Chapter 63: Chapter 63: Familiarity
The expansive Independent Cultivator Square was still bustling with cultivators coming and going.
In the sky, the blazing sun hung high, casting a long series of mottled bamboo shadows in the square.
With the Mo and Xu Families finally recruiting enough cultivators, the other independent cultivators started turning their attention toward the four families.
Among the four families, the Ye Family and the Chen Family, skilled in talisman making, were the most popular among the independent cultivators.
After all, one family excelled in spirit beasts, the other in talisman making.
In contrast, the Li Family, known for alchemy, was the least favored.
After all, the Li Family’s spirit pills weren’t available for the independent cultivators’ use, whereas the Ye Family’s talismans and spirit beasts proved quite effective during purges.
At this moment, Ye Jingcheng was also busy noting down the origins, cultivation, and specialties of the loose cultivators.
Most of these loose cultivators were at the Qi Cultivation Fifth Layer to Qi Cultivation Sixth Layer!
If their strength was too low, they couldn’t participate in the purge. Those reaching the late stage of Qi Cultivation mostly joined the Xu Family and Mo Family’s employment.
"Name, cultivation, specialty?" Ye Jingcheng continued to inquire as usual.
"Yu Hao, Qi Cultivation Sixth Layer, specializes in body cultivation, thank you for your trouble, Ye Daoist!" Just then, a somewhat tall figure appeared, standing at the front and blocking much of the shade.
Ye Jingcheng noticed the scarred face of the person, and though his manner was amiable, the sharpness in his eyes was unmistakable.
However, Ye Jingcheng found him somewhat familiar.
This puzzled him because he didn’t frequent the market often. If he found someone familiar, it meant he had definitely encountered them before.
"Is there anything else, Ye Daoist?" An impatient tone colored the words, and Ye Jingcheng suddenly remembered.
This was the cultivator who sold him the Falling Flame Grass four years ago.
But at that time, the person had been wearing a Spirit-Blocking Robe, only revealing a pair of eyes.
Impatiently trying to probe into the Ye Family’s spirit pill situation.
"That’s all!" Ye Jingcheng calmly made a note in the register.
The strokes weren’t elegant, but they were firm and powerful.
Yu Hao nodded as well, took a Sound Transmission Jade Talisman belonging to the Ye Family, and disappeared into the square.
Ye Jingcheng continued to record, but he started noting the expressions of these loose cultivators during the recording.
Occasionally, he glanced at the Li Family. Although the cultivators in front of the Li Family were fewer compared to the other three families, they still had a significant number.
Ye Jingcheng didn’t bother looking at Li Mutian’s expression; he knew he couldn’t decipher it. He only glanced at Li Xiangcai’s, whose face was full of smug satisfaction.
Ye Jingcheng had already formed an opinion. He took out a Jade Talisman and placed it beside Ye Xinghe.
"Uncle, here are the names of the first ten." Ye Jingcheng’s expression remained neutral.
But his suspicions and records of certain loose cultivators were all within the Jade Talisman.
Ye Xinghe gave Ye Jingcheng a slightly surprised look, then nodded:
"Not bad, the recruitment progress is good!" Surprisingly, Ye Xinghe showed no reaction.
Ye Jingcheng didn’t understand at that moment, but since Ye Xinghe was like that, he simply decided not to mull over it.
He understood that all four major families probably employed these lowly tactics.
But they should remember they were working under Taiyi Sect, and if these conflicts were noticed by the overseeing ascendants, Ye Jingcheng was unsure of the consequences, but they would definitely not be good.
Ye Jingcheng shook his head, cleared his thoughts, and continued recording, this time in even greater detail.
Ye Xinghe didn’t take any action, but that didn’t mean he didn’t record it.
In his view, in this world where one cultivates by stepping over corpses, it’s never wrong to be better prepared.
Soon, the Ye Family’s recruitment of thirty slots was also filled.
The Chen Family and Chu Family finished recruiting as well.
Ye Jingcheng and the Ye Family members quickly returned to the Ye Family Shop.
Ye Xinghe was still full of joy, walking at the front, with Ye Jingcheng following behind, until they reached the Ye Family Shop.
Ye Xinghe left Ye Jingcheng alone, then led him towards the courtyard.
Ye Jingcheng nodded, continuing to follow. He knew Ye Xinghe might inquire about the day’s events.
He had everything recorded, but when they reached the room, there was already someone inside.
Sipping tea, the man exuded an extraordinary aura. In a simple green robe, he still gave off a feeling of commanding reverence.
"Jingcheng, you’ve arrived?" Ye Xingliu spoke.
"Third Uncle!" Ye Jingcheng hurriedly paid his respects.
After Ye Jingcheng finished his salute, he found Ye Xinghe walking toward the doorway, a sight that startled him even more.
"Sit down, have some tea. A twenty-something Tier One High-grade Alchemist, we haven’t had one in the Ye Family for a while!" Ye Xingliu invited Ye Jingcheng to sit.
Ye Jingcheng was a bit flattered, but he didn’t refuse. He cupped his hands and sat down, though he felt a bit unnatural sitting there.
Despite living two lifetimes, sitting across from an elder still made Ye Jingcheng feel this way.
"If there’s anything you wish to ask, feel free to ask!" Ye Xingliu poured Ye Jingcheng a cup of spirit tea.
The spirit tea wasn’t unfamiliar to him; he had purchased quite a bit of it. But at this moment, the key was Ye Xingliu’s question.
His behavior was enigmatic.
But this was the Ye Family, and he shared the surname Ye. Ye Jingcheng felt more at ease, and a curiosity rose in him.
"Third Uncle, my spiritual energy seems to be able to heal spirit beasts!" Ye Jingcheng didn’t rush to ask but instead shared his secret to exchange for the family’s secret.
If the family chose not to answer, they could reply directly, which wouldn’t be awkward.
"I know, which is why I didn’t call you last time. It wasn’t necessary!" Ye Xingliu nodded.
This response completely resolved Ye Jingcheng’s doubts. Indeed, on that day, Turtle Ancestor wasn’t dead.
The one that died should have been another spirit beast, and given the Ye Family’s usual conduct, they wouldn’t be easily fooled.
But the blood-stirring scenes and family competition that day were still vivid in his mind, and Ye Jingcheng’s respect for the Ye Family’s elders only grew.
"Third Uncle, what about the informants from other families this time..." Ye Jingcheng continued to ask.
"Why should the Ye Family value such rabble?"
"You cultivate the Four Phase Celestial Essence Scripture, and your spirit beasts have the resources of a Purple Mansion. Sometimes, you have to tolerate small-minded people!" Ye Xingliu took a sip of spirit tea and spoke slowly.
Ye Jingcheng half-understood, but he realized the Ye Family likely had several of its own informants, too.
It’s just that without the power to turn the tables, all schemes lay beneath the surface.
Seeing Ye Jingcheng falling silent, Ye Xingliu also offered some advice:
"During this trip to Jade Dragon Valley, refrain from using the Red Flame Fox unless necessary. Also, the Beast Communication Pattern—never use it. Finally, stay close to me more often!" Ye Xingliu continued.
With these words, Ye Jingcheng nodded. He knew that the Two-tailed Red Flame Fox indeed attracted a lot of attention.
Staying near Ye Xingliu, he guessed, was for the purpose of healing spirit beasts.
"Also, your method is good. The family will reward you with five hundred contribution points!" Ye Xingliu added.
Ye Jingcheng immediately smiled with joy.
His method, of course, referred to his training approach; unexpectedly, it earned him a reward of five hundred contribution points!