Chapter 161: My Offensive Was Effective? Ye BeichenArrives!
Ye Family Manor, Lan Yue Pavilion.
This was the inner courtyard where the Ye Family specifically entertained distinguished guests.
Carved beams and painted rafters, exotic flowers everywhere.
Ye Beichen leaned against a sandalwood tea table, holding a teacup in his hand.
He was wearing a black sword robe today.
The collar and cuffs were embroidered with dark gold silk threads in a cloud pattern, making him look even more heroic and extraordinary.
Opposite him, Shen Chuyou sat quietly.
The young lady wore a long black dress, her silvery-white hair cascading down like a waterfall.
Her figure was slender, cold and stunningly beautiful.
Ye Beichen's gaze swept over her, examining her calmly.
Silver hair like snow, skin like jade.
Especially those proud curves; even just standing quietly, she made it impossible for people to look away.
Even with Ye Beichen's composure, he couldn't help but feel a rush of heat in his heart.
"Miss Shen, for this ancestor worship ceremony, my mother specifically instructed me to treat you well."
He put down the teacup and smiled gently:
"Come to think of it, our two families have been family friends for generations, but we haven't interacted much in recent years. It is my honor to be able to see Miss Shen today."
Shen Chuyou's expression was cold, and she only gave a faint "Mn" in response.
Her gaze was always fixed forward, and no emotion could be seen in her silver-gray eyes.
Ye Beichen was not discouraged.
A cold beauty was the only kind that was challenging.
"I heard that you awakened your bloodline, that Succubus Form, even people as far away as the United States have heard of it."
Ye Beichen said with a smile, his tone carrying just the right amount of admiration:
"Over at the University of Houston, some mentors have already asked me about you."
This was not a lie.
With Shen Chuyou's talent, even on an international level, she was top-tier.
Shen Chuyou did not respond, only lowering her eyelashes, seemingly uninterested in these things.
Ye Beichen was not in a hurry, changing the subject, about to say something else.
Suddenly, a burst of hurried footsteps approached from afar.
"Young Master! Young Master! Something bad has happened!"
A Ye Family subordinate walked in hurriedly.
Ye Beichen frowned:
"What are you panicking about? Can't you see I am entertaining a guest? Even if the sky falls, my Ye Family can hold it up!"
"No, it's not that..."
The servant was panting, his voice trembling:
"It, it is Miss Qingshuang! Miss Qingshuang has been beaten!"
"What?!"
The gentle smile on Ye Beichen's face instantly froze.
He turned around abruptly, his gaze like a sword, staring fixedly at the subordinate:
"What did you say? Qingshuang was beaten? In the Ye Family?"
"Yes, right in the guest courtyard in the West Garden."
The subordinate shrank his neck and said in a trembling voice.
"Who did it?"
Ye Beichen's voice was frighteningly cold.
A member of the Ye Family being beaten in the Ye Family—this would be a laughingstock if word got out!
"It was Lu Li! The person brought by Miss Jinghong!"
The servant replied, shivering.
"Lu Li?!"
Ye Beichen's pupils shrank.
Lu Li!
That bastard!
He hadn't even gone to find trouble with the other party yet, and this bastard had actually hit his sister first?!
"A good Lu Li, a good piece of trash who doesn't know how to die!"
Ye Beichen laughed out of extreme anger, killing intent fully revealed in his eyes.
Shen Chuyou, who was on the side, was also slightly stunned.
Lu Li?
Lu Li was also in the Ye Family?
Her eyes flickered slightly.
Ye Beichen suppressed his rage.
He turned his head to look at Shen Chuyou, trying to make his voice sound calm:
"Miss Shen, excuse me. Please wait a moment, I will go handle some family matters and be back soon."
However, Shen Chuyou stood up:
"I will go with you."
Ye Beichen was stunned at first, then felt a surge of joy in his heart!
Shen Chuyou wanted to go with him on her own initiative?
Did this mean she was interested in him?
Sure enough, his offensive was still effective.
A smile reappeared on Ye Beichen's face, and he said gently:
"Very well, please, Miss Shen."
Ye Beichen adjusted his collar and strode outward.
Shen Chuyou followed half a step behind him, her expression as cold as ever.
Only in those silver-gray eyes was there a faint hint of curiosity.
Lu Li had actually come to the Ye Family too.
And he even hit Ye Beichen's sister—what was going on?
...
Lan Yue Pavilion was not far from the Tingfeng Pavilion.
Passing through a corridor and then around a rockery, it was only a few steps away.
And when the figures of Ye Beichen and Shen Chuyouappeared outside the Tingfeng Pavilion, there were already many people there.
The commotion from Lu Li's slap was simply too great.
The scene of Ye Qingshuang being slapped away and crashing through the wall had shocked almost the entire younger generation at the ancestor worship ceremony.
