Beast Taming Clan: I Have a Jade Book Chapter 1030 - 719: Hidden Dangers in the Inner Hall, Convening the Inner Assembly

Within the grand hall, Ye Haicheng remained reticent, his gaze fixed upon Ye Jingcheng. He had set up the array to meticulously ensure no unforeseen incidents would arise. At this precise moment, his intention was clearly to observe how Ye Jingcheng would navigate this delicate situation.

Ye Jingcheng, stepping aside, also maintained his silence, his eyes sweeping over the assembled individuals with an air of utter composure. Under this scrutinizing look, Ye Qingwen visibly faltered and hastily interjected:

"Eleventh Uncle, Esteemed Ancestor, Qingwen harbors no intentions of vying for any position. It is simply that seeing my father, confined to seclusion within the Market day in, day out, with no discernible progress in his cultivation; witnessing Sixth Uncle drowning his sorrows in solitary drink, with no one to confide in; and though many clan elders reside at Lingyun Peak, not one can venture to the Desert Sea. Even my eldest brother is confined within Taichang Market, treated like a prisoner behind iron bars. My heart aches in silence. We could so easily summon everyone back, await the return of a Nascent Soul cultivator, and thus ensure no one suffers further hardship! The resources within the Desert Sea are more than sufficient to sustain a Nascent Soul-level family's development!"

Ye Jingcheng regarded Ye Qingwen, still offering no words, his expression unyielding. He then cast his gaze upon the others, subtly prompting them to reveal their innermost thoughts. Perceiving the continued silence, Ye Jingcheng produced a Jade Record.

Only then did he begin to speak, his voice measured. "This scroll meticulously chronicles the lives of the clan members from Hidden Peak. I urge all of you to peruse it, and after you have finished, we shall resume our discussion!"

Ye Jingting was the first to accept the Jade Record. Such records, detailing the lives of core clan personnel, were historically safeguarded as top-secret documents. However, with the imminent amalgamation of Ye Family's Lingyun Peak and Hidden Peak, certain less critical secrets could now be divulged.

"Tian Cangyin, Ye Shengyi, served at Hidden Peak for two hundred and eighty years, perished during a beast tide retreat..."

"Sand Cloud Hideout, Ye Haiyuan, served at Hidden Peak for fifty years, tragically lost due to beast tide entrapment..."

"Hei Shan Hideout, Ye Xingsui, served at Hidden Peak for thirty-eight years, fell while diligently searching for rare spirit materials for the Ye Family..."

"Hidden Island, Ye Hailian, served at Hidden Peak for sixty-eight years, succumbed to a premature outbreak of Demon-enticing Grass, meeting her end amidst the chaotic breaking of a ten-thousand-beast array..."

…One name after another, followed by a poignant, little-known past, now unfolded before the assembled individuals.

"This account pertains not only to Hidden Peak but encompasses the entirety of Lingyun Peak!" Ye Jingcheng reiterated, his tone firm. It was then that the gathered individuals finally located the names of Ye Haiyun, Ye Haixi, Ye Jingfeng, and others within the records. In stark contrast to Hidden Peak, Lingyun Peak exhibited a considerably lower number of fallen cultivators. This disparity explained why the Ye Family consistently dispatched cultivator-race members to Hidden Peak, even as the population there remained relatively sparse. After all, Hidden Island and Hidden Peak served as the perilous frontline, demanding constant vigilance in drawing spirit diagrams, preventing beast tide incursions, and occasionally confronting Great Demon Demon Kings against whom survival offered no guarantee.

However, for years, this critical information regarding Hidden Peak had been meticulously concealed. As they delved deeper into the records, the gazes of the group grew increasingly somber. Hidden Peak had never been a sanctuary; rather, it bore the brunt of arduous tasks such as guarding, exploration, and executing clandestine missions for the Ye Family.

"Very well," Ye Jingcheng observed the shifting expressions, finally breaking his silence. "Now, allow me to address your second inquiry. Why does the clan not withdraw? Because it is impossible to do so. Should we retreat, you would find yourselves directly confronting a Nascent Soul cultivator, dooming tens of thousands of Ye Family mortals. The entire Taihang Mountain Range would undoubtedly expel the Ye Family and its associated spirit beasts!"

"Therefore, do you truly believe you possess any right to relax, or that the clan members in the Desert Sea are any more qualified to seek respite?"

"How many among you are Golden Core cultivators? How many are Nascent Souls? Furthermore, do you even comprehend the true nature of those who seek to annihilate the Ye Family?"

