CHAPTER 42: CHAPTER 40 YANG FAMILY

The next morning, news spread quietly yet astonishingly fast throughout Luofeng City.

Ye Chen, once a peerless genius known across Xiafeng Country, now a talentless person, was actually the disciple of a mysterious Second Star Alchemist.

After this news broke, it left the entire city stunned, their faces filled with shock.

Initially, most people did not believe this shocking news.

A Second Star Alchemist was a highly revered figure throughout Xiafeng Country, supremely proud, and would not even consider a conspicuous Innate Expert like Ye Ao worthy of their attention.

Even when facing the legendary warriors of the Martial God Realm, they were absolutely qualified to discuss matters on equal terms, so why would they take interest in Ye Chen, who had become useless?

However, the source was very reliable—it was based on an insider from the Ye Family who had witnessed Master Li Yun personally confirming it by swearing a cruel oath that would sever his lineage, ensuring no falsehood.

Subsequently, various people thought to verify at Ye Residence and at the residence of Master Li Yun, and indeed it was true, which set off a massive upheaval in Luofeng City.

The disciple of a Second Star Alchemist—what a prestigious identity! Even if Ye Chen was still unable to cultivate and was considered useless, with this status alone, not even the Clan Leaders of the three major families in Luofeng City would dare to offend him.

Moreover, rumors circulated that Ye Chen had already regained his horrifying cultivation talent from the past, and he had even defeated Ye Zhengyang, the top youth of his generation, in the Ye Family hall.

In a short time, various rumors about Ye Chen spread throughout the entire city; the once silent genius of two years, yet again became the focal point of public attention.

East of Luofeng City, there was a majestic and extensive mansion, with vermilion gates and stone lions, grand and luxurious—in comparison, only slightly less impressive than the Ye Family, the foremost family.

This was Yangg Yi’s Yangg Family, one of the three major families in Luofeng City.

At that moment, in the family council hall, the high-ranking elders and the Family Head had all appeared coincidentally, creating an atmosphere of silence and seriousness.

The Yangg Family Patriarch, a middle-aged man somewhat resembling Yangg Yi but with more authority, was an imposing figure without anger, dressed in noble attire, sitting at the head seat, his brows furrowed while holding a stack of documents.

In the council hall, where a pin drop could be heard, everyone silently waited for the Family Head to speak.

A moment later, the Yangg Family Patriarch lifted his eyes, his gaze sweeping over the senior family members present and after surveying the room he finally spoke, "Are these documents all accurate?"

The documents he held were all about the rumors concerning Ye Chen.

A gray-haired elder spoke up; he was one of the Yangg Family’s elders who had previously accompanied Yangg Yi to the Ye Residence, now saying, "Family Head, these documents are important information we’ve collected from various sources at great cost. They have been confirmed by key personnel of the Ye Family as well as attendants from Master Li Yun’s residence. They are indeed authentic."

The Yangg Family Patriarch nodded, choosing not to continue speaking, but his already furrowed brows deepened even more.

If these documents were just baseless rumors, that would be one thing, but their authenticity made it a different issue altogether, especially concerning the bet between Ye Chen and Yangg Yi.

Five months ago, the wager Ye Chen placed with Yangg Yi in the Ye Family hall spread throughout the entire Luofeng City and was much watched. At that time, many mocked Ye Chen’s wild fantasies, deeming it impossible for him to succeed in the Tiandu Academy’s trial.

But the recent rumors about Ye Chen made them deeply worried.

If Ye Chen truly regained his monstrous cultivation talent and managed to pass the Tiandu Academy’s entrance trial in four-months time, would that not mean Yangg Yi would become Ye Chen’s servant?

This was absolutely intolerable no matter what.

Not only would it mean Yangg Yi becoming Ye Chen’s servant, but it would also represent a significant humiliation for the Yangg Family.

After a long period, the Yangg Family Patriarch said, "Do you have any thoughts or suggestions to offer?"

Silence prevailed in the council hall, with no one responding until finally a side branch officer cautiously spoke up, "Family Patriarch, if so, I suggest dealing with Ye Chen—"

He did not continue, but he made a hand blade gesture across his neck, the murderous intent flaring up, chilling to the bone.

Clearly, his suggestion was to cut the weeds and eliminate the roots by killing Ye Chen before he passed the Tiandu Academy’s entrance trial, once and for all.

Many agreed with this suggestion, and at the moment, this method seemed to be the best.

However, the Family Head merely glanced at him dispassionately, filled with disappointment, and the elder from the Yangg Family even shook his head, saying, "Yangg Dong, I know your loyalty to our family is unwavering, but we have to consider the feasibility of such action. Let alone the mysterious power of the Second Star Alchemist backing Ye Chen, even Ye Ao would struggle to evade his watchful eye and make a move against Ye Chen."

Realizing the implications, that officer turned pale.

Ye Ao was the top expert in the entire Luofeng City, and Ye Chen was his only beloved son. How could he possibly allow someone to kill his only son right under his nose?

Moreover, every alchemist was the most difficult person to provoke, not because of their cultivation, but because of their superior alchemy technique, which made countless forces want to associate with them, enough to summon the wind and call the rain.

