Chapter 15: with translation of chapter title

After the news of Lin Jianran crying as she left reached Madam Su and her second sister Su Lingxue, they finally believed that Su Chen was genuine.

Now we just await Father Su's return to the sect.

Who knows what the Ye family intends to do?

At this moment, in the Ye family manor.

Sect Master Su wore a black-and-white Daoist robe, and his every move exuded an invisible pressure.

He simply stood upon the main hall.

His aura pressed directly upon the Ye family patriarch, Ye Ding, seated properly on the gilded throne.

At that moment, on the guest seats, there were three visitors from Zhongzhou—two men and one woman; the men were handsome, the woman delicate and lively.

Yet they bore an air of arrogance.

Their gazes toward Sect Master Su were filled with blatant contempt.

As for Sect Master Su, hearing the Ye family patriarch's tone that dreamed of supplanting the Heavenly Profound Dao Sect, he wished to seize the man's throat and slay him on the spot.

A mere second-rate clan, without relying on Zhongzhou's power, isn't even worthy to hand the Heavenly Profound Dao Sect its shoes.

But now is not the time to provoke; he chose to endure: "The Heavenly Profound Dao Manual is our sect's sole heaven-tier cultivation art; if we hand it over, wouldn't we sever our lineage?"

Sect Master Su's face showed difficulty.

"Our Heavenly Profound Dao Sect appears flourishing, but in truth it has already declined and poses no threat to the Ye family."

"Patriarch Ye, the earlier wager between my son and your son was merely a petty squabble among juniors, not worth bringing to the table."

"Moreover, the Blazing Yang Sect and Cold Moon Sect have long harbored designs to swallow the Eastern Wasteland; Patriarch Ye, are you not afraid of dealing with tigers?"

"Why not have our Heavenly Profound Dao Sect join forces with the Ye family to crush the Blazing Yang and Cold Moon Sects? Then not only could the Ye family expand its territory, but its inheritance would also be secured."

Sect Master Su stared directly at Patriarch Ye, speaking with fervent passion, as if the two sects were already within easy grasp.

Seated on the gilded throne, Patriarch Ye narrowed his eyes, his countenance deep as water, a sharp glint flashing in his depths; he too was an ambitious man.

Previously he had been meek because his son was unpromising; now, looking down upon the master of the Heavenly Profound Dao Sect, he naturally felt secretly delighted.

The atmosphere throughout the Ye family's main hall grew rather solemn.

The Ye family elder standing beside the patriarch hurried to his side and whispered two sentences.

"The young master's schemes are exquisite; he already knew the Heavenly Profound Dao Sect would yield."

"Thus he was sent in advance to attend Patriarch Ye and devise strategies."

"Today's sole purpose is to force the Heavenly Profound Dao Sect to surrender the Heavenly Profound Dao Manual."

"Ye Xuan, even before entering cultivation and joining the Star Pavilion, began plotting and scheming for the Heavenly Profound Dao Sect's sect-defining art, the Heavenly Profound Dao Manual; now, merely showing a hint of his talent, he has driven the sect to desperation."

The Ye family elder, fully aware of all this, never expected the other side to be so obstinate, daring to hope to preserve their inheritance at this point.

"Patriarch Ye!"

Sect Master Su burst into tears, clasped his hands, bowed, and said: "My son, having gone berserk from cultivation deviation, per the pharmacist's advice, only by cultivating our sect's Heavenly Profound Dao Manual can he achieve rebirth; it is not that I am reluctant to share it with Patriarch Ye."

A cold smirk curled the Ye family patriarch's lips, his murderous aura chilling: "So you mean to follow your own wishes, Sect Master Su?"

"When my son rids himself of his inner demon and can continue cultivating, our Heavenly Profound Dao Sect will surely present the manual with both hands."

"Rest assured, our Heavenly Profound Dao Sect is on good terms with the Ye family; in the future, whatever belongs to our sect will essentially belong to the Ye family."

Sect Master Su spoke with deep feeling, even rubbing his tears at the height of his emotion, aiming to be moving and heartfelt.

It appears the Ye family not only wants to annex his sect, but also covets their sect-defining art; with the manual protecting him, his son would soon have no fear for his life.

Patriarch Ye's sharp gaze fixed on Sect Master Su's square face, missing no detail, hoping to discern something from his expression.

After a quarter hour.

Patriarch Ye's aged face broke into a radiant chrysanthemum smile, his aura suddenly condensing; it seems the Zhongzhou visitors treat the Ye family well—this patriarch, originally a third-layer Martial King, now appears indeed a Martial Emperor.

An imperial majesty rose up.

