"Fan'er!"
Ye Hai's expression shifted dramatically as he looked at Ye Fan in shock.
Lin Qingyang wasn't particularly strong, but he was still at the fifth level of the Lingwu Realm.
What cultivation level did Ye Fan possess?
Challenging Lin Qingyang to a life-and-death duel—was that wise?
"Dad, don't worry."
Ye Fan raised his hand, giving Ye Hai a reassuring look. Then he turned his cold gaze toward Lin Qingyang and asked again, "Don't go silent now. Do you dare?"
"Afraid of you? Let's fight!"
Lin Qingyang snorted and agreed without hesitation.
At that moment, Lin Mo's icy gaze fell on Ye Hai. "This life-and-death duel was proposed by Ye Fan. If he's too weak and dies by my son's sword, the Ye family must not retaliate."
"Of course."
Before Ye Hai could respond, Ye Fan stepped forward and said calmly, "If Lin Qingyang dies, I expect the Lin family to maintain their dignity."
"You think you can kill me?"
Lin Qingyang scoffed, clearly underestimating Ye Fan. "You just stepped into the Lingwu Realm and already think you're invincible because you killed Chen Shuyi? In this fight, I'll make sure you die without a complete corpse. First, I'll cripple your limbs—then I'll finish you with my fifth strike!"
Whoosh!
Before he finished speaking, Ye Fan's sword flashed.
"Huh?"
Lin Qingyang's face twisted in alarm as he quickly raised his sword to block.
With a thunderous crash, his sword shattered—and he was cleaved in two.
His body fell, split cleanly, the wound scorched by heat.
The battle had barely begun—and it was already over.
Ye Fan glanced at Lin Qingyang's corpse with disdain. "You said your fifth strike would take my life. You couldn't even withstand one. Where was that fifth strike supposed to come from?"
"Ye Fan!"
Lin Mo roared, his voice like thunder.
A terrifying aura burst from his body, pressing down on Ye Fan.
"What are you trying to do?"
Ye Hai stepped forward protectively.
"It was a life-and-death duel. Why the outrage?"
Ye Fan wasn't intimidated. He stepped in front of Ye Hai, looked Lin Mo in the eye, and smirked. "You agreed to the duel. Now someone's dead, and you want to go back on your word? The Lin family regrets it already? Don't embarrass yourselves."
"You... Ye Fan! You're bold!"
Lin Mo clenched his fists, grinding his teeth, his eyes burning with fury. "Let's see how long the Ye family can stay proud. This isn't over. Qingyue, let's go."
He turned and stormed off, sleeves billowing.
Several Lin family warriors stepped forward to carry Lin Qingyang's body.
Lin Qingyue, clutching her abdomen, suddenly stopped and turned back. Her eyes burned with hatred. "Ye Fan, you killed my child and my brother. This grudge will never be forgotten! His Highness the Third Prince will avenge me!"
"Hypocrite. You sure talk a lot."
Ye Fan sneered, not even bothering to respond further.
After the Lin family left, Ye Hai turned to Ye Fan, puzzled. "Fan'er, what's going on with your cultivation? Weren't you at the ninth level of the Talent Martial Realm yesterday? How did you reach the third level of the Lingwu Realm overnight? And you even killed Lin Qingyang, who was stronger than you... Did you have some kind of breakthrough?"
"Dad, let's not talk about that."
Ye Fan smiled mysteriously, unwilling to explain.
Last night wasn't just a breakthrough—it was a romantic encounter too.
"By the way, how's Mom?"
Ye Fan suddenly remembered and asked with concern.
"She's fine," Ye Hai replied. "Just overwhelmed with anger."
"Good."
Ye Fan nodded. "I have something to do—I need to head out."
With the inheritance of the Sun God Emperor, he lacked no martial techniques.
What he needed now was a proper sword.