Just looking at Li Yun was enough to see, a one-star alchemist was already like this, a second-star alchemist... the entire Yangg Family combined was not to be provoked.

"So... may I ask the Family Head, what should be done?" This official couldn’t help but ask.

The Family Head sighed lightly and said, "There is no need to be too desperate, Yi’er is after all currently an elite disciple of the Heavenly Level Academy at Xiafeng Academy. Xiafeng Academy values her as well and wouldn’t allow her to suffer such humiliation; just send a letter and that will be it."

That night, an urgent secret letter was sent out, covering eight hundred li overnight.

Xiafeng Academy, as the top gathering place of talents in the Xiafeng Country, was directly established in the Royal Capital, covering a vast area, and featuring ups and downs of mountains and forests, with tall gate buildings.

At the mountain peak behind the academy, clouds and mists entwined, like an Immortal Realm.

Here, the spiritual energy far surpassed other places, rich and vigorous, resembling a Pocket World. Cultivating here for one day could equal more than ten days in the outside world.

Naturally, not everyone was qualified to enter this Cultivation Holy Land. Only a very few true elites in the academy were eligible to step into it.

These elite geniuses referred to the top talents of the Heavenly Level Academy, merely a dozen or so people, but each one was at least a talent of the Innate Realm or above.

At the edge of a secluded spring’s green pond, the nature’s spiritual energy was thick and about to turn foggy. At that moment, on a rock, there sat a young girl in meditation, dressed in a long emerald dress, with black hair hanging down, her makeup impeccable, eyes closed in cultivation.

As she cultivated, one could visibly see strands of pure nature’s spiritual energy being absorbed into the girl’s body, transforming into her own strength...

Half a day later, the girl slowly opened her eyes. The spiritual energy around them calmed down. She felt the True Essence Power inside her growing stronger and showed a hint of satisfaction.

This girl was Yangg Yi. Initially, with the Spirit Clearing Pill tricked from Ye Chen, she had made a breakthrough to the Innate Realm. Since she used external aid, her realm was somewhat unstable. Over these five months, she had been secretly cultivating in the mountains behind Xiafeng Academy, thoroughly stabilizing her Innate cultivation.

Now, she was much stronger than when she first broke through the Innate Realm, her aura robust and her True Essence Power profound.

"Miss, a letter from the family arrived this morning."

Seeing that Yangg Yi finally exited her cultivation state, a maid who had been waiting here hurriedly spoke respectfully and presented a letter with both hands.

"A letter from the family? What could it be?"

Yangg Yi slightly furrowed her brows, took the letter, and quickly scanned the content, her face showing surprise.

Ye Chen, that waste, had recovered his cultivation talent and was even rumored to have defeated Ye Zhengyang face-to-face, even supposedly being a disciple of a two-star Alchemist.

Immediately, she shook her head, speaking softly, "It’s all empty talk. How could Ye Chen, that waste, possibly defeat Ye Zhengyang, let alone being a disciple of a two-star Alchemist? This must be the Ye Family spreading rumors on purpose to strike at my Yangg Family."

The maid spoke, "Miss, from what I see, the Family Head wouldn’t send a letter based on groundless rumors without reason. There might be some credibility to it."

Yangg Yi looked at the maid with a smile, "Chun’er, I didn’t expect you to become smart, even considering this point. But even if all these are true, after all, I’m not only an elite of the Heavenly Level Academy at Xiafeng Academy but also have the support of the Crown Prince. Even if Ye Chen that waste really did win, he wouldn’t necessarily be able to do anything to me."

"And one more thing, this year’s entrance trial for Tiandu Academy is unlike any other. Even if that waste has recovered his cultivation talent, to pass this year’s Tiandu Academy entrance trial... haha, it’s tough!"

"Miss, why do you say that?" Chun’er asked puzzledly.

Yangg Yi smiled faintly, filled with mystery, "You will know when the time comes. However, this year, the Heavenly Level Academy at Tiandu Academy will likely see a new super-genius from Xiafeng Country."

Chun’er exclaimed in surprise, "Miss, could it be you..."

"Chun’er, you’re mistaken. I’ve just stabilized the Innate Realm not long ago, and I’m not yet capable of meeting the trial requirements of the Heavenly Level Institute at Tiandu Academy, but the Crown Prince is certainly capable..." Yangg Yi spoke softly, her eyes bright with anticipation and full of faith in the Crown Prince.

This generation’s Crown Prince of the Xiafeng Country was a rare unparalleled genius, born once in a millennium, naturally gifted and having reached a very high realm at a young age, able to look down on all the young generation of the entire Xiafeng Country, receiving great expectations.

And she, having been favored by the Crown Prince, had an unlimited future.

Yangg Yi’s lips curved into a cold arch, she smiled slightly, a cold frostiness emanating, "This time, even if Ye Chen that waste really has recovered his cultivation talent, even if he meets the requirements of Tiandu Academy’s trial, if he harbors any improper thoughts towards me, the Crown Prince will make him understand what ’worse than death’ really means!"