"Haha! I hope Sect Master Su remembers his earlier words: my son Ye Xuan will soon rule the Eastern Wasteland; at this time, don't pick the wrong side."

"Besides, I eagerly await the performance of the Young Sect Master Su in the duel agreed upon by my son and him."

Patriarch Ye retorted mockingly, "Who doesn't know that the Young Sect Master of the Heavenly Profound Dao Sect has spent these three years lavishing thought and money on pleasing women, utterly neglecting cultivation?"

"By the way, I recall Sect Master Su's eldest daughter, Su Mutao, married into the Tai Xuan Qing Dynasty."

"His third daughter, Su Yue, travels abroad."

"Only his second daughter, Su Lingxue, remains unmarried; am I correct?"

Sect Master Su's heart pounded violently.

All three of his daughters are beauties capable of overturning kingdoms.

His eldest daughter, Su Mutao, married early into the Tai Xuan Qing Dynasty and now resides with her husband's family.

His third daughter, Su Yue, constantly trains abroad, her whereabouts uncertain.

"Only his second daughter, Su Lingxue… what does Patriarch Ye intend?"

Sect Master Su suppressed the anger surging in his chest, his palms condensing profound energy undulations.

Veins bulged on his forehead; faintly he guessed what Patriarch Ye intended, yet at present the Ye family manor hosts no fewer than three Martial Ancestors.

Should he act, he might very well be left here.

For now he could only restrain his emotions and reply, "That's correct."

"Sect Master Su constantly claims our Heavenly Profound Dao Sect and the Ye family are allies; coincidentally, my young son Ye Ba has reached marrying age—why not unite our families through marriage, forming a Qin-Jin alliance?"

"Since Sect Master Su remains silent, I shall take it as tacit consent."

"Indeed, it is so."

Sect Master Su's back teeth nearly shattered from rage; he drew a deep breath, his cultivation! He had already decided that upon leaving the Ye family he would immediately take a Breakthrough Pill, enter seclusion, and strive for the Martial Venerable Realm: "This matter still allows our sect, and me, to return and consult with my wife."

Even now, Sect Master Su kept a stern face, rose, and withdrew from the Ye family's main hall.

Meanwhile, Patriarch Ye, still seated on the gilded throne, slowly lifted his head; his eyes were incredibly sharp, and he ruthlessly gouged a fierce glance at the departing Sect Master Su.

Killing intent rose in his eyes, and finally a hint of madness flashed and vanished.

Great power is addictive.

Indeed, when one possesses great cultivation, one's state of mind also changes.

Su Xun, you think your son's trash talent can also cultivate the Heavenly Mystic Dao Canon?!

"Clan Chief." Ye Da Elder bowed and stepped forward, respectfully saying: "This Sect Master Su is surely not one who fears death and clings to life; he has long heard that the Young Master has the backing of Central Province forces behind him, and is also allied through marriage with a princess of the imperial dynasty."

"Little Young Master, by rights one born a fool should, when the clan chief just now deliberately mentioned the marriage alliance, by rights anyone else would already be flying into a rage."

"This person can endure so much; the clan chief ought not to hesitate!"

Ye Da Elder, who had favored Ye Xuan since childhood, was one of the only two who did not step on him even when Ye Xuan fell from grace.

Only he would dare to pluck up his courage and ask a couple of questions about such a matter.

The Ye clan chief also couldn't fathom Sect Master Su's intention; perhaps he still thought he could turn the tables?

Previously he held the status of an imperial dynasty's prince-consort, and later he bore the title of Young Pavilion Master of the Star Pavilion; logically, the Heavenly Mystic Dao Sect ought to have handed over the Heavenly Mystic Dao Canon willingly.

After all, he has no way out.

But... but now he not only has no intention of handing over the cultivation method, he also seems unwilling to leave the Eastern Wasteland.

It truly leaves people guessing.

The Ye family suppressed their doubts, scanning over the several Martial Ancestors in the manor, the corners of their mouths curling with a cold sneer, a faint chill stirring in their eyes: "Heavenly Mystic Dao Sect, these years you have thrown your weight around, offending every surrounding power; now you are isolated and helpless. As long as we confine you within the Eastern Wasteland territory, we need only wait for Young Master Xuan to arrive."

"Moreover..."

"He thinks that only a few Martial Ancestor experts have come from Central Province? In the eyes of such colossal beings as the Star Pavilion and the Central Province imperial dynasty, Martial Ancestors are at most slightly larger ants."

Ye Da Elder exclaimed in astonishment: "Could it be that the Young Master has already...?!"

The Ye clan chief's gaze grew deep, he rose, tossed out a sentence and vanished from the hall: "What is Central Province? A mere Martial Ancestor can be flicked away with a snap of the fingers!"