"Elder Ye."

Luu Pu took a step forward, leaned over the head of the bed, and called out softly,

"It’s me, Luu Pu."

"Luu... Luu Pu..." Ye Chongshan’s eyelids twitched. His murky eyes fell upon Luu Pu, and he slowly nodded.

"Good child, good child!"

Seeing this once powerful and famous elder in such a state, Luu Pu couldn’t help but feel a sting in his nose.

This moment was just like that one.

His father-in-law had once been the same.

"Elder Ye."

Zhu Ju strode closer.

"I’ve come to see you as well."

"Zhu... Zhu Ju?" Ye Chongshan hesitated for a moment before recalling the name. His gaze shifted, and his eyes suddenly focused.

"You..."

"Xingxian!"

"I’m here." Ye Xingxian hurried forward.

"Father, I’m here."

"Have everyone else leave." Ye Chongshan’s eyes flew wide, and he gritted his teeth, propping up his skeletal body.

"I have something to say to Zhu Ju."

"This..." Ye Xingxian’s expression changed slightly. His gaze paused on Zhu Ju for a moment before he nodded.

"Alright. Please, take care of yourself."

As he spoke, he exchanged a puzzled glance with Luu Pu, clasped his hands in a farewell gesture, and backed out, closing the door behind him.

In an instant, the room was left with only Ye Chongshan and Zhu Ju.

"Golden Flesh and Jade Veins, Mercury Blood and Silver Marrow... once you cultivate the Water and Fire Immortal Robe, you can achieve the legendary Hard Skill Saint Body."

Gazing at Zhu Ju, Ye Chongshan’s voice trembled.

"A Physical Body like this is akin to an Immortal Embryo. Only someone who has flawlessly reached the External Training Fifth Realm with an incredibly solid foundation has a sliver of a chance to achieve it."

"Good!"

"Very good!"

"Elder, you have sharp eyes." Zhu Ju composed his surprised expression and nodded.

"I was fortunate enough to consume an Exotic Fruit to reach my current Realm. It’s also thanks to your guidance back then, Elder."

"You don’t need to explain to me." Ye Chongshan waved his hand.

"I’m already in this state. My time is up. Even if you’ve had a heaven-sent opportunity, it’s useless to me."

"I have only one question for you: do you want to become an Immortal?"

’What?’

"Become an Immortal?" Zhu Ju’s expression was strange.

"Elder..."

"Do you think I’m raving?" The wrinkles on Ye Chongshan’s face trembled as he revealed a strange smile.

"Dazhou has endured for eight hundred years, San Fen Hall has stood in Hejian Prefecture for three hundred, and the Celestial Yu Gang was founded four hundred years ago..."

"Do you know why?"

Zhu Ju’s brow furrowed.

Based on his experience from his previous life, dynasties that lasted more than three hundred years were rare in the world, let alone Martial World Sects that had existed for centuries.

’Could it be...’

"That’s right!"

Ye Chongshan nodded.

"Whether it’s San Fen Hall, the Celestial Yu Gang, or the Dazhou Royal Family, they are all backed by an Immortal Sect. Only an Immortal Family with the power to reshape the heavens and earth could protect such forces and allow them to remain undefeated for hundreds of years."

"Who doesn’t want to become an Immortal?"

"But joining an Immortal Sect isn’t easy. You must reach the Innate Realm to even be noticed by an Immortal Family, or..."

"You must have an Immortal Sect Token!"

He stretched out a trembling hand and pulled a copper token from under his pillow.

"This is it!"

’Immortal Sects?’

’Cultivation?’

’There are actually Immortals in this world!’

’Immortals who live forever, eternal and undying!’

Zhu Ju’s heart surged with emotion, and he couldn’t help but ask,

"Elder, do you mean that with this Copper Token, one can join an Immortal Sect and practice Cultivation?"

"No!" Ye Chongshan shook his head.

"You must reach the Innate Realm *and* hold the token. Only when both requirements are met can you enter an Immortal Sect for Cultivation."

"Immortal Sects are hard to find, which is why people like us join Martial World Sects, hoping to get a recommendation to seek immortality."

"A pity!"

A bitter look appeared on his face as he sighed softly.

Getting a sect’s recommendation was incredibly difficult; you had to achieve Great Merit. On top of that, you had to reach the Innate Realm. He had striven his entire life and failed to achieve even one of these two requirements.

Among the descendants of the Ye Family, not a single one had the Talent for the Innate Realm.

Without reaching the Innate Realm, the token was useless. Worse, if word got out that the Ye Family possessed an Immortal Sect Token, it would bring unimaginable disaster upon his descendants.

"I came across this item by chance. With it, you don’t need anyone’s recommendation. As long as you become Innate, you can enter an Immortal Sect," Ye Chongshan continued.

"Although I don’t know which Immortal Sect this token belongs to, it is definitely a token."

