Ye Wen lowered his stance, looking at Xu Xian’s odd expression, and secretly guessed that the others must have come out looking for him because he had been gone so long. Xu Xian knew where this place was, so he tracked him down and happened to see him practicing his skills just now. However…

“Junior Brother Xu, what is that look on your face?”

What he didn't know was that Xu Xian had searched for a long time, and when he finally spotted Ye Wen here, seeing him practicing martial arts, he didn't dare interrupt. But he couldn't tell what style of technique this was; more importantly, the way Ye Wen executed it was terribly awkward. The movements of his fists and palms seemed utterly arbitrary, showing no hint of refinement.

Xu Xian naturally didn't realize that Ye Wen was completely ignoring the set forms of the Mian Palm (Soft Palm). He was solely focused on comprehending the underlying intent and the subtle nuances of the martial art. Thus, the stances he struck were mostly spontaneous, merely a way to test the small breakthroughs he had just grasped—it bore no resemblance to the true Mian Palm. And such haphazard striking naturally wouldn't look impressive.

Coupled with the soft and seemingly powerless execution of the Mian Palm, Xu Xian became even more confused. He watched his senior brother slowly make gestures back and forth, his movements appearing entirely devoid of force. Xu Xian wondered if such a palm technique couldn't even kill a fly, let alone strike a person.

After watching for a while, Xu Xian even felt bored enough to stifle a yawn. Just then, Ye Wen kicked up a clod of earth, and a palm strike that seemed utterly harmless actually pulverized the clump of dirt into dust. This sight startled Xu Xian, arresting his previous actions mid-movement. It was only when Ye Wen turned his head that Xu Xian wore that peculiar expression.

It wasn't until Ye Wen spoke that Xu Xian snapped back to reality. But the impression left by that final strike was too deep, still echoing in his mind. So, as soon as he opened his mouth, he asked, “Senior Brother, what palm technique were you practicing just now?”

Ye Wen knew his junior brother had seen it, so he didn't hide anything, casually replying, “Mian Palm.”

“Mian Palm?” Xu Xian recalled that the technique indeed gave off a soft, yielding feeling; the name was quite fitting. However, after witnessing Ye Wen’s final blow, he certainly didn't believe the palm’s power was equally soft. On the contrary, it seemed formidable.

Thinking that he would likely be able to learn such a powerful martial art once he was formally accepted into the sect, Xu Xian felt a surge of excitement, and his interest in the palm technique Ye Wen had just used intensified.

“Senior Brother, can you teach me this technique?” Seeing Ye Wen look his way, Xu Xian quickly added, “Of course, after I’m formally inducted.”

Ye Wen didn't overthink it and casually agreed, “Once you’re formally inducted, you can learn whatever you wish. Any skill held by the Shu Shan Sect is available for you to practice…” As he spoke, he paid no mind to issues of rank or whether the cultivation level was insufficient to learn a skill. Since the highest ranks in the Shu Shan Sect consisted only of the few of them, they naturally could practice any martial art in the sect. As for cultivation being too low? He would wait until he could summon those higher-tier skills first.

Xu Xian was overjoyed. Although the technique he just saw didn't look aesthetically pleasing, its power was undeniable. Xu Xian, a complete novice who had finally stepped into the Jianghu, was itching with anticipation, wishing tomorrow was the induction ceremony so Ye Wen would teach him this palm technique immediately after.

Unfortunately, while he was daydreaming, Ye Wen poured a bucket of cold water over him.

“However, I’ve only just begun to comprehend this technique myself. If you want to learn it, you might have to wait a while longer.”

“Comprehend?” Xu Xian didn't quite grasp that.

“Meaning, I haven't mastered it yet…” Saying this, Ye Wen felt a slight flush on his face. To be the Sect Leader, yet have someone witness him struggling to master his own martial art before he finished—it was quite embarrassing.

“Uh…” Xu Xian hadn't expected that Ye Wen hadn’t finished mastering the technique. After a moment of stunned silence, he understood what Ye Wen meant.

It simply meant he couldn't teach it until he had mastered it. But this wasn’t strange; Ye Wen was the Sect Leader, so naturally, the sect’s most potent martial arts should be practiced by him first. His junior brother had no reason to try to get ahead. As for where Ye Wen got the manual, he never considered it. Since he wasn't a former Shu Shan disciple, he didn't know what the previous Book Mountain Sect was like.

As for Ye Wen, Xu Xian wouldn't ask, and Ye Wen certainly wouldn't offer. Whether Xu Xian guessed that he found this secret manual through a chance encounter, that it was passed down secretly by past Shu Shan Patriarchs, or that Ye Wen invented it himself—it didn't matter to him.

What about Ning Ruxue? Ye Wen hadn't even considered sharing this martial art with his junior sister. For now, he intended to cultivate it alone. Even if Xu Xian saw it and wanted to learn, he would have to wait until Ye Wen was well underway with it. He wasn’t worried about what Xu Xian might think. Once Xu Xian was inducted, Ye Wen would first give him an internal cultivation manual—that would be enough to keep him occupied for at least a year or two.

