Chapter Thirteen: The Old Master's Summons

Years of cultivation had accustomed Ye Cheng to this rigorous way of life. Half a month slipped by in the midst of such training; aside from daily absorption of vital energy to stimulate his own blood essence, he practiced his martial techniques, refining them to an even greater degree of proficiency. During these days, Old Mu still had not awakened from his weakened state, leaving Ye Cheng with a lingering sense of helplessness amidst his constant worry.

“Tomorrow is the day of the Martial Canon Pavilion, isn’t it?” Returning from his practice, Ye Cheng looked toward the distant Ye family estate, murmuring softly to himself. Just as he stepped through the gates, the sound of hurried footsteps approached from nearby, causing him to pause and turn his head. It was Ye Hong.

“Xiao Cheng, where have you been? Your uncle’s been looking for you all afternoon. Come with me, your grandfather is waiting in the study,” Ye Hong called out as he strode over.

Ye Cheng was startled at the news. “Grandfather has finished his seclusion?”

The old master of the Ye family had now reached the peak of the Origin Realm. The Ye clan owed much of its standing among the two great families of Luoyang Town to this pillar of strength. To put it simply, if anything were to happen to the old master, the Ye family’s influence would surely suffer a severe blow.

“Did grandfather break through the Origin Realm this time?” Ye Cheng asked eagerly, his eyes fixed on Ye Hong. The realm beyond the Origin Realm was something Ye Cheng yearned for deeply. Thus far, no one in all of Luoyang Town had surpassed that threshold. Moreover, recent business disputes had worsened relations with the Luo family, leading to countless secret clashes. If the old master could take that step, the Ye family would assuredly become the true leader of Luoyang Town, and the Luo family would cease to be a threat.

“You think such a breakthrough is so easily achieved?” Ye Hong rolled his eyes at Ye Cheng and chided him with a laugh, but then his tone softened. “Though your grandfather hasn’t broken through yet, I believe that day is not far off.”

Ye Cheng nodded thoughtfully, hand resting on his chin. Suddenly remembering something, he looked up and asked, “Third Uncle, does our Luoyang Town have any experts above the Origin Realm now?”

“Well, sixteen years ago there was, but now I can tell you for certain: there isn’t. Not in our Ye family, and certainly not in the Luo family,” Ye Hong replied after a moment’s thought.

“Sixteen years ago… could it have been my father?” Ye Cheng murmured softly, his brows arching. The image of that person, played countless times in his mind, surfaced once more—so vivid, even after sixteen years. Snapping out of his reverie, Ye Cheng looked up, about to press further.

Ye Hong, understanding what Ye Cheng wished to ask, merely waved his sleeve and patted his nephew’s shoulder. “No one knows more about your father than your grandfather. Come, let’s go see him. You can ask him yourself.”

Clearly, Ye Hong was not privy to the true reason behind Ye Shan’s disappearance. Ye Cheng fell silent for a moment, then nodded quietly and followed Ye Hong toward the old master’s study.

Upon entering the study, Ye Cheng found himself in a room adorned with rosewood and simple furnishings, evoking an air of rustic elegance. There, an elderly man dressed in ornate brocade sat waiting in silence, an intangible aura of authority radiating from him. Though advanced in age, his blood essence was vigorous as ever.

As the door creaked open, the old man’s gaze fell upon the two newcomers, his wrinkled eyes flashing with keen light as he beheld Ye Cheng. Feeling the old master’s eyes settle upon him, Ye Cheng understood at once why he had been summoned. Without betraying his thoughts, he stepped forward to stand beside Ye Hong, clasped his fists, and bowed deeply. “Your grandson greets you, Grandfather.”

When Ye Cheng raised his head to meet the elder’s gaze, he felt as though nothing could be hidden from those penetrating eyes, as if all secrets were laid bare.

“Very good, very good. Your blood essence is thick and solid, without the least hint of instability. When your uncle told me about your performance in the coming-of-age trials, I worried you had used some secret art to force your strength, which would harm your progress in the martial path. But now I see my concerns were unfounded,” the old master said, his eyes gradually softening as he nodded with satisfaction. Then, with a gesture, he signaled for Ye Hong to leave. Ye Hong nodded in understanding and withdrew quietly.

“It was only by luck, Grandfather,” Ye Cheng replied, a warm feeling rising in his heart at his grandfather’s familiar concern. He smiled lightly, but deep down he was keenly aware that in this family, his grandfather, uncle, and third uncle all truly cared for him. Although there were others he didn’t like, on the whole, he felt a sense of belonging to the Ye family.

