Ye Kong fell ill. This news barely caused a ripple in the vast estate of the General’s Manor before sinking into obscurity. In everyone’s eyes, even if this idiot had stopped being an idiot, he still couldn’t make any real waves.

However, for Ye Kong himself, this soul injury wasn’t entirely a bad thing. For someone as recklessly bold as him, daring to practice without proper techniques – who knows what disasters he’d cause once he actually got his hands on various cultivation methods? This brush with disaster would make him more cautious on the path of cultivation.

Three days later, in Ye Kong’s room.

“Mother, I’m fine now. I don’t need to drink anymore.” Ye Kong pushed away the medicine bowl with disgust, its bitter smell permeating the air.

“Kong’er, good medicine tastes bitter. You’ve only been drinking it for three days and you’re already almost recovered. Just persist for three more days. Once you’re completely better, we’ll stop, alright?” Chen Jiuniang sat at the bedside, coaxing him.

Actually, Ye Kong understood perfectly well that he’d only injured his soul, his body was perfectly healthy. No medicine could reach into his soul. He was feeling better because souls had self-recovery abilities, and besides, he’d only overexerted himself, not actually been damaged.

But he couldn’t very well explain all this to his mother. After staring at the bed canopy for a long while and seeing his mother still holding out the bowl, he could only accept it reluctantly. “Fine, fine, I’ll drink it, okay? Geez, I’m really scared of you.”

After three days of bed rest, Ye Kong felt much better. He was just about to get out of bed when he heard his mother talking with someone outside, their voices growing closer.

Ye Kong thought to himself, could someone actually be coming to visit? This Cangnan Continent really was cruel. A useless person like himself had been lying in bed for three days without a single visitor. Who could it be today?

“Creeak-” The long sound of door hinges turning, and a tall young man in his twenties stood outside the door.

It was none other than Ye Wei. He was now twenty-six years old, had already established his own household and office, married and had a son, led troops in battle, [Read on Jormuntl]and become a capable pillar of support for Ye Haoran.

This eldest brother couldn’t exactly be said to look after his idiot eighth brother, but he was relatively upright. When he encountered injustice, he would often step in to help this pitiful mother and son. However, he was away with the army year-round, and after marriage had established his own household, so while he could help Ye Kong temporarily, he couldn’t help the mother and son forever.

Yet in the idiot Ye Kong’s heart, he was already extremely grateful to this eldest brother. After all, in this entire manor, only he didn’t call him an idiot, and only he would speak a few words of fairness on his behalf.

“Big Brother.” Seeing Ye Wei enter, Ye Kong actually felt somewhat moved, his eyes even reddening.

“You stay lying down, stay lying down. I’ve been at my own home these past few days. As soon as I came over today, I heard the news and rushed to see you. Last time I heard you’d regained your wits but didn’t get a chance to meet you face to face.” Ye Wei set down the pastry box and small paper package he was carrying and quickly walked over to sit by the bed.

Back on Earth, Ye Kong thought he’d already become hard-hearted enough that nothing touching would make him cry. But coming here, he discovered he was actually fragile. The people here were the truly hard-hearted ones. No one pitied the weak, they only kicked them when they were down.

Fortunately though, he still had this eldest brother who treated him fairly well.

The two chatted casually for a while. Ye Kong mentioned wanting to attend the study hall to learn reading and writing. Ye Wei told him the teacher was an old pedantic scholar, very rigid in personality, but his poetry and essays were absolutely first-rate. He encouraged Ye Kong to study hard so he could pursue an official career in the future.

Ye Kong just smiled. He wanted to learn simply to read characters, he had no plans to study poetry diligently and take the imperial examinations.

After chatting a bit more, Ye Wei saw that Ye Kong’s mind really was working well. He asked about some old matters and found that Ye Kong remembered them all clearly, which put his mind further at ease.

