The golden-red sea of clouds enveloped the end of the mountain range.

A round sunrise revealed more than half of its silhouette, casting countless golden rays, making the entire Lingyun Peak shine brilliantly.

A spiritual ship broke through the clouds, speeding over, yet as it approached, its speed abruptly slowed down.

On the spiritual ship, all cultivators led by Ye Jingcheng appeared exceptionally solemn at this moment.

Even though they had just experienced a pursuit and an overwhelming victory not long ago.

Lingyun Peak remained beautiful, and wherever the eyes reached, the dazzling golden morning sun shone on the snow-white peak, causing a faint wisp of mist to rise, enveloping most of the peak.

Even the tip of the nose was surrounded by the crisp fragrance of bamboo shoots and the pervasive tea fragrance; the early spring's grandeur had already unfolded on the mountain peak.

Ye Xingliu was fine, but naturally, he couldn't help but sigh for Ye Jingyu, Ye Xingyi, and others who had long departed.

As for Ye Jingcheng, at this moment, he was even more dazed, as if his gaze penetrated thousands of feet, seeing a serene, antiquated courtyard, with a hint of bitter apricot blossom fragrance in the air.

In his ears, he seemed to hear the sound of flames burning the pill furnace slowly, the imperfect hissing and exploding, ultimately surged towards Ye Jingcheng this morning.

Ye Jingyong and others looked at Ye Jingcheng.

They also fell silent; Ye Jingcheng dared not use his divine sense to look, but they saw clearly with divine sense that in the courtyard, there was only an earthworm constantly turning over the soil and half-open white apricot blossoms.

There was no elderly person in their twilight years eagerly waiting for their family members to return.

Evidently, it was already too late.

Ye Jingcheng had not made it to see the last glance.

All the Ye family members were also filled with sorrow; Ye Jingcheng had grown up under Ye Haiyun's watch, and they, too, had spent a bewildering and passionate immortal child period under Ye Haiyun's protection.

Ye Jingcheng stopped the spiritual ship at the foot of Lingyun Peak, murmuring:

"Fourth Grandpa, I've returned!"

With just a short sentence, Ye Jingcheng almost burst into tears.

He stepped onto the mountain, his eyes filled with familiar land and trees, yet in just over three years, he felt an unfamiliar sense.

"Let's go to the ancestral hall first!" Ye Xingliu spoke upon seeing Ye Jingcheng like this.

According to family rules, all Ye family cultivators who go out must first return to the clan assembly hall to hand over all tasks and record the reasons for going out.

However, seeing Ye Jingcheng's state, he couldn't bear it.

Cultivation, in the end, is not about cultivating indifference.

As a family, even more so.

"Third Uncle, let's go to the assembly hall first to hand over the tasks and reasons!" Ye Jingcheng shook his head, looking determined, as he walked step by step towards the peak.

From others' eyes, he guessed everything.

Whether due to clan rules or holding onto the last bit of hope.

He had to go to the assembly hall first.

Due to the upgrading of the spirit vein, the Lingyun Peak of the family had grown much higher these years.

The spiritual energy atop the mountain was even more vibrant, so much so that even some mortal wood grew exceptionally lush and tall, some even having surpassed the height of mortal wood.

Over the years, the assembly hall had been renovated to appear more majestic, and more clan cultivators had appeared, those immortal children who ascended the mountain three years ago had now become quite adept at cultivation, utilizing Light Body Skill and Artifact Manipulation Skill in the mountains.

In their eyes, Ye Jingcheng saw a glow similar to the golden morning sun.

Ye Haiyi, who was responsible for dealing with affairs, was still in the assembly hall.

However, Ye Haiyi now appeared somewhat aged; although he was a body cultivator, he could not escape the threshold of 120 years of life.

If he doesn't reach Foundation Establishment, he will not live beyond two Jiazi.

Ye Haiyi seemed to have seen into Ye Jingcheng's mind, and all the records were within a jade talisman, allowing Ye Jingcheng to inscribe his three-year experience at Taichang Market.

All was completed within a quarter of an hour.

The group from the Ye family then headed once more to the ancestral hall, with Ye Haiyi accompanying them.

The family ancestral hall was equally larger now, filled with spirit tablets.

Of course, among these spirit tablets, some were real, while others were fake; most of the real ones had incense burner ashes full, while the fake ones mostly had empty burners.

At this moment, the one with brilliant sandalwood lit was at the Hai Generation's position, Ye Haiyun.

Ye Jingcheng knelt on the foremost zafu, beginning to kowtow.

The others also did the same.

After three kowtows, Ye Jingcheng took out the Tier Two Spirit Fragrance he had unexpectedly acquired, lighting three sticks for Ye Haiyun.

"Jingcheng, this is what the Fourth Elder asked me to give to you!" Ye Haiyi stepped out from the side, also handing Ye Jingcheng a storage bag.

Ye Jingcheng was taken aback, only to hear Ye Haiyi continue:

"The Fourth Elder had no direct descendants, so he designated you as his direct lineage, transferring 8,000 contribution points to you, along with his remaining research and some treasures for you."

Ye Jingcheng was somewhat surprised; he accepted the storage bag, and his divine sense penetrated inside. The first things he saw were two spiritual peaches, intact and resting in the jade box, with a spirit talisman maintaining spiritual energy stuck on, and beside the jade box was a basket of spiritual almonds.

These were obviously the latest spiritual almonds, but due to the secret realm's journey, they hadn't yet been handed to Ye Jingcheng.

Besides the spiritual almonds, there were quite a few alchemy materials and several jade talismans.

The jade talismans contained summaries of pill formulas and Ye Haiyun's insights on refining pill formulas and demon beast inner cores over the years.

