58: Chapter 58 Lin Batian's Wrath

The birthday banquet continued, but after the battle between Ye Tian and Lin Feng, the atmosphere in the entire hall had completely shifted.

The most obvious change was around Ye Qingtian; where he had previously only been exchanging pleasantries with a few old friends, he was now surrounded by even more people coming forward to toast and converse with him.

Most of these people were leaders or important figures of small to medium-sized forces in Luo City. With warm smiles on their faces, their words were filled with flattery for the Ye Family and unreserved praise for Ye Tian.

"Clan Chief Ye, your noble house truly produces many talents! For your nephew Ye Tian to have such strength at such a young age, his future is limitless!"

"Indeed, indeed. The Ye Family's revival is in sight; in the future, we will need Clan Chief Ye to guide us!"

The intentions of these people were self-evident.

They saw the astonishing potential Ye Tian displayed and believed that as long as this youth was in the Ye Family, they would sooner or later surpass the Lin Family.

Rather than waiting for the Ye Family to truly rise before adding flowers to the embroidery, it was better to offer help in their time of need now and establish a good relationship in advance.

This calculation could be described as nothing if not shrewd.

As the Clan Chief, Ye Qingtian was naturally well-versed in these ways.

He knew clearly in his heart that most of these people were fair-weather friends who followed the wind.

However, with the Ye Family currently in a turbulent period of internal troubles and external threats, being able to make more friends on the surface—even if only through a bond of interests—could to some extent deter the restless Lin Family and Black Cloud Stronghold, buying more breathing room for the Family.

Therefore, with a proper smile on his face, he maneuvered through the social engagements, turning no one away, making the atmosphere appear quite harmonious.

Compared to the bustling side of the Clan Chief, Ye Tian's side appeared much quieter.

He still stood behind the Grand Elder, remaining silent most of the time.

After the battle with Lin Feng, no one dared to look down on this seemingly low-profile youth in green robes anymore.

Ye Tian didn't feel much about this.

His mind was already no longer on this banquet.

Lin Feng's challenge had allowed him to see his own position more clearly.

The Late Stage of Qi Gathering Eighth Layer might be considered top-tier among the younger generation in Luo City, but before true powerhouses—those masters of the Ningyuan Realm—he was still as small as an ant.

Lin Batian's undisguised killing intent and City Lord Huangfu Xiong's unfathomable cultivation both kept him from becoming complacent.

"I must Breakthrough to the Ningyuan Realm as soon as possible! Only with Ningyuan will I truly have the capital to stand firm and have a voice in Luo City!"

His gaze occasionally swept across the hall; those so-called young talents of the fifth or sixth stages of Qi Gathering could no longer pique his interest in the slightest.

Only the white-robed youth who had remained quiet beside the City Lord, Huangfu Jing, drew his particular attention.

The other party had also glanced at him seemingly unintentionally. That gaze was as calm as water, yet it made Ye Tian feel an inexplicable pressure.

Ye Tian became increasingly certain that this person's strength was definitely far above Lin Feng's, and might even be no weaker than a Martial Artist who had just entered the Ningyuan Realm!

This gave him a deeper wariness toward the strength of the City Lord's Manor.

Of course, what gave Ye Tian the biggest headache was still Chen Xue.

This girl seemed completely indifferent to the gazes of others, occasionally finding chances to lean in and curiously ask about his cultivation secrets without any reservation.

Her actions naturally made those youths who admired her even more jealous of Ye Tian, yet they were helpless to do anything.

Ye Tian could only give vague answers, smiling bitterly in his heart.

Finally, about two hours later, the banquet concluded in a seemingly harmonious atmosphere.

Ye Qingtian was in high spirits today and had a few extra drinks. He was already hazy with intoxication, supported by Grand Elder Ye Wenshan as they took their leave of City Lord Huangfu Xiong.

Huangfu Xiong gave Ye Tian a meaningful look and smiled at Ye Qingtian, "Clan Chief Ye, your noble house has certainly added much color to this old man's birthday banquet today! With such a brilliant son, the Ye Family's resurgence is just around the corner. If you have leisure in the future, feel free to bring nephew Ye Tian to the manor often."

"The City Lord overpraises him. The boy is unruly and still needs more tempering."

Although Ye Qingtian was tipsy, he did not lose his manners and quickly responded politely.

On the carriage ride back, Ye Qingtian leaned against the cabin with a satisfied smile on his face, already fast asleep.

Ye Wenshan looked at the Clan Chief's rare relaxed posture and sighed softly, saying to Ye Tian, "The Clan Chief... he carries too much. Today, he is truly happy."

Ye Tian nodded silently; he could understand the heavy burden on the Clan Chief's shoulders.

Upon returning to the Ye Family, after the Grand Elder settled the Clan Chief, he specifically said to Ye Tian, "You did very well today, earning much face for our Ye Family.

But following this, the Lin Family likely won't let matters rest. You must be doubly careful."

"This Disciple understands," Ye Tian nodded solemnly.

He did not rest but instead sat cross-legged and closed his eyes. His mind instantly sank into his body as the Nine Revolutions Purple Heart Art began to slowly circulate.

Today's banquet had made him thoroughly realize the gap between himself and the top powerhouses.

"The Late Stage of Qi Gathering Eighth Layer is still far from enough!"

Inside his Dantian Qi Sea, True Qi flowed incessantly.

