Affection

"This is the one!"

As one of the top ten Inner Disciples this time, Li Ye could choose one combat technique or movement technique from the Martial Arts Pavilion to take with him.

"Although I can copy every combat technique and movement technique here, walking out empty-handed would definitely arouse suspicion."

With that in mind, he directly took the Sword Control Technique into his hands. Glancing toward the entrance to the Third Layer of the Martial Arts Pavilion, he vaguely sensed a powerful aura barring the way.

"Black-Tier combat techniques!"

This was an open secret. The Third Layer of the Martial Arts Pavilion supposedly contained higher-grade Black-Tier combat techniques or movement techniques. Unfortunately, no one in the entire Lineage—not even the elders—could enter the Third Layer of the Martial Arts Pavilion! Only the patriarch and the Supreme Elder could come and go freely!

Now, ever since Li Kainian had left home and vanished, only the Supreme Elder remained who could enter the Third Layer.

As Li Ye was leaving the Martial Arts Pavilion, he saw that old man again.

"Senior!"

His instincts told him that the old man before him was anything but ordinary, so Li Ye was extremely respectful. No matter what, an old man who could freely enter and leave the Martial Arts Pavilion had to possess an extraordinary identity.

"Which one did you choose?"

The old man nodded. Then, his clouded eyes gave Li Ye the illusion that all his thoughts had been seen through.

"This one!"

Li Ye did not conceal it. He took out the Sword Control Technique and handed it to the old man.

"The Sword Control Technique?!" At that moment, the old man erupted with a terrifying aura that made one's heart tremble. Though it vanished in an instant, Li Ye had clearly felt it!

Sure enough, a master is hiding within the Lineage!

"Are you certain you wish to choose this Sword Control Technique?"

"This junior is certain!"

What a joke. Although this Sword Control Technique had no rank, once cultivated successfully, one could kill from a thousand miles away and even ride a sword through the skies! It was simply more outrageous than a Black-Tier cultivation method!

Moreover, the Blood Clan was born with extraordinary spiritual power, making them perfectly suited to cultivate this Sword Control Technique.

"Kid, judging from the movement technique you used when going upstairs earlier, it should be the Phantom Step. Though it is still somewhat rough and immature, it is truly no easy feat for someone at your realm to have reached this level. This Sword Control Technique has been sitting in the Lineage for centuries. It is not as though no young people like you have chosen it in hopes of gambling on it, but history has told everyone else that those people regretted it for the rest of their lives! With your comprehension and talent in combat techniques, you would be better off choosing a High-Grade Yellow-Tier Combat Technique. The Phantom Step alone will be enough for you to study for quite some time. Instead, you need to carefully consider your combat techniques!"

The old man's words filled Li Ye with respect.

Ever since entering this Lineage, aside from the father-and-son pair Li Hou Nian and Li Yuan Jia, everyone had been full of hostility toward him! Yet this old man earnestly advised him and even offered suggestions based on his circumstances. No matter who the old man was, Li Ye could hear the sincerity in his words.

Unfortunately, Li Ye shook his head. "Senior, this junior greatly admires the Sword Control Technique. As for combat techniques, this junior has already cultivated the Frost Fist and Gale Legs."

The old man gave Li Ye a rather surprised look, but still offered one final warning. "Even so, this Sword Control Technique is far too elusive. It is not something an ordinary person can cultivate. Are you sure you have thought this through?"

"Yes!"

The old man no longer tried to stop him. He merely shook his head slightly, then turned around and ignored Li Ye.

After taking a deep look at the old man, Li Ye walked out of the Martial Arts Pavilion. The moment he emerged, he saw the two elders who had stopped him earlier. Their faces were ashen, and there were even traces of bruising at the corners of their mouths, as though they had suffered considerable injuries.

When they saw Li Ye emerge, repeated flashes of cold light burst from their eyes. Yet they did not attack again. After giving him a frigid glance, they no longer paid him any attention.

"What happened?"

Just then, Li Ye saw Li Yuan Jia about to enter the Martial Arts Pavilion and asked in a low voice.

"These two old geezers were taught a lesson by Father after you went in."

"So that's what happened!"

Li Ye smiled faintly and nodded. After interacting with Li Hou Nian several times, Li Ye had also realized that the man was cold on the outside but warm within, especially when it came to protecting his own! That was evident from the extent to which he defended Li Ye, his own nephew.

However, Li Ye also felt deep curiosity toward this biological uncle of his. Rumor had it that Li Hou Nian had left home to travel for many years. That was also why, back when Li Ye had been driven from the family, no one had paid him any heed. Otherwise, things would never have turned out that way.

Everyone was quite unfamiliar with this Fourth Elder of the Lineage. No one knew exactly what realm he had reached.

Now that Li Ye saw two Martial Dao Masters at least at the eighth level of the Spirit Martial Realm being so thoroughly dealt with by Li Hou Nian, yet daring to rage without daring to speak, understanding dawned on him.

It seems my Fourth Uncle is quite formidable! At the very least, he is a Martial Dao Grandmaster-level expert!

At that thought, he could not help but let out a slight breath of relief. In the short time since entering the Lineage, dangers had lurked on all sides! He knew very well that Li Huangran's targeting of him was by no means Li Huangran's own idea. Others were directing things from behind the scenes! If he were alone, he would have to tread as if walking on thin ice; one careless misstep, and his corpse might be left without bones!

