35: Chapter 35 Exchange

The uncle and nephew arrived at the Dali Courtyard on the summit of Luomu Mountain, and only then did Ye Jiexin put Ye Yisong down.

Ye Yisong was fuming, his murderous gaze unconcealed.

The guards on the summit watched the lively uncle and nephew with smiles, treating it as a bit of amusement in their otherwise boring guard duty.

The Family disciples guarding the mountain were incredibly bored; they wouldn't see a single soul all day.

The Clan Chief was either in seclusion or about to enter seclusion, leaving them with absolutely nothing to do.

If one were to name the safest place in the Ye Family, the summit of Luomu Mountain would rank second, and no other place would dare claim the first.

Their guard duty here was merely to serve as mascots.

It was rare for guests to arrive today, and they were currently inside discussing matters with the Clan Chief.

"Who is on duty today? Go inside and announce that I have an important matter to report to the Clan Chief," Ye Jiexin instructed.

"Yes, Elder." A guard immediately went inside to report.

"Ninth Brother, why did you bring that mischievous monkey, Little Thirteen, here today?" A guard who was close to Ye Jiexin leaned in and teased.

This guard was Ye Jiemao, one of Ye Yisong's uncles from the clan.

"Go on, go on, this is none of your business." Ye Jiexin naturally wouldn't tell him the purpose of his visit today.

"Has anyone come to see the Clan Chief today?" Ye Jiexin asked.

"The Clan Chief of the Wang Family brought two juniors to visit, saying they wanted to discuss matters regarding the Martial Examination," Ye Jiemao replied.

"The Wang Family is here? What are they here for?" Ye Jiexin asked.

"That, this little brother does not know." Ye Jiemao leaned in even closer and whispered, "Ninth Brother, why don't you find out later?"

"Elder, the Clan Chief invites you in." At that moment, the guard who had gone to report returned and spoke to Ye Jiexin.

"Kid, let's go." Ye Jiexin kicked Ye Yisong, who was still fuming on the side, signaling him to follow.

"Clan Chief," Ye Jiexin and Ye Yisong greeted respectfully.

Ye Yisong glanced at the people in the reception hall. Clan Chief Ye Tuanhui was sitting in the center of the hall, and to his left sat an elderly man with white hair and beard; he appeared to be the Clan Chief of the Wang Family.

Behind him stood two handsome young men, standing there quietly and motionless.

"Jiexin, you're here," Ye Tuanhui said. "I was just about to look for you."

"You were looking for me?" Ye Jiexin asked, looking puzzled.

The Family meeting had only just ended; why was the Clan Chief looking for him? Could it be that the other halls wanted to borrow more Spirit Stones again?

"Fellow Daoist Wang came to our Ye Family today mainly to see you, our Talisman Grandmaster," Ye Tuanhui said. "Fellow Daoist Wang, why don't you explain it to him yourself? As for whether he agrees or not, that is not for me to decide."

"Grandmaster Ye," the Wang Family Clan Chief, Wang Jiawang, greeted him politely.

"Our Wang Family wishes to exchange our 4th Grade Alchemy for your 4th Grade Talisman Technique." Wang Jiawang dropped a bombshell right from the start.

"Impossible!" Ye Jiexin exclaimed anxiously. "Clan Chief, this must never be done!"

The 4th Grade Talisman Technique was the Ye Family's unique secret technique within the sphere of influence of Cangjiang Prefecture; it was the very thing that had allowed the Ye Family to rise in such a short hundred years.

However, two other families already possessed 4th Grade Alchemy.

Even if the Ye Family learned 4th Grade Alchemy, they could not possibly compete with the Wei and Wang Families.

But once the Wang Family learned the 4th Grade Talisman Technique, the Ye Family's Talisman business would shrink significantly—at the very least, by half.

The Ye Family was currently enjoying all the profits alone; why should they share the cake with the Wang Family?

He, Ye Jiexin, had struggled through hardships, spending decades intermittently collecting over a dozen fragments of the 4th Grade Talisman Technique before finally grasping its true essence.

How could he possibly allow it to be exchanged for 4th Grade Alchemy of unknown authenticity?

"Grandmaster Ye, do not be so quick to refuse. Listen to what I have to say first, then you can answer," Wang Jiawang said kindly.

