CHAPTER (08)

CHAPTER (08)

---

After parting ways with his fiancée, Zhu Qing made his way back to his courtyard.

The weight of his responsibilities felt overwhelming, especially after their tender moment made him realize how unprepared he was to protect her and confront the challenges that lay ahead.

Obviously, with the memories of his past life still fresh, increasing his strength seemed less challenging; he was aware of various opportunities to enhance his power.

Yet, he was acutely aware that each opportunity carried hidden dangers, and he was not the protagonist blessed with the power to turn misfortunes into good fortune.

The prospect of pursuing these chances felt intimidating, given the risks involved. Ultimately, he sought the safest path to protect the precious life he now cherished.

Thinking about this, he took a deep breath and entered his room, where the familiar surroundings offered him stillness and peace.

The spiritual aura in the room had a soothing effect on his mind and nerves. Soon, he sat in a low chair. Pouring himself a cup of spiritual tea, he allowed the warmth to relax him.

At this moment, his eyes shifted to a certain corner of the room, and he called out,

"Uncle Wang."

The air in the corner of the room rippled, and from the distortion stepped out Wang Ling, his protector and one of the few people Zhu Qing truly trusted.

"Yes, young master?"

Wang Ling asked, bowing respectfully.

Zhu Qing set his tea down, his expression serious.

"How many strong men can you gather now?"

Wang Ling hesitated for a moment, knowing the delicate situation their family was in.

The Duke and the Count had been close allies, but with the Zhu family's territories now under Demon Cultivator control, requesting men from the Duke might be viewed as politically insensitive, especially given Long Chenshen's significant sacrifices for the county.

A handful of loyalists from the county had survived, along with some rogue Cultivators under Wang Ling's command.

Nonetheless, these allies were not entirely trustworthy.

"Around thirty, young master. Fourteen at the Foundation Establishment Realm, six at Gold Core, two at Nascent Soul Realm, and the rest are barely at Qi Condensation."

Zhu Qing nodded, deep in thought.

"For now, that will have to be enough. But keep searching for capable people. We'll need them."

Wang Ling was puzzled.

"Young master, is there something you need these men for?"

Zhu Qing sighed, recalling the faces of those who had betrayed or abandoned him in his past life.

"Place one Nascent Soul cultivator to protect my friend Su Liang and his mother. Also, keep a close watch on the Gu family. I want to know every move they make."

Wang Ling bowed again. "Understood, young master."

Zhu Qing then gave one final order,

"And keep an eye on Ye Tian. I want to know everything...what he's doing, where he's going, even what he's thinking. But be discreet."

"Young Master Ye Tian left Sun City immediately after the Duke declared your marriage. Tracking him shouldn't be difficult. Should I dispatch someone to locate him?"

An ominous feeling rose in Zhu Qing's heart.

"No need at the moment. When he arrives, you must keep a close watch on him and make sure he doesn't escape."

"As you command,"

Wang Ling responded with a bow before vanishing into the void.

Suddenly, memories of his past life resurfaced—how Ye Tian had grievously injured him after the announcement of his engagement to Long Yulan.

Even two days ago, he had been aware of this, but at that time, he hadn't yet met Wang Ling and lacked the power to confront Ye Tian.

Otherwise, he would have at least attempted to kill Ye Tian.

This time, however, Zhu Qing was determined not to let Ye Tian's arrogance go unpunished.

Unlike in his previous life, when he had been naive and sought to make peace, Zhu Qing vowed to rip out Ye Tian's heart, crush it in his hands, and make him pay for every ounce of suffering he had caused.

Zhu Qing stood up with resolve, leaving his cold tea behind. He walked to his cultivation room, where spiritual energy filled the air, piles of spirit stones were stacked, and the constant infusion of qi from the spiritual vein made it an ideal place for training.

Sitting down, Zhu Qing began to recite the sutra he had discovered in the memories of his previous life.

His mind focused intently on the ancient scriptures.

"Seven 'Coordination of Heaven'," he murmured to himself.

