Harvest and Worries

After the battle in the valley, Ye Jingcheng's group of four had obtained seven early first-rank fawns in total. According to his Fourth Brother's estimate, each fawn could be sold to the family for around thirty spirit stones.

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

Those with antlers could sell for fifteen spirit stones, while those without could only fetch around eight.

In addition, there were ten mid first-rank deer carcasses, nine of them male. Five had antlers, each worth as much as thirty spirit stones, while those without antlers were still worth twenty spirit stones each.

The Long-eared Deer alone were worth nearly six hundred spirit stones.

The Azure Cloud Wolves were worth considerably less. There were thirty low first-rank Azure Cloud Wolves, each carcass worth around four spirit stones, and twelve mid first-rank Azure Cloud Wolves, each carcass worth ten spirit stones.

Altogether, they came to 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 left.

Of course, Ye Jingyu would receive the largest share, since he had used two high first-rank Fire Rain Talismans. Those two talismans alone were worth two hundred spirit stones.

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

Each time he went to the Pill Refining 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, while that veil of mist continued to rise, making all of Soaring Cloud Peak appear ever more hazy and unfathomable.

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

Beyond 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 that the Ye Family possessed at least some warmth and compassion.

Still, he had tested it before. The ancient book had been with him ever since his spirit roots were tested, yet none of the family's elders had ever noticed it.

And after forming a contract with the Crimson Flame Fox, so long as Ye Jingcheng did not take the initiative to dissolve the blood contract, no one could form a second blood contract with the demon beast.

Moreover, forming two blood contracts within a short time would weaken a demon beast's soul, and could even very likely lead to its death.

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

He took out three bowls as well, pouring 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 and gazed at him with great attachment. Its lilting chirps remained crisp and pleasant to the ear.

Its reddish tongue kept curling about, as if it were cutely acting spoiled.

Then it looked eagerly at that bowl of spring water.

"You little Yan, you really know how to enjoy yourself!"

Though Ye Jingcheng grumbled, he loved the Crimson Flame Fox from the bottom of his heart. He picked up the spring water, held it before the fox's mouth, and personally fed it.

After drinking the spring water, a faint spiritual radiance slowly passed over the Crimson Flame Fox's body once more, making its already scarlet fur even more lustrous.

Ye Jingcheng slowly stroked the Crimson Flame Fox's fur, while with his other hand, he drank his own spring water.

Higher up on the mountainside of Soaring Cloud Peak, countless clouds and mist could be seen curling through the air. Amid the rain, the scene was breathtakingly beautiful, like a painting.

A great hall stood quietly here. It was the Ye Family's council hall.

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

Before him stood several of the Ye Family's clan elders. If Ye Jingcheng had been present, he would have recognized the Ye Family's previous patriarch, Ye Haicheng, as well as the current patriarch, Ye Xingliu.

Besides them, there were several Ye Family elders at the ninth level of Qi Refinement.

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

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

"This old man believes we misjudged it. That crimson fox truly possesses rare and remarkable abilities. Since Jingcheng was able to save it, that proves it is his fortuitous opportunity. He should naturally be allowed to make the most of it. After all, our Ye Family does not judge people by their spirit roots!"

"If he has sufficient skill in beast taming, then the more spirit root attributes he has, the better—and the more worthy he is of the family's cultivation!" Ye Haiyun was the first to speak.

If such words were spoken elsewhere, they would surely be startling. 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 did well to report this matter. Jingcheng is a good child. Look after him more often, and the family will raise his stipend as well!"

"Yes, Father!" Ye Jingyu nodded repeatedly. When he had made this report, it was naturally not because he coveted 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 this was precisely the answer he had hoped for.

The Ye Family had never exploited or oppressed its clansmen, but caution and prudence were still necessary.

After saying this, Ye Xingliu looked at Ye Haiyun again.

"I hope Fourth Uncle can spare some time to guide Jingcheng more often. If his pill refining can break through to become a mid first-rank alchemist, then supporting him will fall into place as naturally as water flows downhill!"

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

"Yes, Patriarch!" Ye Haiyun nodded as well. He thought highly of Ye Jingcheng. They had all seen Jingcheng's temperament and character in everyday life.

Other than being a little too modest and yielding, there was truly nothing else to fault.

Now that he also showed considerable 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 much importance on spiritual roots.

Within Ye Jingcheng's courtyard, Ye Jingcheng had unusually spent the entire day cultivating.

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

That faint sensation of being about to shatter some invisible shackle filled him with anticipation.

It was a sign that he was about to break through.

Outside, the 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 before walking out of the room.

He welcomed them both inside, then hurriedly picked up the teapot and brewed 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 energy, and its taste was just as rich and refreshing.

Ye Jingyu took a light sip, while Ye Jingyong drained his cup in one gulp, holding out the bowl as if he wanted another.

"Jingcheng, hurry and pour Second Brother another cup. This time, Fourth Brother said he gets forty percent of the credit, you get thirty percent, and I get twenty!"

"And do you know how many spirit stones this batch sold for?"

"A full nine hundred spirit stones! Those seven Long-eared Deer were of exceptionally fine quality, so the family gave us an extra hundred spirit stones!"

"You've 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 were especially effective, the family is opening up a first-rank mid-grade spirit pill formula to you for free!" Ye Jingyong rattled it all off in one breath, thoroughly excited.