Chapter 10: The Grand Ancestor Worship Ceremony (Recommendations Wanted!!)
He had been practicing the Lei Emperor's Fist non-stop, and on the sixth day, Ye Chen broke through the fourth stage barrier once again, his Xuan Qi reaching the fifth stage level.
"Finally reached the fifth stage." Ye Chen circulated his internal Xuan Qi, and his Xuan Qi became several times thicker, which made him quite excited. With the Xuan Qi level of the fifth stage, he could actually maintain the state of Yuan Lei's body for a full ten seconds.
Ye Kongyan is currently only at the fifth stage peak level, with the quality of his internal Xuanqi, plus the Yuanlei Body, a family secret technique, he should be able to defeat Ye Kongyan.
At the fifth rank, it's considered not bad within the entire family. Among the thousands of people in Yejia Village, only over 200 have reached the fifth rank, and these 200+ people are the pillar-like forces of the family. If one can reach the sixth rank before the age of 18, there is still hope to take another step forward. If they fail to reach the sixth rank by the age of 18, their meridians will harden, making it very difficult to surge up to higher levels.
After being baptized by the mysterious energy inside the flying knife, Ye Chen's body had reached the realm of pure yang, making him extremely suitable for practicing martial arts, so there was no need to worry about these things.
After the fifth stage, the condensation speed of Xuan Qi slowed down. However, cultivation was not something that could be rushed, and Ye Chen could only cultivate slowly while continuously cultivating his Yuan Lei body as well as the two martial skills, Bao Lei Break and Pu Lei Fist.
Although his strength had increased dramatically, Ye Chen was not arrogant at all, and he continued to cultivate diligently. In the three years since his meridians were severed, he had tempered his mind to be extremely stable.
During this time, Yejiabao was bustling with activity as the clan members were all preparing for the ancestral worship ceremony. Although Yejiabao was currently in a state of economic distress, the ancestral worship ceremony could not be skimped on. Those who were responsible for managing the family's industries outside also returned to Yejiabao one after another, including Ye Chen's two older brothers.
Ye Chen's two older brothers were unable to reach the sixth rank before they turned eighteen, and remained at the peak of the fifth rank. As a result, they were sent out to manage some of the family's industries.
They wanted to come and see Ye Chen, but were all stopped by Ye Zhan Tian. At this time, they did not know that Ye Chen's meridians had already recovered. Before the ancestral worship ceremony, the news of Ye Chen's recovery must be kept secret, the fewer people who knew, the better.
Knowing that the successor of the family head is about to be selected, all the qualified young men are also intensifying their cultivation, hoping to make a stunning debut at the ancestral worship ceremony.
Yejiabao has been busy for a long time, and finally welcomed the very important ancestral worship ceremony that takes place every five years.
In the central square, people were crowded together. In the middle position, a huge altar was set up, and more than a dozen tribesmen slaughtered pigs and sheep beside it to prepare for the worship of their ancestors.
Ye Zhan Tian and others also sat down one after another at the edge of the altar, there were sixteen positions at the edge of the altar, fifteen people sat, two eighth-order, thirteen seventh-order, they were the pillars of the entire family. The most central position was empty.
Ye Chen and others stood behind Ye Zhan Tian's chair.
"Third brother, how has your body been lately?" The speaker was Ye Mu, Ye Chen's second older brother. Ye Mu was five years older than Ye Chen and had not been able to advance to the sixth rank before the age of eighteen, so he was sent by Ye Zhan Tian to manage the Ye family's general store in Donglin County, where he had been training for many years. Ye Mu's temperament was elegant and refined, with a hint of freedom, giving him a unique style. As soon as Ye Mu returned, he wanted to visit Ye Chen, but he hadn't seen his face until now, and at this moment, he looked at Ye Chen with concern in his eyes.
Upon hearing Ye Mu's anxious words, Ye Chen's heart warmed up and he nodded, saying: "Much better."
