After Chang Ying left Ye Feng in her room, she made her way to Ye Guo's study.
"KNOCK, KNOCK."
"ENTER."
Chang Ying stepped into Ye Gou's study and walked towards him while smiling at him.
She sat on his lap, and the two started kissing each other passionately.
Cheng Ying leaned on Ye Guo's chest and said in a gentle voice yet filled with pride.
"Feng'er wishes to learn how to read and write, Lord Husband."
Ye Guo's eyes brightened with genuine delight when he heard this. "He does?"
A pleased smile formed on his lips. "Our son is already showing a great promise… I am very proud of him."
He then turned his gaze toward his personal maid standing. "Go and summon Elder Yun. Tell him I have a personal matter I want to discuss with him."
The maid quickly bowed respectfully to Ye Guo., "As you wish, my lord." She quickly turned around and exited Ye Guo's study.
After about ten minutes, Elder Yun arrived and bowed respectfully. Ye Guo wasted no time and explained that Ye Feng wished to learn how to read and write. Elder Yun's brows rose slightly in surprise—such a request from a child so young was uncommon.
Seeing his reaction, Ye Guo smiled and continued, "I want the best scholar in our city to guide my son. Feng'er is eager to learn, and I wish to nurture that."
Elder Yun's surprise gradually shifted into admiration. He nodded with a pleased expression. "Patriarch, rest assured," he said respectfully. "I will personally seek out the finest tutor for the Fifth Young Master."
Ye Guo's smile deepened. "Thank you, my friend. This means a great deal to me."
Elder Yun stood up, cupped his fist politely, and left the room to carry out Ye Guo's request.
__________
Next Day
The next morning, the scholar that Elder Yun had hired arrived at the Ye Clan mansion. The man was elderly, with a long, flowing gray beard and hair to match. Deep wrinkles lined his face, each one seeming to mark the years of experience he carried. Though he appeared to be around eighty years old, his posture remained straight, and his steps were steady, revealing a vitality that belied his age.
This name was Chu De.
He was known as the finest scholar in all of Azure City—respected not only within the city walls, but throughout the entire Hidden Dragon Kingdom. Many young people traveled great distances just to receive his guidance, and many of the kingdom's most accomplished officials had once been his students. His reputation was not built on noble lineage or political influence, but on true skill, patience, and an unwavering dedication to education.
For such a figure to personally come to teach a child of the Ye Clan spoke volumes for his own reputation.
It took Ye Feng only three months to learn how to read and write under Chu De's guidance. The old scholar had taught countless students throughout his long life, but none had ever progressed as quickly as Ye Feng. Each day, as the lessons continued, Chu De's astonishment only grew. He soon became firmly convinced—Ye Feng was a true prodigy, a talent that appeared once in a hundred years. To him, it was a source of honor and pride that such a child called him Teacher.
During those three months, Ye Feng's routine became disciplined and unwavering. Every morning, he sat attentively before Chu De, practicing characters, reciting phrases, and refining his handwriting stroke by stroke. Then, once the lessons ended, he would return to the quiet room Cheng Ying had prepared for him and immerse himself in cultivation, drawing in the warm Saint Energy with tireless determination.
He rarely wandered outside and spent little time in leisure. The only moments he shared with his family were during meals, where he would quietly sit among them, speaking little but always observing and listening.
__________
Three Months Later
In the early morning, Ye Feng was summoned to his father's study. Standing before the heavy wooden door, he raised his small hand and knocked gently.
"KNOCK. KNOCK."
"Come in," Ye Guo's deep voice responded from within.
Ye Feng pushed the door open and stepped inside. The study was filled with scrolls and books, sunlight streaming through the window and glinting off the polished wooden shelves. Behind his desk sat Ye Guo, the Patriarch of the Ye Clan—dignified and calm. When his eyes landed on his son, his stern expression softened into a warm smile.
"Good to see you, son. How are you doing today?" he asked.
Ye Feng bowed respectfully, returning his father's smile. "Your child is doing well, Father."
Ye Guo nodded, clearly pleased. "Mm. I called you here today because your recent efforts deserve recognition. You learned how to read and write in just three months…" A hint of pride shone in his eyes. "Your talent is exceptional. You have worked hard, and your father should reward you."
He leaned forward slightly, his tone gentle yet dignified.
"Tell me, Feng'er—what is it that you desire?"
Ye Feng's eyes lit up with joy, and he answered without hesitation, "I would like permission to access the library, Father."
Ye Guo paused, studying his son carefully before giving a slow nod. "Very well. I will grant you access. However—" his tone grew stern, "—your access will be limited. You are only permitted to read the books I approve. If the guards see you reading anything outside that list, they are to remove you immediately. And if such a thing happens…" Ye Guo's gaze sharpened, his voice carrying a weight that allowed no doubt, "I will punish you severely. Do I make myself clear?"
Ye Feng nodded respectfully. "I understand, Father. I will only read the books you allow."
