Chapter Thirty: Setting Out

As soon as the words fell, a beam of azure light flashed across the surface of the jade, and Elder Mu’s figure slowly materialized before Ye Cheng.

“Mm.” Ye Cheng nodded at Elder Mu standing before him.

“Teacher, how do you plan to take me out of here?” Elder Mu was still only a soul, unable to appear before ordinary people. Without revealing his true form, Ye Cheng couldn’t guess what method Elder Mu would use to convince the elders of the Ye family that he had indeed been spirited away by a mysterious master.

A smile appeared on Elder Mu’s shriveled face. “Heh, making your Ye family elders believe is something I can manage. However, I’ll need to temporarily borrow your body.”

Ye Cheng trusted Elder Mu, so he didn’t hesitate much and nodded.

“If that’s the case, Teacher, let’s leave now.”

“Don’t you want to say goodbye to Ling’er? I can tell that girl can’t bear to be without you,” Elder Mu reminded gently.

Ye Cheng pondered for a moment. In his mind, the image of the girl’s tear-streaked face from yesterday surfaced. After a brief pause, he shook his head. “No need. Such farewells only add to the sorrow, making it even harder to part.”

“Good,” Elder Mu’s aged eyes showed approval. “Well done, boy. Since you’ve decided, let’s go.”

The moment Elder Mu finished speaking, his figure transformed into a stream of light and entered Ye Cheng’s crown. Instantly, Ye Cheng felt himself lose control over his body, his consciousness receding into his mindscape. Like a spectator, it felt as if this body no longer belonged to him. Elder Mu’s figure also appeared suddenly in Ye Cheng’s consciousness. A familiar and powerful aura filled his entire body.

At this moment, Ye Cheng’s body was completely under Elder Mu’s control. Vital energy surged around him, yet none entered Ye Cheng’s body.

“Your body’s strength is too weak right now. It can only withstand sparse vital energy particles to stimulate the blood, but cannot bear the direct influx of so much energy. When you reach the peak of the Blood Qi Stage, perhaps then you can try drawing vital energy directly into your body,” Elder Mu observed Ye Cheng’s condition and spoke. Seeing Ye Cheng’s bitter smile, Elder Mu chuckled.

“Let’s go.”

Under Elder Mu’s control, Ye Cheng’s body exited the house. Vital energy churned around him, creamy-white, growing from thin to dense, and his form began to float gently, enveloped in the energy.

“Whoosh, whoosh…” The vital energy of heaven and earth gathered toward the Ye family at a terrifying speed, the fluctuation growing ever more astonishing. Within the shroud of energy, a powerful aura spread out, only to instantly retract.

In a secret chamber of the Ye family—

“Above the Ancient Pill Stage?” The old master Ye suddenly opened his tightly shut eyes; a sharp gleam flashed in his gaze, tinged with confusion. He sensed the astonishing surge of energy outside and caught a glimpse of the powerful aura that flickered briefly within it. His expression grew solemn. The old master Ye swiftly left the secret chamber and saw Ye Cheng floating in midair, wrapped in vital energy.

Anxiousness flickered in the old master Ye’s eyes. He rushed forward, intending to bring Ye Cheng down, but as soon as he touched Ye Cheng’s sleeve, he was thrown back by an immense force. He stomped hard several times to steady himself.

At that moment, Ye Hong, Ye Zhan, and several elders led by the Grand Elder arrived one after another. Seeing the scene, their expressions grew grave. Power surged from each of them, ready to respond at any moment.

“Heh, no need to be nervous. Today I am merely here to take this boy for cultivation, there’s no need to act as though disaster has struck.” A teasing, aged voice echoed from the skies above the Ye family, as if coming from the distant heavens.

“I’m taking this boy away. At most a year, at shortest a few months, and I’ll return him to you. Do you have any objections?”

With these words, the tension among the Ye family visibly eased. If this were truly an enemy, the situation would be far too terrifying. The vital energy enveloping Ye Cheng was indeed intimidating.

Upon hearing this, those who knew the truth—Ye Hong, Ye Zhan—wore peculiar expressions. Ye Zhan smiled bitterly in his heart: “This senior makes such a spectacle, how can anyone not be nervous…” Though he thought this, Ye Zhan, straightforward and fond of battle as he was, knew that this was not the time to provoke such a master and refrained from voicing his thoughts.

Ye Hong stepped forward, raised his head toward the sky, and said respectfully, “Little Cheng is truly fortunate to receive guidance from such a venerable master. Of course we have no objections, but might the senior reveal himself so we may properly welcome you?”

“Heh, that’s unnecessary. We shall meet again in the future. I will take this boy now…” The aged voice drifted, becoming even more ethereal. As the voice faded, Ye Cheng’s figure, wrapped in vital energy, shot off into the distance, becoming a speck of starlight and disappearing from sight.

...

“Hong’er, what is going on? Who was that just now?” After Ye Cheng departed, the old master Ye looked at Ye Hong with a puzzled expression. From the brief exchange, it was clear that Ye Hong knew something about the matter.

The other elders were equally perplexed, their curiosity piqued about the powerful visitor.

Upon hearing this, Ye Hong explained everything truthfully. As he spoke, the old master Ye and the elders’ expressions grew increasingly animated. In their view, to receive the cultivation of such a powerful figure promised boundless future prospects.

When Ye Hong finished, the old master Ye suddenly laughed heartily and turned to ask the group, “Do you know what realm that master was in?”

“Ancient Pill Stage,” Ye Zhan replied. The others nodded in agreement. Indeed, in Luoyang Town the Vital Energy Stage was already the strongest; only major places like the Prefecture had masters at the Ancient Pill Stage.

“To be taken as a disciple by a master of the Ancient Pill Stage, Ye Cheng’s future achievements are limitless!” remarked an elder clad in a gray robe.

“You are mistaken.” The old master Ye shook his head slightly, unable to hide his excitement. His usually calm demeanor was now suffused with joy.

“I have encountered Ancient Pill Stage masters before. If that really were such a master, he could not have simply used vital energy alone to push me back, nor would he refrain from showing himself. Ancient Pill Stage masters are powerful, but not to this extent.”

“Could it be…”

Everyone drew a sharp breath. In their hearts, they more or less understood what realm that master had reached. None expected such a figure to come to a small place like this, let alone take a Ye family child as a disciple. In that stunned moment, each face broke into wild joy—they knew well what it meant.

“Yes. At least a realm above the Ancient Pill Stage, the kind spoken of in legends…” The old master Ye took a deep breath, his expression gratified, murmuring, “Ye Shan has raised a fine son. Our Ye family has successors, true successors at last…”