The moon hung high over the vast estate of the Chen Clan, casting a dim silver glow upon the tiled rooftops. Inside his chamber, Chen Ying sat in meditation, aquamarine-colored energy swirling around him like a vast ocean. His breathing was steady, his focus unwavering as he delved into the depths of his Sea of Consciousness.
Within this boundless realm, Chen Ying walked across an ethereal landscape, his steps echoing through the endless void. Before him lay a serene lotus pond, its waters shimmering with potent spiritual energy. The moment he stepped closer, a gentle breeze carried the scent of blooming lotuses, and his entire being resonated with the Qi surrounding him.
Raising his hand, Chen Ying summoned his inventory, and with a mere thought, a compartment opened before him, revealing an object that made his breath hitch.
His Starfall Spear.
It rested there, its sleek body gleaming under an unseen light, exuding an aura of battle-hardened history. His fingers trembled slightly as he ran them along its cool, metallic surface. Memories of his past life as Qing Chen surged through his mind.
"I thought it would have been destroyed…" he whispered, his voice laced with nostalgia. His grip on the spear tightened before he let out a sigh and returned it to his inventory. "My current cultivation is too low. I'll need to reach Core Formation before I can reforge it properly."
Turning his focus elsewhere, Chen Ying waved his hand again, searching through his inventory. A moment later, he pulled out a scroll on Alchemy Foundation, its golden inscriptions glowing faintly.
"An Alchemic Fire… I need one," he mused as he unfurled the scroll, his eyes skimming through the profound knowledge contained within.
For hours, he immersed himself in study, memorizing every technique and formula required to establish his Alchemy Foundation. Eventually, a subtle pulse of energy rippled through him, signifying his success. His eyes snapped open, a newfound clarity in his gaze.
But something was different.
His pupils had shifted, transforming into a delicate flower-like pattern—a Lotus Eye.
"A soul-attacking skill? No… It's more than that." Chen Ying narrowed his gaze, his vision sharpening as knowledge flowed into his mind. "It's an illusion technique—one that attacks the very essence of a person's spirit."
His thoughts drifted momentarily to a figure from his past life. Bai Qixue of the Serpentine Clan… She had a similar ability. His grip on the scroll tightened before he exhaled, regaining composure. His cultivation had taken a major step forward, but before he could reflect further, a disturbance in the night caught his attention.
A soft rustling sound, followed by the faintest creak of wood.
Chen Ying slowly stood, his posture relaxed yet authoritative, his hands clasped behind his back. His voice was calm but commanding as he spoke:
"There's no use hiding. Reveal yourself."
A violent crash shattered the silence as Chen Jin broke through the window, shards of glass scattering like deadly stars. The glow of his blade reflected the moonlight as he lunged forward, his eyes filled with murderous intent.
"CHEN YING, DIE!"
Chen Ying's gaze remained cold, unfazed by the sudden attack. At the last moment, his two fingers shot up, effortlessly stopping the descending blade. A sharp metallic screech echoed as his fingers clamped onto the blade's edge, halting its momentum entirely.
Chen Jin's eyes widened in shock.
Impossible! How can someone at Qi Condensation react so swiftly?
Regaining his composure, Chen Jin sneered, masking his surprise with arrogance. "Don't think that just because you've started cultivating, you've reached my level." He pressed the blade forward, attempting to cut deeper, but Chen Ying remained unmoved, though blood began to seep from his fingers.
Chen Ying's expression remained unreadable, his voice steady yet laced with steel. "You forget… I am also a Young Master of the Chen Clan. I am no longer someone for you to humiliate."
With a sudden burst of strength, Chen Ying twisted his wrist, sending the sword flying backward. Before Chen Jin could react, a powerful palm strike struck his chest, sending him crashing into the far wall.
Chen Jin coughed, barely managing to stabilize himself. He wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth and gritted his teeth in rage. "You think that's enough to defeat me?"
A sharp clang echoed as he raised his sword again, pointing it toward Chen Ying. Blue Qi erupted from his body, swirling around him as his aura surged.
Chen Ying, unfazed, slowly wrapped a white cloth around his injured hand. He took a deep breath, his eyes glimmering once more, the aquamarine energy surrounding him intensifying.
"You interrupted my cultivation." His voice was ice-cold. "You will regret that."
Chen Jin charged forward, his sword coated in a blazing blue flame, slashing down with all his might.
Chen Ying remained still until the last moment. Then, with a flick of his fingers, a tiny spark of light formed at his fingertips—small yet infinitely condensed.
"Scram."
With a mere whisper, the energy exploded outward, a wave of unrelenting force surging through the chamber. The attack collided against Chen Jin's sword, shattering its Qi coating instantly before blasting him straight through the wooden walls.
