The four Main Elders would have authority second only to the Clan Head, with the regular elders in charge of the daily clan matters. They would be the upper crust of the Ye Family management.
The Martial Instruction Elder would be in charge of training and skills, and the previous Martial Instruction Pavilion Elder would inherit the position. His strength, fame and previous experience made him the most suitable.
The Great Elder wasn’t a single position but would become a group. When the Clan Head, Martial Instruction Elder, Law Enforcement Elder, Guard Elder, and the rest of the regular elders retired, they would assume the title of Great Elder.
For now, only Ye Shi was a Great Elder. The status of the position was great but would come with no assigned responsibilities. It was a position for the oldest experts of the clan who would only intervene in matters of life and death.
The Law Enforcement Elder would be Ye Feng. His righteous personality and his Level Ten cultivation made him most suitable.
The next strongest expert was Ye Ba, and he would become the Guard Elder responsibility for the clan’s safety.
Ye Meng would become the Captain of the new Ye Clan Guard and also the leader of the new City Guard to maintain order in the new city and work with the Guard Elder to secure the clan.
The other elder positions would go to the previous Ye Family Village elders, assigned according to cultivation level.
On that day, in a simple and crude stone house, the clan that would one day shake the entire Shen Zhou Continent was born.
…
After the Ye Family was officially founded, Ye Tian was titled leader, although all he did was cultivate.
A month later, Ye Tian broke through to Mid Stage Level Ten Martial Artist. During one of his breaks, he petted Little White’s head and sighed. “Little White, I’m leaving soon. You must stay here and guard my family for me.”
“Roar!” Little White called out despondently, rubbing his big head against Ye Tian’s hand, unwilling.
Little White was now as powerful as a Level Eight Martial Artist expert and was only growing in strength. Ye Tian estimated that in another year or two, Little White would advance to Martial Master and become unrivaled in White Cloud Town.
Blood Jade City was filled with experts Ye Tian couldn’t match and danger was sure to lurk around every corner. He couldn’t take his precious friend with him, so he asked Little White to stay and protect his home.
Little White was very clever and understood Ye Tian’s worries, so the young beast pushed through his reluctance and asked Ye Tian to take care of himself.
After hugging Little White again, Ye Tian sighed and reluctantly parted ways.
In the morning, three days later. Anyone who could get away from their duties gathered at the village gates—all the experts, elders, the Lin sisters, hunters and anyone with an excuse—was there to bid Ye Tian farewell.
Ye Tian stood by the gates, the reins of a Black Blood Horse in his hands, looking out at his family and friends.
Lin Mei’s eyes were filled with tears as she stared reluctantly at her son, filled with heartache as Ye Tian prepared to set out on the longest journey of his life. Already, she was filled with worry and sadness.
Ye Meng shared his wife’s look, but he pushed through his emotions and walked over to his son. Placing his hands on Ye Tian’s shoulders, he said while half-sighing: “A mighty man’s ambition stretches in every direction. With you as my son, I have no regrets in this life!”
“Go! The outside world is big. I believe in you and one day, I’m sure I will hear of your tales and legends!” Ye Feng said, offering his own saber.
“Uncle Feng, this…” Ye Tian furrowed his brows. This blade had followed Ye Feng his entire life.
“You’re going to Blood Jade City; you cannot bring the Scarlet Saber. I’ve used this saber all my life, and now I want you to have it to keep you safe as you grow,” Ye Feng replied with determination.
Ye Tian hesitated for a moment, but he could only bow to Ye Feng’s will and accept the gift. “Uncle Feng, I will never dishonor your blade.”
Ye Feng smiled silently, nodding.
“Child, no matter where you go, remember that you came from our Ye Family. No matter the trouble you face, never give up for your family is waiting for you to return,” Ye Shi said solemnly, handing a bag of silver to the young expert.
Ye Tian nodded gravely before turning to bid farewell to the others.
Ye Be was just as frank and straightforward as ever, laughing as he spoke: “Ye Tian, I hope when you return, you will have already broken through to Martial Master. Tsk tsk. The first Martial Master of Ye Family Village, hahaha!”
“Dad, it’s the Ye Clan, the first Martial Master of our Ye Family Clan!” Ye Wei interrupted with a smile.
Ye Ba put his hand to his head in laughing agreement, nodding. “Yes, the Ye Clan! Hahaha!”
“Ye Tian, live well and watch yourself. Whether or not I can break through to Martial Master depends on you.” Ye Wei joked, approaching his friend.
“Of course. I hope that one day, everyone in the Ye Family will break through to Martial Master. Wait for my news. I’ll definitely make it happen,” Ye Tian replied confidently.
