Chapter 3

After Ye Tianming entered the An family residence, he was led to the main hall by a butler. The butler served him a cup of spirit tea and then withdrew.

Ye Tianming did not drink the tea. He sat and waited for about a quarter of an hour before An Xiao entered.

Ye Tianming stood up and bowed, "Uncle An."

An Xiao was very amiable and smiled, "Don't be so formal. You are a friend of Xiao Qi and Xiao Yan, so you can treat this place like your own home."

Ye Tianming naturally understood that this was a polite gesture, but he did not say anything.

After they sat down, An Xiao suddenly took out a box and placed it in front of Ye Tianming. He opened the box, which contained three precious 'Qi-Inducing Pills.'

Each one was worth a thousand spirit crystals.

Ye Tianming was somewhat puzzled.

An Xiao smiled, "You once saved Xiao Qi, and I have not properly thanked you. We will be heading to the Guanxuan Realm soon, and I believe we should repay this favor. Please don't refuse."

He was afraid Ye Tianming might not understand, so he felt it necessary to be more straightforward. If the other party still did not understand, there would be no need to continue the conversation.

Ye Tianming naturally understood what the other party meant. He was clearly taken aback and now understood what An Yan had meant earlier. He turned his head to look behind the right screen, where he could vaguely see a graceful figure through the screen.

Ye Tianming stared at the familiar, beautiful figure.

After a moment, An Qi's voice came from behind the screen, "Brother Tianming, you are a good person, but we are not suitable for each other."

Ye Tianming immediately stood up, "Miss An, rest assured. In the future, if anyone asks, I will say that I am not familiar with Miss An at all."

After saying this, he turned and left.

He did not look back.

Behind the screen, An Qi watched Ye Tianming quickly disappear from the courtyard through the window. Her eyes showed a mix of complexity and reluctance, but gradually, that complexity and reluctance turned into determination and coldness.

If one does not cut off, one will suffer.

Since he has no future, why linger and cause pain to both of us in the future?

With this thought, a powerful aura suddenly surged from her body.

The Ten Thousand Methods Realm!

She was somewhat surprised; she had not expected that cutting off this emotional bond would directly lead to a breakthrough... If she had known, she would have done it long ago.

She turned and left, with no trace of lingering in her eyes.

In this life, An Qi's heart only had the Great Dao, and a person from a low-ranking family with no future could not help her in any way.

As long as a woman has strength and is sufficiently excellent, what kind of man can she not get in the future?

...

After leaving the An family residence, Ye Tianming's face was expressionless as he quickly walked away.

Tazhu suddenly said, "Why don't you try to retain her?"

Ye Tianming shook his head, "When a woman no longer likes a man, she will show extra cruelty... Why should I humiliate myself?"

Tazhu said, "Based on my years of experience, many times when girls say they want to break up, it's not necessarily true. They might just be throwing a tantrum, hoping you care about them. Boys just need to comfort them."

Ye Tianming was very surprised, "Tazhu, you are just a tower, yet you are so skilled at matters of the heart... You are a bit too casual!"

Little Tower: "..."

Ye Tianming was about to say more when he suddenly looked up and saw Ye Zong rushing towards him from a distance.

Ye Zong's face was as pale as paper, and he said in a trembling voice, "Brother Tianming, Big Brother... Big Brother is in trouble."

Ye Tianming's face instantly changed, and he pulled Ye Zong and ran towards the Ye family residence.

At the entrance of the Ye family residence, seeing Ye Tianming and Ye Zong rush in, Zhao Xiu's lips curled into a smile... Because he had just received news from Zhao Yu that An Qi of the An family had become engaged to the Nanli family, meaning that Ye Tianming and An Qi were completely out of the question.

Without the An family, the Zhao family, with their current strength, could easily control the Ye family.

And Ye Nan was just the first step.

In the main hall of the Ye family, as soon as Ye Tianming and Ye Zong rushed in, they saw Ye Nan lying on a stretcher, his lower body covered in blood, his face as pale as paper, and he was extremely weak.

All the elders of the Ye family were present, their faces showing panic and helplessness.

Ye Tianming quickly walked to Ye Nan and held his hand, saying in a trembling voice, "Big Brother!"

