Chapter 26: The Visit of the Ming Family Patriarch

"That's enough, five blossoms," You Xiyue replied.

"That's certainly enough. Three would have sufficed. Are you coming over now?" Jun Yang asked.

"Mm."

No sooner had she answered than You Xiyue appeared before Jun Yang, holding Snow Jade in her arms.

Those who had gone to hunt wild game also returned one after another. Jun Yang began earnestly instructing the younger ones on how to prepare the game before roasting: where to make the kill, how to pluck feathers, how to clean the innards, and so on.

All four were candidates for the heads of their respective clans, raised in privilege since birth. Even Feng Qinghe, though not spoiled as a child, had only ever endured hardship in cultivation—never in menial tasks such as this. The result was chaos and confusion.

After much difficulty, the wild game was finally prepared and ready for roasting when Yan Yaofeng and Ye Nanlou, the two elders, finally returned. Yet Jun Yang sent them both flying with a single palm strike.

Yan Qingye and Ye Linyi exchanged embarrassed glances with Jun Yang, forcing out awkward laughs.

"Senior Jun Yang, my father... I'm sure he didn't mean any harm..." In all his years, Yan Qingye had never found his father so unreliable.

Ye Linyi nodded vigorously beside him. "Definitely not intentional."

"Heh." Jun Yang let out a cold laugh. "I was planning, for your sakes, to let them join us for a good meal. They seem to have other ideas."

There was little more Yan Qingye and Ye Linyi could say. After all, their foolish fathers had each brought back a snake. Ye Nanlou was even more outrageous, carrying a snake that was pure white from head to tail.

Anyone in Jun Yang's place would be furious—eating snake in front of the ancestor of all snakes? Even if the bloodline was different, the resemblance was too close for comfort. A mere slap seemed almost merciful.

"Please calm your anger. I will certainly have a serious talk with him later." As the only son of the Yan clan, Yan Qingye felt it was necessary for the clan's future to have a proper discussion with his father.

Ye Linyi echoed him, "Yes, please don’t be angry."

Jun Yang remained silent, making Yan Qingye and Ye Linyi even more uncomfortable and restless.

Feng Qinghe glanced at his own master, who always seemed detached from the situation. Trying to ease the tension, he asked, "Senior Brother Jun Yang, where did you send the two clan leaders this time?"

"Home," Jun Yang replied coolly.

"Thank you for your mercy," Yan Qingye said gratefully. Sending them home rather than somewhere to be tormented was indeed merciful.

Jun Yang turned the roasted chicken before him, saying nothing more.

The atmosphere cooled once again.

You Xiyue set Snow Jade down, handed three Heavenly Pepper Flowers to Jun Yang, and said, "Use two, the other is for you."

Jun Yang, just about to take the flowers, paused in surprise. He looked up at You Xiyue, then broke into a smile. "Little Ancestor, you always know how to care for me."

With that, he carefully placed the largest of the three blossoms into his spatial necklace, then happily crushed the remaining two over the roasting chicken.

"Quick, turn it over—the other side needs seasoning too," Jun Yang urged.

"Right away!" Yan Qingye and Ye Linyi responded instantly, scrambling to comply.

The tension finally eased. The mouthwatering aroma wafted across the mountain.

Soon, the scent began attracting more and more animals. With a snap of her fingers, You Xiyue activated a divine-grade protective barrier. The fragrance was sealed within, and the surrounding beasts, confused, eventually wandered off.

Inside the barrier, the savory scent filled the air; the flavor seemed only to grow richer with each bite.

"I never imagined chicken roasted with Heavenly Pepper Flowers would be so delicious!" Yan Qingye, hands slick with oil, had thoroughly abandoned his usual dignified demeanor.

Ye Linyi was no better.

Jun Yang, satisfied as he ate, found his mood improving—especially after receiving a Heavenly Pepper Flower from You Xiyue. He no longer begrudged the two juniors.

"Of course! This is a secret recipe between me and the Little Ancestor. I’ve never seen anyone else dare to eat it this way."

He puffed out his chest with pride as he spoke.

No one could argue—after all, who could afford such extravagance?

Yan Qingye and Ye Linyi certainly couldn't; if they were so wasteful, their fathers would likely hang them up for three days and nights.

Thinking of their fathers, the two soon forgot all else, intent only on devouring as much as they could.

They ate for a full hour before stopping. Since mastering the art of fasting through cultivation, Yan Qingye and the others had rarely eaten, save for ceremonial bites of spiritual fruits at banquets.

To eat until they were painfully stuffed as they had today was unprecedented.

Yan Qingye and Ye Linyi lay sprawled on the grass, gazing up at the sky with deep sighs, almost mirroring Snow Jade's posture.

…

Meanwhile, Yan Yaofeng and Ye Nanlou, sent flying back to their ancestral homes, were far less comfortable.

As heads of their families, they were used to being figures of authority. When had they ever been so humiliated?

They crashed straight through their own front gates and into the main hall, snakes still dangling from their heads. The gatekeepers were so startled that it took them a moment to recognize their own clan leaders.

Naturally, such disgraceful news could not be contained. Within days, it spread throughout the five great families, even reaching some of the lower continents.

Ming Chengwu, head of the Ming family on the thirty-seventh continent, was the first to hear of it. Yet he did not take the incident lightly; to be able to send two clan heads from the five great families flying home was no ordinary feat.

Both clan heads were already Immortal Lords. The strength of the one responsible could only be imagined.

Thus, Ming Chengwu brought Ming Chenyu with him to the Yan family on the thirty-sixth continent to visit Yan Yaofeng.

Given the close ties between the younger generation, it was only natural that the elders also maintained cordial relations.

However, Yan Yaofeng, deeply embarrassed by the incident, tried to avoid receiving guests, sending his steward, Yan Er, to greet them instead.

Yan Er served tea to Ming Chengwu and Ming Chenyu with utmost courtesy and tact. "Our clan leader has suffered some injuries and needs rest. He truly cannot receive visitors."

Injuries? Ming Chengwu had known Yan Yaofeng for twenty thousand years and knew better. External wounds or internal ones? It was more likely a wounded pride.

Ming Chengwu smiled. "Did your clan leader say who was responsible for his condition?"

Yan Er could only sigh. "He refuses to say."

"Refuses, does he?" Ming Chengwu traced the rim of his teacup, his thoughts churning.

After a long silence, Ming Chenyu glanced around the main hall and asked, "Where is Qingye?"

"Well..." Yan Er hesitated, then answered, "Young Master Qingye and the Fourth Young Master of the Ye family have gone to the Phoenix Clan."

"The Phoenix Clan?"

"Yes."

This only deepened the mystery—why would the heirs of the five great families travel to a lesser continent, and to the Phoenix Clan, whose status had fallen so low it had even lost its family crest?

Ming Chengwu and Ming Chenyu exchanged a look, both sensing something amiss.

Ming Chenyu rose and said to his father, "Father, I’ll go to the Phoenix Clan to see for myself."

"Very well. Be cautious."

"Yes."

With a nod to Yan Er, Ming Chenyu departed the Yan family and set off for the Phoenix Clan.