C6 First Grade Pill Furnace

At the moment, it seems we won't be able to find anything to enhance the Heaven Slaying Sword's grade. Let's check out what treasures Yang Wei and Tu Qi have in their Storage Bags instead."

Ye Chen shook his head, putting the sword's concerns aside for now. He eagerly pulled out the Storage Bags he had acquired from the fallen Yang Wei and Tu Qi. As he rummaged through them, his excitement grew palpable.

Inside Yang Wei's Storage Bag were dozens of Jade Bottles, each housing a Spirit Fount Pill. Beyond that, he discovered several extremely valuable low-grade Yellow Rank herbs—no fewer than six. These alone could be worth a small fortune, equivalent to dozens more Spirit Fount Pills.

But what truly thrilled Ye Chen was an ancient-looking pill furnace within Yang Wei's bag, emanating a potent herbal essence. It was unmistakably a Grade One pill furnace! Regrettably, Yang Wei had squandered its potential by carelessly storing it away. Now, in the hands of Ye Chen—a Pill Dao grandmaster from a past life—the furnace was poised to unleash its full potential.

Tu Qi's Storage Bag, however, held only two bottles of Spirit Fount Pills and a single low-grade Yellow Rank herb, which was somewhat disappointing.

"Who would have thought this venture would prove so fruitful? Not only did I slay a Martial Soul Stage Level Three Blood Spot Leopard, but I also secured twelve bottles of Spirit Fount Pills and seven low-grade Yellow Rank herbs from Yang Wei and Tu Qi," Ye Chen reflected with a satisfied grin. He estimated the leopard's fur and bones could fetch around ten thousand silver taels, and with the herbs, his total earnings could well exceed fifty thousand silver taels.

For Ye Chen, currently at the mere first level of the Martial Soul Stage, this sum was undoubtedly a considerable treasure.

"I've been in the Spiritual Mist Mountain Range for about three days now. It's time to head back to the Ye family and check if my father has emerged from his secluded cultivation."

After a brief moment of contemplation, Ye Chen no longer hesitated and made his way out of the Spiritual Mist Mountain Range. His time there had been quite fruitful, but he doubted there would be much more to gain in the near term on the periphery of the mountains. To seek out exotic treasures or to challenge formidable Demon Beasts, he would need to venture into the deeper reaches of the Spiritual Mist Mountain Range—a task for which his current strength was not yet a match.

...

Heavenly Cloud City, Ye family.

By the time Ye Chen arrived back at the Ye family estate, night had fallen. He planned to sell the Blood Spot Leopard carcass and the low-grade Yellow Rank herbs at the market the next day, exchanging them for resources to aid his cultivation.

"Son, when I awoke from my seclusion the day before yesterday, I was briefed about Chief Elder Ye Yang's betrayal... It was my oversight, a moment of neglect that allowed the Chief Elder to seize his opportunity, and for that, you have suffered. I am sorry," Ye Yuanming expressed with a face full of regret as soon as Ye Chen entered the courtyard.

Ye Yuanming had been informed of these events by the chief steward upon awakening from his seclusion. Initially, he was enraged... but his anger turned to pride when he learned that Ye Chen had slain Ye Yang and Ye Xuan in the dungeon and had taken steps to reorganize the Ye family.

Truly his son, Ye Yuanming thought with satisfaction.

He could hardly believe that even the formidable Great Elder Ye Yang was no match for Ye Chen!

Regarding the fact that Ye Chen's Martial Soul and Bone Structure had been stripped by the Great Elder, Ye Chen had chosen not to worry his father with this detail, instructing the butler to keep it from Ye Yuanming. Thus, as far as Ye Yuanming was concerned, he remained blissfully unaware.

"Dad, have you broken through to the Martial Master Stage?" Ye Chen inquired with a faint smile.

He had sensed a formidable aura of Level One Martial Master Stage emanating from Ye Yuanming. Clearly, during his recent seclusion, Ye Yuanming must have successfully advanced from the tenth level of the Martial Soul Stage to the Martial Master Stage Level One.

"Indeed, this period of seclusion has been quite fruitful. After many years, I've finally managed to break through to the Martial Master Stage Level One," Ye Yuanming responded with a satisfied grin upon Ye Chen's inquiry.

For decades, no one in the Ye family had reached the Martial Master Stage. Ye Yuanming's breakthrough would undoubtedly be a significant boon to the family and its future prospects, which was a source of great satisfaction for him.

...

After a warm exchange with Ye Yuanming, Ye Chen retreated to his own courtyard.

Seated cross-legged on his bed, he practiced the Nine Dragon Heaven Swallowing Technique over a dozen times. When no breakthrough appeared imminent, he retrieved a jade bottle and popped a Spirit Fount Pill into his mouth. This was the same pill he had acquired from Yang Wei and Tu Qi after defeating them.

Though the Spirit Fount Pill was of the lowest Yellow Rank, each was valued at ten thousand silver taels. For many of the War Cloud Sect's outer sect disciples, such a pill was a luxury seldom indulged in.

Ye Chen, however, believed that cultivation was not just about talent but also about leveraging resources. Only by utilizing these resources to enhance one's strength could one earn the right to access even more valuable ones. Otherwise, like many in the War Cloud Sect, decades could pass without the hope of advancing to the Martial Master Stage.

In the martial path, strength commands respect while the weak are regarded as no more than ants.

Failing to use available cultivation resources for self-improvement would be an unwise choice indeed.

With ample cultivation resources at his disposal, one could achieve results much more efficiently, effectively doubling their efforts. More importantly, one could swiftly overcome any bottlenecks and ascend to the next level. This process, akin to a snowball gathering momentum, allows for the continual enhancement of one's strength.

Upon ingesting a Spirit Fount Pill and refining it within his body, Ye Chen distinctly felt a slight increase in his cultivation base, inching ever closer to reaching the Martial Soul Stage Level Two Cultivation.

Simultaneously, Ye Chen sensed an eagerness from the Heaven Devouring Dragon Soul residing within him, which seemed quite taken with the Spirit Fount Pill, almost as if it could barely contain its excitement to engage.

Deciding to act, Ye Chen unleashed the Heaven Devouring Dragon Soul.

"Coo!"

Without hesitation, he consumed another Spirit Fount Pill, ready to begin the refinement process.

"Boom!"

But no sooner had he settled into a cross-legged position, Ye Chen was taken aback as the Heaven Devouring Dragon Soul within him unleashed a powerful and commanding presence. It then opened its massive maw and completely absorbed the medicinal efficacy of the Spirit Fount Pill coursing through Ye Chen's body.