66: Chapter 66 The Chen Family of Flowing Cloud Valley?

"Stay at Longmai Mountain for this month to stabilize your Realm and adapt to your new Spiritual Root. I will personally guide you in the basics of Cultivation to ensure your Foundation is solid.

Return to the Lingxiao Sect in one month."

"Thank you, Father!"

A warm current surged in Ye Bufan's heart.

Over the next month, Ye Bufan went into seclusion under Ye Changge's personal supervision.

The cultivation speed of a 4th-grade Spiritual Root was like heaven and earth compared to a 9th-grade one.

Previously obscure and difficult points in the Cultivation Technique were now instantly understood.

The efficiency of absorbing Spiritual Qi skyrocketed. In just one month, his cultivation level rose from the newly broken through 1st level of Qi Condensation.

Ye Changge saw this and was pleased.

His eldest son possessed superior Heart-Nature, perseverance, and Comprehension Ability. Now that his greatest weakness—his Spiritual Root—had been rectified, his future achievements would be limitless.

The second generation of the Ye Family now had someone capable of shouldering the burden.

Meanwhile, he also checked his own Spiritual Root. Thanks to the feedback from Ye Bufan, he had successfully reached a 5th-grade Spiritual Root as well.

A month passed in the blink of an eye.

On this day, Ye Changge calculated the time. The cloud mist mystic realm had been open for nearly three months, and the closing date was within these few days.

It was time to meet Ye Mingyuan, Ye Changfeng, and Ye Changyun.

He wondered how their harvest in the Secret Realm had been, and whether they were safe.

He summoned Lu Shiyin, gave her a few simple instructions regarding Family affairs, and without further delay, called out Xiao Jin and leaped onto its back.

"Caw—!"

The golden giant eagle let out a cry that shook the heavens. Spreading its wings, it stirred up a gale, carrying Ye Changge as it transformed into a brilliant golden light, tearing through the clouds and speeding toward the direction of the Cloud Mist Mountain Range.

A few days later, Ye Changge arrived at the Secret Realm without incident.

He sat cross-legged on Xiao Jin's broad back, his gaze calm as he looked down at the mist-shrouded valley below.

At the entrance of the Secret Realm, the phantom of the light gate had already appeared again, vibrating slightly, signaling that the closing time was near.

On the slopes around the valley, many Cultivators had already gathered. Some were craning their necks in anticipation, while others sat cross-legged to regulate their breathing. The atmosphere was even more tense and expectant than when it had opened three months ago.

Ye Changge found a spot in mid-air with a good view, hovered with Xiao Jin, and waited quietly.

His powerful Foundation Establishment Divine Sense quietly spread out like invisible water ripples, covering a large area near the Secret Realm exit, carefully sensing every aura escaping from within.

As the sun rose higher, around the hour of the Dragon, the twisted light gate suddenly brightened!

"They're coming out!"

Someone shouted, and everyone's gaze instantly focused.

The first to step out of the light gate were still the Disciples of the Three Great Sects and those few Golden Core Families.

Most of them had dusty clothes, but their auras remained condensed. Although some were injured, their expressions were calm. As they chatted, they handed the Storage Pouches containing their harvest to the Sect stewards guarding the entrance.

At the exit, three Pseudo-Core Cultivators were already presiding.

One from the Lingxiao Sect, one from Qingyun Valley, and one from the Profound Sword Sect.

Beside them, a golden, darting-eyed "Treasure-Seeking Rat" lay prone. This second-tier spirit mouse was extremely sensitive to Spiritual Qi fluctuations, especially to unprocessed natural Spiritual Plants.

There were also several Foundation Establishment stewards holding specially made "Spirit Inspection Mirrors," which could reveal whether there were hidden compartments or concealed spaces inside the storage Magical Artifacts.

Hand over, inspect, deduct 50%, and return the rest.

