‘Ye Yunfei alone managed to beat all of you to such a state. Could it be that his Martial Vein has already recovered? Truly, fortune is blind. If Ye Yunfei has truly recovered his Martial Vein, then his former talent might also be restored. Hmm, we shouldn’t underestimate him too much. An'er, could he become your competitor once again?’ Qin Xiong said, frowning.
‘Father, you don't need to worry about that. Now that I have awakened my Heavenly Spirit Body, a mere Ye Yunfei no longer commands my attention. Yuanyue City is but a tiny, insignificant place, unworthy of consideration. My sights are set on the entire Great Qin Empire! The Four Great Sects of the Empire, and the Imperial Royal City—that is the true stage where the talented gather. Only the geniuses of those Four Great Sects and the Imperial Royal City are qualified to be my competitors. My current consideration is which sect I should join. After joining a sect, I will contend for supremacy with the most exceptional geniuses of our time in the Great Qin Empire! Compared to the truly gifted talents of the Great Qin Empire, is Ye Yunfei someone worthy of Qin An's regard?’ Qin An stood before Qin Xiong, speaking eloquently, appearing supremely arrogant.
‘Haha! Worthy of my son, Qin Xiong! It is this father’s vision that is too narrow. A mere Ye Yunfei indeed does not deserve to be your competitor!’ Qin Xiong roared with laughter.
‘Patriarch, rest assured. Once news of Young Master Qin An awakening the Heavenly Spirit Body spreads, the Four Great Sects of the Empire will surely send people to recruit him. Therefore, it is a foregone conclusion that Young Master Qin An will join one of the Four Great Sects,’ an elder of the Qin Family stepped forward and flattered.
Hearing this, both father and son grew even more pleased with themselves.
‘Everyone, listen! In ten days, it will be the annual Four-Clan Mine Seizing Competition. This time, our Qin Family must take advantage of the opportunity presented by An'er awakening his Heavenly Spirit Body and our imminent rise to power to seize the championship in one move. This year's mining rights will definitely belong to us, the Qin Family!’ Qin Xiong declared loudly.
‘Excellent!’
Everyone in the main hall erupted in a clamor of approval.
‘Patriarch, Ye Yunfei injured so many of our Qin Family's younger generation. This matter cannot be left unresolved! The Ye Family must be made to answer for this! Otherwise, people will think our Qin Family is easy to bully!’ Qin Fude spoke, the anger at his crippled son still burning within him.
‘Rest easy. I will immediately send someone to the Ye Family to demand an answer. If they refuse, they can await the full fury of our Qin Family! Furthermore, after the Four-Clan Mine Seizing Competition ends and our Qin Family seizes the championship, we will unite with the Shi Family to deal with the Ye Family together. I want the Ye Family… annihilated!’ Qin Xiong nodded, saying with a cold laugh.
‘Patriarch, Patriarch Shi of the Shi Family, accompanied by his daughter Shi Xiaodie, is here to visit!’
Suddenly, a servant hurriedly rushed into the main hall and reported loudly.
‘Patriarch, Patriarch Lü of the Lü Family is here to visit!’
Before the words even settled, another servant rushed in to report.
‘These two old foxes, their news travels quickly. They must have received the news of An'er awakening his Heavenly Spirit Body,’ Qin Xiong said, his face flushed with delight.
‘Patriarch, the City Lord has arrived personally!’
At that moment, another servant rushed into the hall, speaking urgently.
The City Lord of Yuanyue City had also come!
Every member of the Qin Family was pleasantly surprised, feeling immense face.
In Yuanyue City, the City Lord's strength was on par with, if not stronger than, the Four Great Families! However, the City Lord usually maintained a distance and didn't involve himself in the disputes and struggles of the Four Great Families. Who would have thought that this time, he would actually come to the Qin Family in person?
‘Hahaha…! Our Qin Family has begun its rise! Come, An'er, follow me to greet the guests.’ Qin Xiong laughed heartily, brimming with satisfaction.
‘Yes.’
Qin An nodded faintly, subtly displaying an expression that seemed unruffled by honor or disgrace.
Soon, a shocking and sensational piece of news spread rapidly throughout Yuanyue City.
The eldest young master of the Qin Family, Qin An, had awakened the Heavenly Spirit Body!
Instantly, the entirety of Yuanyue City was completely abuzz.
‘The legendary Heavenly Spirit Body has actually appeared in our Yuanyue City!’
‘The Qin Family has produced a dragon!’
‘Qin An's future is limitless. The Qin Family of Yuanyue City is beginning its complete and utter rise!’
…
Every corner of Yuanyue City was frantically discussing Qin An.
‘The Ye Family is in danger!’
