A public notice was posted seeking a wife, and a female saint from the Immortal Sect was found.

If something is not explicitly stated, everyone can pretend not to know, but if it is stated, then things are naturally different.

Chen Yi looked at Ye Chen, completely unexpected that this woman would suddenly reveal everything and make such a request.

After pondering for a moment, Chen Yi asked curiously, "I'm quite surprised you suddenly said all this, but what surprises me most is why you think Changqing and I are both kind?"

Without hesitation, Ye Chen replied, "You can tell by looking at how the other members of the Chen family treat you and Sister Changqing. If you were ruthless, the other members of the Chen family would be afraid of you. But what I see is that they respect and protect you. That is enough to prove that I am not wrong."

Of course, this was just her own opinion; in just a few days, it was difficult for her to fully understand Chen Yi and Li Changqing.

Chen Yi chuckled twice, nodded, and said, "You're really good at judging people. But why didn't you try to find out the origin of the pill formula first? It's a bit unreasonable to confess so quickly."

Ye Chen has only been at the Chen family for a few days, and now he suddenly reveals his purpose for coming to the Chen family, which is not normal at all.

Ye Chen smiled wryly upon hearing this and said, "Although it's only been a few days, Sister Changqing has managed to get quite a few things out of me. I only realized it afterward, and unknowingly I revealed a lot of things to Sister Changqing."

She had tried to start with Li Changqing and then slowly investigate the origin of the pill formula. After a few days, she felt that her relationship with Li Changqing was quite good.

But upon reflection, she realized with a start that she had not gained anything yet, but had already revealed a lot of information to Li Changqing. After waking up to this realization, she understood that she had no chance of completing the mission.

Chen Yi chuckled inwardly. So, it's incredibly difficult for anyone else to gain any advantage from Li Changqing. If he didn't have the system's appraisal function, he would have absolutely no chance of figuring out even a fraction of Li Changqing's thoughts.

"Patriarch Chen, are you willing to grant my request?" Ye Chen asked again.

Chen Yi nodded this time and said, "Alright, when that time comes, I'll find you a propitious burial site. But why don't you want to return to the Purple Pill Sect after you die?"

Ye Chen's eyes immediately dimmed as he said, "I am just a resource or commodity in other people's eyes, something that can be discarded after use. In fact, I have never been able to make any choices in my life. So, if I die, I want to make my own choice. I do not want to return to the Purple Pill Sect."

"Thank you for your kindness, Patriarch Chen."

After speaking, Ye Chen bowed to Chen Yi again.

She bowed out of gratitude. Chen Yi had already agreed, which meant that she would no longer have to return to the Purple Pill Sect, at least not after her death.

Chen Yi waved his hand, saying that such a favor was nothing to be proud of.

But this was different for Ye Chen. She looked at Chen Yi and suddenly said, "Patriarch Chen, you can consider what I'm about to say as my repayment. Besides me, there are three other people in the Chen family that my grandfather planted: one is a guard, the second is a maid in the courtyard, and the third is an old master in the medicine garden."

Chen Yi frowned suddenly, but quickly relaxed. Most of the Chen family members had left before, and they were now recruiting new people, including some sent by Ye Nan'an, which was not surprising.

It's even highly likely that among those recruited, there will be members of the Zhao family, or the Ning or Zhang families.

"When you get back, please tell Changqing about this and let him handle it. Also, thank you for informing me of this," Chen Yi said.

This was an unexpected bonus, making him even more vigilant. What he had promised was nothing compared to the importance of Ye Chen's news.

…………

The Chen family's home is only a little over a hundred miles away from the Zhao family's home; even if they walk slowly, it won't take much time.

Standing in front of the Zhao family's gate at this moment, Chen Yi finally understood the difference between the two families. The Zhao family had two Qi Refining Stage 4 cultivators guarding the gate, something that the Chen family could not do at the moment.

A figure hurried over from the inner courtyard of the Zhao family, not even bothering with his appearance, and laughed loudly from a distance: "Patriarch Chen, Miss Ye, I've finally been waiting for you! Hahaha, I'm so happy to see you two!"

The speaker was Zhao Dezhi, a Foundation Establishment cultivator from the Zhao family, who wore a ecstatic smile.

Chen Yi cupped his hands in greeting to Zhao Dezhi and said, "Brother Zhao, I've missed you terribly these past two days. I've brought some daily necessities with me, and I'm planning to stay at your house for a few more days so we can chat for a while longer."

Zhao Dezhi laughed a few more times, walked up to Chen Yi, cupped his hands and said, "To be honest, Patriarch Chen, my Zhao family has decided to take action against the Ning and Zhang families within ten days. Once the Zhao family has taken control of the Ning and Zhang families, we will become neighbors with the Chen family. In this way, we can have frequent exchanges, and the two families can rely on each other and grow stronger together."

