CHAPTER 156: EVIL XUAN AWAKENS [4]

Ye Chen would win. No, he had to win. He couldn’t accept losing, not after his True Yang Physique had reacted, even slightly, to that girl — Yu Lingluo.

But there was a problem. Now that she was strongly suspected to be the Peak Master’s disciple, he couldn’t act too openly.

Even his own master might not be able to shield him if he overstepped. That was why he needed to slow down. To wait. To plan. After all, time was on his side.

His gaze drifted toward Mei, the pink-haired beauty still dozing beside him. He traced a hand along her arm, caressing her lightly.

"Without you, this would have been impossible," he whispered with a smile. "Once I surpass you, I’ll reward you beyond measure."

He meant it. Mei had been pivotal to his recent breakthrough. Her cultivation was higher than his, mid-stage Nascent Soul Realm — allowing him to advance far more quickly than he would have on his own. Without her, reaching Nascent Soul so easily would’ve been impossible.

Eventually, Ye Chen rose from the bed, stretching before moving toward the bath. He intended to relax, but before long, both women slipped into the steaming pool with him.

He chuckled, arms spread lazily along their waist.

"What a glorious burden," he sighed. Soon after, the bath filled with... unwanted noises.

Not that he cared. His private abode was fortified with a soundproofing formation. No one outside would ever hear.

Later, freshly bathed and clothed, the trio regrouped. Mei’s eyes gleamed as she asked, "Shall we train?"

Ye Chen waved dismissively. "No. Let’s head to the arena. Today we relax."

"I’d rather train," Xiu Ying, his fiery-haired childhood friend, insisted. "My combat skills need sharpening."

He smirked, adjusting his robes. "Very well. Let’s practice combat then."

The three departed together. But midway, Ye Chen’s medallion buzzed faintly at his side. He pulled it out, frowning.

A message from his younger brother, Ye Chan. Only two terse words:

Come. Fast.

Ye Chen’s brow furrowed as he stared at the message.

"Come fast? That idiot never speaks in riddles. Something must’ve happened."

Mei tilted her head, pink hair cascading like silk over her shoulder, "Trouble?"

"Probably." Ye Chen slipped the medallion back into his robes, expression cold. "But if Chan sent this, then it must concern that girl."

His lips curled into a smirk. Good. Maybe my luck has shifted again.

"Why don’t you leave her alone, aren’t we enough for you." Mei said.

Ye Chen ignored her. Then without another word, he turned and headed straight for the teleportation hub.

Mei and Xiu Ying exchanged glances before following closely behind.

***

By the time he arrived, a large crowd had already gathered.

The air buzzed with whispers, disciples craning their necks for a better look.

Ye Chen’s confident stride cut through the tension, his royal purple robes flowing like silk in the breeze. His aura was sharp and domineering.

At his flanks, Mei and Xiu Ying walked with practiced grace, their presences alone enough to draw envious stares from the crowd.

Ye Chen’s eyes narrowed as he saw the scene before him — his younger brother Ye Chan with blood flowing from his head, along with several others, pinned to the ground by an invisible force. Their bodies trembled, faces pale with strain, unable to even lift their heads.

And at the center of it all stood a youth in simple white robes, utterly calm, hands behind his back.

The crowd whispered louder now, voices overlapping.

"That’s him... Yu Lingluo’s brother."

"So that’s Yu Xuan? He looks a lot younger..."

"Foundation Establishment... but how can he suppress Core Formation disciples so easily?"

Ye Chen’s steps faltered ever so slightly, though his smirk never left his face. He exuded casual arrogance as if the sight of his subordinates crushed beneath a boy’s gaze didn’t bother him in the slightest.

"Interesting," he drawled, his voice smooth and self-assured as his eyes locked onto Yu Xuan. "So you’re Yu Lingluo’s brother."

Yu Xuan turned his head slowly, his expression unreadable. "You must be... Ye Chen."

The crowd fell silent in an instant, tension thick enough to choke on. The Discipline Committee had little authority here, and scenes like this weren’t uncommon.

The tiger-eyed Jian leaned close to Yu Xuan, whispering nervously, "Junior brother... that’s Ye Chen. The ones beside him are Mei and Xiu Ying."

Yu Xuan didn’t break eye contact with Ye Chen. His gaze was steady, calm, yet seething beneath the surface.

He hadn’t forgotten — these people’s original plan had been to kidnap him, to use him as leverage and force Lingluo into a death match. He had already heard everything while waiting, every unpleasant detail.

And he was furious.

First, this man had the audacity to covet his sister. Then, he dared to demand she become his servant.

At that time rage boiled over him. Yu Xuan had slammed Ye Chan’s head into the ground with [Telekinesis] and blood was flowing from his head.

He measured Ye Chen in an instant — early-stage Nascent Soul. And flanked by two women: one at peak Core Formation, the other Nascent Soul like him. He were strong, but not enough.

Yu Xuan didn’t care. Not about their cultivation. Not about their background.

Right now, all he wanted was to send this so-called "Ye Chen" screaming into the underworld.

"You’re arrogant," Yu Xuan said, his voice too deep than previous time. "Far too arrogant."

Ye Chen chuckled, taking a confident step forward until he stood less than a meter away. His purple robes swayed with the movement, arrogance radiating off him in waves.

"I am a genius," Ye Chen declared, smirk tugging at his lips. "And my origins are humble. That is what makes me different from the rest."

Only now, as he stood close enough to truly study him, did Ye Chen realize — Yu Lingluo’s brother looked even younger than Lingluo herself. Almost like a youth barely stepping into the cultivation world.

But before the thought could settle, Yu Xuan’s eyes shifted.

Instead of glowing gold, they turned pitch black — like an abyss devouring all light.

And then it came.

[Immortal’s Gaze] – Annihilation.