Harvest and Worry

Harvest and Worry

In the battle in this valley, the four of them, Ye Jingcheng included, obtained a total of seven First-Order Early Stage young deer. According to Fourth Brother's estimate, each young deer could be sold to the family for around thirty Spirit Stones.

Among the eighteen First-Order Early Stage adult deer carcasses, only seven were male deer, and only three had growing deer antlers. The difference in value between those with antlers and those without was enormous.

Those with deer antlers could sell for fifteen Spirit Stones, while those without could only fetch around eight Spirit Stones.

In addition, there were ten First-Order Grade-Middle deer carcasses. Nine of them were male deer, and five had deer antlers. Those were worth thirty Spirit Stones each, while even those without antlers were worth twenty Spirit Stones.

The Long-Eared Deer alone were worth nearly six hundred Spirit Stones.

The Azure Cloud Wolves were worth far less. There were thirty First-Order Grade-Low Azure Cloud Wolves, each wolf carcass worth around four Spirit Stones, and twelve First-Order Grade-Middle Azure Cloud Wolves, each carcass worth ten Spirit Stones.

Altogether, they had around eight hundred and twenty Spirit Stones. After deducting the wolf meat the four of them kept to feed their Spirit Beasts, along with other losses, there were still a full eight hundred Spirit Stones.

Of course, Ye Jingyu would take the largest share. After all, he had used two First-Order Grade-High Fire Rain Talismans, and those two Spirit Talismans alone were worth two hundred Spirit Stones.

Ye Jingcheng did not know how much he would receive, but it certainly would not be less than a hundred.

Every time he went to the Pill Pavilion to refine Spirit Pills, it took three days, and the net profit was only around twenty Spirit Stones.

In other words, even without counting the Spring Water he had obtained, this was equivalent to refining Spirit Feeding Pills five times.

The mountain rain still poured heavily, and mist continued to billow upward, making all of Lingyun Peak appear ever more hazy and unfathomable.

Amid his excitement, Ye Jingcheng could not help looking toward the mountaintop.

Besides the spoils he was about to receive, Ye Jingcheng was also worried that the changes in the Jade Ring Rat and Crimson Flame Fox would arouse the family's suspicions.

Cultivation had always been cruel. Though he knew the Ye Family possessed at least some warmth and affection.

Still, he had tested it before. The Ancient Book had already existed when his Spirit Root was tested, yet none of the family elders had ever discovered it.

And after contracting the Crimson Flame Fox, so long as Ye Jingcheng did not voluntarily dissolve the Blood Pact, no second Blood Pact could be established with the Monster Beast.

Moreover, forming two Blood Pacts within a short period would weaken a Monster Beast's soul, perhaps even killing it.

Ye Jingcheng shook his head and stopped watching the rain drip from the eaves. He went into the room and took out the Crimson Flame Fox and Jade Ring Rat again.

He also took out three bowls and poured a bowl of Spring Water into one of them.

He placed the Jade Ring Rat in a corner, where it drank the Spring Water by itself.

The Crimson Flame Fox, meanwhile, climbed onto Ye Jingcheng's lap of its own accord. It gazed at him with great attachment, its chirps still crisp and pleasant.

Its reddish tongue kept curling about, as though it were coquettishly acting cute.

Then it looked longingly at that bowl of Spring Water.

"You really know how to enjoy yourself, Little Flame!"

Though Ye Jingcheng complained aloud, he loved the Crimson Flame Fox from the bottom of his heart. He picked up the Spring Water, held it before the Crimson Flame Fox's mouth, and personally fed it.

After it drank the Spring Water, a faint spiritual radiance slowly passed over the Crimson Flame Fox's body once more, making its already crimson fur even more lustrous.

Ye Jingcheng slowly stroked the Crimson Flame Fox's fur, while his other hand lifted his own Spring Water to drink.

Higher up on Lingyun Peak's mountainside, countless clouds and mist could be seen winding about. In the rain, the scenery was so beautiful it looked like a painting.

A grand hall stood quietly there. This was the Ye Family's Council Hall.

At that moment, Ye Jingyu stood in a corner of the hall with his head lowered.

Before him stood several Ye Family Clan Elders. If Ye Jingcheng had been there, he would have discovered that the previous Ye Family head, Ye Haicheng, was present, as was the current family head, Ye Xingliu.

Besides them, there were several Ye Family elders at the Qi Refining Ninth Layer.

