Chapter 153: Chapter 153: Breakthrough to the Martial Master Second Layer
Ye Xuan listened to Zhao Wei’s warning, merely nodding slightly without expressing an opinion.
He could also tell that Zhao Wei’s intentions were pure and that he was genuinely looking out for his well-being.
But Ye Xuan’s style was different from Zhao Wei’s. Ye Xuan lived by a simple code: he wouldn’t bother anyone who didn’t bother him, but if someone crossed him, he would pay them back double.
He also knew that the path of the Martial Dao was fraught with trouble and setbacks. Trying to constantly sidestep them was impossible; only by kicking them out of the way could one achieve true peace.
That was why he had been so uncompromising when dealing with Tong Hong.
Minor scuffles would never be enough to make them back down. For instance, after he dealt with Cao He, Yuan Shan showed up. After he dealt with Yuan Shan, Tong Hong appeared.
Even if Tong Hong had never appeared, he had still attracted the ire of the brothers Chengkun and Cheng Yu on the very first day of the academy over a simple dorm room dispute.
In the academy, every student fought for resources. If you constantly gave in, you would just be handing resources over to others. But if you fought back, you would end up offending more and more people.
That’s why he had chosen to challenge Tong Hong in public—to display his terrifying strength and his completely unfettered nature.
As for offending the Crown Prince, Zhao Feng, that had been unavoidable.
But thinking about it, even though he had crippled Tong Hong at the academy, there was no real, direct animosity between him and the Crown Prince.
The Crown Prince had established the Crown Prince Alliance more than a decade ago. While his subordinates were currently managing it, he wasn’t personally involved.
Therefore, while Tong Hong was a member of the Crown Prince Alliance and could be considered one of his men, he, in fact, had no substantial relationship with the Crown Prince. It was even likely he’d never met Crown Prince Zhao Feng.
So, Ye Xuan wasn’t too concerned about the matter.
After chatting a bit more with Zhao Wei, during which the prince shared some of the academy’s secrets and stories about the Crown Prince, Zhao Wei finally announced his departure.
Before leaving, Zhao Wei urged him again and again, telling Ye Xuan that if he had any way to, he should make a gesture toward the Crown Prince—say a few placating words and let the matter be put to rest.
Ye Xuan just smiled. "Brother Zhao, rest assured. Our agreement will not be delayed."
Ye Xuan never went out of his way to provoke anyone, but he would never curry favor either. Besides, he doubted the Crown Prince would even care about such a trivial issue.
If the Crown Prince really did escalate the situation, hold a grudge, and try to make an example out of him, it would only prove that he was far too narrow-minded.
For a prince who was determined to inherit the throne, to lack even that much magnanimity meant his future prospects were grim indeed.
Of course, if the Crown Prince truly tried to crush him from the shadows, Ye Xuan would never back down.
In this world where the Martial Dao reigned supreme and the weak were meat for the strong, conflict was inevitable.
If others started trouble with him, he would naturally fight back. And if someone of even higher standing tried to humiliate him, he wouldn’t hesitate to teach them a lesson they would never forget.
On the path of the Martial Dao, the question wasn’t whether you *could* take a step back, but whether you *needed* to.
’This Prince Zhao Wei isn’t a bad person. He’s humble, gentle, and refined. It’s probably because of his status as the Eighth Prince—stuck in the middle with no inherent advantage in the race for the throne. If he truly wants to be king, he needs to be more decisive. His personality right now lacks a certain sharpness, a cutting edge. If he just wants to live a carefree life, he’d need to be more reserved, low-key, and even mundane. As he is now, his personality is the type that shines. If he keeps this up, he’ll definitely attract the attention of the other princes.’
Ye Xuan’s impression of Zhao Wei wasn’t bad, but he felt the prince still had room for improvement in certain areas.
At the very least, a prince with the pride and confidence to aim for the throne shouldn’t have suggested that he apologize—not even to the Crown Prince, who was at the zenith of his power among the royals.
But these were matters for the royal family, and Ye Xuan couldn’t be bothered to concern himself with them.
’This Prince Zhao Wei is a real lifesaver. With these fifty Lower Grade Profound Stones, I can prepare quite a few things. Even though this trip is to the royal family’s forbidden grounds, I still need to be thoroughly prepared. After all, my strength is still too low. One careless move and I could be doomed forever. Of course, it’s also a perfect opportunity to see if I can find a suitable Profound Beast for myself.’
The most important reason Ye Xuan had agreed to Zhao Wei’s request was his desire to enhance his own martial soul.
The royal forbidden grounds were teeming with Profound Beasts, yet the danger was relatively low, making it a fine place to improve one’s martial soul.
Realizing he still had a month to prepare, Ye Xuan wasn’t in any rush.
Over the next two days, Ye Xuan carefully considered the path he would take and made a list of the things he needed to prepare.
Ye Xuan was a man of principle, always setting clear goals for himself for each new stage.
Now that he had mastered the First Transformation of the Nine-Revolving Saint Body, Ye Xuan’s next goal was to raise his cultivation level as quickly as possible and enhance his martial soul.
He had yet to unravel many of the mysteries of his Three-Life Martial Soul. Even in his past life, he had never encountered anything like it.
