Chapter 176: At All Costs

Bai Hu and Shi Yuan also sensed the aura of this Supreme Elder, far stronger than theirs, and asked Ye Liuyun what to do.

Ye Liuyun also knew he could not kill the Grand Elder today. Even if the Supreme Elder did not act, the Director would block him. So he recalled the ferocious beasts and ceased pursuing the Grand Elder.

The Grand Elder ran up to the Supreme Elder to complain: "Please, Supreme Elder, arbitrate for me and restore justice for my disciple."

"Fine! Your disciple's skill is inferior, yet he still provokes trouble; his death is deserved. And you're getting more muddled with age! You even attacked a junior disciple! Give up the Grand Elder position and let someone else take it! From now on, stay here with me to guard Blood Thunder Peak."

The Supreme Elder's words carried supreme authority, leaving no room for refusal or discussion; it was a direct command.

"Yes!" the Grand Elder replied despondently, stepped aside, and dared not speak further.

After arranging the Grand Elder, the Supreme Elder drove the others away as well.

"Alright, disperse. Today's matters must not be spread. Young lad, Nan Feng, you two stay."

Then he told the Grand Elder to go back and pack his things, and to return here in half an hour.

After everyone left, he asked Ye Liuyun: "Young lad, did you tame these ferocious beasts inside Blood Thunder Peak?" the Supreme Elder asked directly.

"No, I tamed them before entering the Secret Realm. The Director and several saints all know that," Ye Liuyun replied respectfully.

The Director also nodded in confirmation.

"Hmm. Then why has the Blood Thunder of Blood Thunder Peak weakened? Do you know?" the Supreme Elder asked Ye Liuyun again.

Ye Liuyun spread his hands, and a surge of Blood Thunder rushed out. "Some of it was absorbed by my disciple and my pet beasts."

Ye Liuyun did not conceal it. He knew that people of this caliber were already seasoned, and he could not hide it.

"Ha ha, good! I didn't expect our branch institute to produce a disciple who can absorb Blood Thunder! Looks like your bloodline aptitude is impressive! Nan Feng, you must nurture him well!" the Supreme Elder said to the Director.

"Yes, the disciple has already recommended him to the Grand Elder of the Main Institute; in a few days the Grand Elder will personally assess him! Ye Liuyun not only single‑handedly eliminated three thousand disciples of the Xuemo Sect, but also wiped out the Great Zhou branch of the Xuemo Sect. He is a cultivation prodigy; he has even refined the Overbearing Heaven Fist!" the Director respectfully presented Ye Liuyun to the Supreme Elder.

"Hm? He's already refined the Overbearing Heaven Fist; you're no ordinary youngster!" the Supreme Elder couldn't help but appraise Ye Liuyun again.

Then he asked, "Young lad, the few disciples who emerged this time—does that have anything to do with you?"

"Yes! Three groups tried to kill me. One sought the Great Zhou dynasty's bounty, one was led by Chang Hao, and another by Guo Kai. I killed them all, about sixty to seventy people in total." Ye Liuyun did not hide it. Even if the Supreme Elder hadn't asked, he would have told the Director later.

"You also killed Chang Hao at the fifth level of Sea Transformation?" the Director asked in shock.

"Yes. I entered not long after and encountered over twenty of them, so I killed them all." Ye Liuyun briefly recounted the events.

"Your realm has broken through again? Didn't you just reach the first level of Sea Transformation when you entered?" the Director, who hadn't noticed earlier, suddenly realized Ye Liuyun had advanced again.

Ye Liuyun could only say, "It's all thanks to the Blood Thunder." He could not reveal that he had absorbed this wild aura.

The Director laughed, "Now when the Grand Elder of the Main Institute meets you, he'll be greatly surprised!"

The Supreme Elder, pleased, said amicably, "If you have any requests, feel free to bring them to your Director; I'll grant you some privileges, and will try to satisfy anything that meets your needs."

"Replying to the Supreme Elder: The Director and several other Elders and Hall Masters have always cared for me; I am already deeply grateful, and I have no further requests. Though I will soon go to the Main Institute, I will never forget the kindness of the senior members of this branch, and will always consider this place my foundation."

By saying so, he was actually stating his attitude, showing he is not ungrateful.

The Supreme Elder naturally understood and praised, "Not bad, young lad—smart and grateful, rare indeed! You're also the only talent our branch has produced in recent years. Go back to cultivation; the Director and I will give you a few more words!"

"Yes!" Ye Liuyun immediately took his leave, recalled the ferocious beasts into the Storage Ring, returned to his quarters, set up the Grand Hall, and entered it to cultivate.

Over there, the Supreme Elder again consulted the Director in detail about Ye Liuyun's information, including his cultivation progress, pill refining, Beast Taming, and other matters, reviewing everything thoroughly.

Finally the Supreme Elder exclaimed, "This youth is extraordinary! His character, wisdom, aptitude, and courage far exceed ordinary people. Nan Feng, my suggestion is to spare no expense and become his backing!"

The Director, hearing this, was also startled. He hadn't expected the Supreme Elder to value Ye Liuyun even more than himself. Yet he cautiously asked, "Supreme Elder, you mean…"

"This kid is a hidden dragon in the abyss; he'll soar to the heavens one day. If you don't strive to win his trust now, you'll lose the chance later! After he goes to the Main Institute, you can send the Xuanhuan Sect to protect him. Spare no expense—do you understand? Of course, as Director, the final decision rests with you." the Supreme Elder said gravely.

The Director also solemnly nodded and agreed. For the academy, this could be considered a major decision.

"Spare no expense. If they bet wrong, it could lead to endless damnation; but if they bet right, they will rise from there."

"By the way, I reckon the Xuemo Sect won't let this kid go unscathed; you'll need to be extra cautious," the elder on the platform reminded.

Ye Liuyun eliminated so many of the Xuemo Sect; the sect cannot forever remain undetectable. There are no airtight walls—only a matter of time.

"Yes." the Director replied, bid farewell to the Supreme Elder, and returned to make some arrangements.

After returning, Ye Liuyun refined the two Golden Soul Herbs into pills, keeping one for himself and giving each of the three remaining ferocious beasts one, then resumed cultivating his Soul.

He was still proud of his Soul's ability to wound a saint.

Among the other ten‑plus holy herbs, three were for enhancing the Soul. He refined them all into pills to boost his Soul's power.

After consuming these pills, his Soul had already birthed eight thousand powerful Divine Senses.

Simultaneously, he fully merged the Illusion Eye Technique and the Illusion True Secret into a single art, combining strengths and compensating weaknesses, forming a set of illusion techniques suited to his cultivation.

He directly refined the two bloodline‑enhancing holy herbs, raising his bloodline power by another half‑level to sixty‑five percent.

At this point, if he unleashed his bloodline power, it could double his combat strength. With this trump card, Ye Liuyun would dare to fight even the strongest opponents.

Originally his bloodline power could have increased further, but he purified his original bloodline again. Thus, the bloodline power he boosted with Xiao Mubai's secret method ended up being a loss.

"It seems the path of cultivation still relies on oneself. Tricks and shortcuts are ultimately not the true way!"

This was the insight he distilled after the incident.