Hearing this, Ye Guo's expression softened, and a faint smile formed. "Good. You may leave now the elder who is responsible for our library will let you know the books you are allowed to read you may leave now Feng'er."
Ye Feng bowed respectfully to Ye Gou, turned and left the study, his steps light with excitement as he made his way toward the library.
__________
In the way to the library
Ye Feng made his way toward the Ye clan library. After about five minutes of walking, he arrived before a towering silver-colored pagoda. The structure was enormous, so massive that Ye Feng felt as small as an ant standing before it. Two guards clad in green armor stood stationed at the entrance, each with a sword hanging at their waist.
Above the grand gate hung a large board with the words "Book Pavilion" inscribed in elegant, flowing calligraphy—each stroke carrying strength and grace.
Ye Feng took a quiet breath and stepped forward.
The guards glanced at him but did not stop him, allowing him to pass through the gate and enter the book pavilion pagoda.
_______
Inside the Book Pavilion
After stepping into the Book Pavilion, Ye Feng immediately noticed an old man seated near the entrance. The man wore a simple brown robe, and his long gray beard matched the gray hair that flowed down his back. His face was covered in deep wrinkles, yet his emerald-green eyes were sharp and full of life.
When the old man saw Ye Feng, a gentle smile appeared on his face.
"Welcome, Fifth Young Master," he greeted warmly.
Ye Feng politely cupped his fist and returned the smile to the old man.
"Fifth Young Master, according to our patriarch instructions you are only permitted to read the books on that shelf," the old man said, raising his hand and pointing toward a bookshelf located in the far left corner.
Ye Feng nodded without any complaints, he thanked the old man and he walked over to the designated shelf.
He began browsing through the collection in the bookshelf, his eyes scanned the titles, one particular book caught his attention and made him smile slightly.
"Cultivation in the Tian Yuan Continent."
Without hesitation, Ye Feng reached out, took the book from the shelf, took a seat near the window, and carefully opened it, eager to begin reading.
"The human race primarily cultivates Saint Energy in Tian Yuan Continent. The Saint Energy can be used in many ways, such as strengthening the body and enhancing attacks. Additionally, humans can refine it through various cultivation methods, each producing different results."
"After a cultivator reaches the Tenth Layer of Saint Force, their Saint Energy has reached a level of purity and density that can no longer be stored loosely. At this stage, the cultivator will begin the process of condensing all of their Saint Energy into a single, tangible form known as a Saint Weapon."
"This weapon can be anything—a sword, spear, bow, halberd, staff, or even something more unique—its shape is influenced by the cultivator's personality, comprehension, and battle instincts."
"Once formed, the Saint Weapon becomes the true core of the cultivator's strength. Even when the weapon is not physically manifested, it resides within the cultivator's body, circulating and releasing Saint Force continuously."
"Some Saint Weapons possessed unique attributes, which are Earth, Wind, Water, Fire, Light, and Dark. Light and Dark were rarely seen among these elements, yet their power was unparalleled."
"On the Tian Yuan Continent, the light element was renowned for its unparalleled healing power. Those who wielded saint weapons imbued with the light attribute earned the revered title of "Immortals." On the battlefield, they could effortlessly mend any injuries, recovering from wounds that would fell ordinary warriors. Unless struck down in a single, decisive blow, they were virtually impossible to defeat."
"The Dark elements Saint weapon are feared for their corrosive nature. While troublesome to master, wielders of dark attributes were highly sought after. Under the veil of night, they moved freely, striking or vanishing at will, earning the title of Night Lords—rulers of the darkness that obeyed their command."
"The remaining four attributes each had their own unique strengths. An individual's power depended on both their ability and judgment. On the Tian Yuan continent, however, only one in ten people wielded a saint weapon with an elemental attribute. On the battlefield, those who did were often far more formidable than those who did not."
"If a Saint Weapon is ever shattered, the cultivator's foundation suffers severe damage—sometimes permanently they could end up crippled or die."
"Conversely, as the cultivator's power expands, their Saint Weapon evolves, becoming sharper, harder, and more radiant."
"Once a cultivator reached the peak of the 10th Layer of Saint Force, their Saint Energy would have already reached its limit. The basic breathing exercise could no longer refine or increase their strength. To step into the Saint realm, they needed to undergo a fundamental transformation — the condensation of a Saint Weapon."
"This step was impossible to achieve with breathing techniques alone."
"The breathing exercise merely drew Saint Energy into the body. But to condense a Saint Weapon, one needed a true cultivation method — a technique that refined, purified, and shaped the Saint Energy into a tangible form. Only such methods possessed the guiding formulae, the routes of circulation, and the spiritual imprints necessary to forge the weapon."
"Without a proper cultivation method, even someone with boundless talent
would remain forever stuck at the 9th Layer."
Ye Feng was astonished when he read this part he never thought cultivation could be this complex.
After taking a deep breath he continued reading.
"Only when cultivator broke through into the Saint realm do his cultivation journey truly begin."
