He fell off a cliff but unexpectedly gained a cultivation inheritance.

The roar of the engine echoed smoothly along the mountain asphalt road. Zhang Bufan gripped the steering wheel with one hand, his fingertips lightly resting on the leather handle, his expression calm. The spiritual power of a Foundation Establishment cultivator already covered a radius of a hundred meters around him; road conditions, traffic, and even the insects scurrying in the roadside grass were clearly reflected in his mind. Without needing to consciously monitor the road, his spiritual power could accurately predict the curvature of every bend and the undulations of every section of the road. The car, as if possessed, smoothly navigated the winding mountain road without a single unnecessary bump.

Ye Qingxue sat in the passenger seat, turning her head to look at the rapidly receding mountains and forests outside the window, her fingertips unconsciously stroking the marriage certificate on her lap. The afterglow of the setting sun shone through the car window onto her profile, gilding her already delicate features with a warm golden hue. Tension and anticipation intertwined in her eyes. Occasionally, she would turn her head to look at Zhang Bufan, who was focused on driving. Seeing his calm and composed demeanor, her unease would dissipate somewhat.

"No need to rush. In my current state, I'll be much faster than the navigation estimates." Zhang Bufan felt her gaze, turned his head and smiled, his mental energy subtly shifting as he gently grasped her hand resting on his lap. The warmth from her palm warmed Ye Qingxue's heart. She returned the gesture, holding Zhang Bufan's nervous hand, and said softly, "Yes, I am a little nervous. My great-grandfather is very stubborn. Even though you are a Foundation Establishment cultivator, if he decides on the marriage with the Xiao family, he might make things difficult for you."

"Don't worry, I know what I'm doing," Zhang Bufan said confidently. "The cultivation world values ​​strength above all else. The Immortal Sword Sect's background, combined with my cultivation level, is enough to make him reconsider the pros and cons. Besides, we genuinely want to be together, and that's the most important thing."

As they spoke, the car had already left the main road and, following Ye Qingxue's directions, turned onto a two-lane asphalt road hidden in the dense forest. Zhang Bufan noticed that the asphalt road was extremely smooth, with a specially made anti-slip asphalt surface, and hidden solar streetlights installed on both sides. However, since it wasn't completely dark yet, the streetlights were not lit. What bothered him even more was that when he opened his phone's navigation, the screen still showed a blank forest; this road and the destination ahead were not marked on any electronic map.

"The Ye family's ancestral home has always been kept secret. Apart from core family members and authorized guests, outsiders can't find it at all," Ye Qingxue explained, noticing his gaze. "This road leading into the mountains was also specially built by the family, and it's usually patrolled by dedicated personnel. Unauthorized people simply can't get close."

Zhang Bufan nodded slightly, his spiritual power subtly spreading out, covering the entire mountain path. Every few hundred meters along the way, he could sense hidden sentries concealed in the dense forest. These sentries were all at least at the mid-stage of Qi Refining, their auras calm and steady, clearly elites who had been on duty year-round. Such tight security demonstrated the Ye family's emphasis on their ancestral home, and also indirectly confirmed the Ye family's profound influence in the secular world.

The car wound its way along the mountain road for about three kilometers before the dense forest suddenly opened up, revealing the entrance to an ancient village. At the entrance stood a massive yellow boulder, its surface inscribed with the three characters "Ye Family Village" in vigorous, powerful clerical script. The characters were deeply etched into the stone, faintly radiating a subtle spiritual energy, clearly the work of a cultivator. Beside the boulder stood an imposing guardhouse, equipped with intelligent turnstiles. Two security guards in black uniforms stood ramrod straight outside, on duty.

As the car approached, the two security guards immediately turned wary, their spiritual energy surging. But when they saw Ye Qingxue beside the driver's seat, their wariness vanished instantly, replaced by respect. One of the guards quickly stepped forward and bowed respectfully through the car window: "Miss, you're back!"

Ye Qingxue nodded slightly: "Yes, I brought the guest back to see the Ancestor."

