42: Chapter 42 The Great Perfection of the Overlapping Wave Fist

The meeting hall was deathly silent at this moment.

Everyone's gaze was focused on the Clan Chief, Ye Qingtian, awaiting his final verdict.

About half an incense stick of time later, Ye Qingtian's profound gaze swept over everyone present, and he finally let out a long sigh.

His gaze landed on Ye Long as he spoke: "Ye Long, you harmed your own kin and framed others. The evidence of your crimes is irrefutable. According to the Family rules, you should have your cultivation crippled and be expelled from the Family!"

Ye Long trembled all over, his eyes filled with despair.

Ye Zhengfeng also nervously clenched his fists.

"However," Ye Qingtian changed the subject, "considering your parents' decades of diligent work and great contributions to the Family, and the fact that you have also won some honors for the Family in the past, I will make an exception. I will preserve your cultivation and spare your life!"

As soon as these words were spoken, Ye Long and Ye Zhengfeng felt as if they had been granted amnesty. They let out a long sigh of relief, their faces showing the joy of having survived a disaster.

Ye Long hurriedly kowtowed: "Thank you for your mercy, Clan Chief! Thank you for your mercy, Clan Chief!"

Ye Tian stood below, his expression calm and indifferent, revealing neither joy nor anger.

He understood in his heart that the Clan Chief's actions must have a deeper meaning.

Punishing Ye Long severely would certainly be satisfying, but it would inevitably enrage the faction led by Ye Zhengfeng, whose influence was deeply rooted. It could very likely trigger internal division or even turmoil within the Family.

For the Ye Family, which was currently facing external threats, this was a price they could not afford to pay.

The Clan Chief was weighing the pros and cons to maintain the Family's stability.

The Second Elder, Ye Wenshan, frowned slightly, a flash of displeasure crossing his face. However, he also deeply understood the Clan Chief's dilemma. To publicly oppose the Clan Chief's decision now would be tantamount to challenging the Clan Chief's authority and would only make the situation worse.

However, Ye Qingtian's next words made Ye Zhengfeng's face turn ugly again, just as he had let out a sigh of relief.

"But!"

Ye Qingtian's voice suddenly turned sharp, "Capital punishment may be avoided, but living punishment is unavoidable! Harming one's own kin is the greatest taboo of our Ye Family! If you are not severely punished, how can I uphold the Family rules? How can I convince the masses?"

He paused and declared word by word: "Effective immediately, Ye Long's arm will be severed as a warning to others! He is also sentenced to reflect on his mistakes in the Forbidden Ground behind the mountain, and is grounded for five years! Without permission, he is not to take a single step out!"

"What?! Sever an arm?! Grounded for five years?!"

The relief on Ye Long's face instantly turned into terror!

Severing an arm meant his future on the path of martial arts was completely ruined!

Being grounded for five years would completely marginalize him!

Although this punishment preserved his cultivation and life, how was it any different from being a cripple?!

"Clan Chief! Spare me, Clan Chief! I know I was wrong! Please give me one more chance!"

Ye Long was weeping, kowtowing frantically to beg for mercy.

However, Ye Qingtian's decision had been made; how could it be changed?

He waved his hand expressionlessly.

Two law enforcement clansmen immediately stepped forward, grabbing Ye Long from the left and right.

"No! Don't!"

Ye Long struggled desperately, but it was to no avail.

One of the law enforcement clansmen, expressionless, raised his hand and struck Ye Long's left shoulder joint!

"Crack!" A sound of bone breaking rang out!

"Ah!!!"

Ye Long let out a shrill scream, the intense pain instantly sweeping through his body. His left arm hung limp, and his vision went black as he fainted on the spot.

The two law enforcement clansmen dragged the unconscious Ye Long away like a dead dog, sending him directly to the Forbidden Ground behind the mountain to be locked up.

The hall was deathly silent.

Everyone looked at the bloodstains remaining on the floor, each lost in their own thoughts.

