5: Regardless of how big it grows, it has to live!

Ye Chen's expression immediately darkened.

The people speaking just now were the sons and daughters of his second and third uncles.

In other words, his cousins.

But clearly, his cousins did not have good intentions.

"Ye Chen, is this true?"

At this moment, the old man sitting in the head seat swept his scrutinizing gaze toward Ye Chen.

His name was Ye Wudi, the Ye Family Head, and also Ye Chen's grandfather.

Ye Chen's expression was unsightly. "Grandfather, I..."

Beside Ye Wudi sat a middle-aged man with a steady temperament, who spoke up: "There is no need for extra words; you only need to answer yes or no."

This person was Ye Yunfei, Ye Chen's father.

"Yes," Ye Chen answered truthfully.

Hearing his answer, a wave of complaints immediately broke out in the hall.

"How did you dare to offend that madman!"

"If you won't contribute to the Family, so be it, but all you know how to do is cause trouble every day!"

"It turns out the Family Head was indeed correct to depose him from his position as the Heir!"

"With this trash's abilities, does he even deserve to be the Heir? In my opinion, it should still be the Second Young Master!"

"..."

Ye Wudi raised his hand, and everyone immediately fell silent.

He looked at Ye Chen, his expression calm and unreadable. "Do you have anything you want to say?"

Ye Chen remained silent for a moment before walking to the center of the hall.

"In my view, our Ye Family has absolutely no need to fear the City Lord's Manor!"

"In terms of overall strength, our Ye Family is weaker, but if the City Lord's Manor dares to move against us, the other two great families will understand that when the lips are gone, the teeth will be cold, and they certainly won't sit idly by."

"In the entire Qingzhou City, only our Ye Family has an Alchemist. Even if the City Lord's Manor steals those Materials, they will only be stuck with them."

"It would be a case of killing eight hundred enemies while losing a thousand of their own!"

Ye Wudi gave Ye Chen a surprised look. He hadn't expected the grandson he looked down upon most to see the situation in Qingzhou City so clearly.

He intended to test him further. "Then tell me, how should our Ye Family respond?"

The corners of Ye Chen's mouth curled up slightly. "If I haven't guessed wrong, the Family still has a considerable inventory, enough to last at least half a month."

Ye Wudi nodded. "Correct. Continue."

Ye Chen continued: "The City Lord's Manor is wealthy and powerful, and has bought up all the Materials in the surrounding cities. But by burning money in this manner, I believe they won't be able to sustain it for long."

"Moreover, these are all Wang Ming's personal actions. Once Wang Tianfeng realizes what's happening, he certainly won't let him continue to squander the Family fortune."

"As for us, during this period, we can completely reduce our profit margins, increase our costs, and procure Materials from more distant cities."

"At most, we'll just earn a bit less. Over time, Wang Ming's series of schemes against our Ye Family will naturally collapse on their own!"

As soon as he finished speaking.

His cousin Ye Di spoke up in rebuttal: "Was your brain kicked by a donkey? Procurement from more distant cities? Cost has never been the issue; the biggest problem is the safety of the Materials during transport!"

"Brother Ye Di is right. Setting aside the cities Wang Ming has already secured, Heize City, the nearest city with material merchants to Qingzhou City, is over a thousand miles away. The route even passes through the territory of the Madu Gang."

His cousin Ye Caiwei sneered. "The Madu Gang specializes in murder and robbery. Their Gang Leader, Zhang Yong, even has the strength of Foundation Establishment Layer One. Do you think our Ye Family's Guard Squad can safely bring the Materials back under Zhang Yong's nose?"

Hearing the words of Ye Di and Ye Caiwei, everyone in the hall nodded one after another.

They felt that Ye Chen was being far too naive.

"Zhang Yong, Foundation Establishment Layer One..."

Ye Chen also fell silent.

His fists clenched tightly. In the end, it was still a matter of insufficient strength!

If his strength were sufficient, the City Lord's Manor wouldn't dare to bully the Ye Family like this, and Zhang Yong... would be even less worth mentioning!

