Chapter 5: A Sky-Shattering Shock

Early in the morning, an exceptionally heavy fog appeared, pressing down on people until they felt they could hardly breathe.

The backyard of Ye Manor.

Whoosh… Peng! Peng!

The wind from fists roared like a tiger, powerful and fierce, churning through the sea of mist, forcefully tearing an opening. A steady, robust figure emerged beneath the fog.

Ye Yun’s back was arched like a bow, his fists like flying arrows, his legs like shooting stars. The tension and release in his movements were filled with explosive power.

The Second Layer of the Flesh Immortal realm. Techniques—the practice of various martial arts, fist techniques, leg techniques, sword techniques, and so on—were trained on top of the first layer foundation, allowing the physical body to be continuously strengthened. This enabled the body to generate internal energy, which condensed into Inner Strength that resided in the Dantian.

This was a slow process. The internal energy within the body was very subtle, existing within the Meridians, bones, muscles, and even blood. It had to be condensed through practicing various martial arts.

Ye Yun suddenly picked up a long spear and began practicing spear techniques. Driven by his nimble and light footsteps, the spear stabbed out like lightning, dense and numerous, shoo shoo shoo.

In a daze, the spear’s afterimages surrounded Ye Yun like a spider web, and he was like a spider spinning silk.

The morning sun rose high, the sea of fog gradually dissipated, and the backyard slowly became clear.

Ye Yun stood on an open patch of ground. His right hand held a deep red round stone. His left hand gripped his right wrist. He calmed his breathing. After several rounds of inhalation, a faint Inner Strength traveled between his Meridians and his Dantian, beginning to condense within the Dantian.

His forehead was covered in sweat. Ye Yun knitted his brows tightly and began to circulate his energy. He felt the Inner Strength in his Dantian was like a struggling wild beast. Taming the beast was naturally not easy, but Ye Yun still drove the Inner Strength to gather towards his right arm. The deep red stone on the back of his hand actually began to tremble slightly.

Hu!

In the blink of an eye, a surge of energy rushed out from Ye Yun’s waist. The rotating stone in his hand also stopped. Ye Yun nearly stumbled and fell. The energy that rushed out actually caused the surrounding fog to clear.

Ye Yun tossed the stone high into the air and caught it with one hand. “It still doesn’t work. Even though the Meridians can store a bit of Inner Strength, the Dantian is the true source of power. If it cannot store energy, you cannot circulate energy!”

The Meridians were like small streams; the Dantian was the Ocean, receiving the True Qi.

He tried again to make his Dantian condense energy, but failed once more.

“It’s a pity I cannot call Uncle Han. If I had that technique of his… But, that technique is equivalent to shortening one’s own lifespan. Even if I practiced it, I’m afraid I wouldn’t live long enough to enjoy it.” Ye Yun thought dejectedly. He slowly let out a breath. Ye Yun put on his blue robe, tidied up the backyard simply, and left.

“Hmm? Someone is arguing?”

Ye Yun was walking along the corridor leading to the study when he suddenly heard some commotion from the right side. This kind of thing rarely happened in Ye Manor. Curious, Ye Yun walked towards the right corridor.

In front of him was a high wall, with large trees and rockeries around. Ye Yun gave a slight push with his feet, his hands gripping the top of the wall. He carefully peeked over. The courtyard in front of him was the main hall of Ye Manor, the place where the higher-ups of the Ye Family usually discussed important matters.

In the front courtyard of the main hall, over a dozen Ye Family Chief Stewards were intensely discussing something with Ye Yuan. Among them was a seventy-year-old man who even reached out and grabbed Ye Yuan’s collar, which was going too far.

“That’s Grand Elder Ye Wentian. Normally, he has a good relationship with Father. Why is this?” Ye Yun did not understand. Watching the chaotic scene, he dared not move recklessly and hid his head among the bushes.

Grand Elder Ye Wentian shouted loudly at Ye Yuan. “Let’s set aside the issue of allying with the Yang Family and the Liu Family for now. Now, let’s talk about the Yan Family. Back then, the Yan Family actively sought marriage ties with our Ye Family. None of us were willing. Who knew you would stubbornly insist? Now the Ye Family has become a laughingstock in Red Cloud City. Who isn’t talking about your useless son? Now, even lowly third-rate families like the Gongsun Family dare to challenge our Ye Family. Ye Yuan, I respect you as the Clan Leader of the Ye Family. Now give everyone an explanation.”

“The Grand Elder speaks truly. Several of our supply sources have been cut off. Many long-time customers dare not come anymore.”