"Now that Fourth Uncle has appeared, at least these people will have to show a little restraint."

Martial Dao Grandmasters were exceedingly rare even within the Lineage! They were tyrannical powerhouses throughout all of Wuzhou City!

After bidding farewell to Li Yuan Jia, Li Ye returned to his residence. Now that he had fought his way into the top ten Inner Disciples, he had also been assigned a small courtyard of his own within the Lineage.

"As expected, the status of an Inner Disciple is different."

Though it was merely an independent little courtyard, the difference was obvious! Outer Disciples had to squeeze four or five people into a single room! Among the Inner Disciples, those ranked in the bottom twenty each had their own room, while the top ten had independent courtyards! The higher the ranking, the larger the courtyard!

"If one is among the top three Inner Disciples, there are even servants and maids to attend to them."

Li Ye did not dislike this sort of tiered treatment. In fact, he deeply approved of it. For a Lineage—or even a sect—to develop and endure for long, generation after generation of experts had to emerge. Such a system would clearly stimulate the competitive spirit of the disciples below.

Although this small courtyard was not large, it was far better than the rundown courtyard Li Ye had previously lived in within Wuzhou City. Very soon, Li Ye returned to that old courtyard and found Aunt Yun, intending to have her move over with him.

Unfortunately, Aunt Yun shook her head. "You child, I've lived here for so many years that I'm used to it. I won't go over there. As long as you come back to visit Aunt Yun from time to time, Aunt Yun will be satisfied."

After failing to persuade her several times, Li Ye no longer insisted. In truth, he was conflicted as well. On one side was Aunt Yun, who had cared for him for many years; on the other, the Li Family was fraught with hidden dangers, and he was uncertain whether danger would come. Thus, seeing Aunt Yun persist, he nodded. "All right, Aunt Yun. I'll come back to see you whenever I can."

After leaving behind some gold coins, Li Ye returned to the Li Family.

However, a guest was already waiting for him in his small courtyard.

When he pushed open the door, he immediately saw a graceful figure from behind, seemingly lost in thought.

Perhaps the sound of the door startled her awake. She turned around, and a lovely face capable of toppling kingdoms came into view. Upon seeing who it was, Li Ye was slightly stunned before smiling, though an exceptionally strange feeling stirred within his heart.

"Brother Li Ye, don't you recognize Yating anymore?"

It was a familiar voice, accompanied by a faintly familiar scent. Yet compared to her former youthful innocence, it now carried a trace of the sweet fragrance unique to a young girl.

Li Yating, a genius highly regarded by the Lineage! Three years ago, she had caught the eye of the Heavenly Profound Sect and entered it! Yet few knew that this proud daughter of heaven, secretly admired by countless talented young men of the Lineage, actually had such a close relationship in private with a good-for-nothing.

"You came here to see me. Aren't you afraid those people will hold it against you?"

Although it was merely the merging of memories brought about by the fusion of souls, when Li Ye saw this girl, he felt as if he had truly known her for years, like a childhood sweetheart of a younger sister.

Hearing this, Li Yating smiled softly. Like a hundred flowers blooming at once, even Li Ye was slightly dazed.

Seeing him like this, Li Yating gave a crafty smile and cast him a mildly reproachful glance. Giggling, she said, "What is there to fear? Those old geezers have been throwing their weight around in the Lineage all these years while your father has been missing. Plenty of people have long been dissatisfied with them, but few dare to resist. They can't control this young lady now!"

Powerful confidence radiated from Li Yating.

"It seems that after entering the Heavenly Profound Sect, you've become much bolder, girl."

Though he said so, Li Ye had to admit that Li Yating's identity was no longer what it once was. Even the few powerful figures in the Lineage did not dare do anything to her; they even had to coax and appease her!

After all, before the Heavenly Profound Sect, the Li Family was merely an insignificant little family.

"Brother Li Ye, I saw the earlier match." Li Yating lightly bit her red lip. After hesitating slightly, she said softly, "When I came back this time, I had originally planned to give you this. I didn't expect that it would be unnecessary now."

As she spoke, a pill emitting a rich fragrance appeared in her small, fair palm.

"What is this?"

"A Soul-Gathering Pill. The person who takes it has about a seventy percent chance of condensing a Blood Soul within their body."

Those few short words made Li Ye's entire body tremble slightly, his breathing grow heavy. Li Yating had spoken simply, but how could he fail to understand the affection contained within them!

Soul-Gathering Pill! Three simple words, yet they contained so much!

Medicinal pills! Such things were exceedingly rare throughout the Cloud Soaring Continent! Apart from a very small number of alchemists, ordinary people could never even come into contact with them!

There was not even a single alchemist in all of Wuzhou City! Such figures often held even greater status than Innate Realm King Tier experts! While it might be easy for the Heavenly Profound Sect to obtain a medicinal pill, for a disciple, the difficulty was undoubtedly harder than ascending to heaven!

Yet Li Yating mentioned none of that. She simply wanted to give it to him! To a good-for-nothing whom everyone believed could not condense a Blood Soul!

"Thank you!" Li Ye would never forget this affection for the rest of his life! Even though he had no need for it now!