And everyone quickly noticed the arrival of Ye Beichen and Shen Chuyou.
"Ye Beichen is here!"
"And the young lady of the Shen Family!"
"Lu Li is done for now; Ye Beichen is famously protective of his own. Daring to touch his sister, he's probably in for a world of trouble!"
"..."
The crowd was in an uproar.
Countless gazes fell on Ye Beichen and Shen Chuyou.
The man was handsome and tall, the woman was stunningly beautiful.
The two walked side by side, looking like a perfect couple, so well-matched that people couldn't look away.
"Why is the Shen Family's young lady with Ye Beichen?"
"A talented man and a beautiful woman."
"Could it be that the Shen Family and the Ye Family are going to have a political marriage?"
"..."
Listening to the surrounding discussion, Ye Beichen felt even more smug.
He subconsciously straightened his back, his peripheral vision glancing at Shen Chuyou beside him.
A talented man and a beautiful woman?
Not bad.
In the entire Imperial Capital, the only one worthy of him, Ye Beichen, was Shen Chuyou.
As for Lu Li...
Ye Beichen's gaze passed through the crowd, accurately locking onto the slender figure in the center of the courtyard.
Although he had never met Lu Li before this, he recognized him at a single glance.
His build was tall and straight, his face handsome.
His expression was calm, and his entire being exuded an indescribable composure.
And not far from his feet, Ye Qingshuang was lying limply on the ground.
That originally pretty face—
At this moment, it was swollen like a purple-red pig's head, and there was still undried blood at the corner of her mouth.
Ye Beichen's footsteps stopped instantly.
The look of complacency on his face vanished instantly, replaced by monstrous rage!
"Lu Li!"
Ye Beichen roared, striding forward.
With every step he took, a sharp sword intent surged into the sky from his body.
The terrifying pressure of a Level 35 2nd-turn Cultivator crushed toward all directions like a physical force.
"2nd-turn pressure! Ye Beichen is truly furious!"
"Too terrifying, my legs have gone soft!"
"Lu Li hasn't reached 2nd-turn yet, right? How can he fight this?"
"..."
The young juniors around, just from feeling this pressure, turned pale and retreated one after another.
But the moment the pressure reached in front of Lu Li, it hit an invisible wall and quietly dissipated.
Lu Li didn't even move the corner of his clothes. He first swept a somewhat surprised glance at Shen Chuyou, then looked at Ye Beichen:
"Is your Ye Family's way of treating guests to scare people with pressure?"
At the same time, a Divine Appraisal Technique swept over, and the other party's attribute information was clear at a glance.
[Name]: Ye Beichen
[Level]: 35
[Class]: Thunder Trace Swordsman
[Talent]: Thunder Strike Sword Heart (S+), Fast Sword (A+)
[Four-Dimensional Attributes]: Strength: 2731, Physique: 1813, Agility: 2861, Wisdom: 1423
[Learned Skills]: Sword Drawing Technique (A- Grade, LV4), Thunder Sword (A Grade, LV6)...
Chapter 162: Wherever Lu Li Is, I Am There Too!
"An S-Rank Second-Turn Sword Cultivator?"
Lu Li raised an eyebrow.
He had not expected the Ye Family to have such a deep foundation.
Just some random person who popped up had an S+ Grade Talent.
Across from him, Ye Beichen also frowned.
He had clearly received news that Lu Li had not reached the Second Turn yet.
Yet just now, his pressure had vanished like a clay ox into the sea.
Ye Beichen suppressed his shock and said coldly:
"Lu Li, you have quite a lot of nerve!"
"How dare you hurt someone from my Ye Family during our ancestral ceremony!"
"Our Ye Family does not welcome someone like you! You are not worthy of attending our ceremony!"
Lu Li laughed:
"It was Patriarch Ye Lingfeng who invited me. Do you really think a single word from you can override the Patriarch's decision?"
The system quest was not finished yet, so it was impossible for him to leave early.
As soon as these words were spoken, the surrounding crowd erupted into a commotion.
"Huh? This Lu Li was actually invited by the Patriarch?"
"But regardless, this is still too much."
Ye Beichen's face darkened, his eyes ice-cold:
"I will speak to the Patriarch myself, so you do not need to worry about that!"
Once his words fell, the entire courtyard fell silent.
Everyone held their breath.
Ye Beichen was going to forcibly expel Lu Li!
However, right at this tense moment.
A cold, clear voice suddenly rang out.
"If he is not worthy of attending, then neither am I."
When the voice fell, the whole place was shocked!
Everyone looked toward the sound, only to see that the person speaking was none other than Shen Chuyou!
The arrogance on Ye Beichen's face instantly froze.
He turned his head in disbelief, looking at Shen Chuyoubeside him:
"Miss Shen, you..."
Shen Chuyou did not even glance at him.
