C16 Late

The current patriarch of the Ye Family, Ye Shouzheng, had given explicit orders for every member of the Ye Family to assist his eldest grandson, Ye Zonglei, in his preparations, leaving no room for negligence.

In times past, Ye Zonglei wouldn't have dared to address his second uncle, Ye Chengfeng, with such insolence. After all, a mere glance from one of Luoshui City's powerhouses could send shivers down his spine for quite a while.

But now, with Ye Chengfeng's diminished state, Ye Zonglei held nothing but contempt for him, frequently taunting him, knowing full well his uncle had no choice but to bear it.

Ye Chengfeng, faced with his nephew's impertinence, chose to ignore it. If he could just get through this night, he could avoid laying eyes on the young upstart a bit longer. Yet, enduring the exclusion made the night seem endlessly long.

"Brother Tian, while all of us Yes are diligently working, you can't keep wasting your days like this. You wouldn't want to squander all your resources and support, would you?" Ye Zonglei said, looking at Ye Tian with a sneer of contempt.

"But rest assured, once I become Elder Zuo's disciple, I'll still concoct some Marrow-Cleansing Pills for you. Though by then, I'll be relegated to consuming only the lesser Small Transformation Pills..." Ye Zonglei went on mocking him, his eyes set on a future where he's the prized disciple of Zuo Qiu, privy to all the secrets of pill refining.

With such knowledge, he would elevate not only his own standing but also that of the Lin family within Luoshui City.

In time, he could easily have Ye Tian expelled from the family. What business did he have with such a failure?

"Lei, why waste words on such a loser? Giving him pills is just throwing them away. Might as well feed them to dogs!" chimed in Ye Zongsheng, running over to join Ye Zonglei, egging him on with his own taunts.

Seeing his son humiliated in this way, Ye Chengfeng seethed with anger. Yet, as the weakest link in the Ye Family, he and his son were powerless to retaliate.

"If there's nothing pressing, I'll take my father home. He can't handle this anymore; staying here is just wasting time."

Ye Tian dismissed his brothers' taunts. He was exhausted and eager to return to sleep.

He had spent his two-day break practicing at night, and now all Ye Tian craved was sleep, with no interest in lingering.

"Ye Tian, remember who you are. Grandfather instructed us to wait here. Are you really going to defy the head of the Ye family?"

Ye Zonglei bellowed, his eyebrows arching as if he'd noticed something.

"So that's why you're acting so bold. You've advanced to the sixth level of the Qi Profound Stage, but you think that's worth bragging about?"

Ye Zonglei approached Ye Tian with a smirk. "Too bad for you, I've reached the ninth level. Your sixth level is practically garbage in my eyes."

Ye Zonglei's disdain wasn't just for show; he genuinely scorned Ye Tian's current power level.

Even Ye Zongsheng had attained the seventh level of the Qi Profound Stage. In their eyes, Ye Tian was utterly worthless.

Ignoring Ye Zonglei, Ye Tian began to wheel his father away, not giving the confrontation a second thought.

"Ye Tian, you wouldn't dare!"

Infuriated by being ignored, Ye Zonglei was about to strike Ye Tian from behind.

But as his hand lifted, someone appeared and seized his wrist.

"Father, why won't you let me discipline him? He still dares to disrespect me. It's intolerable!"

Ye Zonglei turned to see his father, Ye Chengyun, fuming with frustration.

He had been ready to give Ye Tian a harsh lesson, but his father's intervention meant he had to drop it, watching Ye Tian and Ye Chengfeng disappear into the distance.

"Why bother with such a loser? Now that they're gone, it's much tidier around here!"

Ye Chengyun dismissed the incident with a wave of his hand, unconcerned.

"Once you become Zuo Qiu's disciple, your status will be beyond comparison. Then, if you decide to deal with Ye Tian, who in Luoshui City would dare to object?"

Ye Chengyun maintained a serene demeanor. His pride in his son's alchemical talents, evident since his youth, was not unfounded.

"Just be patient for now. Once your grandfather passes, I'll be the family head, and then I'll step down for you to take over. The fate of Ye Tian will be in your hands, won't it?"

A shadow crossed Ye Chengyun's face as he considered his nephew, Ye Tian, whom he had always treated ruthlessly. His latest scheme brought a smile to Ye Zonglei's face.

"I've got it, Father. I'll get right back to it!"

After a night of preparation, Ye Zonglei arrived at the academy the next day, brimming with energy.

Today was a special day, with Zuo Qiu himself delivering a lecture—a matter even Principal Daoist Qianhe held in high regard.

Daoist Qianhe had personally selected the sacred ground behind the academy for the lecture, an honor for Zuo Qiu.

Ye Zonglei, overseeing the students' order, was a senior to Ye Tian and, with his gift for pill refining, was well-equipped to manage the event.

In essence, the day seemed tailor-made for Ye Zonglei, who was resplendent in his fine attire, exuding elegance. His white jade hairpin only added to his distinguished appearance, drawing admiring glances from many female students. To dine with such a distinguished senior was considered a stroke of great luck.

Once Ye Zonglei had the scene in order, his eyes searched for Class Three and Ye Tian. All the students were seated, except Ye Tian was nowhere to be seen.

"Is that boy bold enough to be late on such a crucial day?"

Ye Zonglei's eyes narrowed as he pondered his next move.

Just as he was growing concerned, a young man strolled leisurely into the Holy Land's entrance—it was Ye Tian!

With an air of nonchalance, Ye Tian seemed to pay no mind to the significance of the day.

"Ye Tian, today is Elder Zuo's lecture, and you're this late? Some things never change—a loser is always a loser!"

Ye Zonglei unleashed a harsh scolding upon Ye Tian's arrival, humiliating him in front of all his peers at the academy.

Truth be told, Ye Tian was only slightly late, not truly tardy.

"Who would be affected if I didn't show up?"

Ye Tian shrugged, his reluctance clear. He had no desire to attend, and if it weren't for today marking the first day of classes, he would have much preferred to stay in bed.

To Ye Tian, Zuo Qiu hadn't even fully crossed the threshold into the realm of alchemy. Such an alchemist would have once been beneath Ye Tian's notice.

What insights could he possibly glean from a lecture by a Level Three Alchemist?

"Conceited, uninformed. I'm stripping you of the privilege to attend this lecture!"