Chapter 12

"Want to learn my 'Tenfold Smoke Mouth' technique? Come back when you can take a hundred puffs without falling over. Otherwise, don't bother asking me." Uncle Tian snorted and closed his eyes.

"Dad, prepare a pipe for me when we get home," Ye Jun Tian said. However, Ye Qing Xiao just shook his head and looked at Uncle Tian.

"Here, you're a nuisance." Uncle Tian reached behind him, pulled out a bag, and threw it to Ye Jun Tian.

"Thank you, Uncle Tian." Ye Jun Tian bowed deeply, but Uncle Tian ignored him. The father and son left the old house.

"Dad, didn't you know Uncle Tian is a remarkable person?" Ye Jun Tian asked.

"Indeed, I didn't know. He came with Old Wang back then. After Old Wang's demise, he has been guarding the shed for ten years without ever leaving. I've thought about it; since he was always with Old Wang, could he be a personal guard of Senior Gai? However, he never showed his skills. If not for today, I would still be in the dark," Ye Qing Xiao said.

"And do you know why I asked you to seek Uncle Tian's tobacco? It's because his tobacco is definitely special and can't be found outside. You need to use his tobacco for practice. Otherwise, it will be a waste of effort," Ye Qing Xiao said.

"Uncle Tian's loyalty is truly commendable. Guarding the shed for ten years, he is protecting the old lord's dharma body," Ye Jun Tian sighed.

"You need to grow up quickly. The affairs of the Gai family still need to be handled by you, their adopted son," Ye Qing Xiao said, his eyes burning with determination.

"I understand, but the Gai family's grudge is likely to involve a wide range of people. Without formidable strength, it's impossible to resolve it," Ye Jun Tian's expression was unusually solemn.

"Don't get involved until you reach the peak of the Heavenly Martial Realm. Otherwise, the old lord will be a living example. We are not unwilling to seek revenge, but we must ensure it is a sure thing. The enemy is too powerful and terrifying," Ye Qing Xiao said.

"This grudge must be avenged," Ye Jun Tian's eyes burned with clarity.

While Ye Jun Tian was practicing hard, Elder Second Ye Tong Tian brought his son Ye Jun to the 'Tian Hao Manor' where the clan leader lived.

"Clan Leader! Ye Qing Xiao is a complete scoundrel. Is he the clan leader or are you? Today, he openly provoked the clan in front of a thousand people, which is too much," Ye Tong Tian said angrily.

"No problem, he won't last much longer," Ye Tian Hao said with a grim face.

"That's right. In the two groups, as long as Ye Jun Tian doesn't make it to the top three, he will be directly eliminated. He won't become a Wood Rank disciple of our Ye family. Ye Qing Xiao will have no face to stay in the Elder Council. At that time, the elders who haven't joined the council will create a commotion. The Elder Council will discuss it, and Ye Qing Xiao's elimination is inevitable. It will be easy to deal with an elder who is not a council member," the future young clan leader Ye Feng said coldly.

"The key issue is that Ye Jun Tian not only defeated Ye Hui yesterday but also defeated Ye He, who was a dark horse. This kid's brute strength is indeed terrifying. If he uses his brute strength to enter the Wood Rank disciple ranks, our Ye family will lose face. How will outsiders view us? They will say our Ye family only produces a bunch of brutes who rely on brute strength. Moreover, Ye Jun said that Ye He's strength is not weak. Even Ye Jun would have to put in a lot of effort to win. Yet, Ye Jun Tian defeated two people with the most basic 'Five Steps Fist.' That kid really has a trick up his sleeve," Ye Tong Tian couldn't help but sigh.

"Hmm, Tong Tian, how can I help you?" Ye Tian Hao asked, staring at him.

"To completely eliminate Ye Jun Tian, we need to ensure that Ye Jun and Ye Xiao Sheng can both defeat him. At that time, as long as one of them, either Ye Jun or Ye Xiao Sheng, deliberately loses to Ye Hui, according to the number of rounds and points, Ye Jun Tian will naturally be eliminated," Ye Tong Tian said. "Therefore, I request that the clan leader open the second floor of our family's 'Martial Skills Tower' for Ye Jun to choose a suitable martial skill. Also, let Ye Jun enter the ancestral pool to cleanse his marrow. This way, Ye Jun Tian will surely lose."

"Ha ha ha, this is quite difficult. High-level martial skills are easier to arrange; I, as the clan leader, can approve it. However, the ancestral pool is a sacred place. It requires the approval of the Elder Council. It's too late to convene them now," Ye Tian Hao frowned. Ye Tong Tian knew he was deliberately stalling to get something in return. It's just a matter of 'showing respect.'

After some thought, Ye Tong Tian took out a scroll and said, "Clan Leader, this scroll is said to be related to the 'Golden Moon Secret Treasury.' My father obtained it several decades ago. It's useless to me, and I haven't been able to decipher it. I'll give it to you to solve."

"Hmm, since you can't solve it, I'll help you this time," Ye Tian Hao took the scroll without showing any emotion, knowing it was a valuable item. After all, 'Golden Moon' was the strongest expert in Greenwood City three hundred years ago, reaching the Heavenly Martial Realm. The secret treasury of such a powerful expert would definitely contain many valuable items.

"Actually, Elder Fourth also came just now. I will help you both. Follow me," Ye Tian Hao, having received the valuable item, naturally found it easier to act.

"Damn it!" Ye Tong Tian cursed inwardly.

The next morning at eight o'clock, the Ye Jun Tian lineage clan members entered the venue on time. Ye Jun Tian's impressive performance yesterday greatly boosted the morale of the Ye Qing Xiao lineage. Today, all the clan members of the Qing Xiao lineage, except for the elderly, sick, and weak, were present, numbering over a hundred.

Liu Yan and Liu Xiong also brought a few clan members.

"Qing Xiao, look, the other two families have also sent people," Ye Jing He said, nodding his head.

Ye Qing Xiao turned and saw that it was true. Greenwood City had three major families: the Li family and the Cai family. The three families were equally powerful, and where there are people, there is a江湖 (jianghu), and there are interests at stake. The Li family and the Cai family sent several dozen disciples.

"They are here to gather information," Ye Qing Xiao snorted.

"There's no way around it. The city lord's term is up in a few months. In the Greenwood City area, only our three families have the strength to vie for the city lord's position. This time, the Qingzhou Mansion has new regulations. In the city lord's term renewal competition, each major family must send three of their strongest elders to compete. Moreover, among the younger generation, three must be sent to compete as the new generation's strong ones. There is a strict age limit: one disciple must be 15 years old or younger.

"Most of our Iron Rank disciples are over 15 years old, so we can only select from the Wood Rank disciples. Therefore, this Wood Rank disciple promotion competition is particularly crucial. Otherwise, why would disciples from other families come to watch such a low-level martial artist competition?" Ye Jing He said.

"Yes, the city lord is just a title, but the benefits to the family are considerable. For example, the amount of yuan pulse land within the city, the salary, medicinal materials, blood crystals, and other special benefits provided by the Qingzhou Mansion. In the previous term, the Li family took our city lord's position. The family head almost went into a frenzy. This time, we must take it back, or the Ye family will lose face," Ye Qing Xiao said.

"Miss Li and Master Cai are also here," Ye Feng and Ye Qing Lian greeted them with smiles.

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