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"Uncle Wolf, the Nuoding City Spirit Hall branch is in the eastern part of the city," Ye Lan said, pointing the way.
Silver Wolf gave a slight nod. In the distance to the east, he could indeed vaguely make out a building with the distinct style of a Gothic cathedral.
Xiao Xue gazed out the window at the scenery of Nuoding. While the city couldn't be described as dilapidated, it was still far too underdeveloped compared to Heaven Dou City or Suotuo City. The tallest building here was actually the Spirit Hall branch; most of the other residences along the streets were low, simple wooden houses. The Great Spirit Arena, a popular entertainment venue for Spirit Masters, was nowhere to be seen.
Xiao Xue found it hard to imagine that a genius like Ye Lan had emerged from such a remote border town. In such a backward environment for Spirit Masters, could Ye Lan have still developed his 'New Martial Soul Core Competitiveness' theory? Xiao Xue's admiration for Ye Lan grew even more; he was truly worthy of her high esteem.
Although it was filled with low-lying houses, the roads of Nuoding City were a pleasant surprise for Xiao Xue. They were clearly newly constructed and wide enough for even a six-horse carriage to travel without feeling congested.
A short while later, Ye Lan's party arrived at the Nuoding City Spirit Hall branch.
The guard at the entrance saw the six-horse carriage from a distance and immediately stood up straight, his chest puffed out, looking respectfully at the silver-armored knight in the driver's seat. The guard never imagined that a Holy Emperor Knight from Spirit Hall would personally visit the Nuoding City Spirit Hall branch! If a Holy Emperor Knight was personally driving the carriage, who could the important figure from Spirit Hall inside possibly be?
As the guard stared intently, a familiar figure with golden hair stepped down from the carriage.
"Lord Ye Lan!!? What are you doing back in Nuoding City!!" the guard exclaimed in astonishment. He had never expected the important figure from Spirit Hall to be Ye Lan himself!
Seeing the guard he hadn't met in a long time, Ye Lan smiled and said, "Big Brother Dong, I had some free time, so I came back to Nuoding to take a look around. Is Uncle Tao here?"
The guard was flattered by the unexpected attention. He couldn't believe that even after becoming such a prominent figure, Ye Lan was still so affable. The guard quickly replied, "Master Su Yuntao is right inside!!"
After Ye Lan alighted, Ning Rongrong, Zhu Zhuqing, Xiao Xue, Ye Leng Leng, and Dugu Yan also disembarked from the carriage one by one.
The guard rubbed his eyes and slapped his own cheeks hard. Have all the fairies from the immortal realm descended to the mortal world today?! He looked at Ye Lan, who was on such intimate terms with these celestial beauties, with a heart full of envy. He couldn't imagine how Ye Lan had managed to make a name for himself in Heaven Dou City and become a famous figure across the Douluo Continent in such a short time.
Following them were Dugu Bo, Snake Lance Douluo, and Porpoise Pike Douluo. Although the guard didn't recognize the three Titled Douluo, he could tell from their attire, their gaze, and their aura that if it weren't for their connection to Ye Lan, he would never have had the chance to meet such personages in his entire life.
"Little Lan, it's fine if Yanyan and the others accompany you to see your relatives. Snake Lance, Porpoise Pike, Silver Wolf, and I will go to a tavern for a little drink," Dugu Bo said.
"Grandpa, you should drink less! You get drunk every time! And you don't even use your soul power to resist it!" Dugu Yan said with concern.
Dugu Bo's old face flushed red. "What do you know? If you don't get drunk from drinking, can you even call it drinking?!"
Hearing Dugu Yan suggest that Dugu Bo use his soul power to resist the alcohol, Ye Lan thought of how Dugu Yan looked when she was drunk, and a slight smile played on his lips.
Zhu Zhuqing asked curiously, "Teacher, what are you thinking about?"
"Nothing, I just thought of something happy," Ye Lan said, trying to suppress a laugh.
