Although Ye Feng had intentionally spread word within the family about Ye Chen's behavior in the Silver Moon Market, insinuating that Ye Chen was acting like a simp, most of the family did not believe it.

  The two female cultivators Ye Chen had brought back were both stunning beauties. How could a man, supposedly acting like a simp, win the hearts of such high-caliber cultivators?

  Moreover, Ye Chen had not hesitated to defy the family head's authority, arguing for the Green Cloud Sect's quota. While many in the family thought Ye Chen had angered the family head, deep down, they actually thought highly of Ye Chen's decisions. After all, Ye Chen's father was dead, and from now on, Ye Chen would be marginalized within the family.

  For Ye Chen, securing the Green Cloud Token was his only opportunity. Therefore, Ye Chen was undoubtedly a smart person. Such a smart person could never be a simp. How could he possibly give away the opportunity, a hard-won quota he had risked angering the family head to obtain?

  If someone had said he'd sold it, they might have believed it, but giving it away to someone else? No, that was too far-fetched. So, the family didn't believe Ye Chen's second uncle's words. Even the family head didn't believe them.

  With cold eyes, he turned to Ye Chen. "Hand over the Green Cloud Token. We leave now!"

  As the family head, it was his prerogative for everyone to obey his orders. If they didn't, how could he continue to lead the family?

  Under the watchful eyes of everyone, Ye Chen sighed helplessly. He hadn't expected the family head to insist on taking him to the Green Cloud Sect. Although it was likely just a chance for the family head to build connections, with Ye Chen as an afterthought, the issue was that he genuinely could not present the Green Cloud Token.

  Ye Chen glanced in the direction of Green Cloud Sect, wondering when Elder Gu Yunyu of the Sword Peak would arrive. If she didn't come by tomorrow….

  Ye Chen feared the family head might strike him down on the spot. But, this situation, he knew, could no longer be hidden.

  "Grandfather, I did indeed give away the Green Cloud Token."

  The moment Ye Chen spoke, the entire room fell silent. Everyone stared at him with a mixture of disbelief and confusion.

  Ye Chen... really gave away the Green Cloud Token? Had he gone mad? That was an entry quota for the Green Cloud Sect! Could it be... that Ye Chen was truly a simp? But who would be such a simp as to give away their future? It couldn't be true. There must be some other reason, some hidden truth behind it.

  "Did you give it to the female cultivator from this morning?" Ye Chen's second uncle could no longer hold back his question.

  Ye Chen nodded in acknowledgment. Since it could easily be found out, he chose not to hide it.

  Second uncle was furious, nearly choking with rage. "I offered you spirit stones to buy it, and you refused! Now, some outsider speaks a few words, and you just give it away? Do you still care about the Ye family? Do you still consider yourself one of us?"

  Second uncle was absolutely livid. That should have been his son Ye Feng's quota!

  Hearing this, Ye Chen immediately waved his hand dismissively. "Second uncle, you've misunderstood. How could I not consider myself part of the Ye family? But it couldn't be helped. You heard it yourself this morning, if Ruoxin didn't become a disciple of the Green Cloud Sect, her future would be utterly tragic."

  “And Sun Ruoxin has already given her heart to me. She said once we reach Foundation Establishment, she will become my Dao partner. Sun Ruoxin's talent surpasses mine. She is far more likely to reach Foundation Establishment than I am. If she becomes my Dao partner in the future, she would, by default, also be part of the Ye family. This would bring far more benefits than harm to our Ye family."

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  The family members around them were left utterly stunned by Ye Chen's explanation.

  Ye Chen's thought process was... somewhat absurd. A woman casually mentions becoming your Dao partner when you reach Foundation Establishment, and you take it seriously?

  Just look around all of Green Cloud City. What female cultivator would choose a man weaker than herself to be her Dao partner? If Sun Ruoxin truly reached Foundation Establishment, she would never lower herself to someone like you. In fact, if you dared to even mention this, she'd probably slap you dead on the spot.

