Chapter 13: Who is He, and Why Should I Care?

Alchemy Pavilion, top floor.

"Grandfather, I did it!" Wu Qingxue handed a jade box to the old man, inside of which was the Soul Condensing Pill.

With guidance from Ye Chen, she had tried again and finally succeeded.

"Very good, you have finally advanced to become a Royal Alchemist," the old man said with satisfaction, rising to his feet. "Come, let's go meet that young man."

Wu Qingxue asked eagerly, "Grandfather, have you found him?"

"While the Alchemy Pavilion may not concern itself with worldly affairs, it doesn't mean we are oblivious to them. With such a major event happening in Tianyou City, it would be difficult not to know," the old man replied.

Three days ago, the City Lord's Mansion fell, and the Ouyang Family was destroyed, all thanks to a Spirit Martial Realm Third Stage youth.

In these few days, the name Ye Chen had spread throughout Tianyou City.

Although the old man did not know Ye Chen personally, nor did he know his name, there was no doubt that Ye Chen was the young man everyone spoke of.

"Qingxue, there is only one purpose for this trip, and that is to ask that young man to be your master. Even if he refuses to accept you as his disciple, you must stay by his side, even if it means becoming his martial servant," the old man suddenly said seriously.

"Why, grandfather?" Wu Qingxue's expression trembled.

Although she knew that the young man was extraordinary, her own identity was also exceptional.

Her grandfather was the Chief Elder of the Alchemy Pavilion of the Canglan Continent, standing at the pinnacle of this continent. Countless people in the world would be eager to become his disciples.

Why should she seek apprenticeship with someone else?

Why should she be willing to become a servant or a maid?

"You don't understand," the old man's gaze was deep, like the stars, as he said slowly. "Qingxue, you must remember, this may be a great opportunity for you."

Wu Qingxue still didn't understand, but the old man didn't explain further.

...

Meanwhile, inside the Ye Family mansion.

The expressions of Liuyuan and the members of the Ouyang Family were not good.

Ye Long had actually taken the initiative to accept Ye Chen as his martial servant. With this, Ye Chen would be protected by Ye Long.

Ye Long was a genius on par with the Third Prince. In the clash between their martial servants, casualties were bound to occur. If the Third Prince wanted to hold someone accountable, he would have to face Ye Long.

Although the Third Prince's status was higher than Ye Long's, the Ye Family was one of the two major families of the Xuantian Empire, and the head of the Ye Family was the Left Army Marshal. Would the Third Prince risk antagonizing the Ye Family over a deceased martial servant?

"Damn it," muttered the Ouyang family under their breath.

If Ye Chen became Ye Long's martial servant, with Ye Long's reputation, a simple apology from him would likely suffice to resolve the matter.

Liuyuan was also displeased, and he turned to Ye Cang, asking, "Ye Cang, what is Ye Long's stance on this?"

"According to my young master, if Ye Chen is willing to become his martial servant, he will provide a satisfactory explanation to the Third Prince's side," Ye Cang replied.

"Very well. Today, we'll give Ye Long some face. But if he fails to provide a satisfactory explanation, the consequences for Ye Chen won't be as simple as they seem," said Liu Yan as he prepared to leave.

Since Ye Long wanted to accept Ye Chen as his martial servant and promised to provide an explanation to the Third Prince, they couldn't capture Ye Chen anymore.

However, just as they were about to leave, Ye Chen's disdainful voice rang out, "Did you not hear what I said? Ye Long isn't even qualified to be my martial servant. How dare he try to make me his martial servant?"

As his words fell, Liu Yan, Ouyang Jian, and the others who were preparing to leave suddenly stopped in their tracks, looking at Ye Chen in disbelief.

He... actually refused Ye Long.

And he even dared to say that Ye Long wasn't worthy of being his martial servant?

"Am I hearing things correctly?" Liu Yan asked the others beside him.

Ouyang Jian sneered, "You heard right. He actually has the audacity to refuse Ye Long and even insult him. He's giving up his last chance to live."

