356: Chapter 357 Xia Qingyue's Letter!

Ye Changge did not deny this. He had intended it to be so from the start.

The identity of a "Second-Order High Grade Talisman Master" that he had declared to the outside world had already become the talk of the town in the market.

Now, with this grand gesture of hiring an escort, various factions were forced to re-evaluate the strength of him and the Ye Family of Longmai Mountain.

At the same time, he released news: from now on, on the first day of every month, the Ye Family of Longmai Mountain's Talisman shop would sell one Second-Order High Grade Talisman to the public, first come, first served, to the highest bidder.

Once this news was out, White Bird Market was in an uproar once again.

A Second-Order High Grade Talisman was a treasure that could turn the tide of a battle at a critical moment.

With this stable supply channel, who wouldn't want to build a good relationship with the Ye Family of Longmai Mountain?

A few days later, the escort team from the Tianwei Escort Agency arrived safely at Longmai Mountain.

The manager accompanying the group was a middle-aged Mid-Stage Foundation Establishment Cultivator named Feng, with a square face and the composed, capable air characteristic of an escort.

Two small squads followed behind him, guarding the group tightly.

Although the elderly, weak, women, and children returning from Biluo Lake were weary from the journey, they were in good spirits, clearly having encountered no trouble on the road.

Ye Changge personally went out to greet them at the mountain gate.

"Fellow Daoist Ye, I have fulfilled the mission." Manager Feng cupped his hands, then took out a Storage Pouch from his bosom and handed it over with both hands. "The journey was quite peaceful, and we did not encounter any danger. According to the rules of the escort agency, if the entire trip is without incident or alarm, a portion of the escort fee can be refunded. Here are five hundred Spirit Stones; please take them back, Fellow Daoist Ye."

Ye Changge was slightly stunned, then immediately understood the other party's intention.

Although the Tianwei Escort Agency had such rules, there were actually few cases where they would proactively refund Spirit Stones.

Manager Feng's action was clearly using the excuse of the rules to show goodwill towards him. A young Foundation Establishment Cultivator who could casually bring out two thousand Spirit Stones to hire an escort, and who was also a Second-Order High Grade Talisman Master, was worth befriending.

Ye Changge smiled, raised his hand to push the Storage Pouch back, his tone gentle yet indisputable: "Manager Feng, what are you saying? You have all worked hard on this long journey. Regardless of whether danger was encountered, the reputation of the escort agency and your hard work are worth this price."

Manager Feng was tall and burly, standing there like an iron tower, his body filled with thick and powerful Qi and blood; one could tell at a glance that he was a Foundation Establishment Cultivator who also practiced Body Refining.

Hearing Ye Changge insist on not accepting the refunded Spirit Stones, a look of embarrassment actually appeared on his square and resolute face. He scratched the back of his head with his rough hand and grinned: "Master Ye, what you say is... I, Old Feng, have been running escorts for so many years, and this is the first time I have encountered such a generous employer as you. How can I be so bold as to accept? This is really... too polite!"

Although he said he was embarrassed, his eyes clearly revealed a genuine sense of joy and gratitude. Although the Tianwei Escort Agency was a large agency, he knew clearly how many Spirit Stones could be earned from one escort trip.

For a job worth a few thousand Spirit Stones, even after splitting it with his subordinates and deducting the escort agency's commission, what fell into his own hands was only a few hundred.

And with this gesture from Ye Changge, five hundred Spirit Stones were returned to him for nothing; this was not a small amount.

Ye Changge waved his hand and smiled, his tone warm but unrefusable: "Manager Feng, what are you saying? You have all worked hard along the way to safely escort my Family's elders and children to Longmai Mountain; this is already a great favor. Spirit Stones are merely external possessions, but friendship is what lasts. If Manager Feng does not mind, feel free to come to the Ye Family of Longmai Mountain for a cup of tea whenever you pass by in the future."

Hearing this, Manager Feng's eyes lit up immediately.

Having traveled north and south for many years, he naturally understood the intent to build a friendship in Ye Changge's words.