"I knew it, no setback can bring you down, this is what big brother and second brother have taught you!" On the side, Ye Peng put his arm around Ye Chen and quietly handed him a brocade box. He was the eldest of the three brothers, with the most honest and steady temperament, and had always taken good care of his younger brothers.
Ye Chen pushed it away, but still couldn't push it off. He opened the brocade box and took a look, only to find two Qi Gathering Pills inside. Ye Peng and Ye Mu were outside, their income was meager, they had to be frugal for a whole year just to afford these two Qi Gathering Pills.
Ye Chen felt a pang of sadness in his heart, these two brothers although not often come back, but for him are very concerned.
"Big brother, I no longer need the Qi Gathering Pill now."
"How can you use it up, you need to consume so many Qi Gathering Pills every month! We are brothers after all, don't be polite with your big brother!" Ye Peng said seriously.
"I...". Ye Chen really wanted to tell his two brothers at this time that his meridians had recovered, but with so many people around and mouths chattering, he didn't know how to say it for the moment.
The concern of the two brothers made Ye Chen feel the true brotherly love. Looking at the brocade box in his palm, Ye Chen fell silent for a moment, then put the box into his bosom and hid it close to his body. In Ye Chen's eyes, they were not just two Aggregation Pills!
"Ancestor, the old ancestor has arrived!" A tribesman rushed up, his face full of excitement.
"Sixth Uncle has finally arrived." Ye Zhantian smiled slightly, and the crowd suddenly stood up. Looking down at the altar, they saw that the clan members were retreating to both sides, making way for an old man with white hair and beard, yet vigorous and spirited, wearing a gray long gown, who was walking towards them with a majestic stride.
"Hello, elder!"
"Hello, elder!"
The people on both sides were excited, and the old patriarch Ye Cangxuan was undoubtedly a god-like existence in their hearts. A ninth-level expert, that was the top existence of the Ye family fortress, the guardian force of the family. If it weren't for the old patriarch's great deterrence, the Ye family fortress would not have been able to hold on even with Ye Zhan Tian and others, and would have been swallowed up by others long ago.
A few words are far from enough to express the reverence of the clan members towards Ye Cangxuan.
"Sixth Uncle!" Ye Zhan Tian and others bowed their heads in unison.
Ye Cangxuan waved his hand and laughed loudly: "It's been a long time since I returned to the Ye family fortress, seeing that the clansmen are still the same, it's comforting, so let's dispense with these mundane formalities."
Seeing Sixth Uncle's healthy body, the kids also felt at ease. Ye Zhan Tian could only refer to himself as a kid in front of Ye Cang Xuan.
"Sixth Uncle, you've come all the way back, surely you didn't forget to bring gifts for your nephew?" Ye Zhan Long said with a smile, he was the closest to Ye Cangxuan, no one else dared to speak to him like that.
"Nature won't be any less without you." Ye Cangxuan chuckled and tossed a brocade box to Ye Zhanlong.
Ye Zhanlong opened the brocade box, and a strange fragrance wafted out. His eyebrows trembled, revealing an excited expression, and he quickly put things away: "Thank you, Sixth Uncle."
On the side, Ye Moyang just took a glance and had an urge to vomit blood out of jealousy. What Ye Cangxuan gave to Ye Zhanlong was actually a Concentrated Qi Pill. To think that he had managed to get one from the Yun Family Fortress with great difficulty, yet Ye Cangxuan casually gave one to Ye Zhanlong.
Ye Cangxuan had loved Ye Zhanlong since he was a child, even more than his own biological son. The others present did not dare to ask Ye Cangxuan for anything.
"I've prepared something for each of you, and someone will deliver it to you later." Ye Cangxuan said. The things that were given to others naturally became more precious than what was not given to Ye Zhendong. However, the others didn't dare say anything.
They chatted for a moment before taking their seats one after another.
Just as everyone was talking, the celebration below had already begun, with dragon and lion dances, firecrackers ringing out, what a lively scene.
"In the five years I've been away, Yejia Fortress seems to have declined somewhat. Could it be that a powerful enemy has invaded?" Ye Cangxuan asked, glancing at Ye Zhantian beside him.