The process was swift and strict. Under the squeaking of the Treasure-Seeking Rats and the faint light of the Spirit Inspection Mirrors, there was almost no possibility of hiding anything.

Ye Changge watched coldly, understanding the situation.

While the Three Great Sects opened the Secret Realm for the need to hone their Disciples and obtain resources, the deeper calculation was likely to drive these affiliated Families and even Loose Cultivators as "miners."

While the Core Disciples of the Sects also went inside to compete, the risk of loss was far higher for these "Family Cultivators" and Loose Cultivators who were risking their lives for the Opportunity of Foundation Establishment.

Using their adventures to stably obtain the most precious produce in the Secret Realm, especially primary ingredients for the foundation establishment pill like the "nourishing dew immortal ganoderma," was a guaranteed profitable business for the Sect.

The Disciples of the powerful families in front finished coming out one after another. Most Family representatives showed smiles; although there were injuries, no one had fallen, which was already a blessing.

Following them were the more numerous Foundation Establishment Families and teams of Loose Cultivators.

The figures pouring out of the light gate began to look hurried and disheveled, and casualties appeared.

Exclamations, wails, and angry shouts erupted sporadically.

Many waiting Family members turned pale with rage upon receiving their severely injured or unconscious clansmen, their gazes sweeping like knives toward the nearby Family Cultivators with whom they had long-standing grievances. The air was filled with a stifling, explosive tension.

Ye Changge's expression remained unchanged; he only focused his Divine Sense more intently, scanning every figure in Ye Family attire that emerged.

Time passed little by little. Fewer and fewer Cultivators came out, and the sky approached noon.

Finally, three familiar figures stumbled out of the light gate, supporting each other.

It was Ye Mingyuan, Ye Changfeng, and Ye Changyun!

Ye Changge felt a sense of relief, but his brow furrowed immediately.

Among the three, the eldest, Ye Mingyuan, was pale. His left sleeve was torn, wrapped in thick, blood-stained bandages, and he was being supported by Ye Changfeng and Ye Changyun on either side.

Ye Changfeng's clothes were also torn at the chest, his aura slightly withered. Ye Changyun was slightly better, but his hair was disheveled, and he also bore injuries.

Upon exiting, the three of them also went through the process of handing over and inspection.

Ye Changge saw them hand over a bulging Storage Pouch. After the inspection and deduction, they received a bag that was significantly smaller, and only then did they walk staggeringly toward the area where the Ye Family was waiting.

Ye Changge rode Xiao Jin down and met them.

"Clan Uncle, Brother Changfeng, Brother Changyun, are you alright?"

Ye Changge asked with concern, his eyes lingering especially on Ye Mingyuan's injured arm.

"Old Ancestor." Ye Mingyuan struggled to bow, but was held up by Ye Changge.

"It is nothing. These are all external injuries, the bones and tendons are undamaged, and I will be fine after resting for a few days."

Ye Mingyuan waved his hand, forcing a smile, but could not hide his exhaustion.

"This time, it is really thanks to the Talismans and Puppets you gave us, Changge. Especially that 'Golden Light Protection Talisman'; it blocked at least three fatal sneak attacks at critical moments. Otherwise, this old bone of mine would probably have really stayed inside."

Ye Changfeng also added, still shaken, his tone filled with indignation:

"Old Ancestor, our trip this time was going quite smoothly. We only collected some Spiritual Plants on the periphery and did not go deep inside, avoiding several dangerous places. We didn't expect to run into people from the Cloud Valley Chen Family just as we were about to come out!"

"Chen Family?" Ye Changge's eyes narrowed.

"The Cloud Valley Chen Family? The one that is one of the five False Core Families under the jurisdiction of the Lingxiao Sect?"

"It is indeed them!" Ye Changyun gritted his teeth and said,

"We had clearly already conceded and taken a detour, but they acted as if they were deliberately looking for trouble. A leader at the Great Perfection of Qi Condensation led four or five people and chased after us, claiming that we had taken their things."