"Master Vine Immortal told me it was a Heaven-rank Cultivation technique, but I later learned he was deceiving me."

"This is actually a Desolate-grade technique, something even above Immortal rank."

Soon...he chanted, the sutra brought to life seven gates within his consciousness, each glowing with a distinct color—fiery red, oceanic blue, emerald green, golden dawn, icy white, swirling violet, and void-like black.

They loomed larger than any royal palace he had ever seen.

"This technique allows me to teleport to one of seven different locations," Zhu Qing thought, a hint of excitement in his voice. "Five of these are random places I've visited, while two are ones I can choose."

"As my cultivation grows, I'll be able to set up new points for teleportation, but for now, I can only cover half the main city."

Focusing on the icy white gate, Zhu Qing thought about his fiancée. With a deep breath, he stepped through.

The sensation of shifting through space was almost imperceptible, and in less than three breaths, he found himself beside the window of her room.

Through the curtains, he saw Long Yulan's face flushed with a mix of embarrassment and joy as she pounded a pillow with her small fists. Her voice, muffled by the window, reached him.

"Gege, you stupid gege! How could you do that? What if someone saw and told my mother?"

A soft smile touched Zhu Qing's lips as he watched her.

Then...He quickly turned back and canceled the technique, feeling a pang of longing as he returned to his own room.

Reciting the sutra again, he brought forth the seven gates. This time, he chose the golden gate.

In an instant, he was transported to the quite street of Sun City. He had been thinking about the area where the thugs had confronted Su Liang earlier that day.

The scene before him shifted abruptly when a Daoist couple, locked in a passionate kiss, froze in shock at his sudden appearance.

The man pulled back, eyes wide with surprise. "Who dares—?"

"I apologize, seniors. Please forgive me," Zhu Qing said, his voice sincere as he quickly canceled the technique and returned to his cultivation room.

He could still hear the echoes of their startled voices in his mind as he laughed quietly to himself.

Back in his room, Zhu Qing contemplated the sutra.

"This technique is no easy feat, but mastering it has significant benefits."

"Once I reach Golden Core-Grandmaster level, I won't need to rely on expensive teleportation talismans. It's a considerable advantage."

He sighed, feeling the weight of his current limitations.

"Having this trump card should make facing Ye Tian more manageable."

"But my cultivation level is still so low compared to the top geniuses of the Holy Lands. I'm still seen as insignificant."

Suddenly...An intense urge to cultivate surged within him. Activating his Heavenly Torrent Physique, he drew in the qi from the surroundings.

Without him realizing it, the sky had already darkened, and the evening had slipped past, just a few hours shy of midnight.

---

[ Meanwhile, Long Yulan's courtyard ]

---

While Zhu Qing practiced diligently in his room, Yulan devoted herself to tending the garden.

She gently watered the moon herbs, humming softly as she carefully pruned the delicate plants.

Then, suddenly, a familiar voice broke the silence—a voice she hadn't heard in ten years.

"Little bird, you've grown taller than Sister and even more beautiful."

"Big Sister!" Yulan exclaimed, dropping her shears and rushing forward.

Long Minxue stood at the entrance of the courtyard, her elegant blue Hanfu fluttering in the gentle breeze.

She opened her arms just in time to catch Yulan in a warm embrace.

"Yulan," Minxue said, her voice full of affection. "I've missed you so much."

Yulan pulled back slightly, her eyes shining with excitement. She had always been grateful to this elder sister, who had not only taken care of her since childhood but had also covered up her mischiefs.

After their mother, Minxue was the only one with whom Yulan could share her innermost thoughts.

"I can't believe you're finally home! How was your journey? Did any demons try to kill you on the way? How was life at the temple? Did anyone try to hit on you? Did your master punish you when you didn't cultivate? Were there any senior brothers or sisters who bullied you?"

Minxue smiled, a mixture of relief and happiness in her eyes.

"Slow down, Yulan! Do you think your Big Sister is a puppet machine that can answer all that in one breath? I lived well all these years, but there wasn't a single second when I didn't miss you, little bird. How have you been?"

