Chapter 72: Persuasion

That contemplation lasted the entire night.

When Ye Jiuyao awoke, it was already dawn of the following day. The sky was pale, and Zhen Diao watched as Ye Jiuyao’s eyes regained their focus, curiosity flickering within his own gaze.

“How long has this earth fire been here?”

“What?!” Zhen Diao had expected Ye Jiuyao, after a whole day of deliberation, to pose some profound question; instead, he was caught off guard by such a simple inquiry.

“How long has it been here?”

“About a hundred years, I think,” Zhen Diao replied uncertainly. Ye Jiuyao, upon hearing this, fell into another bout of contemplation.

“Has it gained any sentience? Does the Tongxuan Sect have any libraries or halls of arcane arts?”

Zhen Diao pointed upward, and Ye Jiuyao nodded in understanding. The Tongxuan Tower itself was a vast repository of treasures—the most perilous place was, paradoxically, the safest. And the most conspicuous place was often the least noticed. The ancestors of the Tongxuan Sect were truly ingenious.

Zhen Diao was oblivious to Ye Jiuyao’s thoughts; had he known, he would surely have rolled his eyes. After all, everyone in the Tongxuan Sect was aware of these facts; perhaps only Ye Jiuyao remained in the dark. The last time Ye Jiuyao tried to ascend, he was blown down by Nangong Mingyue’s palm before he even reached the upper floors. Since then, he had only tempered his body on the first level, making him all the more ignorant about what lay above.

“So, should I climb up?”

“What?! Climb? Are you mad? There’s a teleportation array on the third floor; you can go straight up,” Zhen Diao seized the opportunity to mock Ye Jiuyao, delight flashing across his face.

“You think I didn’t know? I was just testing you!” Ye Jiuyao’s eyes widened, staring at Zhen Diao, who felt aggrieved once again.

“S-sect leader, perhaps I’ll return to my cultivation. Why don’t you go ahead and take a look?”

“Mm, go on,” Ye Jiuyao waved him off with a slightly embarrassed smile, nearly having ruined his own wise and heroic image. Fortunately, he reacted quickly.

Ye Jiuyao made his way to the third floor and found, indeed, a teleportation array. His lips twitched—so all his previous effort to ascend had been unnecessary; he hadn’t even noticed such a grand formation.

Stepping into the array, a flash of white light enveloped him.

The next moment, he found himself surrounded by an ocean of books.

“Indeed, the collection is vast,” Ye Jiuyao observed row upon row of books, so numerous their volumes could hardly be counted. His lips curled in satisfaction.

Soon, Ye Jiuyao immersed himself in this sea of knowledge, steadily enriching his mind.

Shelves teeming with books poured into Ye Jiuyao’s consciousness—from advanced arcane techniques to miscellaneous treatises. There were even volumes on the flora of the Tongxuan Sect, which Ye Jiuyao perused one by one, scanning ten lines at a glance, sometimes more, finishing book after book with ease.

His mind felt swollen with information, and he was filled with a ravenous thirst for knowledge.

“The ocean of wisdom—this is what I love most,” Ye Jiuyao thought, plunging deeper into the world of books, feeling a storm swirling around him, an exhilaration that was imperceptible to others.

Time slipped by—ten days passed in a blur.

“Wonderful, exhilarating! Knowledge makes me strong; learning brings me joy!” Ye Jiuyao exclaimed with delight. The books behind him were nearly exhausted; he had memorized everything without omission.

Such was his gift—the talent of perfect recall.

You all… could never hope for it.

“By my calculations, there are still twenty days left; enough for them to become masters. After all, they dwell in the fields, not the halls…”

Ye Jiuyao stepped directly into the teleportation array and arrived at the floor where Forty-Five was studying swordsmanship.

Ye Jiuyao felt a pang of guilt, reminiscent of when he once… no, when he displayed his strength for Bai Yijian to witness.

So Ye Jiuyao merely revealed a hint of his abilities, coupled with a touch of rhetorical flair, and Forty-Five was instantly awed, as if a deity had descended.

“Do you want to surpass Forty-Four? Do you want to use refining techniques to blow people up like he does?”

“Yes, yes…” Forty-Five replied eagerly.

“Then I’ll teach you… alchemy!” Ye Jiuyao announced.

Forty-Five’s eyes widened, glowing with anticipation, but Ye Jiuyao’s next words doused his interest.

“Look here, this little pill—if you crush it, it releases poisonous mist; anyone who enters will die instantly. Isn’t that better than refining? His method is clumsy and troublesome; just think about it.”

“Mm, mm…” The simple-minded Forty-Five was completely taken in by Ye Jiuyao’s persuasion, never suspecting any ulterior motive.

Soon, Ye Jiuyao had successfully convinced Forty-Five.

“Alright, I’ll set up a formation for you. Go in and practice alchemy—don’t be afraid to make mistakes. There are plenty of herbs here…”

With that, Ye Jiuyao handed Forty-Five a pile of materials, and as he turned away, a sly smile appeared on his face.

“Next is Forty-Four. This one shouldn’t be as troublesome.”

Thus, Ye Jiuyao used the same method to persuade Forty-Four.

“Junior sect leader, are you sure this will work? What if… I blow myself up?”

“No worries. You should craft a garment that can’t be blasted through, then focus on refining explosive artifacts…”

“Let’s call these… bombs, what do you think?”

“Explosions? Explosive cauldrons? Bombs? Yes, that’s a good name.”

“Alright, these materials are yours. Make them as you wish…”

Ye Jiuyao left behind another heap of items, leaving contentedly, feeling as though money—no, spirit stones, spirit crystals—were beckoning to him.

“What a wonderful day!” Ye Jiuyao took a deep breath and gazed at the sky, his face radiant with joy.

“But this isn’t enough. I need to advertise and build up popularity. I’ll start business in Xuantian Town, then find… shills!”

With his mind made up, Ye Jiuyao began to arrange everything.

He summoned Zhong Shaoshan, Xing Juexing, Su Wuquan, Cao Youshi, along with the four Mo brothers, and discreetly instructed them to prepare for shill work in the town.

After all, even a mighty dragon struggles against local powers—and these men were not only locals, but held some prestige. Having them arrange things was most fitting.

To Ye Jiuyao, this was commercial hype.

Thus, everything unfolded in an orderly fashion.

…

Falling Leaf Sect.

“Useless, all of you are useless! My Black-and-White Twins are dead—do you realize how much we've lost?”

“Are you aware that some declining eighth-tier sects have been coveting us for ages? They haven’t acted because they don’t want mutual destruction, but now…”

Duan Tianlang thundered at Ye Qing, who knelt on the floor, scolding him furiously. The others all hung their heads, as if wishing to bury themselves in the earth.

No matter how furious Duan Tianlang became, none dared utter a word. Even Ye Chaofeng, standing to the side, was drenched in sweat, terrified by Duan Tianlang’s wrath.

Such a crime could implicate nine generations; his heart quaked with fear.

“Sect leader, we may still have a remedy. In two months, the seventh-tier sect Tianyu Sect will hold its son-in-law selection. Let the Holy Son participate…”

“You want Yaya to vie for the position of Tianyu Sect’s son-in-law, to leverage their power…”

“Exactly, sect leader, brilliant!” Ye Qing hurriedly flattered him, and the others secretly admired Ye Qing’s cunning—to devise such a life-saving stratagem.

“I’ll leave this matter to you. If you fail again, you know the consequences!”

Duan Tianlang snorted coldly and left the hall. Ye Qing and the others exhaled in relief.