Chen Yi's heart skipped a beat, and he immediately feigned ignorance, asking, "Given the Zhao family's foundation, and given that Brother Zhao has already entered the Foundation Establishment stage, why would you still value the meager possessions of the Ning and Zhang families?"

Zhao Dezhi scoffed inwardly, naturally looking down on the meager foundations of the Ning and Zhang families. However, he maintained a smile on his face and said, "The Zhao family is not as powerful as Patriarch Chen imagines. Moreover, annexing the Ning and Zhang families is a legacy of our ancestors, so we cannot let this opportunity slip by. But Patriarch Chen, rest assured, the Zhao family has absolutely no intention of coveting the Chen family. With the Zidan Sect as our backing, even if I had ten times the courage, I would not dare to have any improper thoughts about the Chen family."

Upon hearing this, Chen Yi smiled with narrowed eyes, and immediately decided in his mind, "To determine whether Zhao Dezhi's statement is true."

The next instant, the system displayed lines of messages.

[Analysis: Lie]

The Zhao family's plot against the Ning and Zhang families was to obtain the earth vein spirit pupa, and they also harbored the same intention of annexing the Chen family.

[At the confluence of the earth's veins lies the bottom of the largest spiritual spring between the medicinal gardens of the Chen, Ning, and Zhang families. Furthermore, the Zhao family has already explored the area; the bottom of the spring is riddled with interconnected caves, with the entrance located on a bluestone mountain beside the Ning family's medicinal garden. Members of the Zhao family frequently enter the caves through this entrance.]

According to Master Zhao Dezhi's calculations, the exact time it took for the earth vein spirit pupa to condense should be around nine months.

The Zhao family is determined to succeed; therefore, within nine months, they will undoubtedly create an opportunity to take action against the Chen family, aiming to completely control the Chen, Ning, and Zhang families.

After reading the system display, Chen Yi paused for a moment, then took out the Soul Protection Pill formula from his pocket and handed it to Zhao Dezhi.

"Brother Zhao, you gave me Qi-Nourishing Grass. In return, I can only give you the recipe for Soul-Protecting Pill. This pill is enough to protect the cultivator's soul from damage when breaking through a realm. I hope Brother Chen will not find it offensive."

Zhao Dezhi's expression hardened, and he subconsciously took the pill formula. He had never heard of the Soul Protection Pill, but if what Chen Yi said was true, then the preciousness of this pill formula was terrifying.

However, whether this formula is genuine can only be determined after testing. If it is genuine, it means that the Chen family must have obtained some kind of amazing opportunity.

"Brother Zhao, the pill formula has been delivered to you. I will now return to my family," Chen Yi said.

Zhao Dezhi was taken aback for a moment, then quickly said, "Patriarch Chen, didn't you just say you were going to stay at the Zhao family for a few more days? You've only just arrived, why are you leaving now?"

This question left Chen Yi speechless; he hadn't expected things to go so smoothly.

I arrived and received all the information I could possibly want; who would have thought?

After thinking for a moment, Chen Yi said, "I do wish to spend a few more days chatting with Brother Zhao at the Zhao family, but Sect Master Ye of the Zidan Sect may visit the Chen family in the next few days. Therefore, I can only wait at home. I hope Brother Zhao will understand."

Ye Chen nodded and said, "Grandpa sent someone to tell me that if he has free time, he will come to the Chen family to visit in the next few days."

Zhao Dezhi raised an eyebrow, then quickly said, "In that case, we must wait at home. It's a pity that we can't chat with Patriarch Chen for a few more days, but there's plenty of time in the future, so there's no need to rush."

…………

A few minutes later, watching Chen Yi and Ye Chen walk away, Zhao Dezhi frowned. He felt that Chen Yi's behavior was a little strange.

If you're leaving so soon, why bring luggage with you?

"Chen Yi may have genuinely intended to stay at the Zhao family's house for a few days, but due to some unforeseen circumstances, he no longer wanted to stay there."

Zhao Dezhi scoffed at the reason Chen Yi had just given. If he really knew that Ye Nan'an would be going to the Chen family in the next few days, then Chen Yi's arrival with his luggage would seem inexplicable.

"Is it because I said the Zhao family would take action against the Ning and Zhang families within ten days?"

Zhao Dezhi's heart skipped a beat, thinking that this was very likely the reason, but if that was the case, what good would it do for Chen Yi to rush back to the Chen family?

Could it be that the Chen family also wants to swallow up the Ning and Zhang families? The Chen family has just stabilized and, although they have the support of the Zidan Sect, there's no reason for them to be thinking of swallowing up the Ning and Zhang families when they don't even have enough manpower.