Ning Rongrong curiously examined the Gothic-style Spirit Hall branch. It was the first time she had observed a Spirit Hall branch from such a close distance.
As Ye Lan's group entered the Spirit Hall branch, the nuns who saw him all shyly averted their gaze.
Dugu Yan teased, "You truly live up to your reputation, Idol! Could it be that these nuns have had a crush on you for many years?"
Ye Lan suddenly felt a sharp pain at his waist—Xiao Xue was pinching him again.
Ye Lan quickly explained, "How is that possible? I've only been to the Spirit Hall branch a few times. I don't know a single one of these nuns!!"
Ye Leng Leng smiled faintly, and a single flower petal slowly drifted down onto Ye Lan's shoulder. Ning Rongrong, meanwhile, was clinging to Ye Lan's arm, constantly looking around at the interior decorations of the Spirit Hall.
"Teacher, where is Uncle Tao?" Zhu Zhuqing asked, looking around. She wanted to learn more about Ye Lan's relatives.
"Right there!!" Ye Lan said, pointing to a handsome young man in a distant office.
"Uncle Tao!!" Ye Lan raised his hand and shouted excitedly. "Sisi, are my eyes playing tricks on me? Isn't Little Lan in Heaven Dou City right now?" Su Yuntao rubbed his eyes in confusion.
Sisi smiled. "Silly, that is Little Lan! And it looks like he's brought his wives back with him!"
Su Yuntao glanced at the group of young women behind Ye Lan and nodded. "Not bad, not bad. Little Lan has finally seen the light. I used to worry he had no interest in women! To think he'd bring back five Ye family brides this time! This way, I can finally give Brother Ye a proper explanation!"
After Ye Lan finally walked into the office, Sisi eagerly pulled him over. "Little Lan, aren't you going to introduce your little wives to your big sister?"
Hearing the enthusiastic older sister call them Ye Lan's "little wives," the young women's cheeks all flushed hot. None of them had even formally confirmed their relationship with Ye Lan yet!
Ye Lan's own face turned red, and he quickly said, "Sister Sisi, they're not my wives yet! They're all my classmates!"
"Oh? Not your wives yet? Does that mean they all will be in the future?" Sisi said, covering her mouth as she laughed.
Su Yuntao looked at Ye Lan with a satisfied expression. "You must treat them well in the future. If you mistreat them, I, your Uncle Tao, will disown you as my nephew!"
"Ahem! Uncle Tao, it's not even close to being a sure thing yet!" Ye Lan felt a little flustered by the comments from his Uncle Tao and Sister Sisi. Was this really something they could discuss so openly?
Xiao Xue was not at all pleased with Ye Lan's answer and instantly began to cast a spell.
Ye Lan quickly interrupted her, grabbing her arm and pulling her in front of his uncle. "Sister Sisi, Uncle Tao, let me introduce you. This is Xiao Xue! Don't let her age fool you; she's a Rank 48 Soul Ancestor!!"
Su Yuntao's eyes widened in an instant. He couldn't believe the golden-haired girl, not even fifteen years old, was already a Rank 48 Soul Ancestor!
Xiao Xue smiled and nodded. "It's nice to meet you, Sister Sisi, Uncle Tao! My name is Xiao Xue~"
Sister Sisi couldn't stop smiling. She immediately realized that Ye Lan's ability to attract talented women was as impressive as his cultivation talent.
Afterward, Ye Lan pulled Ning Rongrong and Zhu Zhuqing over. By now, their cheeks and the tips of their ears were completely red.
"Uncle Tao, these are my two students, Zhu Zhuqing and Ning Rongrong!" Ye Lan said with a smile.
Zhu Zhuqing bowed. "Uncle Tao, Sister Sisi, you can just call me Zhuqing. I am the teacher's first student."
Ning Rongrong suppressed her nervousness and quickly added, "I'm Ning Rongrong. Uncle Tao, Sister Sisi, if you ever run into any trouble you can't handle, you must let me know!"
Seeing the well-behaved Zhu Zhuqing and the 'well-behaved' Ning Rongrong, Sister Sisi was very pleased.
