Chapter 23: Ye Chen's Mother!!

Ye Chen's eyes burned with two flames, and he felt deeply unwilling.

He was originally a genius of the Azure City Ye Family.

Seven years ago he entered the Profound Spirit Realm, instantly becoming unrivaled, a presence that countless Azure City cultivators could admire but never reach.

But suddenly, overnight, his cultivation plummeted.

Ye Chen's body was stained with a strange power that, like a vortex, absorbed spiritual energy.

The Old Ancestor had also examined Ye Chen's condition, but unfortunately even the Old Ancestor was at a loss.

A strand of strange power clung to Ye Chen's body, a power that made even the Old Ancestor feel extreme palpitations.

Ye Chen's body seemed to have become a bottomless pit; the Old Ancestor once tried to infuse spiritual energy, but even Quasi-Emperor power was insufficient to fill it.

The power within Ye Chen's body made even the Old Ancestor feel immense awe!

Know that the Ye Family's Old Ancestor is a Quasi-Emperor!

Even he could not resolve it, let alone others.

Perhaps there is still a way…

Unless a true Great Emperor is willing to intervene for Ye Chen!

But.

Even all of the Ye Family's resources combined cannot attract a Great Emperor.

Even if it were possible, the Old Ancestor would not agree.

How could the Ye Family's fate be placed on an uncertain future?

Thinking of these, Ye Chen sighed silently.

"Where exactly did this strange power come from?"

"Why did it suddenly erupt seven years ago?"

He muttered, and two flames appeared in his eyes.

Seven years!

Once his cultivation speed was extremely fast—he could break through a minor realm in a month—but now, for seven years, he has remained at the third layer of the Qi Refining Realm.

"Is my life destined to be like this?"

Ye Chen clenched his fists tightly, his nails digging deep into his palms, drawing a line of blood.

He refuses to accept such a life!

His life should not be spent this way.

Since childhood, he had made a grand vow: to stand at the pinnacle of cultivation and look down upon all beings.

But he never imagined he would suffer such a blow before even entering the Profound King Realm!

Over these years, cold stares and mockery have not extinguished his faith; instead, a flame has risen in his heart.

He will surely recover!

Ye Chen lifted his head to gaze into the void, his eyes blazing.

Continue cultivating!

In seven days, it will be the Ye Family's clan assembly.

And the Grand Elder's son, Ye Liangchen, has issued him a heir-apparent challenge!

According to Ye Family rules, he cannot refuse!

Know that Ye Liangchen is already a Great Profound King Realm cultivator!

And he is merely at the Qi Refining stage.

But he does not want to lose!

Nor can he lose!

Ye Chen knows that, over these seven years, his father, as clan head, has borne much pressure for him.

But as time passed, many elders joined in applying pressure.

His father can no longer withstand it!

In Ye Chen's mind, the sounds of ridicule and laughter echoed.

"How could the heir of my Ye Family be left to a waste?"

"Times change! If Ye Chen were not the clan head's son but a branch member, he would have long been expelled from the Ye Family."

"Everyone has a moment of glory—don't treat the past as eternal! Seven years have passed, and Ye Chen still hasn't awakened, still thinking he is a 'genius'?"

"……"

These words pierced his heart, lingering in Ye Chen's ears, impossible to dispel.

A moment later.

Ye Chen gathered his mind.

Seven days!

The time left for him is short!

He took a pile of medium-grade spirit stones from his storage ring, placed them before him, continuously circulated his spirit technique, and began cultivating.

But it was useless!

But it was useless!

The spirit stones are being consumed!

Yet his spiritual power does not increase!

Sinister!

Just then, a sound of footsteps came from outside the door.

A gray-robed man walked in slowly, without disturbing Ye Chen; he looked at Ye Chen, his face showing a bitter expression, and slightly shook his head.

He is Ye Chen's father, and also the clan head of the Ye family.

Over these years, he has observed Ye Chen's performance.

He felt heartbroken, but it was of no avail.

Not long after.

Ye Chen slowly opened his eyes.

Indeed, there was no increase in the spiritual power within his body.

The clan head shook his head imperceptibly, a sharp pain stabbing his heart.

