Terrifying Talent

Upon returning home, Ye Tian could hardly contain his excitement as he eagerly studied the Thunderclap Palm. This martial technique possessed immense power; when mastered to its fullest, it could unleash nine shadowy palm strikes in an instant, confounding enemies with its deceptive reality and rendering them helpless against its might.

However, the elder of the Martial Arts Pavilion had spoken true—the Thunderclap Palm was exceedingly difficult to cultivate, demanding an exceptionally high talent level of an orange martial soul to even begin. To succeed in its training, one would need a yellow martial soul.

For Ye Tian, this presented no obstacle, and his exhilaration soared. He quickly absorbed the key points from the book and began practicing within the confines of his home.

"To master the Thunderclap Palm, one must first cultivate the Thunderclap Energy. My current true energy is minimal, but transforming it into Thunderclap Energy should be a swift endeavor!"

Seated cross-legged on the floor with his eyes closed, Ye Tian commenced his training in Thunderclap Energy, following the mental techniques outlined in the Thunderclap Palm.

As he had anticipated, having recently ascended to the status of a martial artist, the limited true energy within him made the conversion to Thunderclap Energy remarkably easy. Within half an hour, he had successfully achieved it.

The true energy transformed into Thunderclap Energy, becoming increasingly solid, akin to a bubbling spring coursing through Ye Tian's body. Abruptly, he opened his eyes, a brilliant light gleaming forth.

"With the Thunderclap Energy, I can now execute the Thunderclap Palm; let me give it a try!" Ye Tian inhaled deeply, his expression turning serious as he positioned his palms into the requisite stance.

Suddenly, with a low shout, Ye Tian sprang into action like a tiger or leopard, launching himself off the ground. In an instant, he surged forward a meter, his palms slicing through the air with a thunderous roar, exuding an overwhelming aura.

From a distance, it appeared that Ye Tian's strike sent forth three distinct shadowy palm strikes that flew out instantaneously, their reality and illusion indistinguishable.

"Whoosh!"

After executing the strike, Ye Tian gradually withdrew, a flicker of joy passing through his eyes as he mused, "What a formidable Thunderclap Palm! It strikes with the force of a tempest and the ferocity of thunder—truly unmatched in power!"

"Yet, the perfected form of the Thunderclap Palm requires the ability to unleash nine shadowy palm strikes at once. Given my yellow martial soul's talent, I can currently only manage three shadow strikes; diligent practice is still required."

Ye Tian resumed his examination of the Thunderclap Palm, meticulously studying it in conjunction with his recent practice.

…

Time flowed like water, swiftly passing as the annual festival approached. The entire Ye Family Village erupted in joyous celebration; the hunting teams had already secured enough provisions for the winter, rendering them no longer in need of hunting expeditions.

During this period, Ye Tian remained at home, tirelessly cultivating his true energy alongside the Thunderclap Palm.

Possessing a yellow martial soul, his speed of true energy cultivation was tenfold that of others. A single day of his training equated to ten days for anyone else. Within just a month, his true energy had reached the pinnacle of a first-level martial artist, poised to ascend to the second level at any moment.

Such a terrifying pace of advancement reaffirmed the importance of martial souls; the more powerful the martial soul, the swifter the cultivation, leading to greater achievements.

Ye Tian was profoundly convinced of this, believing that with his devouring martial soul, his path of cultivation would undoubtedly be smoother than that of many others.

Moreover, a powerful martial soul not only enhanced the speed of cultivation but also augmented one's comprehension. Over the past month, Ye Tian had successfully manifested eight shadowy palm strikes with the Thunderclap Palm, only a final step away from complete mastery.

At that moment, Ye Tian unleashed a palm strike, causing eight shadowy palm strikes to fill the space before him, a mesmerizing display of reality and illusion that left observers spellbound. Each shadow strike exuded a tremendous aura, and their simultaneous release was utterly astonishing.

"Tomorrow is the annual festival. Continuing to hone my skills may not guarantee a breakthrough, so it's best to venture out and seek a fierce beast to test my Thunderclap Palm!"

A glint of determination sparkled in Ye Tian's eyes as he pushed open the door and informed his parents before leaving Ye Family Village.

In the depths of winter, the landscape was blanketed in snow, transforming the area outside Ye Family Village into a vast expanse of white.

Having been a special forces soldier in his previous life, Ye Tian understood the significance of practical combat. Although he regarded the Thunderclap Palm as remarkably powerful, he could not rest easy without firsthand experience in battle.

Tomorrow's festival was not merely an opportunity to reveal his identity as a martial artist; he intended to deliver a profound lesson to a certain individual.

"Ye Wei!"

A glimmer of coldness flickered in Ye Tian's gaze.

The next day marked the festival, a day of celebration for both Ye Wei and Lin Jiao Jiao. Their intentions were deliberate, orchestrating the event to elevate Ye Wei's reputation as a genius throughout Ye Family Village.

Ye Tian's plan was to disrupt their display, publicly humiliate Ye Wei, and cleanse the insult he had suffered.

That shameful punch was still fresh in his memory!

Creak… Creak…

Navigating through the icy terrain, Ye Tian treaded upon the thick blanket of snow, searching for a suitable fierce beast to engage in battle. Yet disappointment washed over him; in such frigid weather, not only were humans disinclined to venture out, but even the beasts sought refuge in their dens for hibernation.

"Damn it, no wonder no villages venture out to hunt during winter," Ye Tian realized with a touch of embarrassment; in such cold conditions, where could one hope to find a fierce beast?

