Chapter 10

Leaving the martial arts pavilion, Ye Chen immediately saw Wang Yuan standing outside.

Beside Wang Yuan was Ma Jiu, whom Ye Chen had just disciplined.

Clearly, Ma Jiu was not the type to hold back; he had indeed invited Wang Yuan over to reclaim his lost dignity from Ye Chen.

Not far behind Wang Yuan and Ma Jiu, a large crowd of onlookers stood, including not only the nominal disciples who had heard the news, but also the few nominal disciples from Wang Yuan's courtyard who had been willing to be human punching bags.

Wang Yuan did not scold the onlookers; in his heart, he hoped there would be as many spectators as possible.

After all, with his subordinates being bullied, his own face was also tarnished. This was a good opportunity to establish his authority and set an example, showing the nominal disciples that opposing him would bring nothing but trouble.

As for Ye Chen, Wang Yuan had never taken him seriously.

Although he was surprised that Ye Chen could defeat Ma Jiu, Wang Yuan, as a Fourth Layer True Qi cultivator, had no one to fear among the nominal disciples. Moreover, he had just achieved minor success in cultivating a new Middle Rank Yellow Tier martial technique, "Blood Fiend Claw," which made him even more arrogant.

Middle Rank Yellow Tier martial techniques were not something many nominal disciples could successfully cultivate. Wang Yuan, however, possessed three Lower Rank Yellow Tier martial techniques and one Middle Rank Yellow Tier martial technique.

Ye Chen? One of the three fools of Qingyun Sect, even if he had some good luck and improved his strength, could he surpass him?

Wang Yuan had never considered that Ye Chen had also broken through to the Fourth Layer of True Qi and mastered the most powerful Middle Rank Yellow Tier martial technique, the Torrential Rain Sword Technique.

After all, such a surprising achievement, even the Pavilion Elder would be astonished, and he would never think it could happen to Ye Chen.

Seeing Ye Chen walk out of the martial arts pavilion with a calm expression, Wang Yuan sneered coldly, "Ye Chen, you have some nerve to provoke my people."

"I don't know what kind of luck you had to defeat Ma Jiu, but even if you kneel and beg for mercy today, I will make you understand how high the sky is and how deep the earth is!"

As Wang Yuan spoke, he turned to look at the surrounding nominal disciples, then stepped forward toward Ye Chen.

Seeing Wang Yuan approaching, Ye Chen's expression did not change at all: "Kneel and beg for mercy? Wang Yuan, I don't know what gives you such confidence."

Buzz!

Ye Chen's defiant words stirred the excitement of the surrounding nominal disciples.

When they saw that Ye Chen was the one opposing Wang Yuan, they had initially not expected much from this one-sided spectacle. However, they were surprised to see that Ye Chen dared to challenge Wang Yuan.

"Is this still the Ye Chen, one of the three fools of Qingyun Sect?"

"When did he become so powerful? Does he really not fear Wang Yuan?"

Although Ye Chen had also disciplined Zhao Jing and Bai Kun besides Ma Jiu, he was not one to boast, and Zhao Jing and Bai Kun would not spread the news of their defeat. Therefore, these nominal disciples had no idea that Ye Chen had changed completely from his past self.

Ye Chen's words sparked a flurry of discussions among the nominal disciples, and Wang Yuan's face turned sour.

"What, do you really want to test your strength against me?"

"Fine, fine, fine, then I'll show you the true power of a strong cultivator!"

Wang Yuan gave Ye Chen a sinister smile. The more he saw Ye Chen's confident expression, the more he disliked him. The thought of completely incapacitating Ye Chen rose in his mind. With a dragon-like gait, he reached out a claw toward Ye Chen's Sea of Qi, intending to completely ruin his cultivation.

What a ruthless move!

Seeing Wang Yuan aim for Ye Chen's Sea of Qi, many of the surrounding nominal disciples couldn't help but scream in shock.

Piercing the Sea of Qi would completely ruin a True Qi Realm cultivator, more ruthless than breaking someone's limbs.

Could Ye Chen block it?

The hearts of the nominal disciples were on edge.

On the second floor of the martial arts pavilion, the Pavilion Elder, who was watching from the window, frowned: "This Wang Yuan, so venomous, daring to ruin someone's Sea of Qi outside my martial arts pavilion."

The Pavilion Elder took a step, intending to intervene, but then stopped: "Since Ye Chen claims to have cultivated the third form of the Torrential Rain Sword Technique, he should handle this situation with ease. If he is just boasting, then being ruined will be his punishment for lying."

With this thought, the Pavilion Elder suppressed his urge to intervene and stood by the window again.

"I hope Ye Chen isn't just boasting."

Amid the shouts of the nominal disciples, Wang Yuan's claw was already above Ye Chen's Sea of Qi. At this moment, Ye Chen moved, dodging the claw in the blink of an eye and instantly flashing behind Wang Yuan. He then punched Wang Yuan's back.

"Surprise Step! A perfected Surprise Step!"

On the second floor of the martial arts pavilion, the Pavilion Elder exclaimed in surprise at Ye Chen's movement.

"If he can perfect the Surprise Step, the Torrential Rain Sword Technique might really be successfully cultivated!"

The Pavilion Elder remembered that Ye Chen had borrowed two martial techniques, one of which was the Middle Rank Yellow Tier movement technique, the Surprise Step.

