12: Breakthrough to the initial stage of the second tier

When Ye Feiyan returned to the familiar Small Courtyard, escorted by Mysterious Ink and carrying fatigue and gains, Father Ye and Mother Ye, who had been waiting for a long time, immediately rushed out like two cannonballs.

"Yaner! You're finally back!"

"Oh my goodness, child, are you hurt?!"

Seeing their daughter return safely, The Two Elders' hanging hearts finally settled.

But the next second, this lingering fear turned into an endless stream of "Scolding Born of Love."

"Look at you! You're a grown person, why don't you know how to take care of yourself?!" Mother Ye said angrily while checking the wounds on her daughter that hadn't fully healed, "You make us worry every time! If it weren't for little Mysterious Ink this time, you..."

"Exactly!" Father Ye also glared and stroked his beard, "Little Mysterious Ink is more sensible than you! From now on, when you go out, you must take it with you, do you hear me!"

Facing this "Accusation" full of parental concern, Ye Feiyan felt not the slightest impatience; instead, an unprecedented warmth flowed through her heart.

In her previous life, she was the aloof and supreme Empress, reigning over countless miles of territory, yet she had never experienced such pure kinship and care, free of any Impurities.

The feeling of being cared for brought a long-lost warmth to her heart, which had been frozen for ten thousand years.

She nodded obediently and said softly, "Father, Mother, I understand. It won't happen next time."

...At night, the atmosphere at the dinner table was warm and harmonious.

The most striking thing was the comfortable, appropriately sized soft mat woven from Rattan, placed specifically for Mysterious Ink beside the table.

It was clear they treated him as an equal Family member, arranging a Dedicated Seat for him.

"Little Mysterious Ink, come, eat more. This Spirit Rat meat is the most nourishing." Mother Ye chuckled, picked up a piece of Rat King leg meat roasted until golden and dripping oil, and affectionately placed it on the plate in front of Mysterious Ink.

Feeling the gaze of The Two Elders, who completely and sincerely treated him as a "person," Mysterious Ink's heart was deeply moved once again.

He was no longer the Wasted Snake in the Spirit Beast Valley, scorned, ignored, and unwanted even by dogs.

Here, he had a home.

At the dinner table, Mother Ye did not forget to earnestly instruct Ye Feiyan: "Yaner, you are little Mysterious Ink's master now, so you can't be as careless as before.

Look how sensible little Mysterious Ink is—it can find treasures and save people. You must treat it well, understand?"

"I know, Mother," Ye Feiyan replied, feeling both helpless and amused.

When did she, Empress Feiyan who commanded the myriad worlds, fall to the point where her parents had to teach her "how to take care of a snake"?

However, this feeling... seemed... not bad... Completely different from the warmth and harmony on Ye Feiyan's side, the atmosphere inside the Grand Elder's Residence was so gloomy it was almost dripping water.

"Bang!"

A precious White Jade Teacup was violently smashed onto the ground, shattering into pieces.

"Trash! Even a Steward at the Qi Refining Eighth Level was lost in the Luoyun Mountain Range! Ye Ming is trash!" The Grand Elder's face was as dark as water, his gaunt features filled with rage and doubt.

He couldn't understand!

Ye Ming had the cultivation of the Qi Refining Eighth Level; going to intercept and kill Ye Feiyan, whose Spiritual Root was destroyed and whose cultivation was only at the Qi Refining Early Stage, should have been a surefire, effortless task!

But what was the result? Ye Feiyan was perfectly fine, while the Steward he sent out had become a cold corpse!

"Father, Ye Feiyan is just trash, why... why did even Steward Ye Ming fail?" A young man with a sinister face and arrogant demeanor beside the Grand Elder frowned and asked.

He was Ye Tian, the Grand Elder's Only Son.

"Hmph! Judging by the injuries, it was dealt with by a Yao Beast; he must have died in the mouth of a Yao Beast." The Grand Elder snorted coldly, a hint of viciousness flashing in his eyes.

"Father, what do we do now? The Heir Position."

Ye Tian spoke with hesitation.

Their targeting of Ye Feiyan's Family, besides the treasure beneath the Spiritual Field, was primarily about the position of the future Ye Family heir!

The current Clan Chief has no Descendants, so the future authority of the Ye Family must be chosen from the younger generation as an heir.

If not for Ye Feiyan, he would be the undisputed first choice!

But precisely, this Ye Feiyan appeared!

Facing his son's words, the Grand Elder did not reply, merely pondering something with deep eyes.

"I really don't understand what the Clan Chief is thinking. Ye Feiyan is clearly crippled, yet he is reluctant to strip her of her status, and even more reluctant to announce a new Heir Candidate!"

Ye Tian Complained, filled with both doubt and displeasure.

"Because he is waiting!" The Grand Elder's voice was full of Unwillingness.

"He is waiting for a miracle! He doesn't believe that the qilin child, who once possessed a Heaven Rank Spiritual Root, would be completely crippled just like that!"

Ye Tian fell silent instantly. After a moment, he suddenly spoke: "Father, do you think... Ye Ming's death might be the Clan Chief secretly interfering? Did he send an Expert to protect Ye Feiyan?"

This Speculation made the Grand Elder's eyes grow even gloomier.

This was not impossible!

"It seems we can't drag this out any longer."

A Killing Intent flashed in the Grand Elder's eyes, and a more vicious plan quickly formed in his mind.

"Tomorrow, under the pretext of discussing Family Essentials, I will personally go to the Main Residence to hold back the Clan Chief. You, however, will take my Contract Spirit Beast, the 'Crimson Flame Tiger,' and completely eliminate Ye Feiyan!"

