Chapter 8: Lightning Burst Fist

It took Ling Yue just three days to advance from the first to the second level of body training. Then, fifteen more days to reach the third level.

Her cultivation speed was simply astonishing—something no one else in the Ye family could match.

Even Ye Huangyu, once hailed as the top genius, was stunned when she heard her daughter had broken through yet again.

At this point, all she could do was accept that maybe her daughter truly was a martial arts prodigy.

Since Ling Yue had now reached the third level and they had made a prior promise, it was finally time for Ye Huangyu to pass down a martial technique to her.

"In Da Xia, martial techniques are ranked from the ninth grade up to the first. The one I'm going to teach you today is Lightning Burst Fist, a ninth-grade skill. Even though it's low-ranked, this move was uniquely created by our family's founder. It's known for its explosive speed and power. When mastered, each strike can release six bolts of blue lightning—hence the name."

Knowing her daughter had long yearned to learn martial arts, Ye Huangyu had always wanted to teach her. But the family's rules were strict: no martial techniques could be taught until one reached the third level of body training. She had to wait until now.

Ling Yue didn't care if it was a ninth-grade technique.

All she remembered was that during her fight with Ye Qing, he had used this very move—but back then, he could only release two bolts of lightning. Clearly, he hadn't mastered it.

"I'll demonstrate it once for you. Watch carefully and try to remember the movements," Ye Huangyu said, then swept her arms and began the sequence of punches and footwork.

Ling Yue widened her eyes and stared without blinking.

By the end of the demonstration, six streaks of blue lightning crackled around her mother, distorting the air around her.

Though her mother's movements weren't particularly fast, Ling Yue realized she could only remember about half of them.

But Ye Huangyu was patient. She repeated the entire sequence slowly, letting Ling Yue absorb everything.

"Even though Lightning Burst Fist is a ninth-grade technique, once you master it and release six lightning streaks at once, you can shatter a boulder. But for now, just focus on memorizing the entire sequence…"

Just as Ye Huangyu was finishing her words and pulling back her fighting aura, her expression froze.

Ling Yue had already stepped into position and started mimicking the punch technique. As her fist struck out—whoosh!—a single streak of blue lightning burst forth!

It only lasted a brief moment, but it was unmistakably a sign of mastering the basics.

"Only one?" Ling Yue frowned, clearly dissatisfied.

If even Ye Qing could release two streaks, why couldn't she?

Hearing this, Ye Huangyu was momentarily speechless.

It was Ling Yue's very first attempt, and she had already managed a lightning streak? The change in her daughter since regaining her power was overwhelming.

"Haste leads to mistakes. Practice a few more times and you'll get there." Ye Huangyu didn't know whether to laugh or cry.

And so, the mother and daughter trained until sunset. By then, Ling Yue had managed to release two lightning streaks. Pleased with her progress, they returned home together.

Unbeknownst to them, Ye Gu had witnessed the entire scene from atop a tree branch, his expression serious and contemplative.

—

Early the next morning, just as the first light touched the sky, a figure moved swiftly outside the northern manor.

As the girl practiced her punches, the force of her fists sliced through the air.

Swish… Swish… Swish… Swish…

Four streaks of blue lightning slammed into an old tree, charring its bark black.

"I finally managed four lightning streaks, but I'm still far from reaching six," Ling Yue said as she wiped the sweat from her brow.

After several days of training, she was making real progress with the Lightning Burst Fist.

As usual, her cousin Yin Shuang arrived at dawn to accompany her to the martial hall.

"Ling Yue, your skin's still so fair. Why aren't you tanned like me when we train under the same sun?" Yin Shuang asked enviously.

Now fifteen, Yin Shuang had started caring more about her appearance.

Though her features were decent, her skin was tanned from years of intense martial training, which earned her teasing nicknames like "charcoal head" from other Ye family kids.

"I usually bathe in an herbal solution. Maybe that's why. If you'd like, I can give you some to try," Ling Yue offered kindly, handing over a diluted bottle of the Vitality Condensing Liquid.

Yin Shuang gratefully accepted it, and the two headed to the martial hall together.

—

But as they reached the entrance, Ye Qing and his lackeys stepped out, blocking the doorway.

"Ye Ling Yue, you've got some nerve showing up here," Ye Qing sneered. He had been recovering from his injuries for the past month, and now that he was healed, he was eager for revenge.

"Sister Ling Yue is the daughter of our third aunt. Why shouldn't she be allowed in the martial hall? She's still a Ye," Yin Shuang retorted, hands on her hips, full of attitude.

"She's not worthy of the Ye name. She's just a little tramp kicked out by the Hong family," Ye Qing jeered, making sure everyone heard.

"You bastard, Ye Qing!" Yin Shuang had always considered Ling Yue a close friend, and her righteous nature couldn't stand his insults. She lunged at him in fury.

A thin layer of copper light shimmered across Yin Shuang's body—proof she had reached the third level of body training.

Ye Qing simply scoffed, then clenched his fist. A crunching sound came from his joints as he struck back, his body as hard as metal.

It was the sign of someone at the fourth level of body training.

No wonder he was so confident. During his recovery, his father had fed him a continuous stream of elixirs, pushing him to the next rank.

"Fourth level!" Yin Shuang exclaimed, realizing she was no match.

She tried to pull back, but it was too late.

Just as Ye Qing's punch was about to land, two blue lightning streaks flew past Yin Shuang and struck Ye Qing head-on.

"Lightning Burst Fist!"

The combined lightning force forced Ye Qing back several steps.

Everyone was stunned. In a single moment, the tide had turned.

Ye Qing looked up in disbelief.

The one who had attacked him… was Ye Ling Yue.

"You dare secretly learn our clan's martial techniques, Ye Ling Yue? I'm going to tell Grandfather!" His arm was singed from the lightning, but instead of anger, he looked excited.

The rules were clear: only those at the third level could learn martial techniques. In his mind, there was no way Ling Yue had reached that level. She must've been taught in secret by Ye Huangyu.

Perfect. Another violation. He could use this to finally kick both mother and daughter out of the family.

"Ye Qing, is that all you know—running to Grandfather or your dad? My mother taught me the Lightning Burst Fist openly. She broke no rules," Ling Yue said coldly.

"You're lying. Unless you've reached the third level, you're not qualified to learn it!" Ye Qing barked.

"If you can break through to the fourth level, why can't I reach the third?" Ling Yue smiled faintly, looking at him like he was a fool.