This discovery shocked Ye Kong beyond measure, even more than arriving at Cangnan Continent. He couldn’t imagine how a book could enter his brain. If he could fit a few more in there, wouldn’t that let him cheat on exams!?

Unfortunately, this continent didn’t even need college entrance exams. Moreover, this book had entered his brain by sheer coincidence. Other books absolutely couldn’t be stuffed in.

What excited Ye Kong even more was that four large golden characters on the book’s pages were extraordinarily clear: “Complete Collection of Talismans.” At the bottom of the cover was a line of small characters: “Left by Dragon-Tiger True Man.”

Originally, Ye Kong thought this book had been in the idiot’s brain all along. Now it seemed that wasn’t the case. This Dragon-Tiger True Man must have some connection to that Dragon-Tiger Fortune-Telling Hall.

It seemed that when Miss Zhao slapped him to this other world, she’d conveniently given him something useful.

Seeing this book, Ye Kong became excited at once. Even an idiot would understand that a book of talismans that could enter his brain definitely wasn’t ordinary. It might just be his lifeline to establishing himself in this other world and dominating Cangnan!

He was somewhat impatient, wanting to open the pages to see what talismans this book recorded and whether any were useful to him.

But very quickly he couldn’t be happy anymore, because he discovered he actually couldn’t open this book.

He was just an orb of light now, without hands or feet. However, this didn’t affect flipping the book. With just a thought, the book’s cover would lift.

Except he found the book’s pages seemed to weigh a thousand pounds. No matter how hard he tried, using all his strength, that glowing golden-green book cover only lifted a small corner before unavoidably falling back down.

“Screw his immortal ancestors! I refuse to believe I can’t flip one page of a book!”

But this wasn’t the time for stubbornness. No matter how desperately Ye Kong tried to flip it, the ​Read on Jormuntl​book just wouldn’t open. Moreover, the amplitude of his lifting grew smaller and smaller, until finally it didn’t move at all.

“Not good!” At this moment, Ye Kong suddenly felt his mind becoming dizzy, his vision starting to blur, as if his entire body was hollow and empty.

“Cock-a-doodle-doo!” A night passed. At dawn, just as the sky grew dim, Cangnan Continent’s roosters finally crowed punctually just like on Earth.

“Gah!” Ye Kong’s thin body crashed onto the bed. He closed his eyes, his lips pale and white, beads of sweat the size of beans rolling from his forehead down past his ears onto the porcelain pillow.

He didn’t know that rooster had just saved his life. The most serious injury a human body could suffer was injury to the spiritual consciousness and soul. Although he’d devoured the idiot’s soul and his spirit was much stronger than his peers, just now he’d severely overdrafted his soul power, already reaching the point where the oil was exhausted and the lamp dried up. If not for that rooster crow waking him, by now he’d either have his soul scattered to the winds or become a brand-new vegetable.

Though he’d narrowly escaped with his life, he didn’t feel good at all right now.

Weak, extremely weak.

He felt his entire body was numb and stiff, unable to summon any strength, not even enough to open his eyes. With his eyes closed, he could still feel things blurring before him. All thoughts in his brain’s consciousness had stagnated. All pursuits, joys and sorrows, loves and hates, all vanished completely.

Sunlight gently scattered, the blue sky stretched ten thousand li. Another day had arrived.

The South Province had always been a place where weather was extremely suitable for crop growth and human habitation. If not for being close to the wilderness and bordering barbarian tribes, it would be even more prosperous.

Southern Capital City was South Province’s capital, also the most prosperous and lively city among An Kingdom’s eight provinces, not counting the national capital An Capital City of course.

Though they politely said Southern Capital City’s prosperity came from the efforts of citizens from all directions, everyone knew in their hearts that this was inseparable from South Province’s highest official Ye Haoran’s contributions. If not for General Ye leading troops to repel the barbarian tribes’ repeated harassment, how could there be today’s prosperity? You should know that over ten years ago, this place had already become a barren wasteland.

Ye Haoran’s position as general came entirely from his outstanding military achievements. He’d already achieved great merit in his youth, and even the current emperor’s noodlesascension to the throne owed much to his military support.

However, after ascending the throne, the emperor worried about his achievements overshadowing the master, so he dispatched him to guard the borderlands. Ye Haoran was also happy to leave the political center, taking a group of soldiers to carve out territory, becoming a carefree general with peace of mind. But even though the barbarian tribes had been scattered, they weren’t that docile. Several hundred li from Southern Capital City, the Ye family army was stationed, and Ye Haoran’s eldest son Ye Wei was garrisoning there.

But today, early in the morning, Ye Wei had returned early.

In front of the flower hall, Ye Haoran, who’d just finished morning training, put down his great blade and took the towel Ye Wei handed over to wipe his hands, asking, “Wei’er, you should be in the army right now. Why have you returned?”

Ye Wei said, “I came back for two things. One is that there’s news from the army. After more than ten years of dedicated governance, the barbarian tribe’s strength has recovered somewhat. Recently a new Chahar Khan with lofty ambitions has appeared. I feel we’ll have to battle him sooner or later. If we don’t strike early, in less than ten years he’ll unify all the barbarian tribes. I fear by then we won’t be their match.”

