Eternal Holy Emperor

"City Lord Ye Ao, long known as a stone with a temper, I just didn't expect that when the Yangg Family members arrived today, barely having warmed their seats, Ye Ao already started chasing them away."

The words caused a shock throughout the hall, and the faces of the Yangg Family members changed color. They had come to visit, only to be swept out the door immediately. If word spread, the Yangg Family's reputation would be utterly lost, their faces thoroughly disgraced.

However, before the Yangg Family could speak up, an elder from the Ye Family took the lead, saying, "Ye Ao, although you are the Clan Leader of our Ye Family, you must understand that this Ye Family is not solely yours to command. There are still several of us elders. Moreover, the Yangg Family members are honored guests, and such behavior of chasing guests away—once it spreads, do we still need the face of our Ye Family?"

Watching the elder with white hair and whiskers speak in a cold voice full of anger, Ye Chen knew this was the Ye Family's Great Elder, whose status and power were very high. Although he was not as high-ranking as the Family Head, he was only slightly below that.

Hearing this, Ye Ao snorted coldly, "Humph, Ye Wei, you should be aware that the Yangg Family members are quite audacious, luring my son to steal the Spirit Clearing Pill and giving it to that girl, even causing him to be imprisoned for half a month, and then almost leading him to commit suicide. Now they dare to come knocking at our door; isn't it to mock us?"

One of the black-robed elders who came with the Yangg Family—also a family elder with considerable say within the family—immediately clasped his fists and chuckled, "City Lord Ye, you have misunderstood. This was merely a wrongdoing among the younger generation. The children are ignorant and stirred up such big trouble, which we also regret. As soon as I was aware of the situation, I brought Yi'er here to apologize. Yi'er, apologize to the City Lord at once."

Yangg Yi stepped forward, performing a curtsy with impeccable manners, saying, "Uncle Ye, all this was Yi'er's own doing, unrelated to the family. Yi hopes Uncle Ye can forgive Yi'er, and Yi'er is willing to offer an apology and compensation."

"Apology and compensation?" Ye Ao suddenly burst into harsh laughter, but his gaze was ice-cold, "Yangg Yi, my dear niece, can you return the Spirit Clearing Pill?"

Ye Ao was quite furious with Yangg Yi. In his heart, she was cunning, fully aware that Ye Chen could not cultivate and was ostracized by everyone, yet she deliberately approached and befriended him, causing him to let down his guard, thereby cheating him of his trust. In the end, she lured Ye Chen into stealing the Spirit Clearing Pill from the Ye Family, even causing Ye Chen to attempt suicide, nearly meeting his death.

Such a scheming girl, no matter how beautiful or polite, Ye Ao was angry. Had it not been for his respect for his elder status, he would have already taught her a lesson.

"I'm sorry, Uncle Qian, the Spirit Clearing Pill has been consumed by Yi'er, but Yi'er can compensate with something else." Yangg Yi presented an exquisitely crafted white jade bottle, and a servant stepped forward to take it, delivering it into Ye Ao's hands.

Ye Ao took it and upon opening, a faint medicinal fragrance wafted out, refreshing the mind and spirit. It was clear at a glance that these were extraordinary pills; inside the jade bottle lay five pillsgreen with a hint of blue spots at the bottom, captivating the soul.

"Are these... Foundation Establishment Pills!?"

Ye Ao was astonished. Foundation Establishment Pills were spirit pills for strengthening Dao Foundations and were refined from rare and precious ingredients. They had a very good effect on Foundation Establishment.

Dao Foundation was incredibly important for any cultivator; a more solid Dao Foundation didn't necessarily mean higher future achievements, but it at least made the cultivation path ahead less arduous, much smoother by comparison.

Producing such pills, however, required an Alchemist. Alchemists were a profession with a long heritage, rare in this world. The pills they refined assisted cultivators in breaking through realms, repairing Dao injuries, and extending life, thus Alchemists were highly revered.

The Foundation Establishment Pills in the jade bottle were indeed refined by an Alchemist.

Each pill, if sold, would be extremely valuable, and in Luofeng City they were priceless, causing a sensation.

Just in this one bottle, there were as many as five Foundation Establishment Pills, which could be considered a massive fortune. The value was nearly enough to rival that of entire cities.

Ye Ao looked at the Yangg Family members with suspicion, not expecting them to present such valuable Foundation Establishment Pills.

Such magnanimity, even the Ye Family would feel a painful loss, let alone the Yangg Family; why suddenly present such a generous gift?

Presumably, it was in the interest of reconciling the two families and recognizing the importance of the Spirit Clearing Pill. Therefore, they offered five Foundation Establishment Pills as compensation.

Yangg Yi smiled sweetly. Her innocent smile that held a seductive charm had its own allure, capturing the attention of many young disciples of the Ye Family, "Uncle Ye, these five Foundation Establishment Pills are the Yangg Family's compensation to the Ye Family for our apology, please accept them."