"You are the blood of the Ye Family, bearing the unique Beast Communication Pattern bestowed upon you by our lineage. You should not be entirely ignorant of this truth!"

Ye Jingcheng's words struck each of them with profound shock, nearly causing them to collapse. "You find it difficult to believe that the Ye Family's adversaries might include Taiyi Sect? Or Qinghe Sect?" he continued, his words sharp and direct. Had the Desert Sea not presented itself prior, the Ye Family would never have uttered such a burden of words to these juniors. Yet, the current circumstances necessitated such stark pronouncements; the Ye Family required a heightened sense of urgency, as the mere presence of the Desert Sea was insufficient to entirely quell their vigilance. After all, one could never be too sure if hidden teleportation arrays existed throughout the vast expanse of the Desert Sea.

Are cultivators at the Nascent Soul stage or Divinity Transformation stage capable of traversing the Hundred Thousand Mountains? These possibilities loom like a blade over the Ye Family, poised to strike at any moment!

"Ye Qingwen, despite your commendable talent in body cultivation, dual spirit roots, and the Beast Communication Pattern, at fifty-six years old, you are merely in the middle stage of Foundation Establishment?"

"Ye Jingting, Ye Qingfeng, only at the early stage of Foundation Establishment, you claim to save all clan members, yet your cultivation speed is so sluggish?"

Ye Jingcheng's words were sharp and precise.

The heads of those addressed hung low, unable to meet his gaze.

"Eldest Ancestor, Eleventh Uncle, we were wrong. We are willing to accept the clan's arrangements and cultivate diligently. We hope Eleventh Uncle will forgive us!" Ye Qingwen, overcome with shame, knelt and bowed his forehead to the ground.

"After the clan meeting concludes, you will proceed to Celestial Departure Grassland and establish a Hidden Peak for thirty years!" Ye Jingcheng decreed without hesitation.

"Yes!"

The individuals nodded in unison and began to depart with heads bowed.

"Furthermore, take your storage bags. The clan has no need for your kind of impulsive, fleeting passion!" Ye Jingcheng gestured towards the storage bags beside them, issuing another command.

Ye Qingwen immediately complied, retrieved his storage bag, and left.

Once the group had departed, Ye Jingcheng turned his attention to Ye Haicheng:

"I apologize for letting Great-Grandfather witness such a scene!" Lingyun Peak had been under Ye Jingcheng's stewardship for many years.

However, faced with this current predicament, he naturally felt a burden of responsibility.

"Why apologize? You handled it admirably. The Ye Family's clan studies indeed require reevaluation. Many from Hidden Peak, including their descendants, tend to look down upon Lingyun Peak, but this stems from past strategic oversights, not your shortcomings!"

"However, it is imperative to ascertain who instigated Ye Qingwen's inquiries. It is evident that someone within Lingyun Peak can no longer endure. From my assessment, Jing Yun and Xingqun would not have been behind this!" Ye Haicheng stated, his discernment clearly sharper.

The few from the Qing Generation acted with a fervor that was clearly fueled by external provocation.

Ye Jingcheng's alertness was immediately heightened by these words.

Within the Ye Family at Lingyun Peak, there were naturally more than just Ye Jingyun, Ye Jingli, and Ye Xingqun possessing the Beast Communication Pattern among the clan members.

Moreover, apart from those with the Beast Communication Pattern, others existed who lacked it.

These individuals warranted even greater vigilance.

After all, those without the Beast Communication Pattern likely felt a lesser sense of belonging to the clan.

In recent years, the Ye Family at Lingyun Peak had ascended to the Purple Mansion Clan status, significantly bolstering the clan's prosperity. Numerous clan members had been recruited, including talented individuals with no direct blood relation.

These clan members had progressed to the Eighth or Ninth Layer of Qi Cultivation and some had even broken through to Foundation Establishment, integrating into the clan. However, lacking the inherent Ye Family bloodline, their loyalty notwithstanding, they could not possess the Beast Communication Pattern.

Previously, the Ye Family had not placed much emphasis on these individuals.

From the perspective of Ye Jingcheng and others, they were unaware of the Beast Communication Pattern and the dangers of the Desert Sea, thus their potential downfall was deemed inconsequential.

Yet, it was precisely these individuals who were now most susceptible to defection.

Furthermore, they were not bound by the stringent Heavenly Dao Oath and the Clan Jade Book Forbidden Array.

While they might not be able to divulge major secrets, even the leakage of minor information about the Ye Family's practices could result in substantial losses.

"It should be straightforward to identify who guided Qingwen and the others of the Qing Generation. Simply trace his recent contacts within Lingyun Peak, and the matter will be clear!" Ye Haicheng suggested.