Ye Haoran pondered for a moment, “This matter isn’t urgent. After I report to His Majesty, we’ll deliberate further. What’s the second matter?”

“Oh, the second matter is that I heard recently that Wanxuan True Man…”

“Speak in the study.” Ye Haoran quickly interrupted.

Military matters could be discussed in front of the flower hall, but this second matter had to be discussed in the study. Clearly it must be extremely secret.

Back quarters, study.

“Father, could Wanxuan True Man covet our family heirloom and not want to return it?” Ye Wei said very carefully.

“Don’t speak nonsense!” Ye Haoran roared angrily, his eyes looking left and right, then he scolded in a low voice, “Be careful what you say. Wanxuan True Man is an immortal, and not just any immortal. He’s a Foundation Establishment cultivator with great divine powers. He can hear our conversation from a thousand li away!”

Hearing for a thousand li. Ye Wei was somewhat surprised, though he used a doubtful tone, “What does Foundation Establishment ​noodles​mean? From the literal meaning, it’s just building a foundation. It shouldn’t be that formidable, right?”

“Presumptuous! Are immortal matters for you to discuss? No matter how basic he is, he’s not someone us mere mortals can contend with!” Ye Haoran scolded his son once again, then explained, “Last time I heard Wanxuan True Man say that only one person in ten thousand ordinary people has the aptitude for the immortal path, and among a thousand people with immortal path aptitude, only two or three Foundation Establishment immortal masters can emerge. Calculate it yourself, those odds, one in millions! How could he not be formidable?”

Hearing this, Ye Wei couldn’t help but be moved. He nodded, “No wonder immortals are so rare.”

Perhaps lamenting his own impossibility of becoming an immortal, Ye Haoran sighed deeply, leaned his back against the rosewood chair back, and muttered slowly to himself, “I actually hope Wanxuan True Man can comprehend the secret of our Ye family’s treasure. Even if we give it to him, that’s fine.”

Ye Wei stood up in shock and quickly urged, “Father, this is a treasure book our Ye family has passed down for many generations, collected for several hundred years. How can we freely give it to others!”

“What use is collecting it for several hundred years? To us it’s worth nothing! It’ll even bring disaster!” Ye Haoran glared at his son, then said, “If Wanxuan True Man is willing to accept it, he’d owe our Ye family a favor and would definitely protect our Ye family’s safety for a hundred years. Do you understand!”

Ye Wei wasn’t stupid either. He immediately thought of something, sat back in his chair and sighed, “Our Ye family has absolutely no heart for seizing power and profit. The emperor… Alas, and to think we supported his ascension with our military strength back then.”

Ye Haoran laughed, “You think His Majesty’s ascension was really because I, Ye Haoran, had some troops supporting him? You’re wrong!”

Ye Wei had always shared the same view as all the citizens of Southern Capital City, believing the current emperor could become emperor entirely because General Ye Haoran contributed. Now hearing his father personally say it wasn’t so made it hard for him to believe.

“Let me tell you!” Ye Haoran’s voice grew lower and lower, speaking against his son’s ear, “In today’s Cangnan Continent, which nation’s royal family doesn’t have a cultivation sect standing behind it? Actually, emperors are just representatives of these immortal families in the mortal world! A single word from an immortal is more useful than a million troops!”

This was the first time in Ye Wei’s life hearing this claim. He was shocked enough to open his mouth wide, “So it’s like this. Then wouldn’t the emperor also be…”

“No.” Ye Haoran shook his head, “He’s not an immortal. He just better represents the immortal families’ interests.”

This time Ye Wei truly sighed deeply, full of unease about the future. Originally he thought as long as they firmly grasped military power in the south, the emperor wouldn’t [Read on Jormuntl]dare touch the Ye family. Now it seemed the emperor could simply mobilize immortals to execute anyone from the Ye family at any time.

Seeing his son’s dejection, Ye Haoran consoled him, “You don’t need to be too nervous either. Immortal families don’t concern themselves with us mortals’ affairs. Unless absolutely necessary, they won’t step forward to help His Majesty do anything.”

Ye Wei thought for a moment and looked up, “What if we also pledge ourselves to a cultivation sect?”

This touched on Ye Haoran’s heart. He chuckled, “That’s why I hope Wanxuan True Man can owe our Ye family a favor. You should know these immortal family sects aren’t something you can pledge to just because you want. Although the Wan family isn’t as large as the sect behind His Majesty, it’s still a considerable cultivation family. If we can establish a connection…”

Ye Haoran squinted his eyes, clearly already imagining pleasant things.

But Ye Wei said quite discouragingly, “But what if Wanxuan True Man also can’t comprehend it? You know our Ye family has had this thing for several hundred years. Countless ancestors wanted to research the secret of cultivating to become immortal from it, but all returned empty-handed.”

What he said also made Ye Haoran’s heart sink with dejection. He sighed, “Then there’s no way, but I still have a backup plan.”

