Chapter 20: The Return Journey

The imperial capital was always a gathering place for people, and outside the city, groups of three or five were heading inward. By the roadside, Ye Hang and his wife were seeing Ye Yuan off.

"Yuan'er, although this journey is only half a day's travel, I still feel something is amiss. Given Wan Donghai's temperament, after such a blow, he won't just swallow his anger. I suspect he's plotting something. A'ping and A'cheng have been with me for years; let them escort you there," Ye Hang urged earnestly.

Just as Wan Donghai understood Ye Hang, Ye Hang also knew Wan Donghai deeply. So throughout the journey, he had been persuading Ye Yuan to take two guards, but Ye Yuan refused.

"Father, it's only half a day's journey; nothing will happen. Besides, Brother Tang is traveling with me. No matter how bold Wan Donghai is, he wouldn't dare send someone to kill me in broad daylight," Ye Yuan said with a smile, still refusing.

"Oh, Yuan'er, just listen to your father. Wan Donghai is ruthless; it's easy to dodge an open attack but hard to evade a hidden arrow," Ren Hongling also advised.

The couple had just regained their son and didn't want any more mishaps.

But Ye Yuan only smiled and shook his head, his refusal clear.

"Oh, you stubborn child."

Ye Hang knew his son was no longer the same as before; perhaps he really had some life-saving trick. Yesterday, when his son appeared before him, he was already at the third layer of Yuan Qi, which gave him a great shock. Although he knew Ye Yuan had met a wise teacher, the speed of progress was too terrifying.

But thinking of that expert's unfathomable methods, Ye Hang felt relieved. He knew there were too many things beyond his understanding in this world.

"Forget it, since he won't agree, let him go on his own. The son has grown up; there are things he must face himself," Ye Hang sighed.

Ye Yuan bowed to his parents, then set off with Tang Yu and Lü'er.

…

Ye Yuan naturally knew the journey would not be peaceful, but there were things he wanted to face himself, to temper himself through them.

Ye Yuan possessed unfathomable knowledge of the Dao of alchemy, insights beyond this world, and countless techniques and martial skills, but these things did not equate to strength. Otherwise, he could have directly fought his way back to the Divine Realm.

What Ye Yuan needed to do was to transform these things into real strength.

In his previous life, Ye Yuan was too focused on the Dao of alchemy, neglecting martial arts. His realm was high, but his combat power was abysmally weak.

How to turn the knowledge from his past life into combat power?

Ye Yuan knew: he had to fight, fight, and fight again!

Only through constant fighting could he improve his combat power and fight his way back to the Divine Realm!

Without actual combat, no matter how profound Ye Yuan's knowledge was, it would be like the moon in a mirror or flowers in water.

Therefore, Ye Yuan did not want to grow up under Ye Hang's protection. That was why he chose to return to the Danwu Academy and compete with a host of geniuses.

As Ye Yuan had said to Tang Zonghuai, the Danwu Academy was no paradise; on the contrary, the competition there was extremely brutal.

And this return to the academy was Ye Yuan's first challenge.

…

The Danwu Academy was not in the imperial capital but located a hundred li north of it. It was near the Boundless Forest, an excellent place to train geniuses.

Ye Yuan and his two companions were not hurrying back to the academy; instead, they rode their horses leisurely.

"By the way, I haven't congratulated Brother Tang on reaching the fifth layer of Yuan Qi."

Tang Yu had been at the peak of the fourth layer, and having obtained Ye Yuan's Explosive Yuan Pill, if he couldn't break through to the fifth layer, he might as well find a rock to smash his head against.

"Not at all, not at all. This is all thanks to Brother Ye's Explosive Yuan Pill. The Explosive Yuan Pill is truly miraculous; the Yuan power it contains is several times stronger than the Yuan Qi Pill. I only swallowed one and easily advanced."

Even now, Tang Yu was still savoring the violent Yuan power, thinking how easy it was to advance. And because he had taken the Explosive Yuan Pill himself, he understood why Ye Yuan could jump two levels overnight.

What he didn't know was that Ye Yuan had taken the highest-quality Explosive Yuan Pills, and the quantity he consumed was several times that of Tang Yu. Those few pills were enough to cultivate him to the sixth layer of Yuan Qi.

The levels within the Yuan Qi realm were not as simple as one plus one equals two. The higher the level, the more Yuan power was needed, and it multiplied. The amount of Yuan power required from the fifth to the sixth layer was almost the sum of that from the first to the fifth layer. Yet such a vast amount of Yuan power only allowed Ye Yuan to reach the third layer.

"Hehe, 'Priceless jade brings harm to its owner.' Brother Tang, after returning to the academy, never reveal the matter of the Explosive Yuan Pill, or the consequences would be disastrous."

Wan Donghai had concocted a so-called Gathering Yuan Pill and was confident he could squeeze out the Medicine Fragrance Pavilion. But the Explosive Yuan Pill was even more effective than the Gathering Yuan Pill. If exposed, it would surely stir up a bloody storm.

In his previous life, Ye Yuan had long held a high position. Except for that ambitious traitor, he was confident in his ability to judge people. Tang Yu was filial and not a duplicitous person. Seeing that his background was similar to his own, Ye Yuan took a liking to him and gifted him the Explosive Yuan Pill.

Of course, Ye Yuan was not without selfish motives. 'A hero needs three helpers.' After arriving at the Danwu Academy, Ye Yuan couldn't always charge ahead alone; having a few good friends would make things much easier.

"Brother Ye, rest assured. Tang Yu is not ungrateful and knows the Explosive Yuan Pill is of great importance; I will never flaunt it before others. But forgive my impertinence, Brother Ye, with such skills, why do you still go to the Danwu Academy?"

Tang Yu was no fool. Although he had only seen the tip of the iceberg, he was certain that Ye Yuan's alchemy level had completely surpassed the current standards of the Qin Kingdom. Going to the Danwu Academy seemed redundant.

Moreover, there were some things he found hard to bring up, fearing Ye Yuan might misunderstand. For instance, where did Ye Yuan learn all this? Whether it was the nameless pill that cured his father or the Explosive Yuan Pill in his hand, neither could have been refined by Ye Hang.

But these doubts he could only bury in his stomach. Unless Ye Yuan voluntarily told him, it would be ungrateful to ask.

"The Danwu Academy is where the elites of the Qin Kingdom gather. In such a place of convergence, how could I, Ye Yuan, miss it?"

"Hehe, in my view, those so-called geniuses and elites are nothing but chickens and dogs compared to Brother Ye."

But Ye Yuan shook his head and said, "Don't underestimate the heroes of the world. You've probably guessed that I've had some encounters these days, which is why I've changed so much. But after all, my strength is still too weak. If a genius doesn't grow up, he's just a stepping stone for others."

Tang Yu nodded, vaguely understanding Ye Yuan's thoughts about going to the Danwu Academy, and felt great admiration.

Needless to say, the encounter Ye Yuan had was extraordinary. Yet Ye Yuan remained unassuming and kept his position, which was truly rare.

Those geniuses in the academy, which one didn't look down on others? They utterly despised commoners like them.

Tang Yu believed that before long, Ye Yuan would shine at the Danwu Academy. Those so-called geniuses would pale in comparison before him.

"Come out, you've been following us all the way. You must be tired, right?" Just as Tang Yu was lost in thought, Ye Yuan suddenly called out.