Seeing Ye Tianming and Ye Zong, Ye Nan's pale face showed a faint smile, "I won't die, just my dantian is shattered."

Dantian shattered!

Ye Tianming's face was extremely dark. On the way, Ye Zong had already told him that Ye Nan had just arrived at the entrance of the Inspectorate when a group of black-clothed men with formidable strength suddenly rushed out and crippled Ye Nan's dantian in broad daylight.

"It's Zhao Xiu!"

Ye Zong suddenly said angrily, "It must be Zhao Xiu, damn it, let's go."

As he said this, he raised his arm, "Let's go."

Just as he turned, he was grabbed by Ye Tianming.

Ye Tianming looked at the angry Ye family members and took a deep breath, suppressing the anger in his heart, "They didn't kill Big Brother but crippled him to provoke us. If we attack Zhao Xiu now, it would be equivalent to attacking the Immortal Treasure Pavilion, which is the Zhao family's true intention."

Ye Nan nodded weakly, "Tianming is right. At this moment, the Ye family must remain calm and not act rashly or out of anger."

As he said this, his eyes were fixed on Ye Tianming's, fearing that he would lose his composure. He knew his younger brother's character.

Ye Tianming slightly lowered his head, not saying anything, but the sword at his waist was trembling.

Ye Nan then grabbed his wrist and said in a low voice, "A small setback can ruin a great plan. You must remain calm; the Ye family needs you now."

Just as Ye Tianming was about to speak, a Ye family member rushed in, "Clan Leader, the head of the Li family has arrived."

Li Ji.

Ye Nan's future father-in-law.

Everyone in the Ye family was stunned. Why did he come at this time?

At this moment, Li Ji walked in, accompanied by a woman. The woman was in her twenties, slightly plump, not stunningly beautiful but still pretty and pleasant to look at.

She was Ye Nan's fiancée, Li E.

When she saw Ye Nan, Li E's face instantly turned pale, and she quickly walked to his side, tears welling up in her eyes.

Li Ji walked into the hall with a stern face, saying nothing.

Seeing Li Ji's expression, everyone in the Ye family's hearts sank to the bottom. Was he here to break off the engagement?

Lying down, Ye Nan's expression turned gloomy when he saw Li Ji's expression, but he soon became resigned. He was now a cripple and could not drag the Li family down. Even if they did not break off the engagement, he would have to do it himself.

With this thought, Ye Nan looked at Li Ji and smiled, "Uncle, are you here to break off the engagement? I understand..."

"What nonsense are you talking?"

Li Ji suddenly became furious, "Xiao Nan, is this what you think of me?"

Everyone was stunned.

Li Ji clenched his fists, his gaze firm, "We will get married, today."

Everyone in the Ye family was completely dumbfounded.

Li E also looked at Li Ji in disbelief, "Father..."

Li Ji walked to Li E, "Father knows that you will not marry anyone else in your life. Even if his dantian is shattered and he can no longer cultivate, is that not true?"

Li E, tears in her eyes, nodded quickly.

Li Ji gently took Li E's hand. In her hand, there was a hidden dagger. Seeing the dagger, Li Ji shook his head and sighed softly, "Silly girl, you are still thinking of doing something foolish... Father asks you, he needs you now. So, will you marry him today?"

Li E immediately knelt down and said in a sobbing voice, "Yes, yes..."

Li Ji helped her up and then placed her hand in Ye Nan's. He looked at Ye Nan, "Xiao Nan, I know you are now in a difficult situation with your dantian shattered, but as someone who has been through it, I tell you, every man faces setbacks in life. It's not scary to face setbacks; what's scary is losing hope and giving up. Now, even if you don't do it for yourself, you must do it for Li E. Don't give up."

As he said this, he took out several bottles of pills and placed them in Ye Nan's hand, "These are healing pills. As for your dantian, don't worry. The Li family has some assets, and we will definitely find a way to help you recover."

Ye Nan's eyes suddenly became moist.

On the side, Ye Tianming, seeing this, slightly lowered his head.

Tazhu suddenly sighed softly, "People are indeed different. Look at the An family, and look at the Li family... Little guy, don't be sad. From my past experience, you will have no less than ten women in the future."

