23: The Grand Elder has gone out on business.

As night fell, stars like scattered diamonds adorned the velvety night sky.

Inside the secluded courtyard of the Ye Family, however, lights blazed unusually bright, filled with a serene warmth and coziness.

In the kitchen, the aroma of "Spirit Vegetable Meat Paste" personally cooked by Mother Ye wafted out; it was dinner specially prepared for Mysterious Ink. At the dining table, Father Ye and Mother Ye sat on either side of Mysterious Ink, constantly placing the freshest pieces of meat onto its plate, their faces overflowing with love and contentment.

"Little Mysterious Ink, eat more. You must be exhausted today."

"Yes, yes, tomorrow your mother will make you something different."

Mysterious Ink felt a warmth flowing in its heart, quietly enjoying the hard-won warmth of home. To this kind couple, it was no longer just a Spirit Beast, but their most beloved Family member.

Just as this joyful atmosphere prevailed, the courtyard gate creaked open, and a clear, beautiful figure, travel-worn, walked in.

It was Ye Feiyan, returning from her outing.

She had expected to see her parents anxiously waiting, but what greeted her eyes was a scene of three people gathered around a table, eating with relish and enjoying themselves.

Her own seat was empty, without even a bowl or chopsticks.

And the one surrounded by her parents, enjoying emperor-like treatment, was none other than her "pet snake"!

Ye Feiyan's clear, beautiful face, as still as an ancient well, instantly froze.

She was completely stunned.

She was their biological daughter!

How could her Family status feel even lower than a snake's?

"Cough." She could only clear her throat to make her presence known.

"Oh! Yaner, you're back!" Mother Ye suddenly woke up as if from a dream, quickly stood up, but chided, "You child, you don't know to come back earlier; Little Mysterious Ink has almost finished all the dishes!"

Ye Feiyan: "..."

She looked at the mountain of meat paste piled on Mysterious Ink's plate, then at her own empty seat, and for a moment, she was speechless.

Once an Empress, commanding the Nine Heavens, how could she have ever suffered such "grievances"?

...After dinner, late at night.

Inside Ye Feiyan's room, Mysterious Ink quietly coiled on a soft cushion nearby, its deep snake eyes silently watching Ye Feiyan, who was meditating cross-legged.

After an afternoon of rushing and Cultivating, Ye Feiyan's Aura became increasingly solid and complete. Her Ninth Level of Qi Refining cultivation had already reached the Peak, just one step away from breaking through that barrier and entering a whole new world.

"Your Aura has reached Perfection," Mysterious Ink's Divine Thought slowly echoed in her mind. "When do you plan to Foundation Establishment?"

The reason it cared so much was naturally not without cause.

It was because when Ye Feiyan Broke Through to the Foundation Establishment Realm, its experience points acquisition rate could directly double from one point per second to two points per second!

This was undoubtedly a crucial improvement for the subsequent experience points demand, which often amounted to hundreds of thousands or even millions!

Therefore, both for public and private reasons, it hoped Ye Feiyan could Breakthrough as soon as possible.

Feeling the undisguised urgency in Mysterious Ink's Divine Thought, Ye Feiyan remained silent for a moment, seemingly having made a certain decision.

She did not hide anything, but stated solemnly, "What I desire is not an ordinary Foundation Establishment."

"Oh?"

"Cultivators in this world undergo Foundation Establishment, divided into Mortal, Earth, and Heaven grades. But above these three grades, there is a legendary, strongest method of Foundation Establishment—the Divine Path Foundation Establishment!"

In Ye Feiyan's eyes, a brilliant light named ambition flickered, and an Empress's Aura, looking down on the world, unconsciously emanated.

"Only by undergoing Divine Path Foundation Establishment can I forge the strongest Dao Foundation, possess the capital to be invincible among those of the same rank and kill enemies beyond my rank! Only then, in the future, will I have hope of returning to the Nine Heavens Immortal Domain and exacting blood revenge on those treacherous Disciples who betrayed me!"

Mysterious Ink listened quietly, understanding in its heart. As expected of a Rebirth Empress, her ambition was indeed extraordinary.

"What does Divine Path Foundation Establishment require?"

Ye Feiyan waved her fair hand, and three light figures, condensed from spiritual power, appeared out of thin air before the person and the python.

The first light figure was a crystal-clear liquid, as if containing the purest life force in the world.

"flawless spirit liquid, a High Grade Tier 2 rare item, rumored to originate from the core of a ten-thousand-year Spiritual Vein. It can cleanse the Spiritual Root, remove all Impurities, and is the foundation for forging a Flawless Dao Foundation."

The second light figure was a seed, entirely crimson, with illusory flames burning on its surface, shaped like a bird's egg.

