As the current top figure among the younger generation of the family, a powerful figure at the Houtian Ninth Layer, Ye Zhengyang was qualified to serve as a cultivation instructor for the other youths.
Not far away, some important figures of the Ye family were present, including a presiding Elder who couldn't help but nod in satisfaction as he looked at Ye Zhengyang.
Among the Ye family's younger generation, Ye Zhengyang was indeed the most outstanding junior. At such a young age, he had already reached the Houtian Ninth Layer, and his promotion to Xiantian would not be far off.
All the young men and women present gazed at Ye Zhengyang with fervent eyes. Such looks of admiration and reverence made Ye Zhengyang feel quite pleased, and the smile on his face grew a few degrees brighter.
Vanity was a temptation that every young person found hard to resist.
However, Ye Zhengyang's gaze would occasionally, intentionally or not, fall upon the beautiful young woman who stood out like a crane among chickens in the training ground, carrying a hint of fervor and possessiveness.
This young woman was none other than Ye Zimei.
Within the Ye family, although they were all clansmen, most were related by blood so distant—five or six generations apart—that the ties were quite thin. Therefore, intra-family marriage was permitted.
And Ye Zimei, being the most beautiful young woman in the family, intelligent and talented, and also the beloved granddaughter of the Second Elder, naturally received much affection and admiration from the family's young men. This even included the current top figure, Ye Zhengyang.
As the number one among the younger generation, he possessed an unattainable sense of superiority and had long regarded Ye Zimei as his future wife. Moreover, the close relationship among the three Elders made him feel this was only natural.
Unfortunately, faced with Ye Zhengyang's fervent gaze, Ye Zimei maintained her usual aloofness. She did not welcome it and certainly did not share the admiration and affection the other young women showed Ye Zhengyang.
She even slightly furrowed her delicate brows at his ardent look and subconsciously avoided it.
Several equally beautiful young women beside her couldn't help but say, "Zimei, I think Cousin Ye Zhengyang is interested in you. He's the top figure of the younger generation, handsome and dashing with high strength, and also the grandson of the Grand Elder. You two are simply a match made in heaven."
"Yes, I also wish I could have a good man like Cousin Ye Zhengyang to be with."
"Cousin Ye Zhengyang is so outstanding. Don't you like him at all?"
Her female companions chattered away, but Ye Zimei shook her head. For some reason, the figure of a delicate and handsome youth always surfaced in her mind. Coming back to her senses, her entire face flushed slightly red.
This scene left her companions somewhat stunned. Could Ye Zimei be... yearning for love?
"Of course, general theory is hard to understand. We can simply practice. Watch closely." Ye Zhengyang walked up to a boulder nearly two meters tall. He intended to display his true strength before Ye Zimei.
To conquer a woman, powerful martial prowess was often the simplest and most direct method.
A simple and direct punch shot out.
With a loud boom, the boulder was punched deep into its body.
"This is an ordinary punch, with only twelve hundred jin of force. Any ordinary Sixth Layer cultivator can deliver it. But with the same force, after using a martial technique—" Ye Zhengyang suddenly leaped and shifted to another equally massive boulder. His entire aura changed, becoming like a tiger ready to pounce. A tiger claw strike blasted out, faintly accompanied by the roar of a tiger.
Boom—
The two-meter-tall stone was directly shattered without the slightest suspense. All the disciples watched with shining eyes, applauding and cheering loudly.
In the distance, several family heads couldn't help but nod greatly. "This child Ye Zhengyang is truly excellent. He's only twenty now, not only already at the Houtian Ninth Layer but also having cultivated the Tiger Roar Fist to such a refined level. I'm afraid it won't be long before he steps into Xiantian."
"Indeed. Although the Tiger Roar Fist is only a Houtian martial technique, reaching such a masterful level of cultivation is truly not easy."
The Third Elder said with a smile, "Correct. Ye Zhengyang's aptitude is very good, the most outstanding of our Ye family's generation. Within two years, our Ye family will have another Xiantian expert, and one in his early twenties at that."
Clearly, the Ye family's higher-ups held great expectations for Ye Zhengyang.
The three Elders were closely connected, hence they valued Ye Zhengyang even more.
"Ye Zhengyang's aptitude is good, but he's still not the number one. What a pity... if only Ye Chen hadn't..." Suddenly, an older head sighed softly, filled with regret.
Although the Third Elder did not think much of Ye Chen, he also revealed a look of regret.
How dazzlingly talented Ye Chen had been back then—Xiantian at thirteen, surpassing Ye Zhengyang by who knows how much. If he had continued like that, not to mention just the Martial God realm, even the legendary Heavenly God realm would likely have been within his grasp.
If his talent had remained, the future Ye family might have become a behemoth dominating the Xia Feng Kingdom.
But there were no 'ifs' in this world...
On another front, outside the training ground, Ye Chen was also nodding.
Martial techniques, as the name implied, were a form of skill. They could maximize the exertion of force in various ways, far surpassing pure strength.
The difference between having a martial technique and not having one could sometimes be immense, even allowing one to defeat the strong while being weak.
However, these family martial techniques held little significance for him. Or perhaps he simply disdained them.
Ye Chen merely glanced before striding away. But at that moment, a loud shout rang out, drawing the attention of everyone in the training ground: "Ye Chen, you stop right there!"
