Early the next morning, news spread throughout Luo Feng City at an astonishing speed.
The former dazzling genius of the Ye family who had once shaken the world, now the waste Ye Chen, was actually the disciple of a mysterious Two-Star Alchemist.
Once this news spread, it stunned everyone in the city, leaving them utterly shocked.
At first, the vast majority of people refused to believe this earth-shattering news.
What kind of figure was a Two-Star Alchemist? They were prestigious and noble figures renowned throughout the entire Xia Feng Kingdom, incomparably arrogant. Even a Xiantian expert like Ye Ao wouldn't be worth a glance in their eyes.
Even when facing legendary Martial God realm powerhouses, they would absolutely have the qualifications to be mentioned in the same breath. How could they possibly take a fancy to Ye Chen, who had already become a waste?
But the source was highly credible. It came from an insider within the Ye family who claimed to have personally witnessed Master Li Yun state it yesterday, even swearing a vicious oath of being cut off from descendants to prove its truth, leaving no room for doubt.
Subsequently, many people went to Ye Manor and Master Li Yun's residence to verify, and the results indeed confirmed it, instantly stirring up a huge uproar in Luo Feng City.
A disciple of a Two-Star Alchemist—what an exalted status that was! Even if Ye Chen was still a waste who couldn't cultivate, with this status alone, even the clan leaders of Luo Feng City's three great families wouldn't dare to offend him.
Moreover, rumors claimed that Ye Chen had already recovered his former terrifying cultivation talent and had even defeated Ye Zhengyang, the number one among the younger generation, in the Ye family's main hall.
For a time, various rumors about Ye Chen spread throughout the entire Luo Feng City. This former genius, who had been silent for two years, once again became the focus of the world's attention.
In the eastern district of Luo Feng City stood a majestic and vast mansion with vermilion gates and stone lions, luxuriously and grandly decorated, only slightly inferior to the first family, the Ye family.
This was the Yang family, one of Luo Feng City's three great families—Yang Yi's Yang family.
At this moment, in the family's council hall, the family's high-ranking elders and even the clan leader had all gathered here without prior arrangement. The atmosphere was silent and solemn.
The Yang family clan leader was a middle-aged man who bore some resemblance to Yang Yi but appeared more imposing—a man whose authority was felt without anger. Dressed in noble and luxurious robes, he sat upright in the main seat, holding a stack of documents in his hand, his brow furrowed.
In the council hall, one could hear a pin drop. Everyone remained silent, waiting for the clan leader to speak.
After a moment, the Yang family clan leader raised his eyes, his gaze sweeping over the assembled family elders present. After surveying them all, he finally spoke, "Are all these documents accurate?"
The documents in his hand were all information regarding the rumors about Ye Chen.
A white-haired elder spoke up. He was a Yang family elder, the very one who had taken Yang Yi to the Ye family. He said, "Clan Leader, these documents are all important information we collected from the streets at a high price. They also include personal confirmations from important personnel of the Ye family and attendants from Master Li Yun's residence. They are all authentic."
The Yang family clan leader nodded but did not continue speaking. However, his already furrowed brow now creased even deeper.
If these documents were merely baseless rumors circulating in the streets, that would be one thing. But if they were true, it was an entirely different matter, involving the bet between Ye Chen and Yang Yi.
Five months ago, the bet Ye Chen made with Yang Yi in the Ye family's main hall had spread throughout Luo Feng City, attracting much attention. At the time, many people scoffed at Ye Chen's wild fantasy, believing it impossible for him to pass Tian Du Academy's entrance trial.
But these recent rumors about Ye Chen filled them with deep anxiety.
If Ye Chen truly had recovered his former monstrous cultivation talent and passed the Tian Du Academy's enrollment trial four months later, wouldn't that mean Yang Yi would have to become Ye Chen's maidservant?
This was absolutely intolerable.
It wasn't just about Yang Yi becoming Ye Chen's maidservant; it would also be a tremendous insult to the entire Yang family.
After a long while, the Yang family clan leader said, "What are your thoughts? You may speak."
The council hall fell into silence once more, with no one responding. Finally, a branch manager cautiously replied, "Clan Leader, since that's the case, this humble one suggests we deal with Ye Chen—"
He didn't finish his sentence but made a chopping motion across his neck with his hand. A sudden killing intent emerged, sending chills down everyone's spine.
Clearly, his suggestion was to eliminate the root of the problem—to directly kill Ye Chen before he could pass Tian Du Academy's enrollment trial, ending the matter once and for all.
This suggestion received nods of approval from many. Given the current situation, this method seemed the best.
However, the clan leader cast a cold glance at him, filled with disappointment. A Yang family elder on the side shook his head and spoke, "Yang Dong, I know you are loyal to the Yang family, but you must also consider the feasibility of this method. Leaving aside the power of the mysterious Two-Star Alchemist behind Ye Chen, even Ye Ao—what confidence do we have to evade his vigilance and take action against Ye Chen?"
The branch manager immediately understood, his face turning pale.
Ye Ao was the number one expert in all of Luo Feng City, and Ye Chen was his only precious son. How could he possibly stand by and allow others to kill his only son right under his nose?
Moreover, every alchemist was the most difficult person to provoke, not because of their cultivation level, but because of their superior alchemy skills, which made countless forces eager to befriend them, granting them the power to command wind and rain.
