155: Chapter 155 Surprise

"Thank you," Ye Yisong said, cupping his hands in a return salute.

Having broken through to the Martial Ancestor Realm overnight, Ye Yisong's strength and status were now far above everyone else's. However, because his age and seniority were so low, he still needed to give everyone some time to adjust so they would no longer view him as a junior or peer, and to gradually establish the prestige of a powerhouse.

"Today, Yisong has broken through to the Martial Ancestor Realm, and we should be celebrating together. However, as I have just broken through, my Realm still needs to be stabilized, so I must seclude myself for a few days and cannot celebrate with all you uncles and brothers. Please accept this small token of my appreciation; I hope you all will not mind." Ye Yisong lightly brushed his sleeve, and dozens of Low Grade Grade 3 Talismans flew out, landing in the hands of everyone present, exactly one for each person.

"Many thanks, Thirteenth Young Master!" Looking at the Grade 3 Talismans in their hands, the voices of congratulations became even more sincere and heartfelt. They hadn't expected that just coming to join the fun would yield such benefits. A single Low Grade Grade 3 Talisman was worth at least 1,200 Spirit Stones. The Thirteenth Young Master was truly a good person.

"Everyone, disperse and return to your duties. We will celebrate together at the Family cafeteria at noon; there will be plenty of wine and meat," Grandfather Ye Tuantu instructed with a chuckle, generously paying out of his own pocket to provide an extra meal for everyone.

There were at least three hundred Ye Family Martial Artists permanently stationed at the Ye Family Villa, plus several hundred externally hired Martial Artists, as well as the Martial Artists participating in this Prefecture Examination and those who had followed to watch the excitement, totaling over eight hundred people.

Treating these eight hundred-plus Martial Artists to a meal, with unlimited wine and meat, was no small expense—it would cost at least twenty to thirty thousand Spirit Stones.

"Understood, Elder is mighty!" everyone saluted again. With the one-two punch from the grandfather-grandson duo of Grandfather Ye Tuantu and Ye Yisong, the smiles on everyone's Faces became even brighter as they returned the way they came, chuckling and going about their own business.

"Let's go, let's go! We must add an hour of extra training today."

"Agreed, let's go together."

"Count me in too."

It was clear that everyone was genuinely happy for Ye Yisong's Breakthrough, and at the same time, it had deeply spurred the Martial Artists present.

After everyone dispersed, only a few Disciples familiar with Ye Yisong and several of Grandfather Ye Tuantu's trusted stewards remained, following them into Grandfather Ye Tuantu's No. 2 Courtyard.

Everyone took their seats according to their strength and closeness, tasting the fine food and wine that the attendants had long since prepared.

"Congratulations, nephew, on your great progress in the Martial Dao," Patriarch Ye Tuanzhang said, raising his cup to offer congratulations. The envy between his brows was on full display, completely unhidden. Only a few months ago, when participating in the County Exam, Ye Yisong was merely a Middle Stage Martial Master. How much time had passed since then, and he had already grown to be on equal footing with him.

Looking back at Ye Jielu, who was mindlessly eating below, he thought that after returning, he must discipline him strictly so as not to bring shame to the Ye Family name.

Ye Jielu suddenly felt a chill on the back of his neck and paused in his eating. He quietly looked up and caught a glimpse of the increasingly stern gaze of Patriarch Ye Tuanzhang sitting at the head of the table. He knew that after seeing Ye Yisong, the old man's desire for his son to succeed had flared up again. It seemed he couldn't go home. Fortunately, Ye Jielu had long planned to dedicate himself to the Great Wei government after the Prefecture Examination. At that time, as long as he didn't choose to serve in Shuinan County, the old man wouldn't be able to boss him around anymore.

"Congratulations, Thirteenth Young Master!" After Patriarch Ye Tuanzhang took the lead, Grandfather Ye Tuantu's trusted aides also raised their cups to congratulate Ye Yisong. In an instant, Ye Yisong had drunk at least dozens of cups of aged fine wine.

These Grade 3 Martial Masters were the core team that Grandfather Ye Tuantu kept stationed in the Cangjiang Prefecture capital to manage daily affairs; otherwise, they wouldn't have been able to enter this No. 2 Courtyard.

