15. Fallen Genius

Ye Tian nodded in approval. "Ye Xian, you have done well. Your sharp mind and decisive actions have preserved the clan's honor today. You've proven that your resolve is as strong as your intellect."

Ye Feng, who had been silently observing, finally spoke, a proud smile gracing his face. "Indeed, Ye Xian. You handled this situation with wisdom and composure beyond your years. I'm proud of you, my son."

Ye Xian smiled and bowed respectfully to both men. "Thank you, Father. Thank you, Patriarch."

As the crowd began to disperse, the tension in the hall gradually lifted. The drama had concluded, and the truth had prevailed.

However, just as Ye Xian was about to leave, a voice rang out from the lingering murmurs.

"Your cousin is quite impressive, but I hear he's a bit of a flirt," teased a black-clad woman, amusement twinkling in her eyes as she glanced at Ye Xian. She was Ye Qianying friend, and her tone carried a playful edge.

Ye Xian met her gaze with a knowing smirk. "You're not entirely wrong," he admitted, his expression laced with mischief.

Meanwhile, his stepmother, who had been observing the events with a sour expression, could no longer contain her displeasure. She exchanged a few hushed words with Ye Feng before swiftly exiting the hall, her mood clearly soured by the outcome.

As Ye Xian stepped outside, his gaze met Ye Qianying. She offered him a small, knowing smile, but before he could approach, her friend—the black-clad woman—leaned in with an intrigued grin.

"Tell me," she mused, her voice laced with curiosity, "what's it like being the center of attention wherever you go? The stories about you are quite… fascinating."

Ye Qianying cheeks flushed slightly, and she cast a quick glance at Ye Xian's retreating figure. Her voice softened, carrying a trace of something unspoken. "He's… not as he seems," she murmured. "Ye Xian is complicated."

Mei Lian chuckled, her interest piqued. "Oh, I can tell," she said, a sly smile playing on her lips. "He seems like the type who enjoys keeping people guessing." Then, with a teasing glint in her eye, she added, "Perhaps I should spend more time with him. He sounds like someone… worth figuring out."

Ye Qianying expression grew guarded, but she remained silent, her gaze lingering on Ye Xian as he disappeared into the distance.

Ye Xian exhaled quietly, a sense of satisfaction settling over him. The scheme against him had been exposed, and his reputation remained intact. But he knew this was only the beginning—many more challenges lay ahead.

As he walked down the corridor, familiar voices reached his ears. Curiosity piqued, he followed the sound and arrived at a small garden where a rather amusing scene unfolded.

Two twin girls clung tightly to a young man, each holding onto one of his hands, their voices filled with eager determination.

"Play with us, Brother Tianling! We're bored, and no one has played with us since morning! We can't find the older Sister either!"

Ye Tianling, clearly exhausted, wore a frustrated expression. "I'm tired. Find someone else."

"No! Play with us!" the twins insisted, tugging at his arms. "You always say that, but you never actually play with us!"

"I'm not in the mood," he retorted, his patience thinning. "Go play by yourselves."

"But it's more fun together! Come on!"

Ye Tianling frustration deepened, his expression contorting into visible annoyance. Just as he was about to lash out, another voice intervened.

"What's this little gathering about?"

Ye Xian stepped forward, his tone light yet authoritative. His gaze swept over the scene before settling on the twins. "Why are you clinging to Brother Tianling like that? Don't you know he has urgent matters to attend to? How about you play with me instead?"

The twins, on the verge of tears from their repeated rejection, instantly brightened at his suggestion. As if fearing he might change his mind, they quickly released Ye Tianling and latched onto Ye Xian instead.

"Yes! Let's play!" they cheered. "What should we play? How about a tag?"

"No," the twin with the black hairband, Ye Cai, pouted. "Brother Xian would win too easily."

Ye Xian chuckled. "You can go, Brother Tianling. I'll take care of them."

Ye Tianling, indifferent, turned on his heel and left in the direction of his quarters.

