190: Chapter 190 Conquest

Ye Jing's sudden arrival made Ye Xuan very excited as well.

He immediately invited Ye Jing inside, poured a cup of spiritual tea, and asked, "Father, why have you suddenly come to the palace to find me? Is something the matter?"

Seeing the heavy snow outside, Ye Jing simply said, "Xuaner, I've come to find you because I want you to expand Great Yan's territory and search for spiritual mines."

Hearing this, Ye Xuan didn't mind but found it strange. "Father, our Family has already begun to Cultivate. The lands of the mortal world are useless to us now. Why would you suddenly want to expand the territory?"

Ye Jing smiled and said, "Who says it's useless? Didn't I find a spiritual mine on the border of the Yan State before?"

Ye Xuan, who had always been quick-witted, immediately understood Ye Jing's meaning. "Father, do you mean you want to find spiritual mines in the neighboring countries as well?"

Ye Jing nodded. "Exactly. Because the Sects do not care about wars between mortal nations, you can use Great Yan's military power to level those countries, investigate the trends of spiritual mines within their borders, and search for hidden spiritual veins."

He took a small sip of tea, savored it, and continued, "As you know, Cultivation cannot be separated from Spiritual Qi, Medicinal Pills, and Spiritual Artifacts. These most important spiritual mines can be used to forge Spiritual Artifacts and strengthen our Ye Family's power. Therefore, the more spiritual mines, the better."

Hearing this, a flash of realization crossed Ye Xuan's eyes, and he hurriedly said, "Father! I understand!

Those Sects are high and mighty, disdainful of interfering in mortal disputes. This is precisely our opportunity. Moreover, if I lead the troops to pacify those small nations, I can search for those resources under a legitimate name and bring them into the Ye Family without anyone being the wiser!"

"Correct. In this way, the resources of the surrounding mortal countries will belong to our Ye Family!" Ye Jing nodded.

After agreeing with Ye Xuan, Ye Xuan immediately got up and went to the imperial palace to have an audience with Zheng Yuanyi.

Since ascending the throne, Zheng Yuanyi had always followed Ye Xuan's lead. He was no longer the arrogant and idle Prince of the past; his sideburns were now tinged with white.

When he saw Ye Xuan coming to find him, he hurried to the Imperial Study together with Guo Zhengning.

Wearing bright yellow dragon robes, Zheng Yuanyi was extremely straightforward and agreed immediately upon hearing that Ye Xuan wanted to attack other countries for the sake of the Yan State.

He immediately ordered an imperial decree to be drafted, appointing Ye Xuan as the Grand General Who Protects the State, in charge of all national affairs, commanding all military forces, and granting him the military tally.

All matters of war were handed over to Ye Xuan.

After thanking the Emperor for his grace, Ye Xuan left with Guo Zhengning to begin preparations for the expedition.

Three days later, the weather was clear and bright.

Ye Xuan was clad in silver armor, standing as tall and straight as a pine tree. The sword at his waist glinted with a cold light, and behind him followed a hundred thousand elite iron cavalry.

He drew the sword from his waist, pointed it into the distance, and shouted, "Depart!"

Horns blared in unison as the hundred thousand iron cavalry marched through the snow, grandly exiting the capital of the Yan State. Their target was the Liang State, the weakest of the surrounding powers.

The Liang State's national strength was feeble, with fewer than thirty thousand troops. Hearing that Great Yan's iron cavalry was attacking, the entire court and commonality were in a panic, unable to organize even a decent defense.

Ye Xuan's army broke through the capital of the Liang State without any effort and captured the Liang State's monarch, who was about to flee.

After entering the city, Ye Xuan strictly forbade the army from burning, killing, or looting. Instead, he stationed some generals to guard the capital.

As for the monarch, his children, and concubines, none were spared.

After finishing the cleanup of the imperial city, Ye Xuan took out the Golden Erosion Insect given by his father and set out alone with the Golden Erosion Insect to investigate the spiritual veins of the Liang State.

The Liang State was located in a remote area with many mountains and forests. Spiritual Insects have a natural sensitivity to Ore veins and can easily sense veins buried underground.