While marveling at the rise of Qin An and the Qin Family, many also thought of the conflict between the Qin and Ye Families. It was well-known that Qin Xiong, Patriarch of the Qin Family, and Ye Tianpeng, Patriarch of the Ye Family, were sworn enemies. If the Qin Family rose powerfully, the Ye Family was sure to face retaliation, and their end would be tragic.
—–
Within the Ye Family estate, in Ye Yunfei's small courtyard.
Inside a room.
‘Qin An should have awakened his Heavenly Spirit Body by now,’ Ye Yunfei, who had been sitting quietly cultivating, suddenly opened his eyes. He looked in the direction of the Qin Family, a cold smile appearing on his face.
Based on the memories from his past life, Ye Yunfei knew that at this very moment, Qin An had awakened the Heavenly Spirit Body, instantly causing a sensation throughout the entire Great Qin Empire and becoming a highly sought-after young genius. It was precisely because of this that the Shi Family, the Lü Family, and even the City Lord of Yuanyue City would fully align with the Qin Family and work together to suppress the Ye Family.
‘A Heavenly Spirit Body is indeed rare and precious for a small empire like the Great Qin Empire. But when placed against the entire Yanhuang Continent, what does it even amount to?’
Ye Yunfei wore an expression of disdain. In his past life, Ye Yunfei, as a Heavenly Emperor, had stood at the pinnacle of the world. His horizons and knowledge were naturally incomparable to those of someone from the Great Qin Empire.
The Heavenly Spirit Body was only one of the various special physiques in the world, and a relatively low-tier one at that. Ye Yunfei had even encountered legendary Half-Immortal Bodies! Besides, the Chaos God Vein that Ye Yunfei himself possessed was more than enough to completely overpower a Heavenly Spirit Body by tenfold!
‘Qin An, at this year's Four-Clan Mine Seizing Competition, I will personally strike you down and return you to your original, insignificant state.’
Ye Yunfei’s words echoed within the room.
Right at this moment.
‘Young master, it's terrible! So many people have come!’
Urgent knocking on the door sounded from outside, accompanied by Xiao Yue's panicked voice.
‘What’s going on?’
Frowning, Ye Yunfei stood up, opened the door, and stepped outside.
Indeed, standing in the small courtyard before him was a crowd of people, all from the Ye Family.
‘Ye Yunfei! You are guilty of the most heinous crimes! Surrender yourself immediately!’
A middle-aged man shouted loudly. He appeared furious, and deep within his eyes, there was nothing but coldness.
He was Ye Yunfei’s second uncle, Ye Zhongnian.
Ye Yunfei had never had a good opinion of Ye Zhongnian because he was wildly ambitious and had always sought to usurp the position of Patriarch held by Ye Yunfei's father. Over the years, in his bid for the Patriarch's seat, he had formed factions within the Ye Family, schemed meticulously, and targeted Ye Yunfei and his father specifically. Especially after Ye Yunfei’s misfortune and his branding as the city’s number one waste, Ye Zhongnian had stirred up even more trouble, exerting immense pressure on Ye Yunfei’s father.
Moreover, according to the memories from his past life, Ye Yunfei knew that at this time, Ye Zhongnian had already secretly colluded with the Qin and Shi Families, working from within to help them deal with Ye Yunfei’s father and seize power.
‘Ye Zhongnian, are you out of your mind? What crime have I committed that I should surrender myself?’
Ye Yunfei's gaze was icy as he swept it over Ye Zhongnian, speaking coldly.
‘Ye Yunfei, what kind of attitude is that! You’ve brought immense calamity upon the family from outside, committing a grave offense against the clan, and yet you dare to act so arrogantly! Today, I will definitely apprehend you and punish you severely!’ Ye Zhongnian’s eyes narrowed, brimming with rage. Yet, he also felt slightly puzzled. Usually, when Ye Yunfei encountered him, it was like a mouse seeing a cat—utterly terrified. Today, he actually dared to be so brazenly defiant.
‘You’d better not let that old hound bark wildly. Go on, tell me exactly what calamity I’ve caused, what crime I’ve committed.’
Ye Yunfei sneered.
‘You’re going too far! Ye Yunfei, you waste! You have no respect for your elders! You dare to defy your superiors! You dare to be discourteous to my father with your words! Today, I will teach you a good lesson!’
A youth at Ye Zhongnian's side stormed forward. His eyes were narrow and lengthy, like those of a weasel, filled with a fierce and vicious aura. He was Ye Zhongnian's youngest son, Ye Qiang.
Ye Qiang's face bore a darkly cunning and cruel expression as he stepped closer to Ye Yunfei. An invisible spiritual force circulated across his body, causing his clothes to billow and swell up high as if he were a balloon.
‘Such potent spiritual force!
Young Master Ye Qiang truly has exceptional talent!’
‘Young Master Ye Qiang is truly a beacon of hope for the future of our Ye Family!’
…
Admiring exclamations immediately resounded throughout the courtyard.