"The Ye family's glory? Patriarch, what do you mean by that! What did Uncle Liuyun and his nephew say?"
Ye Wentian, the Great Elder of the Ye family, frowned, looking at Ye Liufeng in confusion.
"Liuyun said a young noble from the Holy State has arrived. He'll come to visit our Ye family soon! And those prodigies and saintesses who suddenly appeared in Qingfeng City—most of them are probably here for him."
Ye Liufeng radiated confidence, a proud smile on his face. If Ye Liuyun hadn't become the Sect Master of Xuanjian Sect, the Ye family would have long fallen on hard times. Even so, in the central region of the Northern Wasteland, the Ye family was just an insignificant small clan. But… if they could serve this young noble from the Holy State well this time, spiritual treasures, fortunes, and martial arts techniques would all be within easy reach!
"What?! "
"A young noble from the Holy State?"
"So the rumors about the Holy State are true? Beyond the Four Wastelands, there really is such a sacred land!"
The entire Ye family instantly erupted in commotion. Many young members of the Ye family secretly began thinking about how to stand out among their siblings and cousins.
"Patriarch, is what you said true? Will that young noble from the Holy State really come to our Ye family?"
Ye Wentian's old face was also filled with excitement. He had been stuck at the Peak Soul-Awakening Realm for decades. If he could get guidance from that young noble from the Holy State, a breakthrough would be within reach!
"Of course it's true! Now, my niece Qingchan is by Young Master Ling Xiao's side. I heard that Feng Jiao'er, the Saintess of Qianmei Sect, has also been taken in by Young Master Ling Xiao as a maid—she'll come with him this time too."
After speaking, Ye Liufeng's gaze lingered on Ye Fan for a moment. Back when the Feng family broke off the engagement, it had brought shame to the entire Ye clan. But Qianmei Sect was powerful, and the Ye family didn't dare to resist. So all members of the Ye family had taken out their resentment on Ye Fan. If he hadn't been born with useless meridians—a total loser—how would the Ye family have been made a laughingstock by the broken engagement?
Feeling the mockery in the gazes around him, Ye Fan's expression darkened for a fleeting moment. A young noble from the Holy State? What's so great about a young noble from the Holy State? Look at how scared all of you are. On the day he awakened his bloodline at the age of sixteen, he had seen the soul thought his mother had left in his spiritual sea. His mother had said that the ancient pagoda in his spiritual sea was one of the top treasures even in the Holy State. The cultivation techniques and martial arts inherited within it were all top-tier in the Holy State. As long as he cultivated step by step, he would one day reach the Illusion-Breaking Realm and enter the Holy State. At the same time, his mother had warned him: do not inquire about her whereabouts until he reached the Immortal Ascension Realm. From this, it was clear that his mother's background must be extremely terrifying.
How ridiculous—these lowly ants of the Ye family, instead of currying favor with him, were scrambling to flatter a foreigner of unknown origin. But it was fine. The more you look down on me now, the less guilty I'll feel when I take my revenge on you in the future.
"Cough, Ye Fan. I know the broken engagement hit you hard, but this time Feng Jiao'er is coming with Young Master Ling Xiao. You need to watch your attitude, understand?"
Ye Liufeng gave Ye Fan a cold look. Especially the hint of malice in Ye Fan's eyes—it made him think Ye Fan still hadn't let go of the humiliation of the broken engagement.
"Watch my attitude?"
Ye Fan wanted to laugh. I'm the one who had the engagement broken off, I'm the one who was insulted, and I'm the one being mocked by the clan. Now that she's coming back with some so-called young master, I have to serve her with a smile? How can a person be so humble? You all can do it, but I, Ye Fan, cannot!!
"Ye Fan, my father is talking to you—are you deaf?"
At the front of the crowd, a handsome young man in purple robes frowned and turned to snap at Ye Fan. This was Ye Sheng, the current young master of the Ye family. He had some talent, already a Void Spirit Realm powerhouse, and was somewhat famous in this mountain city.
"A mere Void Spirit Realm cultivator dares to speak to me like this. Hmph, the day I break through to the Soul-Awakening Realm will be the day the Ye family is destroyed."
Ye Fan 冷哼 ed in his heart, but on the surface, he nodded calmly. "I understand."
Mother had said: one must know how to exercise forbearance. I've endured for eighteen years—what's a few more days? As long as I find another Millennium Ice Heart Grass, I can refine that Ascension Elixir. Breaking through to the Soul-Awakening Realm should be no problem then. He'd had enough of Qingfeng City; his next step was to go to the Four Dynasties to seek fortune. He'd heard that in half a year, the Hundred Dynasties Tournament held by the Four Dynasties would begin. This time, he would make sure everyone in the Northern Wasteland knew the name Ye Fan!
But… Cousin Qingchan, it's been a long time. A smile gradually appeared in Ye Fan's eyes. If there was anyone in the Ye family worth missing, it was only this young lady of Xuanjian Sect. Though they'd rarely had the chance to meet, they'd been drawn to each other. Ye Fan would never forget the scene where Ye Qingchan drew her sword at Ye Sheng to stand up for him. It had been a rainy day. Ye Fan had been humiliated by Ye Sheng and a few others. Then Ye Qingchan, like an immortal descended from the Ninth Heaven, had suddenly appeared before him. Rain soaked her hair, but it couldn't hide her incomparably beautiful face. Her cyan robes fluttered, her delicate hands slender. She'd reached out and taken Ye Fan's muddy hand, wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth, then turned and drew her sword at Ye Sheng. Blood stained the courtyard, and the dark clouds in the sky loomed menacingly. But none of that could compare to the cinnabar mole at the corner of Ye Qingchan's eye. That year, they'd met for the first time—Ye Fan was thirteen, Ye Qingchan twelve. On that day, Ye Fan had vowed: in this life, he would definitely stand side by side with her.
"I hear you're now the most beautiful woman in the Northern Wasteland, Qingchan. Give me a little more time, and I'll make you see—only I am worthy of standing by your side."
Obsession flashed in Ye Fan's eyes. Young Master Ling Xiao? Heh, the Eight Desolations Glazed Soul-Suppressing Pagoda in me suppresses countless top-tier demons from the Holy State! What do you count for?
"Hmph, you'd better remember that. Otherwise…"
Ye Sheng looked at Ye Fan's calm expression, a hint of malice flashing in his eyes. Just now, his father Ye Liufeng had secretly told him that Young Master Ling Xiao was coming to the Ye family to find young prodigies. And the only one in the entire Ye family worthy of being called a "prodigy" was himself—no one else. If Ye Fan didn't know his place and offended Young Master Ling Xiao because of Feng Jiao'er, Ye Sheng wouldn't mind getting rid of him in advance.
"Patriarch, someone is here to see you outside."
At this moment, the voice of a Ye family servant came from outside the ancestral hall. Ye Liufeng and the others trembled, quickly asking, "Is it Young Master Ling Xiao and Qingchan?"
"No… Patriarch."
"Oh."
Ye Liufeng looked disappointed.
"He said he's the Crown Prince of the Great Yan Dynasty, named Xiao Yan, and he's here to visit you."
"What?! It's actually the Crown Prince of one of the Four Dynasties coming in person! Hurry, hurry—invite him in at once!"
At this moment, everyone in the Ye family had a look of shock on their faces. For the Crown Prince of one of the Four Dynasties to visit the Ye family—this would have been absolutely impossible in the past. What did this mean? It meant the Ye family was really going to rise!