Chapter Eight: Master Ya, I Wish to Cultivate Immortality

“No, I won’t agree to this!” Ye Yunlong declared resolutely.

He had no sons, only these two precious daughters whom he doted on more than anything. Now, he was being asked to have them both serve the same man—how could he possibly accept that?

“Yueyue, Xuexue, come here,” the woman called, ignoring Ye Yunlong entirely.

The sisters, Ye Ruyue and Ye Ruxue, stepped forward and bowed respectfully. “Greetings, Senior Xue,” they said in unison.

“Haha, wonderful! Truly a pair of blossoming sisters—such beautiful, promising girls. In a few years, even their elder will be envious!” The woman, Xueqing, examined them with a laugh.

She placed her hands on their shoulders, closed her eyes, and focused intently. Suddenly, she opened her eyes wide, thinking, Ice Spirit Divine Bodies! Just as I thought! Tilting her head with a smile, she said, “Patriarch Ye, there’s no need for such a reaction. At least hear what the bride price is before you decide.”

“A Heaven-grade cultivation method, along with martial techniques! And the lives of the entire Lu and Mu families. If you agree, by tomorrow morning, neither the Lu nor Mu families will exist in this world. With this Heaven-grade technique, in thirty years, the Ye family could become the foremost clan in the Kingdom of Yan! I guarantee that, before your family has fully grown, you’ll be able to walk unchallenged in the kingdom.” Xueqing’s tone was calm, as though she were speaking of something trivial.

“What? A Heaven-grade technique?”

The hall was instantly gripped by incomparable shock—especially those seated on the dais, who could not help but tremble with excitement.

A Heaven-grade cultivation method! Only spoken of in legends—one must know that cultivation techniques in this world are ranked from lowest to highest: Yellow, Profound, Earth, Heaven, and above that, the fabled Emperor-grade. It was said that with high-level techniques, one could move mountains and fill seas, travel a thousand miles in an instant, shatter the sky with a finger, and even gain immortality at a thought!

Such techniques were as rare as phoenix feathers and dragon scales.

The Ye family’s ancestors had found a mere Yellow-grade manual in the mountains, and with that ordinary technique, they became the most powerful family in Ling City. Yet, they had long since reached their limit at the ninth level of the Spirit-Gathering Body Tempering stage, unable to progress further.

Now, such a tremendous opportunity was within reach. To seize it or not depended on Ye Yunlong’s answer.

On one hand was the future of the entire clan, on the other, his daughters’ lifelong happiness. People always say to forsake the small self for the greater good, but everyone has their own bottom line—and his was his daughters...

Seeing the torment on Ye Yunlong’s face, the woman rose slowly. “Since the patriarch is so hesitant, I won’t trouble you further. I’ve heard that the Mu clan has a beauty as well. Perhaps I’ll visit them instead.” With that, she turned and began to walk out, her footsteps light and graceful.

The moment Xueqing made to leave, the crowd plunged into panic.

“Patriarch, agree quickly! Otherwise, by tomorrow, it won’t be the Lu and Mu families who disappear—it’ll be us!”

“Elder Brother, are two girls’ happiness worth the fate of more than ten thousand clansmen?” Ye’s second brother pressed anxiously.

“Elder Brother, don’t forget—if you refuse, will Yueyue and Xuexue even survive?” Fourth Uncle, who had remained silent until now, looked urgently at Xueqing, who was nearly out the door.

“Patriarch!”

“Patriarch...”

Everyone tried to persuade him at once.

Ye Ruyue looked at her sister; Ye Ruxue glanced back at her. As if making a momentous decision, the sisters nodded firmly.

“Wait!” Ruyue’s voice cut through the clamor, and the hall fell silent.

All eyes turned to her.

“Senior Xue, please wait! We accept!” Ruyue called out.

Ye Yunlong collapsed heavily into his seat, exhaling in relief.

“You agree?” Xueqing turned, smiling at the sisters.

They nodded.

With a wave of Xueqing’s hands, a ball of golden light slowly entered Ye Yunlong’s brow.

“The technique is yours. You’ve both been at the Spirit-Gathering Body Tempering stage for years and have deep foundations; breaking through to the Spirit-Gathering Realm should not be difficult. Because Third Brother offended me, I’ll give you a month’s reprieve from the Lu and Mu families. For one month, they won’t trouble you. After that, take your own revenge,” she said indifferently.

“As for you two,” she continued, “your task is simple. By this time next year, each of you must have a child. Otherwise, with a single blow, your Ye family will be reduced to dust!” She raised her flawless white hand toward the sky.

At her gesture, the heavens darkened abruptly, the sky turning black as night. A moment later, it returned to normal.

In the depths of their hearts, the Ye family members thought: A threat—a blatant, naked threat! The excitement of obtaining the techniques vanished as though doused by ice water.

Ye Yunlong hastily pleaded, “Senior Xue, Yueyue and Xuexue won’t even be adults for another three months...”

She chuckled. “Patriarch, surely you jest. In the world of Immortal Chant, sixteen is the age of majority. These two girls are close enough in age. Besides, that’s only for ordinary mortals. For cultivators, adulthood is reached at fourteen. And from the moment you accepted my cultivation manual, these two are now under the authority of the Immortal Moon Pavilion. You have no say in the matter!” Xueqing enunciated each word with finality.

“What if the man has... health problems?” Ye Ruyue blurted out suddenly.

“My sister is right—what if he’s weak?” Ye Ruxue chimed in.

“You two had best pray your future husband is in good shape. Otherwise, even I won’t be able to save your family. Enough talk—come with me,” Xueqing said with a bright, smiling gaze.

…

“Achoo! Achoo! Achoo!” In the study, Ye Wuyue suddenly sneezed several times while leafing through a book.

“Who’s cursing me?” he muttered, then lowered his head and continued reading.

“Immortal Chant, Primeval Era—might makes right, the strong devour the weak. Cultivators move mountains, fill seas, fly through the sky and burrow into the earth—they are all-powerful and their lifespans are boundless?” Ye Wuyue read and muttered to himself.

“Cultivation ranks: Spirit-Gathering Body Tempering, Spirit-Gathering Realm, Form-Gathering Realm...” He wondered, “Are there really immortals in this world?”

“Technique ranks: Yellow, Profound, Earth...”

“Four continents? Humans, Demons, Beasts, and the Realm of Buddha?” He whispered, half in disbelief.

He pulled out a world map. It displayed five continents: the east held the humans, the south the demons, the west the Buddhist realm, and the north the beasts. He searched again and again for the Kingdom of Yan among the human lands but, after more than ten attempts, still couldn’t find it. This world was too vast.

He grabbed a small booklet from the shelf: Kingdom of Yan, territory of forty thousand kilometers.

“Damn, a country not even on the world map has a territory of forty thousand kilometers—about the size of the entire Earth! And yet it’s just a minor nation here. What kind of monstrous world is this?” Ye Wuyue was utterly exasperated. Suddenly, he felt a deep longing for home—for Earth. This place was terrifying: immortals, demons, monsters, and Buddhas—if he ever crossed paths with a monster, he’d be dead for sure.

Wait—cultivation! If he could become an immortal, perhaps he could restore his appearance, even soar the heavens and earth, and live forever.

Growing ever more excited, he resolved, “Yes, that’s it. I, Wuyue, will cultivate! I’ll pursue immortality, transcendence! I’ll marry many beautiful wives and build a grand harem!”

“Oh? So, you wish to cultivate?”