Ye Chen saw his father's expression, and a ripple stirred in his heart.

When had it ever been that even his father seemed to doubt whether he would recover?

Ye Chen put away the spirit stone, his eyes firm as he looked at his father: "Father, I still have time; in the heir's challenge seven days from now, I will win!"

Upon hearing this, the clan head revealed a faint bitter smile.

Now Ye Chen is only at the Qi Refining Realm.

And Ye Liangchen has already reached the late stage of the Great Xuan King Realm!

Reach the Great Xuan King Realm in seven days?

Not to mention that the strange power in Ye Chen's body remains unresolved; even if it were resolved, surpassing Ye Liangchen in seven days would be nothing short of a fantasy!

The clan head did not want Ye Chen to bear greater pressure.

Perhaps, after losing the heir's position seven days later, Ye Chen might actually feel more at ease.

Thinking of this.

The clan head hesitated for a moment, unsure whether to bring up the matter of Nangong Bailue.

Who could have imagined that, at this critical juncture, Ye Chen's fiancée Nangong Bailue would choose to break off the engagement at the family gathering!

It is unknown whether Ye Chen can withstand such a blow!

Ye Chen frowned slightly; he knew what his father wanted to say.

"Father, Nangong Bailue wants to break the engagement—let her do it!"

Break the engagement!

If the heir's challenge is the first great mountain weighing on his head, then breaking the engagement is the second great mountain!

It is simply a sudden fall from grace—worse than a dog!

Back when he had not yet declined, Nangong Bailue often came to the Ye family to cultivate together with him.

At that time, Nangong Bailue was frail and sickly; he would sneak into her room every night to temper her body, only leaving exhausted after she was drenched in sweat.

Who would have thought……

When it was confirmed that Ye Chen could not recover, Nangong Bailue was the first to abandon him.

As for her, Ye Chen's heart had long been devoid of feeling.

More than that, it was hatred!

At this moment, Ye Chen asked, "Father, will Nangong Bailue surely come to the family gathering in seven days?"

The clan head nodded, "The Nangong family should come. Nangong Bailue will come too! But they will arrive after the family gathering."

Hehe.

Ye Chen revealed a hint of self-mocking smile.

Does Nangong Bailue think she will surely lose, right?

She even does not want to witness her own battle!

The scene fell into a deadlock.

For a moment, father and son stared at each other in silence.

This is the most painful moment.

Silence speaks louder than sound!

Ye Chen suddenly said, "Father, if I lose the heir's challenge in seven days, I will leave the Ye family."

The clan head was somewhat shocked, "Dust child, why is this?"

Ye Chen gave a bitter smile, "I want to go out for training, to seek opportunity. I do not believe that in the vast Nan Huang, there is no one who can resolve this strange power!"

The clan head's eye sockets became slightly moist.

To let a mere Qi Refining Realm cultivator like Ye Chen leave the Ye family.

How could he be at ease!

But he knows Ye Chen; once Ye Chen decides something, he cannot stop him no matter how he tries.

Thinking thus.

The clan head gently patted Ye Chen's shoulder, "All right."

"Dust child, we haven't eaten together in a long time. Let's have a meal today."

Ye Chen thought for a moment, then nodded, "All right."

Soon.

The clan head ordered the servants to prepare a lavish spread of dishes.

Spirit chicken meat, spirit rabbit meat, roasted spirit potatoes… the table was filled to the brim.

It's a pity.

Ye Chen had little appetite.

The clan head also did not insist.

He drank by himself, consuming much spirit liquor.

Ye Chen could not be dissuaded no matter what.

"Father, don't drink anymore."

But the clan chief kept drinking cup after cup.

At the end, the clan chief, somewhat drunk, choked up and began to cry.

Ye Chen's heart suddenly ached.

He had never seen his father cry!

At this moment, he finally understood the pressure on his father.

Because of him, his father faced much exclusion from the branch families.

Thinking of this.

Ye Chen's body trembled slightly, and two clear streams of tears flowed down his face.

"Father..."

His voice trembled, and he could not stop sobbing.

These years he had been too selfish, never considering his father's feelings.

In his mind, some blurry images gradually became clear…

Over the past seven years, at each annual clan gathering, his father would put on a relaxed appearance.