Su Yuntao asked in confusion, "Little Lan, you already have students?"
Ye Lan explained, "Theory requires practice. Rongrong and Zhuqing are crucial to whether my theories can be spread and glorified! They are both my students!"
Su Yuntao sighed with emotion. "Little Lan has truly grown up. Uncle Tao is even more confident that you can accomplish that great task!"
Which task? Everyone was a little confused.
But Ye Lan didn't continue the topic, instead introducing Ye Leng Leng and Dugu Yan to his Uncle Tao and Sister Sisi.
After learning their ages, Sister Sisi smiled. "Three years older is good! They say a woman three years older brings good fortune. I'll be leaving Little Lan in your care, then!"
Dugu Yan nodded shyly and enthusiastically. When it came to being taken care of, it was more like her idol was the one always looking after her.
Ye Leng Leng, however, grasped Ye Lan's hand and said seriously, "Sister Sisi, I will take good care of him."
Afterward, the group followed Uncle Tao and Sister Sisi to Su Yuntao's new residence. Previously, when Ye Lan had won a considerable sum of prize money from the Spirit Fights in Suotuo City, it was originally intended for publishing his theories. However, the publication didn't end up costing him anything, as the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan had covered all the expenses. So, Ye Lan had sent a large portion of the gold soul coins to Uncle Tao, Grandpa Tom, and Harvest Village. With this money, Su Yuntao had moved out of the Spirit Hall dormitories and bought an exquisite house in the city center. Su Yuntao and Sisi now living in a residence in the city center was the envy of many of their colleagues at Spirit Hall.
After entering the house and tasting the tea Sister Sisi had brewed, a flash of soul power appeared in Ye Lan's palm, revealing a snow-white, crystal-clear, eight-petaled orchid. Instantly, the entire room was filled with a marvelous, rich orchid fragrance that was refreshing to the mind and spirit. Everyone's gaze was immediately drawn to the Eight-Petaled Immortal Orchid.
"Uncle Tao, this is my gift of respect to you, the 'Eight-Petaled Immortal Orchid.' It has the effect of strengthening one's foundation and expelling impurities from the body."
"Even for a Great Spirit Master like you, Uncle Tao, who hasn't broken through to Spirit Grandmaster after the age of twenty, absorbing this immortal herb will surely smooth your path of cultivation in the future."
Su Yuntao was deeply moved, but he quickly waved his hand in refusal. "I am merely a Great Spirit Master; my potential has long been exhausted. You should absorb this immortal herb yourself, Little Lan! You don't need to leave it for me."
Sisi also pushed the 'Eight-Petaled Immortal Orchid' toward Ye Lan. "Little Lan, listen to your Uncle Tao. We know you are being filial, but the most important thing right now is you, Little Lan."
"Xiao Xue is already a Soul Ancestor, and you, at fifteen, are still a Great Spirit Master!"
Ye Lan smiled. "Sister Sisi, Uncle Tao, who says I'm only a Great Spirit Master? I've already eaten an immortal herb!"
"Xiao Xue and the others and I have just returned from a spirit hunt in the Star Dou Great Forest. I am now a Rank 33 Spirit Elder!"
As Ye Lan finished speaking, a golden light flashed around him. Three spirit rings—yellow, purple, and a deep purple-black—slowly materialized and floated around him.
Sisi and Su Yuntao were too shocked to speak.
Sisi pinched the soft part of Su Yuntao's arm in disbelief. "Yuntao, am I dreaming?!"
"Ouch! Sisi, that hurts so much, it definitely isn't a dream!" Su Yuntao winced in pain.
At that moment, when Ye Lan's gaze swept over to Xiao Xue, he found her staring at the ceiling, pretending not to have seen anything.
"Uncle Tao, please absorb this 'Eight-Petaled Immortal Orchid' quickly!" Ye Lan once again pushed the herb toward his uncle.