A young Foundation Establishment Cultivator who could casually bring out two thousand Spirit Stones to hire an escort, and who was also a Second-Order High Grade Talisman Master, was offering an olive branch; if he were to refuse, he would be a fool.

"Good! With these words from Master Ye, I, Old Feng, will definitely come to bother you for a cup when I pass by Longmai Mountain in the future!" Manager Feng laughed heartily and cupped his hands. "If Master Ye has any errands that need the Tianwei Escort Agency, just send word, and I, Old Feng, will be at your beck and call!"

Ye Changge nodded with a smile, then as if remembering something, added: "By the way, Manager Feng, in a few days, the Ye Family of Longmai Mountain will hold a Family Grand Ceremony. Firstly, it is to celebrate our new relocation, and secondly, it is to exchange resources and build good relations with fellow cultivators in the surrounding areas. If it is convenient for you, Manager Feng, why not stay and participate?"

"A Family Grand Ceremony?" Manager Feng was stunned at first, then a look of intense interest appeared on his face. "Master Ye, are you planning to hold a grand event?"

"Exactly." Ye Changge nodded. "This ceremony can also be considered the Ye Family of Longmai Mountain's public debut after officially establishing ourselves here. At that time, there will be exchanges of some Talismans, Medicinal Pills, and spiritual materials. If Manager Feng is interested, you might bring some good goods from the escort agency to exchange for some handy items to take back."

Upon hearing this, Manager Feng's eyes lit up even more. People like him who ran escorts were in the business of licking blood from the edge of a blade, walking year-round in the mountains and wilds where Yao Beasts roamed; what they lacked most were various items for saving their lives. Medicinal Pills, Talismans, and defensive Magical Artifacts—which of these was not the more the better?

"Master Ye, how could I, Old Feng, not be interested in what you say!" Manager Feng slapped his thigh hard. "Good, good, good! If you do not mind me, Fellow Daoist, I will definitely come back! At that time, I will bring a few brothers with me to show some support for Master Ye!"

Ye Changge smiled and cupped his hands: "Then I look forward to your arrival, Manager Feng."

After seeing off Manager Feng and his group, Ye Changge stood in front of the mountain gate, watching the backs of the departing team as they gradually faded into the distance. The smile on his face slowly faded, replaced by a look of contemplation.

His invitation to Manager Feng to attend the Family Grand Ceremony was certainly out of sincerity to build a friendship, but the deeper reason was that the Ye Family of Longmai Mountain was currently stretched thin regarding Foundation Establishment combat power.

Currently, the Ye Family of Longmai Mountain had only four Foundation Establishment Cultivators in total—

Himself, at the Late Foundation Establishment Stage, possessing multiple Heaven-grade Cultivation Methods and Talisman Array Spiritual Artifacts, whose frontal combat power could go head-to-head with a Mid-Stage or even Late Foundation Establishment Cultivator, but he was, after all, only one person.

Xiao Caiyue, the Second-Order Array Master who had just completed Dual Cultivation with him for healing and Foundation reshaping; although her cultivation was at the Early Stage Foundation Establishment, her physical condition had not yet fully stabilized, and combat was not her strength.

Lu Shiyin, at the Mid-Stage Foundation Establishment, whose combat experience was still shallow, and who was more focused on managing the Family's internal affairs.

And one more, who was Xia Qingyue, the True Disciple of the Lingxiao Sect.

Although she had an ambiguous relationship with Ye Changge and had promised to occasionally come to Longmai Mountain to hold down the fort, she was, after all, a person of the Lingxiao Sect and could not remain with the Ye Family of Longmai Mountain for the long term.

Besides these four, the Ye Family of Longmai Mountain had no other Foundation Establishment Cultivators.

And within a radius of hundreds of miles around Longmai Mountain, there were already five or six known Foundation Establishment Families, not to mention those Loose Cultivators and factions hiding in the shadows.

Although the auction at White Bird Market a few days ago had made the Ye Family of Longmai Mountain famous, it had also attracted more covetous gazes. Ye Changge understood the principle that a tall tree attracts the wind better than anyone.