Qingyun City, Huang Family.
In front of Huang Tianxiong stood a Grand Elder at the Gathering Yuan Realm Tenth Layer, Huang Taiyuan.
"Patriarch, let me deal with Ye Chen in today's battle. The move he used to kill Second Master seven days ago was somewhat peculiar. Although he might not be able to use it again, we must be cautious," said Huang Taiyuan.
Huang Tianxiong nodded and said, "Yes, Grand Elder, just in case, keep this Tier Two Spirit Talisman safely.
This was sent back by Qinglan some time ago."
Huang Taiyuan showed a look of shock and said, "Qinglan, could it be..."
Huang Tianxiong said, "Qinglan is progressing quickly at Cangxing Martial Arts Academy and has stepped into the Sea of Qi Realm and become a Tier Two Spirit Master."
The path of cultivation is divided into martial arts and spirit.
Martial arts cultivate Yuan power and refine the body.
Spirit cultivates spiritual power and condenses spirit seals.
The status of a Spirit Master is extremely noble, surpassing martial artists by far, being able to inscribe talismans, set up arrays, and imbue weapons with spirit.
Huang Taiyuan laughed excitedly, "Good, truly worthy of being the genius of our Huang Family!"
The Qinglan they spoke of is Huang Tianxiong's daughter, exceptionally talented, training at Cangxing Martial Arts Academy.
Cangxing Martial Arts Academy, located in the county city of Unparalleled County, is the only force within Unparalleled County that can rival the Celestial Sword Sect.
The Huang Family's current position largely relates to Huang Qinglan!
Originally, with Huang Qinglan in Cangxing Martial Arts Academy, if another Huang Hu joined the Celestial Sword Sect and then seized the Ye Family's treasury, it wouldn't take long for the Huang Family to enter the county city and no longer be confined to a small place like Qingyun City.
But now, an unexpected turn of events has occurred.
Huang Tianxiong said, "After killing Ye Chen, select another young person loyal to the family to send into the Celestial Sword Sect."
......
At the City Lord's Mansion, Ye Chen changed into clean clothes and walked out of the courtyard.
Zhang Feng was already waiting outside.
At the first glance, Zhang Feng showed a hint of surprise. In just a few days, Ye Chen's aura had become significantly stronger!
"Ye Chen, your progress is quite rapid," Zhang Feng said, his eyes fixed on Ye Chen's expression.
He suspected that Ye Chen harbored a secret more important than the treasury!
Ye Chen didn't respond to this, bypassing the topic, he proactively said, "City Lord, the Ye Family's treasury is located at the deepest part of an old house in Li San Xiang, West Gate of Qingyun City. The treasury has a top-tier Level One array restriction.
Let me avenge the extermination of my family first, then I'll tell the City Lord how to unlock the restriction."
Zhang Feng nodded and waved, sending someone to verify the truth.
If it's real, even if Ye Chen lost and died at the hands of the Huang Family, there's no worry; it's just a top-tier Level One array restriction. With some effort, it could be forcibly broken!
Ye Chen continued, "Please inform the Huang Family that today's battle, I will be waiting for them at the graves of the Ye Clan members!"
"Alright!" Zhang Feng agreed.
Ye Chen nodded.
Moments later.
The exact location of the battle between Ye Chen and the Huang Family seven days later spread throughout Qingyun City.
Everyone flooded out of the city, heading toward the burial site of the Ye Clan members.
Upon receiving the news, Huang Tianxiong sneered, "Grand Elder, we should set off as well. Since Ye Chen wants to die in front of his Ye Clan's graves, I'll fulfill his wish!"
Outside Qingyun City, at the Ye Clan ancestral graves.
Over a hundred graves, piled up seven days ago, appeared desolate and sorrowful.
Ye Chen knelt before the graves and said, "Father, clan members, please forgive me for not being able to mourn for you."
His tone heavy, his heart stabbed with pain.
No matter how strong he becomes in the future, the Ye Clan members will never return.
This is his greatest regret in life, a wound in his heart that cannot heal.
A large crowd had gathered around, buzzing with noise, with almost no one expecting Ye Chen to win.
Ye Chen remained indifferent to these discussions.
When you are strong, the world flocks to you.
When you fall, there is gossip and even kicking you when you're down.