"Crimson Flame Tiger?" Upon hearing this, Ye Tian immediately revealed a cruel smile. "Father, don't worry! Your Crimson Flame Tiger is now a powerful Second Order Demon Beast at the Early Second-Rank. Dealing with mere trash is like using a sledgehammer to crack a nut! By this time tomorrow, I will personally present Ye Feiyan's head to you!"

...A quiet night passed.

Because her cultivation advanced too quickly yesterday, Ye Feiyan had no intention of going out to hunt Yao Beasts today. She planned to spend the day settling and stabilizing her Seventh Level of Qi Refining Realm.

So, the entire Family came to the Spiritual Field.

Upon arrival, Mother Ye naturally gave orders to Ye Feiyan: "Yaner, little Mysterious Ink hardly ate anything yesterday. Today, put in some effort and catch a few plump Spirit Rats for it to properly nourish its body."

Hearing this, Mysterious Ink nodded its Massive Head cooperatively.

Ye Feiyan was instantly speechless.

Her status as the Legitimate Daughter was now inferior even to a snake?

Faced with her parents' undeniable gaze, she could only sigh helplessly and resignedly took on the role of the "Worker catching rats for the snake."

The Family enjoyed a rare moment of leisure and warmth in the Fields... Night fell once again.

After a full day of accumulation, the experience points bar in Mysterious Ink's mind was finally full again!

[experience points required for Breakthrough to Early Second-Rank: 50000 / 50000]

[Ding! experience points are full. The host can perform a Realm Breakthrough at any time!]

Joy sparked in Mysterious Ink's heart.

He glanced at the room next door. Ye Feiyan was in deep Cultivation, her aura long and stable.

Without disturbing anyone, his massive python body, like a ghost blending into the night, silently slid out of the Small Courtyard and sped toward the back mountain.

Arriving at an uninhabited mountain valley, Mysterious Ink no longer suppressed himself and immediately gave the System the command.

"System, Breakthrough!"

Boom—!!!

A torrent of energy, more violent and grand than any previous time, violently exploded within his body!

His entire body's Scales, bones, and flesh underwent earth-shattering qualitative changes under the tempering of this energy!

A terrifying aura belonging to a Second Order Demon Beast, filled with wildness and dominance, centered on him, transforming into an invisible pillar of energy that shot toward the sky, causing the Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi within several miles to boil!

[Ding! Congratulations to the host for successfully achieving a Breakthrough. Current Realm: Early Second-Rank!]

However, just as he successfully completed the Breakthrough and before he could stabilize his aura, an Aged Voice, full of surprise and Greed, suddenly sounded like a ghost above his head!

"Hahaha! What a Black Water Profound Python with pure Bloodline! To encounter a Variant Species that just broke through to the Second Order here is truly an Opportunity bestowed upon this old man by heaven!"

Mysterious Ink's heart chilled. He suddenly looked up and saw a gray-haired old man dressed in Brocade Robes standing in mid-air with his hands behind his back, staring intently at him with fervent eyes, as if looking at an object already in his grasp.

The person who arrived was none other than the Ye Family Great Elder!

He was clearly attracted by the Aura Fluctuations when Mysterious Ink achieved his Breakthrough!

"Little fellow, submit to me and become this old man's Spirit Beast, and I can spare your life!" The Grand Elder commanded condescendingly in an unquestionable tone. A terrifying Pressure belonging to the Foundation Establishment Mid Stage slammed down onto Mysterious Ink like a mountain!

However, facing this Pressure, which was enough to terrify ordinary Second Order Demon Beasts, Mysterious Ink merely raised his eyelids in disdain.

You want to subdue me? Are you worthy?!

"Roar!"

Mysterious Ink let out an earth-shshattering roar. Instead of retreating, he advanced, his massive python body transforming into a Black Lightning bolt, carrying terrifying, crushing power, and actively launched an attack toward the Grand Elder in mid-air!

"A Beast that doesn't know its place!"

Seeing this, anger flashed in the Grand Elder's eyes, yet he was also slightly surprised that Mysterious Ink could ignore his Pressure. He joined his fingers like a sword, and a fierce Spiritual Power Sword Qi slashed down directly at Mysterious Ink!

Boom!!!

The Sword Qi and the Snake Tail violently collided, unleashing a deafening roar!

Mysterious Ink's massive body was forced back several meters, while the Grand Elder actually swayed slightly in mid-air!

"What?!" For the first time, a Look of Shock appeared on the Grand Elder's face!

An Equal Match?!

How is this possible!

He was a dignified Expert of the Foundation Establishment Mid Stage! How could he be shaken head-on by a Yao Beast that had just achieved a Breakthrough to the Early Second-Rank?!

Why was this Beast's strength so terrifying?!

How could he know that the massive amount of experience points required for every Breakthrough Mysterious Ink achieved using the System was not just about elevating a Realm!

It was also about strengthening his power, defense, and speed within that Realm to the most extreme, Peak state!

"This Variant Species must be captured today!"

After the shock, the Greed in the Grand Elder's eyes intensified.

He summoned his Magical Artifact, preparing to strike with full force.

But just then, Mysterious Ink's Keen Perception detected another powerful aura, also belonging to the Foundation Establishment Realm, rapidly approaching from the direction of the Ye Family Residence!

Mysterious Ink narrowed his Snake Pupils, knowing this was not a place to linger.

He took a deep look at the Grand Elder in mid-air, his cold gaze seemingly freezing the opponent's Soul.

—This Grudge, I have noted!

The next second, he no longer desired battle. His massive python body whipped around and instantly submerged into the Dense Forest behind him, disappearing without a trace in a few breaths.

Only the Grand Elder remained, suspended in mid-air, his expression constantly changing, filled with both shock and rage.