Chapter 9: Ye Wei

They have thought well, but they have forgotten what was just said: the aptitude for cultivation is one in ten thousand, so how could there be so many people suitable for cultivation? In the two generations of the Ye family, there are only a few dozen individuals, and the chance of one possessing the aptitude for cultivation is very slim, not to mention that this aptitude is also categorized into good and bad, genuine and false.

Ye Haoran took a sip of tea, paused for effect, and then said with satisfaction, "My father has long thought that it is better to rely on oneself than to rely on others. Even if Master Wan Xuan is willing to protect the Ye family, it would still be inconvenient. What if our Ye family... has a cultivator of our own..."

Back courtyard, study

This remark struck a chord with Ye Haoran, who chuckled and said, "That is why I hope that Master Wan Xuan can owe our Ye family a favor. You must understand that these immortal sects are not ones you can simply join at will. Although the Wan family does not have a sect as large as that behind His Majesty, it is still a considerable cultivation family. If we could establish a connection..."

Oh? Upon hearing this, Ye Wei's eyes lit up

After chatting for a while, Ye Haoran suddenly said, "Oh, you should go back and check on Lao Ba. He has suddenly become clear-headed recently and has come up with some good strategies, which leaves me utterly perplexed."

"Do not speak carelessly!" Ye Haoran shouted angrily, glancing around before he lowered his voice to admonish, "Be careful with your words. Master Wan Xuan is an immortal, and not just any immortal; he is a foundational stage practitioner with great supernatural powers. He can hear our conversation from a thousand miles away!"

However, after His Majesty ascended the throne, he became concerned that Ye Haoran's achievements might overshadow his own authority. Consequently, he was dispatched to the border to guard the area. Ye Haoran was pleased to leave the political center, taking a group of soldiers to carve out his own territory, contentedly serving as a carefree general.

Ye Wei was taken aback; if it is good, then it is good, and one should be happy. Why pursue the reasons behind why it is good?

Ye Wei, upon hearing this, smiled with delight and shyly asked, "My son has just turned 4 years old; I wonder if Master Wan would be willing to accept him? This age is indeed a good time to start learning martial arts."

Haha

Ah! Ye Kong's frail body collapsed onto the bed with a thud. He lay there with his eyes closed, his lips pale, and beads of sweat the size of mung beans rolled down from behind his ears, dripping onto the porcelain pillow.

"Impudent, is this something you should discuss regarding immortals? No matter how basic they are, they are not something mere mortals like us can contend with!" Ye Haoran reprimanded his son once again, then explained, "I heard from Master Wan Xuan last time that among ten thousand ordinary people, only one will possess the aptitude for the immortal path, and among those one thousand with such aptitude, only two or three can become foundation-building immortals. Just calculate that probability, it’s one in ten million, how can that not be impressive?"

However, he soon found himself unable to feel happy, as he discovered that he could not open this book.

Ye Wei nodded, left the study, and headed straight to the outer courtyard to see Ye Kong. What he did not expect was that Ye Kong was actually ill at that moment. Looking at the seriously ill Ye Kong, Ye Wei said nothing and left first.

Ye Wei is not a fool; he immediately thought of something, sat back in his chair and sighed, "Our Ye family has no desire for power or profit, Your Majesty... Alas, how foolish we were to support him in ascending the throne with our military strength back then"

Weak, extremely weak

No," Ye Haoran shook his head and said, "He is not an immortal, he merely represents the interests of the immortals more effectively.

"You immortal! I refuse to believe that I cannot turn a single page of your book!"

Ye Haoran pondered for a moment and said, "This matter is not urgent; let me report to His Majesty first before making further plans. What about the second matter?"

Hearing Ye Wei say this, Ye Haoran was about to nod, but suddenly thought of Ye Kong's ugly mother, and waved his hand, saying, "This matter is not urgent; I am asking what you think about his sudden recovery."

However, Ke Yewei said rather dishearteningly, "But what if Master Wan Xuan is unable to comprehend it? You must understand that our Ye family has possessed this item for hundreds of years, and countless ancestors have tried to extract the secrets of cultivation for immortality from it, yet all have returned empty-handed."

Not good! At this moment, Ye Kong suddenly felt a bit dizzy, his vision began to blur, as if his entire body was empty.

Nandu City is the capital of Nanzhou, and it is also the most prosperous and lively city among the eight states of Anguo, excluding the national capital, Andu City.

Ye Haoran felt a wave of frustration at his words and sighed, "Then there is nothing that can be done, but I still have a backup plan"

However, it is a pity that this continent does not need the college entrance examination at all. Moreover, this book only entered his mind by sheer coincidence, while other books could never be accommodated.

Ye Wei scratched his head and said, "I have heard people say that there is only a fine line between genius and fool. Many geniuses appear quite foolish in their daily lives. I estimate that Ba Di became a genius overnight, transitioning from a fool, as great wisdom often seems like folly."