"In Tian Yuan Continent the known cultivation realms are Saint, Great Saint, Saint Master, Great Saint Master, Earth Saint Master, Heaven Saint Master, Saint Ruler, Saint King, and Saint Emperor."
"There are legends that there are realms exists above the Saint Emperor but there are no records that prove this claim."
Ye Feng heartbeat faster when he read this passage.
'I wonder if the legend is true.'
"Countless cultivation methods exist, but major sects and clans guard them closely. It's nearly impossible to obtain one without the right connections."
"However, martial skills is way rarer to find than than the cultivation methods it considered priceless treasure in Tian Yuan Continent."
Ye Feng continued reading the book and after he finished reading it he close the book and started contemplating about everything he just read.
'The outside world is very interesting one day I must travel and see the outside world.'
Ye Feng looked at the cover of the book while wearing a big smile on his face.He then stood up and returned the book to the shelf.
Ye Feng then started browsing for anything interesting on the shelf and found a book with the title "Introduction to the Tian Yuan Continent."
He picked up and took a seat to start reading it.
"The Tian Yuan Continent is a vast continent with a land mass of a few dozen million kilometres."
"The Tian Yuan Continent It is home to the human race and its experts. This land is a place of both peace and carnage, with many areas filled with brutal infighting and war-torn locations. Technically, the Tian Yuan Continent has an astoundingly large population, with an even higher mortality rate for cultivators."
"In the Tian Yuan continent, the saints are classified into 8 different levels: saint, saint master, great saint master, earth saint master, heaven saint master, saint ruler, saint king, and saint emperor. Within each of the levels, they are further separated into 3 levels: lower, middle, and upper."
"The Tian Yuan continent, on the other hand, had a very prominent profession called mercenary. The Tian Yuan continent had many mercenaries. These mercenaries would complete a variety of tasks for money, but many would enter the Mountain Range of Magical Beasts to hunt monsters and sell the monster cores for money."
"Although the dangers were great, the rewards were just as generous due to the continent's high value for monster cores. The higher grade a monster core was, the more expensive it was. Money alone could not purchase some high-ranking monster cores."
"Monster cores were one of the continent's most sought-after items. Humans could absorb a large amount of pure energy from the center of a monster core to accelerate their cultivation speed. Ultimately, absorbing the energy from a monster core was faster than trying to absorb the world essence into one's body. However, using the monster cores to increase the cultivation speed wasn't a method the general populace could do without having plenty of money."
"Using a monster core to cultivate really did increase the cultivation rate by many times. Normally, when cultivating, one must slowly absorb the world essence before converting it into their own energy, a process that pales in comparison to the speed of a monster core. The natural Qi couldn't compare to the pure soul energy of a monster core; after all, the soul of a monster core was the purest part of the beast. Using the energy from a monster core, the speed of cultivation would increase by 10 times. For this reason, monster cores were extremely expensive, even if they were only a Class 1 monster core. The average person using the Magical Stone to cultivate would normally only increase the cultivation rate by two or three times. Even with a slight increase in power, the person's cultivation rate would only increase by six or seven times."
"On the Tian Yuan Continent, there are numerous countries of varying sizes and even more cities of all sizes."
"A city ruler ruled each of the largest cities, known as the capitals, which stretched over countless miles. Each ruler was also in charge of several to ten million guardian soldiers."
"However, a single strong empire controlled three of the seven capitals within the entire Tian Yuan Continent. Among the strongest empires were the Karl Empire and the Felicity Empire, both of which controlled two capitals each. It was the Holy Empire that controlled the first three capitals."
"King cities, located beneath the capitals, were significantly smaller than the capitals. Practically every kingdom had at the very least one king city, and each king city had a million guardian soldiers."
"The First Class Cities, which had 800,000 guardian soldiers, were located under the King Cities. The second-class cities had 400,000 guardian soldiers each. Under the Second Class Cities, there were a variety of villages, each with its own guardian soldiers, although their numbers did not exceed 50,000. Their strength and numbers also varied significantly."
"Throughout the Tian Yuan Continent, there are numerous small kingdoms that rule over mortals. They are usually led by kings with imperial advisors at Heaven Saint Master level, such as Zhuya Kingdom, Heavenly Eagle Kingdom, Dazhou Kingdom, and many other kingdoms."
After finishing the book, Ye Feng carefully slid it back into its place on the shelf. He stepped out of the Book Pavilion, the ancient wooden doors closing quietly behind him. As he walked down the stone path, his thoughts lingered on what he had just read.
"Interesting, I need to read more about the Tian Yuan continent."
Ye Feng returned to his room and gently closed the door behind him.
He sat cross-legged on the floor, his posture straight and calm. Slowly, he closed his eyes and began guiding his breath, circulating it according to the breathing exercise Chang Ying had taught him.
As he inhaled, the world essence in the surrounding air gently flowed toward him, absorbing it and nurturing his growing Saint Energy.