The one he took from Chen Shuyi was too weak. When he killed Lin Qingyang, it barely withstood the power of the sun. After one strike, the blade was curled and unusable.
The Ye family only had lower-grade Xuan-rank spirit weapons.
To get something better, he'd have to visit Wanbao Tower in the imperial city.
Incidentally, Wanbao Tower had ties to the Third Princess.
"Wait!"
Ye Hai grabbed Ye Fan's arm. "Soon, word of what happened at Ye Mansion will reach the Third Prince. I've heard he's infertile—so the fetus in Lin Qingyue's womb might've been his only heir. Now that it's gone, he won't let this go…"
"Don't worry!"
Ye Fan had already thought it through. He smiled and said, "Dad, just spread the truth: Lin Qingyue was pregnant and tried to marry into our family. Then release the news that I personally aborted that illegitimate child. Let the rumors fly."
"But..."
Ye Hai hesitated. "Fan'er, won't that completely enrage the Third Prince?"
"He won't dare retaliate openly."
Ye Fan explained calmly, "The child is gone. If Duan Tianya admits it was his, he confirms the scandal. That would ruin his alliance with the Third Princess and hurt his chances at the crown. Even if he wants me dead, he won't act publicly."
"Ah..."
Ye Hai finally understood and sighed in relief. "Fan'er, you've really matured. You're no longer obsessed with Lin Qingyue. She's not worth it."
"I've moved on."
Ye Fan smiled and walked out of Ye Mansion.
At Wanbao Tower, he approached the counter and placed two elixirs down. "Shopkeeper, how many spirit stones are these worth?"
They were Ninth-Rank Spirit Gathering Pills from Qin Yimo—extremely valuable.
In the Yunyin Kingdom's imperial city, no one could refine pills of this quality.
"Hmm?"
The shopkeeper looked indifferent at first, but his eyes widened when he saw the pills. He quickly picked them up and examined them.
"Well?"
Ye Fan urged.
"Twenty low-grade spirit stones!"
Greed flashed in the shopkeeper's eyes as he made a gesture.
"Are you kidding me? Do I look like a fool?"
Ye Fan's anger flared. "Two ordinary pills sell for thirty spirit stones. You're telling me these are only worth twenty?"
"They're just ordinary pills."
The shopkeeper remained calm. "Thirty is the retail price. I'll buy them for ten each."
"Forget it. I'm not selling."
Ye Fan reached to take the pills back.
The shopkeeper snatched them away and tossed twenty spirit stones onto the counter. "Wanbao Tower has accepted the goods. Take your stones and get lost."
"You people love bullying honest customers, huh?"
Ye Fan's eyes turned cold, killing intent rising.
"Causing trouble in Wanbao Tower? You must have a death wish!"
The shopkeeper backed up and shouted, "Guards! Throw this brat out!"
Several guards rushed in with blades.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
In an instant, Ye Fan sent them flying.
The counter shattered. The floor was a mess.
"W-What just happened..."
The shopkeeper turned pale, drenched in sweat.
He knew Ye Fan—but had assumed he was still weak.
How was he this strong now?
Even guards at the first level of the Lingwu Realm were humiliated.
"Give me back my pills!"
Ye Fan stepped forward, eyes cold.
He grabbed the shopkeeper's collar and dragged him out from behind the counter.
"Who dares cause trouble in Wanbao Tower?"
A sultry voice rang out from upstairs.
Ye Fan looked up and saw a woman descending in a sheer purple dress, her long legs and fair skin barely concealed.
"Is this place serious? Or is it a branch of Yichunyuan?"
Ye Fan muttered to himself, unable to look away.
The woman was Su Meiniang, the owner of Wanbao Tower—a renowned beauty in the imperial city.
She approached gracefully, her fragrance wafting through the air. Her red lips parted as she leaned close and whispered, "Little brother, you'd better give your sister a good explanation, or else…"
Before she finished, her slender fingers lightly tapped Ye Fan's chest.