“Last time I heard Father say you’d started learning martial arts too late and were preparing to study literature diligently, so I went and bought some brushes, ink, paper, and inkstones – the four treasures of the study.” Ye Wei was quite thoughtful. In this Cangnan Continent, poor people couldn’t even afford brushes, ink, and paper.

“Thank you, Big Brother.” Ye Kong quickly expressed his gratitude.

“No need to be polite, we’re brothers. Well, I’ll head back now. Eighth Brother, rest peacefully and recover your health, then study hard. You’ll surely have your day in the future.” After speaking, Ye Wei nodded with a smile and left amid Chen Jiuniang’s continuous thanks.

“The First Young Master is truly a good person.”

Chen Jiuniang saw Ye Wei off, returned to the room and sighed, then set the brush and ink package aside and opened the pastry box, wanting to get some pastries for Ye Kong to eat. But when she opened it, she discovered there were no pastries inside – just an envelope containing fifty taels of silver.

“The First Young Master is truly a good person.” Chen Jiuniang couldn’t help but repeat it again, then said to Ye Kong, “Later, when you make something of yourself, you must remember to repay his kindness.”

“I know, Mother. You should hurry and put that silver away, so Ye Cai and the others don’t see it and get bad ideas.” Ye Kong answered with a smile, though he was thinking to himself: Ye Wei will definitely inherit Ye Haoran’s position as family head in the future. Would he need a useless person like me to repay his kindness?

Chen Jiuniang’s thoughts weren’t as complicated as his. She happily picked up the silver, said “Mother will save this for your wedding,” and went back to her room to store the silver.

“Come on, buddy, I’m only twelve years old.” Ye Kong said with a bitter smile.

Once his mother left, Ye Kong lay back halfheartedly, his mind returning to that book in his head.

“Complete Collection of Talismans. If it can exist inside my brain, it definitely isn’t an ordinary thing… but how can I open it?”

Ye Kong closed his eyes. He still couldn’t stop thinking about that Complete Collection of Talismans. He had a feeling that to survive and establish himself in this cruel and helpless Cangnan Continent, he could only rely on this book hidden in his soul.

However, having already suffered greatly, he absolutely didn’t dare attempt it again lightly.

The days passed one by one, and in the blink of an eye, over half a month had gone by. Ye Kong’s damaged soul gradually recovered.

Thus began Ye Kong’s student life. Every morning he went to the study hall, returning home at noon for lunch.

The manor’s study hall had an old teacher named Zhang Wude, who kept his face stiff as a door plank all day long, stern and unsmiling.

Zhang Wude’s initial impression of Ye Kong wasn’t very good. After all, he knew the boy was an idiot, right? What was the point of teaching an idiot to read? Teaching an idiot – wasn’t that insulting himself?

Later they said he wasn’t an idiot anymore, but if you’re really not an idiot, then put in some effort, will you? With that lazy look like you can’t even keep your eyes open, you probably won’t learn anything of note anyway.

But after a few days, Zhang Wude discovered he’d misjudged him again. Though this child had a lazy appearance, he was actually very serious. He didn’t circle around girls like those older kids, nor did he play and fight like the younger children. On the contrary, Ye Kong spoke and acted with a maturity that didn’t match his age, and his gaze was like an adult’s.

More importantly, Ye Kong had his own perspective on everything. Though he constantly spouted vulgar language, what he said was extremely reasonable. He frequently spoke classic phrases that delighted Zhang Wude, who thought he’d encountered fine material and wanted to pass on all his learning to him.

But Ye Kong had absolutely no interest in poetry and prose. He was more concerned with strange tales and unusual matters, like whether this world had Buddhism, Daoism, Christianity, or a Bright Religion, whether there were immortals, where to find immortals, and whether people in this world drew talismans or if there were ghosts.

Such odd questions left Zhang Wude stunned, but this old scholar was experienced and knowledgeable. Not only had he read countless books, he’d traveled thousands of li and served as an official for many years. He knew a bit about things ordinary people didn’t understand.