As if possessed, Ye Chen suddenly thought of that Sunflower Manual.

Although it required self-castration, after flipping through it several times, he had indeed discovered that if mastered, its power would be immense, and it could even allow him to Cultivate to Foundation Establishment in an extremely short amount of time.

To be honest, he was a little tempted.

But to pay the price of self-castration... that was his sexual bliss for the rest of his life!

Better to wait and see for a bit longer.

Unless absolutely necessary, he was unwilling to make such a choice.

At this moment, Ye Yunfei suddenly said: "Father, why don't you let me make the trip."

"My cultivation is also at Foundation Establishment Layer One, the same level as Zhang Yong. Against him, I have full confidence that I can lead our people to a safe retreat."

Ye Wudi nodded. "Very well."

Just as Ye Chen had said, this was currently the only way for the Ye Family to break the deadlock.

Since Ye Yunfei had spoken personally, Ye Di and Ye Caiwei didn't say anything more... Wang Ming walked out of the secret chamber.

Old Hei hurriedly said respectfully: "Young Master, as you expected, the Ye Family has sent people toward Heize City."

"Who is leading the team?" Wang Ming nodded and asked.

Old Hei replied: "It is the eldest of the Ye Family, Ye Yunfei."

A sharp light flashed in Wang Ming's eyes.

It was indeed him!

In his estimation, if the Ye Family wanted to procure Materials from other cities, the best choice would be Heize City.

Other cities were too far away, and the costs would make it impossible to break even.

And going to Heize City would mean passing through the Madu Gang's territory.

To ensure everything went without a hitch, they would have to send a Foundation Establishment expert for protection.

And in the Ye Family, besides the Head Ye Wudi, the only other Foundation Establishment powerhouse was Ye Yunfei.

As the Family Head, Ye Wudi naturally wouldn't set out personally for such a matter.

The only one who could be moved was Ye Yunfei.

At this point, Old Hei suddenly said: "Young Master, should I go and cause some trouble for them?"

Wang Ming walked straight outside. "Together."

According to the intelligence, that Ye Yunfei was at Foundation Establishment Layer One, the same realm as Old Hei.

If Old Hei went alone, it wouldn't be safe enough!

In this matter, either you don't do it, or you must succeed in one blow.

Otherwise, once the opponent becomes wary, it will be even more difficult to succeed next time.

Old Hei followed silently.

As they were walking out of the City Lord's Manor, he hesitated for a moment and handed a Jade Slip to the guard at the gate, asking him to deliver it to the City Lord on his behalf... "This kid is for real?!"

Wang Tianfeng received Old Hei's message and looked surprised.

Beside him, an old man puffing on a tobacco pipe took two draws.

His name was Wang Chang rich, and he was Wang Ming's grandfather.

Hearing Wang Tianfeng's words, Wang Chang rich's eyes lit up. "Good boy, he finally looks a bit like a descendant of my Wang Family!"

Wang Tianfeng said solemnly: "Ye Yunfei has been at Foundation Establishment Layer One for ten years now. There's no guarantee he won't Breakthrough to the Foundation Establishment Second Layer at any time. If Ming'er faces him, I'm afraid..."

Wang Chang rich said indifferently: "How can a young eagle soar through the Nine Heavens without experiencing the wind and waves?"

Wang Tianfeng was silent for a moment and then said: "Father is right. You carry on, I have some business to handle, so I'll take my leave first."

Wang Chang rich scoffed. "Business my foot. Don't I know you? It's nothing more than flirting with the Maidservants. I'm warning you, if one day you provoke that daughter-in-law of mine and she decides to snip you, I won't stop her."

Wang Tianfeng gave a sheepish laugh and turned to leave.

After he left, Wang Chang rich put down his tobacco pipe and narrowed his eyes.

Although it was true that a young eagle wouldn't grow up without experiencing the wind and waves, still... that was his own grandson!

Whether he grows up or not, he must live!

Wang Chang rich took a step forward, and his entire being instantly vanished.