Su Yuntao said, "You should give such a precious immortal herb to Leng Leng, Xiao Xue, and the others. They need it more than I do!"
Ye Leng Leng replied, "Uncle Tao, please don't worry. The five of us have already absorbed immortal herbs, so absorbing another one won't have much of an effect. This is a token of Ye Lan's sincerity. Please accept it!"
"Alright!" Su Yuntao solemnly accepted the 'Eight-Petaled Immortal Orchid.'
Ye Lan then took out a red spiritual herb from his 'Nine Star Link Ring' and handed it to Sisi.
"Sister Sisi, this spiritual herb is called the Beauty Flower. Consuming it is very effective for skin care."
Sisi's face instantly blossomed into a smile. For a woman, even an immortal herb couldn't compare to a spiritual herb that could preserve her beauty.
Xiao Xue immediately grabbed Ye Lan's arm. "Ye Lan, I want one too!"
"Teacher!! I want one too!!"
"Teacher!! Me too!! Me too!!"
"Idol!! Idol!! And me!!"
"Ye Lan, how many Beauty Flowers do you have!?"
Ye Lan was instantly surrounded by the young women. It was the first time he realized the Beauty Flower was so popular. No wonder it was said that women's money was the easiest to earn in his previous life.
"There are enough, there are enough! Everyone gets one!!" Ye Lan distributed the Beauty Flowers to everyone, wiping a bead of sweat from his forehead.
"Teacher, is this the place where you grew up? It's so beautiful!" Ning Rongrong exclaimed, looking at the fields of golden wheat that stretched across Harvest Village.
"It's changed a lot in these few years. When I was a child, this was all just a muddy field," Ye Lan said with emotion, looking at the wide stone-paved road and the rows of exquisite wooden houses.
In the past year, with the help of his funds and Spirit Hall's subsidy policies for agricultural products, everyone in Harvest Village was now living a comfortable life.
On the way to Grandpa Tom's house, Ye Lan met many villagers from Harvest Village.
One of the village aunties gossiped, "I can't believe it's only been a few years, and Little Lan has brought back so many wives. It seems there's no chance for Tie Niu from our village."
Other kind-hearted villagers gathered around, offering Ye Lan the best fruits and vegetables from their fields, their words filled with gratitude. Ye Lan couldn't refuse their kindness and placed the produce in his Hundred Herbs Pouch, thinking he could use them for cooking later.
After bidding farewell to the many enthusiastic villagers, Ye Lan and his group finally arrived in front of Grandpa Tom's house.
At that moment, Tom was diligently tending to the vegetable patch in his yard.
"Grandpa Tom!!" Ye Lan excitedly went forward, took the hoe from Tom's hands, and began to help him loosen the soil.
The moment he saw Ye Lan, Tom froze and let go of the hoe in his hands.
"Little Lan!! What are you doing back in Harvest Village visiting me!!"
"Grandpa Tom, look who I brought with me," Ye Lan said with a smile.
"Good, good, good, you're truly my good grandson. All of you, hurry inside, it's dirty in the field." Tom saw that the girls Ye Lan had brought were from wealthy families and was worried they would find the farm in the yard dirty.
Ning Rongrong, a bright smile on her face, bent down and started pulling weeds. "Grandpa, I'll help you pull the weeds."
Ye Leng Leng said, "Grandpa, the food we eat isn't dirty. We'll all help you finish the farm work."
Zhu Zhuqing, Dugu Yan, and Xiao Xue all nodded in agreement, determined to make a good impression on Ye Lan's grandfather.
Tom grinned from ear to ear. "Alright, alright! Grandpa will go make you some Golden Crispy Roast Chicken!"
Afterward, Ye Lan taught everyone how to loosen the soil, weed, fertilize, and catch insects. After they were done, they all got to eat the Golden Crispy Roast Chicken that Ye Lan had been craving.
Dugu Yan ate until she was in a daze. "Idol, Grandpa's roast chicken is too delicious!"
Ning Rongrong said excitedly, "Grandpa, can you teach me how to make roast chicken?"