Ye Moyang's mouth corners slightly curled up with a hint of a smile, finally getting to the point.
"Three years ago, Ye Chen was ambushed and his meridians were completely severed..." Ye Zhan Tian said somewhat gloomily, "We were worried that it would affect Sixth Uncle's cultivation, so we never mentioned it."
Ye Cangxuan's body suddenly burst out with a powerful aura, his face filled with shock and anger. In a low voice, he asked: "Who did this?" Five years ago, he had used his Xuan Qi to examine Ye Chen's meridians, and Ye Chen was the most talented among the younger generation, with the best chance of breaking through to the 9th rank. The future prosperity of the Ye family rested on Ye Chen's shoulders, but now Ye Chen had been ambushed, which was equivalent to cutting off the Ye family's future.
"It has not been determined yet." Ye Zhantian said.
"If I knew who was responsible, I'd go ask them for an explanation!" Ye Cangxuan said in a deep voice, asking Ye Zhantian, "I wonder how Ye Chen is doing now?"
Ye Zhan Tian was about to speak when Ye Mo Yang suddenly interrupted, "When Ye Chen was rescued, his meridians were completely severed. Three years ago, the clan leader ordered the entire clan to use all their strength to treat him, searching everywhere for Gathering Qi Pills to nourish Ye Chen's meridians. In these three years, the Ye family's industries have declined by half, which is why Sixth Uncle came in, and the Ye family's estate has become desolate."
When Ye Moyang said this, Ye Zhanlong and Ye Zhanxiong all showed displeasure on their faces. It was clear that Ye Moyang wanted to use the old patriarch's hands to interrogate Ye Zhantian.
"But we can't just ignore Chen'er's life and death, and let him be!" Ye Zhanlong said on the side.
Ye Cang looked at Ye Moye with a faint expression and asked: "If you were the clan leader, what would you do if you encountered the same thing?"
Ye Moyang's heart skipped a beat when he heard Ye Cangxuan's words. If the position of patriarch had been given to him back then, the Ye family would not have fallen to its current state. "How can personal feelings override the interests of the family?"
Ye Cangxuan said calmly: "In the beginning, I didn't give you the position of Patriarch, and it was for this reason. What is personal affection? What is family interest? What is a clan? If a clan cannot provide shelter for its people, not even caring about their life or death, then what's the point of having a clan? If there are outsiders bullying my Ye family members, I will go all out to deal with them, even if it means dying without regret. If there are people in the clan who are seriously ill or injured, even if it means exhausting the family's wealth and falling into poverty, I will still provide treatment and rescue. This is what it means to be the Patriarch of the Ye family, the backbone of the family! Even if I were to retire as Patriarch, the next Patriarch of the Ye family should also be like this!"
Ye Moyang's face turned red with anger, wanting to argue, but his mouth moved and nothing came out.
Ye Chen stood among his younger generation, Ye Cangxuan's words made Ye Chen's eyes moist. From today on, he had a strong sense of respect for this uncle who had been out of sight for a long time. Thinking about the kindness of his uncles and brothers towards him in the past, Ye Chen silently engraved the two words "family" in his heart.
"Old clan leader, before the ancestor worship ceremony, the younger generation will hold a martial competition to select the next clan leader. Is it time to start now?" asked a clansman beside him.
Ye Cangxuan let out a sigh, since Ye Chen's meridians were completely severed and there was no way to recover, he could only give up. He looked at the younger generation to see if anyone could take on the responsibility of holding up the fort. The Ye family fortress needed someone to stand up for it to survive in this chaotic world. The news that Ye Zhanxiong's daughter, Ye Xuan, had obtained the qualification to enter Qingyun Sect was still somewhat comforting to him. He waved his hand and said, "Begin."
The first 10 chapters are completed, and the new book needs everyone's recommendation and support!! The subsequent updates will be divided into three time periods, namely 6:00 am, 3:00 pm, and 12:00 am. One chapter will be updated at each time point, occasionally two chapters will be updated.
