196: Chapter 196 The Zhao Family of the East China Sea

An elderly man wearing brocade clothes walked out of the East Sea Zhao Family's gatehouse and took the calling card from Ancestor Ye Rongming's hand. He looked the two of them up and down. It seemed that if not for Ancestor Ye Rongming's Martial King strength momentarily intimidating the other party, the two of them likely wouldn't even have been able to enter this gate.

"Are you looking for the Fifth Master?"

"Yes, please trouble Senior to pass on a message." Ye Yisong stepped forward at the right moment and stuffed a Storage Pouch containing ten thousand Spirit Stones into the man's hand.

"Wait here."

The elderly man in brocade weighed the Storage Pouch in his hand, spoke indifferently, and immediately called a servant to go inside and pass on the message.

As one of the Four Great Families of the East Sea, the East Sea Zhao Family's territory was located in the prime real estate of the East City of Kuaiji County, covering an area of up to eight hundred thousand mu. Within this eight hundred thousand mu of territory, even the Great Wei prefectural government could not interfere.

The Family had a 6th Rank Martial Emperor Old Ancestor presiding over it, along with dozens of Martial King powerhouses, dominating the entire East Sea Province.

The time Ancestor Ye Rongming and Ye Yisong spent waiting this time was much longer than the time they had waited outside the Yunhai Sect's detached residence.

After waiting for a full half hour, the gatehouse finally received the message allowing the two of them to enter.

"Let's go."

After receiving the message, the elderly man in brocade robes led the two of them toward a mountain peak in the east.

Under the guidance of the elderly man in brocade, Ancestor Ye Rongming and Ye Yisong passed through tens of thousands of pavilions and towers, seeing dozens of thousand-meter-tall mountain peaks standing before their eyes. These peaks were likely the training grounds for the many Martial Kings of the Zhao Family.

While following the elderly man in brocade and flying toward the inner area, Ye Yisong silently counted the number of peaks in his heart. He saw fifty-eight peaks with his own eyes, and twenty-three of them had spiritual light flickering on their surfaces from time to time, clearly indicating that a Martial King powerhouse resided within.

The elderly man in brocade brought the two to the foot of a thousand-meter-tall, frost-covered mountain peak and stopped. At the foot of the mountain, several young boys immediately stepped forward enthusiastically to greet the old man: "Master Duan, why did you trouble yourself to personally handle a task like leading the way?"

"It's good to come out for a walk; staying at the gatehouse is so boring it's driving me crazy," the elderly man in brocade said, twitching his nose.

"Master Duan, this is some hundred-year-old Tiger Bone Wine brewed by this little one's Family. Please have a taste, and don't look down on it," one of the boys said eagerly, handing over a wine gourd.

"You're a conscientious kid, thinking of your Master Duan when you have good things. It wasn't in vain that I arranged this good job for you," the elderly man in brocade robes said with a smile, taking the wine gourd and taking a sip.

"Alright, I still need to take these two to see the Fifth Master. Don't let the Fifth Master wait too long and end up blaming us." The elderly man in brocade interrupted the few boys who were a beat slow and were just about to take out their offerings.

The three followed the winding path up the mountain for nearly a quarter of an hour before arriving at a courtyard at the peak, with the three characters "Shuangxue Residence" written above the door. The elderly man in brocade robes tapped the door knocker lightly, and a deep, thick voice immediately came from inside: "Come in."

"Fifth Master," the elderly man in brocade bowed respectfully.

"Old Duan, how has your health been recently?" Zhao Zuoxiang put down his book and asked with concern.

"Thanks to the Fifth Master's blessing, this old man is still in good health. Since the people have been brought here, I will take my leave," the elderly man in brocade replied.

"Very well, take these pieces of Yao Beast meat back to nourish your body."

"Greetings, Fellow Daoist Zhao (Elder Zhao)." Ancestor Ye Rongming and Ye Yisong raised their hands in greeting. Ye Yisong couldn't help but glance a few more times at the elderly man in brocade as he retreated; this old man did not seem simple.

