3: Chapter 3 Samurai

Several brothers walked out of the Talisman Hall one after another, walking on the mountain path.

Today, Ye Yisong felt that the small pebbles on the path were exceptionally neat, and he unconsciously quickened his pace.

The few people behind him had disappeared at some point.

Upon reaching a fork in the road, Ye Yisong stopped unconsciously.

A few minutes later, Ye Yikang and the others caught up.

"Thirteenth Brother, congratulations."

"Sixth Brother, you are too kind. You achieved your goal three years ago. By the way, please help me ask Master He for leave this afternoon, Ninth Brother."

"Alright, Thirteenth Brother," Ye Yikang replied.

Although he was over fifteen years old, he was one of the Disciples in the Family who still attended cultural classes in the morning and afternoon.

As soon as he finished speaking, Ye Yisong headed towards Luanshi Peak, and in the blink of an eye, he disappeared from view.

"Sixth Brother, congratulations, congratulations. From now on, I will have to call you Talisman Master Ye."

Another brother bowed to Ye Yikang to congratulate him, then asked curiously, "Sixth Brother, what were you congratulating Thirteenth Brother for just now? Wasn't he already a First-Rank Talisman Master?"

"It's nothing. You'll know tomorrow."

...

Luanshi Peak.

It was named for the chaotic, disorganized stones covering the entire mountain, and it was also the place where Ye Yisong's father, Ye Jiesheng, Cultivated.

A handsome young man was seen leaping rapidly up the mountain; in less than a quarter of an hour, he had climbed up.

It was Ye Yisong, who had just come out of the Talisman Hall.

"Father," Ye Yisong respectfully saluted a burly man with a full beard.

He didn't know why, but every time Ye Yisong saw his old man, he felt inexplicably nervous.

Perhaps it was because, after all, he was not from this world.

"You've arrived. Sit down," Ye Jiesheng replied, glancing at the box on the table.

"Song'er, I had someone bring the item back. I hope you won't disappoint me."

"Really?" Ye Yisong said excitedly.

Although he had long known that with his old man's strength, it was easy to obtain a Second-Rank peak-grade barrier-breaking pill, seeing the actual object still made him lose his composure slightly.

"Your father's strength as a Five-Star Martial Ancestor is not just for show," Ye Jiesheng boasted, then asked, "How is your cultivation of the Green Lotus Sea-Transformation Sutra going?"

"I have already cultivated the first layer to the state of Perfection, and I can have a Breakthrough at any time."

Ye Yisong was quite proud of his cultivation; it wouldn't be an exaggeration to call him the number one person among the Ye Family juniors under fifteen.

The Green Lotus Sea-Transformation Sutra was the Cultivation Technique Ye Yisong had been practicing since he was a child.

It was said to be a Fifth-Rank Cultivation Technique that the third-generation ancestor excavated from a Martial King's Immortal Cave, capable of reaching the Martial King Realm.

As for its authenticity, after so many years, it was impossible to verify.

When Ye Yisong first took this Cultivation Technique from the Scripture Pavilion, he was laughed at by other clansmen, who said he only knew how to pick the good ones.

Ever since this Cultivation Technique was placed in the Scripture Pavilion, it had caused a sensation, but for hundreds of years, no one had ever succeeded in cultivating it.

Perhaps fate was playing a trick, or perhaps it had something to do with Ye Yisong being a Transmigration traveler, but on a dark and stormy night... uh... he miraculously succeeded in cultivating it.

It was fortunate that no one had succeeded in cultivating it before, otherwise, whether the Ye Family would still exist would be a question.

Ye Yisong seriously suspected that the third-generation ancestor was a spy, actually placing a Cultivation Technique claimed to be Fifth-Rank directly in the Scripture Pavilion and letting everyone Cultivate it.

Had he ever thought about what the consequences would be if someone had succeeded in cultivating it back then?

A Fifth-Rank Cultivation Technique was not cabbage sold on the street.

Later, he realized that he had been narrow-minded.

This Cultivation Technique turned out to be common trash; basically, every prefecture-level aristocratic Family had a copy.

But that is a story for another time.

"Let's go to the spiritual eye of my Immortal Cave. Today, I will act as your Protector to help you make a Breakthrough from the Martial Apprentice Realm."

"First, adjust your state. Don't be in a hurry to pop the pill."

"What the hell, 'pop the pill'? If people didn't know better, they'd think I was that person. I, Ye Yisong, grew up under the red flag and was born in the spring breeze; how could I possibly break the law?"

Ye Yisong complained internally, but his movements were not slow.

He sat on the eye of the Fourth-Rank Spiritual Vein, slowly circulating his Spiritual Qi according to the first layer of the Cultivation Technique.

After completing one cycle, he quickly stuffed the barrier-breaking pill into his mouth.

The Cultivation Technique also switched from the route of the first layer to the second layer.

The Spiritual Qi quickly gathered at the barrier of an acupuncture point, but it couldn't get through no matter what.

The Spiritual Qi collided at the acupuncture point, and the pain made Ye Yisong's face twist, but he did not give up.

Ye Yisong knew that scarce resources like a Second-Rank peak-grade barrier-breaking pill were not always available, even if his father was a Five-Star Martial Ancestor and a Family Elder.

Moreover, according to the Family records, the Medicinal Pill was about to take effect.

