Chapter Sixteen: Rebuke

  Inside Yejia Fortress, the young ones who obtained the first level of Lei Di's technique practiced diligently every day. If they could cultivate the first level of Lei Di's technique to its peak and reach the sixth rank, it wouldn't be a problem. Of course, if they wanted to go further, they would have to obtain an even higher-level technique. After obtaining the first level of Lei Di's technique, the young ones in the clan made rapid progress, with several people on the verge of breaking through to the sixth rank. People like Ye Mu and Ye Peng, who were over 18 years old, had already hardened their meridians, making it extremely difficult for them to break through further. However, after cultivating the new Lei Di technique, they surprisingly showed signs of slight relaxation in their bottleneck, which made Ye Mu and others ecstatic.

  Early in the morning, Ye Chen walked past the martial arts arena, which was much more lively than usual.

  "The revised Thunderclap Inner Power incantation by the elder is several times better than the previous one!"

  "How's your progress?"

  "I've been stuck at the 4th stage peak for two years, unable to break through. I was anxious and frustrated. But since I cultivated the new Thunderclap Inner Energy, I finally broke through yesterday!"

  "Congratulations, brother!"

  A group of young people were discussing excitedly, they saw Ye Chen and quickly stood up, straightening their posture to greet him. Now that Ye Chen had regained his position as the successor of the family head, his status within the family was no longer comparable to before. Moreover, on that day at the ancestral worship ceremony, Ye Chen defeated Ye Kongyan, and his strength was also convincing.

  "Brother Ye Chen!"

  "Ye Chen!" Ye Meng and Ye Ming also walked over excitedly.

  Seeing Ye Meng and others, Ye Chen smiled slightly. These few younger brothers had always been on good terms with him, and seeing them cultivate successfully made Ye Chen feel extremely pleased.

  "Brother Ye Chen, please punish us!" Eight people in a row knelt down in front of Ye Chen, "We are willing to accept punishment."

  Ye Chen glanced at these eight people, who had all ridiculed him when his meridians were severed. He said in a cold voice, "What crimes have you committed that you should ask for punishment?"

  Those eight people looked at each other in dismay, and for a moment they didn't know how to respond.

  "Ye Chen, this time we must teach them a good lesson!" Ye Meng and Ye Ming said. These eight people had always followed behind Ye Kongyan, often mocking Ye Chen. At that time, Ye Chen's mood was so low that their mockery was like pouring salt on his wounds. How could such evil behavior not be punished?

  "Please forgive us, Ye Chen Ge. We were just instigated by Ye Kongyan at first, but now we know our mistake." one of them said.

  Ye Chen coldly snorted and said, "Are you now regretful of having offended me in the past? Now that Ye Kongyan is locked up in the Law Enforcement Hall, are you worried that I will take revenge on you, which is why you're coming to apologize on your own initiative?"

  Eight people remained silent, which was taken as tacit consent.

  "You still don't even know where you're wrong now, then just keep kneeling!" Ye Chen scolded, his tone and expression severe.

  Eight people were filled with fear and did not dare to get up, kneeling there with their heads bowed.

  A group of young people from their generation pointing and staring at them made them feel even more uneasy.

  "Do you think I'm using my position as the successor of the family head to bully you, and you're not convinced in your hearts? If Ye Kongyan had obtained the position of the successor of the family head, then you would be able to do whatever you want in the family without any restrictions?"

  "How dare we think that, it was our ignorance before, please forgive us, Brother Ye Chen!" The eight people nervously denied, they knew that they had already offended Ye Chen to death and would inevitably suffer a counterattack in the future, now even more so they did not dare to confirm their guilt.

  "We, the numerous members of Ye Family Village, are of the same clan and family. We grew up together since childhood and should be as close as brothers. When facing external enemies, we must stand together and support each other to survive in this chaotic world. If any member of our clan is seriously injured or ill, we should lend a helping hand instead of mocking them. If any of you are hurt by an external enemy and your meridians are severed, I, as a member of the same clan, will not stand idly by. It's acceptable to have competition within the clan; Ye Kongyan can compete for the position of family head, but his mistake lies in using the poisonous technique 'Yin Lei Zhao' against fellow clansmen. If members of any clan turn against each other, it won't be long before the clan is destroyed. Today, I will not punish you, but go back and take a good look at our clan rules!" Ye Chen's words carried a stern and authoritative tone, leaving the young generation of clansmen speechless.

  Those eight people had a guilty look on their faces, thinking that Ye Chen would severely punish them. Unexpectedly, Ye Chen chose to forgive them with kindness, and let them off just like that. Recalling the words Ye Chen said, they truly felt ashamed and had no place to hide.

  The young people of the surrounding tribes also showed a thoughtful expression, they didn't think as much as Ye Chen did, but thought what Ye Chen said was very reasonable and respectful. The elderly tribe members in the distance looked at Ye Chen with an approving smile.

  Ye Chen thought of the old patriarch and his father, thinking that it was indeed not easy to unite such a large family into one mind.

  To better understand the situation of the family's operation, Ye Chen prepared to go to the Ye family's mine to take a look. Now he is the object of key protection by the family, and if he leaves the Ye family fortress, he fears that he will encounter danger. Ye Chen returned to his own residence, disguised himself, looked in the mirror, and should not be recognized, quietly slipped out of the Ye family fortress.

  For three years, he hasn't stepped out of Yehjia village, today he can finally come out and get some fresh air.

  It's not far, two miles away. For a martial artist, it only takes a few minutes to arrive. In the distance, in the mountain valley, there is a large open-pit mine, and a large group of people are busy at work. There are also some tribesmen patrolling around, led by two elders who are responsible for the safety of the mine. Many laborers hold their pickaxes and strike the rocks on the mountain wall with a clang, peeling off the fragmented stones, gathering them together, and then other laborers select suitable ore and put it in wooden baskets to be carried out of the mountain.

  What a massive undertaking it is to excavate so many ores from the rock body, select them, and carry them out of the mountain!

  This mine is related to the fate of Yejia Fortress, and more than half of Yejia Fortress's annual income comes from this mine!

  "This efficiency is really too low." Ye Chen couldn't help but think, before he had never paid attention to the production situation in his family, and before his meridians were severed, the Ye Family Manor was always very wealthy, so he didn't need to worry about these things. After his meridians were severed, he wouldn't even bother to pay attention to the mines.

  He thought of another world where people, although unable to cultivate and having weak physiques, could move mountains and shatter rocks with ease. As he thought about this, a sudden flash of insight struck him.