Volume 1 Chapter 18: Senior Brother, Overflowing with Yang Energy
Tn: Edited at 5 / 16 / 2025
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By midday the next day, Ye Anping was still happily sleeping in when he was unceremoniously yanked out of bed by Xiao Die.
Powder, new robes, layers of accessories—before he knew it, she had dolled him up like some young master from a wealthy clan.
As the saying goes, clothes make the man, and a good saddle makes the horse.
Normally, Ye Anping just wore simple linen robes around the Hundred Lotus Sect, with his hair tied back in a no-nonsense ponytail. He didn't care for fancy ornaments. Were it not for his recognizable face, most would've assumed he was just some poor inner disciple.
But now, under Xiao Die's makeover, he finally looked the part of a proper Young Master from a prestigious sect: flowing robes embroidered with arcane patterns, an immortal aura, and a refined bearing. Anyone seeing him on the street might mistake him for a walking treasure chest—ripe for kidnapping.
Even Xiao Die couldn't help but giggle behind her hand.
"Young Master, you look simply divine now. Even this humble maid is tempted to pounce~"
Ye Anping stared at his reflection in the full-length mirror, letting out a faint sigh.
"Has the Elder from the Profound Star Sect arrived yet?"
"He has. Elder Wang is currently playing chess with the Sect Master. The Sect Master specifically asked me to dress you up and make sure you look proper—there's a midday greeting to attend."
"…Got it, got it."
Ye Anping instantly understood his old man's plan.
Most likely, his father wanted him to make an impression on the elder—maybe even get a foot in the door at the Profound Star Sect.
A good idea in theory, but the unfortunate truth was… the Hundred Lotus Sect had no truly powerful techniques, nor had it ever produced any famous cultivators. His so-called "Young Master" title was basically as useful as writing "Kindergarten Honor Student" on a résumé.
After getting dressed, Xiao Die added a few final touches—some gold and jade accessories—and led him to the Heavenly Pavilion.
Naturally, Ye Anping didn't want to embarrass his father. Upon entering, he greeted both his father, Ye Ao, and the white-haired elder beside him with proper etiquette. Then, as instructed, he quietly served them tea as they played.
For the next full hour, he poured tea and watched them play… while stifling over a dozen yawns.
At long last, the game ended.
"Elder Wang's skill is indeed admirable. I concede defeat," Ye Ao said with a humble smile.
"Hehe~" Elder Wang stroked his beard proudly. "Even our Sect Master often ropes me into chess games, and I've beaten her quite a few times. If I lost here, I fear she'd lose some face!"
"Hahaha, of course, of course."
Ye Anping glanced at the board and sighed internally. The mutual ego-massage between these two elders was more exhausting than the chess match itself.
In his past life, he had competed in a national youth Go tournament—and won first place.
From his perspective, this "match" was basically two kindergarteners throwing rocks at each other.
In fact, he wouldn't be surprised if his past high school classmates could outplay these two fogeys who'd lived for centuries.
Wait— Elder Wang said he'd beaten the Sect Master of the Profound Star Sect?
That old hag who's supposedly lived for thousands of years… also sucks at chess?
Surely not?
After a bit more mutual boot-licking, Elder Wang finally turned his head to glance at Ye Anping.
"Sect Master Ye, you gave me a 500-year-old spirit herb as a gift. Surely you didn't invite me all this way just to play a little game of chess?"
"Haha~ Of course not," Ye Ao said, laughing nervously as he pulled his son forward by the shoulder. "Elder Wang, this is my son. He just turned fifteen this year and officially came of age. I was hoping you could offer him a few pointers."
"Guidance is no issue," Elder Wang said with a light stroke of his beard, "however… if Sect Master Ye is hoping for Young Master Ye to be accepted into the Profound Star Sect's inner sect, I'm afraid that is beyond my abilities. I trust you know how strict the inner sect's requirements are. As a mere deputy elder of the Dragon Star Academy, I cannot sway such decisions."
"Yes, I understand completely," Ye Ao cupped his fists. "Then… would the outer sect be an option?"
"That would be possible," Elder Wang nodded, "but surely you've heard the phrase: 'Better to be the head of a chicken than the tail of a phoenix.' Rather than having your son toil away as a nameless outer disciple in the Profound Star Sect, wouldn't it be better for him to remain here, as the young master of the Hundred Lotus Sect?"
"In that case, I'll trouble you to give my son a little instruction."
"Certainly."
Elder Wang gave his sleeves a little shake, then beckoned Ye Anping over. When the boy stepped forward, he gently pressed two fingers—formed into a sword gesture—against Ye Anping's wrists, feeling his pulse. Then he swept through his body with his spiritual sense.
"Hmm…"
"How is he?" Ye Ao asked quickly.
"Water and wood dual spirit roots. Already at the third layer of Qi Refining at age fifteen—quite excellent. However…"
Elder Wang's brows furrowed. He squeezed Ye Anping's shoulder and thigh, then sent his spiritual sense deeper to examine further.
He couldn't help but glance sidelong at Ye Ao, silently marveling: This man really went hard on his own son.
Every bone in Ye Anping's body had been fractured at some point. His organs carried traces of cold poison. No wonder he'd reached the third layer of Qi Refining so quickly despite his age.
This child had taken the path of bitter cultivation—and not the light kind. From what Elder Wang could tell, the boy had ingested countless venomous insects to temper himself. His body had developed near-complete poison immunity and was honed to a ridiculous degree.
He estimated that even if Ye Anping had all his meridians shattered and his organs crushed, without any medical aid, he could probably still live for three or four days.
Bitter cultivation was indeed one of the most effective methods for a cultivator to grow strong.
But very few could endure it.