If he gave up now, the barrier-breaking pill would have been eaten like candy, and he would have no face to face Ye Jiesheng later.

Sure enough, while he was covered in sweat, a torrent was slowly flowing towards the obstructing acupuncture point barrier.

With a soft "pop," the corner of Ye Jiesheng's mouth curled up slightly.

Ye Yisong had finally opened the door to the Martial Warrior Realm.

From today on, he would no longer have to work from six to nine, rising early and working late.

"Ye the Black-hearted, you can no longer control me! The beast of burden is rising…"

"Hahaha!" Ye Yisong laughed wildly.

The Second-Rank peak-grade barrier-breaking pill was truly worthy of its reputation; it guaranteed a Breakthrough from the Martial Apprentice Realm.

When he came to his senses and saw Ye Jiesheng staring at him, he scratched his head awkwardly.

"Father, I've had a Breakthrough."

"Hmm. You are an adult now. In the future, you must learn more from your eldest brother and the others and bring glory to the Family."

At the same time, he thought to himself: Was Jiechen too strict, pushing the Family Disciples to this point?

He had completely forgotten his own madness when he broke through to the Martial Warrior Realm back then, almost burning down the canteen while eating…

Uh? I popped a pill and now I'm an adult? Where exactly?

"Do you have any doubts? While I have time, I can answer them for you."

Ye Jiesheng looked at his child, who had grown into a handsome young man, and chuckled: He's like me, as handsome as me.

"I do have some doubts. Why is it so difficult to go from Martial Apprentice to Martial Warrior? Wouldn't the subsequent cultivation be even more arduous? Also, it seems I have reached a Three-Star Martial Warrior; I don't know if I'm feeling it wrong."

Ye Yisong voiced his questions.

"No need to doubt it, you are already a Three-Star Martial Warrior. You don't even think about how many Heaven And Earth Treasures you've eaten since you were a child," Ye Jiesheng said bluntly.

"As for you thinking the Breakthrough was difficult, isn't that to be expected? Otherwise, in Great Wei right now, Martial Masters would be walking all over the ground and Martial Ancestors would be flying all over the sky."

"Cultivation is inherently a Heaven-Defying act of changing one's destiny. Every step is a struggle against Heaven, against Earth, and against people."

"Song'er, your talent is indeed outstanding among your brothers, but remember, cultivation is not about talent; it is about persevering willpower and indomitable courage."

"This is why the Family requires you to train in the martial arts arena for ten years and study in the school for ten years. Remember what your father told you today," Ye Jiesheng said earnestly.

Ye Yisong suddenly realized.

He had read too many novels in the past, where the protagonists' Breakthroughs were as simple as drinking water or eating a meal.

Now that he was doing it himself, he had been a bit presumptuous.

A Martial Apprentice, without illness or disaster, can basically live to be one hundred years old, while a Martial Warrior can live to be one hundred and fifty.

These fifty years are not gained for nothing.

Compared to his previous life, Spiritual Root talent is like an academic degree.

After entering the factory, you work hard and struggle persistently.

Hey! The boss has added fifty years of salary.

It seems one cannot escape the 007 schedule anywhere.

The revolution has not yet succeeded; comrades still need to work hard.

"Alright, don't have any mental burdens. At the very least, your father can still afford your cultivation resources for now."

Perhaps noticing Ye Yisong's worry, Ye Jiesheng laughed and kicked him.

Ye Yisong rubbed his head embarrassedly.

In ten years, this was the first time Ye Jiesheng had comforted him, and he was a bit at a loss.

"I don't have to go to morning exercises tomorrow, right?" Ye Yisong confirmed again.

"Hmm, according to the Family rules, you indeed don't have to go. However, cultivation cannot be neglected."

"The once-in-a-decade Prefecture Examination is not far off. From now on, it depends on yourself. Create your own life."

"Song'er, your Foundation is already well-laid. In the future, I will no longer suppress your cultivation. Cultivate however you want."

"But take heed: do not consume too many Medicinal Pills, otherwise, your future barrier to the Martial Ancestor Realm will be three times larger than that of an ordinary person," Ye Jiesheng patted Ye Yisong's body and instructed him in detail.

In fact, Ye Yisong had already learned about this in the Library, but listening to Ye Jiesheng's instructions, he felt exceptionally warm inside.

Ye Jiesheng was just being tough-mouthed.

"These are fifteen Second-Rank spirit ascension pills and fifteen pulse warming pills, enough for you to Cultivate to the Martial Master Realm."

"Arrange them yourself, don't be greedy for speed, and remember the lessons of our Seniors."

"Yes." Ye Yisong excitedly grasped the Storage Pouch; he had once again managed to fleece some wool from here.

His mood could be summed up in one word: "Happy."

...

At the age of five, Ye Yisong had learned about the cultivation Realms of this world: guiding Spiritual Qi into the body is Martial Apprentice; opening the eight extraordinary meridians is Martial Warrior; releasing Spiritual Qi externally is Martial Master; controlling objects to fly is Martial Ancestor.

As for the Realms beyond that, Ye Yisong did not know; they were not recorded in the Family, or perhaps they were placed somewhere he could not see.

Looking at the bag of Medicinal Pills, Ye Yisong couldn't help but fantasize.

"Ye Yisong, oh Ye Yisong, the Martial Master Realm is not far off."

I'll go back and test the efficacy of the medicine later to see if it has expired.