Having broken through to become a Martial Warrior, Ye Qingchen was incredibly excited and prepared to go find Xiao Xiao to share his joy.
However, just as he stepped out the door, he saw the Supreme Elder and Clan Leader Ye Changyun walking toward the small courtyard with furrowed brows.
"Supreme Elder, Clan Leader, what has happened?"
Ye Qingchen sensed that something had indeed occurred.
The Supreme Elder let out a sigh:
"Thereâs been a change in plansâthe Qingyun Mountain Range Youth Trial has been moved up by three months. Itâll be held next month!"
Beside him, Ye Changyunâs brows were tightly knit:
"If it was four months, Ye Qingchen, youâd still have time to prepare, but just one month... Itâs too rushed. Iâm afraid you wonât even be able to break through to Martial Warrior..."
If Ye Qingchen could reach the Martial Warrior Realm, he might still have a chance to maneuver even if Li Zhe pursued him in the Qingyun Mountains. But if he remained at the Martial Apprentice Realm, it would surely be certain death!
Yet, before Ye Changyun could finish speaking, Ye Qingchen interrupted directly:
"Clan Leader, you donât have to worry about that. Iâve already broken through to the Martial Warrior Realm!"
"What!"
"Youâre already a Martial Warrior!"
Upon hearing Ye Qingchenâs words, the Supreme Elder and Ye Changyun were both shocked, utterly stupefied!
Ye Qingchen had only left the family for about a monthâhad he really gone from the Eighth Layer Martial Apprentice all the way to Martial Warrior Realm?
Ye Qingchen smiled, unleashing his full aura!
Feeling Ye Qingchenâs strength, so much stronger than before, the Supreme Elder and Ye Changyun finally believed it!
But deep down, their shock was growing even more intense!
In just two months, Ye Qingchenâs cultivation had soared from mere First Layer Martial Apprentice all the way up to Martial Warrior Realm!
This was insane!
Even the most dazzling genius in the Northern Desolate Country took a whole year to go from First Layer Martial Apprentice to Martial Warrior Realm!
Ye Qingchenâs speed was six times that!
If they hadnât seen it with their own eyes, they would never have believed it!
"The Ye Family really stands a chance to rise!"
"Ye Qingchen, with your talent restored, even Brother Ye Changqing can smile in the afterlife!"
Ye Changyun was overjoyed!
The Supreme Elder immediately made a decision:
"This time, for the Qingyun Mountain Range Youth Trial, we have to send people to protect Ye Qingchen!"
"No, forget it. Iâll protect him myself!"
Li Zhe would definitely take this chance to make a move and try to kill Ye Qingchen!
The Supreme Elder would absolutely not let them succeed!
"For this month, just cultivate well in your room! As for cultivation resources, you donât have to worry about a thing!"
The Supreme Elder patted Ye Qingchen on the shoulder and smiled.
"Alright!"
Ye Qingchen nodded.
The stronger he became, the safer he would be a month from now!
Even with the clanâs protection, it was always better to rely on oneself!
After the Supreme Elder and Ye Changyun left, Ye Qingchen went back to his room.
But he didnât start cultivating right away. Instead, he took out a storage ring from his chest.
This was Old Duâs ring.
Old Du was dead. The spirit mark on the ring had become ownerless, and Ye Qingchen easily wiped it away.
Ye Qingchen let a drop of blood fall onto the storage ring.
As the blood quickly merged into the ring and disappeared, a mystical sensation washed over his mind and the contents within the storage ring appeared clearly in his "sight."
The storage ringâs space wasnât big, only four or five cubic meters, but it was stuffed full with all sorts of things.
Besides some clothing, there were three longswords, a bottle of Spirit Gathering Pills, a bottle of Soul Condensing Pills, and two cultivation techniquesâbut of low grade, only mid-tier Yellow Rank;
What really caught Ye Qingchenâs interest, though, was another martial technique scroll:
Through-Back Binding Fist, high-tier Yellow Rank martial technique. It could coil fist force around the enemyâs weapon or body, its attacks were odd and its explosiveness terrifying. Cultivated to perfection, it could erupt with five consecutive blows, rivaling a low-tier Profound Rank martial technique!