"Hmm, I wonder what wind blew Brother Ye to my place today?" Zhao Zuoxiang gestured for Ancestor Ye Rongming to sit down and talk. After two maids brought two cups of tea, they retreated.

"To be honest, Brother Zhao, I came to the East Sea Province this time to invite Master Mo of the Yunhai Sect to re-arrange a 5th Rank Formation for my Family. However, Master Mo went to the Capital a month ago and has yet to reply. I cannot leave my Family for too long, so I would like to ask Brother Zhao for your help." Ancestor Ye Rongming took out ten jin of 5th Rank Dragon meat and handed it to Zhao Zuoxiang, speaking sincerely.

"Brother Ye, you are too polite." Zhao Zuoxiang calmly put the Yao Beast meat into his Storage Pouch and said, "If it were other matters, Brother Ye, I might not necessarily have a way. But a 5th Rank Formation Master, hehe, one of the Elders of my Zhao Family happens to have some free time during this period and can help."

"Many thanks, Brother Zhao," Ancestor Ye Rongming said happily.

"However, the cost will not be low," Zhao Zuoxiang said, raising his eyes and pondering.

"Please enlighten me, Brother Zhao." Ancestor Ye Rongming put down his teacup and looked at Zhao Zuoxiang.

"Two million Spirit Stones plus two hundred jin of 5th Rank Yao Beast meat," Zhao Zuoxiang said indifferently. During the last slaughter of Cang Yun, because Cang Yun self-detonated at the end, neither of them had harvested much 5th Rank Dragon meat; at most, each person had collected a little over a thousand jin.

After Zhao Zuoxiang returned to the Zhao Family, he had been robbed by Elders of various branches of the Family. Coupled with the consumption from his Breakthrough and stabilizing his cultivation, he had very little left.

Since Ancestor Ye Rongming had voluntarily come to his door, there was no reason for Zhao Zuoxiang to let him off.

"The Spirit Stones are easy to handle, but I also have very little 5th Rank Dragon meat left. Is one hundred jin acceptable?" Ancestor Ye Rongming asked tentatively.

"Good, it's a deal!" Zhao Zuoxiang slapped the table, stood up, and said happily.

Seeing this, how could Ancestor Ye Rongming not understand that he had offered too high a price? He was immediately filled with regret.

If he could invite the familiar Master Mo to set up a 5th Rank Formation, it would only cost five million Spirit Stones; or, if he went to negotiate with major powers, the cost would not exceed eight million Spirit Stones.

The price for inviting the Zhao Family to act this time was a bit too high!

One hundred jin of 5th Rank Dragon meat was worth ten million Spirit Stones on price alone, not to mention that this was a rare treasure with no market price.

But who told the Ye Family they couldn't afford to wait!

For the sake of the Family, he had to bite the bullet and part with it this one time.

"Brother Ye, is this the Qilin child of the Ye Family's current generation?" Having picked up a great bargain, Zhao Zuoxiang finally noticed Ye Yisong, who had come with Ancestor Ye Rongming.

"He is unworthy of the title of Qilin. Yisong, greet Elder Zhao," Ancestor Ye Rongming said, waving his hand hurriedly.

"Greetings, Elder Zhao," Ye Yisong bowed respectfully.

"Hahaha, Brother Ye, don't be modest. A five-star Martial Ancestor under twenty years old, and also a 4th Rank Low Grade Talisman Maker—even in my Zhao Family, only a few people can compare to this child of yours." Zhao Zuoxiang directly exposed Ye Yisong's identity; none of these powerhouses from major families were pushovers.

"The old man is happy today, so I will gift you this Five-Colored Lotus."

"Many thanks for Elder Zhao's kindness."

This was the second time Ye Yisong had received a gift from a 5th Rank big shot. If things continued at this pace, Ye Yisong could just lie down and improve his strength.

"Brother Zhao, when can we set off?" Ancestor Ye Rongming wanted to settle the matter as soon as possible so the Family would have a guarantee.

"We will set off together in five days. It just so happens that I need to make a trip to Cangjiang Prefecture, so I can take care of the matter while I'm at it." For the sake of this deal, Zhao Zuoxiang had long ago secretly sent a message to that cousin in the Family and set the date.