"Is my father dead?"

  Ye Chen, a transmigrator, felt no attachment to the Ye family.

  The small family was full of petty schemes, even teaching alchemy was done with hidden agendas.

  For such a family, Ye Chen couldn't muster any goodwill.

  But he did acknowledge his predecessor's father, Ye Tianhe.

  The man truly loved his son.

  When Ye Chen transmigrated, he also received kindness from him.

  He had originally pnned to help this father once he soared in the future.

  But now he's dead?

  Having inherited the predecessor's memories, Ye Chen couldn't help but feel a bit sorrowful at this moment.

  "Seventh Young Master, please accept my condolences. I'll go notify the Eldest and Second Masters of your return. I'm sure everyone will be very pleased!"

  With that, the servant dashed off.

  Behind Ye Chen, Lu Jing and Lin Ke'er exchanged gnces as they watched his silence.

  They hadn't expected to encounter such bad news just after arriving at the Ye family.

  Lu Jing immediately hugged Ye Chen, comforting him in his grief.

  Lin Ke'er, on the other hand, hesitated.

  In her view, Ye Chen's current achievements were inseparable from his father.

  Now that Ye Chen's father was gone, would he still receive support in the future?

  On the way to Qingyun City, Lin Ke'er had resolved to find an opportunity to win Ye Chen's favor, competing with Lu Jing for his attention.

  But now, she silently changed her mind, deciding to wait and see.

  At this moment, Sun Ye walked over from the roadside, looking troubled.

  He had been seeking help everywhere for his daughter's matter, but to no avail.

  But when he saw Ye Chen standing at the Ye family gate, his eyes widened in disbelief.

  Ye Chen was still alive?

  He had heard about the disaster at Silver Moon Market.

  Tens of thousands of cultivators had died, either at the hands of demonic beasts or robber cultivators.

  Yet Ye Chen had survived such a situation?

  It was truly unbelievable.

  But after the shock, Sun Ye's eyes lit up.

  With Ye Chen back, did this mean his daughter's chances of entering the Qingyun Sect had improved?

  Sun Ye was about to call out to Ye Chen but hesitated, worried about Ye Chen's resentment over the flying boat incident.

  Better to let his daughter handle it.

  Ye Chen was so devoted; even if his daughter had wronged him before, as long as she sincerely apologized, he should forgive her, right?

  So Sun Ye immediately turned back, hurrying to his residence in Qingyun City to share the good news with his daughter.

  ...

  Ye Chen, a junior, was clearly not worth the elders personally welcoming.

  However, with Ye Chen's father just deceased and the disaster at Silver Moon Market, everyone thought Ye Chen was dead.

  Now that Ye Chen had returned, it was only right to go out and greet him.

  Even the family head, who had just broken through to the Foundation Establishment stage, wanted to meet Ye Chen upon hearing the news.

  Soon enough, Ye Chen was brought to the main hall by the Ye family members.

  Nearly a hundred cn members were gathered there.

  As for Lu Jing and Lin Ke'er, they had been escorted to Ye Chen's residence by the servants.

  Through the cn's expnation, Ye Chen learned the cause of his father's death.

  A month ago, a Ye family shop at a market had acquired a treasure at a low price.

  Upon obtaining the treasure, they immediately informed the family.

  The family sent his father to retrieve it.

  However, on the way back, they were ambushed.

  His father died, and the goods and money were all stolen.

  The Ye family quickly realized that the cultivator who sold the treasure was likely one of the robber cultivators.

  It was a complete setup.

  Such things were common in the cultivation world; even with the family head at the Foundation Establishment stage, without leads, they could only accept the loss.

  After hearing this, Ye Chen sighed inwardly.

  Though not particurly grief-stricken, Ye Chen promised himself that if he ever became an immortal with the System, he would resurrect Ye Tianhe.

  "Ye Chen, we know about the Silver Moon Market incident. How did you make it back? Where is Steward Zhang? Why didn't he return with you?"

  Ye Chen's Second Uncle had been filled with questions since Ye Chen's return.

  Unable to hold back, he finally asked.

  Ye Chen was prepared for this.

  The flying boat was incredibly fast, capable of reaching Qingyun City in a day.

  But Ye Chen had taken five days, precisely for this reason.

  "Silver Moon Market was suddenly attacked by demonic beasts and robber cultivators. One of the shop assistants colluded with the robber cultivators, ambushing Steward Zhang as he prepared to leave with the goods..."

  "Steward Zhang fought bravely, holding them off and telling me to escape first..."

  "I took advantage of the chaos to flee towards Qingyun City."

  "After many hardships, I finally made it back."

  Ye Chen recounted the events simply, leaving the cn members marveling at his luck.

  To have survived such an ordeal.

  The family head at the main seat nodded in approval.

  Seeing the family head nod, Second Uncle felt even more troubled.

  He had hoped Ye Chen wouldn't return.

  The Ye family had received two Qingyun Sect slots, delivered just the day before.

  One was definitely going to the eldest brother's family, as his son had decent talent with a seventh-grade spiritual root, considered high quality.

  Due to an accident, he missed the Qingyun Sect's recruitment date.

  Now that they had the slots, of course, one should go to him.

  After all, the higher the spiritual root, the more likely one could break through to the Foundation Establishment stage.

  The remaining slot was to be contested between his children and Ye Chen from the third branch.

  If Ye Chen had died, there would be no contest.

  But the problem was, Ye Chen had returned alive.

  Moreover, Ye Chen's cultivation had advanced to the sixth yer of Qi Refining, matching his most talented son's level.

  Second Uncle Ye Tianhai scrutinized Ye Chen, "So the alchemy shop was robbed by the cultivators? But nephew, you've advanced from the third to the sixth yer of Qi Refining in less than two years. Quite the opportunity!"

  Hearing this, the Ye family members showed thoughtful expressions.

  Everyone knew Ye Chen's talent was average, with only a third-grade spiritual root.

  Such a spiritual root advancing three yers in less than two years inevitably led to specution.

  Some even suspected Ye Chen had obtained resources and secretly kept them.

  In a family, public and private matters were distinct.

  Coveting family resources was a major taboo.

  Ye Chen couldn't tolerate this.

  He was determined to secure the Qingyun Sect slot.

  So Ye Chen put on a look of grievance, gncing at his Second Uncle, "Second Uncle suspects me of embezzling family resources?"

  Second Uncle was taken aback. The previously timid Ye Chen seemed different now.

  Why was he so assertive?

  He hurried to expin and save face.

  But then Ye Chen lifted his robe, revealing storage bags tightly bound beneath.

  As Ye Chen removed the storage bags, his eyes reddened, as if deeply wronged.

  "Steward Zhang held off the enemy to give me a chance to escape, so I could bring these things back to the family."

  "For these items, I didn't dare close my eyes the entire journey."

  "When encountering rogue cultivators stronger than me, I was terrified of being robbed."

  "I risked my life to return, and yet Second Uncle doubts me?"

  "Then Second Uncle, take a look. The shop's account books are inside. See if everything matches..."

  "If anything's missing, I'll end my life here and now to join my father."

  "My father dedicated himself to the family, willing to die for it. How could I, Ye Chen, bring shame to him?"

  Ye Chen's reaction was too intense.

  He even invoked his father.

  Most importantly, Ye Chen had indeed brought back the shop's assets.

  This left the cn members approving and even feeling sorry for Ye Chen.

  Only Second Uncle's face was particurly awkward.

  Yet Ye Chen's expression remained unchanged, still dispying that sorrowful demeanor.

  What was rightfully his must be his.

  He was determined to secure the Qingyun Sect slot!

  CPDD