"Yes, without Ye Long's protection, there's no need for the Third Prince to save face for anyone. He's truly seeking death."

"I doubt the Third Prince needs to take action. Ye Long is notoriously proud, and he holds grudges against anyone who offends him. Now, a branch disciple dares to insult him like this. Will Ye Long let it slide?"

The others echoed his sentiments.

Liu Yan's lips curled up as he looked at Ye Cang and said, "Ye Cang, what do you say now? Should we take action, or will you handle it?"

The expressions of Ye Cang and the others turned serious.

They had thought that with the arrival of the Third Prince and the Ouyang family, Ye Chen would yield. But they never expected him to be so audacious.

"Ye Chen, do you know who Ye Long is?" Ye Cang asked coldly.

Ye Chen sneered, "Who he is has nothing to do with me."

Regardless of Ye Long's identity and status, in Ye Chen's eyes, he was nothing.

"Ye Long is the son of the head of the main branch of the Ye Family, and he is the future heir of the Ye Family," Ye Cang said coldly. If Ye Long hadn't instructed him earlier to accept Ye Chen at all costs, he would have probably acted already.

"So what?" Ye Chen asked with a shake of his head.

"So, this is your last chance. You better think carefully," Ye Cang said.

"And if I still refuse?" Ye Chen asked.

"You better agree. This is your last chance. Otherwise, you won't be able to pass the test of the Third Prince and the Ouyang family," Ye Cang warned.

Ye Cang glanced at Liuyuan, Liuyang, and the others. If Ye Chen continued to refuse, he would not intervene again. Liuyuan, Liuyang, and the others would surely capture him and bring him before the Third Prince. The outcome would only be death.

"Hahaha."

As Ye Cang's words fell, Ye Chen burst into laughter.

His laughter was cold, chilling to the bone, causing people to shudder as if the entire hall had turned into ice.

When had the esteemed Infinite Immortal Emperor been humiliated like this?

To become their servants?

Forget about Ye Long from the Ye Family, even in the Immortal Martial Realm, who would dare?

At this moment, a trace of killing intent gradually condensed in Ye Chen's eyes.

"Since you mentioned opportunities, I'll give the Ye Family an opportunity too. Let Ye Long become my martial servant, and I will spare him this time," Ye Chen's voice was calm, but to Ye Cang and the others, it sounded like thunder.

No one had expected Ye Chen to dare to demand that Ye Long become his martial servant.

He was truly audacious, too audacious, audacious to the point of ignorance.

Ye Long, the young master of the Ye Family's main branch, one of the Three Heroes of the Xuan Tian Empire, had already stepped into the True Martial Realm.

What was Ye Chen compared to him?

A branch disciple, merely at the Spiritual Martial Realm Triple.

And yet, he dared to demand that Ye Long become his martial servant.

Did he even know his own place?

"Very well, with just your words, you have lost your last chance to live," Ye Cang's voice was as cold as ice as he turned aside.

The meaning was clear. They would not interfere at all if Liuyuan, Liuyang, and the others acted. The Ye Family would not intervene in the slightest.

"It's true what they say, when there's a way to heaven, you refuse to take it, but you insist on barging into hell."

Liuyuan shook his head and sneered. He was also shocked by Ye Chen's audacity. He truly deserved his reputation for daring to challenge the Third Prince.

With Ye Long's status, he could probably save Ye Chen from the Third Prince with just a word, but Ye Chen had given up this opportunity. Therefore, there was only death.

"Capture him, but don't kill him. Leave his life to the Third Prince," Liuyuan ordered.

Several Spiritual Martial Realm experts stepped forward at once.

In an instant, spiritual energy erupted, locking onto Ye Chen.

"Who dares to make a move?" Just then, a deep voice rang out from outside, like a terrifying thunder, causing everyone's eardrums to ache.

Liuyuan, Liuyang, Ye Cang, and the others all looked up.

Was there someone else daring to stand up for Ye Chen?