The Li Family, the Chancellor's Residence, and the First Prince — these three factions must be eradicated.
Otherwise, they will always be a lurking threat.
Ye Yunfei walked out of the imperial palace, a dense, palpable killing intent flashing in his gaze.
With over a thousand years of cultivation experience, Ye Yunfei knew full well that one must never show mercy to enemies.
To go soft on an enemy was to be cruel to oneself!
The world of martial artists was precisely this cruel; slaughter seemed to be an eternal theme!
"Grandmaster Ye Yunfei, Grandmaster Ye Yunfei... wait for me!"
Before Ye Yunfei could even exit the palace grounds, Chen Xuan suddenly caught up, panting heavily.
Tang Feng also followed behind Chen Xuan, breaking into a slight jog as he chased after Ye Yunfei.
"Is there something?" Ye Yunfei turned.
"Grandmaster Ye Yunfei, your medical skills are truly divine!
Absolutely breathtaking!" Chen Xuan gazed at Ye Yunfei with eyes filled with utmost admiration, his tone exceedingly respectful.
"You sought me out just to say that?
I'm sorry, I have matters to attend to." Ye Yunfei frowned.
"Grandmaster Ye Yunfei, I know — you must be a Fifth-Grade Alchemist.
The Spirit Pills you gave the Empress Dowager just now were definitely not Fourth Grade. At the very least, they were Fifth-Grade Spirit Pills!" Chen Xuan suddenly declared.
Ye Yunfei swept a glance over Chen Xuan, then turned to leave.
"Grandmaster Ye Yunfei, I have a request," Chen Xuan said urgently, seeing Ye Yunfei about to depart.
"What request?" Ye Yunfei's steps halted.
"I want to learn alchemy from you. I wish to take you as my master!" Chen Xuan declared without hesitation.
Ever since witnessing Ye Yunfei's god-like, masterful medical skill firsthand, Chen Xuan had developed the utmost admiration for him.
Moreover, he was absolutely certain that Ye Yunfei was definitely not a Fourth-Grade Alchemist; at the very least, he was a Fifth-Grade Alchemist.
"Take me as your master?!" Ye Yunfei couldn't help but be taken aback.
"Exactly!
I beg you, Grandmaster Ye Yunfei, to accept this disciple!
It will be almost fifteen years since I became a Fourth-Grade Alchemist.
In all these years, my alchemical skills have not progressed one iota.
Several years ago, the very reason I left the Great Qin Empire to travel afar was in pursuit of a breakthrough in my pill arts.
But after five years of traveling, I gained nothing.
Now, I have finally met you, Grandmaster Ye Yunfei!
Grandmaster Ye Yunfei, please, accept me as your disciple!" Chen Xuan pleaded fervently.
"I'm sorry.
I have no intention of taking on disciples.
That's all." Ye Yunfei tossed out the words and strode forward.
He was joking — Ye Yunfei was a Pill Venerable! In the past, countless alchemists whose skills surpassed Chen Xuan's by a thousand, ten thousandfold had begged and pleaded to become his disciple, and Ye Yunfei had paid them no mind.
Now, a mere Fourth-Grade Alchemist wanted to become his disciple?
The man had clearly bitten off more than he could chew!
"Grandmaster Ye Yunfei, seeing how sincere my heart is, please accept me as your disciple!
I'll kneel for you!"
Chen Xuan, summoning strength from who knew where, rushed ahead a few steps and actually knelt before Ye Yunfei with a *thud*.
"I truly have no intention of taking disciples."
Ye Yunfei tapped the tip of his foot, activating his movement technique to ghost-likely skirt around Chen Xuan, continuing forward.
"Grandmaster Ye Yunfei, please consider my age, how difficult it has been for me to pursue pill arts so doggedly. Please take me as your disciple and give me some guidance.
In this lifetime, I have no other wish. I only hope that before I die, my pill arts can advance!
Grandmaster Ye Yunfei, think of it as respect for the elderly, have pity on me, accept me as your disciple!"