"phoenix seed, a High Grade Tier 2 rare item, containing a trace of True Phoenix Blood. It can allow a Cultivator to open a second Qi Sea within their body, making their spiritual power several times more abundant than those of the same rank."

The third light figure was a strange crystal, entirely snow-white, emitting a soft glow, with what appeared to be stars flowing within it.

"white spirit crystal, a Top Grade Tier 2 rare item, is a supreme treasure for stabilizing the Divine Soul and connecting to the bridge of Heaven and Earth. It can allow Cultivators to comprehend the Heavenly Dao Law to the greatest extent during Breakthrough, increasing the chance of receiving a 'Heavenly Dao Bestowal'."

She looked at Mysterious Ink and said in a deep voice, "These three are the most crucial core items for Divine Path Foundation Establishment; none can be missing. Any one of them would be enough to cause countless Foundation Establishment, and even Golden Core Cultivators, to madly scramble for them outside."

Mysterious Ink firmly committed the images and names of these three items to memory.

He understood that Ye Feiyan telling him these things was both out of trust and a silent request. Finding these Heaven And Earth Treasures was not something one person could accomplish.

"I've noted it down." Mysterious Ink's Divine Thought was steady and powerful. "I will help you search for them."

Anyway, the stronger Ye Feiyan became, the more benefits it would gain, with no downsides. This "long-term investment" was worth it!

...The next day, early morning.

The sound of a bell echoed throughout the entire Ye Family mansion.

The Ye Family Patriarch personally gave the order, summoning all Ye Family young Disciples under the age of thirty to gather at the Training Ground.

When Ye Feiyan arrived at the Training Ground with Mysterious Ink, neither hurried nor slow, it was already bustling with nearly a hundred young Geniuses of the Ye Family.

A Peak existence of the Ninth Level! Undeniably the number one among the younger generation of the Ye Family!

Soon, the majestic figure of the Ye Family Patriarch appeared on the high platform.

His gaze swept across the entire field, and his powerful voice announced news that would make everyone's blood boil.

"Three days ago, a joint exploration team from our Ye Family, the Li Family, and the Wang Family collectively discovered a brand new Cultivator Secret Realm in the depths of the Luoyun Mountain Range, a place no one had ever set foot in before!"

As soon as these words were uttered, the entire audience erupted in an uproar!

A brand new Secret Realm!

These four words, to any Cultivator, represented endless Opportunities and vast amounts of Cultivation resources!

Looking at the excited and thrilled faces below, the Ye Family Patriarch raised his hand to quiet them, and continued, "To prevent a major war between the three great Families over the ownership of the Secret Realm, the three Families have jointly decided to hold a 'Secret Realm Trial'!"

"Each of the three Families will send thirty young generation Disciples into it for a period of five days! After five days, whichever side has the most people still alive will gain the management rights and seventy percent of the profits from this Secret Realm for the next hundred years!"

This rule, simple yet cruel, instantly ignited the Battle Intent and desire in the hearts of all the young Disciples!

However, just as everyone was eager to try, some soon noticed something amiss.

"Huh? Why isn't Ye Tian here?"

"That's right! The Grand Elder also seems to be absent. How could they miss such an important event?"

Discussions arose, and everyone's hearts were filled with doubt.

Ye Tian was the acknowledged second Genius of the Ye Family, second only to the current Ye Feiyan. There was no reason for him not to appear for such a major event.

On the high platform, the Ye Family Patriarch, hearing the comments, maintained his composure and calmly explained, "The Grand Elder has important matters to attend to. He left home yesterday with Ye Tian to handle business and will not be back for a while."

This explanation was reasonable, and although everyone had doubts, they did not delve deeper.

Immediately, the Ye Family Patriarch announced the leader for this Secret Realm expedition.

"This Secret Realm Trial will be led by the Ye Family's third Genius, Ye Hao!"

As his voice fell, a young man with sharp eyebrows, bright eyes, and a steady demeanor stepped out from the crowd and respectfully bowed to the Clan Chief.

He was Ye Hao, currently at the Seventh Level of Qi Refining cultivation. After Ye Tian's "outing," he was ostensibly the strongest.

Of course, this was under the premise that the Ye Family Patriarch had not announced Ye Feiyan's recovery.

With the leader established, the thirty spots were quickly finalized.

Ye Feiyan, naturally, was among them.

And Mysterious Ink, as her contracted Spirit Beast, also gained the qualification to accompany her.

"Depart!"

With the Ye Family Patriarch's command, thirty elite Disciples of the Ye Family, led by Ye Hao and centered around Ye Feiyan, majestically set off towards the Luoyun Mountain Range!