“Oh?” Hearing this, Ye Wei’s eyes lit up.

“Father, I wonder what this backup plan you just mentioned is…” Ye Wei asked carefully. Actually, he’d also heard rumors, otherwise why rush back overnight from the border garrison?

Ye Haoran drank a mouthful of tea, keeping them in suspense, before proudly saying, “This father thought long ago that relying on others is inferior to relying on oneself. Even if Wanxuan True Man is willing to protect the Ye family, that’s still not very convenient. What if our Ye family… also had a cultivator of our own…”

Ye Wei continued, “Then at least His Majesty would have to think carefully before moving against us.”

“Exactly!” Ye Haoran slapped the table laughing, “Five years ago when Wanxuan True Man came to the house to borrow the treasure book, I wanted to ask him to take a couple Ye family descendants as disciples. But just meeting him and immediately making requests would definitely displease the True Man, so I didn’t speak up. This time the True Man comes, regardless of whether that treasure book helps him or not, this father will seize this excellent opportunity to make the discipleship request.”

Hearing this, Ye Wei also beamed with joy. He asked somewhat embarrassedly, “My son just turned four. I wonder if Wanxuan True Man could accept him? This age is precisely the right time to start learning martial arts.”

Ye Haoran immediately understood his son’s main purpose for hurrying back. He pointed at his son and laughed without good humor, “Your son is my grandson, isn’t he? Would I not consider him? But the path of immortal cultivation is different from learning martial arts. It’s not a matter of the younger the better. Even an eighty-year-old man can attain the way and ascend to immortality. I’ve inquired about this. One must be at least eight years old before you can tell if the child has the aptitude for immortal cultivation.”

“Ah, so it’s like that.” Ye Wei was greatly disappointed.

Ye Haoran also sighed, “Last time the True Man came to borrow the book, I didn’t raise the matter of taking disciples. That was also partly for this reason. At that time, only nine sons and daughters had reached eight years old. Now it’s different. Including you, this old man has thirty-two sons and daughters over eight years old. I think… surely one or two have immortal cultivation aptitude.”

Ye Wei’s eyes, which had just been disappointed, ignited with hope again, “Father, does this mean I also have hope?”

“Of course. As long as one has immortal cultivation aptitude, even this father would take Wanxuan True Man as master.”

The immortal path’s temptation to mortals was so enormous. Ye Wei also cheered up, laughing, “Best would be if everyone in our Ye family cultivated to become immortals. Haha, enjoy eternal life.”

Ye Haoran’s mood was greatly pleased. He even joked with his son, “Then wouldn’t this father become your martial brother?”

“Haha.”

Their thinking wasn’t bad, but they forgot what was just said. Immortal cultivation aptitude was one in ten thousand. How could there be so many people suitable for cultivation? Two generations of the Ye family totaled only dozens of people. Even having one with immortal cultivation aptitude, that chance was very small, let alone the fact that aptitude also varied in quality and authenticity.

The two chatted for a while. Ye Haoran suddenly said, “Oh, you should go visit Eighth Brother later. He suddenly became clear-minded recently and even showed good wits. This puzzles me greatly.”

“Eighth Brother’s body has recovered?” Ye Wei was somewhat surprised, then continued, “This is a good thing. It should be announced throughout the manor with great rewards.” Ye Wei said.

Hearing Ye Wei say this, Ye Haoran was about to nod, but suddenly thought of Ye Kong’s ugly mother. He waved his hand, “This matter isn’t urgent. I’m asking what you think about him suddenly getting better.”

Ye Wei was stunned. If he got better, he got better. Shouldn’t we be happy? Why investigate why he got better?

Ye Wei didn’t dare speak directly. He thought for a moment and said, “Eighth Brother couldn’t really be called completely stupid before either. He was just somewhat confused. Now that he’s older, he’s gained understanding and comprehends reason. That’s also normal.”

“It’s not that simple.” Ye Haoran shook his head, “If as you say, he gained understanding, at most he’d just be somewhat sensible. But you don’t know, he’s quite shrewd now, his personality has greatly changed… Alas, you’ll know when you see him.”

Ye Wei scratched his head, “I’ve heard people say there’s only a fine line between genius and idiot. Many geniuses are quite idiotic in their daily lives. I estimate Eighth Brother just went from idiot to genius overnight. Great wisdom appears foolish.”

Indeed, having someone help speak made a difference. Hearing this, Ye Haoran felt it made some sense. He put aside his suspicions and laughed, “I originally guessed whether he’d been pretending to be stupid all along. Now it seems what you say is more likely.”

Ye Wei also smiled, “Actually, I also considered the possibility of feigning stupidity, but feigning stupidity gave him no benefits at all, so I rejected it.”

Ye Haoran thought the same in his heart. No longer dwelling on it, he nodded, “Then go ahead. If you discover anything wrong, come back and tell me.”

Ye Wei nodded, left the study, and headed straight for the outer courtyard to see Ye Kong. What he didn’t expect was that Ye Kong was actually sick at this moment. Seeing the seriously ill Ye Kong, Ye Wei didn’t say much and departed first.