The one shouting was none other than Ye Hua, who was practicing martial techniques in the training ground. Ever since being publicly humiliated by Ye Chen in the Allowance Hall four months ago, he had been filled with rage, constantly wanting to cause trouble for Ye Chen.
But during these four months, he had never seen the other party. Ye Chen's courtyard had also been placed under strict orders by the family head not to be trespassed upon, leaving Ye Hua stewing in a bellyful of anger. Now, finally seeing Ye Chen pass by by chance, how could he let him leave? He immediately couldn't help but shout.
As the shout fell, everyone looked over.
The Third Elder and several heads were momentarily stunned, somewhat taken aback by the sudden appearance of the youth. Speak of the devil, and he appears.
Ye Zimei, who had been somewhat absent-minded, couldn't help but cast her bright eyes over. A slow smile gradually spread across her exquisite, charming little face.
He's here...
But Ye Zhengyang, who had been paying close attention to Ye Zimei, now wore an even colder look in his eyes.
"Look, it really is that good-for-nothing Ye Chen. I didn't expect him to come."
"Come for what? Didn't you see he didn't dare step into the training ground? He simply doesn't have the qualification."
"Heh, you might not know, but four months ago, Ye Chen humiliated Ye Hua in the Allowance Hall. Today, Ye Hua probably wants to beat Ye Chen up."
"Really? Poor Ye Chen. I heard Ye Hua broke through to the Houtian Sixth Layer a month ago and is much stronger now. Last time, Ye Chen just got lucky. In a direct confrontation now, he has no chance of winning."
In the training ground, the young men and women chattered away, but no one had any confidence in Ye Chen. In their impression, he was just a Houtian Third Layer good-for-nothing with a shattered dantian, unable to cultivate. Meanwhile, Ye Hua had broken through to the Sixth Layer not long ago.
No matter what, Ye Chen was no match for Ye Hua.
Hearing the surrounding discussions, Ye Hua's lips curled into a smug smile. Today, he would teach Ye Chen a harsh lesson here, making him understand the consequences of publicly offending him four months ago.
Ye Chen stopped and furrowed his sword-like brows. "What is it?"
"Ye Chen, since you're here, then duel with me. Are you a man? Don't tell me you don't dare duel me?" Ye Hua sneered, using provocation.
Regarding this scene, the Third Elder and several heads did not intervene.
Although Ye Hua had broken through to the Sixth Layer while Ye Chen was only at the Third, making it seem like bullying, Ye Chen's actions facing the Yang family in the main hall that day had left them somewhat dissatisfied. Therefore, a slight punishment was also needed to serve as a warning to others.
"Ye Hua, what do you mean by this? You know perfectly well that Brother Ye Chen is only at the Houtian Third Layer now, while you broke through to the Sixth Layer recently. You clearly want to bully Brother Ye Chen. Aren't you ashamed?" At this moment, Ye Zimei stepped forward. The young woman's fiery, slender, and graceful figure drew the ardent gazes of everyone present.
Seeing it was Ye Zimei speaking, Ye Hua's expression changed slightly. Towards this young woman, he dared not act arrogantly. He immediately said somewhat respectfully, "Miss Zimei, this is some personal grievance between me and Ye Chen. It has nothing to do with you. Please do not interfere."
At this point, Ye Zhengyang also spoke up. His previously gloomy face immediately turned sunny and bright when facing Ye Zimei, somewhat like the sunshine of the boy next door. "Zimei, since it's a personal grievance between Cousin Ye Hua and Cousin Ye Chen, it's better if we don't interfere."
Such a sunny smile, coupled with his tall, handsome appearance and extraordinary cultivation, instantly won the ardent, fiery gazes of many young women experiencing their first love.
But Ye Zimei took two small steps back, furrowing her delicate brows. "Ye Hua clearly just wants to take the opportunity to bully Brother Ye Chen. What personal grievance? His courage has grown too big these past years. I must interfere in this matter. Also, Cousin Ye Zhengyang, please call me by my full name from now on. I'm not used to others calling me by my first name."
Ye Zhengyang's face immediately changed, growing much gloomier, but he said nothing.
On the other side, Ye Hua's face also changed greatly. Although he had broken through to the Houtian Sixth Layer recently, he was no match for Ye Zimei at the Houtian Seventh Layer. He immediately looked at Ye Chen and shouted, "Ye Chen, you good-for-nothing! Don't tell me you don't even have the guts to duel me, only knowing how to hide behind a woman?"
"Idiot, go cool off somewhere. This young master doesn't have that much free time to play with a little brat like you!"
After tossing out a sentence that left everyone dumbfounded and Ye Hua's face furious, Ye Chen didn't even look back, directly lifting his foot to leave, paying no heed.
Being rejected in such a near-humiliating manner before so many clansmen made Ye Hua's face turn livid, extremely ugly. He immediately rushed forward in three steps combined into two, a fist whistling as it shot forward, shouting, "Ye Chen, I told you to stop!"
Seeing this, Ye Zimei was about to make a move, but Ye Zhengyang happened to step out, blocking her path, causing her expression to change slightly.
But at that moment, under the astonished gazes of everyone, Ye Chen made a lightning-fast turn and spinning kick, directly kicking Ye Hua in the abdomen. The kick sent him flying over ten meters away, falling into the dust, his face red with pain as he clutched his stomach, his whole body curled up.
Ye Chen leisurely patted non-existent dust off his clothes, disdainfully saying, "Get lost. With strength like this, you dare duel me? What a waste of time."