Ye Qin, having weathered the Great Tribulation, hovered on his sword in the island sky, gazing with deep affection toward Huangfu Bing'er before sweeping over to her, his strong arm encircling her voluptuous waist.

Held within his powerful embrace, Huangfu Bing'er’s cheeks immediately flushed crimson; she let out a soft sound, half-chiding, half-laughing, yet brimming with sheer joy.

For a couple to reach the Nascent Soul stage one after the other, separated by only a few years—this was rare even in the cultivation world of the East Sea. More importantly, their cultivation levels were similar, which would greatly benefit their dual cultivation in the future; hundreds of years hence, they even held the hope of simultaneously breaking through to the Soul Transformation realm.

"Husband, now that we have overcome the Great Tribulation, where shall we go?"

Huangfu Bing'er placed a hand on Ye Qin’s roaming right hand, feigning a fierce rebuke with a charming glare.

"Let’s return to White Float City first! Now that both of us are Nascent Soul cultivators, we must let our fellow sect brothers and sisters know and celebrate together! Furthermore, Bing'er, you are now qualified to establish your own Azure Elixir Palace; this matter also needs to be overseen upon our return."

Ye Qin chuckled.

He gazed into the distance, finally releasing his hold.

As the dark clouds dispersed, the surrounding cultivators, gathered tens of miles away, finally mustered the courage to approach the island, only to be blocked by the enforcement team members led by Li Hua.

Ye Qin sent a spiritual message to Li Hua from afar, instructing him to cease the obstruction; only then did the enforcement team allow the cultivators to draw nearer.

"Junior generations pay respects to the Ancestor!" "Congratulations to Elder Niu on forming the Nascent Soul!"

"The Elder ranked eleventh on the Golden Core Demon Slaying List in earlier years, his power truly peerless, inspiring boundless admiration in us juniors. Now, having successfully transcended the tribulation to become a Nascent Soul Ancestor, he is destined to become one of the preeminent mighty figures in the East Sea!"

The lower-tier cultivators approached within a few miles, their faces wreathed in smiles, offering congratulations profusely, their eagerness to flatter and curry favor almost palpable.

Ye Qin’s identity as an Elder of the Heavenly Dao Alliance had not been widely publicized, but the fact that he could command the enforcement teams of the Alliance Elder Council meant that the assembled cultivators naturally knew who he was. Coupled with the fact that Ye Qin made no strenuous effort to conceal it—Li Hua, the squad captain, knew Ye Qin’s surname—the assembled cultivators quickly ascertained Ye Qin’s background.

The moment the tribulation clouds scattered, they rushed over, hoping for an audience, looking for any sliver of fortune that might earn them the favor of the newly ascended Nascent Soul Ancestor.

If they were fortunate enough to capture the Ancestor’s good graces, perhaps a generous gift bestowed casually, or even mentorship and acceptance into his retinue, could elevate them instantly, sparing them decades of arduous cultivation.

"Fellow Daoists, it is by happy coincidence that you witnessed my tribulation and ascension to the Nascent Soul stage here. According to the customs of our East Sea cultivation world, I must distribute some celebratory gifts to mark this great joy shared with my peers."

Ye Qin smiled faintly and handed a storage bag to Li Hua. "This bag contains high-grade spirit stones. Captain Li, please distribute these to all our fellow Daoists. Distribute them according to the same tally as last time! Divide the remainder among yourselves!"

"Yes!"

Li Hua accepted the storage bag with utmost reverence.

His five Golden Core squad had guarded the area near the island for several years, a truly monotonous duty. Yet, in the span of just a few years, they had witnessed two late-stage Golden Core cultivators successfully overcome their tribulations on the island to become Nascent Soul cultivators—such an experience was invaluable, immensely beneficial for their future cultivation and ascension attempts. Moreover, having received considerable spirit stone benefits, they harbored no complaints.

"Many thanks, Ancestor!"

The lower-tier cultivators rejoiced, bowing and thanking him repeatedly.

"Captain Li, you and your men have worked hard these past few years. I have successfully transcended my tribulation and must now return to the East Sea. You shall lead your team back to Linhai City to report your success! Your service in guarding my ascension was without incident, a significant merit for all of you—this accomplishment will be officially recorded in your contribution ledger," Ye Qin stated.