Next to her, the other elders from the family had gleaming eyes; with these Foundation Establishment Pills, they could have a significant benefit for the grandchildren in re-establishing their foundations, which promised higher future achievements.

Moreover, with as many as five pills, this was far better for them than just one Spirit Clearing Pill, allowing more people to undertake Foundation Establishment, particularly their grandchildren.

Ye Ao's eyebrows furrowed slightly. Although he was eager to avenge his son, he was also the head of a household and a clan leader; he had to consider the family. The value of five Foundation Establishment Pills was undoubtedly significant.

Were those five Foundation Establishment Pills truly just for the sake of apologizing?

While he hesitated, Ye Chen pushed the door open and entered.

"Father, Mother, your child has arrived." After Ye Chen addressed his father and mother seated at the main table, he walked into the hall with Huan'er at his side. A chair had already been brought next to Xia Wei, and he sat down without any sense of impropriety.

All eyes in the hall fell on this uninvited guest, filled with contempt, curiosity, mockery, and shock. Almost every emotion was present, yet Ye Chen appeared calm, taking his place next to his mother.

Upon Ye Chen's arrival, the expressions of the Yangg Family members changed. The young man known as Yangg Jun, handsome with a mole under his right eye and a distinguished member of his generation, looked at Ye Chen with disdain and scorn, deeming him beneath notice.

In contrast, when Yangg Yi saw Ye Chen, a flicker of disgust shone in her eyes like autumn waters before she quickly concealed it and regained her composure. Her innocent face tinged with allure suddenly wore a look of sorrow and self-reproach. "I'm sorry, Ye Chen, I didn't mean to. Please forgive me for hurting you, and give me another chance."

Her pitiful demeanor was enough to stir hearts, which the former Ye Chen had fallen for too many times.

Ye Chen smiled casually, unconcerned. "It's fine, I haven't taken it to heart."

But to others, it seemed that Ye Chen had once again fallen for Yangg Yi's charms. A younger member of the Ye Family couldn't help but let out a derisive laugh. "What's the matter, Ye Chen? Are you hoping to pursue Miss Yangg Yi again? Wasn't it enough of a setback before?"

Ye Chen's attempt at suicide over love had long become a huge joke within the Ye Family, and it was now being used to mock him.

The other high-ranking Ye Family elders watched with cold indifference. They held in utter contempt the idea of Ye Chen committing suicide over love, especially since he was a cripple. If it weren't for him being the Family Head's own son, he would have been cast out long ago.

Ye Ao clenched his fists in anger but, as the Family Head, could say nothing. Both Ye Chen's mother and Huan'er, bound by propriety, dared not speak up. Ye Chen, however, remained silent, which others misinterpreted as tacit acceptance and avoidance.

In the past, whenever Ye Chen was insulted and berated as a cripple, he reacted with the same silence— with the same avoidance.

The scene unfolding now was exactly like those of days gone by.

Thus, Yangg Jun's gaze towards Ye Chen was filled with even thicker disdain and scorn.

A sneer flickered deep in Yangg Yi's eyes; she too believed the youth who had once tried to take his life for her was ensnared once more. Yet, when she looked at Ye Chen's face, she found his expression persistently indifferent, lacking the usual timidity and weakness—it looked as if he truly didn't care!

Was this really the case? Yangg Yi was slightly surprised, sensing something different about the youth before her. He wasn't avoiding, but genuinely seemed unconcerned, prompting a hint of intrigue from her.

Ye Chen's face didn't betray a change in emotion, his eyes calm and undisturbed as he turned towards Ye Ao, smiling. "Father, may I take a look at the Foundation Establishment Pills?"

Before Ye Ao could respond, three elders interjected sharply. "Ye Chen, don't meddle with these things. These Foundation Establishment Pills are compensation from the Yangg Family to our Ye Family, and each one is very important. What if you damage them?"

"Ye Chen, you cripple, if you can't cultivate, then don't go touching things you shouldn't. If you mess anything up, it won't be as simple as being confined for half a month. Even your father won't be able to protect you."

Other Ye Family juniors mocked him openly, completely disregarding the presence of guests from the Yangg Family.

Xia Wei and Huan'er at his side wanted to speak up for Ye Chen, but faced with the domineering presence of the three Great Elders, they merely moved their lips without letting out a sound.

Bang—

Suddenly, a loud slam, like thunder, startled everyone.

Looking up, they saw the figure of the youth who once fell from the Genius Altar, always appearing weak and inferior. Now, his eyes flashed like lightning over the three elders as he shouted, "How dare you! Is the Ye Family ruled by you three old men, or by my father? He hasn't even spoken, and yet you dare to interrupt? Your courage knows no bounds, defying your superiors and flouting family rules. Are you intending to rebel?"

In that moment, the youth exuded a rare regal and imperious air, confronting the elders head-on, shaking the entire hall.