Chen Jin's body crashed onto the courtyard floor, rolling uncontrollably before coming to a stop. His chest heaved violently, blood dripping from his lips.
His eyes trembled in disbelief. That… That was not Qi Condensation power.
His fingers dug into the dirt, desperately searching for the powder pouch he had brought. But as his hand fumbled through the debris, his expression darkened—
The pouch… It's gone!
Servants nearby had already taken notice of the commotion, their faces pale with shock as they rushed to the scene.
One of them gasped. "Quick! Inform Madam Chen!"
As the servants scrambled to fetch his mother, Chen Jin's hands shook with both pain and rage. His vision blurred as he glared back at the chamber, where Chen Ying stood at the broken window, his silhouette illuminated by the moon.
Chen Ying's Lotus Eyes gleamed faintly as he watched Chen Jin struggle.
Chen Ying strode forward, his aura flickering like a wavering flame, spiritual energy coiling around him like a dragon ready to strike. In his bandaged hand, he casually tossed the small powder pouch up and down, a mocking slight smirk playing on his lips.
"Looking for this?" he taunted, his voice cold and laced with amusement.
Chen Jin's face twisted with rage, his trembling finger pointing at Chen Ying. "You—!"
Before he could finish, Chen Ying snapped his wrist, hurling the pouch directly at him. The pouch cut through the air like a blade, aiming straight for Chen Jin's face—
Shhrrk!
A sudden gleam of silver light! A sharp slash sliced the pouch open midair, scattering the powder. A graceful yet imposing figure in a deep purple Hanfu stepped forward, a delicate yet dangerous fan in her hand. With a flick of her wrist, a powerful gust erupted from the fan, blowing the toxic powder away. The maids behind her gasped, but the few caught in the residue instantly collapsed unconscious. Even Chen Jin wobbled, his vision blurring, his body swaying unsteadily.
Han Fei narrowed her eyes. "Chen Ying… you've gone too far. Were you trying to kill him?" Her voice was laced with fury, her presence suffocating.
Chen Ying met her glare, completely unfazed. "Your son was the one who interrupted my cultivation and attempted to kill me first," he said, his gaze darkening. "I simply took justice into my own hands."
Han Fei let out a scoff, folding her arms. "Hmph! Don't think that just because you've started cultivating, you can act however you please!" she snapped, her accusing finger stabbing toward him like a dagger. "You're still nothing—"
Chen Ying's fists clenched at her arrogance, his patience wearing thin. "Don't forget…" his voice dropped to a deadly calm, "I am a legitimate child of the Chen Family. You? You're nothing more than an in-law. Stop treating me like an outcast."
Han Fei's lips curled into a sneer. "An outcast is exactly what you are! You are just another pathetic piece of trash, like your mother was!"
The air froze.
A dangerous glint flickered in Chen Ying's eyes as he stilled, his breathing suddenly shallow.
"If it was during my times as Qing Chen, this arrogant woman would be dead, "He thought as she chuckled.
"...Mother?"
Han Fei took a step forward, her expression filled with cruel satisfaction. "Yes, your mother. A worthless woman who couldn't even break through to Core Formation! She had you and died on the spot, crushed by the pressure of your Yin constitution. Her body shattered! Your father wasted countless resources trying to save her, but she was too weak. And in the end, all of it was a waste on you."
Her words cut through him like a thousand blades.
Chen Ying's nails dug into his palm. The temperature in the chamber plummeted. A deep, aquamarine light flickered in his pupils. The ground beneath him cracked as his spiritual energy exploded outward in an invisible shockwave—
Fwuush!
A violent gust lashed against Han Fei's face, slicing a thin but precise wound across her cheek. A single drop of blood dripped down her flawless skin.
She gasped. "He cut me?!"
Chen Ying slowly lowered his hand, his voice chillingly soft. "Don't ever mention my mother's name again."
He turned and walked away, his figure shrouded in an overwhelming presence, leaving behind a stunned silence.
Han Fei trembled in pure rage. "You dare lay a hand on me, you little bastard?!" Her spiritual energy erupted, golden flames surging from her palms as she prepared to crush him for his insolence.
Just as she was about to strike—
BOOM!
A commanding force sent shockwaves through the air, instantly freezing Han Fei in place.
"Enough!"
An elder, his presence towering like a mountain, stepped forward, his voice carrying an undeniable weight of authority. He raised his hand, pushing Han Fei back with sheer pressure alone.
"Han Fei, how dare you lay a hand on the Third Young Master of the Chen Family?!" The elder's gaze burned into her, his very presence enough to crush lesser cultivators.
Han Fei staggered back, gritting her teeth, but she knew better than to challenge an elder. Chen Ying, meanwhile, didn't even spare her another glance.