Naturally, this included Ye Haiyi, elder of the Demon Hunting Hall, and Ye Haiyun, elder of the Ye Family's Alchemy Pavilion.

Ye Xingliu wore an ordinary, loose Azure Robe, but it could not conceal his heroic bearing. Clearly, Ye Jingyu's outstanding looks had also been inherited from Ye Xingliu.

"What do you all think?" Ye Xingliu asked.

"This old man believes we misjudged it. That Crimson Flame Fox truly possesses rare abilities. Since Jingcheng was able to save it, that proves it is his opportunity. Naturally, Jingcheng should be allowed to carry it forward. After all, our Ye Family does not judge by Spirit Roots!"

"If he possesses sufficient talent in Beast Taming, then the more Spirit Root attributes he has, the better. He will be even more worthy of the family's cultivation!" Ye Haiyun was the first to speak.

If such words were spoken elsewhere, they would surely be astonishing. Yet the cultivators in the hall remained utterly calm.

Everyone nodded as well. Ye Xingliu then looked toward Ye Haicheng above.

"Have you not already made up your mind?" Ye Haicheng turned and asked Ye Xingliu.

"Nothing can be hidden from Eldest Uncle!" Ye Xingliu smiled slightly, then looked at Jingyu.

"You reported this matter well. Jingcheng is a good child. Take better care of him in the future. The family will also increase his stipend!"

"Yes, Father!" Ye Jingyu nodded repeatedly. His report this time had naturally not come from any desire to take the Crimson Flame Fox.

It was simply that such a formidable Crimson Flame Fox needed to be reported to the clan. He also trusted his father.

And now, this was the answer he had hoped to see.

The Ye Family had never oppressed or exploited its clansmen, but caution and vigilance still had to be exercised.

After saying this, Ye Xingliu looked at Ye Haiyun again. "Fourth Uncle, I hope you can spare some time to guide Jingcheng more often. If his alchemy can break through to First-Order Grade-Middle Alchemist, then supporting him will fall into place as naturally as water flows downhill!"

"And I heard that when he refines Spirit Feeding Pills, he can already produce Spirit Fragrance. When the time comes, we can also arrange his Inner Hall assessment!"

"Yes, Family Head!" Ye Haiyun nodded as well. He thought highly of Ye Jingcheng. They had all observed Jingcheng's temperament and conduct in daily life.

Other than being overly modest and yielding, there was truly no other fault to pick at.

Now that he also showed good talent with Spirit Beasts, he was even more worthy of the Ye Family's cultivation.

There was a profound reason why the Ye Family did not place great importance on Spirit Roots.

Within Ye Jingcheng's courtyard, Ye Jingcheng had unusually cultivated for an entire day.

As he exhaled a breath of turbid air, another thread of Li Fire Spirit Qi appeared within his meridians.

The faint sensation that he was about to break through some kind of shackle filled him with anticipation.

This was a sign that he was about to make a breakthrough.

Outside, the heavy rain had stopped at some unknown time, and sunlight streamed in through the window.

Then came the voices of Ye Jingyu and Ye Jingyong.

"Is Jingcheng here?"

"I'm here, Second Brother, Fourth Brother!" Ye Jingcheng put away both the Crimson Flame Fox and the Jade Ring Rat, then walked out of the room.

He welcomed them both inside, then hurriedly took up the teapot and brewed a pot of tea for Ye Jingyu and Ye Jingyong.

Though the tea leaves were ordinary Wild Mountain Tea, the water was Spring Water. Once brewed, it carried a trace of spiritual qi, and its taste was equally rich and refreshing.

Ye Jingyu took a light sip, while Ye Jingyong drained an entire cup in one gulp and held out his bowl, seeming to want another.

"Jingcheng, quickly pour Second Brother another cup. This time, Fourth Brother said he contributed forty percent, you contributed thirty percent, and I contributed twenty percent!"

"And do you know how many Spirit Stones this haul sold for?"

"A full nine hundred Spirit Stones! Those seven Long-Eared Deer were in exceptionally fine condition, so the family gave an extra hundred Spirit Stones!"

"You struck it rich! I have to drink several more pots of tea brewed with your Spring Water!"

"And because the Spirit Feeding Pills you refined work especially well, the family is opening up one First-Order Grade-Middle Spirit Pill formula to you for free!" Ye Jingyong rattled it all off in one breath, brimming with excitement! This evening's chapter is the most important one, everyone, remember to follow up and keep reading!