Chapter Fifty-Seven: The Tribulation of the Mortal World

A woman’s intuition is keen. Seated beside Ye Peng, Ye Qian could clearly sense that her husband’s gaze, whether consciously or not, frequently lingered on Lu Suxue. Evidently, Ye Peng was captivated by Lu Suxue’s breathtaking beauty. This left a bitter taste in Ye Qian’s heart; the look she cast toward Lu Suxue brimmed with veiled hostility, as if she had already forgotten that Lu Suxue was the cherished granddaughter of Elder Ye Min, her own mentor of many years.

Birds of a feather flock together. Ye Peng was an extremely selfish man, and though Ye Qian did not reach such depths, her choice years ago to marry Ye Peng for status and position made it clear that she was cut from a similar cloth.

On this day, Ye Peng wore blue robes, giving off an air of cultured elegance. Once the assembly of talented youths had been seated for the gathering, he took the lead in raising his cup and said, “Everyone present is a paragon of our generation. Today, the Ye clan both welcomes Sister Lu among us, and hopes that all of you shall one day become renowned throughout the world!”

The group raised their cups in unison, but Ye Yun only scoffed inwardly at Ye Peng’s words.

The Ye clan was, after all, a small and insignificant place. Both from his readings and from Master Ye Yu’s teachings, Ye Yun understood that the world was vast and boundless. Even the Sacred Dragon Dynasty was but a small part of this immense realm. Here in Cloudwater City, these young men and women might be considered outstanding, the pride of their generation, but set against the wider world, they were like a single drop in the sea—utterly inconspicuous.

Even Ye Yun did not see himself as some sort of prodigy. A person’s worth lies in self-awareness, and in his view, Ye Peng was simply too arrogant.

Nevertheless, the atmosphere at the gathering was harmonious. Cups were raised frequently, and Lu Suxue was soon surrounded by eager young disciples of the Ye clan, all hoping to make a good impression and win her favor.

Lu Suxue and Ye Peng were the center of attention, while Ye Yun sat quietly in an unremarkable corner, drinking on his own. If not for Lu Suxue’s personal invitation, he would never have attended such a pointless gathering.

“Brother Yun, what’s your relationship with Sister Suxue?” The mischievous Ye Xian leaned over and whispered.

“There’s nothing between us. Elder Ye Min is in seclusion, refining pills, so she’s just staying at my place for a while,” Ye Yun replied calmly.

Lu Suxue was ethereal, like a fairy descended to earth. Her beauty was unrivaled, and her gentle temperament left a deep impression. To claim he felt nothing for such a woman would be a lie.

But after what had happened with Ye Qian, Ye Yun had become far more cautious when it came to matters of the heart. Lu Suxue was the princess of the Lu family, while he was merely an ordinary core disciple of the Ye clan. Even with Elder Ye Min as a connection, there was still a gulf between them. A woman like Lu Suxue would have countless admirers; perhaps, like Ye Qian before her, she would ultimately choose someone of higher status and standing. If, in the end, there was to be nothing, it was better not to begin at all—otherwise, he would only be the one to get hurt.

For reasons he could not explain, Ye Yun suddenly recalled his master’s words: that to pursue the path of immortality, one must first transcend the seven emotions and six desires, overcome the tribulation of the mortal world, and temper the Dao Heart.

As a child, he had not understood. Now, however, a glimmer of comprehension dawned on him. To experience and savor all the joys and sorrows, desires and attachments, was to undergo the tribulation of the mortal world. Only by transcending these could one truly rise above the mundane, attain the Dao Heart, and set foot on the path of cultivation.

“If the Dao Heart cannot be forged, Nascent Soul will be the end…” These were the very words of the clan’s founder, Ye Yu. To break from Nascent Soul to Spirit Transformation required weathering the heavenly tribulation. Without a heart that had risen above the mundane, one could not overcome the heart-devil of the tribulation.

“Sister Suxue is wonderful, Brother Yun. You ought to seize the chance,” Ye Xian said, winking as if she understood everything.