Although the Surprise Step, as a Middle Rank Yellow Tier technique, was not as difficult to cultivate as the Torrential Rain Sword Technique, it was still much harder than Lower Rank Yellow Tier techniques. Being able to achieve minor success in a month was already impressive.

For Ye Chen to perfect the Surprise Step, it was clear that his comprehension ability was very strong.

The Pavilion Elder was already looking forward to seeing Ye Chen's sword technique.

The Pavilion Elder recognized Ye Chen's movement, but the surrounding nominal disciples only saw a blur and then saw Ye Chen behind Wang Yuan.

They couldn't see how Ye Chen moved.

However, seeing Ye Chen dodge Wang Yuan's attack and counterattack, they realized that Ye Chen truly had the strength to face Wang Yuan.

"Huh?"

Wang Yuan was also startled when Ye Chen suddenly appeared behind him and attacked. He hadn't expected Ye Chen's movement to be so fast.

Wang Yuan snorted coldly, turned, and transformed his claw into a fist, striking directly at Ye Chen's punch.

Boom!

The two punches collided, and the powerful True Qi explosion sent both of them flying backward.

Thud! Thud! Thud!

Wang Yuan, who had retreated seven or eight steps before stabilizing, looked at Ye Chen in disbelief: "Fourth Layer of True Qi! You've also reached the Fourth Layer of True Qi?!"

To be able to force him back without any disadvantage in a punch, Ye Chen must have reached the Fourth Layer of True Qi.

Ye Chen had been at the First Layer of True Qi not long ago, and now he had reached the Fourth Layer. How was this possible?

"Is it only you who can reach the Fourth Layer of True Qi?"

Ye Chen looked at Wang Yuan and said calmly.

"How could Ye Chen reach the Fourth Layer of True Qi?"

Among the surrounding nominal disciples, the seven or eight who were often used as human punching bags by Wang Yuan knew Ye Chen best. They couldn't believe that Ye Chen, who had been at the First Layer of True Qi like them, had broken through to the Fourth Layer.

This was simply shocking and unbelievable!

Wang Yuan stared at Ye Chen: "Ye Chen, you really surprise me. No wonder you could defeat Ma Jiu."

"However, to reach the Fourth Layer of True Qi in such a short time, you must have used some special means. Perhaps you swallowed a demon beast's core by chance or forcibly took a Qi-boosting elixir. I don't believe you cultivated it on your own."

"These methods are all inferior and cannot compare to my cultivated True Qi!"

As a Fourth Layer True Qi cultivator, Wang Yuan had heard of many ways to boost True Qi. Swallowing a powerful demon beast's core or taking a Qi-boosting elixir could temporarily raise one's cultivation by several levels.

However, these methods also brought many hidden dangers, even potentially halting a cultivator's future progress.

Only cultivators with no hope of breakthrough would choose such methods.

In Wang Yuan's mind, Ye Chen must have used these methods to reach the Fourth Layer of True Qi. Otherwise, he couldn't imagine how Ye Chen could suddenly improve to such a degree.

"I don't need your concern about how I improved, Wang Yuan. Use whatever means you have, or you might not get the chance to attack."

"Arrogant!"

Feeling disrespected by Ye Chen, Wang Yuan was furious. The four True Qi vortices in his body trembled, and his claws turned crimson in an instant.

"Feel the pain of your meridians being severed by my 'Blood Fiend Claw'!"

Wang Yuan swung his claws, and he shot toward Ye Chen like lightning. The crimson claws emitted violent True Qi, aiming directly at Ye Chen's Sea of Qi and meridians.

The claw wind was so fierce that it tore the air with a loud crackling sound. The crimson blood light on the claws alone was enough to make people pale.

This was the Middle Rank Yellow Tier martial technique that Wang Yuan had just cultivated—the Blood Fiend Claw!

Ye Chen's eyes turned cold. Wang Yuan kept using ruthless moves, trying to ruin his cultivation. Was he really that easy to bully?

Since that's the case, don't blame me for being ruthless!

Clang!

A clear sound of a sword being drawn rang out, and all the nominal disciples saw a scene they would never forget.

A dazzling sword light exploded outward.

What a brilliant sword light!

The sword light was faster than lightning, piercing the air and reaching Wang Yuan in a third of a blink.

It was like slicing through tofu; the sword was unstoppable, severing Wang Yuan's claws in one stroke.

The sword light flickered, and the tip suddenly turned, piercing toward Wang Yuan's Sea of Qi before the previous sword light had even dissipated.

Thud!

With a muffled sound, the sword pierced directly into Wang Yuan's Sea of Qi.

Wang Yuan, who had boasted about ruining Ye Chen's cultivation, was instantly pierced through his Sea of Qi, ruining his own cultivation!

"Ah!"

Wang Yuan screamed as he saw his claws fly off and his True Qi surge out of his body, disappearing in an instant. The intense pain then made him faint.

"Torrential Rain Sword Technique, Torrential Rain Fall!"

"Really the Torrential Rain Sword Technique!"

"He really cultivated the Torrential Rain Sword Technique successfully!"

At this moment, the Pavilion Elder on the second floor of the martial arts pavilion completely ignored the fallen Wang Yuan, his eyes fixed on Ye Chen.

Ye Chen's sword just now finally made him understand.

Ye Chen had not lied.

This young man had really comprehended the Torrential Rain Sword Technique in just one month!