She strode through the crowd with her long, shapely legs.
She walked to Lu Li's side and stood still.
Her silver-gray eyes were as calm as water, yet they revealed an unquestionable resolve.
Lu Li was also somewhat surprised.
He clearly had not expected Shen Chuyou to say such things in public.
"Wherever Lu Li is, I am there too."
Shen Chuyou spoke softly, her voice cold as frost:
"Since Young Master Ye feels he is not worthy, then I suppose I am not worthy of standing here either."
Silence.
A deathly silence.
In the entire courtyard, it felt as if even the air had frozen.
Everyone had their mouths agape, looking at this scene in disbelief.
The Shen Family's young lady, Shen Chuyou.
The only daughter of Shen Mo, the goddess that countless geniuses in the Imperial Capital dreamed of.
She had actually stood by Lu Li's side in public!
Ye Beichen's face turned livid, and for a long while, he could not say a word.
Just a moment ago, he had been overjoyed, thinking that Shen Chuyou was on his side.
Yet he had not expected that she had come for Lu Li!
"You two!!"
The veins on Ye Beichen's forehead bulged.
An even more violent sword intent surged from within him, causing the surrounding air to emit a faint hum.
He never imagined that Shen Chuyou would stand on Lu Li's side!
"Enough!"
Just at this tense moment, a majestic, angry shout suddenly rang out.
The voice rolled like muffled thunder, making everyone's eardrums ache.
Everyone looked toward the sound in unison.
They saw Ye Hai walking over with long strides, his face as dark as water.
He was dressed in a dark cyan training suit, his footsteps steady and powerful.
That iron-blooded aura of someone who had long been on the battlefield.
At this moment, it was no longer restrained at all, pressing down in all directions like an abyss or a prison.
The young juniors watching felt their breathing hitch and lowered their heads one after another.
"Father!"
Ye Jinghong was the first to react and hurriedly stepped forward.
"What is going on?"
Ye Hai's voice was cold and hard as iron, his gaze sweeping across the scene.
It finally landed on Ye Qingshuang, who was slumped on the ground, unconscious.
He frowned immediately.
He looked at Lu Li, then at the furious Ye Beichen.
In an instant, Ye Hai understood most of it.
He knew Ye Qingshuang's personality all too well.
A little princess spoiled by Jiang Yun, arrogant, domineering, and reckless with her words.
And Lu Li, although he had not interacted with him much, was definitely not someone who would actively stir up trouble.
"Father, Qingshuang started by verbally insulting our cousin, so that's why..."
Ye Jinghong bit the bullet and explained, her voice getting lower and lower.
Ye Hai's expression grew even gloomier.
He had not expected that woman, Jiang Yun, to be capable of stirring up so much trouble.
Before the ancestral ceremony had even begun, she had Ye Qingshuang come to give Lu Li a hard time?
This was going to offend Lu Li to death!
"Someone come here!"
Ye Hai shouted in a deep voice.
Two Ye Family subordinates immediately jogged over, bowing their heads to await orders.
"Take Qingshuang down to receive treatment."
Ye Hai said coldly.
"Yes!"
The two subordinates carefully lifted the unconscious Ye Qingshuang and hurried out of the courtyard.
Seeing this, Ye Beichen's face became even uglier:
"Second Uncle! Qingshuang, she..."
"Shut up!"
Ye Hai turned his head abruptly, his gaze like lightning, staring straight at Ye Beichen:
"Lu Li is a guest we invited, a guest of your Eldest Uncle and me!"
"The Ye Family's reputation of several hundred years relies on the Way of the Sword, not on bullying others with power!"
"This matter ends here!"
Ye Hai's authority was displayed to the fullest at this moment.
The terrifying aura of a Third-Turn professional.
It was like an invisible mountain, pressing heavily onto Ye Beichen's shoulders.
Ye Beichen's expression changed repeatedly.
Although he was arrogant, he dared not openly defy his Second Uncle.
After all, Ye Hai was not only his Second Uncle but also the commander of the Guixu Battle Group.
In the entire Ye Family, apart from the Patriarch Ye Lingfeng, Ye Hai was the person with the most real power.
"Yes, Second Uncle."
Ye Beichen said these three words through gritted teeth.
He took a deep breath, forcefully suppressing his surging anger, and walked out of the courtyard.
When passing by Lu Li, his footsteps paused slightly.
"Lu Li, this is not over."
Ye Beichen's voice was extremely low, yet it revealed a bone-deep chill:
"That slap my sister received, I will get it back for her."
Upon hearing this, Lu Li just smiled faintly:
"I'll be waiting anytime."
A flash of coldness passed through Ye Beichen's eyes.
He coldly glanced at Shen Chuyou, his eyes filled with unwillingness.
Immediately after, he flicked his sleeves and strode away.