By the time his internal cultivation was progressing well, Ye Wen would likely have the Mian Palm mastered like the back of his hand, and perhaps by then, he might have obtained some other superior manual, making the Mian Palm nothing special to share.

If Ning Ruxue asked where he got this martial art, he could claim he created it himself. Since Xu Xian had seen him practicing just now, his earlier clumsy movements would likely provide some measure of credibility. With a witness, Ning Ruxue wouldn’t press further. Ye Wen had no idea that his movements were not merely clumsy; Xu Xian initially thought his senior brother was having a fit.

In any case, Ye Wen was excellent at fabricating stories. He could weave an intricate, self-consistent lie without batting an eye, one that was flawless on the surface.

The two strolled slowly back to the main house. Aunt Zhao had already prepared the meal. Ning Ruxue, Yue Ning, and Zhou Zhiruo were waiting nearby. The bowls and chopsticks on the table hadn't been touched; they must have been waiting for his return.

“Why aren’t you eating?”

Ye Wen, still lacking awareness of his current status and the associated etiquette, was momentarily confused upon entering and seeing everyone staring at him expectantly. Seeing that no one dared touch the food, he asked out loud.

Ning Ruxue gave him a sidelong glance. The two juniors, Yue Ning and Zhou Zhiruo, dared not speak. It was Aunt Zhao who spoke with a smile, “The Sect Leader has not arrived; how could we touch our chopsticks?”

Only then did Ye Wen realize: he was the Sect Leader, after all, holding a position of status. While he thought deeply about major affairs, when it came to these small matters of daily habit, he habitually relied on his former mindset, nearly forgetting that strict rules governed this place.

Seeing that he hadn't taken his seat or eaten the first bite, it seemed everyone in the room could only stare longingly at the spread meal. Ye Wen experienced a brief, mischievous sense of superiority.

He chuckled inwardly and calmly walked to the main seat. He picked up his chopsticks, casually snagged a piece of green vegetable, and announced, “Eat.”

Only then did everyone at the table pick up their utensils and begin their meal. Seeing even Junior Sister Ning—who often disliked him and couldn't wait to snatch the Sect Leader position—dutifully waiting until he had taken his first bite before touching her food, Ye Wen felt a wave of satisfaction.

“Being the Sect Leader is certainly wonderful.”

The pleasure of being superior was highly addictive, which was why many people who acquired power desperately sought more—they could no longer tolerate living beneath others and being subject to their whims.

Ye Wen had only been traversing this world for a little over half a year, and having just tasted this flavor, he was already reluctant to let it go. Nor did he see anything wrong with that.

“Desire fuels motivation. Only this way can I continuously improve and lead the Shu Shan Sect toward greater strength.” He had always believed this principle, and now he intended to put it into practice.

He glanced at the people present: he occupied the main seat, his junior siblings Ning Ruxue and Xu Xian sat on either side, and the rest were his two disciples. These were all the formal disciples of the Shu Shan Sect. Aunt Zhao was standing by, serving. As a servant of the sect, she was not entitled to sit and eat with them; she could only eat after everyone else was done.

Although Ning Ruxue was close to her, Ning Ruxue made no move to change this rule, and Ye Wen had no intention of suddenly abolishing it to play games of universal equality. If everyone in the Shu Shan Sect were equal, what was the point of him being the leader?

However, looking at these few people, while it was livelier than the lonely pair of just him and Ning Ruxue six months ago, three or four cats were still too few.

Furthermore, his personal disciples, Yue Ning and Zhou Zhiruo, were too young. It would take at least another decade before they grew up. Should the Shu Shan Sect rely only on him and his junior sister to make a name for themselves until then?

“There are too few people.” After taking a few bites, Ye Wen’s mind began contemplating the sect’s development strategy. “Never mind anything else; the mountain gate of our Shu Shan Sect is built so grandly, yet there are only three or five people here. Those who know might see our lineage is sparse, but outsiders would think the Shu Shan Sect is a haunted temple with no living souls.”

“Besides, if we want to expand in the future, if the three of us have to run around doing everything, we’ll probably work ourselves to death before making any significant reputation. I need to find a way to expand the sect’s strength.”

He casually set down his chopsticks and looked at Ning Ruxue. “Junior Sister, I need to discuss something with you.” Although he often clashed with his junior sister, she was currently the only one he could discuss matters with. As for Xu Xian? That could wait until he was formally inducted.

Seeing Ye Wen put down his utensils, everyone present immediately stopped eating and watched him, Ning Ruxue no exception. Hearing Ye Wen speak, she nodded and replied, “Senior Brother, speak.”

“I feel our sect has too few people, and relying only on the few of us to recruit disciples for development seems too slow. I intend to establish an outer court and widely recruit disciples to bolster our prestige. Junior Sister, what do you think of this proposal?”