Ye Chen stepped out of Ya Fei's chambers, his expression one of deep satisfaction.
The night air was cool against his skin, a stark contrast to the warmth he had just left behind. The faint scent of jasmine lingered on his robes, a reminder of the pleasures he had indulged in.
Mitell Auction House Night
'ya fei indeed experienced and Mature far better than Yanran's clumsy attempts," he mused, licking his lips as he savored the lingering taste. His fingers traced the edge of his spatial ring, a smirk playing at the corner of his mouth.
After a moment of reflection, he retired to a guest room nearby, the plush furnishings a testament to the auction house's luxury.
The flickering candlelight cast long shadows across the walls as he settled onto the bed.
'I've been indulging too much these past few days," he muttered to himself, running a hand through his hair. "It's time to focus on cultivation."
Sitting cross-legged on the bed, he retrieved a magic core from his spatial ring-a deep blue orb pulsating with raw energy.
The core hummed in his palm, its power barely contained.
'I'm already at the threshold of the Seven-Star Fighter Master level. One final push should do it."
Clasping the core between his palms he activated the Swallowing Essence Technique.
A dark, devouring force surged from his hands, enveloping the magic core in an inky black aura. Strands of pure energy seeped into his meridians, swirling like liquid fire before coalescing into Dou Qi.
His veins glowed faintly under his skin as the energy circulated through his body, strengthening his core.
The Shadow in the Night
Unbeknownst to Ye Chen, a figure cloaked in darkness had slipped into the room, silent as a specter. The intruder moved without a sound, his presence undetectable even to the most sensitive of cultivators.
This brat is directly absorbing the energy of a magic core? The shadow's eyes narrowed in shock.
Magic cores-known as demon crystals on the Dou Qi Continent-were volatile reservoirs of energy. Even a Dou Wang wouldn't dare absorb one recklessly, lest they risked a catastrophic backlash.
Yet here was a mere Fighter Master, consuming it effortlessly.
What kind of technique is this?
The shadow's mind raced.
High-level Earth-grade?
Or even... Heaven-grade?
Such techniques were treasures even among the ancient clans. A cultivation method capable of refining demonic energy without backlash was unheard of outside the most secretive sects. If I could obtain this...
Greed flickered in the shadow's eyes. With a silent step, he closed in on Ye Chen, his fingers curling like talons.
Ambush!
Ye Chen's soul perception-far sharper
than an ordinary cultivator's-suddenly twinged with alarm. A cold sweat broke out on his back as an instinctive warning screamed in his mind.
Danger!
"Who-?!"
His eyes snapped open, but it was too late.
A palm struck his temple with precision, a burst of Dou Qi surging through his meridians, disrupting his energy flow. Darkness swallowed his vision before he could even react.
Damn it...
His body slumped forward, unconscious before he hit the ground.
The shadow caught him effortlessly slinging him over his shoulder like a sack of grain.
*You brought this upon yourself by provoking my young lady," the shadow muttered, his voice a low rasp. "Let's see if you can keep your life."
With a flicker of movement, he vanished into the night, leaving no trace behind.
Panic at the Auction House
Thud-thud-thud!
Ya Fei's hurried footsteps echoed outside Ye Chen's door, her breath coming in short gasps. She had heard something-a muffled shout, a brief disturbance.
'Brother Ye Chen! Are you alright?" No answer.
Her delicate fingers pushed the door
open, her heart pounding in her chest. The room was eerily silent, the only sign of life being the faintly glowing remnants of a magic core's energy in the air.
But Ye Chen was gone. *Gone...?"
Her face paled. That shout-had it been a cry for help?
Her nails dug into her palms as fury surged through her.
'Search the entire city!" she commanded, her voice trembling with barely restrained rage. "Find him!"
The attendants outside scrambled to obey, the auction house erupting into chaos.
Moonlight spilled over the mountain behind the Xiao estate, painting the vines clinging to the cave entrance in silver. The air was thick with the scent of damp earth and aged stone.
Inside, the flickering torchlight cast long, wavering shadows against the rough-hewn walls.
"Ugh... my head..."
Ye Chen groaned as consciousness returned. A sharp pain pulsed through his skull, as though a hammer had struck him repeatedly. His mouth was dry, his limbs heavy.
Where am I?
His vision adjusted to the dim light, revealing a narrow cavern. His wrists were bound by strange ropes-no matter how he struggled, they wouldn't budge. They seemed to absorb his Dou Qi, rendering his strength useless.
Kidnapped? By who?
The shadow's strength had been overwhelming.
A Dou Huang?
Higher?
"Damn coward," Ye Chen spat, his voice hoarse. "Attacking a mere Fighter Master from behind. How shameless."
Still, he remained calm.
If they'd wanted him dead, he'd already be a corpse.
They want something from me.
His mind drifted to the Nine-Star Dou Zong Experience Card in his system space.
A trump card-one he wouldn't hesitate to use if pushed.
The Visitor
"Is he inside?"
A voice-light, melodic-drifted from the cave entrance.
Footsteps approached, unhurried, deliberate.
Ye Chen's gaze sharpened.
A woman?
Under the flickering torchlight, a figure emerged.
A young girl in lavender robes, her presence serene yet regal. Her hair, black as midnight, cascaded over her shoulders, tied with a simple purple ribbon. A breeze stirred the strands, lending her an ethereal grace-like an immortal who'd strayed into the mortal realm.
Her eyes, cool and composed, met Ye Chen's.
Xiao Xun'er.
Read more 60+ Chapter Here
patreon.com/HeavenlyYinYang