The next morning, the first ray of sunlight pierced through the gaps in the dilapidated wooden roof, falling onto Ye Chen's face.
He opened his eyes, which were now clear and piercing. A terrifying aura flashed across his pupils before being restrained. After a night of consolidating his cultivation, he had completely stabilized at the Third Stage of the Qi Gathering Realm. Thanks to the Primordial Chaos Body, his pure spiritual energy was several times denser than that of ordinary cultivators at the same level.
"Creak..."
The worn-out wooden door was gently pushed open. A slender figure walked in, carrying a chipped earthen bowl.
She wore a simple, patched plain dress, but it couldn't hide her naturally elegant and refined demeanor. Her face was pale, seemingly from long-term malnutrition, but her eyes were as clear as spring water, possessing a gentle power that could soothe any soul.
She was Ye Qingyue, Ye Chen's adopted sister. They were not related by blood.
Three years ago, when Ye Chen fell from grace, the entire family abandoned him. Only this girl, who was weak and had no cultivation base, silently stayed by his side. She endured the cold eyes and bullying of the servants just to steal some decent food for him.
To Ye Chen, she was the only warmth left in this cold world.
"Brother Chen, you're awake." Seeing Ye Chen sitting up, a joyful smile bloomed on Ye Qingyue's face, like a pure lily opening in the morning mist. "I... I managed to get some beast bone soup from the kitchen. It's still warm, drink it quickly."
She walked over carefully, holding the bowl with both hands as if it were the most precious treasure in the world. Her hands, which should have been smooth, were covered in small cuts and frostbite from doing heavy chores in winter.
Looking at those hands and the hopeful look in her eyes, Ye Chen felt a sharp pang in his heart.
In the past, he was drowned in self-pity and ignored her sacrifices. But now...
"Qingyue, come here." Ye Chen spoke softly, his voice incredibly gentle, a stark contrast to his icy demeanor yesterday.
Ye Qingyue blanked out for a moment, then sat down by the bed.
Ye Chen reached out and took the soup bowl, setting it aside. Then, he took her rough little hands into his own large, warm palms.
"B-Brother Chen?" Ye Qingyue's pale face instantly flushed with a lovely shade of crimson, and she subconsciously tried to shrink back. In all these years, they had never been so intimate.
"Don't move." Ye Chen said firmly. He began to circulate the pure spiritual energy within his body, gently pouring it into her hands through his palms to nourish her damaged skin and meridians.
A warm current flowed into her body, making Ye Qingyue feel incredibly comfortable. She stared blankly at Ye Chen's focused, handsome profile, her heart thumping wildly like a little rabbit.
She felt that the brother she used to rely on had returned, but he also seemed... different. He seemed to possess a safe, reliable aura that could shield her from all storms.
"Qingyue, I heard about yesterday..." Ye Qingyue bit her lower lip, her voice trembling slightly. "Nalan Yan and Starfall Pavilion are too powerful. It's my fault for being useless. I can't help Brother Chen at all, I only drag you down..."
Ye Chen interrupted her by gently brushing a stray hair away from her forehead. His eyes were full of spoiling affection.
"Silly girl, what are you talking about?"
He looked into her clear eyes and vowed solemnly, "Listen to me, Qingyue. From today onwards, no one in the Ye Family, and no one in this entire world, will ever dare to look down on you or bully you again."
"Within three years, I will make Nalan Yan kneel before you and apologize for everything she has done."
"I, Ye Chen, will become the strongest peak existence, and I will protect you for the rest of your life!"
Hearing this domineering yet infinitely tender declaration, tears welled up in Ye Qingyue's eyes. They were tears of happiness. She didn't know where Ye Chen's confidence came from, but she believed him unconditionally.
"En!" She nodded heavily, a bright smile blooming through her tears. At this moment, she felt like the happiest person in the world.
***
After comforting Ye Qingyue and finishing the soup, Ye Chen left the back mountain and headed towards the Ye Family Martial Arts Pavilion.
His cultivation had restored, but his Dantian had been empty for three years. He didn't have any powerful combat techniques. The "Nine Dragons Heaven Devouring Art" was a cultivation method for absorbing energy, not an attacking martial technique. To fight Nalan Yan in three years, he needed high-level techniques.
