“Our strength is insufficient. If they truly intended to do so, then we would indeed be reaching above our station by associating with them.”
Ye Linyuan nodded, but then shook his head and said, “However, I have no intention of reaching above my station. Why did he react so strongly?”
“Perhaps the Letter contains the answer.”
Old Man Ye said this as he looked at the Letter in Ye Linyuan’s hand.
Ye Linyuan did not answer. Instead, he recalled Shui Qingzhuo’s words before their parting and said thoughtfully, “It seems the Lin Clan is about to Digest its previous Harvest.”
Upon hearing this, Old Man Ye immediately revealed a Grave Expression.
He remained silent for a long while before finally speaking. “Read the Letter first, then consider this matter.”
Ye Linyuan nodded and returned to the Residence. He first opened the wooden box and glanced inside, only to discover a golden little sword, one foot long, lying within.
The sword radiated a sharp gleam, and a line of keen-edged runes was engraved upon it.
“First-order Low-grade Magic Tool, Golden Spring Sword.”
Ye Linyuan’s brows twitched slightly. As he looked at the Flying Sword, a trace of Regret appeared in his eyes.
A Low-grade Magic Tool was worth one Spirit Stone, making it an extremely valuable possession to the vast majority of Qi Refining cultivators.
The Shui Clan had clearly sent this sword because they did not want too many ties with the Ye Clan, using it to repay Ye Linyuan for his guidance.
To be fair, the Shui Clan had already acted with the utmost benevolence. However, this was Not what Ye Linyuan wanted.
“They do not want to interfere in the matter between the Lin Family and us.”
Ye Linyuan Murmured in heart, more or less seeing through the intentions of the Shui Clan Immortal Clan.
After all, the Lin Clan Immortal Clan’s Strength was not weak, and they would very likely see the Appearance of a second Late Qi Refining Great Cultivator. The Shui Clan Immortal Clan might not be willing to antagonize them.
Under these circumstances, the Shui Clan had repaid his favor with a Low-grade Magic Tool. If Ye Linyuan tried to use this favor as a Condition to make the Shui Clan intervene, the Shui Clan could simply ignore him.
With this thought, Ye Linyuan set down the Golden Spring Sword, then took out the Letter and began examining it.
After taking out the Letter, he discovered that it had been sealed with a layer of red wax bearing a seal. Four large characters were written on the envelope: “Personally opened by Ye Linyuan.”
“So cautious?”
Ye Linyuan could not help but rub his forehead. Shui Hanqing had made the Letter so mysterious, yet had asked his own father to deliver it Personally. No wonder Shui Qingzhuo had reacted so strongly.
After all, the Status of a Spirit Planter was Noble, and Shui Hanqing was also the Shui Clan’s Treasure. Such mysterious exchanges of Letters with an Outsider would inevitably cause Shui Qingzhuo to imagine all sorts of things.
As Shui Hanqing’s father, Shui Qingzhuo would have been strange indeed if he had shown Ye Linyuan a pleasant expression after seeing this Letter that could not be opened.
With these thoughts in mind, Ye Linyuan opened the Letter, then took out the Letter inside and began reading it.
He only glanced at it once before his eyes shifted slightly. Within the Letter was a line of elegant, flowing handwriting.
Young Master Ye
I hope this Letter finds you well. Seeing your handwriting is like meeting you in person.
Several hurried months have passed since our parting at Green Crane Immortal Market. Only now have I learned that you come from the Star Lake Seven Islands.
Thanks to your guidance, Han Qing has recently comprehended the Spirit Rain technique and become a True Spirit Planter. Therefore, I have sent this Letter solely to express my gratitude for your kindness.
If this is Presumptuous, I hope you will not take offense.
I will never forget your kindness for the rest of my life.
…
If you have free Time, may we exchange Letters from time to time?
Han Qing is dull-witted and cannot compare to your erudition. If I could receive your guidance again, I would certainly be endlessly grateful.
