Ye Huangyu did indeed plan that once her daughter’s cultivation stabilized, she would go to the Imperial City to settle scores with Hong Fang and Zhuge Rou, the despicable couple.
If Ye Huangyu’s injuries had not fully healed, she might have never entertained such thoughts. But now, having recovered, the memories of the wrongs that detestable couple had done to her and her daughter made it impossible for Ye Huangyu to tolerate them any longer.
"Do you know that just a few days ago, Hong Fang has broken through to the Reincarnation Realm? Right now, you can’t even think of getting revenge, let alone getting close to Hong Fang," sighed Ye Gu.
Neither Ye Family nor Ye Huangyu were currently a match for Hong Fang or the Hong Residence.
"Father, let’s discuss everything after Ling Yue returns. Daughter only asks you not to tell Ling Yue about my plans, as I worry it might affect her cultivation," Ye Huangyu said somberly.
Ye Gu was a man of decisive action. The very next day, he ordered the entire Ye Family to pack their bags and start a major relocation.
All from the Ye Family, along with some elite members of the separated branches, joined the relocation convoy.
After the Refining Conference, the Alchemist Association also sent people to assist the Ye Family in developing the Xuanyin Jade Vein on Qixing Mountain.
At the same time, the brothers Ye Huangxuan from Li City purchased a large mansion, refurbished it inside out, and awaited the return of the Ye Family members.
The Ye Family finally moved out of Qiufeng Town where they had lived for hundreds of years. Dozens of vehicles loaded with supplies formed an impressive convoy heading towards Li City.
Within the Mountain and Sea Gang, Song Guangyi was distraught.
"Young Master, are we just going to let this go? Master Lian is dead, and the Ye Family has taken over the military’s iron ore supply rights. Why should the Ye Family monopolize all the good fortune?"
"You still have the nerve to speak, I’ve already made inquiries, that Master Lian was from the Evil Method of the Central Plains. He had ulterior motives infiltrating our Daxia, if I hadn’t distanced myself from him, the governor’s mansion would’ve never let the Mountain and Sea Gang off easily," Sha Zhan also felt that things weren’t going well. The control over the Xuanyin Jade Vein slipped through their fingers, and they lost the title of champion at the Refining Conference; his father hadn’t shown him a pleasant face for several days.
"All this is because of that despicable Ye Lingyue. That woman is also sinister; where did she get the capability to refine Moon Iron?" Song Guangyi, not daring to further pursue Master Lian’s matter, directed all blame towards Ye Lingyue.
"Hmph, let the Ye Family be complacent for a while, soon they will know what happens when they offend the Mountain and Sea Gang. Don’t think they can cover the sky with one hand in Li City just because they have connections with the military. This time, I will see to it that the Ye Family is wiped out, not a chicken or dog spared," Sha Zhan’s eyes gleamed cunningly if only for a fleeting moment.
The relocation of the Ye Family lasted a good half a month.
With the strong support of Lan Cai’er and the Alchemist Association, the Ye Family finally settled down in Li City.
The new Ye Family mansion, situated in Luowu Lane of Li City, was three to four times larger than the original Ye Family residence.
"Greetings, Family Head!"
On the first official day in the new Ye Family mansion, Ye Gu summoned disciples from five branches to discuss matters in the main hall.
Looking at the dozens of Ye Family disciples who knelt down in unison, Ye Gu’s eyes filled with both emotion and pride.
"I’ve heard about the Refining Conference; this time, Ling Yue has made great contributions. Later, Ling Yue, you come with me to the ancestral hall. Your grandfather has something to tell you," Ye Gu said a few words of encouragement and then headed to the ancestral hall alone with Ye Lingyue.
The new Ye Family ancestral hall had some resemblance to North Manor where Ye Lingyue had initially lived, except for the absence of the Grounded Cauldron, the other decorations were exactly the same.
"Ling Yue, kneel." Ye Gu, as usual, burned a stick of incense to the ancestral spirits of the Ye Family.
After burning the incense, he suddenly spoke.
Seeing Ye Lingyue kneeling as told, Ye Gu felt around a certain spot next to the desk.
Suddenly, a clattering sound came from behind the desk, revealing a hidden compartment containing a spiritual tablet.
This tablet differed from those of other grand ancestors of the Ye Family—it bore no inscription.
"This spiritual tablet belongs to your great-grandfather and is the token of our ancestor in Qiufeng Town. Approximately three hundred years ago, he came to Qiufeng Town, which led to the flourishing of our lineage here," Ye Gu gently caressed the tablet. "Ling Yue, do you know why your grandfather has brought you to worship this tablet?"
Ye Lingyue shook her head.
She felt that her grandfather seemed unusual today. New ɴᴏᴠᴇʟ ᴄhapters are published on NoveI(F)ire.net
"Because, like you, he was an Alchemist. He is the only Alchemist in our Ye Family lineage for the past three hundred years."
The owner of this tablet, named Ye Wuming, was unknown even to Ye Gu. All he knew was that, like Ye Lingyue, Ye Wuming was a Martial Artist who cultivated spiritual power.
Ye Gu hadn’t told anyone about Ye Wuming’s existence because, before his death, Ye Wuming left a family instruction that his existence should be revealed only if a descendant with spiritual power emerged in the Ye Family.
From her grandfather, Ye Lingyue learned about some past events of this ancestor named Ye Wuming.
Ye Wuming was once an Alchemist of Fang Venerate Level and the most outstanding Alchemist in the history of Daxia.
When he was thirty-four, he participated in the World’s First Refining. In an attempt to forge a Heavenly-grade Weapon, he met with failure and his competitors destroyed his Artifact Cauldron.
With his cauldron destroyed, Ye Wuming’s family fell apart, he was separated from his wife and children, and became the laughingstock of everyone in Daxia, even being removed from the Daxia Alchemist Association.
Depressed and enduring all the mockery, he changed his name to Ye Wuming, hid his identity, and settled in Qiufeng Town as an ordinary iron ore merchant.
Yet even so, Ye Wuming never gave up hope. Throughout his life, he hoped to nurture an outstanding Alchemist descendant who could participate in the World’s First Refining and fulfill his unachieved dream of forging a Heavenly-grade Weapon.
Unfortunately, until the moment of his death, Ye Wuming was unable to fulfill this wish.
For hundreds of years afterward, each Ye Family Patriarch adhered to the Grand Ancestor’s instructions, but sadly, no one in the Ye Family managed to possess spiritual power.
"Only this time, when you participated in the Li City Refining Conference and refined the Moon Iron, did grandpa see hope," Ye Gu spoke of the Ye Family’s history, tears filling his eyes.
Who would have thought that the Ye Family, once regarded by some as merely lower-class merchants, had such a prestigious background as the once number one Alchemist of Daxia?
All this that Ye Gu revealed to Ye Lingyue was not even known to Ye Huangyu.
This was only because Ye Gu knew that without spiritual power, it was impossible to become an Alchemist.
Ye Lingyue’s rise gave Ye Gu a glimpse of hope.