Deep within the Ancient Spirit Realm, amidst the mist-filled forest…
A faint herbal scent lingered in the thin spiritual air. Nestled in a crack of the cliffside was a shimmering spirit herb. Its entire body glowed a soft green, its leaves laced with natural patterns, and it exuded a subtle, pulsing energy.
—It was the Vein-Patterned Spirit Grass, a rare tier-three spiritual herb used in alchemy and poison refinement. In the world of Cangyan, it was priceless.
Ye Chen stood ten meters away, calmly observing it.
"This herb is yin-natured. If I pull it directly, the energy will scatter. I'll need to soften the root with spiritual aura, then sever it with divine sense."
He retrieved a Flame Stone and pressed a green rune against his chest. Slowly, he activated the Void Refining Soul Technique, channeling spiritual energy into his palm.
In his dantian, the embryonic spirit sword vibrated faintly in response.
"Qi Refining… just barely enough."
As he prepared to harvest the herb—
A lazy voice rang out from behind. "Hey, Seventh Prince. You saw that herb first?"
Footsteps approached. Several well-dressed youths emerged from the trees. Leading them was a handsome youth with a red birthmark between his brows, wearing light battle armor engraved with magical runes.
It was Duan Qingshan, third young master of the Duan family, a seventh-tier battle cultivator and noble heir.
Ye Chen didn't turn around. "First come, first served."
"Heh, sounds nice," Duan Qingshan chuckled, before his tone turned cold. "But in this realm, power makes the rules. You've got no battle energy, no weapon—what makes you think you can compete?"
He stepped forward, battle aura surging.
Ye Chen slowly turned to face him. "Try me."
Duan Qingshan's face darkened. "Get him. Don't kill him—just break a few bones."
Four men charged. Their battle energy surged as they moved to surround Ye Chen.
Ye Chen didn't flinch. He flipped his wrist, scattering over a dozen small green pills across the ground.
Boom—
The pills burst into clouds of colored mist upon landing.
"What the hell—?!"
Before they could react, the mist entered their noses. Their vision blurred, their battle energy stalled.
"It's poison?!"
"No—it's... it's a Confusion Mist Pill!"
Ye Chen stepped forward.
His finger flicked through the air.
Buzz—
The space trembled slightly.
A silver sword light silently shot out from behind him.
One of the guards didn't even have time to scream. A hole appeared between his brows. He collapsed to the ground, lifeless.
Silence.
Duan Qingshan stumbled backward, eyes wide with terror. "You… You can… control a sword from a distance?!"
Ye Chen didn't answer.
He continued forward, the spirit sword hovering behind him, silent and deadly.
"A cultivator controls spiritual energy, commands weapons, and kills with intent," Ye Chen said quietly."Your so-called fighters… are mere brutes."
Duan Qingshan tried to flee—but as he stepped back, glowing runes erupted beneath his feet.
A pill array—Soul-Locking Flame Trap!
"You—You can use arrays too?!"
"You've seen too much."
Ye Chen pressed his palm forward. A wave of spiritual energy surged out.
Duan Qingshan was flung backward like a ragdoll, crashing through trees and falling unconscious, his fate uncertain.
The forest fell silent.
Ye Chen stepped calmly toward the spirit grass and sat down.
"That was just a warm-up."
With precise control, he drew in spiritual energy and used his divine sense to gently sever the herb's root. Moments later, the Vein-Patterned Grass was safely in his ring.
He stood, expression calm.
In the distant shadows, several observers slipped away silently, their faces pale with shock.
"The Seventh Prince… he—"
"That wasn't battle energy. Nor magic."
"What… is he?"
…
Elsewhere, outside the trial realm—within the royal Viewing Platform—
Several grand elders watched the trial through glowing orbs of spiritual projection.
As Ye Chen's sword strike and pill-array trap played out before them, one of the old men opened his eyes slowly.
"That… is not the path of warriors," he murmured."It is something older… deeper."
On the high throne, King Ye Yao narrowed his eyes.
"This Seventh Prince…" he said slowly,"is becoming… quite interesting."