed his eyes, his right hand quietly resting on his storage ring.

But Shen Li’s next words caused his movement to pause slightly.

“And most laughable of all…” Shen Li suddenly laughed with a neurotic edge. “You actually dare to covet the position of family head!”

The laughter cut off abruptly, his face contorted like a demon’s. “Just because of a momentary lapse of judgment by the founding family head in bestowing his blessing?”

The Heart-Eroding Blade carved a mournful arc of light through the air. “I, Shen Li, have risked life and limb for this family for decades! Where were you when I secured the Profound Yin True Treatise for the family in the Cold Pool Secret Realm? Where were you when I fought three second-tier demon beasts alone during the Azure Province beast tide?”

He violently tore open his robe, revealing a hideous scar on his chest. “This Heart-Devouring Claw scar—I took it for Eldest Brother! And you…”

His voice suddenly turned contemptuous. “What can you do besides hide behind a woman?”

Shen Xian noticed that as Shen Li said this, his gaze involuntarily flickered toward the sealed side chamber.

So that’s it…

“It seems Second Brother is quite concerned about my wife,” Shen Xian suddenly said with a light laugh. “What? Afraid she’ll ruin your plans?”

These words were like a spark dropped into a powder keg.

Spiritual energy erupted violently around Shen Li. The pressure from his late Foundation Establishment stage crushed the stone table in the courtyard into dust.

“Shut up!” he screamed hysterically. “You think relying on a woman can turn things around for you?”

The bloody mist on the Heart-Eroding Blade suddenly coalesced into a giant serpent. “Today, I’ll make you understand that trash will always be trash!”

At the moment the serpent lunged forward, Shen Li’s voice became eerily calm. “You know what? What I hate most isn’t your incompetence…”

A cruel curve lifted the corner of his mouth. “It’s that even though you’re clearly trash, there’s always someone protecting you.”

“Mother dotes on you, Ye Qingxian shields you, and now even the founding family head…” His voice began to tremble again, bloodshot veins spreading across his eyes. “It’s not fair! In what way am I inferior to you?”

Listening to the other’s roar, Shen Xian revealed a scornful smile and said calmly, “It’s clearly your own jealousy, yet you blame it on me. My dear Second Brother… you’re really good at making excuses!”

Before his words faded, a glint of killing intent also surfaced in the depths of his eyes.

Initially, he had never considered fighting to mutual destruction with his brother. Even when the other nearly made him lose face at the Ye Family, arranged guards to monitor him, and even withheld his monthly allowance and poisoned his cultivation resources—he had never harbored true killing intent.

But at this moment, he suddenly realized.

Some people will never repent, no matter how many chances you give them.

To end this… he had to make them disappear!

Spiritual energy began to surge within Shen Xian.

But his words had also completely enraged Shen Li.

“You’re asking for death!” he bellowed. The blood serpent on the Heart-Eroding Blade suddenly split into nine strands, each exuding a pungent stench.

“Today, let me give you a taste of the Nine Nether Heart-Devouring! I want you to watch that woman die with your own eyes in excruciating pain…”

Before he could finish speaking, a crisp cracking sound suddenly came from the side chamber enveloped by the starry net.

Shen Li’s expression changed drastically as he whipped his head around.

He saw that on that impenetrable starry net, an almost hairline crack had appeared at some point.

A faint golden light seeped from within the crack…

Just as Shen Li’s words hung in the air, the crack on the starry net abruptly widened.

A blinding golden light burst forth from the fissure, illuminating the entire courtyard.

Crack—

Clear shattering sounds rang out one after another as the starry net shattered inch by inch like fragile glass.

Countless fragments of starlight danced in the air, reflecting Shen Li’s horrified and twisted face.

“Impossible!” Shen Li cried out involuntarily. “This can trap even Nascent Soul cultivators…”

Before he finished speaking, an elegant figure had already broken through the array and emerged.

Ye Qingxian stood there in snow-white robes that outshone the snow itself; the phoenix mark between her brows shone brilliantly. Yet, a trace of bright red blood stained her lips.

She lightly raised her right hand. A golden flame instantly incinerated all nine blood serpents lunging toward Shen Xian.

The remaining force of the flames did not diminish as they shot straight toward Shen Li.

Shen Li hastily retreated, his Heart-Eroding Blade drawing an eerie green barrier before him.

However, the golden flame struck with the overwhelming force of splitting bamboo. It shattered the barrier instantly, slamming into his chest and leaving behind a scorched, black wound.