After searching all the way, they arrived at a valley in the Liang State, where the Golden Erosion Insect immediately stopped.

Ye Xuan could also feel a faint fluctuation of spiritual power. He immediately used a spiritual pickaxe to start excavating the mountain.

Before long, a piece of Ore that was entirely black and emitted a faint spiritual power was dug out. It was black iron ore, the most basic material for refining Spiritual Artifacts.

"There really is a spiritual mine?!" A flash of joy appeared in Ye Xuan's eyes.

If things continued like this, and they could take down all the surrounding nations, then the Ye Family would possess a significant amount of spiritual mine resources.

Thinking of this, Ye Xuan immediately marked the location and then called for soldiers to come and dig.

He then aimed at the surrounding small countries to take them down together.

Inside the Qingyun Sect's Immortal Cave.

Immortal Light shimmered, and a beam of light shot out from the Immortal Cave. Everyone could feel that powerful sense of pressure.

Having been in seclusion for many days, Ye Tianhao had completed his Foundation Establishment Breakthrough. His spiritual power was clear and profound, causing the Disciples still Cultivating at the foot of the mountain to come out and watch.

A handsome young man flew out from the Immortal Cave, standing atop a flying sword, looking indescribably high-spirited.

At this time, the three Elders of the Qingyun Sect were also attracted by that spiritual power. Yun Jian stroked his beard, his eyes full of amazement.

"This spiritual power... could it be that kid from the Ye Family? He actually broke through to Foundation Establishment in less than a year!"

Qin Yunhe also said, "I thought it was that Lu Shaoyou kid breaking through. I didn't expect it to be Ye Tianhao. He's only eighteen and has already become a Foundation Establishment Cultivator. This talent is unmatched even in the Gucang Realm."

"Yes, I must say, he's a genius!" Yun He was also full of praise.

With another Foundation Establishment Cultivator appearing in the Qingyun Sect, the entire mountain was filled with envy.

Seeing that Ye Tianhao had already broken through to Foundation Establishment, Li Linlin's eyes were filled with jealousy. How could this Loose Cultivator brat break through to Foundation Establishment so quickly? By what right!

If Ye Tianyao hadn't snatched her foundation establishment pill, she might have been the one breaking through to Foundation Establishment right now!

Thinking of this, Li Linlin recalled the information she had gathered about Ye Tianhao's grandfather opening a Spirit Medicine shop in Tiangong Market.

She had wanted to send people to teach the Ye Family a lesson, but that old man from the Ye Family was actually so ruthless that he killed everyone she sent.

This made Li Linlin nearly die of anger. Seeing how glorious Ye Tianhao was now, she bit her lip and cursed, "What's there to be so Divine Qi about!"

Meanwhile, at the Ye Family.

While Cultivating, Ye Jing also sensed through the Immortal Willow that his grandson had broken through to the Foundation Establishment stage.

The ancient characters projected by the Immortal Willow continuously flashed with golden light.

"The eldest grandson of the Ye clan, Ye Tianhao, has reached the Foundation Establishment stage, pioneering a new path for the Family. Rewarding five hundred strands of Immortal Light!"

Seeing this, joy suddenly welled up in Ye Jing's heart. Their Family finally had a Foundation Establishment Cultivator!

Now, even those families that opposed the Ye Family, or even the Xuanyou Sect, would have to think twice.

He clenched his fists. Since his grandson was working so hard, he, as the Old Ancestor, naturally couldn't slack off either.

Looking at the newly cultivated Spiritual Plants and the large amount of spiritual mines coming in as supplements, Ye Jing immediately went to the Tiangong Market, planning to buy out all the shops there to expand the Ye Family's business.

Now that Ye Jing's cultivation had reached Qi Refining Perfection, he still needed the effect of a foundation establishment pill if he wanted to break through.

After all, Ye Jing's physical age being what it was, a forced Breakthrough would damage his Meridians and body.

The Immortal Willow could grant him longevity, but when it came to Cultivation, it was better to be cautious.

It's not shameful for an old man to be afraid of death.