Just looking at Li Yun was enough to see—even a One-Star Alchemist was like this, let alone a Two-Star Alchemist... The entire Yang family combined could not afford to provoke one.
"Then... may I ask, Clan Leader, what should we do?" the branch manager couldn't help but ask.
The clan leader sighed lightly and said, "There's no need to despair too much. After all, Yi'er is now an elite disciple of the Heaven-tier Academy in Xia Feng Academy. Xia Feng Academy also values her highly and won't let her suffer such humiliation. We'll simply write a letter."
That night, a secret letter was sent out posthaste, traveling eight hundred li overnight.
Xia Feng Academy, as the top gathering place for geniuses in Xia Feng Kingdom, was directly established within the royal capital. It occupied a vast area with rolling hills and forests, its gate towers tall and imposing.
At the mountain peak in the academy's back mountain, mist and clouds swirled, resembling a fairyland.
The spiritual energy here far surpassed other places, abundant and vigorous, as if it were a blessed paradise. Cultivating here for one day could equal ten or eight days in the outside world.
Naturally, not everyone had the qualifications to enter such a cultivation holy land. Only a very small portion of the academy's true genius elites were qualified to set foot here.
And these genius elites referred to the strongest talents of the Heaven-tier Academy—only a dozen or so people, but each was at least a Xiantian realm genius.
At the edge of a secluded emerald-green pond, heaven and earth spiritual energy lingered densely, nearly turning into a misty form. At this moment, a young woman sat cross-legged on a rock. She wore a jade-green long dress, her black hair cascading down, her makeup exquisite, her eyes closed in cultivation.
As she cultivated, it was visible to the naked eye that strands of pure heaven and earth spiritual energy were being drawn into the young woman's body, transforming into her own power...
Half a day later, the young woman slowly opened her eyes. The spiritual energy in the surroundings calmed down. Feeling the increasingly powerful True Yuan force within her body, she revealed a satisfied smile.
This young woman was precisely Yang Yi. Relying on the Clear Spirit Pill she had tricked from Ye Chen back then, she had broken through to the Xiantian realm in one go. Because she had relied on external aids, her realm was somewhat unstable. Over these past five months, she had been cultivating in seclusion in Xia Feng Academy's back mountain, thoroughly consolidating her Xiantian realm cultivation.
Now, she was countless times stronger than when she had first broken through to the Xiantian realm, her aura vast and enduring, her True Yuan force profound and solid.
"Young Miss, a letter from the family arrived this morning."
Seeing that Yang Yi had finally exited her cultivation state, a maidservant who had been waiting there for some time hurriedly said respectfully, presenting a letter with both hands.
"A letter from the family? What could it be about?"
Yang Yi's delicate brows slightly furrowed as she took the letter. Opening it, her bright eyes quickly scanned the contents, her face showing surprise.
Ye Chen, that waste, had recovered his cultivation talent? And it was even rumored he had defeated Ye Zhengyang head-on? There were even rumors he was the disciple of a Two-Star Alchemist?
Immediately, she shook her head lightly and said softly, "Utter nonsense. How could Ye Chen, that waste, possibly defeat Ye Zhengyang? And to spread rumors about being a Two-Star Alchemist's disciple? I think this is deliberately spread by the Ye family to strike at our Yang family."
The maidservant said, "Young Miss, in this humble servant's opinion, the Clan Leader wouldn't send a letter without cause, fabricating things out of thin air. I'm afraid there's a certain degree of credibility to it."
Yang Yi smiled and glanced at the maidservant. "Chun'er, I didn't expect you to become smarter, actually thinking of this layer. But even if all these are true, so what? After all, I am not only an elite of Xia Feng Academy's Heaven-tier Academy but also have the Crown Prince's support. Even if that waste Ye Chen really wins, it's not certain he can do anything to me."
"And there's one more point: this year's Tian Du Academy enrollment trial is extraordinary. Even if that waste has recovered his cultivation talent, wanting to pass this year's Tian Du Academy enrollment trial... hehe, it's difficult!"
"Young Miss, why do you say that?" Chun'er asked, puzzled.
Yang Yi smiled slightly, full of mystery. "You'll know when the time comes. But this year, it's likely that the Heaven-tier Academy of Tian Du Academy will gain another super genius from Xia Feng Kingdom."
Chun'er said in pleasant surprise, "Young Miss, could it be you..."
"Chun'er, you guessed wrong. I've only just consolidated my Xiantian realm not long ago and don't yet have the ability to meet the trial requirements for Tian Du Academy's Heaven-tier Academy. But His Highness the Crown Prince certainly has that capability..." Yang Yi said softly, but her eyes shone brightly, filled with anticipation and even more with confidence in the Crown Prince.
The Crown Prince of this generation of Xia Feng Kingdom was a once-in-a-millennium peerless genius, exceptionally talented. At a young age, he had already reached an extremely high realm, capable of looking down upon all the younger generation of Xia Feng Kingdom, dominating all directions, and was bestowed with great expectations.
And she had gained the Crown Prince's appreciation, her future boundless.
Yang Yi's red lips curled into a cold arc as she chuckled lightly, frosty and infinite, exuding chilliness. "This time, even if that waste Ye Chen has truly recovered his cultivation talent, even if he meets Tian Du Academy's trial requirements, if he dares to have improper thoughts about me, His Highness the Crown Prince will make him understand what it means to wish for death rather than life!"