Chapter 36: Breakthrough to Martial Artist

Inside Ye Qingchen’s small courtyard.

Ye Qingchen was bustling about, getting dinner ready.

Xiao Xiao was about to lend a hand, but was forcefully pressed down at the dining table by Ye Qingchen:

"You just recovered, your body is still weak, don’t move. Today, let me take care of you!"

"The family head had some chickens sent over, so tonight you’re eating my chicken! Eat up and get your strength back!"

Ye Qingchen ran back and forth, covered in flour on his clothes and face, all flustered and frantic.

He’d never cooked before and realized cooking was way more exhausting than cultivating...

When Xiao Xiao saw Ye Qingchen sweating head to toe and looking so scattered, she couldn’t help but cover her mouth and laugh.

So the young master has his clueless moments too!

Finally, Xiao Xiao couldn’t sit tight any longer and stood up.

Seeing this, Ye Qingchen rushed over, not even pausing to put down his water basin, and pressed Xiao Xiao back down again:

"Xiao Xiao, sit! I said today you won’t have to lift a finger, I’ll do all the cooking. You just wait to eat!"

Xiao Xiao patted her stomach and crinkled her nose:

"Young master, it’s been hours already, I’m starving. If I wait any longer and don’t help, I’ll faint from hunger before you finish dinner..."

Ye Qingchen: "..."

"Ahem, it’s my first time, so I’m pretty slow... How about, you instruct me?"

Ye Qingchen awkwardly scratched his head, showing embarrassment in front of Xiao Xiao for the very first time.

Xiao Xiao shook her head with a chuckle, snatched the basin out of Ye Qingchen’s hands:

"Honestly, cooking’s a talent too, and young master, you have zero talent in this. Let me handle it!"

"Then I’ll be your assistant!"

Ye Qingchen froze for a second, then quickly followed after Xiao Xiao’s figure.

Xiao Xiao moved with remarkable skill. Soon, with laughter and chatting, a table full of aromatic dishes was finished—right in the center was a fragrant roasted chicken!

The two set out bowls and chopsticks, then sat down together.

"Here, eat the chicken! It’ll strengthen you!"

Ye Qingchen directly tore off half the chicken and piled it into Xiao Xiao’s bowl.

"Young master, you exhausted yourself in the Qingyun Mountains too. Eat up, replenish!"

Xiao Xiao was grinning from ear to ear.

"Alright!"

Ye Qingchen nodded.

The two wolfed down their food; this meal tasted especially good.

...

Li Family.

Li Zhe’s expression was dark as he glared at the two Li Family experts kneeling on the floor.

Beside Li Zhe, Lady Li and Li Susu sobbed bitterly, their eyes swollen from crying.

These two Li Family elites were precisely the ones who’d accompanied Li Mingliang into the Qingyun Mountains.

They were assigned to keep watch outside the valley, which was the only reason they survived the calamity.

But they had witnessed the moment Li Mingliang and company were killed by Elder Du with their own eyes.

"Family Head, Elder Du from the Rising Sun Pavilion not only killed the Second Young Master—he even tried to hunt us down and silence us!"

"That’s right! If we hadn’t been quick-witted, hiding in the Qingyun Mountains for ages, we wouldn’t have made it back today to report!"

The two Li Family experts explained.

"Pathetic bunch of losers!"

Li Zhe furiously kicked out twice, knocking both to the floor.

I’d ordered them to join Li Mingliang in killing Ye Qingchen—who knew Ye Qingchen would survive, but Li Mingliang would perish instead!

"Hmph! To think the Rising Sun Pavilion actually helped Ye Qingchen and killed my Li Family member!"

Li Zhe gnashed his teeth, face full of displeasure.

The two Li Family experts hurried to clarify:

"Family Head, Elder Du’s original target was Qin Yue from the Rising Sun Pavilion. Our Second Young Master just happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time!"

Li Zhe’s eyes darkened; he nodded slightly, gradually letting go of his grudges.

That’s true.

Ye Qingchen is just some Martial Apprentice kid—Rising Sun Pavilion already did him a huge favor by stepping in once; it’s not like they’d bail him out forever!

On the side, Lady Li had already cried her eyes swollen:

"Family Head, Ming Liang died because of Ye Qingchen—you must avenge our son, please, wuwuwu..."

Li Susu’s tears rolled down her cheeks:

"Father, Second Brother died because of me. We must get revenge!"

Li Zhe’s brows tightened; he slowly clenched his fists:

"Hmph! Old grudges plus new hatred, I’ll get justice for Susu and Ming Liang, personally slay Ye Qingchen!"

Right at that moment—

"Report!"

A hurried figure dashed inside:

"Family Head, important news! Orders just came down—the Qingyun Mountains Youth Trial has been moved up to start one month from now!"

"What? Moved up to one month from now!"

A flash of surprise flickered in Li Zhe’s eyes.

Normally, the Qingyun Mountains Youth Trial takes place in four months.

"Seems there’s something big happening in the Northern Desolate Country. All sects are holding their recruitment ahead of schedule!"

The messenger explained.

"What big event?"

Lady Li interjected curiously.

"Details are unclear, but all sects are taking it seriously—even the royal family of the Northern Desolate Country, and the Qin Family behind the Rising Sun Pavilion have mobilized."

The messenger replied.

Li Zhe mused:

"Looks like we’ll need to prepare early for this Qingyun Mountains trial."

If any Li Family juniors can shine at the trial, they’ll join one of Northern Desolate Country’s six great sects, and their future will be limitless!

Suddenly, Li Zhe’s pupils contracted; he broke into wild joy:

"This early trial is perfect! Heaven-sent opportunity! I can use this chance to hunt Ye Qingchen in the Qingyun Mountains and get revenge for Susu and Ming Liang!"

"Ye Qingchen, it’s Heaven itself demanding your death!"

"Let’s see if anyone can save you this time!"

...

Inside Ye Qingchen’s room.

After a full meal, Xiao Xiao was summoned by the Grand Elder for special guidance in cultivation.

Ye Qingchen returned to his room, sat cross-legged on his bed.

During Qin Yue and Elder Du’s battle, he’d swallowed the Ironwood Soul Flower’s root. His cultivation, stuck at the Martial Apprentice Eighth Layer, soared forward in one go, breaking through to Martial Apprentice Ninth Layer’s peak!

Originally, with all the Ironwood Soul Flower’s power, Ye Qingchen could break straight through the Martial Apprentice Ninth Layer’s peak, stepping into the Martial Warrior Realm!

But when Qin Yue’s life hung by a thread, Ye Qingchen had to abort his breakthrough, forcibly stopping at the Martial Apprentice level to rush to her rescue!

Now, with Xiao Xiao’s matter settled, Ye Qingchen was ready to try again—a fresh breakthrough!

He took out a bottle of Spirit Gathering Pills and a bottle of Soul Condensing Pills, tipped one out from each and swallowed them. Then, Ye Qingchen activated the Ye Family Technique and entered cultivation.

Now, with the Ye Family Technique restored by the Dual Pupil Martial Soul, its grade had reached the Profound level and its effectiveness was several times stronger.

Add to this the assistance of elixirs, Ye Qingchen’s aura soon surged violently, his energy climbing at an unbelievable speed!

"Wong!"

Suddenly, as if something resonated, the air in Ye Qingchen’s room shuddered, and a powerful aura spread out from within him.

Stopping the technique, Ye Qingchen’s eyes shot open; black pupils gleamed with excitement:

"Finally, I broke into the Martial Warrior Realm!"

He clenched his fists tighter—Ye Qingchen could feel incomparable strength, something he’d never experienced before!