Chapter 533: The Cao Family's Troubles

"What did you say? Ye Yuan is Ren Xingchun's grandson?"

Over the past two days, the news that Ye Yuan was Ren Xingchun's grandson slowly fermented in Wufang City, and the Cao family was naturally among the first to learn of it.

Upon hearing this news, Cao Zheng's face was full of terror.

To him, this news was like a bolt from the blue.

Cao Zheng had long witnessed how monstrous Ye Yuan was.

His performance on the Thousand Questions Wall had filled Cao Zheng with dread.

Originally, Ren Xingchun had fallen out with Ye Yuan in the Linlang Pavilion, which secretly delighted Cao Zheng. Who would have thought the situation would suddenly change? The Ren family suddenly spread word that Ye Yuan had become Ren Xingchun's grandson!

Although Ye Yuan's cultivation level was not high, he was an extremely troublesome character. Not only was his alchemy knowledge terrifying, but he also had the support of the Three Sects and the Seven Seas, making him unshakable.

Such a figure becoming a member of the Ren family was nothing short of a catastrophe for the Cao family!

The Cao family's greatest confidence and reliance was the Thousand Questions Wall, but this confidence was fragile before Ye Yuan.

If Ye Yuan were not a member of the Ren family, for the overall benefit of Wufang City, Ren Xingchun would have had to stand on the Cao family's side.

But with Ye Yuan becoming a member of the Ren family, the situation was completely different.

With Ye Yuan's alchemy knowledge, he could directly challenge the seventh level of the Thousand Questions Wall. Even if he failed, as long as his performance was sufficiently extraordinary, he could push the Ren family's prestige to another peak.

At that point, the Ren family would no longer need to rely on the Cao family's prestige.

Because Ye Yuan himself was another Thousand Questions Wall!

Ren Xingchun had long regarded the Cao family as a thorn in his side. With Ye Yuan, a living Thousand Questions Wall, he would not miss the opportunity to suppress the Cao family!

"Yes, the news has been confirmed! Back then, Ren Xingchun's youngest daughter eloped with a minor alchemist to the Southern Domain, and in a mortal kingdom, she gave birth to a boy—that boy is Ye Yuan!"

The speaker was Cao Zheng's eldest son, Cao Kun, who was already a初级丹皇 (junior alchemy emperor) expert.

Unlike Cao Fang, who was completely suppressed by Ren Dong, Cao Kun was the elite of the Cao family's second generation, unmatched in the entire city!

Besides Cao Kun, the Cao family had several other sons, all of whom were alchemy kings.

Compared to Ren Yujie, they were far superior!

These sons of Cao Zheng were the ones Ren Xingchun feared most. Especially Cao Kun, who had the potential to reach the peak of alchemy emperor in the future.

As long as the Cao family produced another peak alchemy emperor, their decline would gradually reverse.

Over the years, Cao Zheng had been biding his time, waiting for Cao Kun's rise.

But Ye Yuan's appearance completely shattered his plans.

Cao Zheng took a deep breath, furrowed his brow, and sat back down in his seat.

This news was too shocking; he was caught off guard.

"Any other news?"

Cao Kun's expression was also grim. He said, "There are also some rumors from the city lord's mansion, though their authenticity is uncertain."

"Speak!"

"It is said that Ren Xingchun will make a city-wide announcement in two days about a major event! Although the specifics are unknown, it is likely related to Ye Yuan."

Cao Zheng felt a headache coming on. Originally, all the momentum in Wufang City had been gradually tilting toward the Cao family.

But Ye Yuan's appearance had completely reversed the situation.

After a long silence, Cao Zheng looked at his son and asked, "What do you think... exactly how strong is Ye Yuan? I mean... on the Thousand Questions Wall!"

Although Cao Kun had not been present on the day Ye Yuan challenged the Thousand Questions Wall, he had carefully studied Ye Yuan's answers afterward and found them enlightening.

As a member of the Cao family, the most important thing was to study the Thousand Questions Wall.

As an alchemy emperor, Cao Kun was well-versed in the questions on the seventh level of the Thousand Questions Wall.

Ye Yuan's answers made him feel inferior.

This young man was too strong!

Cao Kun pondered for a moment, then shook his head with a bitter smile. "I really can't estimate it! Although Ye Yuan only answered twenty questions, he answered them directly, almost without any time to think! More importantly, all his answers were flawless, with no faults to be found! This shows that these twenty questions were very simple for him. As for his true limit, probably no one knows. Unless..."

Cao Kun did not finish, but Cao Zheng understood his meaning.

Unless Ye Yuan continued to challenge the previous questions, no one would know his limit!

The seventh level of the Thousand Questions Wall was almost like a totem. Although these twenty questions were the lowest-ranked on the seventh level, their difficulty already represented the peak of the Boundless Realm.

But even these peak-level questions were like child's play to Ye Yuan, with no difficulty at all.

So where exactly was Ye Yuan's limit? No one knew.

But the question was, would the Cao family dare to let Ye Yuan continue challenging?

When the mysterious veil of the sacred land was lifted layer by layer, it could no longer be called a sacred land.

After a long time, Cao Zheng sighed and said, "The Cao family has lasted for thousands of years, experiencing several rises and falls, but we have always pulled through. In these past decades, the Cao family has been suppressed by the Ren family, and I have never given up. But now, alas... You may leave now. Let me think things over..."

Seeing Cao Zheng's expression, Cao Kun's face also darkened.

He had worked hard over the years to surpass the Ren family, but now, because of a Sea Transformation realm youth, it had all turned to dust. This filled him with intense unwillingness.

But what could he do even if he was unwilling?

Cao Zheng's thoughts were clear to Cao Kun: he was thinking about how to ensure the Cao family's survival!

Was a family that had been passed down for thousands of years about to face extinction?

...

At the city lord's mansion, Ren Yujie was visiting Ren Hongling's residence.

Ren Yujie said with a smile, "Hongling, you and your husband have been wandering outside all these years; you must have suffered a lot! Now that Father has finally come around, our family can finally sit down and have a good talk."

But Ren Hongling said discontentedly, "What do you mean 'come around'? If it weren't for Yuan'er, how could he have 'come around'? Besides, my husband and I have long regarded the Qin Kingdom as our home. Where is the suffering?"

Ren Yujie was a good-natured person. Hearing Ren Hongling still full of resentment, he felt a bit awkward.

Ye Hang had to step in to smooth things over. "Hongling, although our family has gone through many twists and turns, it's now a happy ending. Let the past be the past."

In truth, how could Ye Hang not harbor resentment?

But Ye Hang was naturally open-minded and magnanimous; he had long let go of everything.

In Ye Hang's heart, now that Ye Yuan had achieved great things and Ren Hongling could return to the Ren family, he had no more worries.

As for the past, there was nothing he couldn't let go of.