"Yes!" the security guard replied, immediately turning to signal towards the guard booth. The turnstile slowly rose, and the car smoothly entered the village. Zhang Bufan scanned the two security guards with his spiritual power and discovered that they were both at the late stage of Qi Refining. Such cultivation would be considered above average among cultivators in the mortal world, yet they were merely security guards outside the Ye family ancestral home. He then observed the village. Dozens of houses were scattered along both sides of the road, each lit by a warm yellow light, and he could vaguely see figures moving inside. However, these people's auras were extremely ordinary, without any fluctuation of spiritual energy; they were clearly mortals.

"These are all collateral descendants of the family, mostly ordinary people without cultivation aptitude," Ye Qingxue continued. "The family has them live here, partly to guard the outer perimeter of the ancestral home, and partly to keep it a secret. Even if outsiders accidentally find this place, they will only think it's an ordinary village and won't suspect that it's the ancestral home of a cultivation family."

The car passed through the village and continued along a wider mountain road. As they ventured deeper into the mountains, the surrounding environment became increasingly serene, and the spiritual energy in the air was considerably richer than in the mortal world. While far inferior to the Xuanqing Secret Realm and the Huashan Immortal Sword Sect, it was still enough to accelerate the cultivation of low-level cultivators. After traveling about two kilometers, the valley ahead suddenly opened up, and a grand mountain villa appeared before them.

It was nearly six o'clock, and the afterglow of the setting sun bathed the entire manor in a golden-red hue. Zhang Bufan slowed down, carefully observing the Ye family's ancestral home. Built against the mountainside, the manor rose in tiers, comprising over a dozen courtyards, each surrounded by high blue-brick walls topped with gray-blue tiles, and exquisitely carved auspicious beast patterns at the corners. All the buildings were two-story ancient-style pavilions, with upturned eaves, carved beams and painted rafters, and intricately carved floral, bird, fish, and insect patterns on the wooden doors and windows, exuding a simple yet elegant atmosphere. The front courtyard was close to the foot of the mountain, while the last courtyard was built directly halfway up, blending seamlessly with the mountainside, creating a magnificent and imposing structure.

"This is the core area of ​​the Ye family ancestral home. It has twelve courtyards, each with a different purpose," Ye Qingxue explained, pointing to the manor. "The first few courtyards are the residences and cultivation grounds for the family members. The middle courtyards are for meetings and receiving guests. The last few courtyards are the residences of the patriarch and core elders, and are also the family's forbidden area. No one other than the core members is allowed to approach them."

Zhang Bufan's gaze swept over the manor, his heart filled with indignation. While the manor appeared to be a simple, ancient Chinese building, it was in fact incorporating elements of modern technology and the cultivation world. He could sense that every pillar and beam of every building was inscribed with intricate spirit-gathering and defensive arrays. Although the arrays weren't of high level, their exquisite layout ensured the manor maintained a constant concentration of spiritual energy year-round, while simultaneously resisting external attacks. Furthermore, in some hidden corners, high-precision surveillance equipment and infrared alarm systems were installed, perfectly combining modern security with the vigilance of cultivators.

The car didn't stop at the courtyard ahead, but drove directly deeper into the resort, eventually entering a parking lot hidden inside the mountain. The entrance to the parking lot was disguised as a mountainside rock wall; as the car approached, the wall slowly opened to the sides, revealing a spacious and bright interior. The parking lot was neatly divided into parking spaces, containing over a dozen luxury cars of different brands, including top-tier vehicles like Rolls-Royces and Bentleys—clearly the cars of core family members.

Zhang Bufan parked the car in the designated space and got out with Ye Qingxue. The parking lot was equipped with motion-sensor lights; the lights automatically turned on as the two moved, illuminating the entire space. Ye Qingxue led Zhang Bufan to an elevator and pressed the up button. The elevator doors opened, revealing an extremely luxurious interior. The walls of the elevator car were made of imported marble, the floor was covered with thick wool carpets, and a crystal chandelier hung from the ceiling, emitting a soft glow.

"This elevator connects directly to the core courtyard in the center of the manor; it's a passage exclusively for core family members," Ye Qingxue explained. The elevator started and smoothly ascended. After a moment, with a soft "ding," the elevator doors slowly opened.