“Luck, you say? Your efforts are obvious to all. But I also know your uncle and third uncle procured some Azure Spirit Elixir for you. That is effective, but it cannot alone account for such remarkable change. There must be other factors at play, am I right?” The old master narrowed his eyes, probing gently.

“Yes, some time ago I was fortunate enough to receive help from a mysterious expert. He gave me a pill, which brought about my transformation,” Ye Cheng replied. He knew his sudden progress would inevitably draw questions from his elders. Old Mu had warned him to keep the secret of his devouring constitution hidden; his current strength was still too weak, and if his talent became too obvious, it would only bring disaster. Although he trusted his elders, he had already prepared an explanation to avoid unnecessary risks.

At this, the old master’s expression grew grave. “What was the name of this expert? What pill did he give you?”

Seeing that his grandfather had not pressed further, Ye Cheng breathed a sigh of relief and continued, “I asked the expert’s name, but he said our meeting was fate and left soon after. As for the pill, I have no idea what it was, but it was clear he was not from Luoyang Town.”

The old master studied Ye Cheng, and seeing no sign of deceit, nodded slowly and fell silent for a moment before speaking. “You are fortunate indeed. The world is vast, filled with wondrous people. Luoyang Town is but a small place; such figures are not likely to linger here.”

“Grandfather, I wish to ask you about my father,” Ye Cheng said, hastening to shift the topic. Though his story had not aroused suspicion, he dared not pursue it further.

At the mention of Ye Shan, the old master’s face flickered with complex emotion. After a long pause, he finally spoke, his voice tinged with reminiscence. “You want to know why your father disappeared without a trace sixteen years ago, don’t you?”

“Yes. Grandfather, can you tell me?” Ye Cheng nodded, his voice trembling slightly. For more than a decade, he had asked this question countless times but never received the real reason for his father’s departure. Now, on the verge of learning the truth, he was anxious.

The old master’s expression grew heavy. Under Ye Cheng’s steady gaze, he sighed deeply after a long silence, his eyes growing distant as he recalled the past. “Back then, your father’s talent was extraordinary. In just a few short years, he rose swiftly throughout Luoyang Town and soon broke through the Origin Realm, making a name for himself across the entire Nanyang Prefecture. Many powerful figures took note of him. The Ye family rose to prominence during those years, and your mother had only recently given birth to you.”

At this, sorrow crept onto the old master’s face. He continued, “Not long after your mother bore you, she fell gravely ill. Even with your father’s strength, which surpassed the Origin Realm, he could not save her. After your mother’s death, your father grew silent and withdrawn, dedicating himself to martial cultivation. In time, he went to the borderlands, and through the teleportation array, journeyed to another realm.”

“Another realm?” Ye Cheng was astonished by this revelation. To think his father’s departure had been so drastic. Did another continent exist in some unknown place?

The old master composed himself, the sadness fading as a kind smile returned to his face. “Yes, that place holds energy far denser than ours, making cultivation much easier. It’s said that in that land teeming with experts, those in the Origin Realm count for little.”

Ye Cheng’s face filled with confusion. “If that’s so, wouldn’t many experts vie to go there?”

“That’s true, but leaving is not so simple. The teleportation array at the borderlands is not something just anyone can use. Without strength at the peak of the Ancient Pill Realm, it’s out of reach,” the old master replied.

“Ancient Pill Realm? Is that the realm above Origin?” Ye Cheng guessed, the unfamiliar term making him uncertain.

“Yes, the Ancient Pill Realm is indeed above the Origin Realm. When your father left, he was at the very peak of it. That place is not one that ordinary people can set foot in at will. In a small place like ours, hundreds of years may pass without producing an Ancient Pill expert. I myself have been stuck at this bottleneck for years, unable to break through.” The old master’s face showed a trace of melancholy—a hero in the twilight of his years.

“Ancient Pill Realm… So I must reach that level if I am to seek out my father,” Ye Cheng thought silently. Sensing his grandfather’s despondence, he offered comfort aloud. “I believe you’re not far from that step, Grandfather.”

“Haha, worthy grandson—you even know how to comfort your grandfather now,” the old master replied with a hearty laugh, his face full of gratification as he looked at Ye Cheng.

In the simple study, the old and the young sat talking happily, their occasional laughter echoing through the room.