Yulan's smile brightened even more. "I've been wonderful, Sister. I have so much to tell you! Let's go inside the bedroom."

Yulan's smile blossomed like a flower in spring, becoming more radiant with each passing moment.

The sisters shared thoughts on life and the Dao, until their conversation naturally drifted to Yulan's upcoming marriage and her beloved fiancé, Zhu Qing

"I've heard about the marriage arrangement," Minxue said softly. "That's one of the reasons I came back so urgently. I want to make sure you're truly happy with this."

"If you don't want it, it's not difficult for me to ask my master to annul it."

Yulan's eyes widened in panic. "No, Sister! Zhu Qing is amazing! He's strong, caring, and always knows how to make me happy. I can't imagine anyone better suited for me. Besides... I... I like him."

Minxue gazed at her younger sister, her concern growing more intense. She feared that Yulan might be blinded by her emotions—or worse, manipulated by a wicked man.

"Yulan, I understand you care for him, but have you really gotten to know him well? Sometimes, people can hide their true nature."

Yulan shook her head, smiling confidently. "Sister, you don't know Zhu Qing like I do. We've known each other since childhood. He's always been kind and reliable."

"And...forget about me—tell me, do you really want to marry Ye Tian, that rogue?"

At the mention of Ye Tian, Minxue's expression darkened. She clenched her violet Hanfu, her voice cold as she replied,

"If I did, he wouldn't live long. A trash like him doesn't deserve to even carry my shoes, let alone marry me."

"Yes, Sister, you're absolutely right. Ye Tian is undeserving."

The two sisters continued chatting, their conversation touching on every topic that concerned them.

Yulan praised Zhu Qing endlessly, almost to the point where his image became larger than life in Minxue's mind. They also discussed strategies to quickly divorce Ye Tian, finding amusement in the possibilities.

By the end of their conversation, they even wanted to meet Zhu Qing but discovered that he was deep in cultivation in his room.

This left an impression on Minxue, painting Zhu Qing in a different light.

In her mind, he became a hardworking monk, diligently seeking the Dao without troubling himself with worldly affairs—quite the contrast to most young men who indulged too much in worldly pleasures.

Minxue also learned about Zhu Qing's past—how his parents had died and how strong he had been to endure everything that fate had thrown at him.

"Look what I've brought! It's said that among the fairies of the holy lands, this clothing is quite popular. What do you think?"

"Aww... it's so pretty! Sister, did you bring a pair so we could look the same?"

"Of course! Let's head to the river house tomorrow to get them perfectly tailored for you."

Minxue brought along plenty of things she knew her younger sister would love, and their conversation flowed endlessly until their mother, Ruyue, came in to scold them for staying up so late.

Eventually, the three of them—mother and daughters—reluctantly went to bed.

It was a lovely and peaceful moment, one they wished would never end. But in the Taixuan world, peace never lasts long, and chaos is always waiting to return.

---

[ Three days Later ]

[ Blood Moutain, Dukes Castle ]

---

Blood Mountain is the arena where the strongest fighters of Sun City—mainly the Duke's personal commanders and generals—train and battle.

With a capacity of five thousand seats, the facility creates an intense atmosphere for the fighters.

Even geniuses from the Long family use this arena to gauge their skills, challenge their peers, and test their abilities.

The whole arena was covered in Daoist text, pure white with golden shimmering layers forming a cage around it.

The formation, damaged from the last battle, had been on the verge of collapse, but soon  it flickered back to life, snapping the arena back into shape.

The fighters inside were Golden Core cultivators—monsters with the power to split mountains and crack the earth.

The formation was the only thing keeping the low level spectators from being ripped apart.

Without it, there'd be nothing left but carnage.

At the center of the arena stood a devilish young man. His black robes hung loose, stained with the blood of a hundred defeated challengers.

His sword was still dripping with crimson as he walked, the blade rattling on the floor, leaving a bloody trail in its wake.

