The more people that arrived at the Martial Arts Training Ground, the more Ye Feng's sense of self-importance grew.
'Beating Ye Tian half to death in front of so many people would be incredibly satisfying. This might just leave a lasting impression on everyone.'
But when Ye Feifei and the Patriarch, Ye Weitian, arrived, he grew even more excited. He never expected his own charisma would be enough to attract both the Young Miss and the Patriarch. 'Could it be? Has the Young Miss taken a fancy to me? Did she come here specifically to see me?'
Ye Feng's mind raced with wild fantasies. 'This is a rare opportunity to show off in front of Ye Feifei and the Patriarch, so I'll use my full strength against Ye Tian today.'
'Once I gain the Patriarch's favor, my status will naturally rise, and I'll get more Cultivation materials. I might even be able to challenge Ye Hu then!'
The arrival of Ye Feifei and the Patriarch shocked many of the Outer Disciples. They all assumed it was Ye Feng who had drawn the two of them here, which invisibly elevated his standing in their eyes.
Some Outer Disciples even started thinking about becoming Ye Feng's followers, their excitement palpable.
"So that's the Ye Tian you mentioned! He looks decent enough, but I wonder if he's as good as you say," Ye Weitian said, his lips barely moving.
Ye Weitian was using a skill called Secret Transmission. The technique allowed his voice to travel in a direct line into the listener's ear, making it completely inaudible to anyone nearby.
"Father, he definitely won't disappoint you," Ye Feifei said calmly, her eyes fixed on Ye Tian.
Ye Weitian knew his daughter's personality better than anyone. She used to be utterly dismissive of any man, yet now she was acting this way toward an Outer Disciple. It made him feel a bit uneasy.
'As the saying goes, a daughter won't stay home forever,' Ye Weitian thought. 'Perhaps my daughter has already developed feelings for this Ye Tian. If he truly is a heaven-sent prodigy, I might consider letting them be together.'
'But if he's just some mediocre nobody who won her over with a silver tongue, then I will resolutely forbid them from seeing each other.'
'My daughter is a peerless talent in her own right; she must find a husband who is her equal. Even Ye Hu, right here in our own family, isn't worthy of her.'
Just then, Ye Tian noticed Ye Feifei's arrival, as well as the unfamiliar middle-aged man by her side.
When Ye Tian had joined the Ye Family, a deacon managing the Outer Sect had handled his registration; he'd never been qualified to meet the Patriarch.
Seeing the man's lavish robes, his formidable aura, and the fact that he arrived with Ye Feifei, Ye Tian guessed he was likely the Ye Family's strongest expert: the Patriarch, Ye Weitian.
With the Patriarch's appearance at the Martial Arts Training Ground, several other middle-aged men and elders began to show up. Among them were Ye Hu and Ye Shixue, something Ye Tian had not anticipated at all.
When he saw Ye Shixue standing so intimately with Ye Hu, a pang of bitterness shot through Ye Tian's heart. 'How could I have ever fallen for such a fickle woman?'
He was filled with regret now. He slowly calmed his agitated heart. A major battle awaited him today; he couldn't let Ye Shixue's presence distract him.
Ye Tian had already made up his mind. He wouldn't reveal his full strength today. Ye Feng was an Inner Sect Disciple, already at the Fifth Layer Peak. Fighting him to a draw would be enough.
He didn't want to be too conspicuous. He had only agreed to meet Ye Feng at the Martial Arts Training Ground in a fit of anger. Had he known the Patriarch and other Guardian Elders would show up, he would have never agreed, not in a million years.
Revealing his strength too early would be foolish. It would cost him his advantage in the upcoming tournament.
After all, once your opponents know your trump cards, beating them becomes much more difficult.
"Ye Tian, you injured my brother, and so cruelly at that. Today, I will get justice for him. If you beg for mercy and apologize to him right now, I might let you off. Otherwise..." Ye Feng said.
"Otherwise what? Are you planning to kill me here on the Martial Arts Training Ground?" Ye Tian retorted with a smile.
"What an arrogant brat. Who is he?" a middle-aged man in the crowd couldn't help but ask.
"I think he's an Outer Disciple. Judging by his strength, he's only at the Fourth Layer, yet he dares to challenge your son. He really doesn't know his own limits," another middle-aged man remarked.
"He's courting death, so he can't blame anyone else. It wouldn't be out of line even if my son killed him. Harming another clan disciple warrants punishment in the first place!" the first man declared.
The other middle-aged man was secretly amused. 'So his own son can kill people, but if someone else so much as injures another, they must be severely punished. What a double standard!'
"I never thought our little scuffle would attract the Ye Family Patriarch and the other Elder Protectors. If you die today, you should feel honored. You know, many Outer Disciples go their whole lives in the clan without ever getting a chance to see them.
So, I have an impudent request. If I were to kill this person today, I wonder if the Patriarch would hold it against me?" Ye Feng asked.
"Ye Feng wants to kill Ye Tian? Looks like Ye Tian is a dead man!" a disciple in the crowd couldn't help but exclaim.
"Is there even a question? How can a One Vein Fourth Layer possibly compare to a One Vein Fifth Layer? Besides, Ye Feng is already at the Fifth Layer Peak. That Ye Tian is just too reckless. Of all people to mess with, he had to provoke one of Ye Feng's lackeys. He's practically asking to be killed!" another person added.
A flicker of something—perhaps disappointment, perhaps pity—crossed Ye Shixue's face. Her eyes were also fixed on Ye Tian, her thoughts a mystery.
"Sister Xue, if that brat Ye Feng really kills Ye Tian, will your heart ache for him?" Ye Hu asked Ye Shixue.
Ye Shixue frowned slightly before replying, "What was between Ye Tian and me is in the past. This world has always been about the strong preying on the weak. You have to pay for your own mistakes.
If he is really killed, then as a friend, I will collect his body and return it to his family. It would be the least I could do to repay their kindness to me!"
"Good! As long as you feel that way, I can rest easy," Ye Hu laughed. "Ye Tian is definitely a dead man today. You just get ready to collect his corpse!"
At this, Ye Weitian glanced at Ye Feng and spoke. "You broke through to the Fifth Layer long ago, while Ye Tian is only at the Fourth Layer. Killing him would be far too easy. I cannot grant your request.
However, if Ye Tian, with his Fourth Layer strength, can defeat or kill you, I will permit it! Because only those who can defeat opponents of a higher level are the talents my Ye Family should truly cultivate."
Hearing this, Ye Feng's face turned livid with rage. 'I can't kill Ye Tian, but he can kill me? What kind of nonsense is this? Am I, an Inner Sect Disciple, less valued than a mere Outer Disciple?'
'Besides, my father is an Elder of the clan! Even if the Patriarch won't give me face, he should at least give my father some!'
Ye Feng was furious, and the only person he could take it out on was Ye Tian. "Since the Patriarch has spoken," he announced, "then I will spare his pathetic life!"
"Father, you don't need to worry about Ye Tian," Ye Feifei said just then. "I'd wager Ye Feng is no match for him at all. Shall we make a bet on it?…"