"Our Wang Family will provide a 4th Grade Alchemy Grandmaster, and your Ye Family will provide a 4th Grade Talisman Technique. Each will take three apprentices for one month. As for whether those three can learn it, that will depend on their own fortune."

"Of course, during this one month, both sides must teach their 4th Grade craft in its entirety, without any omissions."

"What do you think, Grandmaster Ye?"

"Impossible! Your Wang Family can stop dreaming. You want to exchange some outdated rubbish for my top-secret technique? Delusional!" Ye Jiexin stated bluntly.

Upon hearing Ye Jiexin's response, Wang Jiawang did not react much, maintaining his refined, immortal demeanor throughout.

He was an old fox of several hundred years; he certainly possessed that much self-control.

"Fellow Daoist Ye, I hope your Ye Family will consider what I just proposed. Let's end it here for today; I still have a pile of matters at home waiting for this old man to return to," Wang Jiawang said to Ye Tuanhui.

"Fellow Daoist Wang, let me see you out," Ye Tuanhui said politely as he stood up.

Not long after, Ye Tuanhui returned.

"Uncle, you sent them off?" Ye Jiexin asked. "Why would the Wang Family think of trading Alchemy for the Talisman-making Technique? They certainly have a beautiful dream."

Ye Tuanhui took a sip of Spirit Tea and said, "It's all because of the Martial Examination. The Wang Family wants to strive for first place."

"Strive for first place? The Wang Family's ambition is truly immense. They aren't afraid of bursting their stomachs," Ye Jiexin remarked.

"Uncle, you didn't agree to it, did you?" Ye Jiexin asked anxiously, recalling that Ye Tuanhui hadn't stopped Wang Jiawang just now.

"What are you thinking? As if I would agree," Ye Tuanhui replied.

That made sense; there was no one in the Ye Family who liked to suffer a loss—everyone preferred to keep the profits for themselves.

"By the way, Jiexin, why aren't you staying at Lingmu Peak guarding your Talismans as they 'hatch' today? What gave you the time to wander over to my Dali Courtyard?" Ye Tuanhui asked with a smile.

"Uncle, stop teasing me. If I didn't live frugally, the Talisman Hall would have been struggling to make ends meet long ago, let alone have the strength to support the other halls like we do now," Ye Jiexin said.

"Hehe, I've brought some big news today—it concerns the rise and fall of our Ye Family's five-hundred-year foundation."

"Oh? Tell me then, what good news could determine the rise and fall of our Ye Family for five hundred years? I'd like to hear it," Ye Tuanhui said with interest.

"Uncle, do you know what level this kid Yisong's Talisman-making Technique has reached now?" Ye Jiexin said, withholding the answer to build suspense.

"Tier 2, right? Didn't you say that at the last Family meeting? What? Did he have another Breakthrough? Is he Tier 2 High Grade now?" Ye Tuanhui asked.

"Guess higher," Ye Jiexin encouraged.

"Tier 3?"

Ye Tuanhui said in disbelief, instantly appearing before Ye Yisong to examine him.

"Great-Grandfather," Ye Yisong finally had the chance to greet him shyly.

"Good child," Ye Tuanhui said with emotion as he patted Ye Yisong's head.

Just like Ye Jiexin, he knew what this meant. Ye Yisong was simply too young. With this child's talent, he would certainly reach the Martial Ancestor realm in the future and would likely become a Fourth-Rank Talisman Master.

This was too important for the Ye Family.

It truly concerned the rise and fall of the Ye Family for the next five hundred years!

Ye Yisong could not afford any mishaps.

"Jiexin, does anyone else know about this news?" Ye Tuanhui asked.

"Only the three of us know for now. This kid just had his Breakthrough today, so I brought him straight to you," Ye Jiexin replied.

"You did the right thing. From this moment on, the matter of Yisong becoming a Tier 3 Talisman Master is classified as a top-secret of the Ye Family. You must not let a fourth person know." Ye Tuanhui stated.

"Clan Chief, I understand," Ye Jiexin responded solemnly.

"Great-Grandfather, who were the two young people standing behind the Wang Family Clan Chief earlier?" Ye Yisong asked.