### Chapter 20: The Family Head Arrives
Back at the Ye family's shop, Ye Jingcheng's days returned to being filled with continuous pill refining.
As for the treasure map, Ye Jingcheng casually discarded it.
Influenced by his elders, he naturally didn't believe in such a thing as a real treasure map.
Nor did he believe that it would be given to him so cheaply.
This time, Ye Jingcheng was refining the Qi Restoration Pills.
According to his uncle Ye Xinghe, he had already made enough Blood Qi Pills, and now it was time for Qi Restoration Pills.
Using a three-eared pill furnace, though one ear was missing, Ye Jingcheng needed to be more mindful of balancing the furnace during the refining process.
After some summarization and deduction, Ye Jingcheng finally began heating the furnace to refine the pills.
However, unlike the smooth process of making Blood Qi Pills, the first batch of Qi Restoration Pills failed due to the involvement of more spiritual herbs and the higher attention to detail required.
Ye Jingcheng wasn't discouraged; pill refining is a profound art, and failure is normal. If one always succeeds, that would be abnormal.
After summarizing and confirming there were no issues, Ye Jingcheng continued refining.
However, the second batch also failed.
It wasn't until the third batch that he succeeded.
In the following days, Ye Jingcheng continued refining pills.
He rarely even left his chamber. Unlike the Blood Qi Pills, which offered no benefits for pill refining, both Ye Jingcheng and the Red Flame Fox could use the Qi Restoration Pills to recover their spiritual energy.
Once their spiritual energy was restored, they could resume refining pills.
Previously, he could only manage four batches in two days, but now he could do five.
As he continued, he became more skilled, increasing the number of successful pills from two to five, then to seven or eight!
Ten days later, the four of them gathered again in the shop.
This time, Ye Xinghe was even calmer, his eyes filled with confidence.
Ye Xingyu, on the other hand, appeared more exhausted, making him look even more melancholic than usual.
Ye Jingli and Ye Jingyun were the same.
Their refining results were similar to before, their eyes still filled with worry.
As for Ye Jingcheng, his expression was full of vigor. With less focus on fire control, refining pills became easier for him, and his results improved significantly.
As usual, Ye Xinghe asked the four to report their progress.
The other three had results that were not much different from before.
Then Ye Jingcheng spoke:
"Uncle, this time I refined 130 Qi Restoration Pills!"
The other three and Ye Xinghe found it hard to believe, as this was a new first-tier middle-grade pill.
The key was the sheer number of pills.
"I refined a few more batches, and these Qi Restoration Pills are useful for both me and Xiao Yan to recover spiritual energy!" Ye Jingcheng didn't elaborate much, as the facts were clear.
Saying too much might make it seem like he was trying to cover up something.
"Good!" Ye Xinghe was also excited.
"This time, the order is guaranteed. Jingcheng, focus on refining Detoxification Pills next!"
"I will arrange for cultivators to buy these pills from the Li family's shop as well, to see if they will sell. Also, Xinghong, we will raise the price of these pills by two spirit stones, one of which will cover the price difference!"
"Rumors are spreading in the market that our Ye family has no pill masters and can't produce pills, potentially leading to a huge compensation for breaching contracts. Let them think what they want!" Ye Xinghe smiled slightly.
"If they want to manipulate the market, we will fully cooperate with them!"
Hearing this, everyone else breathed a sigh of relief, with faint smiles on their faces.
"Brother, there's more good news. The spiritual beasts in the inner courtyard, which were in poor condition for various reasons, have recently been doing much better, becoming more lively!" Ye Xinghong added.
Hearing this, everyone else reacted.
Indeed, those spiritual beasts were in much better condition. At night, they would even roar occasionally, which could increase their value when sold.
The Ye family's main business was spiritual beasts.
Selling more spiritual beasts would increase their annual income, which was a good thing. They hadn't noticed before and thought that Ye Xinghong had given them some kind of pill.
Now it seemed like the beasts had recovered on their own.
At this moment, Ye Xinghe was also surprised and asked Ye Xinghong for details but still couldn't get an explanation.
However, Ye Jingcheng keenly noticed that Ye Xinghe glanced at him more than once, with a look of satisfaction in his eyes.
It felt as if everything had already been seen through.
The earlier questioning seemed more like a cover-up.
A thought in his mind became even more certain.
After instructing Ye Xinghong to keep an eye on things, Ye Xinghe didn't say much more but encouraged them a bit and mentioned that he would host a banquet at the Mo family's restaurant at the end of the month to celebrate the achievements of the four.
He also gave the four half a day to explore the market and relax, giving the three families a sense of urgency.
This time, Ye Jingli accompanied Ye Jingcheng, and the latter casually asked if the spiritual beasts' improvement was due to the pills he had refined.
Ye Jingcheng quickly shook his head, stating that he had been refining pills the entire time.
He had refined more than twenty batches.
Ye Jingli nodded, but the curiosity in his eyes remained as he continued to follow Ye Jingcheng around.
After a round of shopping, they finally returned to the shop.
This time, Ye Jingcheng purchased some spiritual herbs. These herbs were also part of the mysterious pill formula, and although he already had some, it was better to be prepared.
Ye Jingli bought some materials for refining tools, making the trip worthwhile.
…
In Ye Xinghe's room, an antique incense burner continuously burned sandalwood.
Ye Xinghe sat in the secondary seat, while Ye Xingliu sat in the main seat beside him.
"Brother, what are the chances that the other three families will take action?" Ye Xingliu asked first.
"80%. Given the current situation, the Taiyi Sect is busy with its own affairs and won't bother with our foundation-establishing family. If they dare to secretly sabotage our Ye family's business, they are ready for a fight to the death!" Ye Xinghe's eyes gleamed, showing a hint of killing intent.
"However, their tactics this time are not very clever; they may have other schemes!"
"It's as if they're trying to give us spirit stones!"
"That's why I secretly called you here. If they pull any tricks during the transaction, you can catch them off guard!" Ye Xinghe said.
In front of Ye Jingcheng and the others, he was full of confidence, but as the head of a family, he had too many things to consider!
In this world where one mistake can lead to total defeat, he had to be careful with every step.
Ye Xingliu nodded. The two said no more but instead silently took out some spiritual tea and drank it.
After a cup of spiritual tea, both leaned back in their chairs, closing their eyes slightly.
[translator: sauron]
In the next moment, Ye Xingliu suddenly cast a spell, causing the incense burner in front of him to emit a stronger fragrance, with smoke swirling around the room, lingering for a long time.
It made everything look hazy.
This was a forbidden incense, used to suppress spiritual senses from probing.
"How is Jingcheng?" Ye Xingliu asked softly.
"Excellent!" Ye Xinghe replied.
"Then after the auction, let's begin Jingcheng's trial!"
"Agreed!"
…
Another ten days passed, and Ye Jingcheng took out all the pill bottles, lined them up, and exhaled deeply!
Previously, he had made a hundred Detoxification Pills!
Although Detoxification Pills are cheaper than Qi Restoration Pills, they are no easier to refine!
"Xiao Yan, you can rest for a while now!" Ye Jingcheng put away the pill bottles and stroked the Red Flame Fox's fur.
The Red Flame Fox chirped twice, then closed its eyes, enjoying the spiritual light that Ye Jingcheng transmitted from the treasured book!
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**(End of Chapter)**