Ye Tian’s ambitions filled his people with astonishment and silence fell over them all as they began to imagine that future, the day when they would be part of a legend of a clan of Martial Masters.
Finally, Lin Xue approached, her face filled with reluctance at the parting.
“Sister Xue, rest at ease. I will find Tingting.” Ye Tian thumped his chest with his promise. The Ye Clan had pried news about Lin Tingting from a Wang Family Warrior before the final massacre.
He had described a white robed fairy who had descended from the sky in a flower to save Lin Tingting from a group of Wang Family Martial Warriors.
Ye Tian guessed that Lin Tingting had been saved by a sect powerhouse from the legends. He assumed Lin Tingting had been given a remarkable opportunity and might one day surpass even him.
With his worries for his former fiancée resolved, Ye Tian could relax as he headed towards Blood Jade City. Once there, he would investigate the different sects and search for news of Lin Tingting.
“You… Take care of yourself!” Lin Xue stuttered, her heart filled with bittersweetness at Ye Tian’s words. She could only stare silently at her love, her sighs buried in her heart.
“En!” Ye Tian nodded, mounting the Black Blood Horse before waving everyone a final farewell.
The Ye Clan sent him off with their blessings and Ye Tian rode away, disappearing down the curved mountain road like a gust of wind.
…
A cold December had fallen with the cutting wind and the chill of coming winter.
White Cloud Town was far from Blood Jade City, and even on the impressive Black Blood Horse, the fastest possible speed of travel was three days and three nights. For the unhurried Ye Tian who planned to cultivate on the way, the journey would probably take four to five days.
Ye Tian was in no hurry. On his first trip away from his new home, everything filled him with curiosity and he spent his time admiring the mountains and rivers.
Uncle Feng said that the Scarlet Guard examination takes place on the 18th day of the first lunar month and the 28th day of the twelfth lunar month. I still have ten days until the first test; I have more than enough time, Ye Tian thought, riding leisurely down the path and resting whenever he wanted.
Finally, during dusk of the fifth day, Ye Tian saw wide and boundless city walls.
He had made it. Blood Jade City.
Blood Jade City is actually a small city in Nanlin County, one county of the thirty six that make up Da Yan Empire. I truly have experienced nothing of the vast, boundless Shen Zhou Continent.
Ye Tian looked up at the wide city gates stretching farther than he could see and his heart was filled with emotion. To think that a small city was already as magnificent as this.
A long line stretched out before the Blood Jade city gates, and Ye Tian obediently rode over to the end of the queue and waited.
How strict! Ye Tian waited for a long while and waited some more, sighing at the Blood Jade City’s rules.
Some time later, horses galloped down the lane and a team of a dozen or so Scarlet Guards approached. The queue hurriedly scattered to make way as the Scarlet Guard rode down the path and went directly through the city gates.
“So cool! They can just go straight through?”
“The Scarlet Guard is the City Lord’s personal troop—who would dare to block them from entering the city?”
“If only I could join them.”
…
Ye Tian’s eyes gleamed as the people around him chattered. He knew just how powerful the Scarlet Guard was, and he was filled with eagerness.
Patience. I just have to wait a few days then I can join the Guard! Ye Tian clenched his fists confidently. With his current cultivation level, passing the entrance exam would be easy.
Soon, it was finally Ye Tian’s turn. He approached a glaring, steel armored soldier who cried out coldly: “Identity Token!”
Ye Feng had long ago prepared him for these matters and Ye Tian calmly replied: “Great One, this is my first time entering Blood Jade City, I have no Identity Token.”
An Identity Token was something like an ID card from Ye Tian’s previous world. These tokens were issued by the City Lord Mansion, and poor people from places like White Cloud Town had no access to them.
The soldier curled his lips in disdain, clearly guessing that Ye Tian was from a small village. “Where are you from? Name? Get an Identity Token when you’re in the city. During night inspection, everyone without a token will be kicked out.”
Ye Tian nodded politely, speaking his name and origin.
“Next!” The soldier called out, recording the information and waving Ye Tian through.
The city spread before him with people coming and going, horses and carriages filling the streets— a scene of prosperity.
All manners of dazzling shops lined either side of the streets with tall buildings and large inns decorated with large cheerful red lanterns. Pavilions and terraces and open halls called out with stately magnificence. There was too much to take in all at once.
Stepping through the city gates, Ye Tian finally understood how poor his home was. After sixteen years of staring at his village’s stone buildings and thatched huts, he was now in a true city. He truly felt as if he had stepped out of savagery into civilization.
I need to buy some clothes! Ye Tian soon realized, blushing at his beast skin clothing. Everyone else wore cloth!
Fortunately, Ye Tian spotted a clothing store nearby and immediately headed over.