Although Qing Wenting and the others had heard Ye Chu mention entering the General’s Tomb earlier, they had assumed he would not go so soon. Yet from the tone in his voice now, it was clear he intended to enter immediately.
“Are you really going in? If you return to the mountain, no one can touch you. Why take such a risk?” Qing Wenting said to Ye Chu. “You have only just stepped into the Innate Realm. You are still too weak.”
“I will consider returning to the mountain once I reach the fifth layer of the Innate Realm,” Ye Chu said, shaking his head. He thought to himself that with so little achievement after coming out, going back would be embarrassing. Besides, treating that place as a safe haven would only earn him endless contempt from the old madman and the others.
Qing Wenting thought to herself that if it were her, she would have returned long ago. Yet this fellow insisted on wandering outside. “The three young masters of the Ye family are all targeting you. Even if you enter the General’s Tomb, you may not come out ahead.”
Just as Qing Wenting was about to say more, a figure walked in from outside. “You are wrong. It is not only the three Ye brothers who want to deal with him. This young master has no intention of letting him go either.”
Following the voice, everyone looked over. The two young masters of the Ye family entered together with a young man. Qing Wenting was stunned when she saw him. “Shangguan Min Da!”
After parting ways with them in Yao City, Shangguan Min Da had not been seen again. No one expected him to appear alongside the two young masters of the Ye family. Seeing the furious glare he directed at Ye Chu, Qing Wenting felt puzzled. She wondered how Ye Chu had offended him.
Shangguan Min Da glared at Ye Chu. He had believed Ye Chu’s words and refrained from bothering Tan Miaotong, thinking she might occasionally remember him because of it. Yet he had been deceived by Ye Chu.
Ye Chu paid no attention to Shangguan Min Da. His gaze shifted to the young man standing beside Ye Yuande. This young man was not handsome. He was even somewhat short. Yet he was the one Ye Chu feared most. A genius. His cultivation had reached the Primal Spirit Realm.
The Primal Spirit Realm far surpassed the Innate Realm. Once the primal spirit became tangible, the body’s capacity for power multiplied several times over. If the Innate Realm could be likened to a stream, the Primal Spirit Realm was a mighty river. The difference was fundamental. Reaching the Primal Spirit Realm already allowed one to dominate the secular world.
The reason Ye Jingyun’s great-uncle wanted to seize the position of clan leader was precisely for this eldest young master. He believed that with Ye Yuanwang’s talent and the resources of the Ye family, he could become an unparalleled powerhouse and lead the family to greatness. Yet the resources his branch received were far inferior to those of the clan leader’s direct line. This drove him to fight for the position of patriarch, to secure more resources for his son.
“You are Ye Chu?” Ye Yuanwang looked at Ye Chu calmly. “You are the one who challenged my second brother and boasted that you fear nothing, not even the entire Ye family coming at you together?”
Ye Chu looked at Ye Yuanwang, who stared back coldly, and smiled. “Are you not the ones who declared you would kill me? How about we settle it in the General’s Tomb? I am just afraid you will not dare.”
“If you have the guts to go, this young master naturally has the guts to follow!” Ye Yuanwang stared at Ye Chu. His gaze flicked briefly towards Qing Wenting before returning. “Do not think the Holy Maiden’s protection makes you untouchable. Killing an Innate Realm like you would take me no effort at all.”
“I do not deny that in the slightest!” Ye Chu said, looking at Ye Yuanwang. “As a Primal Spirit Realm cultivator, just below the level of a great cultivator, killing me would indeed be effortless.”
“Since you understand, then keep a low profile. Otherwise, you will not even know how you die.” Ye Yuanwang looked at Ye Chu with a contemptuous smirk. “We have not yet settled the matter of Cousin Ji Die from three years ago. Yet you dared to act against my third brother. Believe me, I could kill you right now.”
Ye Yuanwang’s voice carried thunderous authority. His final words rang out one by one, filled with the power of lightning. A vast, oppressive aura descended. The air around them suddenly turned cold. A suffocating pressure made breathing difficult. Even though the aura was not directed straight at Pang Shao and the others, their faces paled involuntarily.
The dignity of the Primal Spirit Realm was laid bare in that moment. Pang Shao and the others stared wide-eyed. For the first time, they felt the pressure of the Primal Spirit Realm so clearly. It far surpassed anything the Innate Realm could produce.
Ye Chu bore the brunt of this pressure. He felt it double in intensity. His fists clenched tightly, veins bulging as he exerted ten-tenths of his strength just to withstand it.
Ye Chu’s heart shook. Though he had already rated the Primal Spirit Realm highly, its true terror still exceeded his expectations. With his current strength, he needed his full power just to resist the pressure. And this was merely the aura. If the opponent truly attacked with full force, how terrifying would it be?
Ye Chu and his opponent were simply not on the same level.
Qing Wenting stepped forward. Looking at Ye Yuanwang, she said, “Ye Yuande agreed to settle this in the General’s Tomb. Acting now, do you not feel ashamed?”
Ye Yuanwang sneered. Looking at Ye Chu, he said, “What does the General’s Tomb matter? Killing you would still be effortless! Do you really think you can break through to the Primal Spirit Realm in such a short time and stand against me?”
Ye Yuanwang was utterly disdainful. This boy might have some ability, but so what?
Everyone who heard Ye Yuanwang’s words turned their gazes towards Ye Chu. They knew he was telling the truth. Though Ye Chu had grown at astonishing speed, his foundation was still too shallow. In Ye Chu’s own words, he had only begun cultivating three years ago. Reaching this level in three years was already impressive. Yet compared to a genius like Ye Yuanwang, who had cultivated since childhood, the gap was enormous.
Even if Ye Chu entered the General’s Tomb, even with his special physique to rely on, he absolutely could not be the opponent’s match.
“If you have the courage, then follow me into the General’s Tomb!” Ye Chu stared at Ye Yuanwang and snorted. “I am just afraid you will not dare.”
Ye Yuanwang burst into loud laughter. “If even a piece of scum like you dares to go, what does this young master have to fear? This young master has long wanted to experience the General’s Tomb, one of the empire’s forbidden grounds. Rumour has it someone entered recently. If someone else can go in, this young master naturally can too.”
Proud people were often stubborn. Ye Yuanwang was exactly such a person. He was arrogant enough to believe that if others could do something, he could as well. Naturally, a challenge from a piece of scum meant even less to him. He thought to himself that if this scum dared enter the General’s Tomb, perhaps he could avoid dirtying his own hands.
“Three days from now! We meet at the General’s Tomb!” Ye Yuanwang had no desire to waste words with Ye Chu. He stared at him with cold contempt and said casually to Ye Yuande, “Let us go! Gather people and head to the General’s Tomb!”
“Now?” Ye Yuande was stunned. He had not expected his eldest brother to act so decisively.
“Right now!” Ye Yuanwang strode away.
Shangguan Min Da glared at Ye Chu and snorted. “He plans to let you live three more days, but I am not willing. Unless you stay glued to Qing Wenting’s side, I will make sure you die.”
…
Pang Shao watched the group leave. Everyone exchanged glances. “Three days until Ye Chu faces Ye Yuanwang? Ye Chu this time…”