But his expression was anything but concerned. He was smiling, a wicked curve on his lips, like a predator toying with its prey.

This man was none other than Ye Tian, the eldest son-in-law of the family.

Across the arena, the bodies of Long family members lay broken and defeated being tended by healer and the Alchemist, their groans of pain barely registering in Ye Tian's mind. He had crushed them all, but that wasn't enough. He wasn't here for them.

"This bitch is unbelievably arrogant."

"Even while her husband is bleeding out in battle, she can't be bothered to support me."

"Just wait until we're married. I'll make sure she regrets every second of ignoring me."

"For that....I've already mastered the cloning art. If I don't make her miserable, then ...hehe."

Ye Tian had hoped to impress his fiancée with his might, thinking she would be awed and perhaps even ask for a date.

Instead, her disdain was so intense that she refused to acknowledge him, let alone support him during his fights.

Another source of his frustration was Zhu Qing, the so-called number one of the Long family.

Ye Tian had hoped to provoke Zhu Qing into a fight to gain respect, but Zhu Qing was in seclusion.

Moreover, Zhu Qing achieved the profound Gold Core realm by the age of sixteen, a feat that took Ye Tian nearly two hundred years.

To restore his lost pride and status, Ye Tian must first overcome every individual who considers themselves a genius.

Only after establishing his superiority in this manner will he be eligible to challenge Zhu Qing.

Thus, in just three days, rumors of him defeating the geniuses of the Long family spread far and wide, as he brought many brilliant suns crashing down to doom.

At that moment, the mustached instructor, Lao Meng, stepped forward, his face full of worry. He wasn't meant to handle monsters like Ye Tian, who only knew how to kill and cause destruction.

Even though Lao Meng was the nancest Soul Cultivator, far stronger than Ye Tian, he knew this wasn't the kind of work he should be doing—training was more his style.

After all, if anyone died, the blame would fall on him, not the eldest son-in-law. But duty called. He took a deep breath and called out:

"Ye Tian wins duel number 107. Do you want to keep going, my lord?"

Ye Tian's eyes, dark and cold, met Lao Meng's. His smile widened, sending a chill through those watching.

"Continue? I'm just getting started. Bring me someone worth killing."

Lao Meng's gaze fell on blood splattered around the arena, then settled on one in particular boy—a challenger who had clearly surrendered but hadn't been spared.

"This one gave up. Why did you continue?"

Ye Tian's grin turned cruel, his voice a low growl.

"Surrender? How laughable. The moment they dared to cross my path, their fate was sealed. The weak have no right to life. Besides, do you think he would have shown me any mercy if I were the one at a disadvantage?"

The audience shuddered at the coldness in his words. Even in the ruthless world of cultivators, Ye Tian's lack of mercy was shocking.

"He thinks he's something special, doesn't he? Arrogant bastard. It won't be long before the Duke sees through him and tosses him out."

"This youth's strength is impressive, but strength alone doesn't guarantee respect. His unchecked rage is bound to make enemies of those who value honor."

"He's making enemies with every step.The blood he's spilled today won't be forgotten."

"He thinks he's invincible, but even the mightiest storm is eventually calmed. His current path is one of self-destruction. True mastery requires more than brute force."

"He's dangerous, that's for sure. But... you have to admit, the kid's got talent. If he can control that rage, he might actually go far."

"Talent or not, I don't trust him. My brother's still recovering from the last time Ye Tian fought."

Different people have different opinions about him, but most despise him for various reasons, eagerly waiting for a chance to drag him down to the depths of hell.

Hearing Ye tian, Lao Meng clenched his fists, but there was nothing more to say. In Blood Mountain, might was right, and Ye Tian had all the might in the world.

"Next challenger—Long Taishen! Element: Chains, Profound Core Fifth Stage, Second Grade Spiritual Root."

"He will be facing Ye Tian—Element: Bone, Profound Core First Stage, Second Grade Spiritual Root,"

Lao Meng announced in a deep, resonant voice.

Soon...

