Chapter 17 - Toy making? (2/2)
“I guessed right, didn’t I?” Ye Rou replied, grinning widely.
“You’re not to tell anyone,” Ye Chen hurriedly followed up. Should his uncles know about this — he would be in such deep trouble!
“Well, only if you promise me that next time you’re going to the Yun Castle, you take me with you.”
“Fine, fine!”
“No backsies!”
The two continued their banter as they made their way into the canteen. Every younger member of the clan could not help but turn toward them, their eyes lingering on Ye Rou a little before quickly pulling their attention away. Ye Rou’s serene and poised elegance had always made one feel too inferior to be with. Yet, perhaps the gallant, handsome Ye Chen — who was jesting by her side — could be her perfect match.
As soon as the clan members saw Ye Chen entering, they immediately greeted him with full respect. Ever since he had become the Successor Patriarch, Ye Chen’s station among the clan was only lower than the Chief, the Former Chief, Ye Zhanlong and a selected few.
After lunch, Ye Chen went to the family’s storage area and scavenged some saltpeter, charcoal and related ingredients to start combining them all together in his own residency.
Ye Chen could remember a vivid formula of producing gunpowder from these ingredients, including the proportion of each ingredient in the mix. Armed with that knowledge, he started experimenting them right in his own yard.
The Patriarch Residency
“Big Brother, accordingly, there are six Grades of teachings in the Thunder Emperor Technique. Training with the First Grade allows a man to attain the Sixth Stage, the Second Grade allows one to attain the Eighth Stage, and the Third Grade would allow one to attain the Tenth Stage—but what happens when one continued to pursue Grades higher than those?” Ye Zhanlong asked as he stared at Ye Zhantian. The more they studied the Thunder Emperor Technique, the more mysteries and gnoses they uncovered from it. Ye Zhanlong would have never dreamt of seeing such incredible, peerless teaching of martial art.
“I heard that there was a one of a kind fighter, even stronger than the Tenth Stage. A matchless, supreme fighter going by the title of the Venerable. A hundred years ago, right in the Xiwu Empire, such a matchless master existed,” Ye Changxuan added. “The family that Venerable was hailed from? It’s none other than the He* clan of Xijing!”
The He clan of the city of Xijing — the largest clan in the entire Xiwu Empire barring only the royal clan!
Everyone took a deep, sharp breath. How consummate, how unsurpassable would the level of a Venerable One be! If one could ever reach that Stage in martial arts, there would no longer be any regrets in a man’s life.
“In fact, our current ruler, Great Emperor Mingwu, is also a Venerable One. Now that we have the Thunder Emperor Discourse, I believe we can truly get closer to that Stage in this life! Come now, everyone, let us study this Technique even more and be enlightened by its mysteries!” Ye Changxuan exclaimed, brimming with gusto. Five or six years ago, his Celestial Chi had been stuck on the onset of the Ninth Stage. Yet, now, he could feel that he was already reaching the mid-Ninth Stage. This speed of cultivation was simply marvelous.
Ye Changxuan knew he was witnessing his family’s ascend into a new zenith — and it was all brought on by Ye Chen.
“This is all thanks to Chen!” Ye Zhanlong cried.
Hearing Ye Zhanlong praising his son, Ye Zhantian could only beam proudly.
Suddenly, as they were talking, they heard a loud rumble from outside, which caused the Patriarch Residency building to shudder.
“What’s going on?”
“C-could it be that we’re being attacked by a Ninth Stage enemy?”
That force of impact generated was exactly the same as the strength of a Ninth Stage fighter could gather in a hit.
“Oh no, it’s coming from Ye Chen’s direction!”
At the thought of that, their silhouettes blurred as they flitted out of the Patriarch Residency to the source of the explosion. Being the family’s most prized asset, it was no wonder that they would be so worried about Ye Chen’s safety.
As they reached the source of the impact, they found Ye Chen standing on a clearing, wearing an awkward expression while his clothes were ruffled. In the middle of that barren clearing was a large crater about two zhangs wide.
“Chen, what just happened?” Seeing Ye Chen safe and sound, Ye Zhantian could not help but exhale a large sigh of relief. He turned his attention to the big crater, feeling a little dazed. ‘A Ninth Stage fighter might not even be able to leave such a crater despite their best effort,’ he thought.
Ye Chen glanced at the crater and laughed out of embarrassment. “Um, well, I’ve been overcome by the feeling of restlessness lately, so I’ve been making some toys.”
‘Making… toys?’ Ye Changxuan and the rest stared at Ye Chen with a look of bewilderment. What kind of toys would be able to create such a shocking impact?