Stepping out of the elevator, Zhang Bufan was instantly enveloped by a rich spiritual energy, and the scene before him caused him to pause in surprise. The elevator exit led directly to a grand main living room, an extremely spacious room spanning over a hundred square meters. The floor was paved with jade tiles, warm and translucent, gleaming softly under the lights; several antique calligraphy and paintings hung on the walls, each a work of renowned artists, imbued with rich cultural heritage; in the center of the living room stood a sofa made of Hainan rosewood, its design simple and elegant, its armrests and backrests carved with exquisite auspicious cloud patterns, clearly indicating its considerable value.

Several bronze tripods stood on either side of the living room, their interiors filled with the faint scent of sandalwood incense, a fragrance that soothed the mind and spirit. A massive crystal chandelier, composed of thousands of perfectly cut crystals, hung from the ceiling. When illuminated, it refracted a dazzling array of colors, transforming the living room into a palace-like space. What particularly caught Zhang Bufan's attention were the even more intricate spirit-gathering arrays engraved on the beams and pillars of the living room. Under the influence of these arrays, spiritual energy flowed gently, forming a small vortex within which cultivation could be significantly faster than outside.

"This ancestral home of the Ye family is truly the epitome of luxury in the mortal world," Zhang Bufan thought to himself. He had seen the ethereal aura of the Immortal Sword Sect and the fantastical beauty of the Xuanqing Secret Realm, but he had never seen anything like the Ye family's ancestral home, which so perfectly blended worldly luxury with the mysteries of the cultivation world. Every item here would be a priceless treasure in the mortal world, yet the Ye family displayed them so casually, demonstrating the family's immense wealth.

At this moment, several figures were sitting around the sofa in the living room, talking. Hearing the elevator doors open, they immediately stopped talking and turned to look. Leading them was a middle-aged man who appeared to be in his forties, dressed in a black Zhongshan suit. He was tall and upright, with a resolute face, radiating the aura of a mid-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator. His calm demeanor clearly indicated he had long held a high position. Beside him sat a gentle middle-aged woman, dressed in an elegant cheongsam, her cultivation at the peak of Qi Refining, her eyes carrying a gentle smile. There was also a young man who bore a resemblance to Ye Qingxue, appearing to be in his twenties, with a cultivation at the eleventh level of Qi Refining, his expression carrying a hint of arrogance.

"Dad, Mom, Brother!" Ye Qingxue saw the group and immediately walked over, her tone filled with affection.

Zhang Bufan understood immediately. The middle-aged man was Ye Qingxue's father, Ye Zhentian; the middle-aged woman was her mother, Wang Yuyan; and the young man was her brother, Ye Qingfeng. When he and Ye Qingxue got married, her family attended as ordinary people, and he remembered them. However, at that time, he didn't know that this seemingly ordinary family were actually all cultivators, and quite powerful ones at that.

"Qingxue, you're finally back." Ye Zhentian stood up, his gaze falling on Ye Qingxue, a hint of concern flashing in his eyes. He then turned to Zhang Bufan, scrutinizing him carefully. When his gaze swept over Zhang Bufan and sensed the early Foundation Establishment cultivation emanating from him, a hint of surprise flashed in his eyes, and his previously slightly solemn expression softened considerably.

Wang Yuyan also stood up, took Ye Qingxue's hand, and carefully looked her over, her tone filled with concern: "Qingxue, are you tired from the journey? Come and sit down." Her gaze also fell on Zhang Bufan, with a mixture of scrutiny and curiosity.

Ye Qingfeng simply nodded to Ye Qingxue, his gaze falling on Zhang Bufan with a scrutinizing look. When Zhang Bufan married Ye Qingxue, he felt Zhang Bufan, being of mortal birth, was unworthy of his sister. Later, when they divorced, he secretly rejoiced. Now, hearing that Zhang Bufan had returned after disappearing for over a year, not only becoming a cultivator but also reaching the Foundation Establishment stage, he was naturally filled with doubt and curiosity.