  As they looked at Ye Chen, their eyes were filled with a clear, almost pitiful stupidity. At that moment, they fully believed the rumors circulating within the family. If Ye Chen could be so easily deceived into giving away the Green Cloud Token... then how could he be anything but a simp?

  "Enough…!”

  The patriarch's enraged voice echoed through the hall, and the oppressive force of his Foundation Establishment aura immediately descended upon the room, causing everyone present to tremble in fear.

  The power of a Foundation Establishment cultivator was indeed terrifying.

  The patriarch fixed his gaze on Ye Chen. "Where is she?"

  The Green Cloud Sect quota was crucial. The Ye family had only two such quotas over its whole history. How could they allow an outsider to take one so easily? They had to be captured. Anyone who dared deceive the Ye family out of its quota deserved to die!

  Ye Chen shook his head and responded, "Ruoxin left for the Green Cloud Sect the moment she received the quota. She had a flying boat, so she's probably already there."

  Ye Chen knew Sun Ruoxin all too well. She didn't care a bit about his fate. Once she obtained the quota, she would only worry about delays. Even if it were midnight, she would rush to the Green Cloud Sect to finalize everything and settle the matter.

  ...

  The patriarch's anger intensified upon hearing this, and his gaze darkened with a trace of murderous intent. After glaring at Ye Chen for a moment, he withdrew his gaze. "We will discuss this matter upon my return. Ye Tian, let's go."

  The family members could all sense the patriarch's coldness. It was clear that Ye Chen's future would be bleak.

  However, Ye Chen's alchemy skills were exceptional, so his cultivation might not be forcibly sealed. Yet, it was likely that he would be imprisoned by the family, spending his life as nothing more than a tool for refining pills. Many of the family members covertly warned their children.

  "Did you see that? Make sure you never become a simp when you grow up. Because a simp meets a tragic end."

  Ye Chen had already guessed how the family would handle him. After all, he had his alchemy skills as a bargaining chip. The family would never let that go to waste. That's why he had openly admitted to it.

  But now, he couldn't help but wonder, when would that Sword Peak Elder arrive? Could she hurry up?!

  No one paid Ye Chen any more attention. Having completely enraged the patriarch, Ye Chen's chance was gone.

  Ye Tian stood behind the patriarch. The patriarch tossed out a flying boat, preparing to leave with Ye Tian. Before boarding, Ye Tian glanced at Ye Chen and offered a condescending smile. "Don't slack off at home. Make sure to refine some high-quality pills for me. Top-grade Qi-Nourishing Pills would be fine too. If you can make those, they'll help me build connections in the sect."

  The patriarch gave Ye Chen a brief look, his gaze devoid of any emotion. "He knows how to do it. Focus on your own cultivation."

  The patriarch's attitude spoke volumes.

  Ye Chen's fate was sealed.

  As the flying boat ascended, Ye Tian stood tall, full of pride.

  Ye Chen, however, didn't feel particularly anxious. He just had an urge to shout, "I have bled for the family!"

  But before he could voice it, a terrifying aura descended upon the area in an instant.

  The patriarch froze for a moment, his face changing drastically.

  "May I ask which esteemed fellow Daoist has come to visit?"

  The family members, seeing the patriarch's reaction, were equally shocked. The patriarch was at Foundation Establishment, yet he seemed somewhat unsettled?

  In the next moment, a red-clad figure stepped into the hall.

  "Green Cloud Sect, Gu Yunyun!"

  A lazy, slightly husky voice rang out, adding an air of seductive charm.

  Gu Yunyun?

  Upon hearing that name, the Ye family members couldn't help but gasp in surprise.

  Even the Ye family patriarch immediately commanded the flying boat to land and bowed in respect. "Greetings, fellow Daoist Gu! We apologize for the lack of a proper reception. Please, come in and take a seat."

  No one in the Ye family knew why Gu Yunyun had come, except for Ye Chen.

  As Ye Chen looked at the woman in red, her perfect figure and stunning beauty, his eyes filled with exhilaration. It wasn't that he was lustful. Rather, it was because Ye Chen's system had just sent him a notification….