A tense confrontation thus came to an end.
The surrounding crowd did not disperse for a long time, whispering and discussing among themselves.
"Is this Lu Li too arrogant? He hit Ye Qingshuang and still dares to challenge Ye Beichen?"
"The key is that he has not even reached the Second Turn yet, where does he get the confidence?"
"Shen Chuyou is still standing on his side; what exactly is going on?"
"Tsk tsk, I am afraid there will be quite a spectacle to watch at today's ancestral ceremony."
"..."
Ye Hai ignored these discussions.
He walked up to Lu Li, the coldness on his face slowly receding, turning into a trace of helpless apology.
"Lu Li, I am sorry."
Ye Hai said in a deep voice: "It was my lack of consideration that caused you to be wronged."
"Cousin, I am sorry, it was my fault for not taking good care of you."
Ye Jinghong also hurriedly spoke, her heroic and pretty face full of guilt.
Her original intention in bringing Lu Li here was to let him meet more peers.
Yet she had not expected to run into Ye Qingshuang as soon as they entered the door.
Ye Hai waved his hand:
"It has nothing to do with you."
After a pause, he looked at Lu Li and spoke in a complicated tone:
"That child Qingshuang has been spoiled since she was young and is reckless with her words; do not take it to heart."
"As for Beichen..."
Ye Hai sighed:
"He and Qingshuang are both Jiang Yun's children."
"And Jiang Yun is the wife your father, Ye Heng, married in a proper, legitimate ceremony."
"So, Ye Beichen and Ye Qingshuang are your half-siblings."
"Oh?"
Lu Li narrowed his eyes.
No wonder.
No wonder Ye Beichen and Ye Qingshuang wanted to tear him to pieces the moment they saw him.
Ye Hai seemed to see the coldness in Lu Li's eyes.
He wanted to explain something, but in the end, he did not say it.
Some things cannot be explained clearly.
Ye Hai also knew in his heart.
The debt the Ye Family owed to Lu Li and his mother could not be smoothed over with just a few words.
"Let's go."
Ye Hai patted Lu Li's shoulder and said in a deep voice:
"The ancestral ceremony is about to start, I will take you there."
As he spoke, he looked at Shen Chuyou, who was to the side, his tone softening a bit:
"The Shen Family girl can come along as well."
Shen Chuyou was slightly taken aback and subconsciously looked at Lu Li.
Lu Li had not received the system completion prompt yet, so naturally, he would not leave.
He nodded slightly toward Shen Chuyou.
Seeing this, Shen Chuyou followed along.
Chapter 163: Inheritance Sword Stele! Lu Li, Step Forward!
Under the guidance of Ye Hai, the group walked toward the depths of the Ye Family Manor.
"Lu Li, are you a member of the Ye Family?"
Shen Chuyou walked side-by-side with Lu Li and suddenly asked in a soft voice.
Although she did not know the full picture of the situation.
But being clever and quick-witted, she had already roughly deduced the full picture based on the words of Ye Beichenand Ye Hai.
"No."
Lu Li shook his head, his tone calm:
"My father is a member of the Ye Family, but I am not."
Shen Chuyou fell into silence.
She could naturally see Lu Li's displeasure.
Recalling the abnormality in Lu Li's emotions when they were in Demon City.
She probably already knew what had happened.
A trace of heartache flashed in her silver-gray eyes.
She opened her mouth but ultimately did not ask any more questions, simply walking silently by Lu Li's side.
Passing through a long white jade corridor and winding around several magnificent halls.
Ye Hai brought Lu Li and Shen Chuyou to the most core area of the Ye Family Manor.
"We've arrived."
Ye Hai stopped in his tracks and said in a deep voice.
Lu Li looked up, his pupils shrinking slightly.
Before him was an extremely vast square.
The square was paved entirely with ancient, dark blue-black stone slabs.
Each stone slab was engraved with dense sword patterns, emitting wisps of sharp sword aura.
In the center of the square stood a giant stone stele, several dozen meters tall.
The stele was dark cyan, ancient and heavy, like a giant sword thrust into the Ground.
The surface of the stele was covered with countless sword marks of varying depths.
Each sword mark contained a completely different sword intent.
Some were incomparably sharp, some were absolutely domineering, some were as elusive as the wind, and some were ceaseless.
Thousands of sword intents overlapped, turning the entire stele into an unimaginable divine object.
Even from a distance, Lu Li could feel the majestic sword pressure emanating from the stele.
He subconsciously used the Divine Appraisal Technique to scan it.
[Item]: Inheritance Sword Stele
[Grade]: Legendary
[Effect]: Can be used to comprehend the sword technique inheritance of the Ye Family across generations.
As soon as Lu Li finished reading, Ye Hai, who was beside him, introduced:
"That is the Ye Family's Sword Stele."