The Martial Arts Pavilion was one of the most important places in the Ye Family. It was a imposing three-story building guarded by several elite guards.
When Ye Chen arrived, many Ye family disciples were entering and exiting. When they saw him, their expressions immediately turned to mockery and disdain.
"Yo, isn't this our great Young Master Ye Chen? The one who was just divorced yesterday?"
"I heard he bragged about challenging Senior Sister Nalan in three years. Truly a joke of the century!"
"What is a cripple doing at the Martial Arts Pavilion? Does he think he can still practice martial arts?"
Regarding these mocking remarks, Ye Chen didn't even turn his head. He ignored them entirely, treating them as mere barking dogs. He strode directly towards the pavilion entrance.
"Stop!"
A mocking laugh sounded as a figure blocked Ye Chen's path.
It was a youth in silk robes, looking haughty. Ye Hai, the son of the Second Elder. His cultivation was at the Fourth Stage of the Body Tempering Realm. In the past, he used to follow Ye Chen around like a lackey, but after Ye Chen became a cripple, he was the one who bullied him the most.
Ye Hai crossed his arms, looking at Ye Chen contemptuously. "Ye Chen, do you know the rules? Only those at the Third Stage of Body Tempering or higher can enter the Martial Arts Pavilion. A cripple like you with zero cultivation... get lost and don't block the way!"
Ye Chen looked at him calmly, his voice indifferent. "Are you blind? Or are you just brain dead?"
"What did you say?" Ye Hai was furious, his face turning ugly. "You looking for death!"
He raised his fist, intending to smash it into Ye Chen's face.
But in the next second, a powerful and suffocating aura exploded from Ye Chen's body like a dormant volcano suddenly erupting!
Boom!
The immense pressure caused the surrounding air to freeze instantly.
Ye Hai's fist stopped mid-air. His pupils shrank to the size of needlepoints, his face turning pale instantly. He felt a pressure that was ten times more terrifying than what he felt from his father.
Under this horrifying aura, his knees felt weak, and he couldn't help but kneel on the ground with a loud bang, unable to move a muscle. Cold sweat soaked his back instantly.
"Qi... Qi Gathering Realm?!" Ye Hai gasped in horror, his voice trembling. "H-How is this possible?"
The surrounding disciples also stared in disbelief, as if they had seen a ghost. The trash who had been crippled for three years was actually at the Qi Gathering Realm?
Ye Chen looked down at the kneeling Ye Hai, his voice full of chilling mockery. "Is this considered 'zero cultivation' in your eyes?"
"I... I..." Ye Hai was terrified, speechless.
Ye Chen didn't even bother to strike him. He directly stepped over the kneeling Ye Hai and walked into the Martial Arts Pavilion.
Entering the first floor, Ye Chen began scanning the shelves for a suitable sword technique. He now had the Primordial Chaos Body, so any attribute of martial arts would work, but he preferred the killing power of the sword.
After searching for a while, he picked up a dusty, yellowed manual in a corner.
"Thunderbolt Sword Technique" (High-Tier Yellow Grade). This technique was known for its speed and explosive power, but it was incredibly difficult to master, so few people practiced it.
Ye Chen flipped open the first page and tried to execute the first move in his mind.
Instantly—
[Ding! Host has practiced the Thunderbolt Sword Technique once.]
[Triggered 5,000x Critical Strike!]
[Congratulations to the Host! Your comprehension of the Thunderbolt Sword Technique has directly reached the Realm of Grand Perfection! You have awakened the Thunderbolt Sword Intent!]
In that instant, a massive amount of information regarding the sword technique poured into Ye Chen's mind. It was as if he had practiced this technique tirelessly for decades. Every stance, every shift in power, was engraved into his bone marrow.
Small arcs of blue lightning began to flicker invisibly around Ye Chen's body, emitting a terrifying aura of destruction.
A faint smile appeared on Ye Chen's face.
"Yellow Grade? No..."
Ye Chen gently placed the manual back on the shelf. In his mind, this technique had already evolved into a terrifying existence that far surpassed its original grade.
With a master-level Divine Physique, a Divine-Tier Cultivation Method, and now Grand Perfection level Martial Techniques through the system's critical strike...
Ye Chen clenched his fist. Nalan Yan, Chu Feng... the day of reckoning is coming sooner than you think!