14: Chapter 14 Qi Gathering Triple Level

Deep within the Ancestral Hall, all was silent.

Ye Tian sat cross-legged in the innermost corner, where the Aura was most concentrated.

The nameless booklet was spread out before him, and the last remaining stalk of yin sha grass lay by his side.

There was less than half a month until the Family Grand Competition.

News of Ye Long's return had spread, causing Ye Tian to feel considerable pressure.

He had to achieve a Breakthrough.

Taking a deep breath, he tore off a small, deep blue leaf from the yin sha grass and placed it in his mouth.

The familiar extreme cold instantly exploded, nearly freezing his blood.

Almost simultaneously, he circulated the nameless Body Refining technique, guiding this violent energy to strike the tiny branch Meridians in his body that had yet to be opened.

Intense pain surged; veins bulged on his temples, but he gritted his teeth hard.

The stone bead in his bosom responded immediately, a scorching airflow gushing out to collide violently with the extreme cold!

Ice and fire intertwined, and a tearing pain swept through his entire body.

Frost condensed on the surface of his skin again, only to be quickly vaporized into white steam by the heat radiating from within his body.

He guided these two violent energies, washing through and widening his Meridians over and over, tempering his flesh, blood, and bones.

Under such a frenzied assault, the barrier of Body Refinement Level 2 began to loosen.

I don't know how much time passed, but when the power of ice and fire gradually subsided and transformed into a gentle, heavy energy to nourish his Physical Body, he clearly felt his body's resilience and strength leap to a new level!

Body Refinement Level 2, Perfection!

But he did not stop.

The Breakthrough in Body Refining drove the growth and condensation of the airflow within him, and the long-stagnant Bottleneck of Qi Gathering Level 2 also began to loosen violently.

Without hesitation, he stuffed the remaining small half-stalk of yin sha grass into his mouth!

This time, an even more massive surge of extreme cold energy erupted!

The stone bead's reaction was also unprecedentedly intense; the gushing heat flow almost scorched through his Meridians!

"Ah!"

He let out a suppressed low growl, a trickle of blood leaking from the corner of his mouth as his body trembled violently, nearly collapsing.

Desperately maintaining a sliver of clarity in his inner mind, he channeled this Spiritual Qi that far exceeded his capacity. No longer striking the Body Refining gates, he instead funneled everything into the Qi Induction Mantra, launching the most frenzied assault on the barrier of Qi Gathering Level 3!

Boom! Boom!

Energy surged and roared within his body, striking the invisible Realm barrier time and again.

His Meridians throbbed with an overburdened sting, but he ignored it, concentrating all his will onto a single point.

Breakthrough!

He didn't know how many times he had struck.

Crack!

A faint sound of cracking came from deep within his body.

That solid barrier was finally smashed open!

The surging airflow instantly rushed in, its circulation speed suddenly accelerating, becoming more condensed and majestic!

Qi Gathering Realm, Level 3!

He snapped his eyes open, a sharp light flashing in them before being retracted.

His overall Aura was noticeably stronger, and even the bone-deep wound on his left arm felt a tingling itch as its healing speed accelerated.

He slowly clenched his fist, feeling the sense of power flowing within him, far exceeding what he had before.

Finally... a Breakthrough.

Meanwhile, the Ye Family Martial Arts Arena presented a different scene.

Ye Long, dressed in a brocade robe with a tall stature, stood in the middle of the field.

He didn't use any weapons, instead casually performing a Yellow Rank Medium Grade fist technique widely circulated within the Ye Family.

Wind-Breaking Fist.

His punches were like the wind, his inner force sharp, with the faint sound of breaking air.

His movements were smooth and natural; he had clearly mastered the essence.

The Spiritual Qi fluctuations around him were impressively at the Fifth Stage Peak of Qi Gathering, seemingly only a step away from Level 6!

The surrounding Ye Family disciples were gathered, their cheers and gasps of admiration constant.

"Brother Long's Wind-Breaking Fist has likely reached the Major Achievement stage, right? Its power is almost catching up to Yellow Rank High Grade martial arts!"

"Fifth Stage Peak of Qi Gathering! He's only been out for half a year of training! That's incredible!"

"It seems the top spot in this Family Grand Competition will undoubtedly belong to Brother Long!"

Ye Hao also stood at the front of the crowd, his Face full of pride.

He shouted loudly, "My big brother said that during the competition, he will absolutely show no mercy to those who are just there to make up the numbers or use underhanded tricks!"

As he spoke, his gaze intentionally swept around, clearly implying someone.

Everyone naturally understood who he was talking about, and a burst of laughter and agreement immediately broke out.

"Brother Hao is talking about that Trash who sweeps the Ancestral Hall, right?"

"I heard he had some dumb luck during the last minor competition. He actually dares to provoke Brother Long? He's really courting death!"

"The Grand Competition is a real arena; let's see what tricks he can play then! Brother Long can crush him with a single finger!"

"By then, won't he be so scared he'll wet his pants and just surrender?"

The mockery was blatant.

Listening to the flattery and discussions around him, Ye Long's expression remained calm, but a hint of satisfaction and coldness flickered in his eyes.

He withdrew his fists and stood tall, his tone flat but carrying an unquestionable confidence: "Just a clown. When the competition comes, the truth will be revealed."

These words drew even more fawning agreement.

Everyone was certain that Ye Tian was finished.

Having offended Ye Long and possessing low strength, he would surely become a stepping stone for Ye Long to establish his dominance during the Grand Competition, meeting a miserable end.