Hearing from a thousand miles away. Ye Wei was somewhat surprised, but then spoke with a tone of skepticism, saying, "What does the Foundation Establishment stage mean? Literally, it just means to build a foundation; it shouldn't be that powerful, right?"

Although he narrowly escaped with his life, he does not feel well at this moment

Ye Haoran was in high spirits and even joked with his son, saying, "Wouldn't that make me your senior brother?"

What surprised Ye Kong even more was that the four large golden characters on the page were exceptionally clear: "Complete Compendium of Talismans." At the bottom of the cover, there was also a line of small text: "Left by the True Man of Dragon and Tiger"

Ye Haoran smiled, "Do you really think the Emperor ascended the throne solely because I, Ye Haoran, have some troops supporting him? You are mistaken!"

He did not know that this rooster had already saved his life. The most severe injury to the human body is the damage to the consciousness and soul. Although he had devoured the soul of a fool, his spirit was much stronger than that of his peers, the recent severe depletion of his soul power had brought him to the brink of exhaustion. If it were not for the crow of the rooster waking him up, he would have either lost his soul completely or become a brand new vegetative state.

"Go to the study and speak." Ye Haoran quickly interrupted

"What use is it to collect for hundreds of years? It is worthless to us! It may even bring disaster!" Ye Haoran glared at his son and continued, "If Master Wan Xuan is willing to accept it, then it would mean that our Ye family owes him a favor, which will surely ensure our family's peace for a hundred years. Do you understand?"

He was somewhat impatient and wanted to open the pages to see what spells were recorded in the book and whether any of them would be useful to him

The region of Nanzhou has always had weather that is extremely suitable for crop growth and human habitation. If it were not for its proximity to the wilderness and its border with barbarian tribes, this place would be even more prosperous.

Ye Haoran laughed and slapped the table, saying, "Five years ago, when Master Ye Xuan came to my house to borrow the treasured book, I wanted to ask him to take in two descendants of the Ye family as disciples. However, since we had just met, making such a request would surely have displeased the master, so I did not voice it. This time, regardless of whether the treasured book is of any help to him, I must seize this opportunity to formally request him to take me on as a disciple."

Ye Haoran also sighed, saying, "Last time when a real person came to borrow books, I did not mention the matter of accepting disciples, and there were reasons for that. At that time, only nine of my children had reached the age of eight. Now it is different; including you, I have thirty-two sons and daughters over the age of eight. I think... there must be one or two among them with the aptitude for cultivating immortality."

Ye Wei was astonished to hear this statement for the first time in history and in literature, and he gasped, "Is it really like this? Then isn't the emperor also?"

Ye Haoran thought the same way in his heart, and without further contemplation, he nodded and said, "Then you go ahead. If you find anything amiss, come back and inform me"

He felt a numbness throughout his body, unable to muster any strength, even opening his eyes felt like an effort. With his eyes closed, he could still sense a void in front of him; all thoughts in his mind had come to a standstill, and all pursuits, joys and sorrows, love and hate, had vanished completely

Ye Wei also smiled and said, "In fact, the child has considered the possibility of playing dumb, but playing dumb offers him no benefits at all, so he dismissed it."

Of course, as long as one possesses the aptitude for cultivation, even as a father, one must pay respects to Master Wanxuan as a teacher

Ye Wei stood up in shock and hurriedly advised, "Father, this is a treasured book that has been passed down through many generations in our Ye family, collected for several hundred years. How can we give it away for free to others?"

This discovery astonished Ye Kong immensely, even more than his arrival in the Cangnan Continent. He could never have imagined how the book ended up in his mind. If only he could store a few more, wouldn't that be a way to cheat!

"Has the eighth brother recovered?" Ye Wei expressed some surprise, then continued, "This is good news and should be announced to the entire court, with generous rewards and pardons." Ye Wei said.

Father, I am not sure about what you just mentioned regarding the contingency..." Ye Wei asked cautiously, as he had indeed heard the rumors; otherwise, why would he rush back from the border garrison late at night

Father, will Master Wan Xuan covet our family heirloom and refuse to return it?" Ye Wei said very cautiously.

Oh, the second matter is that the child has heard that recently, Master Wan Xuan...

Just as disappointment flickered in Ye Wei's eyes, hope reignited. "Father, does this mean I have hope too?"

Ah, it turns out to be like this. Ye Wei was greatly disappointed

The temptation of the immortal path is so immense for mortals that Ye Wei also became cheerful, laughing as he said, "It would be best if every member of the Ye family could cultivate to become immortals, haha, and enjoy eternal life."

However, Ye Wei returned early this morning

Originally, Ye Kong thought that this book was merely stuck in the mind of a fool; however, it now appears otherwise. Judging by this, the Longhu Zhenren must be connected to the Longhu Xiangming Pavilion.

The prosperity of Nandu City, though politely attributed to the contributions of the people from all directions, is well understood by everyone to be inseparable from the merits of the highest official of Nanzhou, Ye Haoran. If it were not for General Ye leading his troops to repel the repeated incursions of the barbarian tribes, how could there be the current prosperity? It is important to note that more than a decade ago, this place was already a barren land.