Thus, in this life, he intended to study the legendary Three-Life Martial Soul by enhancing his own.
Before he started gathering his supplies, Ye Xuan returned to the Cultivation Tower.
After his battle with Tong Hong, the Profound Qi in his body had been stirring, giving him the feeling that he was on the verge of a breakthrough.
He knew it was because he had accumulated enough Profound Qi; the time was ripe. So, he seized the opportunity to go into closed-door cultivation.
And the effects of his battle with Tong Hong were immediately apparent.
Everywhere Ye Xuan went, he was met with looks of awe. It wasn’t just him, either. When Chen Xing and his friends came to places like the Cultivation Tower, no student dared to so much as speak harshly to them.
Even some students from the advanced classes gave Chen Xing and the others a wide berth. When a cultivation room opened up, they didn’t dare to try and take it, unwilling to provoke Ye Xuan’s group.
Advanced students giving way to junior students—this became a major spectacle at the Profound Spirit Academy, a topic of endless discussion among the student body.
This session of closed-door cultivation took half a month.
When he emerged, his entire aura had changed. The Profound Qi radiating from him revealed that he had broken through to the Martial Master Second Layer.
With this breakthrough, Ye Xuan was even more confident about the upcoming trip to the forbidden grounds.
After emerging from his cultivation, Ye Xuan didn’t waste any time. He went straight to the Alchemist Association to make preparations for his trip to the forbidden grounds.
Xu Jia of the Alchemist Association greeted Ye Xuan with immense enthusiasm. Upon hearing he was there to see Elder Hua Luoxuan, she immediately led him to the elder’s office.
"Master Ye, Elder Hua Luoxuan is in the refining chamber. I’ll go inform him. Please wait here."
Ye Xuan nodded and took a seat in Hua Luoxuan’s office.
"Hm?" Suddenly, his gaze fell upon a pill formula on the desk. Curious, he picked it up.
’This is an ancient pill formula.’
A closer look left Ye Xuan stunned. It was an ancient pill formula, but the listed ingredients had been modified multiple times, with many items crossed out. It was clear that the formula’s owner had not yet mastered it and was still in the process of experimentation.
’Judging by the ingredients, this must be for a Fourth Grade Pill. Ancient pills are generally more difficult to refine than modern ones. It seems Hua Luoxuan has made great progress lately if he’s experimenting with a Fourth Grade ancient formula.’
The formula told Ye Xuan that Hua Luoxuan’s progress had been significant.
"Ye Xuan, you’re finally here! HAHAHA!"
Just then, a hearty laugh boomed from outside the door. An old man, travel-worn and reeking of herbs, burst in. Who else could it be but Hua Luoxuan?
He laughed heartily, as boisterously enthusiastic as ever. "Come, come! I have some of the finest tea right here. Have a taste."
After personally brewing a cup of fine tea, Hua Luoxuan set it down in front of Ye Xuan.
"Hua Luoxuan, your latest refinement was a failure, wasn’t it?" Ye Xuan said with a faint smile, accepting the teacup and glancing at the elder.
"Huh?" Hua Luoxuan froze. "Ye Xuan, how did you know?"
"A successfully formed Pill gives off a distinct Pill fragrance. You only smell of raw herbs, not the fragrance of a finished Pill. What else could it be but a failed refinement?"
"Hehe, I guess nothing gets past that nose of yours," Hua Luoxuan said with an embarrassed laugh. "Anyway, Ye Xuan, what brings you here this time? We’ve acquired the Crystal of Five Elements you asked for last time. If you still need it, I can go get it for you right now."
Ye Xuan smiled and waved a hand. "It’s fine. I found a Crystal of Five Elements the same day I came looking for you."
"What? You found one the same day?" Hua Luoxuan stared at Ye Xuan, stunned.
The day Ye Xuan had asked, he had searched the Alchemist Association, the auction houses, and even the royal palace’s repository for court Alchemists, all to no avail.
He couldn’t imagine where else Ye Xuan could have possibly found a Crystal of Five Elements.
But then, remembering all the things Ye Xuan had accomplished back in Blue Moon City, Hua Luoxuan found it wasn’t so strange after all. ’This kid has plenty of connections. It would be stranger if a mere Crystal of Five Elements actually gave him trouble.’
"I came this time because I’d like to borrow your refining chamber to concoct some Pills," Ye Xuan said with a smile.
Hua Luoxuan’s eyes lit up. "Ye Xuan, may I watch?"
In the past, every one of Ye Xuan’s refinement sessions had been a revelation, benefiting him immensely. He naturally didn’t want to miss out this time.
"I’m just making some ordinary Pills. If you’re interested, I don’t see why not. In fact, I might need your help with a few of them."
"Oh, right!"
He walked over to the desk, picked up a brush, and swiftly wrote out a list. "These are the materials I need. Please prepare them if you can."
"Haha, no problem! Leave it to me." Hua Luoxuan took the list cheerfully, but his eyes went wide. He stammered, "Why is there so much? Ye Xuan, what are you planning to refine? Hey, wait, these items at the bottom... aren’t these materials for Artifact Refining?"
"Yes. I also need to forge a few Array Discs."
Hua Luoxuan: "..."