With that thought, Ye Tian resolved to return to the village. After all, the festival was the next day, and he could simply use Ye Wei as a sparring partner then.

"Roar!"

Just as he prepared to turn back, a fierce roar snapped Ye Tian to attention. His brows knitted together as he leaped over ten meters, spotting a massive snow bear before him.

The snow bear was hunched over, devouring what appeared to be some fierce beast it had slain, its remains unrecognizable beneath the layers of snow.

"A snow bear, equivalent to a second-level martial artist!"

Upon seeing the snow bear, Ye Tian furrowed his brow; while it was merely an ordinary fierce beast, it was formidable enough to pose a challenge, being a whole level above him.

Should he engage or retreat?

In a fleeting moment of hesitation, Ye Tian's body surged forth, akin to a fierce wolf, pouncing toward the snow bear.

As a former special forces soldier, Ye Tian was decisively quick; once he made a decision, he struck immediately, executing with speed, precision, and ferocity. 

"Roar!"

As Ye Tian burst forth, the snow bear, engaged in its meal, immediately sensed the unexpected intruder. It let out a furious roar, striking its massive paws against its chest as if to showcase its formidable strength. 

Ye Tian scoffed; a beast is just a beast. Such intimidation might work on other ferocious creatures, but it had no effect on him, a human. His gaze hardened as he unleashed the prepared Thunder Palm, the eight ferocious palm shadows enveloping the snow bear entirely. 

"Roar!" The snow bear, enraged, paid no heed to whether any of Ye Tian's palm shadows were real or illusions. It simply raised its paw and slammed it down on Ye Tian with unmatched ferocity. 

"Impressive strength, but regrettably slow!" Ye Tian chuckled coldly, dodging the bear's attack with a swift motion, while the eight palm shadows struck the bear's back in unison. 

The immense force from Ye Tian's palms sent the snow bear crashing to the ground, sending a flurry of snow into the air. 

"Decent power, but alas, it's ineffective against this snow bear!" 

After that single strike, Ye Tian refrained from further attacks and pondered over the recent battle. The true strength of the Thunder Palm lay in its ability to obscure reality, yet the lower-level beast lacked the intelligence to discern between truth and illusion, rendering the full potential of the Thunder Palm untested. 

Nevertheless, Ye Tian was still quite pleased. 

"Roar!" At that moment, the snow bear let out another roar, rising to its feet and lunging toward Ye Tian. Despite having endured a strike, its robust physique remained unscathed. 

"Is the gap between a first-level and a second-level warrior truly this vast? This beast may lack speed, but its defense and attack power surpass mine." Ye Tian was momentarily astonished before turning on his heels to flee. Although he had been valiant in his previous life, he wasn't foolish; if he knew he couldn't win, he would certainly run. 

"Roar! Roar!" The snow bear continued to howl in pursuit, but its sluggish pace caused it to lose sight of Ye Tian, who disappeared into the distance, much to its chagrin. 

Before long, Ye Tian returned to Ye Family Village. 

"Tian'er, where have you been? In such cold weather, you should be at home! What if you freeze?" Upon entering, Ye Tian was greeted by his mother's nagging. 

Turning to her, he saw her approach with a steaming bowl of soup. 

"Mother, I'm as strong as an ox!" Ye Tian chuckled, patting his chest in reassurance. 

"Ha ha! That's right! My son, Ye Meng, is no weakling, so you needn't worry," his father, Ye Meng, chimed in jovially as he entered, shaking off the snow. 

"Father, where have you been?" Noticing his father's snow-covered attire, Ye Tian inquired with curiosity. 

"Hmph! Speaking of which, that brat Ye Wei chose the most inopportune time to marry—during the year festival! It infuriates me!" Ye Meng snorted, displeasure etched across his face. 

"Alright, alright, don't get angry right after you return. Drink some soup while it's hot," his mother urged, handing him another bowl. 

Ye Tian accepted the warm soup, a curious expression crossing his face as he asked, "Father, how does Ye Wei's choice of wedding date concern you? How has he offended you?" 

"Of course it concerns me! That Lin Jiaojiao is the daughter of the village chief of Lin Family Village. This marriage is a significant event for the village. The village chief has requested that us martial artists above level seven accompany Ye Wei to Lin Family Village for the ceremony." 

"Hmph!" Ye Meng replied, still seething. 

Realizing the implications, Ye Tian understood; it indeed had everything to do with him. If it were someone else, his father would have gone without complaint. However, considering he had just been dismissed from his engagement with Lin Family Village, it was undoubtedly a sour situation for his father to be involved now. 

This was a matter of face, and it was clear that Ye Meng was reluctant to visit Lin Family Village. 

"Father, are you planning to go before the festival or after?" Ye Tian suddenly asked. 

"Of course, we'll go after the festival. That brat Ye Wei cannot overshadow the year festival!" Ye Meng huffed. 

"Then, you must take me along," Ye Tian declared, rising with a faint smile. Without waiting for his father's response, he turned and retreated to his own room. 

Ye Meng stood bewildered, watching his son's retreating figure. He furrowed his brow at Lin Mei beside him. "Does our son seem off to you?" 

"You're the one who's off," Lin Mei retorted, rolling her eyes, leaving Ye Meng feeling utterly awkward. 

"Our son has finally stepped out from the shadow of his lack of martial soul. We should be happy for him," Lin Mei asserted. 

"I still feel like something's not right!" Ye Meng murmured, stroking his chin as he sank into thought.