Upon learning that Liu Xi had finally arrived, Ye Zhong immediately set aside all his duties and hurried out to greet him personally.
When he caught sight of that familiar face, Ye Zhong was momentarily stunned. Liu Xi looked exactly as he had years ago—time had not left the slightest mark upon him. Instead, there was now a calm, refined poise between his brows that made his presence even more commanding than before.
Xiao Yixian stood quietly beside him, her aura deep and restrained, so powerful it seemed the very heavens converged around her. Yet her gentle gaze remained fixed upon the man at her side.
Ye Zhong couldn't help but sigh inwardly. 'So this is the difference between a genius and an ordinary man. In just a few short years, I'm still standing still, while he has already soared beyond reach…'
With a broad smile and eyes brimming with excitement—almost desperation—Ye Zhong stepped forward. At this moment, only Liu Xi could save the Ye Clan.
"Master Liu, you've finally come! Each day I've prayed for your arrival!"
Liu Xi glanced at him, noting the elder's overexcitement, and asked casually, "Tell me, what happened to the Ye Clan? Where's Elder Yao? Has the problem been solved? I still have to prepare for the Pill Gathering in Holy Pill City."
Ye Zhong froze briefly, rubbing his hands with visible unease before forcing a laugh. "Elder Yao is cultivating within the clan. As for our problem—only you can solve it, Master Liu. Please, let's discuss it inside."
Liu Xi nodded lightly. "Alright, lead the way."
Waving for the guards to stand down, Ye Zhong personally led Liu Xi and Xiao Yixian toward the main discussion hall.
Inside the hall, Ye Zhong and Liu Xi sat opposite one another, both taking the secondary seats below the head position—left vacant out of respect. Xiao Yixian sat quietly beside Liu Xi, while several Ye Clan Elders were seated casually around the room.
Liu Xi held a cup of tea, the faint fragrance wafting upward as the dried leaves unfurled in the steaming water, releasing a subtle, refined aroma. 'The Ye Clan is one of the five great families under the Pill Tower. Even Elder Yao couldn't solve their issue... could it be that matter?' he thought quietly, inhaling the tea's delicate scent.
Looking toward Ye Zhong, who was smiling nervously, Liu Xi said mildly, "Tell me, what trouble has befallen the Ye Clan that even Elder Yao can't handle?"
Ye Zhong gazed at the young man who had become a figure revered by countless top-tier factions. After a moment's silence, he said truthfully, "Master Liu, as you know, my Ye Clan is one of the five families under the Pill Tower. This is because long ago, our ancestor once held one of the elder seats within the Tower."
"However, it's been a long time since we last produced an elder. The seat isn't permanent—it's re-evaluated every so often. The Ye Clan has already failed the last two assessments. If we fail again, we'll be expelled from the ranks of the five families."
"Though we've declined, we still have a chance to rise again. The Five Families are the gateway to the Pill Tower's core. If we lose that title, the Ye Clan will be finished—there are too many families watching like hungry wolves, waiting to replace us…"
'As expected…' Liu Xi mused. The Ye Clan's status under the Pill Tower meant that few dared provoke them outright. But if they lost that standing, countless forces would rush to trample them for fame or favor.
Taking a slow sip of tea, Liu Xi said faintly, "So, what you're asking is for me to help the Ye Clan regain its elder seat in the Tower and secure its position among the Five Families."
Ye Zhong nodded deeply, eyes burning with a mixture of hope and shame. "Yes. To reclaim our seat, we must place in the top three during the assessment. With your skill as an 8th Tier Alchemist, Master Liu, even first place would be effortless. None among the younger generation of the Five Families could compare to you."
Liu Xi gave a small nod—it was true. His alchemy had long surpassed the younger generation and even rivaled many of the older masters.
But his eyes glinted with amusement as he added, "Then tell me, Elder Ye, how exactly do you plan to let an outsider like me participate in a test meant only for members of the Five Families?"
Ye Zhong gave an awkward smile—that was indeed the crux of the problem. Only the younger members of the Five Families could take part, and the Ye Clan's younger generation… was far from promising.
After a long silence, Ye Zhong gritted his teeth and said tremulously, "I wish to… have you enter as the Ye Clan's prospective son-in-law. Of course, it would only be in name. Once this is over, the Ye Clan will never trouble you again."
He spoke with hesitation and shame—after all, Liu Xi's current prestige as an 8th Tier Alchemist far outshone their declining clan. Even offering him a symbolic title of son-in-law felt presumptuous.
Liu Xi's expression remained calm. He was not a nameless youth anymore. Once labeled as the Ye Clan's son-in-law, it would be difficult to wash away that title later—and the more he tried, the messier it would become.
Setting the cup down gently, he turned to Xiao Yixian. She met his gaze with a tender smile, showing no hint of jealousy or concern. Liu Xi exhaled softly and said, "Elder Ye, that's a difficult condition for me to accept."
Even Xiao Yixian hadn't been formally given a title yet. How could he casually agree to something like this?
Ye Zhong's face fell, a bitter look flashing in his eyes. 'So it's still not enough… This is the Ye Clan's final chance. What else can I offer?'
The hall grew silent. The gathered elders exchanged helpless glances, yet none dared utter a word of reproach.
Then, a sudden voice broke the quiet. "Senior Liu, please, I beg you! If you can help the Ye Clan reclaim its elder seat, I, Xinlan, will serve as your maid for life to repay your kindness!"
Everyone turned as a blue-clad young girl hurried into the hall. Her face was delicate and youthful, about eighteen or nineteen years old, her expression a mix of admiration, desperation, and determination.
Liu Xi blinked in mild surprise. The girl's voice and face tugged at a faint memory. 'Xinlan… Ye Xinlan—ah, the granddaughter of Elder Ye who went to study at Jia Nan Academy.'
Before Liu Xi could respond, Ye Zhong's expression changed. He frowned and scolded softly, "Xinlan, this is a conversation between elders. It's not your place to speak. Step back!"
(End of Chapter)
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This Fanfiction Has Been Completed on P4 treon, For those who want to read 2 chapters ahead for free, you can find me on P4 treon by searching for my username: Fallen_Archangel_.
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