I Admit I Raised My Voice a Little Just Now

"For ordinary people, or those from minor factions, going to Jia Nan Academy to cultivate is a good path."

"Even for a core disciple of the Ye Clan, being able to cultivate in Jia Nan Academy's Inner Academy would be an excellent thing."

"But you're different. You're one of the Ye Clan's seed candidates, and you receive the same treatment as the young clan leader."

"The resources you can obtain in the Ye Clan, and the path open to you afterward to join Sacred Pill City and strive to become one of its core disciples, are far better than anything Jia Nan Academy can offer you."

"Why waste your time going there?"

Ye Zhong genuinely had Ye Qingzhou's best interests at heart, and of course, the Ye Clan's future as well.

There were two years until the next Five Great Clans assessment. If the Ye Clan failed to pass again, then the following assessment, another five years later, would be its last chance.

In other words, the Ye Clan had two chances left. If it failed to pass the Five Great Clans assessment, it would lose its corresponding clan status and elder seat.

The assessment was conducted by the younger generation of the Five Great Clans, so the Ye Clan would spare no effort in nurturing Ye Qingzhou.

There was no need for him to go to Jia Nan Academy and compete with others for resources.

"Granduncle, I understand what you mean." Ye Qingzhou listened obediently until Ye Zhong had finished before speaking. "I've considered everything before deciding to go to Jia Nan Academy. I believe I can improve more there than by staying in the Ye Clan and trying to build a cart behind closed doors."

"Then I'd like to hear your reasoning." Ye Zhong's expression remained stern.

He felt that, given his own breadth of experience, he could surely see farther ahead than Ye Qingzhou.

"Granduncle, before I tell you what I think, let me ask you a question." Ye Qingzhou spoke calmly. "What support can I still receive from the Ye Clan over the next two years?"

Hearing this, Ye Zhong immediately gave his answer.

Naturally, there were cultivation methods, Dou Techniques, medicinal pills, and hands-on instruction from a Dou Emperor expert and a sixth-tier alchemist.

"Granduncle, wouldn't I have those benefits at Jia Nan Academy too?" Ye Qingzhou smiled faintly. "As the saying goes, bite off more than you can chew, and you can't digest it all. For a cultivation method, the Crimson Flame Bodhi Scripture is enough for me right now. The proper course is to seek a more advanced method from the Pill Tower after breaking through to Dou Wang."

"As for Dou Techniques, I'm currently learning two Low Earth Tier Dou Techniques and several High-grade Profound Tier Dou Techniques. I won't be learning any more in the near future."

"As for medicinal pills, the clan can give them to me beforehand, or have someone send them to me at Jia Nan Academy."

"And as for a Dou Emperor's instruction, that's available at Jia Nan Academy's Inner Academy too."

"The only difference is that only a sixth-tier alchemist can give me instruction there, but if the clan sends me with a few notebooks written by seventh-tier alchemists, that can make up the difference."

At this point, Ye Qingzhou paused, then continued, "And by studying at Jia Nan Academy's Inner Academy, I can use the Blazing Sky Qi Refining Tower to raise my cultivation as quickly as possible."

"I can also pass the trials and assessments to enter Jia Nan Academy's scripture repository. I might even obtain heavenly treasures."

"Besides that, I can compete with geniuses from all over the Dou Qi Continent."

"While improving myself, I can also make some friends, which would benefit the Ye Clan as well."

"What do you think?"

Of course, Ye Zhong knew about these benefits.

In fact, on closer consideration, the benefits the Ye Clan offered Ye Qingzhou did not conflict with his going to Jia Nan Academy to cultivate.

He could enjoy the benefits provided by the clan while also going to Jia Nan Academy to gain more.

But with this genius away from the clan, Ye Zhong simply could not set his mind at ease.

"I understand all that, but Jia Nan Academy's Inner Academy has clear rules about enrollment and study." Ye Zhong's tone softened slightly as he voiced his concerns. "The standard course of study in the Inner Academy lasts a full five years. Students can only apply to graduate early once they've broken through to Dou Wang. They can also choose to extend their studies."

"I have no worries about your talent. You can certainly graduate early, but the Five Great Clans assessment is in two years."