"Thank you, Elder. Your subordinates shall return to Linhai City immediately!" Li Hua, overjoyed by this commendation, quickly bowed his thanks, distributed the celebratory offerings, and led his team flying towards Linhai City.

Having secured a sum of spirit stones, and seeing that Ye Qin had no further instructions, the assembled lower-tier cultivators dispersed with regret.

"Let’s go, back to White Float City!" Ye Qin recalled the Corrupting Bone Slug Skeleton Demon, collected Bai Xiuer who was still on the island, and mounted the Dark Cloud Barrier, traveling with Huangfu Bing'er toward White Float City.

Whoosh,

The Dark Cloud Barrier transformed into a streak of thousand-foot-long dark light, vanishing over the sea surface in mere heartbeats.

They utilized the teleportation array in Linhai City to return to White Float City in the Northern Isles.

White Float City.

Ye Qin and Huangfu Bing'er, along with the maidservant Bai Xiuer, walked the streets.

He mused inwardly, reflecting that upon becoming Nascent Soul cultivators, everything was starkly different; their status and prestige had soared. Even walking on the street, Golden Core and Foundation Establishment cultivators actively yielded several feet of space to avoid any accidental collision—something utterly unimaginable before.

The trio passed through several streets and alleys, arriving before the gates of the Azure Elixir Workshop.

The four Foundation Establishment cultivators guarding the entrance of the Azure Elixir Workshop were visibly startled when they saw Ye Qin, Huangfu Bing'er, and their retinue appear.

"Uncle-Master Ye... Martial Aunt Huangfu, they’ve actually reached the Nascent Soul stage?!"

One of the leading middle-aged cultivators recognized Ye Qin and Huangfu Bing'er and exclaimed in shock, quickly turning to a younger cultivator beside him: "Quickly, you must go inform Steward Shen, Steward Sun, and all the other Martial Uncles and Martial Aunts! Prepare to formally welcome the arrival of Ancestor Ye and Ancestor Huangfu!"

The young cultivator hurried inside the Azure Elixir Workshop to deliver the report.

The middle-aged cultivator himself, along with the remaining two younger men, stepped forward to greet the trio with faces overflowing with ingratiating smiles. "Zou Ling pays respects to both Ancestors! Congratulations on achieving the Nascent Soul realm, bringing renown across the East Sea cultivation world!"

"Hmm."

Huangfu Bing'er nodded slightly; she recognized the middle-aged cultivator.

He was one of the dozens of Foundation Establishment cultivators from the Azure Elixir Sect who had crossed the East Sea long ago, but his cultivation had progressed slowly; even now, he remained at the late stage of Foundation Establishment, an obscure figure responsible for guarding the gates of the Azure Elixir Workshop.

She glanced at the two individuals behind Zou Ling and noticed they were unfamiliar young cultivators.

"Zou Ling, our Azure Elixir Sect’s foundation in the East Sea is still shallow; we haven't recruited new disciples. Who are these people? Why are they wearing the Azure Elixir Sect’s robes?" Huangfu Bing'er asked with confusion.

"Reporting to Ancestor Huangfu, they followed our Sect Uncles and Martial Elders who crossed the East Sea from the Central Plains Azure Elixir Sect last year. Ancestor hasn't had the time to summon them yet, which is why you don't recognize them!" Zou Ling quickly explained.

"When we were in the Central Plains last year, we did indeed glimpse Ancestor Ye and Ancestor Huangfu, but at that time, we were merely low-tier Qi Refining cultivators, our cultivation extremely shallow. The Azure Elixir Sect has countless disciples; it is perfectly understandable that the two Ancestors do not recall us," the two younger cultivators added hastily.

"They crossed over from the Central Plains last year? Which Martial Uncle did they accompany? Did they bring any news of my father?"

Huangfu Bing'er gasped, her heart giving a sudden, tense leap.

At that moment, a large contingent of Azure Elixir Sect cultivators rushed out from the main courtyard of the Azure Elixir Workshop.

"Bing'er!"

Amidst the throng stood a middle-aged cultivator with black hair, a dark beard, and an imposing presence, exuding the bearing of a leader from a great immortal sect. He walked out laughing heartily. This was Huangfu Rui, the Grand Elder who had managed the Azure Elixir Sect for a hundred years.