“In the past, with the Yan Family’s connection, the Ye Family did gain some benefits. Hmph, who would have thought the Yan Family had sinister ambitions. Ye Yuan, you may not know this yet, but the Yan Family has already arranged a marriage alliance with the Qin Family. That Yan Linlang will soon marry the Qin Family’s genius, Qin Ming. Now the whole world is laughing behind our Ye Family’s back.”

“This is all your fault. And your useless son.”

Propelled by Grand Elder Ye Wentian, the Ye Family higher-ups no longer remained silent. They all leaned towards the Grand Elder, shouting at and rebuking Ye Yuan, not treating him as the Clan Leader at all.

“Yan Linlang and Qin Ming…”

Ye Yun’s ten fingers dug into the wall, leaving ten scratch marks. Images of the past surfaced in his mind. Ye Yun suddenly became quiet, unusually cold. “It seems everyone in the world knows my cultivation was destroyed. Perhaps Qin Ming deliberately attacked me back then. Or perhaps the Qin Family had long planned to get rid of me first, then Father, and finally the entire Ye Family. Maybe even the marriage agreement between Yan Linlang and me was arranged beforehand. How terrifying the Qin Family is. How despicable the Yan Family!”

At this moment, Ye Yun’s heart was unprecedentedly calm. His mind was exceptionally clear, his thoughts sharp.

The coming-of-age ceremony truly might instantly transform someone into an adult.

“If you want to argue, then argue. I will not debate with you all. Wait until I go to the Yan Family to demand an explanation. Farewell!” Facing everyone’s accusations, Ye Yuan actually strode away in large steps.

“Hold it!”

Just after Ye Yuan took two steps, a figure blocked his path. The one who acted was actually Grand Elder Ye Wentian. He gave a sinister smile. “If you don’t make things clear today, if you don’t give an explanation, don’t even think about leaving.”

Ye Yuan’s eyes darkened as he looked at the crowd. “Uncle Tian, you are my elder in the Ye Family. I will listen to whatever is right. But now, I do not want to listen. Also, even though Ye Yun can no longer cultivate, he is still a member of the Ye Family. In the future, he can still contribute everything to the Ye Family. Please don’t make things difficult for him anymore.”

Grand Elder Ye Wentian waved his hand dismissively. “Fine. That useless brat, I won’t bother with him. But you must give an explanation. Otherwise!”

“Uncle Tian, I said, I don’t want to explain anything, and there is nothing for me to explain. As the Master of the Ye Family, I am still the Clan Leader now.” Ye Yuan saluted Ye Wentian with clasped hands.

“Do you mean you want to resort to force? Fine. It is said you have cultivated to the Ninth Layer of Flesh Immortal, the number one expert of our Ye Family. This old man will test that today. Come on.” Ye Wentian refused to relent.

Ye Yuan looked very helpless. He asked again, “Alright. If we fight, will you leave after that?”

Ye Wentian took off his long robe and tossed it to someone behind him. He nodded. “Naturally. This old man represents the other two Elders. Their intentions are the same.”

“Ye He, Ye Xinghe, Ye Wentian… the three great Elders of the Ye Family. Could it be they are rebelling?” Hidden in the grass by the wall, Ye Yun’s eyes widened. He wished he could rush out immediately to speak up for his father.

In the center of the courtyard, Ye Yuan and Ye Wentian stood facing each other. The others watched from the side. Ye Wentian spread his hands open. The palms and backs of his hands shimmered with threads of electric light. He suddenly rushed towards Ye Yuan, his legs tracing a zigzag pattern. He roared, “Thunder Heart Palm!”

Seeing this, Ye Yun’s face showed great shock. “Thunder Heart Palm! That’s one of the Ye Family’s major martial arts, on par with Father’s ‘Blazing Fire Palm’. Moreover, the Grand Elder broke through to the Ninth Layer of Flesh Immortal many years ago. Perhaps he is already standing at the peak of the Flesh Immortal realm.”

“Wind and Clouds Burn to Ash!”

Ye Yuan suddenly flashed in place, quickly meeting the charging Ye Wentian. Both struck out with their palms simultaneously. From Ye Yuan’s palm surged a wave of blazing fiery clouds, while Ye Wentian released spider-web-like currents of electric power.

Peng!

A flash of electricity and fire. Both retreated three steps, looking at each other.

Ye Wentian’s hands smelled slightly burnt, while Ye Yuan appeared unaffected. Just as Ye Wentian was about to speak, Ye Yuan preempted him. “Uncle Tian’s Thunder Heart Palm has reached great completion. Ye Yuan knows this.”