Moreover, after he said he would take action against the Ning and Zhang families within ten days, if Chen Yi dared to attack the Ning and Zhang families first, wouldn't that be going against the Zhao family?

Zhao Dezhi pondered deeply but couldn't come up with any reason why the Chen family was also eager to annex the Ning and Zhang families and was even preparing to oppose the Zhao family.

After pondering for a while, Zhao Dezhi got tired of analyzing it and instead looked at the prescription in his hand.

The most important thing right now is to test whether the pill formula in our hands is genuine. As for how to test it, that's simple: first, refine the pills, and then find a few cultivators who are about to break through the Qi Refining stage to try it out.

…………

On the way back to the Chen family, Ye Chen didn't ask Chen Yi why he suddenly returned. She understood the principle of not asking what shouldn't be asked.

Li Changqing was surprised to see the two return so suddenly. After Ye Chen left, he asked directly, "Didn't you say you might be staying at the Zhao family's house for a while? Why did you suddenly return?"

Chen Yi looked at Li Changqing and sighed, saying, "That was my original plan, but I started missing you as soon as I left the family. A day apart feels like three autumns, so I handed the pill formula to Zhao Dezhi and came back immediately."

Li Changqing: ……

She waved her hand and turned to leave, not intending to ask any more questions. After Chen Yi held her hand and put his arm around her waist last time, he became increasingly bold and would occasionally tease her with words.

This left her somewhat helpless. Everything else was fine, but as long as Chen Yi was shameless, she would find it difficult to deal with him.

"Don't rush off. I asked you to spread the word that the Zhao family wanted to join forces with us. What's the situation with the Ning and Zhang families now?" Chen Yi quickly became serious.

Li Changqing stopped and turned around, saying, "The Ning and Zhang families haven't made any moves yet, but according to some information we've received, the heads of the Ning and Zhang families seem to be preparing to risk everything to see if they can break through to the Foundation Establishment stage."

"It should be within the next day or two. The two family heads will likely choose to force a breakthrough. To be honest, a forced breakthrough will inevitably fail. Cultivation is not something that can be achieved smoothly just by fighting desperately."

After listening, Chen Yi frowned, thought for a moment, and said, "Zhao Dezhi has made it clear that he will take action against the Ning and Zhang families within ten days, so we must buy the Ning and Zhang families within ten days and spread this news to put some pressure on them."

Li Changqing nodded, considered for a moment, and said, "Aren't you afraid of offending the Zhao family by buying up the Ning and Zhang families?"

She wanted to take over the Ning and Zhang families, but it was a bit unreasonable that Chen Yi also attached so much importance to it.

Chen Yi chuckled twice and said, "Don't worry. With our plan, if the Ning and Zhang families sell their businesses to us willingly, the Zhao family won't have any reason to target us."

At this point, Chen Yi added, "Keep an eye on the Ning and Zhang families for the next few days, but there's something else I need to tell you."

He told Li Changqing about Ye Chen's matter, and also informed Li Changqing about the people Ye Nan'an had sent to his home.

Upon hearing this, Li Changqing said, "I had already suspected this. I was surprised that Ye Chen confessed everything to you."

Chen Yi nodded. Putting aside Li Changqing, he was still surprised, but as Ye Chen said, this was the only choice she could make in her life.

She couldn't change her fate, and the only choice she could make was to choose a place outside the Purple Pill Sect to rest in peace.

…………

Two days later, Ning Zhenshan and Zhang He sat facing each other in silence.

The two were deathly pale, and their auras were clearly weak; they were far inferior even to those at the first level of Qi Refining.

"We've exhausted everything, but in the end, we still couldn't defy fate. Now that things have come to this, Brother Zhang, what are your plans?" Ning Zhenshan asked with a bitter smile.

Zhang He sighed. He and Ning Zhenshan had recently attempted to break through to a higher level, but both had failed. As a result, both families were now in dire straits.

After sighing, Zhang He said decisively, "We no longer have the right to plan. We'll sell the family business to the Chen family and then leave."

This is the only option, and the best option.

Ning Zhenshan remained silent for a long time before finally nodding, his face filled with a sense of desolation.

Not long ago, he wanted to swallow up the Chen family, but now, he has to sell his family business to the Chen family himself.

The world is ever-changing; who can predict what will happen?

"To avoid any unforeseen complications, let's order the packing now, and then head to the Chen family's residence," Ning Zhenshan said.

Selling the family business to the Chen family must be done quickly, otherwise if the Zhao family finds out, and Zhao Dezhi, a Foundation Establishment cultivator, comes to kill them, the Ning and Zhang families will surely suffer the fate of destruction and death.

With this in mind, the two set off together, and in less than half an hour, they were already standing in front of the Chen family's gate.