Ye Zhengfeng's face was ashen, his chest heaving violently, but he dared not speak despite his anger.

He knew that this was the severest punishment the Clan Chief could impose while maintaining the Family's stability.

Arguing further would be failing to read the situation.

After dealing with Ye Long, Ye Qingtian turned his gaze to Ye Qing and Ye Yuan, who were slumped on the ground, and said coldly: "You two, for giving false testimony and framing your own kin, although forced, you lacked firm will and had flawed character! I sentence you to be grounded for one year and deduct three years of Cultivation resources as a warning! If there is any further misconduct, you will be severely punished without leniency!"

"Thank you, Clan Chief! Thank you for your mercy, Clan Chief!"

Ye Qing and Ye Yuan kowtowed like they were pounding garlic; compared to Ye Long's fate, this punishment was much lighter.

Finally, Ye Qingtian's gaze fell on Ye Tian, who had been calm from beginning to end. His eyes were complex, filled with both appreciation and apology.

"Ye Tian, you were wronged during this trip to the Secret Realm. The Family will definitely compensate you. Go back and rest well for now; we will discuss the unusual activity in the Secret Realm in detail later."

Ye Tian bowed and saluted, his tone calm: "Disciple obeys, thank you Clan Chief for upholding justice."

He understood clearly.

The Clan Chief's move killed two birds with one stone.

He had severely punished Ye Long, upheld the Family rules, and given both himself and everyone else an explanation.

He had also preserved Ye Long's cultivation and life, pacified the faction led by Ye Zhengfeng, and avoided internal division within the Family.

As the head of a Family, under internal and external pressure, this was perhaps the most prudent way to handle it.

As for Ye Long, with his arm severed and being grounded, his path in martial arts was basically broken; this thorn had been removed.

As for the forces behind him, after this incident, they would likely restrain themselves and would not dare to target him openly in the short term.

With the matter of Ye Long settled, Ye Tian did not stay in the Family for long. After a simple farewell to his mother, he once again set foot on the road to the Black Cloud Mountains.

This time, his goal was practical combat training and seeking a Breakthrough!

His cultivation at the Middle Stage of Qi Gathering Level 6 had stabilized. With the assistance of the chaos bead and the Nine Revolutions Purple Heart Art, his cultivation speed far exceeded that of ordinary people.

However, the third layer of power of the Overlapping Wave Fist was still a layer of window paper away from the true Great Perfection Realm; it needed real life-and-death combat to break through.

And those thick-skinned, fierce, and bloodthirsty Vicious Beasts in the Black Cloud Mountains were the best whetstones.

In addition, the Materials obtained from hunting Vicious Beasts could be exchanged for a large number of Spirit Stones and Medicinal Pills, providing resource security for subsequent Cultivation.

Familiar with the path, Ye Tian passed through the outer perimeter of the mountains and headed directly into the deeper regions.

He suppressed his aura, keenly perceiving the movements around him.

Soon, he locked onto a target.

An Earth-Splitting Bear was drinking water by the stream.

This bear was as sturdy as a small mountain, its fur was earthy yellow, and its pair of bear paws were as big as cattail fans, containing immense strength capable of splitting stones. It was an Intermediate Tier 5 Vicious Beast with strength comparable to a Martial Artist at Qi Gathering Level 6.

"It's you!"

Ye Tian's Battle Intent rose in his eyes; he no longer hid and charged straight at the Earth-Splitting Bear!

"Roar!"

The Earth-Splitting Bear sensed danger, let out a roar, stood up, and swung its huge bear paw at Ye Tian!

This strike had immense, fierce strength, enough to shatter a boulder!

Ye Tian did not dodge or avoid it. He let out a low shout, the third layer of power of the Overlapping Wave Fist exploded instantly, and he met it with his right fist!

Bang! Bang! Bang!

Fist and palm met, and the Qi energy exploded!

The three layers of hidden energy exploded one after another!

The Earth-Splitting Bear's body stalled, and it was actually shaken back a step. The intense pain from its bear paw made it even more furious!