Most who attempted it either went mad or died halfway through.
Of course, Ye Ao had no idea that Ye Anping had chosen this path.
His parenting style was… "free-range." As long as his son didn't ask for anything outrageous, he gave whatever was requested, no questions asked.
Ye Ao stretched his neck anxiously. "Well, Elder Wang? How is he?"
"Exceptional," the elder said at last. "Among all the dual-root cultivators I've seen, none come close."
"Oh?" Ye Ao blinked in surprise. "Then… any advice for us?"
'To think he'd actually let his only son walk the path of bitter cultivation… this man is ruthless.' Elder Wang swallowed his thoughts and forced a polite smile.
"You're already doing splendidly. Whatever method you're using, Sect Master Ye… just keep at it. I have nothing more to add."
Ye Ao froze.
In his mind, his son spent most days bullying that poor little Pei girl.
Since when did harassing girls count as cultivation?
Still, with Elder Wang saying so, he had no choice but to nod and laugh it off.
"Hahaha~ If you say so."
After a pause, Elder Wang asked, "What cultivation techniques has your son been practicing?"
"Uh…" Ye Ao faltered, then quickly looked at his son, motioning for him to explain.
Ye Anping sighed, stepped forward, and respectfully answered, "My father told me to study the Foundational Heart Technique of the Four-Sun Sect, paired with the Nine Primordial Heart Technique. For swordsmanship, I practice the Sword Inquiry Technique from the Shadowmoon Sword Sect."
"Oh?" Elder Wang's eyebrows lifted. "That's quite the investment. The Shadowmoon Sword Sect is known for being extremely stingy with their manuals."
"Ah… haha…" Ye Ao's eyebrow twitched. He quickly shot a look at Ye Anping: Four-Sun Sect? Nine Primordial what? Sword Inquiry Technique? Where the hell did you get those?
Ye Anping rolled his eyes back at him: I found them myself.
Elder Wang thought for a moment, mentally cross-referencing the cultivation techniques Ye Anping had mentioned. After a while, he let out a deep sigh.
"Sect Master Ye… surely you know the drawbacks of combining these particular techniques?"
"Ah…" Ye Ao blinked, clearly confused. "Senior, I must admit I do not. Please enlighten me."
Elder Wang spoke solemnly, "Leaving aside that Sword Inquiry Technique for now—both the Four-Sun Sect's Foundational Heart Technique and the Nine Primordial Heart Technique are extremely yang-heavy techniques. Practicing them together will inevitably result in an overaccumulation of yang energy. If this is not properly regulated, serious internal problems may arise in the future."
Ye Ao's confusion deepened. "I… don't follow?"
Elder Wang placed a hand on Ye Anping's shoulder and said gravely, "At fifteen, he's at the age where he should be seeking a Dao Companion. He'll need… a certain amount of bedroom activity to balance his body and expel excess yang."
"???"
"???"
Father and son simultaneously manifested double question marks over their heads.
Ye Ao had no idea what the elder was talking about, and Ye Anping was equally clueless—after all, he'd based his cultivation path on a video game.
In the game Heavenly Sword Chronicles, there weren't rigid sects or fixed class systems. Instead, players created different "builds" by combining techniques. Different builds led to entirely different playstyles—summoner builds, sword cultivator builds, etc.
Apparently, in the real world, these "builds" came with… biological consequences.
Elder Wang sighed again. "But if Young Master Ye continues on this cultivation path, any future Dao Companion he finds is going to suffer greatly."
"Suffer?" Ye Ao was puzzled. "What do you mean?"
"When a man overindulges, his health declines. The same is true for women. With his method of cultivation and those yang-heavy techniques, unless he finds a Dao Companion one or two major realms above his own… she won't be able to handle it. She'll be fleeing to her parents' house every few days."
Ye Ao nearly dropped his jaw on the floor.
A Dao Companion one or two realms above his son?
Was he supposed to find a Core Formation Realm woman to pair with his Qi Refining Realm son?
How was he supposed to find someone like that?
Even he was only at the Core Formation Realm himself!
And what happens after Anping reaches Foundation Establishment? Is he supposed to find a Nascent Soul Realm woman next?
What kind of Nascent Soul cultivator would willingly take a Foundation brat as a Dao Companion?!
"Then… what should we do?"
Elder Wang, seeing the dilemma, stroked his beard again. "He can… take on several concubines to help disperse the burden."
"Ah… I see." Ye Ao glanced at Ye Anping, then awkwardly nodded. He gave his son a firm smack on the shoulder. "Understood. Now hurry and thank Elder Wang."
"Ah… right." Ye Anping cupped his hands and bowed. "Many thanks for your guidance, Elder Wang."
He quickly stepped forward and refilled the elder's teacup.
Ye Ao pursed his lips, his thoughts a tangled mess.
He had already been worrying about finding a bride for Ye Anping. That Pei girl—who his son used to bully day in and day out—might not be too willing to marry him. And now… now the boy needed multiple wives?
That Pei girl would probably refuse even harder!
And it wasn't like Ye Ao was the kind of tyrant who'd use cultivation power to snatch mortal girls as wives for his son…
'Sigh… better take things slowly.'
He exhaled a long breath and said, "Senior, actually… there's another person I wanted to introduce to you."
"Introduce?"
"Yes. A young girl my son rescued recently from a demonic cultivator. She happens to carry a recommendation letter from True Immortal Tai Xu, and seems to have originally intended to join the Profound Star Sect."
"True Immortal Tai Xu?!" Elder Wang's eyes widened. "Where is this girl now?"
"She's recovering in the side room. Please, Senior, come with me." Ye Ao rose to his feet, then looked at his son. "Anping, come along."
"Yes."