"Cold. Brother Tianling is so cold," Ye Cao, the twin with the blue hairband, muttered.

"Yes. So cold," Ye Cai echoed.

"Don't say that," Ye Xian gently admonished. "He'd feel bad. He's just busy and tired."

"Is it because he became a cripple?" Ye Cai asked bluntly.

Ye Cao nodded. "I think so. He was so good to us before—back when we called him 'Genius Brother Tianling.' Now he scolds us when we call him that."

Ye Tianling had once been a cultivation prodigy, surpassing his peers and reaching the peak of the Element Disciple Realm at the young age of twenty. His talent was widely recognized, and many believed he was destined for greatness.

However, fate had other plans.

Every five years, Azure Sky City held a grand martial competition to determine business allocations among the city's ruling clans. Rather than resorting to bloody conflicts over trade and territorial disputes, the clans agreed to settle matters through combat, using the strength of their younger generation to decide the outcome. Cultivators aged twenty and under would represent their respective clans, battling for honor and ensuring a prosperous future for their families. The more victories a clan secured, the greater the share of business territory they would be granted—a larger slice of the city's lucrative trade and resource distribution.

It was during one such competition that Ye Tianling's promising future was tragically cut short.

He faced Lu Yin, the heir of the powerful Lu Clan, in a decisive match. The battle was fierce, both fighters displaying exceptional skill and mastery over their techniques. But in the final moments, Lu Yin unleashed a devastating attack that not only shattered Ye Tianling's dantian but also crippled his cultivation entirely.

In an instant, his hard-earned strength was erased. The prodigy who once stood above his peers was reduced to a mere mortal, his dreams of reaching greater heights in cultivation forever beyond his grasp.

That fateful day not only marked the downfall of Ye Tianling's cultivation but also reshaped the balance of power within Azure Sky City. The Ye Clan, having lost one of their most promising talents, suffered a severe setback, while the Lu Clan further solidified their dominance.

For Ye Tianling, it was more than just a physical loss—it was a cruel twist of fate that stripped him of his future.

Once hailed as a genius, he had now fallen to the lowest depths, stripped of his former glory. As the only blood related son of the sect patriarch, the weight of his fathers expectations had always rested heavily on his shoulders. He had dreamed of one day inheriting the sect and leading it to new heights, but with his cultivation crippled, that path was now forever closed. The loss dealt a severe blow to his confidence, turning the once proud and ambitious young man into a withdrawn shadow of his former self.

Ye Xian sighed. "How about we go to the market instead? We can eat sweets and cakes."

The twins immediately perked up. "Yes!"

With that, Ye Xian led them out of the Ye estate.

---

As they strolled through the bustling marketplace, the twins bombarded Ye Xian with endless questions, to which he answered patiently. At one point, they asked about the "beautiful sister" they had met before, wanting to know if they would see her again. Ye Xian assured them they would.

The market was lively, with stalls lining both sides of the road, selling all kinds of goods and delicacies. The twins excitedly pointed at different treats, and Ye Xian indulged them. They each enjoyed three grilled meat skewers, costing ten silver a piece, and delighted in sugar-coated candies, each costing a single silver. At another stall, a vendor sold spicy roasted meats, the aroma enticing even more customers.

In the marketplace, silver was the most commonly used currency, while larger transactions were conducted in gold. Ki stones, though precious, were another form of currency, as they were essential for cultivation, artifact crafting, and the creation of talismans and formations.

Among the lively crowd were not only humans but also members of various other races. A towering demon with horns stood by a weapons stall, while a beast skin with a tail and fur-covered arms bartered at a nearby shop. These fiend races hailed from the Fiend Continent, having settled here after the Coalition War against the ghoul race. Even the lord of Azure Sky City was a fiend—an elf with sharp, leaf-like ears and a lifespan far longer than any humans.

Ye Xian had always been curious about the dragon race, but despite his interest, he had never encountered one in person. However, through Adlers memories, he had seen glimpses of them.