Cultivation begins with planting techniques

The Zhong family's study.

"Has your wife been behaving herself lately?"

Zhong Shan, the head of the Zhong family, looked at his son sitting in front of him and asked calmly.

Zhong Ping said, "Liu'er has become increasingly obedient in recent years, so she is naturally honest... Didn't she hand me the letter from the Lin family earlier and write back to refuse her father's request to intercede?"

His words suggested that he was quite satisfied with the woman he had married.

It can be seen that a son is nothing like a father.

Zhong Shan looked at him and could see a hint of suppressed displeasure on his face.

They just had reservations and dared not say it aloud.

The middle-aged man, in his prime, with jet-black hair and a dignified air, spoke in a deep voice:
"So you know that Li Ye has already broken through to the Innate Realm?"

Zhong Ping suddenly looked up, forcing himself to remain calm, and said, "I only just received the news myself..."

"Humph!"

Zhong Shan snorted coldly, "Since you know, from now on, you'd better keep all those random thoughts to yourself and treat Lin Hanliu better!"

"Back then, you sent Zhong Jie and Zhong Hui to cause him trouble. It's fortunate that they died mysteriously, otherwise they would probably be facing retribution by now!"

"If that person doesn't come to the Zhong family to demand an explanation, fine. But if they use this as an excuse to make trouble, you'll have no choice but to go out and apologize!"

"Whether you live or die then, the ancestor may not care!"

Hearing his father's string of words, Zhong Ping's face turned pale and then red.

"I understand!"

He never imagined that he, who had once considered that even if he joined the Heavenly Sword Sect, he would be nothing more than a rogue cultivator with no background who could be easily manipulated by the Zhong family, would become a Xiantian cultivator in such a short time.

Now he could be thrown out by his father at any moment to appease Li Ye's anger!

It's all that Lin Hanliu's fault, that fickle and promiscuous slut!

Zhong Ping cursed inwardly, but felt even more annoyed.

In the past two years, Lin Hanliu has become increasingly obedient, even disregarding the Lin family, and has completely become like a member of the Zhong family.

He had come to accept the woman and no longer dwelled on the rumors he had heard.

However, with the recent news that Li Ye had advanced to the Innate Realm at the age of twenty-two, surpassing even Cheng Linjue, the leader of the sect's sword dueling competition, the old story he had heard resurfaced both around him and in his own mind.

Whether it was jealousy, anger, or an even stronger sense of fear, Lin Hanliu seemed "dirty" to him again.

In the past, he would have taught the woman a lesson long ago, but now he can't even touch her because of Lin Hanliu's connection with Li Ye.

They must be treated well and not be beaten or scolded in the slightest.

He no longer had any intention of touching his nominal wife!
However, he was unaware of this.

In his father Zhong Shan's opinion, if Lin Hanliu and Li Ye really had an affair back then, as long as the grudge caused by his son's previous foolishness could be wiped clean, it would be fine to give this woman to this promising innate talent.

It might even help the Zhong family establish a connection with Li Ye!

Just then, the butler rushed over and called softly from outside the door.

"Homeowner!"

The Zhong father and son both frowned.

Zhong Shan said in a deep voice, "Go!"

The butler pushed open the door and quickly approached Zhong Shan, presenting him with a letter bearing a unique mark.

And he said in a solemn tone:
"Patriarch! A letter has arrived from Deacon Li of the Heavenly Sword Sect!"

The Zhong father and son both paled simultaneously. Zhong Shan looked at the mark on the letter, which faintly revealed the aura of the innate level, and his expression became solemn.

He took the letter, hesitated for a moment, and then opened it.

As he read the contents of the letter, Zhong Shan's expression changed repeatedly, growing increasingly gloomy.

This made Zhong Ping, who was sitting opposite him, and the butler waiting beside him quite uneasy.

But as he read on, Zhong Shan suddenly put the letter away and stood up as if relieved.

"father?"

Zhong Ping couldn't hold back any longer and got up as well.

"The matters in the letter need to be reviewed by the Ancestor..."

Zhong Shan gave a brief explanation, then suddenly stopped and turned around to glare at his son.
“Treat Lin Hanliu well. If word gets out that you have mistreated her again, your father won’t be able to protect you!”

Having said that, he ignored his son's stunned and belatedly pale expression, carefully put the letter away, and left the study.

They hurried toward the place where the ancestor had gone into seclusion.

………………

Heavenly Sword Sect, Spirit Herb Garden.

After reading the letter from the Lin family, Li Ye casually put it down.

On the table in front of him, the Zhong family's reply lay quietly.

Just as he expected.

The title of being born at the age of twenty-two was quite impressive. With just a letter, without much effort, he persuaded the patriarch of the Zhong family.

The Zhong family has now abandoned its encroachment on the Lin family and returned the property it had previously occupied.

Although some spiritual resources and food supplies were not returned, they were reunited with the Lin family to support them in dealing with the covetous eyes of other families.

At the same time, news spread that Li Ye had stood up for the Lin family and negotiated with the Zhong family.

As a result of these two factors combined, those families also began to restrain themselves.

The Lin family's previously nearly chaotic situation changed almost overnight, and other families seemed to suddenly become more friendly.

In his letter, Lin Hongzhi almost prostrated himself in gratitude, stating that the Lin family would go through fire and water for Li Ye should he ever need them.

Li Ye smiled. "This is one of the reasons why I have to join the Heavenly Sword Sect..."

Without even taking action himself, or even showing his face, he easily changed the predicament faced by a primordial family.

A cultivator with innate cultivation level is of great importance to families that often only have one innate ancestor.

However, if it were a member of a family with a high-level innate ability, breaking through to the innate level at the tender age of twenty-two, the surrounding families would be eager to kill such a person.

How could anyone possibly hold him in high esteem?
However, since Li Ye, as a disciple of a major sect like the Heavenly Sword Sect, has displayed such talent, when he interferes in the affairs between the innate families, they can only consider it carefully and dare not refuse easily.

After all, no one knows whether he, who was already at the Innate Realm at the age of twenty-two, will be able to reach the Yuan Dan Realm under the protection and cultivation conditions of the Heavenly Sword Sect, or at what age he will achieve it!
He may have just broken through and is not yet considered powerful.

But no one can say for sure how far he will go in the future.

If he advances to the Yuan Dan realm and remembers which family disobeyed his demands back then, wouldn't settling scores with them plunge the entire family into crisis?

Even without the Yuan Dan, reaching the late stage of the Xiantian realm would be quite a challenge.

To some extent, these families compromised for Li Ye's potential.

However, if word gets out that he's meddling in the trivial matters of the innate families, it won't just cause unpleasantness with the innate stewards of these families within the sect; it might also displease the Yuan Dan Elder, causing him to miss some opportunities.

However, on the other hand, he has his own ways of gaining the sect's support, and he certainly doesn't lack a Yuan Dan elder as his master. (End of Chapter)