Chen Xuan was unrelenting. He scrambled to his feet and, moving with surprisingly vigorous strides, chased after Ye Yunfei, weeping and begging incessantly as he ran.
"Damn!
This old guy, has he no shame left?!
He's too much of a nuisance!"
Ye Yunfei felt black lines practically forming on his face.
However, Ye Yunfei's personality had a side that yielded to softness but not hardness; he wouldn't strike a smiling face. Besides, this Chen Xuan was crying old, bitter tears, so Ye Yunfei found he couldn't very well take action against him.
Behind them, Tang Feng's face flushed crimson with embarrassment as he watched his master pestering Ye Yunfei so desperately. He wished he could vanish on the spot.
Nearby, many palace maids, eunuchs, and guards had already gathered, pointing and whispering privately.
At this moment, Tang Feng desperately wished he could find a crack in the ground to crawl into.
Yet, he could only follow behind Chen Xuan, his face blazing red.
"Grandmaster Ye Yunfei, I beg you, accept me..."
Chen Xuan refused to give up, seemingly disregarding all dignity as he pleaded bitterly.
"Oh!
Wait! Grandmaster Ye Yunfei, as long as you agree to take me as your disciple, these stones... they are my humble offering to you, venerable sir.
These stones seem to be of great benefit to Soul Power."
Chen Xuan suddenly took out several pitch-black stones from his space ring and presented them to Ye Yunfei.
"Soul Stones!"
Ye Yunfei, who had been about to utilize his movement technique to swiftly put distance between himself and Chen Xuan, couldn't help but halt his steps upon seeing the black stones, a flicker of pleasant surprise crossing his face.
"Where did you obtain these Soul Stones?" Ye Yunfei reached out and took the stones, immediately confirming they were indeed Soul Stones.
Soul Stones were an exceptionally rare type of special crystal, containing vast amounts of Soul Power and offering immense benefits to the Soul Body.
"I found these Soul Stones while traveling in the Eastern Region," Chen Xuan replied. "I stumbled upon them in a mountain range. I discovered they greatly aid the cultivation of Soul Power, so I've kept them with me ever since."
"Fine.
I can accept you as a nominal disciple.
However, when I have time, you must take me to that mountain range." Ye Yunfei thought for a moment and said.
Ye Yunfei suspected the mountain range Chen Xuan mentioned likely harbored a vein of Soul Stone ore.
Given Soul Stones' rarity, Ye Yunfei naturally didn't want to miss such an opportunity.
"Grandmaster Ye Yunfei, you've finally agreed to accept me as your disciple!
Master, rest assured, I will definitely take you to that mountain range.
Esteemed Master above, please accept this disciple Chen Xuan's bow!"
Upon hearing this, Chen Xuan was overjoyed. He immediately knelt before Ye Yunfei and kowtowed three times with audible *thumps*.
"Alright, get up." Ye Yunfei waved his hand.
"Yes!" Chen Xuan's attitude remained one of extreme reverence.
"Tang Feng! Aren't you going to come pay respects to your Grandmaster immediately!" Chen Xuan turned his head and barked at Tang Feng.
Tang Feng was mortified. He didn't know what to do with his hands and feet, his face so red and hot it resembled a monkey's rear.
However, Chen Xuan had always been extremely strict with him, and he dared not disobey his master's command.
Helplessly, Tang Feng lowered his head, approached Ye Yunfei, and knelt.
"Greetings, Grandmaster," Tang Feng mumbled softly, his head bowed deeply, not daring to look Ye Yunfei in the eye.
He remembered when he'd first encountered Ye Yunfei, all the targeting, all the provocation!
He never imagined that now, Ye Yunfei would become his Grandmaster.
"Did you not eat?!
Louder!" Chen Xuan snapped.
"Greetings, Grandmaster!" Tang Feng suddenly decided to throw caution to the wind and shouted.
"Rise.
In the future, be more humble in your conduct." Ye Yunfei said lightly.
"Understood, Grandmaster." Tang Feng lowered his head and replied.