8: Qingxue's admonition
Stepping into the Ye family estate once again, the feeling was completely different from before.
No longer the cripple who needed to endure in silence and suffer the disdain of others, Ye Chen straightened his back and walked with steady steps behind Ye Fu. Along the way, the servants and branch family members of the Ye family who saw him had looks of unconcealed astonishment, curiosity, and even a hint of awe.
News of Ye Fu's broken leg at the back mountain and Ye Xiong's humiliating defeat at the Law Enforcement Hall had already quietly spread among the lower ranks of the Ye family. Anyone could see that this "trash" young master, who was once declared to never have a chance at a comeback, seemed to truly be different now.
Ye Qingxue's residence, "Listening Snow Pavilion," was located deep within the Ye family estate. The environment was quiet and elegant, overflowing with Spiritual Qi, far superior to the dilapidated small courtyard where Ye Chen had lived before.
Inside the pavilion's living room, Ye Qingxue was still dressed in a plain white dress, sitting before a tea table, brewing tea with her delicate hands, her movements elegant and composed. Seeing Ye Chen enter, she nodded slightly and motioned for him to sit.
“It seems you haven't wasted your time these past few days.” Ye Qingxue pushed a cup of clear tea toward Ye Chen, her beautiful eyes scanning him with a hint of admiration. “Body Tempering Seventh Level, with a solid Foundation and condensed spiritual power. The speed of your progress has exceeded my expectations.”
Ye Chen felt a slight chill in his heart; this Cousin's eyes were indeed sharp. He hadn't intentionally revealed his aura, yet she had seen through most of his strength at a glance.
“I had a small Opportunity and didn't dare to be lax,” Ye Chen replied calmly as he took the tea cup.
Ye Qingxue didn't press further, but her tone turned serious. “Was it peaceful at your place last night?”
Ye Chen's eyes flickered as he set down the tea cup. “A blind rat came by, and I've already dealt with it.”
“As I thought.” Ye Qingxue sighed softly. “I called you here today precisely for this matter. Do you know who that ‘Instructor Lin’ is?”
“I was just about to ask.” Ye Chen sat up straight. This was exactly what he wanted to know most right now.
“Lin Batian.” Ye Qingxue spoke the name, observing Ye Chen's reaction. “He is not a member of our Ye family, but one of the guard instructors of the City Lord's Mansion. His cultivation has reached the Kaiyuan Realm Sixth Level, and his ‘Mountain-Breaking Fist’ is fierce and overbearing. He is quite famous in Qingyun City.”
“The City Lord's Mansion?” Ye Chen's brow furrowed. In the original owner's memory, there was no interaction with the City Lord's Mansion, let alone any grudges.
“He is a Cousin to Ye Chenfeng's mother, Lin Wan,” Ye Qingxue pointed out the key detail. “Lin Wan comes from a branch of the City Lord's Mansion. Do you understand now?”
A cold light flashed in Ye Chen's eyes. “So it's Ye Chenfeng's, or rather, his mother Lin Wan's intention?”
“Lin Wan is not broad-minded and is extremely protective of her own.” Ye Qingxue tacitly confirmed Ye Chen's guess. “Ye Chenfeng is about to head to the Tianxuan Sword Sect, so she naturally won't leave any ‘hidden dangers’ that could affect her son's future. She might not have cared about you before, but your recent changes have likely caught her attention.”
Ye Chen sneered. “So she sent an assassin to eliminate the threat once and for all.”
“Lin Batian's status in the City Lord's Mansion is not low, and he has many resources at his disposal. Since he failed last night, he definitely won't let it go.” Ye Qingxue's tone was grave. “An open attack is easy to dodge, but a hidden arrow is hard to guard against. Although your strength is recovering rapidly, facing a Kaiyuan Realm Sixth Level expert and the forces he can mobilize is still extremely dangerous.”
A brief silence fell over the living room. The fragrance of tea curled in the air, but it couldn't dispel the invisible pressure.
Ye Chen picked up the tea cup and took a sip. The clear tea soup entered his throat, making his mind even calmer. He looked at Ye Qingxue. “Cousin, you didn't tell me all this just to warn me, right?”
Ye Qingxue gave him an appreciative look; talking to smart people saved a lot of effort.