Ye Tian was also forced back several steps by the counter-shock force, his arm slightly numb.

"Good guy! The strength is truly formidable!"

Ye Tian was not afraid but happy; this was exactly the opponent he needed!

He moved again, no longer clashing head-on. Instead, he used his movement technique, constantly circling the Earth-Splitting Bear, outputting the Overlapping Wave Fist crazily, and focusing his attacks on its relatively weak waist, abdomen, and joints!

Although the Earth-Splitting Bear had great strength, its movements were relatively clumsy. It was driven into a rage by Ye Tian's fighting style, roaring repeatedly, but it struggled to hit its target.

In the midst of the fierce battle, Ye Tian was fully immersed in controlling the power of the Overlapping Wave Fist.

He constantly adjusted his force-generating techniques, attempting to stack and explode the three layers of power more harmoniously.

Pursuing that perfect Realm of effortless execution.

The battle lasted for about an incense stick of time. The Earth-Splitting Bear was injured in many places, its movements becoming increasingly sluggish, and its breathing becoming heavy.

As for Ye Tian, his application of the Overlapping Wave Fist became increasingly proficient, and that thin membrane hindering his Breakthrough was becoming thinner and thinner!

"Now is the time!"

Seeing the moment the Earth-Splitting Bear was exhausted after a lunge, light burst from Ye Tian's eyes, and the True Qi in his body converged into his right fist!

Overlapping Wave Fist! Three-layer power! Perfection!

This punch was no longer a simple stacking of three layers of power, but three strands of power perfectly blended and twisted into one, exploding with power far exceeding anything before!

Where the fist wind passed, the air emitted a low explosive sound!

Boom!!!

The fist slammed into the Earth-Splitting Bear's vital heart area!

The Earth-Splitting Bear's huge body stiffened, its eyes filled with terror, and then, a destructive force exploded from within its body!

"Pfft." The Earth-Splitting Bear bled from its seven orifices, its internal organs had been shattered, and it collapsed to the ground, stopping breathing after a few moments.

Ye Tian slowly retracted his fist, stood in place, panting slightly, but his eyes were filled with an excited glow!

"Overlapping Wave Fist three-layer power, finally Great Perfection!"

He felt the satisfying explosion of that punch just now, and his control over power had Advanced another step.

Now, even when facing an opponent at the Peak of Qi Gathering Level 6, he was confident enough to confront them head-on!

After a brief adjustment of his breath, Ye Tian skillfully processed the Earth-Splitting Bear's corpse, taking the most valuable bear gallbladder, sharp claws, and a portion of the tough bear skin, putting them into his bag.

"Continue!"

Having tasted the sweetness, Ye Tian did not stop. He continued to move deeper into the mountains, looking for the next suitable opponent.

Over the next few days, Ye Tian roamed the depths of the Black Cloud Mountains.

He successively fought several Intermediate and Advanced Tier 5 Vicious Beasts, such as the "Swift Wind Wolf King", "Iron-Back Rhinoceros", and "Red Flame Python".

Every battle was fraught with danger, but relying on his Great Perfection Overlapping Wave Fist and his formidable Body Refining Foundation, Ye Tian won every battle in the end.

His combat experience accumulated rapidly, his application of his own power became increasingly exquisite, and his cultivation was steadily advancing towards the Late Stage of Level 6 under the constant fighting and the refining of the chaos bead.

The harvest was also quite rich; various Vicious Beast Materials filled more than half of his bag, which was of considerable value.

On this day, Ye Tian was resting in a valley, checking the harvest from the past few days, while operating his Cultivation Technique to restore his consumed True Qi.

Suddenly, the chaos bead in his arms sent out an unusually violent pulsation without any warning!

This pulsation was far stronger than when he had sensed the tree of longevity before!

Ye Tian stood up abruptly, his gaze looking towards the depths of the valley.

"In that direction, is there something attracting the chaos bead?"