Chapter 108: Chapter 108: Ye Xuan’s Guidance
"Patriarch, Ye Batian and his people are right here in Blue Moon City. Why don’t we go over and kill them right now?"
"That’s right. We’re in Blue Moon City, but as long as we act in secret, who’s to know we did it?"
"How about we sneak into the Ye family estate late tonight and slaughter them all?"
An elder, hearing the news, spoke out in anger. The deaths of Wang Xuan and the others meant that in a single moment, the Wang and Zhou families had lost nearly half of their top combatants.
For two such powerful families, this was undoubtedly a heavy blow.
"No." Wang Hai suppressed the rage in his heart and said coldly, "This is Blue Moon City. The consequences of killing someone here are too severe. We can only make a move after they’ve left the city."
"But Patriarch, what if Ye Batian decides to stay in Blue Moon City forever?"
"I refuse to believe he’ll stay here indefinitely. Send men to keep an eye on them around the clock. Report back the moment they make a move."
"Yes, sir!"
"The Ye family!" Wang Hai’s eyes were bloodshot. He snarled through gritted teeth, his killing intent so tangible it seemed to wreak havoc throughout the hall.
Meanwhile, Ye Xuan and his group were at the Alchemist Association, discussing this very matter.
In addition to all the core members of the Ye family, Ye Xuan’s closest confidants—including Hua Luoxuan, Lin Xiong, and Luo Zhan—were also gathered there.
"What? The Wang and Zhou families actually sent people to Cyan Mountain Town to slaughter your Ye family members? Unacceptable! I must report this to the City Lord. The Wang and Zhou families are completely lawless!"
Upon hearing what Ye Xuan had been through these past few days, Lin Xiong flew into a rage, his body radiating killing intent.
Ye Xuan was his master. For his master’s family to have suffered such a thing was, to Lin Xiong, nearly unbearable.
"Lin Xiong, there’s no need." Ye Xuan waved his hand. "There’s no point in reporting such a minor matter to City Lord Leng Tian. Besides, without evidence, reporting it would be useless."
"Master Xuan, what do you mean there’s no evidence? The bodies of those men from the Wang and Zhou families are still at your Ye family estate, aren’t they? Isn’t that enough to convict them? If push comes to shove, I’ll personally lead the City Guard and surround the Wang and Zhou family compounds," Lin Xiong said angrily.
"Those bodies... aside from proving that my Ye family killed those men, what else do they prove?" Ye Xuan replied with a faint smile.
He saw things very clearly. Although he had helped the City Lord’s Mansion a great deal at the City Lord’s banquet and had cured Hei Zhuo’s illness, it was one thing for the City Lord’s Mansion to suppress the Wang and Zhou families, but expecting them to actually wipe them out was simply impossible.
Therefore, even if he reported the incident, the City Lord’s Mansion would do nothing more than put some pressure on the two families.
The City Lord’s Mansion stood above all the great families and would not get involved in their struggles.
"Master Xuan, are we just going to let this go?"
"Let it go?" Ye Xuan’s gaze turned cold. "I never said we were letting this go. They dared to make a move against our Ye family, so I will have the Wang and Zhou families erased from Blue Moon City. That’s why I’ve called you all here today. I trust I don’t need to state my objective; everyone here knows it. If any of you do not wish to participate, you can speak up now. I, Ye Xuan, promise I will not force anyone."
After speaking, Ye Xuan’s eyes swept across everyone present.
The Ye family members went without saying. Lin Xiong was the first to jump in. "Master Xuan, just tell me what to do. If I, Lin Xiong, so much as frown, then I’m not my parents’ son."
"Master Xuan, you’re the one who healed my leg. Without you, I’d likely be a cripple for the rest of my life. Whatever you need, I, Luo Zhan, will do it without question," Luo Zhan added with a faint smile.
Finally, only Hua Luoxuan remained. He was seen digging a wad of snot from his nose, flicking it away, and saying with a disdainful look, "I’ve long been sick of the Wang and Zhou families. Whatever you’re planning, count me in."
Hearing Hua Luoxuan’s words, a hint of joyful surprise flashed in Ye Batian’s eyes.
Hua Luoxuan was one of Blue Moon City’s few experts. He had reached the Earth Martial Artist Third Layer many years ago, and was now likely at the Triple Peak. With him on their side, their chances of winning against the Wang and Zhou families would increase by at least fifty percent.
"Very good." Ye Xuan smiled faintly and took out several lists. "Lin Xiong, Instructor Luo, Father, starting today, the three of you will go into seclusion and cultivate according to these lists. And President Hua Luoxuan, here are a number of rather precious materials. Find a way to gather them for me. I need to refine some Pills."
"Hm?" Hua Luoxuan took the list, a look of surprise appearing on his face. The grade of the materials on the list was quite high. It seemed the Pills Ye Xuan wanted to refine were no ordinary ones.
"Huh...?" Suddenly, upon seeing the bottom of the list, Hua Luoxuan said in astonishment, "Wait, aren’t these materials for Soul Refining?"
Ye Xuan said, "That’s right. I’ve noticed that many people here only have one-star Martial Souls. I plan to help you raise their level."
Ye Batian: "..."
Ye Zhanyun: "..."
Ye Zhanxiong: "..."
They were all so shocked they were rendered speechless. ’Isn’t Ye Xuan an Alchemist? Since when was he so accomplished in Soul Refining too?’
"By the way, Xuan’Er, Zhanyun and the others are going into seclusion. What about me?" old master Ye Batian suddenly asked.
"You, of course, will also go into seclusion."
Ye Batian shook his head. "Xuan’Er, I just broke through to the Earth Martial Artist Third Layer. Another period of seclusion won’t have much effect. If you need anything done, just give me the order."
