Eternal Life: Hundredfold Rewards-Chapter 43 - 42: Ye Liang’s Probing and Reaction

Chapter 43: Chapter 42: Ye Liang’s Probing and Reaction
In the southeastern direction of the inner sect, atop a rather tall Spirit Peak, faint clouds and mist lingered as dim sunlight beamed down from above.
At the summit of the Spirit Peak, there lay a Tier One Middle Grade Cave Mansion.
At the entrance of the cave mansion, Ye Liang stood clad in elegant attire, hands behind his back, as the gentle breeze brushed through, making his clothes flutter and a strand of black hair on his forehead dance in the wind, adding to his aura.
At this moment, his noble demeanor was accompanied by a gentle smile as he gazed ahead.
Because his Spirit Peak reached considerable heights, and the cave mansion was positioned at the mountaintop, the view was very spacious. Gazing downward from the entrance, one could vaguely see numerous Inner Sect Spirit Peaks.
This was also why he felt his cave mansion’s location was quite favorable after drawing lots for it.
"In that direction, is it where Qi Chuan’s cave mansion is located?"
Ye Liang smiled faintly as he looked towards a Spirit Peak barely visible on the left side of his view; that was where Qi Chuan’s Tier One Upper Grade Cave Mansion lay. Although it was Tier One Upper Grade, the Spirit Peak itself was slightly shorter than his Tier One Middle Grade Cave Mansion’s Spirit Peak.
Initially, upon entering the inner sect, he wasn’t too familiar with Qi Chuan, only knowing that he was the pride of the Qi Family and had simply got lucky in drawing a Tier One Upper Grade Cave Mansion.
Later on, however, he discreetly had the Ye Family investigate the family disciples and independent cultivator disciples entering the inner sect in the same session, and thus learned some information about the new disciples of the same inner sect entry year.
Although this Qi Chuan, fortunate as he may be, was quite well protected by the Qi Family, resulting in slightly lesser information gathered through the Ye Family’s covert investigation, he still vaguely learned that the other party seemed to be a magic talent?
According to the information from the Ye Family’s investigation, Qi Chuan’s Fireball Technique appeared to have reached Minor Success Level, perhaps even Great Success Level.
But Ye Liang believed it wasn’t at Great Success Level, just Minor Success Level.
After all, the other party was merely about fourteen years old, two years younger than himself. How could he possibly have cultivated the Fireball Technique to Great Success?
Yet even at Minor Success Level, it would still be considered an undisputed magic talent.
Moreover, his cultivation wasn’t weak either; at fourteen, he seemed to have reached Qi Refining Fourth Layer, combining with his magical talents, spurred Ye Liang’s interest in him.
Coincidentally, it was three days before his birthday, giving him the idea to invite Qi Chuan to his birthday banquet and then, during the banquet, subtly probe the true level of Qi Chuan’s Fireball Technique.
Actually, it wasn’t just solely for Qi Chuan.
This time, he only invited the newly entered inner sect disciples from the same session, whom the Ye Family, after investigation, deemed to possess promising talents worthy of being recruited by him.
Though he aimed to become a True Disciple or even a Foundation Establishment Elder in Wind Moon Sect, before reaching that stage, he’d still be an Inner Sect Disciple for a while.
Within this period, if he could recruit these potential-filled inner sect new disciples to aid him, it would be very beneficial, allowing him to save a lot of time and channel more focus on his cultivation.
Take this Qi Chuan, for instance. Fortunate as he may be, he managed to draw a Tier One Upper Grade Cave Mansion. If he could think of a way to swap his Tier One Upper Grade Cave Mansion for Qi Chuan’s with some resources or promises, it would undoubtedly benefit his cultivation greatly.
"This time, I’ve sent the invitation personally; Qi Chuan shouldn’t refuse, right?"
Ye Liang stood there with a gentle smile on his face as he gazed forward.
In his view, logically, it shouldn’t happen.
After all, he belonged to the Ye Family, which was implicitly the foremost family under Wind Moon Sect. He was the sole candidate of the Ye Family for the inner sect slot; whether in cultivation talent or current realm, he was evidently the top among the inner sect new disciples of the same session.
Such a figure lowering his stature to personally invite the other to his birthday banquet was already giving enough respect; Qi Chuan, whether to curry favor or out of fear of offending him, dared not refuse the invite.
Once Qi Chuan arrived, he would have means to test and determine the true level of Qi Chuan’s Fireball Technique.
If it was Minor Success Level Fireball Technique, it would have more recruiting value compared to other inner sect new disciples of the same session.
However, if it was Great Success Level Fireball Technique, it would pose a threat, potentially becoming his rival for True Disciple in the future.
If it were the latter, knowing earlier would allow early preparations...
Squawk!
At this moment, the flapping sound echoed from the front.
He saw a paper crane laboriously flapping its wings, parting the faint white mist as it ascended from below.
Upon seeing this, Ye Liang faintly smiled, extending his palm to let the paper crane fall upon it.
Then, he opened the paper crane, reading Qi Chuan’s reply on the back.
"Apologies, Brother Ye; I am indeed quite busy lately and cannot make it three days later. Nonetheless, I still wish you a happy birthday."
"...Qi Chuan."
Staring at the handwriting on the paper crane letter, Ye Liang’s gentle smile gradually stiffened.
"Hmph, this Qi Chuan indeed dares to act high and mighty!"
Whoosh!
Clenching the paper crane letter into a ball, flames began to rise from his palm; in merely a breath, the paper crane letter turned into ashes, drifting down through his fingers.
Ye Liang gazed towards the direction of Qi Chuan’s Tier One Upper Grade Cave Mansion Spirit Peak, a faint shadow of anger surging deep within his pupils.
He really hadn’t expected that the other party would dare refuse.
His initial assumption was that even if Qi Chuan did not concede to his recruitment, he would still show face and attend his birthday banquet.
Unexpectedly...
"Enough, it’s merely some magic talent..."
Ye Liang chuckled lightly, shaking his head with a trace of disdain in his eyes.
Initially, Qi Chuan, as he reckoned, ninety-nine percent likely possessed only Minor Success Level Fireball Technique, not at all possibly Great Success Level.
With merely Minor Success Level Fireball Technique, in his eyes, was but a slight magic talent, just like that.
After all, within the Cultivation Realm, the most crucial aspect was still the cultivation realm.
Even if Fireball Technique was cultivated to Perfection Level, it could only wreak havoc at Qi Refining Realm, but faced with Foundation Establishment Great Cultivator, what could it achieve?
If by barely possessing some magic talent someone deemed themselves somewhat special, it would inevitably appear rather laughable.
"I should prepare to recruit other potential new disciples coming three days later; at least some would agree to recruitment."
With cold gleams flickering in his eyes, Ye Liang swished his sleeves and turned back into his Tier One Middle Grade Cave Mansion. Behind him, array light surged, and with a rumbling sound, the cave mansion door shut heavily.
A faint chuckle seemed to echo from within the cave mansion.
"As for this Qi Chuan... never mind, there will be opportunities later..."