Although a cultivation sect from the Spirit Mist Realm of the Central Plains Continent could not rival the might of even one immortal palace in the East Sea, this air of imposing dignity was certainly present.

Beside the middle-aged cultivator was a beautiful woman of extraordinary temperament. This radiant lady was Huangfu Rui’s original wife, Chen Min.

Flanking these two were over a dozen Golden Core cultivators of the Azure Elixir Sect: the older generation like Sun Ran, Chen Weidan, Yuan Ningzhi, and Feng An, as well as the younger generation who had achieved Golden Core status after arriving in the East Sea, such as Shen Bao and Yan Xuan.

Closely following them were numerous Foundation Establishment cultivators from the Azure Elixir Sect, all streaming out from within the workshop.

"Father, you are here!"

Seeing the middle-aged cultivator, whose features were intensely familiar, Huangfu Bing'er froze, tears welling up in her eyes. Upon seeing the beautiful woman beside him, she managed to restrain her tears and offered a slight bow. "Bing'er greets Second Mother!"

Chen Min smiled and nodded in acknowledgement.

Due to matters concerning her own mother, Huangfu Bing'er held a certain reserve toward Chen Min. However, that was ancient history from a century ago, long since forgiven, yet it meant she and Chen Min shared no real warmth.

Knowing this history and seeking to avoid an awkward silence between the two women, Ye Qin quickly stepped forward, bowed deeply, and said, "I pay my respects to Father-in-law and Mother-in-law!"

"Nephew-in-law, no need for such formality! When the Heavenly Dao Alliance issued the mobilization order to the immortal sects of the Central Plains, your Second Mother and I led a contingent of Azure Elixir Sect disciples to the East Sea." Huangfu Rui beamed, chuckling, "Upon reaching the East Sea, finding the Azure Elixir Workshop, and learning from Junior Brother Sun that you two were married and both had reached the Golden Core stage, Father was overjoyed. But I never imagined that upon meeting, you would both already be Nascent Soul cultivators—this is monumental, joyous news! Our Azure Elixir Sect having two Nascent Soul-level cultivators in the East Sea is enough to bring solace to all our ancestors!"

"Congratulations to Ancestor Ye!"

"Congratulations to Ancestor Huangfu!" The Golden Core cultivators and Foundation Establishment disciples of the Azure Elixir Sect were ecstatic and filled with reverence. For most of these cultivators, Nascent Soul was an unreachable realm; the ascension of two members to this level was enough to profoundly boost their confidence in cultivation.

"Let’s not talk at the doorway; everyone come inside!" Huangfu Rui took Ye Qin and Huangfu Bing'er, along with Chen Min, Sun Ran, Shen Bao, and the other Golden Core cultivators, followed by the large group of Foundation Establishment cultivators, and entered the Azure Elixir Workshop. Family members reunited had much to discuss that need not be elaborated upon here.

That day, the Azure Elixir Workshop suspended all operations; every cultivator within the premises prepared for a celebration.

The grand celebration lasted three months, inviting kindred spirits, familiar cultivator friends, customers of the workshop, cultivators who had migrated from the Spirit Mist Realm of the Central Plains, and even some of the Great Immortal Palaces of White Float City.

Ye Qin’s status as the Fifth Elder of the Purple Sword Palace was common knowledge.

And the news of his membership in the Heavenly Dao Alliance Elder Council had also gradually spread. Previously, as a Golden Core cultivator, he needed to conceal this for his own safety; now, as a Nascent Soul cultivator, he had no reason for further discretion.

The various immortal palaces of White Float City dared not slight an Elder of the Heavenly Dao Alliance. Regardless of familiarity, all dispatched representatives to offer their congratulations.

The Purple Sword Palace, White Float Palace, Vast Speech Palace, Treasure Gathering Palace, and other immortal palaces all sent Elders—the lowest ranking being a Young Palace Master—bearing substantial gifts to convey their felicitations.

Ye Qin was spared the need to handle the torrent of tedious affairs himself; he only needed to personally receive the Nascent Soul-level cultivators, such as the Elders from the various immortal palaces.

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