Furthermore, how others see it doesn't matter to Ye Chen; he only remembers what he must accomplish today!
At this moment.
An elder, accompanied by a young girl, stood on a hill not far away.
The girl's face was delicate and she carried an air of arrogance. She said, "Teacher, what's so interesting about a battle of this level?"
The elder smiled lightly and said, "We're passing by anyway, might as well take a look. That youngster named Ye Chen seems rather special, could possibly be a promising talent."
The girl said, "He's just having a desperate outburst, putting his life on the line."
The elder frowned slightly and said, "Qian Xue, remember, never underestimate any children of humble backgrounds. They may lack resources and opportunities, but once they rise, they're unstoppable, because there is a resilience in them that children of noble families lack!"
The girl, named Hua Qianxue, pursed her lips but did not dare to argue further with her teacher.
......
Moments later.
Huang Tianxiong arrived with a group of direct descendants from the Huang Family.
The crowd was ablaze with excitement.
Ye Chen, kneeling before the graves, said, "Father, my clan members, watch closely, today I will make the Huang Family's blood stain this land red!"
Having said this, Ye Chen stood up and turned to face Huang Tianxiong.
Huang Tianxiong's face twisted with malice, aching to skin Ye Chen alive, to tear him into pieces, and he roared, "Ye Chen, how can you beg for your clan's protection on your knees before the battle?
This is all futile, a display of weakness!
Your clan were all useless, even in death they were whipped by our Huang Family, how could they possibly protect you?!
And you will meet the same fate!"
Huang Tianxiong let out a vicious laugh and then looked at City Lord Zhang Feng, "City Lord, may we begin now?"
Zhang Feng nodded and said, "In the conflict between the Ye and Huang families, the City Lord's Mansion will not favor anyone, merely act as a witness."
With Zhang Feng's nod of approval, Huang Tianxiong turned to the Grand Elder, Huang Taiyuan, and said, "I must trouble the Grand Elder."
"Patriarch overpraises," said Huang Taiyuan, turning to Ye Chen and shouting, "Ye Chen, a few days ago, you narrowly escaped. Today, I will not give you any chance!!"
As his voice fell, Yuan power surged from him like boiling water.
The crowd once again erupted in discussion!
"Gathering Yuan Realm Tenth Layer!"
"Huang Taiyuan's strength is slightly weaker than Second Master Huang Tianba, but Ye Chen paid a great price to kill Huang Tianba seven days ago. Today, he shouldn't be able to unleash that terrifying move again."
"Even if he can, so what? Seven days ago, Huang Tianba was completely unprepared. The Huang Family suffered a great loss and won't make the same mistake twice; Huang Taiyuan will definitely be on guard!"
The events of that evening seven days ago remained vivid in Ye Chen's mind. His expression icy, he drew his sword and pointed it at Huang Taiyuan.
Huang Taiyuan snorted coldly, yelling, "Ye Chen, prepare to die!"
As his words fell, he tapped the ground with his toes and charged towards Ye Chen.
His speed so fast, a white wave of air was stirred as a thunderous roar erupted from his hands.
Ye Chen snorted coldly, thrusting his sword forward.
All killing intent surged forward with this strike.
The sword essence imbued within transformed into a several-meter-long Sword Qi, covering the blade and emitting an aura of sharpness that could pierce the soul!
The full force of Huang Taiyuan's palm strike was instantly torn apart by Ye Chen's Sword Qi.
Seeing Ye Chen's sword about to pierce his palm, Huang Taiyuan's face changed drastically, and he quickly retreated!
Having made his move, Ye Chen's aura was revealed, and his strength was perceived by the onlookers.
"Ye Chen's cultivation has reached the Gathering Yuan Realm Eighth Layer!"
"Seven days ago, he was only at the Gathering Yuan Realm Fifth Layer. Crossing three levels in seven days is incredible!"
"Could it be he consumed some rare treasure?"
"Regardless of whether he took some treasure or not, to drive back Huang Taiyuan with an eighth-level Gathering Yuan Realm cultivation is already remarkable..."
Huang Taiyuan's face turned unpleasant.
Reflecting on what had just happened, a lingering fear remained in Huang Taiyuan's heart.
"Your power still means nothing to me, it was merely carelessness that nearly led me into your trap just now. Today, I shall crush you!"