Ye Linyuan put away the Letter, and several ripples appeared in his calm gaze.
The contents of Shui Hanqing’s Letter seemed merely to express gratitude, but between the lines, they revealed a hint of restrained intimacy.
Ye Linyuan had lived for nearly eight hundred years in his Previous Life. He had seen all kinds of peerless beauties and Understood the thoughts of different women.
Women valued power, while Young girls were more susceptible to love.
Those somewhat older Female Cultivators placed greater importance on power, Strength, force, Status, and financial resources.
Therefore, most older Low-level Female Cultivators were often willing to become the Dao Companions of High-level Cultivators. Even If they were merely low-status Concubines or Maidservants, they still took pleasure in it.
Yet even if such Female Cultivators became Dao Companions, it was often difficult to truly win their hearts.
Of course, this did Not include High-level Female Cultivators. Most Female Cultivators above Foundation Establishment possessed firm Dao Hearts and mainly wished to find Dao Companions who could Support one another. However, the other party’s Strength and Status were also among the key Conditions they considered.
Young girls were different. Their thoughts were purer, and they were not so realistic or materialistic.
Shui Hanqing was only sixteen years old, precisely the age of a Young girl susceptible to love. Upon meeting someone with such outstanding bearing and appearance as him, it was inevitable that she would develop a favorable impression. However, she did not dare reveal it directly.
With this thought, Ye Linyuan closed the Letter, but did Not send Shui Hanqing a Reply Letter.
He calmly drew a second page from the Letter, but after reading it, his brows grew somewhat Solemn.
The second page of the Letter described the current situation of the Lin Clan on Red Star Island. Shui Hanqing informed him that recently, the Lin Clan had sold the Spirit Vein on Purple Scale Island and was currently hiring a Formation Master to set up a First-Order Mid-Grade Spirit Locking Array.
Shui Hanqing informed Ye Linyuan that they should be careful.
Having Understood this, Ye Linyuan immediately found Old Man Ye and handed him the second page of the Letter.
“The Lin Clan obtained a Spirit Vein, yet instead of Purchasing Large Quantities of Rare Treasures, they are using it to set up a First-Order Mid-Grade Spirit Locking Array. It seems the Lin Clan Immortal Clan has tremendous Ambition.”
After reading the Letter, Old Man Ye slightly furrowed his brows and revealed an extremely Grave Expression.
Ye Linyuan also nodded, then said calmly, “If they converted everything into Breakthrough Opportunities, the Lin Clan could Cultivate at least one or two Late Qi Refining cultivators.”
“After laying down the Spirit Locking Array, they might not see the Appearance of a Late Qi Refining cultivator in the short term. However, In The Future, Late Qi Refining cultivators could appear continuously.”
“Most importantly, they will be able to conceal their own Foundation from now on.”
Old Man Ye also nodded. If they rented an Earth Vein outside and used it to Breakthrough to Late Qi Refining, others would notice whether they succeeded or suffered Failure.
But if they quietly achieved their Breakthrough in their own Dao Field, it would be difficult for Outsiders to determine whether they had succeeded.
After all, the disturbance caused by a Breakthrough to Late Qi Refining was not great. If it were properly concealed, the outside world should be unable to detect it.
With this thought, Old Man Ye carefully asked, “What do you mean we should do?”
“The Lin Family’s force is Powerful. We have no chance of winning in a head-on clash. Our most urgent task is still to Inform the other Five Great Families of this News.”
Ye Linyuan Pondered slightly, then said thoughtfully.
Old Man Ye nodded. The Ye Clan’s current Strength was still far from sufficient. Facing the increasingly Powerful Lin Family, they could only barely achieve Self-Preservation by Uniting with the Five Great Families.
Moreover, the Ye Clan Immortal Clan should now enter Hibernation and needed sufficient Time to wait for Ye Linyuan’s rise.
With this thought, Old Man Ye Pondered briefly, then Spoke, “I will contact the Five Great Families regarding this matter. You remain within the Clan and do not overthink it.”