And this was also Ye Jingcheng's instruction before leaving.

Ye Haiyun complied but did not consume the spiritual peaches himself.

The last jade talisman had Ye Haiyun's message for him:

"Jingcheng, you should be a Tier Two high-grade alchemist by now. Unfortunately, Fourth Grandpa cannot see you become a Tier Three alchemist anymore. I've heard you've broken through to the middle stage of Foundation Establishment and have tamed several spirit beasts, but remember, cultivation is the priority. A fine beast is better than many, and the burden of the Beast Communication Pattern will grow heavier with the increase in cultivation!"

"If there is a Heaven-Ascending Eye, it must see Yun Fusheng!"

"Cultivation is for cultivation; ultimately, one must see before having no regrets!"

"However, Fourth Granduncle doesn't have much to leave for you, only some spirit fruits, a few pill formulas, and an Earthworm to be your inheriting spirit beast."

The brief words made Ye Jingcheng shed tears several times.

He thought of these years in Taichang Market; every time family cultivators came, they would bring him spiritual almonds and some insights.

However, from this day onwards, no one would send him spiritual almonds anymore.

No one would open the door slit in the alchemy room, allowing him to glimpse a bit.

"Third Uncle, I want to mourn here for three days!" Ye Jingcheng spoke.

In the Ye Family, because they all share the same bloodline, mourning is very normal. Ye Jingcheng proposed, and Ye Xingliu and others naturally would agree.

They also stayed in the ancestral hall for a long time before departing.

Ye Jingyong and Ye Jingli personally placed Ye Jingyu's memorial tablet on the Spirit Platform, next to Ye Jingfeng.

Years unseen, the spiritual tablets of the Jing Generation had increased.

Forming a small row.

Yet, Ye Jingcheng knew that among them, quite a few had gone to the Hidden Peak and East Sea.

But those remaining ones still showed that the Ye Family's development was not all smooth sailing.

Three days is not long, during which Ye Jingcheng stayed in the ancestral hall, besides mourning Ye Haiyun, the road to immortality in his heart became more determined.

Ye Haiyun undoubtedly regretted not achieving Foundation Establishment, not seeing what lies beyond, and not being able to refine Tier Two Spirit Pills without external help.

For family cultivators, compared to loose cultivators, they bear both the family and being cultivators.

More benefits also mean more burdens.

With dawn reappearing again, Ye Jingcheng bowed his head in respect.

Then headed towards the courtyard.

He wanted to see the Earthworm.

At this moment, in his heart, he couldn't help but feel sentimental. Once he found the Earthworm especially strange, now it has become his first inheriting spirit beast and will be his source of remembrance today.

From Ye Haiyun's jade talisman, he learned that this Earthworm is not ordinary.

Not only is it a Tier One peak demon beast, but it can also create spirit soil.

It can absorb normal soil and produce spirit soil.

Spirit soil is a higher level spirit object than ordinary soil; any spirit plant will grow better with some spirit soil, even enhancing the effects produced by spirit plants to some extent.

Of course, spirit soil is divided into natural and postnatal types, similarly tiered like cultivation.

The spirit soil produced by the Earthworm is naturally only Tier One spirit soil.

But this Earthworm might not just end there; according to Ye Haicheng, the Earthworm has big potential for growth.

Ye Jingcheng naturally wanted to see it as well, as he had the Treasure Book.

Certainly, the Treasure Book might not reveal much, as the Earthworm's age is likely quite old.

If it exceeds the possibility of advancement, it's quite normal.

Ye Jingcheng pushed open the familiar courtyard, the forbidden array was still there, and the arrangement was as usual.

However, the spiritual apricot tree blossomed sadly, with many white flowers scattered on the table, and the small patch of soil in the courtyard had the Earthworm crawling out.

This time, it completely emerged from the soil, not like before when it was unclear whether its head or tail was showing.

Because the two ends were indeed very similar.

Today, Ye Jingcheng finally saw the full appearance of the Earthworm. Its body was about three feet long, with an aura of a Tier One peak presence.

Though there's a Tier One peak, its real combat power was likely unimpressive.

Yet for Ye Jingcheng, this Earthworm was extremely suitable for his grotto heaven.

Although the Stone Spirit Grotto Heaven had a Spiritual Eye Spring, having more spirit soil would make his spirit plants grow better.

Even the Peach Wood Demon could grow better.

At this moment, Ye Jingcheng was surprised to see the Treasure Book light up.

On it appeared two possibilities for advancement.

Evidently, the Earthworm does have true potential, and even without external interference, the likelihood of breaking through to Tier Two was substantial.

Tier Two Earthworms produce Tier Two spirit soil, which Ye Jingcheng naturally looked forward to.

The Earthworm's spirit was very abundant, which was apparent from the past, so when Ye Jingcheng forced out some essence blood, it cooperated particularly well.

Quickly, a bond was formed between Ye Jingcheng and the Earthworm.

Ye Jingcheng tossed several Spirit Cultivation Pills for the Earthworm to consume.

Upon seeing the Spirit Cultivation Pills, it swayed from left to right and then headed into the spirit soil again.

Yet Ye Jingcheng stopped it, directly taking out the grotto heaven, placing the Earthworm inside, along with the apricot tree from the courtyard.

After completing these tasks, Ye Jingcheng tidied the courtyard thoroughly, remembering how particular Ye Haiyun was about these details. Afterward, he took out a pot of Yunfu Tea and poured a cup in front of the apricot tree.

Then took a sip himself, allowing the tea aroma to scatter through the air.

The taste of the tea became more mellow, intertwining with the lingering apricot flowers, permeating the heart.

After a long while, Ye Jingcheng stood up, murmuring.

"Fourth Granduncle, I will go to succeed the Patriarch!"

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