In front of the flower hall, Ye Haoran, who had just finished his morning exercise, put down his large sword, took the towel handed to him by Ye Wei to wipe his hands, and asked, "Wei'er, you should be in the army at this moment; how come you are back?"

Ye Haoran observed his son's despondency and comforted him, saying, "You need not be too anxious; the immortals do not concern themselves with the affairs of mortals. Unless absolutely necessary, they will not intervene to assist His Majesty in any matter."

Ye Wei could not help but be moved upon hearing this, and he nodded, saying, "No wonder immortals are so rare."

Oh, oh, oh! After a night has passed, in the early morning, as dawn breaks, the roosters of the Southern Continent finally crow at the same punctuality as those on Earth

Major matters in the military can be discussed in the flower hall, but this second matter must be addressed in the study, indicating that it is certainly of great secrecy

He is now merely a sphere of light, lacking hands and feet; however, this does not hinder his ability to turn the pages of a book. As soon as he focuses his thoughts, the cover of the book will lift.

Ye Wei raised his head and said, "What if we also seek refuge in a cultivation sect?"

The sunlight gently spills, the azure sky stretches endlessly, and another day has arrived

It is not that simple. Ye Haoran shook his head and said, "If what you say is true, he has become enlightened, at most he would just understand a few things, but you do not know, he is quite shrewd now, his character has changed drastically... Sigh, you will see for yourself."

Indeed, having someone speak on your behalf makes a difference. Ye Haoran listened and found some truth in it. He set aside his suspicions and smiled, saying, "I was initially wondering if he had been pretending to be foolish all along, but it seems what you said is more plausible."

Ye Wei shared the same belief as all the citizens of Nandu City, thinking that the current Emperor ascended to the throne solely due to the efforts of General Ye Haoran. Hearing his father explicitly state otherwise made it difficult for him to accept.

I tell you! Ye Haoran's voice grew lower, as he leaned close to his son's ear and said: "In today's Cangnan Continent, which country's royal family does not have a cultivation sect standing behind it? In fact, the emperor is merely a representative of these immortals in the mortal realm! A word from an immortal is far more effective than a million troops!"

Ye Wei said, "There are two matters to discuss upon my return. One is some news from the military: the barbarian tribes have spent over ten years in diligent governance, and their strength has been restored. Recently, a highly ambitious Chaha Khan has emerged. I believe we will inevitably have to confront him in battle. If we do not take action soon, within ten years he will unify all the barbarian tribes, and by then we may no longer be his match."

It seems that Miss Zhao has not only transported herself to another world with a single strike but also conveniently provided some useful items.

Ye Haoran squinted his eyes, clearly already beginning to think of beautiful things

Ye Wei let out a deep sigh this time, filled with unease about the future. He initially believed that as long as he firmly held the military power in the south, the emperor would not dare to act against the Ye family. However, it now appears that the emperor can mobilize immortals and eliminate any member of the Ye family at any time.

Ye Wei did not dare to speak directly, but after some thought, he said, "Eighth brother was not entirely foolish before; he was just a bit muddled. Now that he is getting older, he has become enlightened and understands things better, which is quite normal."

Yet he discovered that the pages of this book were as heavy as a thousand pounds; despite exerting all his strength, the shimmering golden blue cover only lifted a small corner of the page, and then, inevitably, it fell back down.

Sighing at the realization that he had no possibility of becoming a celestial being, Ye Haoran leaned back against the rosewood chair and spoke slowly to himself, "I actually hope that Master Wan Xuan can comprehend the secrets of our Ye family's treasures; even if I were to give them to him, it would be nothing."

However, even if the barbarians are scattered, they are not so easily subdued. Hundreds of miles away from the Southern Capital, the Ye family's army is stationed, and Ye Haoran's eldest son, Ye Wei, is there to guard it.

Ye Haoran's position as a general is entirely due to his outstanding achievements. Even in his youth, he had already made significant contributions, and the current emperor's ascension to the throne was greatly influenced by his military power.

However, this was not the time to act out of spite. No matter how desperately Ye Kong tried to flip through the book, it simply would not open, and the extent to which he could lift it became increasingly smaller, until finally, it remained completely still.

Ye Kong was immediately excited upon seeing this book. Even a fool would understand that a book of talismans capable of entering the mind must be extraordinary. Perhaps it was the lifeline he needed to establish himself in the other world and dominate the southern seas!

Ye Wei interjected, "At the very least, Your Majesty must deliberate carefully before taking action against us."

Ye Haoran immediately understood the main purpose of his son's hurried return. Pointing at his son, he said with a hint of annoyance, "Isn't your son my grandson? Would I not consider him? However, the path of cultivation is different from martial arts; it is not necessarily better the younger one is. Even an eighty-year-old man can achieve enlightenment and ascend to immortality. I have inquired, and it is said that one must be at least eight years old to determine whether this child has the aptitude for cultivation."