He looked at his father and couldn't help but be shocked to discover.

At some point, his father's temples had turned frosty, and many white hairs had appeared on his head.

Ye Chen felt extremely distressed in his heart.

He knew his father had done many things behind the scenes for him.

But what could he do for his father?

Perhaps leaving the Ye family could ease his father's burden.

At that moment.

The clan chief, somewhat dazed, lifted his head, grasped Ye Chen's hand, gently stroked it, and said, "Dust child, no matter when, you are always my pride."

Ye Chen's tears streamed down his face, not knowing what to say.

The clan chief sighed, as if recalling something, then slowly said, "Dust child, over these many years I have never mentioned your mother. Now I will tell you."

"Buzz!"

Ye Chen's mind went completely blank.

His mother!

The clan chief said, "Your mother comes from the hegemonic power of Nan Huang, the Yao family."

Ye Chen frowned slightly, "The Yao family!"

In the clan chief's eyes appeared a recollection: "Your mother was the holy maiden of the Yao family; we once met in a secret realm and spent there an unforgettable time."

"Later, your mother left."

"One year later, a mysterious black-robed figure brought over an infant."

"That infant was you."

"The jade pendant on your chest was given to you by your mother!"

Hearing this, Ye Chen was stunned.

He never expected his mother to actually come from the Yao family.

He touched the jade pendant on his chest, and a warm current surged in his heart.

The clan chief continued, "But that mysterious person told me that under no circumstances should we go to the Yao family to seek your mother, otherwise not only you but the entire Ye clan might be exterminated!"

Ye Chen was shocked.

The clan chief shook his head, "I originally wanted to ask that mysterious person for more details, but he seems to have suffered grave injuries!"

"After he finished telling me these things, he directly vanished into heaven and earth."

Ye Chen stared dumbfounded.

His heart was overturned by a huge wave.

He never expected there to be such a secret!?

All along, not only him but the whole Ye clan thought his mother had perished!

Even when the patriarch punished his father, his father did not reveal anything about his mother.

Having said all that.

The clan chief seemed to have settled a matter of the heart.

He then collapsed face-first onto the table, already unconscious.

Looking at his drunken father, Ye Chen wore a bitter expression, helped his father up, and walked toward his father's side room.

Unbeknownst to them, night had already fallen.

On the way, he encountered Ye Liangchen, the eldest elder's son.

Behind Ye Liangchen followed dozens of youths in fine robes, all looking down on Ye Chen with contempt.

Ye Liangchen gave a cold snort, "Ye Chen, you don't have much time left. In seven days I will enter the Profound Emperor Realm!"

The sound fell!

Several youths behind Ye Liangchen began to mock.

"Hehe. At the clan gathering seven days from now, someone will make a fool of himself."

"Fortunately, Nangong Bai Xue won't personally witness this trash's battle, otherwise our Ye clan's face would be completely lost to this trash."

Heh, once a genius, now even worse than a menial disciple of the Ye family. If it were me, I'd find a piece of tofu and kill myself by slamming into it.

Hearing these mocking sounds, Ye Chen's breathing grew ragged, as painful as being devoured by ten thousand insects.

He really wanted to rush over and fight those disciples.

But he held back.

Ye Chen no longer looked back, supporting his father as they walked farther away.

Ye Liangchen watched Ye Chen's retreating back, sneering to himself, "This good-for-nothing Ye Chen won't live more than a few days; he's probably still fantasizing about how to defeat me."

Little did he know that at the Crown Prince Assembly, he would slay Ye Chen, and Ye Chen's entire lineage would be purged!

All because the backer behind the Ye family is finally about to descend!

He won't give Ye Chen any chance to counterattack!

……

Under the night.

Outside the Ye family gate.

Lu Xuan wrapped himself in a mysterious black cloak, his body suffused with an obscure power, like invisibility, and he strode straight into the Ye family gate.

The guards at the gate noticed nothing at all.

Lu Xuan's aura was completely concealed.

Unless the Ye family ancestor appears, it's impossible to detect his presence!

Lu Xuan murmured, "The treasure left by my master is indeed a good thing."

……