Zhang Bufan stepped forward, respectfully cupped his hands to the group, and said politely, "Uncle Ye, Aunt Ye, Brother Ye, it's been a long time." Although his cultivation and status were now vastly different from before, they were, after all, Ye Qingxue's family, so he naturally had to maintain the proper courtesy.

"Zhang Bufan, I never expected that after disappearing for more than a year, you would actually embark on the path of cultivation and even reach the Foundation Establishment stage." Ye Zhentian's tone was filled with amazement. "Qingxue told me before that you had joined the Huashan Immortal Sword Sect and were a personal disciple of Ancestor Yue Buwei. I thought she was lying to avoid her family's arrangements, but now it seems that it's all true."

When Ye Qingxue told her family about Zhang Bufan's situation that morning, Ye Zhentian was filled with doubt. After all, Zhang Bufan was just an ordinary mortal before, missing for over a year. How could he suddenly become a Foundation Establishment cultivator and even join a top-tier sect like the Immortal Sword Sect? He even thought it was a lie Ye Qingxue had fabricated to refuse the marriage proposal from the Xiao family. Only now, having personally sensed Zhang Bufan's Foundation Establishment cultivation, did he truly believe it.

Thinking of this, Ye Zhentian was overjoyed. Although the Ye family was a prominent cultivation family in the Southern Province, they were insignificant compared to top-tier cultivation forces. If Ye Qingxue could reunite with Zhang Bufan and leverage his status as a core disciple of the Immortal Sword Sect, the Ye family's status would undoubtedly rise dramatically. At that point, not only the Xiao family, but even more powerful cultivation forces would have to give the Ye family some respect. As for a marriage alliance with the Xiao family, it was utterly insignificant in the face of such an opportunity.

"Uncle Ye, you flatter me. My achievements today are largely due to a combination of good fortune and bad luck." Zhang Bufan smiled modestly. "I've come here for two reasons: first, to formally pay a visit to your parents and the old master; and second, to discuss my marriage with Qingxue."

"Alright, alright!" Ye Zhentian nodded repeatedly, his tone becoming much warmer. "Qingxue has told us about your situation. Since you and Qingxue truly want to be together, we naturally won't object. However, this matter ultimately needs the Ancestor's approval. We'll take you to the backyard to pay your respects to the Ancestor now."

With that, Ye Zhentian stood up first and said to everyone, "Let's go, let's go to the backyard to see the Ancestor." Wang Yuyan nodded, took Ye Qingxue's hand, and followed. Ye Qingfeng also stood up and followed behind the group, his gaze still occasionally sweeping towards Zhang Bufan, his doubts growing deeper.

Zhang Bufan followed Ye Zhentian towards the passageway at the back of the living room. He could sense that as they ventured deeper into the backyard, the surrounding spiritual energy grew increasingly dense, and the fluctuations of the array became more intense. Clearly, the backyard was the core area of ​​the Ye family's ancestral home. He knew that the upcoming conversation with the Ye family patriarch would be the real key. If he could gain the patriarch's approval, his marriage to Ye Qingxue would be without any further obstacles, and the entanglement between the Ye and Xiao families would finally come to a complete end.

Passing through a red-carpeted corridor, they came to an exquisite courtyard. The courtyard was planted with various precious flowers, plants, and trees, several of which were ancient trees over a thousand years old, their branches lush and exuding a rich spiritual energy. At the far end of the courtyard stood an even more ancient pavilion. Two guards, both at the early Foundation Establishment stage, stood solemnly and vigilantly guarding the entrance. Upon seeing Ye Zhentian and his group approach, the two guards immediately bowed respectfully: "Patriarch!"

"Is the Ancestor inside?" Ye Zhentian asked.

"Master, the Ancestor is currently in seclusion and has instructed that if Miss and Senior Zhang arrive, you may enter directly," one of the guards replied respectfully.

Ye Zhentian nodded, then turned to Zhang Bufan and said, "Zhang Bufan, the Ancestor has been waiting for a long time. Let's go in." With that, he pushed open the pavilion's door first. Zhang Bufan took a deep breath, suppressing his thoughts, and followed Ye Zhentian and the others inside. He knew that a conversation that would determine his and Ye Qingxue's future was about to begin.