Second Master Yang was brimming with delight. He almost could not wait a moment longer as he dragged Yang Chen along, preparing to meet the Yang Family Patriarch.
Before long, Yang Chen and Second Master Yang arrived outside the Yang Family Patriarch's residence.
"What? The Patriarch is receiving an honored guest?" Second Master Yang frowned.
The old servant guarding the residence knew Second Master Yang's status and did not dare act presumptuously. He respectfully replied, "In response to Second Master, the Patriarch did indeed order that he was to receive an honored guest. Without his command, no one may disturb him. If Second Master has nothing urgent, you should return another day."
Second Master Yang clearly had no intention of letting the matter rest. In his heart, he now regarded Yang Chen as a golden ingot.
Having Yang Chen receive the Lineage's attention was the foremost matter in his heart. For such a genius, he felt that delaying even one day would be an enormous sin.
"I have something exceedingly urgent to report right now!" Second Master Yang said with a stern expression.
This put the servant in a somewhat difficult position, but he still said, "In that case, I shall go in and report to the Patriarch. I hope Second Master will wait outside for a moment!"
"That will do." Second Master Yang waved his hand.
After the servant left, Second Master Yang finally smiled and said, "Yang Chen, do not worry. Once the Patriarch learns of this, he will surely reward you greatly and designate you as a key target for the Lineage's cultivation."
"If that is so, then I must thank Second Master for your support." Deep down, Yang Chen also desperately hoped to receive some resources.
On the path of martial cultivation, resources were especially important. Back then, he had been called a talent scout and had been exceptionally skilled at nurturing geniuses, so he understood the importance of resources even more clearly.
The more Second Master Yang looked at Yang Chen, the more pleasing he found him. Even his eyebrows seemed to dance. Just as he was about to say something, his eyes suddenly shifted, and he hurriedly said respectfully, "Greetings, Patriarch!"
Yang Chen was startled. Only then did he notice that someone had appeared in the residence at some unknown time. This man was middle-aged and looked much younger than Second Master Yang. Yet the strength of his cultivation aura secretly shocked Yang Chen. This middle-aged man gave him the feeling that he was likely no inferior to Li Youyan of the Li Family.
"A Spiritual Martial Realm expert!" As Yang Chen was startled, he also realized this man's identity.
This middle-aged man was most likely the Yang Family Patriarch.
Seeing Second Master Yang repeatedly signal to him with his eyes, how could Yang Chen dare put on airs? He immediately said, "Greetings, Patriarch!"
"Mhm. No need for excessive courtesy." The Yang Family Patriarch stood with his hands behind his back, his presence overwhelmingly powerful. A single casual sentence carried boundless dominance.
Only then did Second Master Yang cup his hands and rise. "Patriarch, I just heard from your servant that you were receiving an honored guest. I rashly requested an audience, and I hope the Patriarch will forgive me."
"This guest truly was an honored guest. Still, your timing was good. This honored guest left not long ago." Yang Jinhe, the Yang Family Patriarch, stood with his hands behind his back, a trace of joy on his face. Clearly, he had been quite satisfied with the outcome of his conversation with the "honored guest."
This made Second Master Yang let out a long breath of relief.
Yang Jinhe then changed the subject. "Second Elder, I heard that you had an important matter to see me about. What happened?"
Seeing that the matter had finally reached its point, Second Master Yang quickly grinned. "Patriarch, it is like this..."
Second Master Yang recounted Yang Chen's matter from beginning to end, without leaving out a single detail.
But to Second Master Yang's disappointment, the Yang Family Patriarch did not reveal any expression of surprise at his words. He merely gave Yang Chen an indifferent glance. "He is the Alchemy Genius you mentioned?"
"That is correct, Patriarch. Yang Chen's attainments in alchemy are exceptionally high. He learned the method for refining the Clear Fire Pill after only one attempt. Such talent would be rare even beyond the Great Wilderness. This old man believes Yang Chen is absolutely qualified to receive the Patriarch's focused cultivation!"
Afraid that Yang Jinhe would look down on Yang Chen, Second Master Yang did not dare pause. "Of course, although Yang Chen may have had some unsightly experiences in the past, a prodigal who returns is worth more than gold. Patriarch, do not deny his current talent because of his former misdeeds."
Seeing Second Master Yang work so hard to "promote" him, Yang Chen felt secretly grateful. He had already made up his mind that when he had the chance in the future, he would properly thank Second Master Yang.
However, Second Master Yang's earnest promotion seemed to have had no effect. Without even looking at Yang Chen, the Yang Family Patriarch said, "Second Elder, the Coming-of-Age Ceremony is at hand. Alchemy Geniuses are not the Lineage's main focus. Only the martial path endures through the ages. You understand this principle as well."
"But, Patriarch..." Seeing the Yang Family Patriarch disregard Yang Chen so completely, how could Second Master Yang be willing to accept it?
What was going on? Although Yang Jinhe was usually not particularly attentive to the Alchemy Way, he would not normally take it so little to heart.
Seeing that Second Master Yang still seemed unwilling to let the matter go, the Yang Family Patriarch's expression darkened. He said coldly, "What? Second Elder, did you not hear what I said?"
"This... yes, Patriarch!" Although Second Master Yang held a lofty status, he was still a notch beneath the Yang Family Patriarch. He could only sigh and say, "Since that is the case, this old man will no longer disturb the Patriarch."
The Yang Family Patriarch did not try to keep him. He waved his hand and had the old servant see Second Master Yang and Yang Chen out.
Soon, the old servant returned and stood respectfully before Yang Jinhe.
Yang Jinhe glanced lightly at the old servant. "What is it? Do you have doubts?"
The old servant said awkwardly, "Nothing can escape the Patriarch's eyes. This old servant feels that although the Alchemy Way is not as important as the martial path, it is still one of the pillars supporting martial cultivation. The Patriarch does not usually hold the Alchemy Way in such low regard. Why today..."
"What do you know? Today, Li Youyan, an Elder of the Li Family Commerce Association, personally came to visit me in the Lineage and said he wished to cooperate with our Yang Family. You also know that the Great Wilderness is far from peaceful right now. The Li Family, as a commerce association, has always kept itself apart and never associated or cooperated with other great families. Yet they came to our Yang Family alone. How could I dare not take this matter seriously?" Yang Jinhe said with a furrowed brow.
"It is only that this old servant is ignorant. What does the Li Family Commerce Association have to do with the Alchemy Way?" the old servant asked curiously.
Yang Jinhe sighed. "This matter is strange indeed. Who knows what medicine Li Youyan took today? The moment he opened his mouth, he told me to promote one of the Yang Family's geniuses. He said that his cooperation with the Yang Family today was entirely for the sake of this genius. Yet when I asked who this genius was, Li Youyan laughed at me for asking when I clearly already knew..."
"The genius Li Youyan referred to is...?" The old servant became curious as well.
"I truly do not know what medicine Li Youyan is selling in his gourd." Yang Jinhe said, "However, Li Youyan said that during this year's Yang Family Coming-of-Age Ceremony, he would personally come to make clear his attitude toward cooperating with the Yang Family. As the head of a family, how could I dare neglect this matter? Right now, my mind is filled with the matter of nurturing the genius Li Youyan spoke of."
"As for this Alchemy Way genius, he is certainly important, but the person Li Youyan favors is more important at present. I suspect it is most likely Yang Wu and those few promising seedlings. As for Yang Chen, let him wait for now."
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