CHAPTER 21: CHAPTER 21: UNDERLYING CURRENTS

Chu Mingyang actually lost?

This was something that no one could have predicted.

Everyone stared ahead, dumbfounded.

"How, how is this possible?"

Yi Taichu’s face was ashen, and Wang Qinghu’s mouth was agape.

As for An Mengxiang, she was struck as if by lightning, frozen on the spot.

They had imagined many possibilities.

They thought about Ye Qingchen being unable to resist, being cut down by Chu Mingyang on the spot.

They also thought about Ye Qingchen sensing the unfavorable situation, kneeling to beg for mercy.

But!

They never considered this possibility.

Silence engulfed the surroundings, leaving only the ’tap, tap’ of Ye Qingchen’s footsteps.

"Cough, cough, cough..."

Chu Mingyang spat out blood in large mouthfuls, a look of disbelief on his face, his pupils contracting violently, as if he had seen a ghost.

He seemed unable to believe that he had actually lost to Ye Qingchen. The strength of the young man before him had exceeded his imagination.

"You’re only at the Qi Refining Twelfth Layer, how can you possess such power?"

Chu Mingyang’s eyes were filled with unbearable anger.

Ye Qingchen said nothing, his face cold as he walked towards him.

Chu Mingyang’s back was cold, an infinite sense of danger rising in his heart. He knew that this scene before him must be the greatest crisis of his life. Watching Ye Qingchen walk towards him, he abruptly shouted:

"I concede!"

"As long as you spare me, I will not trouble you again in the future!"

Ye Qingchen’s footsteps paused slightly.

Seeing this, Chu Mingyang was overjoyed and quickly continued: "I am the Young Master of the Chu Family in Qianhuan City. If you dare strike me, my family will never forgive you! Although you may not fear, you have family and friends. Would you really want to watch them suffer endless pursuit?"

As he spoke, he looked threateningly at Ye Qing standing to the side.

The meaning was quite clear.

Of course.

Chu Mingyang did not plan to end things like this. He resolved to admit defeat to Ye Qingchen first, then seize an opportunity to deal with him later. Given his family’s power, avenging someone was incredibly easy.

"You shouldn’t have threatened me with my sister!"

Ye Qingchen’s lips curled into a faint smile, his eyes flashing with lethal intent.

Bang!

Without warning, he stomped fiercely, and before Chu Mingyang could react, his skull was crushed underfoot, dead beyond any doubt on the spot.

"Little bastard!"

Everyone was terrified, completely unprepared for Ye Qingchen to kill Chu Mingyang in public despite his illustrious background.

Chu Minghui even stepped forward abruptly, drawing his sword to attack.

"Courting death!"

Ye Qingchen’s face turned cold, and he slashed back with his sword.

A gleam of silver flashed in the empty space, the sword’s edge glimmering. Chu Minghui’s head was severed directly by the slash, and he toppled like a felled tree.

A youthful talent at the Qi Refining Twelfth Layer was unexpectedly unable to withstand a casual strike from Ye Qingchen.

The scene was silent as death.

The talented youths who had come with the two Chu family brothers felt as if a bucket of cold water had been poured over them, extinguishing all their fury and leaving only deep-seated fear.

Wang Qinghu, Yi Taichu, and An Mengxiang were as silent as cicadas in winter.

It was only until now.

They realized what kind of existence they had provoked!

"If you want revenge, feel free to come!"

Ye Qingchen swept his gaze around.

Anyone who met his gaze involuntarily trembled all over, bowing their heads deeply.

No one dared to speak again.

...

The news of Chu Mingyang’s slaying spread like a hurricane, sweeping through the entire Imperial Capital overnight. It was only then that everyone realized the existence of such a figure.

For a time, the entire Imperial Capital was shaken.

And this news naturally spread back to the Hong Family in White Cloud City.

The Hong Family.

Hong Qitian was sitting in the main hall, conversing with the family elders.

"Report to the Patriarch, Ye Qingchen has appeared!"

A panicked report suddenly came from outside. This voice immediately made Hong Qitian stand up, and he quickly looked over: "Where is that little bastard now?"

"In the Imperial Capital!" the reporting guard urgently replied.

"The Imperial Capital?"

Hong Qitian’s eyes reflected a chilling killing intent, "Why haven’t you captured that brat for me?"

The guard looked troubled and could only report truthfully: "Ye Qingchen is too powerful! Moreover, he killed Chu Mingyang, who is on the genius ranking. He has now come to the attention of the major sects..."

The faces of many elders darkened.

Trouble!

That genius ranking, though not absolutely authoritative, only truly extraordinary talents could make it on. Such individuals would naturally attract the attention of the major sects.

For internal fights among talents, the major sects would naturally not intervene, but if outsiders dared to attack a ranked individual, they would inevitably face retaliation from the major sects.

"Damn it, why has it taken so long to find this little bastard!"

In a rage, Hong Qitian sucked the reporting guard to him with his palm and slapped him down violently.

The guard didn’t even have time to scream before being killed on the spot with that single slap.

"Is there no way to avenge my son?" Hong Qitian nearly ground his teeth to dust.

In the main hall, none of the elders dared to speak.

At this moment.

"Patriarch, I have a plan!" Suddenly, an elder stood up, "As long as we stop that brat from passing the major sects’ selection, then we can act against him without restraint!"

"During the three trials, we can arrange for assassins to enter..." The elder’s gaze was sinister, and he paused before continuing, "Additionally, we can target the Celestial Essence Sword Sect!"

"Continue!" Hong Qitian squinted his eyes, the light of murder flickering within.

The elder continued:

"I investigated Ye Qingchen’s background. He hails from the Ye Family in Cyan Cloud City and later engaged in a life-and-death duel with a young man named Ye Wushuang! That Ye Wushuang was favored by a Wu Shanhe from the Celestial Essence Sword Sect and was to be brought back to the sect for training."

Hong Qitian nodded.

This matter.

He naturally understood.

The eight major sects are also competitors, often sending people to travel the country to identify promising young talent. Being favored by the Celestial Essence Sword Sect at least proved Ye Wushuang’s potential was considerable.

And his own son Hong Era had also once been favored by a sect.

"And then?" Hong Qitian asked.

"Ye Wushuang was killed! Moreover, another talented youth named Mo Chen also died at Ye Qingchen’s hands. Wu Shanhe wanted to kill Ye Qingchen on the spot but was stopped..."

The elder glanced at Hong Qitian, "We can start from there and prevent Ye Qingchen from passing the trial!"

Hong Qitian furrowed his brow, "But Wu Shanhe is just a small steward. How could he possibly manipulate the major sects or cause them to disqualify someone?"

"I know one of Ye Qingchen’s secrets!" The elder hurriedly stepped forward, whispering a few words into Hong Qitian’s ear.

Hong Qitian’s expression changed abruptly, moving from puzzlement to shock, and finally to maniacal laughter: "Good, very good, truly heaven-sent! Get ready, I will personally go to the Imperial Capital! I want this brat to join a sect only to find immediate despair!"

The pair of eyes radiated a merciless killing intent, blooming limitlessly.

...

Time flew by.

In the blink of an eye.

A month had passed.

As the sky dawned with the faint light of early morning.

"Clang!"

A melodious chime echoed throughout the entire Imperial Capital.

The selection tournament had finally begun!