He told Ye Kong that this world had no religious sects, but immortals did exist. More accurately, they couldn’t be called immortals, because they hadn’t yet cultivated to immortality. They were called cultivators.

Cultivators generally belonged to various cultivation sects or families. visit our siteHowever, these people devoted themselves to cultivation and disdained contact with mortals, so they were rarely seen.

Besides organized cultivators, there were also some rogue cultivators. However, these rogue cultivators mostly had low cultivation levels. Because they had no backing or support, when isolated they were often killed and robbed of their treasures. So rogue cultivators were extremely rare, and normally didn’t dare show their faces.

Zhang Wude had also heard that besides cultivators, there were demon cultivators. Regular cultivators were already cold and ruthless people, but those demon cultivators were even more terrifying. The biggest difference was that cultivators killed to seize treasures, while demon cultivators didn’t need a reason to kill at all.

As for ghosts and talismans, he wasn’t sure. After all, he’d never cultivated immortality himself. He only knew some general information, the detailed specifics were unknown to him.

However, Zhang Wude did have quite a collection of books, many about rare and unusual things. Ye Kong loved reading these types of books most, except his knowledge of Cangnan script was still very limited. There were many characters he didn’t recognize, which affected his reading.

Time flew by, and in the blink of an eye, another ten days passed.

Early one morning, Ye Kong finished preparing himself, asked his mother to tie up his hair, changed into clean robes, took his brushes, ink, paper and inkstone, and left the courtyard heading toward the manor’s study hall.

He’d just walked out the small courtyard gate when he looked up to see Steward Ye Cai hurrying in from outside. He looked as if he’d encountered some urgent matter, rushing toward the inner courtyard in a great flurry.

“Fire? Or did someone die?” Ye Kong snorted and continued walking toward the study hall.

Just after Ye Kong left, Ye Haoran appeared dressed in full formal attire, bringing Ye Wei and Second Wife, walking out quickly with barely suppressed joy on his face.

The group of several people hurried out the main gate at double speed. Outside the gate stood an old man with completely white hair and beard, calmly waiting. The old man wore only simple robes, had an extremely ordinary appearance, and a small grayish-black pouch hung at his waist. Such an ordinary old man could be found everywhere on the streets of Southern Capital City. The gate guards didn’t understand why their master Ye Haoran would personally bring his son and wife out to greet him.

“Ah, Immortal Master has arrived! Please, come inside.” The usually imposing General Ye’s face bloomed [noodles]like a brilliant flower upon seeing this old man.

“Oh, no need to be polite. Five years gone, and the General’s bearing remains as impressive as ever.” True Man Wanxuan smiled and exchanged pleasantries, then followed Ye Haoran through the impressive gates of the Ye family manor.

“Not at all, not at all. I’ve grown old. We mortals, how can we compare to the Immortal Master? I see the Immortal Master’s bearing is even better than before – you must have made breakthroughs in your cultivation.” Ye Haoran walked while flattering him.

True Man Wanxuan smiled bitterly. “How would General Ye know the difficulties of the immortal path? Someone like this old man has basically reached the peak of cultivation. Without some coincidental fortuitous encounter, there’s no possibility of advancing further.”

Hearing True Man Wanxuan speak with such feeling, Ye Haoran quickly changed the subject. “Immortals have great fate and long lives, far longer lifespans than us mortals. I believe the True Man will have his opportunities.”

True Man Wanxuan didn’t want to discuss his cultivation level further and smiled along. “Cultivators’ lifespans are indeed much longer than mortals’, and many cultivators have methods to preserve their appearance. You can’t judge their age by their looks. When I first began cultivation, I once saw what appeared to be a twenty-year-old youth. Who would have known that upon asking, the person turned out to be a renowned senior from five hundred years ago.”

“Ha ha ha.” Everyone laughed along.