Ye Jingcheng readily concurred, nodding in agreement.

This was indeed an oversight he had not previously considered.

"Additionally, the clan rules must be revised. Not only must those within the Inner Hall be subject to the Clan Jade Book and Heavenly Dao Oath, but the same should apply to individuals who reach high cultivation levels or display exceptional talent!" Ye Haicheng offered a final piece of advice.

Ye Jingcheng nodded once more.

In the past, clan members without the Ye Family bloodline rarely saw significant advancements in their cultivation, being viewed as outsiders. Resources were not preferentially allocated to them.

However, the circumstances had changed. With the Ye Family now possessing abundant resources, these clan members could potentially achieve Foundation Establishment, break through to Purple Mansion, and even reach the Golden Core stage.

"Grandfather, please accept these Bright King Pills I have refined for you over the years!" After briefly concluding the current matters, Ye Jingcheng presented the Spirit Pills he had specifically concocted for Ye Haicheng over the past six months.

This Bright King Pill, a supreme Grade Three Body Tempering Spirit Pill, has been further empowered by the Purple Body Ginseng Ye Haicheng recently acquired.

Coupled with the Golden Quenching Essence Fruit Ye Haicheng previously obtained, his advancement to the Late Stage of Purple Mansion after the clan meeting concludes is virtually assured.

Furthermore, he currently has two formidable Great Demons by his side.

"Well done, Jingcheng!" Ye Haicheng boomed with hearty laughter.

Upon accepting the Spirit Pills, Ye Haicheng observed a distinct Pill Pattern on the Bright King Pill, which only intensified his astonishment.

"Jingcheng, your alchemy prowess..."

"I can now manage to refine Grade Four Middle-Grade Spirit Pills with some effort!" Ye Jingcheng replied with a confident nod.

This level of skill was the fruit of his dedicated efforts over the past six months.

Naturally, this leap in alchemy wasn't solely due to Ye Jingcheng's personal cultivation advancements; the Red Flame Fox's mastery over Spiritual Fire had also seen a dramatic increase.

Now, even if the flames were initially insufficient, a mere glance from the Red Flame Fox at the Pill Furnace was enough to ignite new flames.

It could be said that if Ye Jingcheng were to falter, the Red Flame Fox would not.

"Excellent!" Ye Haicheng exclaimed, his excitement palpable.

In a cultivation clan, aside from raw strength, proficiency in the Four Arts of Cultivation is of paramount importance.

This proficiency directly reflects the clan's potential for future development.

With Ye Jingcheng's advancements, the Ye Family's alchemy skills could now support half the clan's foundation.

While the Array pathway is secured by Ye Xuefan, the Artifact Refining and Spirit Talisman pathways still require considerable effort.

"Jingcheng, now that you have emerged from seclusion, commence the clan's Inner Hall meeting later today. This meeting will be restricted to cultivators at the Late Stage of Foundation Establishment and above, tasked with determining the future hall divisions and salary standards!" Ye Haicheng, still buzzing with excitement, began outlining the arrangements for the upcoming clan meeting.

Clan meetings are traditionally bifurcated into an Inner Meeting and an Outer Meeting.

The Inner Meeting focuses on summarizing the clan's assets, charting major strategic directions, and deliberating on reforms.

The Outer Meeting, involving all clan members, serves to announce significant matters and conduct the family's annual rituals.

Ye Haicheng's decision to limit attendance to those at the Late Stage of Foundation Establishment and above is by no means a lenient one.

Ye Jingcheng listened and gave a confirming nod.

Following this, Ye Jingcheng engaged with Ye Haicheng in a discussion concerning the current situation in the Desert Sea, as well as the circumstances unfolding in the Eastern Domain and the East Sea.

The Desert Sea region is being managed effectively by the Ye Family, with fifty oases showing promising progress.

The Eastern Domain's Yan Kingdom remains relatively tranquil; however, the situation in the East Sea is considerably less optimistic.

The Beast Tide in the Celestial Horse Sea Domain is expected to subside soon, but the primary concern is the injury sustained by True Monarch Tian Dao, which could prompt the Qinghe Sect to act prematurely.

The Ye Family is aligned with the Taiyi Sect, and any hasty actions before the Earth Dragon Demon King successfully breaks through to the Nascent Soul stage would undoubtedly escalate the Ye Family's troubles.

The most critical factor is that Ye Xuecang and the others must await the complete calming of the Beast Tide and the return of Human Race cultivators to the Cyan Cloud Sea Domain before making their withdrawal.

The Ye Family's combat strength is not currently at its zenith!