Ye Tianming, though not understanding, was greatly shocked. Could this Tazhu have been a pimp in the past?

The Li family was clearly serious. Soon, the Li family sent people to help the Ye family prepare for the wedding.

If they said they would get married today, they would get married today.

Ye Tianming then went to the back mountain alone. He sat cross-legged on the ground and took out hundreds of sheets of paper, each filled with dense text.

Tazhu, curious, asked, "You have been writing these messy things since you were nine. What are you trying to do?"

Ye Tianming said, "Create a cultivation technique."

"Damn?"

Tazhu was shocked, "You... What did you say?"

Ye Tianming took a deep breath, "For ordinary people to change their fate, it is as difficult as climbing to the sky. The essence of it comes down to two points: money and cultivation techniques. If I create a technique that can absorb the spiritual energy of the universe at will, it would be a win-win. In the future, cultivation would not require money, and the spiritual energy of the universe would be at my disposal."

Tazhu: "..."

Ye Tianming began to organize and summarize, and he was about to complete it.

After the great battle a thousand years ago, the Guanxuan Sword Master redefined all the cultivation realms. The current realms are: Physical Body Realm, Innate Realm, True Law Realm, Ten Thousand Methods Realm, Lesser Tribulation Realm, Greater Tribulation Realm, Peak Realm, Dharma Image Realm, Immortal Realm, Supreme Immortal Realm, and Time Immortal...

He is currently in the Innate Realm. After reaching the Innate Realm, one can draw spiritual energy from the universe into the body, refining the physical body and organs, significantly enhancing the body's organs and physical form, transforming it into a 'Vajra Body,' moving like thunder, with the strength of a hundred elephants, and a punch that can break rivers.

Above the Innate Realm is the True Law Realm, where one can initially master spiritual energy, control it over a thousand miles, and condense it into a sword, which ordinary people cannot resist.

Above the True Law Realm is the Ten Thousand Methods Realm: At this realm, one's aura is like a river, and one can master techniques and supernatural powers, using the power of nature to summon thunder with a thought and overturn the sea with a flip of the hand...

For ordinary people, the Innate Realm is already the limit. To advance further, one needs high-level cultivation techniques, which are legendary for the Ye family and countless ordinary people. In addition to high-level techniques, a large amount of spirit crystals is also required.

To advance further, he must go to the Guanxuan Academy, where there is a chance to obtain cultivation techniques, but the issue of money cannot be solved.

Therefore, he wants to create a cultivation technique that does not require money.

The spiritual energy of the universe is at my disposal!

Originally, he was not in such a hurry, so he had been suppressing his cultivation to push each realm to its limit, then 'overflow' naturally. But now, with Big Brother Ye Nan's incident, he realized that he must become stronger. Only by becoming stronger can he protect the Ye family.

Strength is everything!

When the sky was just beginning to brighten, Ye Tianming sat cross-legged on the ground, his hands forming a seal in front of his chest.

Suddenly, countless visible white spiritual energies rushed from the universe, directly entering his forehead and then penetrating his chest. Ye Tianming felt as if a spring breeze was blowing through his organs, making him feel refreshed and clear.

Boom!

Ye Tianming instantly advanced from the Innate Realm to the True Law Realm, and his aura was still rapidly growing.

Ye Tianming suddenly said in a trembling voice, "Not good, Tazhu, there's a problem."

Tazhu, puzzled, asked, "Didn't you succeed?"

Ye Tianming, somewhat anxious, said, "I don't know how to stop. Oh, I'm going to explode..."

Tazhu: "..."

Ye Tianming's aura was wildly surging, but at the same time, because too much spiritual energy entered his body, his dantian and body could not withstand it, and his organs and entire body were about to burst.

Ye Tianming could not hold on any longer, closed his eyes, and fainted. However, at the moment he fainted, his aura directly advanced from the True Law Realm to the Ten Thousand Methods Realm.

But more spiritual energy continued to enter his body. Although his body looked like it was about to burst, there was actually no problem. Not only was there no problem, but his body was slowly absorbing the excess energy.

Tazhu said softly, "This amount of spiritual energy cannot burst a legendary ordinary body. However, this little guy needs to suffer a bit so that he will be more cautious next time."

...