Harvests and Worries

The four members of the Ye Family had obtained a total of seven first-grade early-stage fawns from the battle in the valley.

According to his fourth brother's estimate, each fawn could be sold to the family for around thirty spirit stones.

Of the eighteen first-grade early-stage adult deer corpses, only seven belonged to bucks.

Of those, only three had antlers that were still growing, and the difference in value between deer with antlers and those without was enormous.

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

Besides that, there were ten first-grade mid-grade deer corpses. Nine of them were bucks, and five had antlers.

Those with antlers were worth thirty spirit stones each, while those without were still worth twenty.

The spirit stones from the long-eared deer alone came to nearly six hundred.

The Azure Cloud Wolves were of average value. There were thirty first-grade low-grade Azure Cloud Wolves, with each corpse worth around four spirit stones.

There were also twelve first-grade mid-grade Azure Cloud Wolves, with each corpse worth ten spirit stones.

All in all, the total came to around eight hundred and twenty spirit stones. After deducting the wolf meat the four of them had kept to feed their spirit beasts, along with other losses, they still had a full eight hundred spirit stones.

Of course, Ye Jingyu would take the lion's share, since he had used two first-grade high-grade Fire Rain Talismans.

Those two Spirit Talismans alone were worth two hundred spirit stones.

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

When he went to the Alchemy Pavilion to refine spirit pills, each refinement took three days, and the net profit was only around twenty spirit stones.

In other words, without even counting the spring water they had obtained, this harvest alone could cover the cost of his refining Spirit Feeding Pills five times.

The rainstorm in the mountains was still pouring heavily, while smoke continued to rise, making the entire Soaring Cloud Peak appear increasingly hazy and elusive.

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.

The path of cultivation had always been cruel. Although he knew that the Ye Family possessed at least some warmth, he had still tested them before.

When his spiritual root had been detected, the ancient book had already existed within him, yet none of the family elders had discovered it.

As for his contract with the Crimson Flame Fox, so long as Ye Jingcheng did not take the initiative to dissolve the Blood Pact, no one could establish a second Blood Pact with the beast.

Moreover, two Blood Pacts within a short period would weaken a beast's Divine Soul, and could even very possibly result in its death.

Ye Jingcheng shook his head. Instead of continuing to watch the rain drip from the eaves, he entered the room and took out the Crimson Flame Fox and Jade Ring Rat again.

He also took out three bowls and filled one of them with spring water.

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 evident dependence, its chirping still crisp and melodious.

Its reddish tongue kept twisting and turning, as if it were coquettishly acting spoiled.

Then it gazed longingly at the bowl of spring water.

"You little Little Flame, you sure know how to enjoy yourself!"

Although Ye Jingcheng complained aloud, he truly adored the Crimson Flame Fox from the bottom of his heart.

He picked up the spring water, held it to the Crimson Flame Fox's mouth, and personally fed it to the beast.

After finishing the spring water, a faint spiritual radiance once again slowly swept over the Crimson Flame Fox's body, making its already crimson fur even glossier.

Ye Jingcheng slowly stroked the Crimson Flame Fox's fur.

With his other hand, he drank his own spring water.

At a somewhat higher point on the mountainside of Soaring Cloud Peak, one could already see countless clouds and mists curling around. In the rain, the scenery was even more breathtaking, like a painting.

A grand hall stood quietly here. This was also the Ye Family's council hall.

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

In front of him stood several clan elders of the Ye Family. Had Ye Jingcheng been there, he would have discovered that the previous head of the Ye Family, Ye Haicheng, was present, as was the current head, Ye Xingliu.

Besides them were several Ye Family elders at the ninth layer of Energy Condensation.

Among them were naturally Ye Haiyi, the elder of the Demon Hunting Hall, and Ye Haiyun, the elder of the Ye Family Pill Pavilion.

Ye Xingliu wore an ordinary, loose blue-green robe, yet it could not conceal his heroic air. Clearly, Ye Jingyu's outstanding appearance had been inherited from Ye Xingliu.

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

"I believe we were the ones who misjudged the situation. That Crimson Flame Fox truly possesses extraordinary abilities. Since Jingcheng was able to save it, that is his opportunity. We should naturally let Jingcheng make the most of it. After all, our Ye Family does not judge people by their spiritual roots!"

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

Had these words been spoken elsewhere, they would certainly have been startling. Yet the cultivators in the hall remained utterly calm.

Everyone nodded as well, while Ye Xingliu turned his gaze toward Ye Haicheng above them.

"Don't you already have an answer in your heart?" Ye Haicheng turned and asked Ye Xingliu.

"Nothing can escape Great-Uncle's notice!" Ye Xingliu smiled faintly, then looked toward Jingyu.

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

"Yes, Father!" Ye Jingyu nodded repeatedly. He had naturally not made this report because he coveted the Crimson Flame Fox.

It was simply that such a formidable Crimson Flame Fox still needed to be reported to the clan, and he trusted his father.

Now, this was also the answer he had wanted to see.

The Ye Family had never oppressed or exploited its clan members, but caution and prudence were still essential.

After saying that, Ye Xingliu looked at Ye Haiyun.

"I hope Fourth Uncle can make time to guide Jingcheng more often. If his alchemy can break through to become a first-grade mid-grade Alchemist, supporting him will become all the more natural!"

"Moreover, I hear that he can already produce pill fragrance when refining Spirit Feeding Pills. When the time comes, we can also arrange his Inner Hall assessment!"

"Yes, Family Head!" Ye Haiyun nodded as well. He also thought highly of Ye Jingcheng, and everyone had seen Jingcheng's temperament and conduct in their daily dealings.

Aside from being overly yielding, they truly could not find any other fault with him.

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 emphasis on spiritual roots.

Within Ye Jingcheng's residence, Ye Jingcheng had also managed to cultivate for an entire day, a rare occurrence.

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

That faint feeling of being on the verge of breaking through a bottleneck filled him with anticipation.

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

At some point, the heavy rain outside had already stopped, and sunlight streamed in beside the window.

Then Ye Jingyu and Ye Jingyong's voices came from outside.

"Is Jingcheng here?"

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

He welcomed the two of them inside, then hurriedly brought out the teapot and brewed a pot for each of them.

Although the tea leaves were ordinary mountain tea, the water was spring water. Once brewed, it carried a hint of spiritual energy and tasted exceptionally smooth.

Ye Jingyu took a light sip, while Ye Jingyong drained an entire cup. Holding the bowl, he looked as though he wanted to pour himself another.

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

"Besides, do you know how many spirit stones this harvest sold for?"

"A full nine hundred spirit stones! Those seven long-eared deer were of exceptionally fine quality, so the family gave us another hundred spirit stones!"

"You made a killing. I have to drink several more pots of tea brewed with your spring water!"

"Moreover, because the Spirit Feeding Pills you refine are especially effective, the family has made one first-grade mid-grade spirit-pill formula freely available to you!" Ye Jingyong rattled it all off in one breath, brimming with excitement!