"For hundreds of years, the sword dao inheritance of countless ancestors of the Ye Family has been inscribed within it."
"Today, during the ancestor worship, all younger generation members of the Ye Family have the opportunity to comprehend the Sword Stele."
Lu Li nodded slightly, his gaze sweeping across the surroundings of the square.
At this moment, the square was already filled with people.
All of them were members of the Ye Family Clan.
Men and women, young and old, there were thousands of them.
They stood in neat rows according to their generation and closeness.
Everyone was dressed in formal Ye Family sword robes, their expressions solemn.
Lu Li's gaze crossed the crowd and landed on the high platform at the very front.
There, a viewing area had been set up.
Several figures were seated within it.
The person in the lead was none other than the Ye Family Patriarch, Patriarch Ye Lingfeng.
He was dressed in a white-gold sword robe, sitting as steady as an abyss.
Although no aura leaked from his body, he possessed a heart-palpitating sword dao pressure.
This was the terrifying foundation of a Fourth-Turn Sword Saint.
Beside Patriarch Ye Lingfeng, Lu Li also saw two familiar figures.
One was the Vice Principal of Imperial University, Vice President Liu Jie.
Vice President Liu Jie was dressed in a dark formal suit, sitting in the viewing area with an ambiguous smile on his face.
The other was Song Wanqiu.
Song Wanqiu was still wearing a pale gold priest robe, looking holy and dignified.
She seemed to sense Lu Li's gaze, turned her head slightly, and nodded gently at him.
Lu Li also nodded slightly in acknowledgement.
In addition, Cardinal Su Huairen of the Church of Light was also there.
Seeing Lu Li look over, he even waved to greet him.
Lu Li couldn't help but smile and nod back.
Ye Hai brought Lu Li and Shen Chuyou to a position on the outer perimeter of the square.
"Lu Li, wait here for a moment."
Ye Hai said in a low voice: "When your name is called in a moment, just go up."
"Remember, don't be nervous, empty your mind, and feel the aura of the Sword Stele."
After speaking, he nodded at Shen Chuyou and then turned and strode toward the high platform in front.
Since Shen Chuyou was not a member of the Ye Family, she naturally had no qualifications to go up and comprehend it.
But given her status, standing in the viewing area did not seem out of place.
"Clang—!"
A distant and deep bell toll suddenly exploded across the square.
The bell sound seemed to come from the depths of the Nine Netherworlds, carrying a power that cleansed the heart.
In an instant, the air above the entire square trembled.
Ten thousand sword lights soared into the sky from the Sword Stele, weaving into illusory sword shadows in the air.
The sword shadows blotted out the sky and sun, shrouding the entire square.
The ancestor worship ceremony officially began!
Patriarch Ye Lingfeng stood up, his white-gold sword robe rustling in the wind.
His figure flashed, and he stood directly under the Sword Stele, speaking loudly:
"Members of the Ye Family! Today is our Ye Family's annual ancestor worship ceremony!"
"For today's ancestor worship, the Sword Stele inheritance will be opened as per tradition!"
"This Sword Stele was left by our Ye Family ancestors; it contains the inheritance formed by the life's work of countless predecessors!"
"All younger generation members of the Ye Family under the age of twenty-five may come forward to comprehend it."
"What kind of inheritance you can obtain depends entirely on personal destiny!"
As his voice fell, the Ye Family members on the square immediately became restless.
Especially the younger generation, each of them rubbing their hands, eager to try.
"Next, first, Ye Beichen!"
Ye Beichen walked forward with a dark face.
He first stood still in front of the Sword Stele.
Taking a deep breath, he slowly placed his hand on the stone stele.
"Boom—!"
In an instant, a purple sword light shot up into the sky from the Sword Stele!
The sword light was as thick as a pillar, thrusting straight into the clouds.
In the sky, thousands of sword shadows vibrated in unison, emitting sharp sword cries.
A purple beam of inheritance light.
Came crashing down from the top of the Sword Stele, enveloping Ye Beichen completely.
"Epic-level inheritance!"
A cry of surprise suddenly erupted from the crowd.
"As expected of Young Master Ye Beichen! He actually obtained an Epic-level inheritance!"
"In this generation of the Ye Family, he is indeed the strongest!"
"With the Thunder Mark Swordsman class paired with an Epic-level sword dao inheritance, Young Master Ye Beichen's future is limitless!"
"..."
Jiang Yun stood at the front of the crowd.
Looking at Ye Beichen, who was enveloped by the purple beam of light, her face was full of pride and smugness.
"Epic-level inheritance, Thunder Prison Sword Art!"
Patriarch Ye Lingfeng announced loudly, his tone carrying a hint of approval.
Ye Beichen curled his lips slightly and turned to walk back to the crowd.