The chaos bead in his bosom emitted a warm aura, assisting him in more efficiently absorbing the Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi.

He cast aside distracting thoughts and threw his entire mind into his cultivation, guiding the True Qi to impact the Bottleneck time and again.

He could feel that he was not far from the Qi Gathering Ninth Stage.

The Lin Family Estate.

Family Head Lin Batian sat high in the main seat, his expression uglier than ever before, his fingers gripping the red sandalwood armrests so hard they made a creaking sound.

Everything that happened today at the City Lord's birthday banquet was simply a nightmare that should never have occurred for him.

When had his Lin Family ever suffered such a humiliating disgrace?!

His son Lin Feng was heavily injured and coughing blood, his reputation in tatters, while he, the Family Head, could only leave early in disgrace under the watchful eyes of the crowd!

"Ye... Tian..."

Lin Batian squeezed these two words through his teeth, his voice carrying a sky-toppling killing intent. "What a Ye Tian! What a Ye Family!"

He slammed the table suddenly, causing cracks to instantly spread across the surface, and barked, "Grand Elder!

Immediately send word to Black Cloud Stronghold!

Tell that trash Yan Sha that I'm giving him one last chance!

Three days! I'm only giving him three days!

No matter what method he uses, he must slaughter that little brat Ye Tian for me!

Otherwise, he won't get a single cent of the mining rights for the Red Iron Ore vein I promised him, nor any of those Medicinal Pill resources!"

Below, several core Elders of the Lin Family were as quiet as cicadas in winter, not daring to make a sound.

The Grand Elder quickly bowed and replied, "Yes! Family Head! I will see to it at once!"

Recalling Ye Tian's figure, Lin Batian's eyes were filled with murderous intent!

How could he not want to personally take action and slap that brat who repeatedly ruined his plans to death?

But the Ye Family was now heavily guarded, and City Lord Huangfu Xiong seemed to appreciate Ye Tian quite a bit. If he personally moved, it would inevitably cause an uproar and might even give the City Lord's Manor an excuse to intervene.

For now, he could only rely on the hands of the Black Cloud Stronghold!

"Ye Tian... you must die!"

Lin Batian looked toward the direction of the Ye Family's residence, his killing intent boiling. "Once you are dead and the Ye Family loses hope, I'll see how much longer that old thing Ye Qingtian can hold on!"

...

Early the next morning, the morning sun rose.

Ye Tian slowly woke up from a night of deep cultivation.

After a night of settling, he felt refreshed, his spirit and energy having reached their Peak. The True Qi in his body was becoming increasingly condensed and surging, only half a step away from the Peak of Qi Gathering Eighth Layer.

He had a premonition that if he cultivated step-by-step, he could attempt to charge into the Qi Gathering Ninth Stage in ten days at most!

He pushed open his door and walked into the small courtyard, facing the dawn as he slowly stretched his muscles and bones.

Then, he began a set of Overlapping Wave Fist. The wind from his punches whistled and his strength flowed, dispelling all the stagnation from a night of sitting still.

However, just as he was immersed in his fist technique!

His right arm once again broke free from his conscious control, following a mysterious trajectory and suddenly blasting forward!

This punch was heavy and powerful yet silent. Wherever the fist passed, crackling sonic booms erupted!

A muffled thud!

Three zhang away, a thick tree that would take two people to encircle suddenly had a hole blasted through its middle, wood chips flying everywhere!

The entire tree groaned and slowly tilted to one side, finally snapping at the trunk with a loud crack and crashing to the ground, kicking up a cloud of dust!

"Tian'er! What's wrong? What was that sound?!"

His mother, Lady Liu, was startled by the huge commotion and rushed out of the kitchen. Seeing the collapsed tree in the courtyard and Ye Tian standing there somewhat dazed, she was filled with alarm and doubt.

Ye Tian was also startled by this sudden punch. Coming to his senses and seeing his mother's worried eyes, he quickly gave a sheepish smile and scratched his head. "Mother, it's nothing, nothing. I just didn't control my strength well while practicing and accidentally broke the tree."

Lady Liu looked at the broken tree and then at her son, giving him a helpless look before saying, "You child, you have no sense of restraint when practicing. You scared me to death!

Be more careful next time!"

After saying that, she shook her head and went back to the kitchen to get busy.

Ye Tian stood in place, looking down at his right hand with a furrowed brow, his heart full of confusion.

"It's that feeling again! It's exactly the same as when I fought the Double-Tailed Ringed Leopard in the Black Cloud Mountains!"

He remembered clearly that mysterious state where his body acted on its own, erupting with a control far exceeding his usual capabilities.

"This is definitely no accident! But what exactly is it?"

He recalled that after returning from the Black Cloud Mountains, he had intended to ask the knowledgeable Grand Elder about this, but it had been delayed by the series of events that followed.

Now, this feeling had appeared again, and it seemed even clearer than the last time.

"I can't delay any longer! I must go ask the Grand Elder immediately!"

Ye Tian walked quickly to the kitchen door and said to his busy mother, "Mother, I'm going out for a bit to see the Grand Elder about something. Don't wait for me for breakfast!"

"Eh? You child, the food is almost ready..."

Before Lady Liu could finish, Ye Tian had already dashed out of the small courtyard, his figure disappearing into the morning light.

Lady Liu watched her son's departing back, feeling both annoyed and amused. She muttered under her breath, "This brat, that impulsive personality is exactly the same as his damn father back in the day!"