Ye Lan quickly interjected, "Grandpa, don't listen to Rongrong. If you let her do it, she'll definitely ruin these chickens."
After they finished the roast chicken, Ye Lan handed the 'Ninth-Grade Ginseng King' to Grandpa Tom.
The 'Ninth-Grade Ginseng King' was extremely rare, with each grade representing ten thousand years of growth. Legend had it that a hundred-thousand-year Ginseng King would ascend and fly away, making the 'Ninth-Grade Ginseng King' the highest quality of ginseng in the mortal world. This ginseng was most suitable for the elderly to consume, as it could prolong life. It would be no problem for Grandpa Tom to live another thirty years.
However, Ye Lan did not tell him the true value of the 'Ninth-Grade Ginseng King.' Instead, he told Grandpa Tom to cut a slice each day and brew it with water. If he had told Grandpa Tom how precious it was, knowing his grandfather, he would absolutely refuse to eat it. Even if Ye Lan forced it on him, Grandpa Tom would only carefully preserve it to leave for Ye Lan's descendants.
After gifting the immortal herbs to Uncle Tao and Grandpa Tom, Ye Lan's trip to Nuoding City finally came to an end. Afterward, the group took a carriage back to Heaven Dou City.
Upon arriving at the gates of Heaven Dou City, Ning Rongrong looked at Ye Lan with a pitiful expression, her eyes filled with anticipation. "Teacher, will you accompany me to the 'Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan'?"
"My Martial Soul evolved into the 'Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda,' and I haven't even properly thanked you, Teacher! You must come with me to the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan. I have to make my father thank you properly!!"
Ye Lan gently ruffled Ning Rongrong's hair. "This is what a teacher should do. Do you remember when you became my disciple?"
Ye Lan held out his right hand, revealing the 'Nine Star Link Ring' on his finger. "This ring was your gift to me for becoming your master. To be worthy of this gift, helping the 'Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda' evolve into the 'Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda' is what I should have done!"
"Of course not!! The moment you started teaching me how to cultivate, you were already worthy of this ring! The 'Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda Martial Soul' is incredibly significant to the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan! Teacher, please, just come back with me this once. Otherwise, Rongrong will feel indebted to you," Ning Rongrong pleaded pitifully.
Ye Leng Leng said, "Ye Lan, go with Rongrong to the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan. After you've met Rongrong's parents, you can accompany me to see my mother too."
Meeting the parents?
Ye Lan's heart beat a little faster. He was finally getting a taste of what Ye Leng Leng, Ning Rongrong, and the others must have felt when they met Uncle Tao and Grandpa Tom. He looked at the serious expressions on their faces and nodded in agreement.
A short while later, Ye Lan and Ning Rongrong were in a six-horse carriage, heading towards the mountains north of Heaven Dou City where the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan was located.
The mountain range where the clan resided was shrouded in clouds and mist, rich with spiritual energy. Pavilions in a garden style were built one after another upon the main mountain. The clan grounds were lush with greenery, dotted with small bridges, flowing streams, and ponds of golden lotuses with golden leaves, creating an elegant garden landscape. The ponds reflected the images of the glazed pagodas, complementing the architecture perfectly.
The core building at the summit was inspired by the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda, with an overall color scheme of cyan and blue. The main pagoda combined the design of a Chinese hexagonal, flying-eaved roof, with its spire reaching for the clouds. Under the setting sun, the body of the pagoda refracted a seven-colored light, appearing like an immortal palace floating in mid-air.
In addition to the main pagoda, a cluster of floating guard towers was distributed throughout the clan grounds. These buildings, with their wood and stone foundations, cleverly incorporated classical Chinese elements, showcasing an ethereal and immortal aura.
The disciples of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan were originally chatting casually, going about their day. The moment they saw Ning Rongrong, they all bowed respectfully and said, "Greetings, Young Miss!"
Ye Lan teased, "Rongrong, you really are something! It seems you hold a rather high position within the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan~"
When the male disciples of the clan saw the golden-haired, golden-eyed young man, their eyes filled with admiration. Has the Young Miss started dating?