"You'll have a hard time passing the assessment if you take part this time, but you can gain experience in advance and give it your all at the assessment seven years from now."

"And after you take part in this assessment, the Ye Clan can use its elder seat to help you obtain the Earth Tier Cultivation Method you need from the library."

Realization dawned on Ye Qingzhou. So Ye Zhong had thought that far ahead as well. No wonder he had come to persuade him to stay.

The reason he had not brought it up himself before was that he had been certain Ye Zhong could see the benefits of his going to Jia Nan Academy and would not stop him.

"If that's what you're worried about, Granduncle, you really don't need to be." Ye Qingzhou held out his hand to Ye Zhong and smiled. "Take a look, and you'll know that I'll definitely be back in two years."

A trace of puzzlement flashed in Ye Zhong's eyes, but he still reached out and placed his hand on Ye Qingzhou's wrist, releasing a thread of soul power to examine him.

Unless Ye Qingzhou released the presence of his cultivation realm himself, Ye Zhong could not learn his true cultivation level even if he forcibly examined him with soul power.

"Hmm!?" Ye Zhong's pupils contracted.

The Dou Crystal had no spikes, was perfectly whole, and was also quite large. This was Two-Star Dou Ling.

His Dou Qi was dense and solid, the meridians throughout his body were tough and wide, his Qi and blood were vigorous, and his foundation was incomparably firm.

There was none of the instability that came from swallowing medicinal pills to forcibly raise one's cultivation, like pulling up seedlings to make them grow.

"H-how is that possible?" Ye Zhong, a dignified Dou Zong, looked somewhat stunned. "Qingzhou, you were only a Three-Star Da Dou Shi seven days ago. How are you now..."

"Granduncle, it must have something to do with the inheritance from our ancestor." Ye Qingzhou lied with a perfectly straight face. "Xin Lan gave me a Purple Heart Barrier-Breaking Pill, and the clan gave me a Three-Pattern Green Spirit Pill. After I swallowed them, my cultivation rose by four stars, and they also activated the soul power in the ancestor's imprint, which has been benefiting me ever since."

"I have a feeling that as long as I can strengthen my meridians and physique, I can cultivate even faster."

"Fallen Heart Flame lies beneath Jia Nan Academy's Blazing Sky Qi Refining Tower. What could be better than that for tempering the body?"

Hearing this, Ye Zhong immediately nodded and smiled. "You're right. The Blazing Sky Qi Refining Tower is exactly what you need most right now. I support your going to Jia Nan Academy's Inner Academy."

"I'll leave now and have Zhengqing prepare some things for you to take when you go to Jia Nan Academy."

"Go ahead and take part in this year's Inner Academy entrance assessment."

The reason he had not wanted Ye Qingzhou to go before was that he thought it would be difficult for Ye Qingzhou to raise his cultivation from Seven-Star Great Dou Master to Dou Wang within two years.

But now Ye Qingzhou was a Two-Star Dou Ling and had his ancestor's Soul Imprint. As long as he went to cultivate beneath the Blazing Sky Qi Refining Tower, breaking through to Dou Wang within two years would be no problem at all.

Moreover, his cultivation was already respectable in Jia Nan Academy's Inner Academy, so there was no need to worry about him being bullied.

"Sorry for the trouble, Granduncle." Ye Qingzhou did not stand on ceremony with Ye Zhong.

"No trouble, no trouble." Ye Zhong laughed as he left.

A sixteen-year-old Two-Star Dou Ling, with the clan's full support, would have no problem reaching Dou Emperor before the age of twenty-five. His Soul Realm could also advance another step to the Perfected Spirit Realm.

When the time came, passing the Five Great Clans assessment would not be difficult!

"Cousin, what did you show Grandfather?" Ye Xinlan asked curiously.

When Ye Zhong had first arrived that morning, his expression had been so sour that she had not dared to speak.

Ye Zhong had even taken the initiative to criticize her, saying that she had not known to persuade Ye Qingzhou to stay with the clan.

Yet now, he had changed his expression so fast that she could not even react in time.

"You don't know this, but Granduncle was just saying I was useless.

"That I couldn't make you want to stay."

Ye Qingzhou: "..."