But Ye Xuan said in a serious tone, "Grandfather, who said an Earth Martial Artist Third Layer can’t go into seclusion? Here in Blue Moon City, only if you break through to become a Tier Four Celestial Martial Artist can our Ye family remain prosperous."
"A Celestial Martial Artist?" The old master gave a bitter smile. "Xuan’Er, you think too highly of me. A Tier Four Celestial Martial Artist... Blue Moon City hasn’t produced a single one in decades. Breaking through isn’t something that can be achieved through cultivation alone."
A Tier Four Celestial Martial Artist of the Celestial Martial Realm had already stepped into the ranks of the continent’s mid-level experts. Blue Moon City had plenty of experts at the Earth Martial Artist Third Layer, but not a single one had ever broken through to become a Tier Four Celestial Martial Artist.
That was why Ye Batian didn’t have much confidence in himself.
Hua Luoxuan also gave a bitter smile. "Master Xuan, Batian is right. It’s been quite a few years since I broke through to the Earth Martial Artist Third Layer, but I’ve always been just a sliver away from the Celestial Martial Artist realm, unable to make that final breakthrough."
Ye Xuan said, "Actually, stepping into the Celestial Martial Realm isn’t all that difficult."
Hua Luoxuan just smiled bitterly and said nothing. In his view, Ye Xuan simply couldn’t comprehend the chasm between an Earth Martial Artist and a Celestial Martial Artist.
Ye Xuan gave a faint smile. Having worked with Hua Luoxuan for so long, Ye Xuan could see that he was a man of genuine character, for whom loyalty came first.
An old man like that was worthy of Ye Xuan’s admiration.
At that moment, the thought of helping Hua Luoxuan crossed Ye Xuan’s mind.
"Hua Luoxuan, there’s only a Tier One difference between a Celestial Martial Artist and an Earth Martial Artist. What’s more, you’re a Third Grade Alchemist with plenty of Pills. Logically, it shouldn’t be this difficult. Do you have any idea why you still can’t break through?"
Hearing this, Hua Luoxuan sighed softly, a trace of sorrow on his face.
"Master Xuan, to be honest, I’ve often pondered the reason myself, but I’ve never reached any firm conclusions. A Celestial Martial Artist is different from an Earth Martial Artist. Before the Celestial Martial Artist realm, a Martial Artist absorbs the power of heaven and earth to condense Profound Qi within their body. But after becoming a Celestial Martial Artist, the Profound Qi undergoes a qualitative change, transforming from Profound Qi into Profound Power. This Profound Power is incredibly dense; a single sliver is more than ten times stronger than the original Profound Qi. In my opinion, to break through from Earth Martial Artist to Celestial Martial Artist, one must constantly condense their Profound Qi until it’s compressed into Profound Power."
"Just think about it. Compressing strands of Profound Qi into Profound Power that is more than ten times as dense... the entire process is absolutely long and arduous. That’s why most people spend their entire lives unable to condense Profound Qi into Profound Power and break through to the Celestial Martial Realm."
Hua Luoxuan had indeed considered this reason, but he still believed it was a matter of how difficult the condensation process was.
An Earth Martial Artist cultivates Profound Qi in their body. Their Dantian has transformed into a Profound Sea, but the Profound Qi is relatively thin, and the amount they can hold isn’t actually that much.
But upon reaching the Celestial Martial Artist realm, Profound Qi must be condensed into Profound Power. This Profound Power is a force formed from extremely compressed Profound Qi, which naturally places high demands on one’s Profound Vein and Profound Sea. Add to that the arduous process of condensing Profound Qi, and it’s no wonder so few people manage to break through to become a Celestial Martial Artist.
"President Hua Luoxuan, I wonder, to what degree have you condensed your Profound Power? You must be close to becoming a Tier Four Celestial Martial Artist, right?" Ye Xuan asked with a half-smile.
"Indeed, I’m not far. My Profound Qi, after several rounds of condensation, has reached the peak of the Earth Martial Artist realm. I am but half a step away from transforming it into Profound Power. But this half-step... without ten or so years of bitter cultivation, I’m afraid I’ll never make it in this lifetime. Becoming a Celestial Martial Artist is truly difficult."
Hua Luoxuan felt quite helpless. His talent for Alchemy was extremely high, but his progress on the path of the Martial Dao severely limited his development.
To become a Fourth Grade Alchemist, one must first become a Tier Four Celestial Martial Artist. But with his level of talent, taking that step seemed impossible without at least another decade of bitter cultivation.
Ye Xuan smiled faintly. "On the contrary, I think becoming a Celestial Martial Artist is exceedingly simple. It’s just that you’ve been walking the wrong path."
"What?" The nonchalant expression on President Hua Luoxuan’s face suddenly froze, replaced by a look of astonishment.
He knew that Ye Xuan’s methods were mysteriously profound, and he wouldn’t speak without reason.
"Master Xuan, why would you say that?"
"Hua Luoxuan, think about it. The Liuyun Kingdom is just a remote backwater on the continent, so of course experts are rare. But if becoming a Celestial Martial Artist were truly this difficult, why would so many people in the more powerful regions of the continent be able to break through? When it comes to Pills for cultivation, you’re a Third Grade Alchemist—you shouldn’t be lacking, right?"
"Isn’t it a matter of Cultivation Techniques?" Hua Luoxuan frowned. "The Liuyun Kingdom is a remote place, and the Cultivation Techniques passed down here are all rather ordinary. But in the powerful kingdoms on the continent, formidable Cultivation Techniques are widespread. Their speed of condensing Profound Power is naturally much faster."
