Chapter 13
Chapter 13
Silence.
The entire Xiao Family Hall fell into a stunned hush. Moments ago, Ye Chan had stood with the confident demeanor of a seasoned master, yet now, he lay sprawled in the dust, a shadow of his former self.
"That's it?" someone whispered, disbelief heavy in their tone.
"Wasn't he supposed to be some kind of expert?"
"What happened?"
The murmurs spread like wildfire among the Xiao Family members, their astonishment palpable. Even Xiao Lin, who had delivered the punch, stood rooted in place, his brows furrowed in confusion.
"What… What just happened?" Ye Chan muttered, his voice barely above a whisper as he struggled to sit up. His mind reeled.
"Did I just get blasted away by a single punch? How is that even possible? Xiao Lin is at the Soul Transformation Ninth Stage, but he only used one percent of his strength! I should have easily blocked it!"
"Could it be that I've… become weaker?" he thought, panic seeping into his heart before he quickly dismissed the notion. "No, definitely not. There must be some other reason."
Steeling himself, Ye Chan staggered to his feet. His clothes were disheveled, his once-pristine appearance now marred by dust and torn fabric. His voice rang out, loud and filled with forced confidence.
"Elder Xiao, this time I wasn't ready. Please, let's go again!"
Xiao Lin's brows twitched. "Again?"
The murmurs in the hall grew louder, a mix of disbelief and amusement.
"Does he really think he'll fare better?"
"This guy must be desperate to prove himself."
Xiao Lin sighed inwardly but nodded. "Alright, I'll give you another chance. Be prepared this time."
Swish!
Xiao Lin's fist shot forward with blinding speed, a strike that seemed to distort the very air around it.
Bang!
The impact was deafening, and once again, Ye Chan's body was sent flying. He crashed onto the ground with a heavy thud, his form skidding to a halt at the far end of the hall. Dust billowed around him as he lay sprawled, groaning softly.
The hall erupted into muffled laughter.
"This guy… was he just pretending to be strong?"
"I've never seen someone so good at embarrassing themselves!"
Even Xiao Rui, who had already harbored a poor impression of Ye Chan, couldn't hold back her disdain. "This Ye Chan… Is he just all talk and no substance? He can't even take Uncle Xiao's weakest punch."
Beside her, Xiao Mei flushed with embarrassment. Only a day ago, she had sung Ye Chan's praises, insisting he was a powerful and composed individual. Now, she wished she could crawl into a hole.
Ye Chan, lying on the ground, clenched his fists. His face burned with shame. How could this be happening? Every time he tried to block Xiao Lin's punch, it felt as if some invisible force slowed his movements, rendering him helpless.
"Master, what is happening?" he asked desperately, his voice trembling.
Elder Tianxian's voice echoed in his mind, solemn and laced with unease. "I… I don't know. Just before the punch landed, I sensed a strange, undetectable aura. Even I couldn't discern its source."
"You couldn't sense it?" Ye Chan's heart sank further. For Elder Tianxian to admit to such a thing was unsettling.
Shakily, Ye Chan rose to his feet, his appearance now akin to that of a beggar. His clothes were in tatters, his hair disheveled, and faint traces of blood stained his lips. The young disciples of the Xiao Family erupted into laughter at the sight.
"Silence!" Xiao Haoren's commanding voice echoed through the hall, instantly silencing the mocking voices.
Xiao Haoren sighed deeply, his gaze falling on Ye Chan. "This young man is too arrogant for his own good. He doesn't understand how high the heavens truly are," he thought, shaking his head. While he appreciated Ye Chan's bravery, he couldn't help but feel disappointed.
Though disappointed, Xiao Haoren reminded himself of Ye Chan's earlier good deeds. He wouldn't allow the younger generation to mock him, at least not openly.
Despite the humiliation, Ye Chan clenched his fists and stepped forward. "Elder Xiao, please let me try again! This time, I'll prove myself!"
Xiao Lin's face twitched. "Try again? After two failed attempts, do you really think you'll fare better?" he muttered under his breath.
Just as Xiao Lin was about to refuse, a deafening explosion shook the hall.
Boom!
The grand doors of the Xiao Family hall were blown off their hinges, crashing to the ground with a resounding thud.
"Who dares attack the Xiao Family?!" one of the elders roared, stepping forward with fury.
"Hmph! Xiao Family? In front of the Li Family, what right do you have to speak?"
An arrogant voice rang out as a group of figures strode into the hall. At their forefront was a muscular, bearded man radiating an aura of menace—Li Jian, the head of the Li Family. Flanking him were the heads of the Hu and Jin Families, their expressions equally disdainful.
Xiao Haoren's expression darkened. "Li Jian, why have you attacked my family? Weren't we supposed to settle our differences in the martial arts arena tomorrow?"
"Spare me your theatrics, Xiao Haoren!" Li Jian sneered. "Do you think I don't know about your plans to smuggle your daughters and the young talents of your family out of the city during the competition? I'm here to put an end to the Xiao Family today!"
With those words, Li Jian unleashed his aura—a terrifying pressure belonging to a Spirit Ascension Sixth Stage cultivator. The heads of the Hu and Jin Families followed suit, their Spirit Ascension auras flooding the hall.
The young disciples of the Xiao Family trembled under the overwhelming pressure, their faces pale. Yet, despite their fear, they stood their ground, ready to fight to the death.
Xiao Haoren's expression was grim. He had expected trouble from the Li Family but hadn't anticipated an attack this soon. Worse, the recent breakthroughs of Li Jian and his allies had tipped the scales against him.
Seeing her father's expression, Xiao Rui stepped forward, her voice trembling but firm. "Li Jian, have you forgotten? My brother is a disciple of the Holy Land. If you attack us, do you not fear their wrath?"
Li Jian threw his head back and laughed. "Your brother? Do you mean that trash Xiao Ming? An outer disciple of the Divine Blue Sect? Do you really think the Holy Land will care about the family of someone so insignificant?"
The members of the Li, Hu, and Jin families laughed along with him, their mockery echoing through the hall.
Xiao Rui clenched her fists, her heart heavy with despair.
Xiao Rui clenched her fists, her heart heavy with despair.
Ye Chan, however, saw an opportunity. This was his moment to redeem himself! With three Spirit Ascension cultivators present, he was confident he could defeat them and reclaim his dignity.
He was confident with the help of his master he could definitely beat these guys.
Just as Ye Chan prepared to step forward, and make his grand entrance—
a suffocating pressure descended upon the hall, silencing everyone.
Boom!
The pressure forced Li Jian and his allies to their knees, their auras snuffed out like candles in a storm. Even Ye Chan found himself collapsing, his body trembling uncontrollably. Only the Xiao Family members remained unaffected.
A calm, commanding voice echoed through the hall, sending chills down everyone's spine.
"Did you just say I was trash?"
The voice was calm, but it carried a suffocating weight.
"And are you going to destroy my family?"