Peerless Little Immortal Doctor
Chapter 977: 981: Ye Yuan's Stratagem

Chapter 977: Chapter 981: Ye Yuan’s Stratagem

However, if one fails to overcome the Bamboo Sea Sword Array, the backlash could be severe for the challenger.

Therefore, martial artists must carefully consider before attempting to pass through the sword formation.

“Chief Xia, since you’re also going to challenge the sword array, why don’t we go together? Your feats are widely renowned in Yanjing; I wonder if the person matches the reputation.”

Ye Min stared at Xia Liu as he spoke.

“Haha, I’m not confident, but Young Master Ye Min will surely succeed.”

“Chief Xia is being modest. You’ve defeated even Path-Entering martial artists; this minor Bamboo Sea Sword Array should pose no challenge to you.”

Elder Ye Yuan suddenly thought of a plan.

Challenging the Bamboo Sea Sword Array in the Ye Family was a grand affair and would undoubtedly attract many spectators.

If his son Ye Min succeeded while Xia Liu, the dignified Chief of the Heavenly Mansion, failed,

then after today, Ye Min’s reputation in the Warrior Realm would certainly skyrocket!

“Xia Liu’s presence here is truly timely!” Elder Ye Yuan was jubilant internally.

He had researched the Bamboo Sea Sword Array with some friends within the clan.

If one’s cultivation was below the Heaven Rank, their Inner Qi wouldn’t even manage to weaken the array’s power.

But for those above the Heaven Rank, the array’s strength would surge to an overwhelming level.

If a Path-Entering martial artist entered, needless to say, the challenge would be even more daunting.

Historically, the first test to qualify as the Ye Family Clan Leader was to enter the Bamboo Sea Sword Array.

Everyone in the Ye Family knew how terrifying the array’s power could be for Path-Entering martial artists.

Unless one had unparalleled luck, passing was nearly impossible.

Regarding Xia Liu, his cultivation was undoubtedly at the Path-Entering level—though Elder Ye Yuan didn’t know the exact rank.

And he didn’t need to know, because once one exceeded the Heaven Rank, the array’s power would escalate to a horrifying state, making Xia Liu destined to fail.

“Xia Liu, you must challenge this sword array.” Seeing Xia Liu still hesitant, Ye Xuan transmitted a message via Divine Sense.

“Hm? Must I challenge the Bamboo Sea Sword Array to meet Senior Ye Wuya?”

“Yes, only by passing the Bamboo Sea Sword Array will you qualify to enter the Bamboo Sea itself.”

“Understood then.”

Xia Liu smiled faintly and said, “Since Elder Ye Yuan insists, if I were to refuse, it might seem as though Xia Liu were afraid.”

“Ah, Chief Xia, you exaggerate. As Miss Ye mentioned, you’re here to challenge the Bamboo Sea Sword Array as well, with the same goal in mind. By watching my son attempt the array first, Chief Xia might gain further confidence for your turn afterward?”

“Well, thank you for your kind suggestion, Elder Ye Yuan.”

Xia Liu responded graciously.

He wasn’t sure what Elder Ye Yuan’s true intentions were, but it certainly wouldn’t be anything good.

The way Ye Yuan exuded an air of self-importance so soon after meeting him—who was he trying to intimidate?

If not for his desire to avoid conflict within the Ye Family, Xia Liu might have embarrassed Ye Yuan on the spot.

When it came to posturing, Xia Liu had far more experience than Ye Yuan.

“So, Chief Xia, since you’ve just arrived at the Ye Family, take some time to rest, and we’ll head out shortly after?”

“Alright, one hour from now, let’s meet at the rear mountain.”

“Haha, one hour it is then.”

…

Watching Ye Yuan depart, Guo Man couldn’t understand why she felt as though Ye Yuan seemed to be plotting something against Xia Liu upon their first meeting.

“Miss Ye, that elder just now appeared to be targeting Xia Liu?”

Guo Man asked Ye Xuan.

“He wasn’t targeting Xia Liu specifically but rather the Heavenly Mansion Chief.”

“Oh? What do you mean by that?”

Xia Liu perked up with interest. Could Ye Yuan be scheming to become the Heavenly Mansion Chief himself?

