Chapter 126: Trouble for the Yan Family

"..." Yan Qingye struggled to maintain his composure. "I have finally remembered who that little maidservant was who stirred up the clan wars on the road."

Yun Jianxin, quite interested in the topic, asked curiously, "Who was it? Do you actually know her?"

Yan Qingye nodded heavily and turned to Jun Yang and You Xiyue. "Little Master, Senior Jun Yang, you know her too!"

You Xiyue and Jun Yang exchanged a glance before looking back at Yan Qingye.

"We know her? Who is it?" Jun Yang asked, puzzled. He did not recall knowing any little maidservant in the Immortal Realm, let alone one that the "Little Ancestor" would also know.

"She is that little maidservant who was with Shangguan Hong—the one who snatched the spiritual faith power of the Chenyu family in the Upper Realm," Yan Qingye said indignantly.

You Xiyue blinked, feeling lost. Was there anyone with Shangguan Hong?

Jun Yang had a vague impression, but he could no longer recall what the maid looked like at the time.

Yun Jianxin asked in confusion, "Who is Shangguan Hong?"

Yan Qingye sighed. "That is a long story. But why would this little maid go around inciting clan wars among her masters? Her motives must be impure; it couldn't just be some strange hobby."

Jun Yang shrugged, clearly not very concerned. "As long as she doesn't cause trouble for us, let her be."

"That is true."

Yan Qingye had already sat down on a stone bench in the courtyard corridor with You Xiyue. He poured a cup of spirit spring water for her, his movements even more practiced than Jun Yang's.

"Little Master, have some water."

You Xiyue took the cup and glanced at Yan Qingye. "I heard the Alchemy Association had seven lightning strikes a few days ago?"

Yan Qingye chuckled foolishly. "That was me. The teapot-shaped alchemy furnace can refine two batches of pills simultaneously. Who would have thought both lightning strikes would hit at once? One pill was struck three times, and the other four."

"Four times? Not bad at all," Jun Yang praised. "Did you become a mid-level alchemist just like that?"

Yan Qingye smiled awkwardly. "It only works with the Spirit-Restoring Purple Pills; anything else... not so much."

Jun Yang still had an impression of the Spirit-Restoring Purple Pill. "You still need to keep working hard."

"Indeed." Yan Qingye sighed slightly and turned to ask You Xiyue, "Little Master, I plan to return to the Upper Realm in three days to see my father. Would you like to go back for a visit?"

Jun Yang also looked at You Xiyue, but she shook her head. "No, I won't go."

"I see." Yan Qingye felt a bit disappointed. In truth, Feng Qing and the others were all looking forward to You Xiyue’s return.

You Xiyue was well aware of this, but ever since she brought such great trouble to the Feng Clan last time, she felt that the less contact she had with them, the safer they would be. After all, the enemies to come would be a hundred times more powerful than the Saintess of the Snowy Realm.

Thinking of this, You Xiyue glanced at Jun Yang and Fan Lihua, pursed her lips, and said nothing.

Yan Qingye and Yun Jianxin spent the afternoon in the residence, recounting all sorts of happenings from the Alchemy Association to You Xiyue and the others before returning to the Association.

You Xiyue and Jun Yang returned to their bedroom. Inside, the two little creatures occupied opposite corners. They appeared peaceful, but the fur on Jiguang’s body and the shards of ice on Xueyu’s tail signaled that neither was as well-behaved as they seemed.

Jun Yang found the scene inexplicably amusing and chuckled to himself. You Xiyue sighed helplessly.

Three days later, Yan Qingye returned to the Upper Realm and presented the four-pill-pattern Spirit-Restoring Purple Pill he had refined to Yan Yaofeng.

Yan Yaofeng took the pill, looking at Yan Qingye with hesitation.

Yan Qingye was very thoughtful. "Father, is something the matter?"

After hesitating for a long time, Yan Yaofeng finally spoke up. "Qing'er, do you not plan on giving me a different kind of pill?"