"Are there really Immortal Sects?" Zhu Ju muttered.

"Can one really become an Immortal?"

"Elder."

He looked at the old man, his expression grave.

"I cannot accept a reward without merit. What do you want me to do?"

"Among the younger generation of the Ye Family, Jingming and Yao’er have good Talent. I hope you will take them as your disciples and teach them the Thirteen Body Refinement." Ye Chongshan took a deep breath, his voice trembling.

"Furthermore, I have a booklet with Xingxian. Have him copy it for you as a gift for accepting them as your disciples."

"Zhu Ju..."

"Your father and I were like brothers, and I was the one who taught you the Thirteen Body Refinement. Now, I only ask this one thing of you."

"You... you must agree!"

...

CREAK...

The door opened.

With a complex expression, Zhu Ju stepped out slowly and clasped his hands toward Ye Xingxian.

"My condolences."

"Elder Ye... has passed."

"Father!" Ye Xingxian cried out in grief. He didn’t even bother to ask what Ye Chongshan had said to Zhu Ju, simply rushing into the room and collapsing to his knees.

"Father!"

"How could you just leave like this?"

"What are we going to do now that you’re gone?"

...

"Brother Zhu."

Ye Xingxian, now dressed in mourning clothes, had red-rimmed eyes. He clasped his hands toward Zhu Ju, who had been waiting for a long time.

"My apologies for making you wait."

"Not at all." Zhu Ju stood up.

"Brother Ye, I imagine you’re curious about what Elder Ye said to me before he passed."

"I am," Ye Xingxian nodded and sighed.

"Ever since he saw you, Brother Zhu, my father’s condition was unstable. It even seemed to hasten his passing."

"Of course, if it’s inconvenient for you to say, Brother Zhu, I won’t insist. After all, my father’s condition was beyond even an Immortal’s help. You don’t need to blame yourself."

"It wasn’t anything major." After a moment of thought, Zhu Ju said slowly,

"Elder Ye wanted two of the Ye Family children to study the Thirteen Body Refinement with me, and he mentioned a booklet as a gift for accepting them."

He made no mention of the Immortal Sect Token.

Ye Xingxian frowned.

***

「In the rear courtyard of the Ye Residence.」

"I object!"

Ye Hong’s face was grim as he shouted,

"The Thirteen Body Refinement already ruined Brother Qir and Third Brother. We can’t let Second Uncle ruin Jingming and Yao’er too."

BANG! Ye Xingxian slammed his palm on the table and shot to his feet in anger.

"Ye Hong, what are you talking about?"

"Without my father, without the Thirteen Body Refinement, the Ye Family wouldn’t be where it is today! Brother Qir and Third Brother failed because their own skills were lacking. Who else is there to blame?"

The Ye Family was a large clan. It wasn’t just Ye Chongshan’s line; brothers of the same generation and their descendants all lived together.

When important matters arose, it was natural for them to gather and discuss.

At this moment, they were all gathered to discuss the matter of the two youngsters studying the Thirteen Body Refinement under Zhu Ju.

"Xingxian," a woman said slowly,

"Don’t be angry. No one is saying Second Uncle was wrong. It’s just that Jingming and Yao’er are the most outstanding of the younger generation. If nurtured properly, their future is limitless. We naturally have to be cautious about having them practice the Thirteen Body Refinement."

"After all..."

"Hard Skills are difficult to practice. The slightest mistake can damage one’s foundation. You know this yourself."

"This time is different," Ye Xingxian said, shaking his head.

"Father specifically kept Zhu Ju behind before he passed and gave him these instructions. He must have been extremely confident."

"In three years, Zhu Ju reached the External Training Fourth Realm of the Thirteen Body Refinement with a stable foundation. This is definitely not just because of Talent. If Jingming and Yao’er can learn his methods, they can fulfill my father’s last wish."

The Ye Family had risen to prominence because of the Thirteen Body Refinement, so of course he hoped the family’s descendants would inherit this Top-Notch Hard Skill.

"Brother Xingxian."

A young man in his early twenties spoke up.

"We understand how you feel, but times have changed. Before, we had no choice. Now, we do."

"The Thirteen Body Refinement is easy to learn but hard to master. Furthermore, the Inner Refining Third Realm has a major flaw. It might not be a good choice."

"That’s right!" Ye Hong added.

"The reason Second Uncle sought out other Cultivation Techniques all these years was so that we wouldn’t have to follow his old path."

"Besides..."

"A small place like Leping County can’t compare to the Prefecture City. If Jingming and Yao’er study under Zhu Ju, who knows if they’ll succeed, but their future prospects and connections will surely be worse than if they stayed and developed in the Prefecture City."

"Exactly!"

"That’s the point."

"..."

The crowd murmured in agreement, and for a moment, Ye Xingxian was silent.