Ye Yun couldn’t help but laugh. In that brief moment, countless thoughts had flashed through his mind. Now that he understood he must first endure the tribulations of mortal longing to temper his Dao Heart, he felt as if a sudden clarity had come to him. “You little imp, stop worrying about me and start thinking about how you’ll find a good match for yourself.”

“You’re teasing me again…” Ye Xian pouted, instantly displeased.

“I’ve heard that the emperor of the Sacred Dragon Dynasty possesses boundless power, reaching the pinnacle of cultivation. In his youth, he was unmatched, suppressing all rivals. My master, the clan lord, once mentioned that the Sacred Dragon Emperor once visited our Cloudwater City to pay respects to a great figure from our Ye clan,” Ye Peng said, finishing his wine and looking at Lu Suxue with a smile. “Sister Lu, do you know who that great figure was?”

All eyes turned toward him. The Sacred Dragon Emperor was a figure of unparalleled prestige, and to think he had personally visited Cloudwater City to seek out a member of the Ye clan—none of the disciples present had ever heard such a tale.

Lu Suxue, surprised, shook her head, her curiosity piqued.

Seeing that he had caught Lu Suxue’s attention, Ye Peng’s smile deepened. He continued, “Over seven hundred years ago, a mighty cultivator founded the Ye clan and came to be revered as the Great Ancestor. It is said that the Great Ancestor still lives to this day, having survived for more than seven centuries, and resides within our clan even now!”

“More than seven centuries?…” The words drew a collective gasp.

“A Nascent Soul cultivator can live no more than three hundred and fifty years. If he has lived over seven hundred, what level has he reached? Spirit Transformation? The Dao Realm? Or even higher?”

Lu Suxue’s lips parted slightly in astonishment.

The Ye clan’s status as the dominant force in Cloudwater City was due to Lord Ye Haiyi, who had attained early-stage Golden Core cultivation. The Lu family, more powerful and prestigious than the Ye clan, was headed by a mid-stage Golden Core master. Even the famed Xu family, considered a first-rate power, reportedly had no one beyond a peak Golden Core cultivator.

Across the Sacred Dragon Dynasty, those at Nascent Soul were already the stuff of legend, found only among the imperial family in the capital, their power so great that no force dared provoke them.

If what Ye Peng claimed was true, then the Great Ancestor of the Ye clan could rightly be called the foremost figure of the Sacred Dragon Dynasty!

Yet if such a mighty being truly existed within the Ye clan, why remain in obscurity, content as a third-rate power on the remote northwestern frontier?

“Of course, these are merely rumors. Perhaps our elders have simply turned the Great Ancestor into a legend,” Ye Peng said with a smile.

When he had first heard Lord Ye Haiyi mention it, he too had found it hard to believe. In truth, he only recounted the story to draw Lu Suxue’s attention.

“The Ye clan is indeed awe-inspiring,” Lu Suxue replied, glancing at Ye Peng, though she clearly did not believe in the legend of the Great Ancestor.

Her words left Ye Peng’s expression momentarily frozen. Hailing from the Lu family, far more powerful than the Ye clan, Lu Suxue’s remark was nothing less than a subtle mockery of Ye Peng’s tale.

“Sister Lu, it seems you harbor some prejudice against me,” Ye Peng quickly recovered, maintaining his gentle and refined demeanor.

“You must be joking, Brother Ye. With such a peerless figure as the Great Ancestor in your clan, how could I possibly hold any prejudice?” Lu Suxue’s words were soft, but her tone was sharp, each phrase cutting into Ye Peng’s pride.

“Sister Suxue seems to be mocking Ye Peng—she must be taking your side,” Ye Xian sidled up to Ye Yun again, whispering with a laugh.

Ye Yun was caught between laughter and tears. Lu Suxue’s use of the Great Ancestor’s legend had indeed left Ye Peng at a loss, but the legend itself was true—and Ye Yun was, in fact, the Great Ancestor’s sole disciple…