The female disciples of the clan reacted differently; some were too shy to look directly at him, while others boldly sized Ye Lan up. They had never imagined that the Young Miss would bring back a man so devastatingly handsome.
"Hmph, Teacher, where are you looking? Isn't having Zhuqing and the others enough for you?" Ning Rongrong said angrily.
Ye Lan tapped Ning Rongrong on the head.
"Ouch!"
"I was looking at the scenery, of course. What did you think I was looking at?" Ye Lan was always curious about new things in the world.
"Oh, oh, oh," Ning Rongrong murmured, rubbing her head, her face turning red as she realized she had misunderstood him.
The disciples of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan were surprised to find that their Young Miss was so well-behaved in front of the golden-haired man! Was this really their clan's little she-devil, the Young Miss Ning Rongrong?
Ning Rongrong then asked a female disciple nearby, "Xiao Die, do you know where my father is?"
"Young Miss, the Clan Master is in the Chess Pavilion!" Xiao Die said, secretly glancing at the golden-haired man.
"It seems he's playing chess with Grandpa Jian again. Ye Lan, let's go over there!" Ning Rongrong was about to lead Ye Lan towards the Chess Pavilion.
Xiao Die rushed in front of Ye Lan, her voice filled with excitement. "Ye Lan! Are you 'The Scholar' Ye Lan?!"
"If there isn't another 'Scholar,' then I suppose I am," Ye Lan nodded.
Xiao Die excitedly bowed and held out a white silk handkerchief to Ye Lan, pleading, "Teacher!! Could I trouble you to sign this for me?"
Ning Rongrong was taken aback. She never expected that there would be fans of Ye Lan even within the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan.
Ye Lan took a fine-tipped brush from his 'Nine Star Link Ring' and gracefully signed his name on the clean, white handkerchief.
Xiao Die glanced at Ye Lan's signature, then clutched the handkerchief to her chest with excitement. "Thank you, Teacher!!"
Ning Rongrong said with a hint of jealousy, "Ye Lan, you have quite a lot of students!!"
Ye Lan scratched his head and smiled. "Oh, dear. My title is clearly 'The Scholar.'"
Afterward, under Ning Rongrong's guidance, the two arrived at the Chess Pavilion. It wasn't a single building, but rather a series of pavilions built along the edge of the mountain peak. In the center of each pavilion was an exquisite stone stool and a stone table, upon which sat a wooden Go board. Each pavilion was lit with incense, which had a calming and purifying effect.
Passing by many of the pavilions, Ye Lan and Ning Rongrong finally reached the one at the very highest peak of the chess mountain. From a distance, they could see a refined middle-aged man and a white-haired old man sitting upright on either side of a stone table. With their distinguished auras, they looked like unmatched Go masters.
As Ye Lan and Ning Rongrong approached, the two players were so engrossed in their game that they failed to notice their arrival. Another black-robed elder by the side of the board looked at Ning Rongrong and Ye Lan with pleasant surprise but also remained silent, his gaze quickly returning to the board. Clearly, the black-robed elder was also a Go enthusiast.
Ye Lan leaned in for a closer look.
He saw that Ning Fengzhi was playing Black and had made the first move.
Clack!
Ning Fengzhi held a black stone between two fingers and placed it firmly on the Tengen, the center point of the board.
"A good move, a good move…" the white-haired old man murmured, nodding.
Several black lines instantly appeared on Ye Lan's forehead.
A good move? More like a terrible move!
Even Ye Lan, who knew only a little about Go, knew that opening with the Tengen was an absolutely terrible move. Could it be that Uncle Fengzhi is the reincarnation of Jiang Liuer, starting the game with the 'Great Unity of Heaven and Earth'??!!
The image of Ning Fengzhi and Grandpa Jian as peerless Go masters in Ye Lan's mind instantly shattered, replaced by the image of two terrible players. Two complete amateurs were fumbling through the game.
(End of this chapter)