Or perhaps, Ye Yuan had once participated in trials for the position of Heavenly Mansion Chief, failed, and harbored a grudge?

“Because Ye Min hasn’t done anything significant within the family, he lacks status. Ye Yuan has been scheming for years on how to make Ye Min famous within the Warrior Realm. Does that make sense now?”

Ye Xuan felt quite speechless.

In life, one should avenge wrongdoings and live freely.

Yet Ye Yuan and Ye Min thought differently—they desired admiration from all, and their ambition was far from concealed.

To gain prominence within the Ye Family and fame across the Warrior Realm, this father and son pair would go to any lengths.

Today, they’d conveniently found the perfect opportunity.

“Oh, so Elder Ye Yuan is pushing Xia Liu and Ye Min to challenge the array together just to piggyback off the buzz surrounding the Heavenly Mansion Chief?”

Guo Man realized this after Ye Xuan’s explanation.

If that was the case, then in the end, Ye Min and Ye Yuan were likely to be bitterly disappointed.

After all, Xia Liu was a master of challenging formations—an expert cultivator!

“Exactly. He’s betting that Xia Liu won’t pass the Bamboo Sea Sword Array, making Ye Min shine by comparison.”

“Haha, I can already imagine Elder Ye Yuan’s headline for the hype: ‘Shocking! Both the Heavenly Mansion Chief and Ye Family’s prodigy Ye Min challenged the Bamboo Sea Sword Array. The result? The famous Heavenly Mansion Chief retreated wounded while Ye Family’s prodigy Ye Min calmly passed the Supreme Sword Formation.'”

“Haha, Lingtian, your knack for hype is impressive—but adding a ‘shocking’ at the front would make it catch more attention!”

Ye Xuan nearly laughed herself to tears; he had it spot on.

But, regrettably, Ye Yuan and Ye Min were clearly overestimating themselves while underestimating Xia Liu.

“What’s the real deal with this Bamboo Sea Sword Array? Isn’t Ye Min only at Heavenly Rank Early Level cultivation?”

Xia Liu felt puzzled. Ye Yuan’s confidence in a Heavenly Rank Early Level martial artist was curious, even if Ye Min knew the array’s rules and strategies intimately.

He, as a Path-Entering cultivator, vastly surpassed Ye Min; there was no comparison.

Yet Ye Yuan opted for a Heavenly Rank martial artist—it didn’t quite add up.

Even Ouyang Lingtian and Guo Man sensed something suspicious about this.

Ye Yuan’s faith in Ye Min was exceptional.

For someone of higher cultivation like Xia Liu to be underestimated—it seemed off.

“Let’s discuss as we go. The Bamboo Sea Sword Array is unlike other formations; it is an ancient trial spirit array that strengthens against strong challengers and weakens for weaker ones. The Heavenly Rank cultivation is the ideal level to challenge it…”

Ye Xuan explained everything she knew about the sword array’s mechanics.

After she finished, she led Xia Liu and the others to the inner estate of the Ye Family—a place reserved for direct lineage members.

“Xia Liu, you and Miss Guo will stay here for now. Don’t bother with Ye Yuan; we’ll go whenever we feel like it.”

It wasn’t that Ye Xuan doubted Xia Liu’s ability to overcome the array.

She simply didn’t want them to arrive too early, as the area before the Bamboo Sea would surely be packed with Ye Family members.

The news of Xia Liu and Ye Min challenging the formation would undoubtedly spread.

And there would be no end to ridicule.

Although the Ye Family had strict rules and high-level etiquette training, there were still plenty of unruly youths who ignored such decorum.

As such, Xia Liu would inevitably become the target of mockery.

While the Ye Family’s strength was on par with or even surpassed the Heavenly Mansion, these unruly youths wouldn’t care about Xia Liu’s status—they were loyal to their own, not impartial reason.

“Haha, I understand. When it’s time to go, I’ll use Divine Sense transmission to contact you.”

Xia Liu let out a chuckle; trying to use him as a stepping stone for fame? Ye Min lacked the capability.

After Ye Xuan left, Xia Liu and Guo Man pushed open the door and entered, noticing the room had only one bed—both were suddenly at a loss for words…