His gaze, however, swept over Lu Li intentionally or unintentionally, carrying a hint of provocation.
Lu Li didn't even look at him.
Patriarch Ye Lingfeng continued to call out names.
Next, a dozen more members of the younger generation of the Ye Family came forward one by one.
Some obtained Silver-level inheritance, others obtained Gold-level inheritance.
But most of them only obtained Silver-level or even Bronze-level inheritance.
Even so, being able to obtain an inheritance from the Sword Stele was already a great opportunity.
Just when Lu Li thought this ceremony had nothing to do with him.
Patriarch Ye Lingfeng's voice suddenly rang out:
"Lu Li, come forward to comprehend the Sword Stele."
As his voice fell, the entire square suddenly went silent.
Lu Li? Who?
How could the Ye Family let someone not surnamed Ye go up to comprehend the Sword Stele?
Hearing this, Lu Li couldn't help but frown.
But looking at the adjudication system, which was still showing no reaction.
Lu Li had no choice but to walk forward under the gaze of everyone.
Chapter 164: Legendary Inheritance! The Truth Behind Mother's Death!
"It's him! That Lu Li from the university freshmen Exchange Tournament!"
"What is going on? By what right is he participating in our Clan's ceremony?"
"Isn't this just chaos!"
Ye Hai frowned, about to speak and explain.
But at that moment.
Lu Li had already walked up to the Sword Stele.
He hadn't even reached out yet.
"Hum—!!!"
A golden light, brilliant to the extreme, suddenly erupted from the Sword Stele!
The radiance was so intense that it bathed the entire plaza in pure gold!
Lu Li frowned.
He hadn't even touched the Sword Stele yet.
Yet the Sword Stele had lit up on its own.
In the Sky, thousands of sword shadows trembled frantically, emitting a deafening sword hum.
The sharpness of that sword hum caused countless people present to cover their ears in pain.
Immediately after, a golden pillar of inheritance light crashed down from the top of the Sword Stele!
The pillar was shockingly thick, with a diameter of several meters!
Under the illumination of the golden light, the entire plaza seemed to be bathed in a miracle.
And at the center of that pillar of light was Lu Li!
"What?!"
Patriarch Ye Lingfeng's eyes widened.
His usually calm face revealed a look of disbelief.
"This is..."
"A Legendary inheritance!"
Ye Hai also widened his eyes and cried out involuntarily.
"Boom—!"
The golden pillar of light exploded.
It transformed into golden light feathers that scattered in all directions.
And at the heart of that intense brilliance.
A Sword Manual, entirely condensed from golden light, slowly emerged.
That Sword Manual hovered above Lu Li's head, flipping slowly.
Every page was inscribed with countless profound sword patterns.
Majestic sword intent poured out from the Sword Manual like a mighty river!
"This is... the Canglan Sword Manual!"
Someone, trembling, shouted out the name.
The next instant, the entire plaza completely exploded!
"The Canglan Sword Manual?! It's actually the Canglan Sword Manual?!"
"The inheritance left behind by our Clan's Fourth-Turn Canglan Sword Saint three hundred years ago?!"
"How is that possible! That Sword Manual hasn't been triggered by anyone in hundreds of years, yet it was triggered by Lu Li?!"
"Isn't he a Paladin? How could he trigger the Sword Manual? This is impossible!"
"My god, a Legendary inheritance! This is truly a Legendary inheritance!"
"..."
The members of the Ye Clan were all dumbfounded at this moment.
The gaze of doubt from just a moment ago instantly turned into unconcealable shock and terror.
The smugness on Jiang Yun's face also stiffened at this moment.
The Canglan Sword Manual.
The sword technique inheritance left behind by the brilliant and talented Fourth-Turn Sword Saint, the Canglan Sword Saint, three hundred years ago.
For these three hundred years, countless geniuses of the Ye Clan had tried, but none succeeded.
Even the Patriarch Ye Lingfeng had failed to trigger it back in the day.
Yet today, an illegitimate son abandoned by the Ye Clan for eighteen years had done it!
"Lu Li! It was Lu Li who triggered the Canglan Sword Manual!"
"An outsider actually obtained our Ye Clan's strongest inheritance?!"
"Heavens, who would believe this if it were told!"
The Ye Clan members in the plaza were shocked, envious, and jealous.
But mostly, they were in disbelief.
Three hundred years of silence, three hundred years of waiting.
This, one of the Ye Clan's most supreme inheritances, had finally found its master today.
And its master was a young man who had never stepped foot into the Ye Clan's gates before!
"How is this possible? I am only at the Epic Rank, how can he deserve this?!"
Ye Beichen's eyes were bloodshot as he stared fixedly at Lu Li's back.
As the number one person of the Ye Clan's younger generation.
He was number one in everything he did!
Since he was little, he enjoyed the best resources and received the top-tier guidance.
