Chapter 66: At Hand! Who Shall It Be Given To?

The hall fell into complete silence.

Ye Tianhai’s face turned ashen, his complexion shifting between shades of blue and gray, but he could not bring himself to speak. After all, Ye Chen had never outright accused him. Yet the truth could not be denied: he had not taught Ye Chen properly.

But those matters were secondary. What truly mattered now was the coveted spot in the Green Cloud Sect. The final decision rested firmly in the hands of the clan patriarch, Ye Hong.

Ye Hong himself had not anticipated Ye Chen’s alchemical skills would have reached such heights. His astonishment was evident.

At this point, the competition no longer seemed necessary. Ye Chen’s top-grade Qi Nourishing Pills had already sealed the victory. After a brief pause, Ye Hong slowly spoke, his voice carrying a sense of gravitas.

“Little Chen, your alchemy far surpasses that of Feng’er. I have now reached the Foundation Establishment stage, and the clan is on the verge of expansion. The Ye family’s roots lie in alchemy, and we are in desperate need of a skilled alchemist.

“Little Chen, with your talent, staying within the family could help propel our growth. Feng’er, with his fifth grade spiritual root, is better suited for the Green Cloud Sect. He should go there to cultivate. In this way, with Ye Tian and Ye Feng, our family will have both protection and resources, enabling us to thrive. You two shall support each other in the future, and one day, the Ye family may rise to become a prominent clan!

“Little Chen, by remaining within the family, you can gradually take over your second uncle’s position. I have already broken through to Foundation Establishment, and my lifespan is now extended to a hundred and fifty years. Your second uncle’s generation has no hope of inheriting the clan. But you can. In the future, as clan patriarch, with Ye Tian and Ye Feng, both disciples of Green Cloud Sect, safeguarding you, how could our Ye family fail to prosper?

“Little Chen, you must think of the bigger picture!”

Ye Hong’s words were slow, deliberate, and filled with a certain finality.

Hearing this, Ye Tianhai and Ye Feng exchanged glances, and a glimmer of hope rekindled in their eyes.

But in Ye Chen’s heart, the chill only deepened. This old man’s bias had reached its peak. Earlier, he had praised Ye Feng’s alchemy talent and sent him to the Green Cloud Sect for further study.

Now that he, too, possessed exceptional alchemical talent, the old man believed he was best suited to remain within the family, contributing to its growth, while Ye Feng would enjoy the luxury of cultivation in the Green Cloud Sect. And to top it all off, the old man had even promised him the position of clan patriarch.

How laughable of him to suggest that being the head of a small family was such a great honor.

The problem, however, was that the old man still had at least seventy or eighty years to live. Not only would he outlive Ye Tianhai’s generation, but if Ye Chen himself failed to break through to Foundation Establishment, he, too, would eventually be left behind.

And if the wait lasted too long? The patriarchal position would undoubtedly pass to Ye Feng and Ye Tian, those who had trained in the Green Cloud Sect. By then, Ye Chen would likely be left with nothing. Had he been his previous self, perhaps he would have believed the old man’s words. But the reborn Ye Chen had seen through countless empty promises, could no longer be so easily deceived.

Ye Chen had already resolved in his heart. Either he would take the Green Cloud Sect spot for himself, or if he failed, he would sever ties with the Ye family entirely. With the help of the system, surpassing the Ye family was only a matter of time.

Thus, Ye Chen bowed once again, his voice polite yet filled with an underlying determination.

“Thank you, Grandfather, for your kind offer. But my only goal is to fulfill my father’s last wish, which is to enter the Green Cloud Sect and allow my father to rest in peace. Moreover, if I enter the Green Cloud Sect, I may have a chance to reach the level of a second-grade alchemist, which could elevate our Ye family into a true alchemical legacy.”

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“…”

The hall fell into a deep silence.

No one had expected Ye Chen to be so bold. Despite the patriarch’s repeated offers, Ye Chen still refused to relinquish his claim to the Green Cloud Sect spot.

Seeing Ye Chen reject him once more, Ye Hong’s expression turned cold. His gaze fixed on Ye Chen, sharp and unwavering. Though he didn’t target him directly, the pressure from a Foundation Establishment cultivator was enough to weigh heavily on any Qi Refining practitioner.