“There are two choices.” She held up two slender fingers. “First, I can arrange for you to secretly leave Qingyun City and go to another town under an assumed name to lie low for a while. The Ye family name still carries some weight in the surrounding cities.”
“And the second?” Ye Chen asked without any hesitation. Running away was never his style. With a great debt of vengeance unpaid and powerful enemies surrounding him, if he had to retreat from the threat of a mere City Lord's Mansion instructor, how could he talk about returning to the Nine Heavens and slaying Luo Feng?
As if expecting him to ask this, Ye Qingxue continued, “Second, stay in Qingyun City. But you need a legitimate and rapid Opportunity to increase your strength and status—an identity that would make Lin Batian and even the City Lord's Mansion hesitate for a while.”
“What Opportunity?”
“In one month, ‘Tianfeng Academy’ will come to Qingyun City to recruit new students,” Ye Qingxue revealed the key. “Although Tianfeng Academy is not as good as the Tianxuan Sword Sect, it is still the premier academy within a thousand-mile radius. It has a deep background and is affiliated with the ‘Liuyun Sword Sect.’ If you can pass the entrance exam and become an academy Disciple, even the City Lord's Mansion won't dare to move against you easily.”
Tianfeng Academy! Liuyun Sword Sect!
Ye Chen's gaze sharpened. This was indeed a way out. The status of an academy Disciple was itself a protective umbrella. Moreover, the academy's resources were abundant, allowing for a more systematic increase in strength and exposure to a wider world.
“What are the requirements to enter Tianfeng Academy?”
“Age no more than eighteen, and cultivation must reach at least the Body Tempering Seventh Level.” Ye Qingxue looked at Ye Chen. “You've already met the cultivation standard. But the assessment doesn't just look at cultivation; it places more weight on combat potential and talent. There will be specialized tests, and the competition will be extremely fierce. Young geniuses from Qingyun City and the surrounding towns will all be there.”
Body Tempering Seventh Level was just the threshold! Ye Chen felt the pressure, but it also ignited his fighting spirit.
“Besides that,” Ye Qingxue added, “if you want to stand out in the assessment a month from now, it would be best if you possessed your own ‘spirit weapon.’ Even if it's just the lowest Yellow Rank Low Grade spirit weapon, it can greatly enhance your strength.”
A spirit weapon contained spirituality and could resonate with a Martial Artist's spiritual power, unleashing power far beyond ordinary iron. For the current Ye Chen, it would undoubtedly be timely assistance.
“spirit weapons are precious, I...” Ye Chen frowned slightly. He had nothing to his name, and his System points were nearly exhausted.
“I know you don't have one yet.” Ye Qingxue smiled slightly and took out a card made of special material that shimmered with a faint silver light, pushing it toward Ye Chen. “This is a VIP token for the ‘Ten Thousand Treasures Tower,’ with a credit limit of one thousand Low-Grade Spirit Stones. Consider it an advance investment in you. Whether you can find a suitable spirit weapon in the Ten Thousand Treasures Tower will depend on your eye for quality and your luck.”
One thousand Low-Grade Spirit Stones! This was definitely a huge sum of money! It was enough to make many Kaiyuan Realm Cultivators red with envy. Ye Qingxue's investment was quite significant.
Ye Chen looked at the VIP card but didn't take it immediately. He looked up, meeting Ye Qingxue's clear eyes. “I will remember this favor. I will surely repay it in the future.”
He didn't make a hypocritical refusal; right now, he truly needed these resources.
“I look forward to your performance.” Ye Qingxue nodded with a smile.
Leaving the Listening Snow Pavilion, Ye Chen held the heavy VIP card, his eyes resolute.
With the threat of Ye Chenfeng and his mother's clan ahead and the Opportunity of Tianfeng Academy behind, the situation was urgent, but the path forward had become clear.
“Lin Batian... Tianfeng Academy...” he whispered to himself. “One month is enough!”
He didn't return to the western city villa but instead walked straight toward the most prosperous market district in Qingyun City.
Destination—Ten Thousand Treasures Tower!
He needed a sword, a spirit weapon that could help him cut through the thorns on his path!
At the same time, in his mind's System interface, the entrance to the [Myriad Worlds Sword Tomb] still emitted an alluring and mysterious glow. Perhaps, before heading to the Ten Thousand Treasures Tower, he could first try exploring this Sword Tomb to see if it could bring some surprises?