“Truly worthy of being the Ye Family’s number one expert, Ye Yuan. I didn’t expect… Fine. I am a man of my word. But you must remember, the Ye Family is now at the brink of possible destruction at any moment. In which direction the Ye Family should move from now on, that is the key.” Ye Wentian put on his clothes, said a few words to Ye Yuan, then turned and left. Seeing the others reluctant to move, he roared, “What are you looking at? If you have the ability, go try yourselves!”

This roar frightened everyone, and they immediately followed him out.

“Truly the pillar of the Ye Family, Uncle Tian!” A gratified smile suddenly appeared on Ye Yuan’s face. After tidying himself up, he led a group of attendants and left the courtyard.

“The Grand Elder and Father are both Ninth Layer Divine Ability experts, our Ye Family’s only two Ninth Layer Flesh Immortal experts. In that exchange just now, neither used their ultimate moves, their Divine Abilities. I have always heard the Grand Elder is of upright and stern character, even Father respects him greatly. It seems he didn’t really want to make things difficult for Father; someone must have instigated this behind the scenes.” Seeing that Ye Yuan was unharmed, the weight lifted from Ye Yun’s worried heart. “Red Cloud City originally had three major powers. Now that the Yan Family and Qin Family have allied, they will definitely act against the Ye Family. And there are many more families watching covetously from the shadows…”

Ye Yun returned to his study with a heavy heart. He took out the account books and began reviewing them. No matter how he looked at them, he couldn’t feel at ease, but he persisted in checking the accounts.

Busy until evening, Ye Yun finally organized several sets of account books. Looking at the sky, Ye Yun left the study and went alone to practice martial arts again.

Red Cloud City under the night sky remained bustling, but dark clouds suddenly gathered, changing the sky. In an instant, lightning flashed and thunder roared. The streets were suddenly empty of people, unusually quiet.

From a dark street corner, a sedan chair gradually appeared, with guards escorting it on both sides.

Shoo shoo~

As the guard team was passing between two tall buildings, countless black-clad figures suddenly appeared on the rooftops. They drew their bows and set arrows. Black arrows shot towards the guard team like shooting stars.

“Protect the Master!”

The guards drew their swords and began deflecting the black arrows. Surrounding the sedan chair, they started fighting the black-clad figures descending from the sky. At this moment, Ye Yuan stepped out of the sedan chair with a murderous expression. Looking at the fierce-looking black-clad men, Ye Yuan prepared to make his move.

“Hope is denied to the living, the door is closed to the dead. They come without a trace, leave without a shadow.”

Suddenly, a distant, sinisterly cold voice sounded in the night sky.

The originally composed Ye Yuan suddenly changed expression. With a wave of his hands, they burst into raging flames. An overwhelming, formidable power began to spread. Ye Yuan stared at the night sky. “Hope is denied to the living, the door is closed to the dead… the Gate of Life and Death? How did I, Ye Yuan, ever offend you?”

“You have not offended the Gate of Life and Death, but you have offended others. The Scarlet Fiend Hand Ye Yuan, indeed your reputation is well-deserved. Among Mortals, there are few who can cultivate the Flesh Immortal realm to the Tenth Layer. Even the Yan Family doesn’t have many. Tenth Layer of Flesh Immortal, Ye Yuan. You are just one step away from successfully building your Foundation and becoming a Cultivator. But, without a Foundation Building method, you will never become a Cultivator. No matter how powerful, in the end, you are merely flesh and blood. To fall by the hands of my Gate of Life and Death can be considered an honor for you.”

Hu!

Before the voice had faded, a giant palm shaped like a tiger, resembling a Heavenly Net and Earthly Snare, came pressing down on Ye Yuan and his guards.

A blaze of fire shot into the sky, appearing like that brief yet dazzling shooting star streaking across the heavens.

Ye Manor.

“Why this restlessness? I’ll go out for a walk to the left, and also see if Father has returned. I don’t know if the Yan Family gave Father any trouble!” The room suddenly lit up. Ye Yun tossed and turned, then sat up. He dressed quickly and opened the door anxiously. But the moment he opened the door, a blood-covered person was actually standing there.

The blood-covered person swayed unsteadily, then suddenly spoke. “Yun’er…”

“Father!” Ye Yun rushed towards Ye Yuan, who was covered in blood. The moment he touched him, Ye Yuan collapsed, fainting into his arms.

And the quiet Ye Manor suddenly echoed with Ye Yun’s heart-wrenching, agonized cry.