Chapter 16: The Ye Clan's Assessment Competition

In the ring, two young men were fiercely battling each other.

"Get down from there!" Like a trapped tiger, Ye Qing shouted as he swept his leg at his opponent, knocking him off the stage.

"Young Master Ye Qing's strength has improved significantly. Judging by his energy, he must've broken through to the fourth stage of the Constitutional Domain."

One of the family elders praised him aloud.

Since Ye Qing had joined the clan's assessment competition, he had already won five matches in a row, showing no signs of slowing down. With his latest victory, his rank jumped to third place. By the end of the day, he might cement his place in the top three!

After all, he was the son of Ye Huang Cheng, the man in charge of the Ye family's mining operations and a strong contender to become the next head of the clan.

With such potential, the elders were naturally eager to curry favor with this father-son pair.

"His punches are too rigid and forceful—not enough flexibility."

Ye Gu shook his head, his eyes scanning the crowd for someone familiar.

Not seeing Ling Yue or her mother, his gaze dimmed with a trace of disappointment.

He had thought the girl would enter this year's competition.

As Ye Qing celebrated his win, his face gleamed with smug satisfaction. He knew that Ling Yue—the girl he called a "little bitch"—had not shown her face in days.

He scoffed, as if it were all expected.

"Ye Yin Shuang! Where is that retarded girl? Didn't she bet me she'd show up and compete? It's the third day already. Don't tell me she chickened out and ran off like a turtle!"

Ye Qing's mocking voice echoed across the arena, drawing laughter from his lackeys.

Because Ling Yue hadn't stepped foot into the martial hall for an entire month, Ye Qing assumed she'd fled out of fear.

"Ye Qing, don't be so arrogant. If Ling Yue doesn't come, I'll fight in her place!"

With that, Ye Yin Shuang jumped into the ring like a graceful bird.

Yin Shuang had also won five matches and currently ranked seventh in the competition.

"Fine. But if you lose, crawl on the ground like a dog—just like that retarded girl."

Ye Qing laughed, mocking her without restraint.

Inwardly, he thought: Ye Yin Shuang, don't get cocky just because you broke into the fourth stage. You're no match for me.

"Ye Qing! Take this!"

Yin Shuang burst forward, her body surging with Yuan energy as she charged.

But Ye Qing just sneered. Suddenly, four streaks of blue lightning surged from his fist.

Four streaks?!

Yin Shuang's face paled. She never imagined he could control four lightning streaks!

If she took that attack head-on, she'd be seriously injured.

To use such force against your own kin... how ruthless can you be?

From the sidelines, Ye Gu frowned. He secretly prepared to fire off a streak of energy from his fingertip hidden inside his sleeve.

Just then, Yin Shuang's knee buckled unexpectedly, causing her to duck at the perfect moment. The attack soared just above her head.

She thought she was doomed, but miraculously dodged it. Her eyes filled with disbelief.

"Ye Qing, your opponent is me."

A calm, cool voice echoed from below.

The crowd turned—and saw a dirty, ragged-looking girl step forward.

It was Ling Yue.

"So she's Ling Yue, the daughter of the third miss?"

"But why does she look like a beggar?"

Despite the judging eyes all around her, Ling Yue steadily made her way through the crowd.

The fighters in the arena might not have noticed what happened a moment ago, but Ye Gu did. As someone in the Upper Celestial Domain, his perception was sharp.

Near Yin Shuang's foot was a barely visible stone.

That stone...

"Ling Yue, you're back!" Yin Shuang called out in surprise.

Compared to a month ago, Ling Yue had clearly undergone a transformation.

Despite her tattered clothes, her presence was sharp—like a drawn sword—and she radiated an unusual intensity.

Ling Yue nodded. With a single step, she landed effortlessly on the ring.

"Ye Ling Yue, you actually dare to show your face? Too bad it's the last day of the competition. You're too late."

Ye Qing sneered.

"That's not necessarily true. According to the Ye family's rules, a newcomer has the right to challenge any of the top ten. If they win, they take that person's rank.

This is my first time here. I challenge you."

Ling Yue pointed directly at Ye Qing, her voice clear and firm.

"You really have a death wish."

Ye Qing scoffed. Bracing his stance, he focused all his Yuan energy into his Lightning Burst Fist and charged at her.

Four streaks of lightning crackled from his fists like wild wolves, vicious and fast.

Ling Yue didn't dodge. She raised her own fist and struck out.

Boom—

Five lightning streaks exploded from Ling Yue's fist, completely overwhelming Ye Qing's four.

His attack shattered. Ye Qing flew off the stage. A sickening crack echoed as he hit the ground.

Something fell from his robes and clattered onto the floor.

"Pfft—"

Blood spewed from Ye Qing's mouth. "How... how can this be? Five... streaks..." he muttered in disbelief.

From the sidelines, Ye Gu's pupils contracted.

Five streaks?!

That was something even most adults couldn't manage!

Lightning Burst Fist was a technique that all Ye family disciples learned, but controlling five lightning streaks? That kind of mastery was usually only seen in adults aged twenty or thirty!

And Ling Yue was only thirteen.

What's more, Ye Gu knew she had only begun learning the technique a month ago.

He couldn't help but stare in a daze. The way she carried herself—stubborn, fearless—reminded him of Ye Huang Yu in her youth.

While the crowd erupted in chaos, Ling Yue stood silently on the stage, eyes calm and detached. To her, Ye Qing lying on the ground was no more than a puddle of mud—insignificant.

"Ye Qing, you lost. According to our bet, it's double the price. When will you pay up?"

Her words were sharp, piercing Ye Qing like needles.

"Ye Ling Yue, don't push me!"

Ye Qing glanced pleadingly at his father.

Ye Huang Cheng's face was ashen, his eyes locked onto Ling Yue. If Ye Gu hadn't been here today, he might have stepped in.

If Ye Qing really crawled in front of the whole clan and called his father a dog, their reputation would be ruined.

Right now, Ye Qing wished he could faint just to avoid the humiliation.

"Ye Qing, are you going to break your word?"

Ling Yue's voice pressed him into a corner.

"Ling Yue, we're cousins... Let's just forget about the bet, okay?"

His voice grew weaker and more desperate.

Forget it?

Ling Yue was about to refuse, but something shiny on the ground caught her attention.

According to her memory, that item had belonged to Ye Qing...