Inside the Ancestral Hall.

Ye Tian slowly finished his cultivation, the white steam rising from him gradually dissipating.

He heard some of the noise and mockery from outside, but he didn't care.

He looked down at his scarred hands and slowly clenched them tight.

Qi Gathering Level 3, Body Refinement Level 2 Perfection.

Combined with the Overlapping Wave Fist, perhaps... he had a fighting chance.

But it wasn't enough.

His cultivation had broken through, but his resources were exhausted once again.

Carrying his last few dozen Low-Grade Spirit Stones, Ye Tian went to the market again.

He needed to buy some Medicinal Pills to consolidate his foundation and nurture his essence, stabilizing his newly achieved Realm and preparing for the upcoming Grand Competition.

The market was as noisy as ever.

He walked straight toward "Danxiang Pavilion." It was a Medicinal Pill shop run by the Ye Family itself; while the prices weren't necessarily cheap, at least the goods were genuine.

Just as he reached the entrance, a group of people crowding around a young man in fine clothes walked out, laughing and talking, blocking the doorway.

The young man was about eighteen or nineteen, his Face showing signs of dissipation, his eyes arrogant, and a jade pendant of the Lin Family's direct line hung from his waist.

Ye Tian recognized him: the second Young Master of the Lin Family, Lin Hao.

The Lin Family and the Ye Family were equal in strength and had always been in constant conflict. This Lin Hao, relying on his family background, had always acted tyrannically in the markets of both families.

Ye Tian didn't want to cause trouble and stepped aside to let them pass first.

But Lin Hao stopped, his gaze falling on Ye Tian with a mix of amusement and contempt, intentionally raising his voice: "Oh, isn't this the famous 'Ancestral Hall Sweeper' of the Ye Family? What, is your sweeping reward enough to buy things at Danxiang Pavilion?"

The attendants and lackeys behind him immediately burst into laughter, causing passersby to look over.

Ye Tian's brow furrowed slightly; he ignored them and continued walking inside.

"Stop!" Lin Hao's Face darkened. Feeling that being ignored made him lose Face, he took a step across, blocking the path again. "I'm talking to you, didn't you hear me?"

"Get out of the way."

"Get out of the way?" Lin Hao sneered, his finger almost poking Ye Tian's nose. "What kind of thing are you? You think you're worthy of having me make way? A Trash who sweeps and takes out the Trash for the Ye Family—seeing me, you should be lucky I don't make you kneel and kowtow, and yet you dare to glare at me?"

One of the attendants behind him added sarcastically, "Second Young Master, you might not know, but this fellow has gained some ability recently. I heard he used underhanded tricks to win against Young Master Hao in the minor competition, and now he's forgotten his place."

Hearing this, Lin Hao laughed even more exaggeratedly. "Him? Beat Ye Hao? Well, that Ye Hao is also a piece of Trash! Trash beating Trash, quite a match!"

The harsh laughter was exceptionally loud.

The Ye Family managers and workers inside Danxiang Pavilion saw the commotion at the door, but no one came out to stop it; instead, they all looked on like they were watching a show.

Ye Tian looked up at Lin Hao's Face, which was somewhat bloated from wine and women. "I'll say it one last time: get out of the way."

Lin Hao was momentarily intimidated by the coldness that flashed in his eyes, but then he became even more infuriated. He suddenly reached out and shoved Ye Tian's chest: "Get lost! A good dog doesn't block the path!"

This shove contained Qi. Had it been the Ye Tian of half a month ago, he probably would have been pushed to the ground.

But now—

Ye Tian's body sank slightly, and he remained completely motionless!

Lin Hao was stunned.

In that moment of daze, Ye Tian moved!

His right hand snatched Lin Hao's pushing wrist, pulling it back while simultaneously tripping him!

Lin Hao only felt a massive force. His lower body instantly lost balance, and with a cry of "Ouch!", he lunged forward, falling Face-first in a pathetic heap. His front teeth slammed against the bluestone pavement, and blood flowed!

The entire place went deathly silent!

Everyone was stunned, looking at Lin Hao lying on the ground with a mouth full of blood, and then at Ye Tian, who had expressionlessly withdrawn his hand.

No one expected that this famous Trash of the Ye Family would actually dare to lay a hand on the second Young Master of the Lin Family!

And he actually succeeded?

"Second Young Master!"

"You're courting death!"

Lin Hao's attendants took a second to react. Overwhelmed with shock and anger, they lunged at Ye Tian with fists and kicks.

Ye Tian's eyes turned cold. Instead of retreating, he advanced, the strength of Qi Gathering Level 3 and the power of Body Refinement Level 2 Perfection exploding instantly!

He didn't use the Overlapping Wave Fist, but as he performed basic fist techniques now, they were heavy and delivered from tricky angles!

Bang! Crack! Thud!

A few muffled thuds mixed with cries of pain followed. The two attendants who had lunged most fiercely were smashed to the ground on the spot, clutching their Faces and screaming.

The others were intimidated by his Aura and for a moment didn't dare to step forward.

Ye Tian didn't even look at the attendants rolling on the ground; he only gave a cold glance to Lin Hao, who had just scrambled up.

By now, Lin Hao's mouth was full of blood. He was consumed by shame and rage, pointing at Ye Tian but unable to speak.

"Watch your mouth."

Having said that, he turned to enter Danxiang Pavilion.

"Stop!!"

A sharp shout came from behind him.