However, hearing True Man Wanxuan’s words, Ye Haoran and Ye Wei’s eyes filled with longing for immortal cultivation. Forget everything else – just eternal life alone was enough to make mortals’ hearts burn with envy.

Even Second Wife following along was burning with desire. If one could become immortal and live forever while staying eternally young, how wonderful that would be! But she also knew that Ye Haoran might let his sons and daughters cultivate immortality, but he wouldn’t let his wives and concubines do so. After all, Ye Haoran wanted to ensure the Ye family’s safety forever. If he let his wives and concubines go out and hook up with some powerful immortal, getting cuckolded would be the least of it – bringing disaster would completely defeat the purpose.

Since she couldn’t cultivate immortality herself, Second Wife pinned her hopes on Ye Wen and Ye Wu. As long as one of them became an immortal, wouldn’t her position as proper wife be secured? Second Wife – that “Second” in her title was definitely coming off!

Of course, she’d heard that immortal cultivation required aptitude. Second Wife regretted not bearing more children. If she’d had eighty or a hundred sons and daughters, the chances would be so much greater. But obviously it was too late to give birth now, so she’d previously begged Ye Haoran to also let her younger brother’s daughter be examined for aptitude by the immortal.

Reminded by her, Ye Haoran thought it made sense. After all, immortal cultivation aptitude was one in ten thousand. If his own children couldn’t be selected, then children of relatives and loyal servants visit our sitewould work too. If an immortal emerged from among them, they’d be grateful to Ye Haoran for helping them enter the sect.

So Ye Haoran made two-tier preparations. First were himself and his children. If any of them had immortal cultivation aptitude, the backup candidates wouldn’t be mentioned. If not, then the second tier: children of relatives and friends, children of loyal servants who’d sold themselves to the Ye family (meaning house servants who’d been granted the Ye surname).

Ye Cai followed far behind. Though he couldn’t hear what the master was saying, his heart was extremely anxious. He prayed that none of Ye Haoran’s family would be selected, so his son among the backup team would get his chance. Heh heh, if my Ye Cai’s son became an immortal, I could swagger through this Ye manor! And that Li Laosi – who told you not to have the Ye surname? You probably don’t even know about this news!

Thinking of Li Laosi, Ye Cai naturally thought of another person who hadn’t received the news – Ye Kong. Heh heh, you idiot, who told you to have such bad relations with people? Who told you to displease Second Wife? This master just won’t notify you.

But then he thought again – actually, calling that idiot over wouldn’t matter. Was Second Wife making a mountain out of a molehill? Could an idiot possibly have the aptitude to become an immortal?

And at this moment, Ye Kong, who desperately wanted to cultivate immortality, still knew nothing. He was still at Zhang Wude’s place flipping through books. He had no idea that a golden opportunity to enter the immortal path was about to slip through his fingers.

“Teacher, why does the Strange Records of Cangnan only say the continent is surrounded by endless wilderness? What’s in that wilderness? Do immortals all live there?” Ye Kong asked.

Zhang Wude shook his head. “I don’t know. The wilderness interior is full of crises, all kinds of demon beasts roam freely. No one can penetrate deep inside. Even those barbarians who’ve lived on the wilderness edge since ancient times only dare circle around the outer areas. No one knows the situation inside the wilderness, no one knows what’s at the wilderness’s end. I estimate immortals wouldn’t choose to cultivate in such a place either.”

“Oh, I see. Then where can you find immortals?” Ye Kong persisted.

Zhang Wude smiled without taking offense. In fact, he himself had once been desperate to cultivate immortality.

“Kong’er, becoming an immortal isn’t as easy as you imagine. Even if you went to their door, they might not accept you. Immortal cultivation requires spiritual roots. Although those with spiritual roots are one or two in ten thousand, actually these spiritual roots have a hereditary factor. Like your Ye family – your ancestors never produced any immortals. Even if ten thousand Ye family members stood up, not one would have spiritual roots. The path of immortal cultivation – you’d better not fantasize about it…”