In Ye Jingcheng's yard, the apricot tree was once again filled with buds.

The elegant white, paired with the fresh green of early spring, added a lot of charm to the yard.

Accompanied by a slight breeze, a kind of refreshing fragrance spread in the air.

Ye Xingqun and Ye Jingcheng sat down at the stone table, while the Jade Ring Rat was placed by Ye Jingcheng at the door.

Since the Jade Ring Rat's hearing had been enhanced, it could be trained for sensing and alerting in the future.

"Patriarch, it seems Jing He has spread the news. He's already headed to Buqing Mountain from town, saying he wants to buy some spiritual objects to prepare for a breakthrough," Ye Xingqun said.

At these words, Ye Jingcheng also felt a chill. Such a simple inside-outside collusion was too obvious for him to miss.

"Alright, you all stay put, I'll go over there myself!" Ye Jingcheng nodded.

Others from the Ye Family mustn't move; any movement would clearly reveal it as a Ye Family trap.

"Patriarch, isn't this a bit too reckless..." Ye Xingqun hesitated a bit.

From his perspective, when would a Patriarch go alone?

"No worries, don't you have faith in my strength?" Ye Jingcheng said with a smile.

Ye Xingqun was also relieved. Indeed, Ye Jingcheng had already broken through to the Purple Mansion stage. Even if there were hidden cultivators targeting them, they would only target Foundation Establishment stage.

Who would have thought that Ye Jingcheng had already broken through to the Purple Mansion.

Not to mention that Ye Jingcheng had so many spirit beasts.

"Uncle Xingqun, what is the current situation with the entire Taiyi Sect?" Ye Jingcheng asked afterward.

Ye Jinghe and the forces behind him were merely minor pawns that didn't need much attention from the Ye Family.

However, the situation of the Taiyi Sect truly affected the Ye Family.

"It's not optimistic." Ye Xingqun shook his head.

"Currently, Taiqing Commandery, separated by the Jade River and with the two affiliated forces of the Qinghe Sect's Yanhui Commandery, has begun mutual aggressions. Today, you rob me of a Spirit Medicine Garden, and I rob you of an ore vein!"

"Of course, the affiliated forces of Taiqing Commandery are now walking on thin ice, but Taiyi Sect has already sealed the borders of Taiqing Commandery and has even arranged Purple Mansion cultivators to recruit many registered disciples from Taiqing Commandery and bring them to the Taichang Mountain Range for guidance." Hearing this, Ye Jingcheng frowned tightly.

This indicated that the situation of the Taiyi Sect was already very urgent, to the point they needed hostages to keep the clans of Taiqing Commandery in line.

Yanhui Commandery is one and a half times the size of Taiqing Commandery, with three Purple Mansion affiliated forces and ten Foundation Establishment affiliated forces.

While Taiqing Commandery has two Purple Mansion affiliated forces and six Foundation Establishment affiliated forces.

Of course, the key is the rumors; without a True Monarch in the Taiyi Sect, there naturally comes betrayal, with hardly any affiliated clans willing to perish together with Taiyi Sect.

If the Ye Family were in Taiqing Commandery, they wouldn't cling onto Taiyi Sect either.

"Patriarch, could it be possible that Taiyi Sect and Qinghe Sect have conspired together to purge the affiliated forces?" Ye Xingqun spoke again.

At this suggestion, Ye Jingcheng checked the array once more.

After confirming there won't be leaks, he replied:

"It's not impossible. After all, Qinghe Sect's moves have been too slow. But we don't need to speculate; let's just wait for the results. Surely, someone will probe the Nascent Soul True Monarch of the Taichang Mountain Range!"

"Also, how's the contact with the Wan Family going? If members of the Wan Family go to the Taichang Mountain Range, they could also potentially learn something about secret techniques." Ye Jingcheng changed the topic, asking again.

Before Ye Jingcheng went into seclusion, he had already shown friendly intentions towards the Wan Family.

"This is also something I wanted to mention today. They invited our Ye Family for a marriage alliance, which I didn't agree to," Ye Xingqun replied.

"But I agreed to hold a spirit beast exchange meeting, where the descendants of both families would compete with their spirit beasts and then exchange some spirit beast cubs!" Ye Xingqun said.

When he said this, Ye Xingqun's eyes had a hint of evasion.

Ye Jingcheng understood that Ye Xingqun was afraid he might misunderstand and think he was just after the Wan Family's spirit insects.

After all, Ye Xingqun was the most skilled spirit insect master in the Ye Family.

"Uncle Xingqun, you did right by not agreeing to the marriage alliance. After all, they are being watched by Taiyi Sect. But a spirit beast exchange meeting is indeed a good idea!" Ye Jingcheng nodded. Spirit insects are naturally very beneficial for the Ye Family, so he didn't object; he even supported it.

After discussing the situation for a while, Ye Jingcheng also poured some Yunfu tea for Ye Xingqun.

The smoke from the Yunfu tea rose gracefully, bringing both of them some comfort.

But after finishing the spirit tea, Ye Xingqun kept looking at Ye Jingcheng, a strange undertone in his eyes.

Yet he said nothing.

And Ye Jingcheng started to feel a bit uneasy under this gaze.

So he poured another cup of tea for Ye Xingqun.

"Uncle Xingqun, do you not fancy tea today? Want some wine?"

"Indeed, I've been wanting a drink!" Ye Xingqun replied, hinting at something unsaid.

Though he said nothing, his expression spoke volumes.

Chu Yanqing was at Buqing Mountain, while Xu Xiuqing was at Taihang Market.

Ye Jingcheng, having reached a breakthrough now, wasn't in a hurry to meet either.

No wonder he could only drink tea.

"Mind if your old uncle says a few more words?" Ye Xingqun sipped his tea, not putting down the cup, seemingly to prevent Ye Jingcheng from seeing the slight curve at the corners of his mouth.

Ye Jingcheng hesitated for a moment but nodded.

"Follow your heart, don't bind yourself, as neither will bring issues to the family now!" Ye Xingqun tapped the table with his index and middle fingers, looking at Ye Jingcheng.

"Uncle Xingqun, did you follow your heart when you were young?" Ye Jingcheng, seeing Ye Xingqun in such a manner, immediately countered.

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