He had awakened the S+ Grade Talent, Thunderstrike Sword Heart!
Even at the University of Houston in the United States, he was the most dazzling genius among his peers.
But now, at the Ye Clan's Ancestor Worship Ceremony, in the field of sword arts he was most proud of.
Someone even more outstanding than him had appeared!
A bastard abandoned by the Ye Clan for eighteen years!
A Paladin who wasn't even a Cultivator of the sword!
How could he not be furious?!
On the viewing platform, Jiang Yun's face was also extremely ugly.
The Canglan Sword Manual!
One of the Ye Clan's supreme inheritances!
This opportunity should have belonged to her Chen'er!
But now, it had been triggered by a bastard born of a slut!
She stared fixedly at the figure enveloped in the golden pillar of light, the chill in her eyes almost freezing over.
Patriarch Ye Lingfeng stood beneath the Sword Stele, his shock equally unconcealable.
He had also failed to trigger the Canglan Sword Manualback in the day.
That was one of the greatest regrets of his life.
And now, this regret had been made up for by a Ye Clan bloodline that had been wandering outside.
"Could this be... destiny?"
A sharp light burst into Patriarch Ye Lingfeng's eyes as he seized the opportunity and said:
"Everyone, today at the Ancestor Worship, there is another major matter to announce."
"Lu Li is the son of my fourth brother, Ye Heng, and is a direct bloodline of our Ye Clan that has been wandering outside!"
"Today, he officially returns to the Clan!"
His voice was like thunder, instantly spreading across the entire plaza.
As soon as these words were spoken, the whole crowd was shocked!
"What? He is Ye Heng's son?"
"That means Lu Li is Ye Beichen's half-brother?"
"No wonder! No wonder the Patriarch allowed Lu Li to participate in the Ancestor Worship ceremony!"
"No wonder he could trigger a Legendary inheritance; it turns out he is just as outstanding as Ye Beichen!"
"..."
Exclamations rose and fell one after another.
The Ye Clan members who had been full of doubt just a moment ago had now found a perfect explanation.
Lu Li could trigger the Sword Stele because the blood of the Ye Clan flowed in his veins!
He was a member of the Ye Clan to begin with!
"So that's how it is! So that's it!"
"No wonder he could trigger the Canglan Sword Manual; this is the resonance of our Ye Clan's bloodline!"
"Three hundred years, the Canglan Sword Manual has finally waited for its master!"
"..."
For a moment, the original jealousy and doubt transformed into bursts of cheers.
The eyes with which the Ye Clan members looked at Lu Lishifted from complex to eager.
That was a Legendary inheritance!
If Lu Li obtained it, the Ye Clan obtained it!
This glory belonged to the entire Ye Clan!
However, no one noticed.
At this moment, Lu Li was not listening to what they were saying at all.
Because just a moment ago, a system notification had already exploded in his mind.
[Ding! The first stage of the revenge quest is complete!]
[Congratulations on obtaining the truth behind your mother's death!]
In an instant, countless fragments of images flooded into Lu Li's mind!
Inside the images.
A graceful and luxurious woman.
Was handing a packet of powder to a servant and whispering:
"Mix this medicine into that slut's daily drinking water."
"Remember, don't let her notice!"
The woman was very beautiful.
Lu Li scanned the crowd and locked onto the corresponding person in the viewing gallery.
It was none other than Ye Beichen's mother, Jiang Yun!
The images shifted again.
A haggard-looking woman, dragging her sick body, stood outside the gates of the Ye Clan.
She was holding an infant in swaddling clothes in her arms, pleading bitterly.
But the gates never opened.
From inside the gates came a cold female voice:
"Where did this wild woman come from, daring to cling to the Ye Clan?"
"Drive her away."
"From now on, do not let her come near the Ye Clan again!"
Immediately after, there were more countless fragments.
Poisoning, harming, blocking his mother from entering the Ye Clan.
One by one, each and every one of them pointed to the same person!
"Jiang Yun!"
Lu Li suddenly raised his head and looked at Jiang Yun on the viewing platform!
So, his mother didn't die of natural causes at all!
It was Jiang Yun who committed the murderous act!
Using chronic poison, day by day, she killed her!
"Why is this little bastard looking at me?"
Jiang Yun on the viewing platform frowned, a trace of displeasure flashing in the depths of her eyes.
For some reason, that look from Lu Li made a trace of inexplicable unease rise in her heart.
But soon, this unease was suppressed by her.
Just a bastard with no background, what kind of waves could he possibly stir up?
Chapter 165: The Only Hidden Profession! Who Dares Touch Him!
At this moment, the system notification in Lu Li's mind had not yet finished.
[Ding! Congratulations on obtaining the Paladin's unique hidden profession transfer scroll, 'Apocalypse Bringer'!]