Long Taishen, the young master of the branch family and the youngest genius to attain the fifth stage of the Golden Core realm before Zhu Qing, stormed into the arena with explosive force.

His aura erupted like a lion's roar, shaking the very air and seizing the crowd's attention.

The ground convulsed under the impact of his Abyssal Lion Physique, while the white cage formation crackled and trembled, struggling to contain the raging torrent of his power.

At the same moment, a gigantic phantom of a black lion surged into view behind him, its presence magnifying the intensity of his arrival.

At just under two centuries old, Long Taishen had reached the fourth stage of the Golden Core realm, exuding a raw, unrelenting confidence as though he had never known defeat.

Soon, Long Taishen's gaze locked onto Ye Tian, his eyes seething with disdain.

"You've gone too far, Ye Tian. Leave now, or you'll regret it."

"This young master won't hesitate to kill you, then castrate you and feed your corpse to blood worms."

"By then, you won't be able to face eldest sister as a eunuch."

Ye Tian remained unfazed, a wide grin spreading across his face.

"Hahaha! Kill me? I'll give you three moves to try. After that, your life is mine."

Long Taishen's fury exploded.

"You dare!?"

His voice was a roar, and his qi flared like a wildfire.

The air itself seemed to crack under the pressure, and his chains, dark and glowing with the power of his Abyssal Lion Physique, lashed out with a vengeance.

They were fast, deadly, and unstoppable.

But Ye Tian didn't move. He simply watched, eyes gleaming with malicious glee.

When the first chain struck, he sidestepped, almost lazily.

"One."

Long Taishen snarled, doubling his efforts. The second wave of chains shot out, their power enough to tear through stone and steel alike.

The ground where Ye Tian had stood was obliterated.

But Ye Tian was already gone, appearing just behind the path of destruction.

"Two."

Long Taishen's rage knew no bounds. His entire being glowed with a dark, furious energy as he prepared his final strike. The arena shook as he drew on every ounce of power, the force of his aura enough to make the spectators wince.

But Ye Tian was done playing.

Before Long Taishen could launch his attack, Ye Tian's hand shot up, fingers curling in a gesture that seemed almost casual. But the smile on his face was anything but.

"DESERT TREE." He Chanted.

And then...

Ground under Long Taishen erupted as thick, jagged bones burst forth, piercing through his flesh.

"Ahhhhhh"

The scream that followed was one of pure agony, echoing through the arena as the bones twisted and grew, ripping through muscle, tearing organs, and shattering bones.

The blood was everywhere, flowing in rivers as the bone tree sprouted from within Long Taishen, turning him into a grotesque figure.

Lao Meng's voice was a desperate shout,

"Ye Tian! Stop! killing is not allowed in the arena!"

But Ye Tian only chuckled, a dark, guttural sound.

"Killing? I'm was just pruning the weak."

As the bones retracted, Long Taishen collapsed, a broken shell of his former self.

Blood oozed from every orifice, and his body twitched uncontrollably.

If he were a Qi Condensing Cultivator, he would have died a thousand times over.

Long Taishen looked up at Ye Tian, his voice barely a whisper. "You… cheated…"

Ye Tian crouched down beside him, his voice dripping with mockery.

"Cheated? No. I simply showed you the difference between us."

"I gave you two chances. You could have used your divine physique and attacked me with everything you had."

"Who told you to play around? You think these chains can stop me? You could have used the technique that made you famous."

"Alas, you were the arrogant one. Now, live your whole life as a cripple, blaming yourself for not giving your all. Trash."

"Bastard... my father will—" Long Taishen's eyes glazed over, his consciousness slipping away as his body lay broken.

Ye Tian stood, his eyes sweeping over the silent, horrified crowd. His voice was a cold, commanding snarl that cut through the silence like a blade.

"Who's next? Or is Zhu Qing finally ready to face me? Today, I, Ye Tian, will claim my rightful place as the number one in the Long family. The Lord Duke's investment in me will not be wasted."

---

To Be Continued..