Yan Qingye asked, confused, "What kind of pill would you like?"

Yan Yaofeng held up the Spirit-Restoring Purple Pill and pointed at it. "Anything but this shape! It’s the same every time. It makes it hard for me to show off when I go out. Those old fellows always ask me to take out my pills for them to see, and I never have enough confidence. Ming Chenwu has been mocking me for ages!"

"..." Yan Qingye scratched his head awkwardly. "I will... try my best next time."

Yan Yaofeng snorted, acting quite willful. "I don't want 'try my best,' I want 'must'."

"Fine, fine." Yan Qingye agreed helplessly.

He then asked about the welfare of his fellow disciples. "How are Senior Brother and Chenyu and the others?"

"They are recovering quite well," Yan Yaofeng replied. "Your senior brother has been obsessed with cultivation lately; even when I send people to visit, they can't find him."

"I see." Hearing that they were doing well, Yan Qingye felt much more at ease.

Looking at his son now, Yan Yaofeng felt nothing but joy; he no longer seemed like that brat from before. Moreover, every story Yan Qingye told about the Immortal Realm, and the news of the Saint Realm that he had heard from Yun Jianxin, left Yan Yaofeng in awe. In the past, their Upper Realm had never known such things. As a result, the old men from the other five great families often came over to broaden their horizons, and Yan Yaofeng had been the center of attention.

Just as Yan Yaofeng was listening to Yan Qingye hold court, Yan Er walked in from outside.

"Patriarch, Young Patriarch, Ming Zhu from the Ming family is here to pay a visit."

Yan Yaofeng looked at Yan Qingye. There was no need to ask what Ming Zhu’s purpose was.

"Invite him in."

"Yes." Yan Er withdrew and quickly led Ming Zhu inside.

Ming Zhu first bowed to Yan Yaofeng, then his gaze fell upon Yan Qingye. Yan Qingye hurried to stand, preparing to return the salute, but Ming Zhu stopped him.

"No, your rank as an alchemist is far above mine now."

Yan Qingye was insistent. "Regardless, my alchemy skills were taught by you." He bowed to Ming Zhu stubbornly.

Yan Yaofeng nodded proudly and discreetly slipped out. "You two talk."

"Thank you, Patriarch Yan."

After watching Yan Yaofeng leave, Ming Zhu turned his attention to Yan Qingye. "I want to go to the Alchemy Association."

Yan Qingye’s expression turned serious. "With your ability, you can certainly pass the entrance exam, but the Heavenly Tribulation Ladder..."

"I know. That is why I came to ask you about the specifics of the ladder. No matter what, I want to try." Ming Zhu’s gaze was firm; he was determined.

Yan Qingye nodded and carefully described everything he had felt on the Heavenly Tribulation Ladder. However, they did not talk for long before Yan Er rushed in, looking anxious.

"Young Patriarch, it’s bad! People from the Immortal Realm have come to seize the family crest!"

"What??" Yan Qingye stood up in anger. He didn't even need to guess who had come. He rushed out of the residence.

Ming Zhu had experienced such an event once before. He did not believe that Yan Qingye, who only possessed the bloodline of the Immortal Realm, could stop people from the Immortal Realm who carried the Clan Spirit. Thus, he quietly slipped out the back door of the Yan estate and hurried home.

Upon reaching the Ming family, he went straight to find Ming Chenyu. Seeing Ming Zhu in such a panic, Ming Chenyu was surprised.

"Seventh Uncle, what happened?"

"What happened to our family is happening at the Yan family now. Quickly, call your Little Master!"

Ming Chenyu became serious. "Seventh Uncle, explain carefully. What is going on?"

"People from the Immortal Realm are there to seize the Yan family crest. Qingye is alone; I fear he cannot defeat them."

Ming Chenyu clenched his fists. After a moment of thought, he recalled his own family's plight, took out the cautiously guarded jade pendant, and crushed it. Then, ignoring Ming Zhu's attempt to stop him, he rushed toward the thirty-sixth continent.