Although Ye Yisong had already achieved the Martial Ancestor Realm, it wouldn't be right to slight them. He refused no one, chatting and laughing briefly with each person to show his closeness.

"Congratulations, Thirteenth Brother, on ascending to the Martial Ancestor Realm!" Ye Yitian, along with Ye Yiguang, Ye Yifan, and Uncle Jiefu, waited for everyone to finish toasting before raising their cups together to offer congratulations.

They were all sitting at the same table as Ye Yisong, which also included Ye Jiejing, Ye Jielu, Ye Jiexuan, and Ye Jiewang, who had all been invited together.

The Martial Artists at this small table all looked at Ye Yisong with envy and jealousy. You were fine yesterday, so why did you break through today?

Ye Yisong was a few steps ahead of everyone, having become a Nine-Star Martial Master. Although everyone felt envious, they could still accept it; if they worked hard to catch up for a few years, there was still hope.

But you directly breaking through to Martial Ancestor? That's going a bit too far! The Martial Ancestor Realm! It could be said to be the ultimate goal for all the Martial Artists present to Cultivate for a lifetime, and you just completed it so easily?

We know you're outstanding, but don't be too outstanding! Are you not going to let us Cultivate properly? Forget it! Forget it! Forget it!

"Today, we won't stop until we're drunk! Drink!" Ye Yiguang's envious little gaze slowly returned to calm, and he immediately led everyone to toast Ye Yisong, intending to get Ye Yisong drunk and win a beautiful comeback battle in drinking.

"Drink!" Everyone saw through Ye Yiguang's intention at a glance and responded by raising their cups, turning their envy and jealousy into motivation. They drank cup after cup, none of them using their Spiritual Qi to sober up, only stopping when everyone had collapsed.

Only this deep intoxication could briefly soothe their constantly fluctuating hearts.

At noon, inside the Ye Family Villa cafeteria, there was also an atmosphere of laughter and joy. Cases of ten-year-old vintage wine were poured into the mouths of many Martial Artists, and plates of Grade 2 and Grade 3 Yao Beast meat were devoured clean.

"Drink!"

"Brothers, let's toast the Thirteenth Young Master for his great progress in the Martial Dao!"

"Wishing the Ye Family's Martial Dao to flourish!"

As everyone ate meat and drank wine in large gulps, the flow of flattering words praising Ye Yisong never ceased, and they would look toward the entrance from time to time.

They had heard that in the morning, Ye Yisong had very generously distributed dozens of Grade 3 Talismans to the Martial Artists who had come to congratulate him.

Unfortunately, until the banquet was completely over, Ye Yisong's figure did not appear. Only two or three of Grandfather Ye Tuantu's trusted stewards attended to explain that Ye Yisong was currently in seclusion stabilizing his cultivation and would not be coming to join in the fun with everyone.

Ye Yisong patted his little cheeks and walked with heavy steps toward the No. 1 Courtyard. Everyone was happy during the day, and he had actually gotten drunk for the first time in this world.

He raised his right hand and gently knocked on the courtyard gate, which was not tightly closed, and asked in a low voice, "Grand-uncle, are you there?"

"Child, come in and close the gate," Grand Elder Ye Ronghui's affectionate voice came from inside.

"Grand-uncle, you haven't eaten yet, have you? I brought you some Yao Beast meat." Ye Yisong respectfully took out the Grade 4 Demonic Beast meat that Grandfather Ye Tuantu had prepared for him from the food box and placed it in front of Grand Elder Ye Ronghui.

"You are thoughtful," Grand Elder Ye Ronghui said with a chuckle, picking up a piece of cartilage from the plate and putting it into his mouth. "It has been a long time since I tasted such a delicacy."

In fact, after a Martial Artist's cultivation reaches the Martial Ancestor Realm, their Spiritual Qi liquefies and forms its own cycle. Although the energy flows slowly, it has the advantage of being endless, so it's no problem to go without food or drink for ten days or half a month.

"Child, have you heard of the dragon-tiger golden pill?" After finishing all the Yao Beast meat on the plate, Grand Elder Ye Ronghui took out four boxes and handed them to Ye Yisong with a smile.