Seeing this introduction, Ye Qingchenâs eyes instantly lit up!
A Yellow Rank martial technique with power on par with a Profound Rank, low-tier!
This intro alone was tempting enough!
The Picking Leaf Hand he already mastered was mainly about agility and striking unexpectedly, but it lacked explosive force.
However, the Through-Back Binding Fist in front of him possessed formidable explosive power, allowing him to unleash all his strength and deal a heavy blow to his enemies!
This martial technique couldnât be more suitable for him!
It would absolutely enhance Ye Qingchenâs combat ability by leaps and bounds!
Quickly activating his Dual Pupil Martial Soul, Ye Qingchen discovered at least twenty places in the technique that could be improved. Delving into and comprehending the Through-Back Binding Fist, Ye Qingchen got up and walked to the small courtyard to begin practicing.
"Whoo! Whoo! Whoo! Whoo!"
His fists howled like the wind, each punch solid and heavy, blasting the air wherever they passed!
"Bang!"
Finally, Ye Qingchenâs fist slammed hard into a big tree in the courtyard!
"Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!"
For a moment, silence. Then, from within the trunk, nine exploding sounds rang out at once!
A bowl-sized hole appeared in the tree!
"Nine strikes!"
Ye Qingchenâs eyes suddenly gleamed!
After refining the Through-Back Binding Fist with his Dual Pupil Martial Soul, it had gone from five consecutive strikes to nineâthe power was even greater, rivaling a mid-tier Profound Rank martial technique!
With the Dual Pupil Martial Soul, Ye Qingchen could quickly master the essence of a technique and reach the Perfection Realm, without needing to spend as much time as others on getting familiar or practicing it!
With this technique, Ye Qingchen was confident he could defeat enemies at the third layer of Martial Warrior!
"Thereâs still a month left! When the time comes, Iâll make sure to give Li Zhe a ânice surpriseâ!"
Ye Qingchen clenched his fists, turned back to his room, sat cross-legged, and began to cultivate like mad.
...
The sudden schedule change for the Qingyun Mountain Range Trial put tremendous pressure on all the young martial artists competing from Qingyun Townâeveryone was frantically cultivating, all hoping to give a stellar performance!
In no time, a month flew by.
Ye Qingchenâs room.
On his bed, Ye Qingchen slowly opened his eyes, exhaling a breath of turbid air as a flash of bright light shone in his eyes:
"Finally, Martial Warrior Third Layer!"
After a month of arduous training, his cultivation had soared from first to the third layer of Martial Warrior Realm; Ye Qingchen was quite satisfied!
Today was the day the Qingyun Mountain Range Trial began. Ye Qingchen needed to head to the clan plaza to meet up with the others before setting out to compete.
Soon, Ye Qingchen arrived at the clan plaza. By now, it was already crowded with many Ye Family juniors, surrounded by their parents and elders sending them off.
"Supreme Elder, Clan Leader!"
Ye Qingchen immediately spotted the Supreme Elder and Clan Leader Ye Changyun at the very front. He walked over with a smile and bowed in greeting.
The Supreme Elder and Ye Changyun smiled and nodded back to Ye Qingchen.
"Young Master!"
At this moment, a figure suddenly leapt out from behind the Supreme Elder. Seeing Ye Qingchen, her beautiful eyes shone, her face full of happiness and excitement.
"Xiao Xiao!"
Seeing the familiar figure, a smile instantly bloomed on Ye Qingchenâs face, and he affectionately rubbed her head:
"Tsk tsk, not bad! Only a month apart and youâve grown tallerâand chubbier too! Your little face is all round and puffy!"
At the mention of getting chubby, Xiao Xiao immediately pouted in displeasure and pointed at the Supreme Elder:
"How could I get fat? The Supreme Elder has been so strict with me these past weeks itâs almost driven me crazy!"
Hearing this, Ye Qingchen quietly activated the Dual Pupil Martial Soul to look at Xiao Xiao and discovered her current cultivation. Even though he was mentally prepared, he couldnât help but gulp hard:
"Fifth Layer Martial Apprentice!"
Just one month and sheâd broken through five layers!
"Hiss..."
Ye Qingchen couldnât help but draw a sharp breath.