"A profession transfer scroll?! A unique hidden profession?"
The sudden system notification left Lu Li momentarily stunned.
Before he could take a closer look, Patriarch Ye Lingfengcast his gaze over.
"Lu Li! From this day forward, revert to the Ye surname and return to my Ye Clan. How about it?"
His voice was resonant, carrying a hint of unquestionable authority.
As his words fell, many people felt envious.
Especially the young people from other families in the viewing stands.
Becoming a direct descendant of the Ye Clan was something they dreamed of!
Not to mention, Lu Li had just obtained the recognition of the Canglan Sword Manual.
Once he returned to the Clan, he would undoubtedly be a prodigy cultivated with the full strength of the Ye Clan!
His future would be limitless!
However, Lu Li shook his head.
"Not interested."
"What?!"
Patriarch Ye Lingfeng's expression shifted slightly; he almost thought he had misheard.
He looked at Lu Li, his gaze like a sword, and said in a deep voice:
"We agreed beforehand that you would come to participate in the ancestor worship ceremony!"
"I only agreed to attend the ceremony, but I never agreed to join your Ye Clan."
Lu Li's expression remained unchanged.
"Fine, fine, fine!"
Patriarch Ye Lingfeng laughed in anger.
He had not expected that he, a dignified Patriarch of the Ye Clan, would actually be played by a junior!
Thinking of this, he was no longer polite.
"You want to take the heritage for free without joining my Ye Clan? Keep dreaming!"
"Without having your name recorded in the Ye Clan genealogy, even if the heritage manifests, it will not descend upon you!"
Wanting to freeload the Ye Clan's heritage? Dream on!
If he wanted to take away the Canglan Sword Manual, he had to join the Ye Clan!
However, Lu Li just sneered.
"Sorry, I've never cared for it!"
"You—!"
Patriarch Ye Lingfeng's face darkened completely.
However, at that very moment, the Canglan Sword Manualfloating in the sky transformed into a stream of light, shot into the center of Lu Li's brow, and vanished!
The entire scene went silent.
Patriarch Ye Lingfeng was also stunned.
The Ye Clan's Sword Stele and genealogy were linked.
Only Ye Clan bloodlines with names registered in the genealogy could truly obtain the heritage.
Lu Li hadn't even left his name on the genealogy yet; how could he possibly obtain the heritage?
But he quickly reacted and said in a deep voice:
"Lu Li! You are not a member of our Ye Clan. The Canglan Sword Manual is not yours to take! Hand it over!"
As his words fell, the pressure belonging solely to a Fourth-Turn Sword Saint erupted!
Sword intent roared!
The entire plaza was shrouded by that terrifying pressure at this moment!
Countless Ye Clan members felt their bodies go weak and retreated one after another.
Those young juniors were even paler, unable to even stand steady.
A Level 76 Fourth-Turn Sword Saint! This was Patriarch Ye Lingfeng's strength!
Just by releasing his pressure, it was enough to make the vast majority of people present lose the ability to resist!
However, Lu Li remained motionless.
His Angel Bloodline, under this pressure, seemed to be stimulated, automatically circulating.
A faint layer of golden holy light emerged from his skin, isolating that sword-path pressure.
Lu Li sneered: "Heh, turning against someone faster than flipping a book—this is the Ye Clan!"
"What did you say?!" Patriarch Ye Lingfeng roared.
Just then, a cold, clear voice suddenly rang out: "He is a friend of my Shen Family."
As the voice fell, a tall, slender figure, walking with shapely, long legs, stood beside Lu Li.
Her silver-white hair cascaded like a waterfall, her bosom was proud and full, and her black dress fluttered in the breeze. It was none other than Shen Chuyou!
The whole scene was shocked!
"The Shen Family?!" "The Shen Family's young lady! She actually said Lu Li is a friend of the Shen Family?" "What is Lu Li's relationship with the Shen Family?!"
"The Shen Family?" Patriarch Ye Lingfeng narrowed his eyes, his gaze like a sword, staring directly at Shen Chuyou: "A mere little girl like you doesn't have the qualifications to represent the Shen Family!"
He naturally knew Shen Chuyou. She was the daughter of the Shen Family patriarch, Shen Mo. But how could a junior represent the Shen Family?
Shen Chuyou's expression remained unchanged, and she was about to say something more. Just then, another gentle yet majestic voice rang out: "Then, what if you add me?"
As the voice fell, a pale golden figure slowly rose from the viewing stands.
Song Wanqiu walked down the high platform step by step with elegant strides.
She wore a pale golden priest robe, with holy light circulating around her. Her gentle, water-like beautiful face currently carried an unprecedented coldness.
Her curvaceous, slender figure, illuminated by the holy light, resembled a goddess descending into the world. With every step she took, a vast power of holy light spilled out from within her body.
The pressure of a Level 69, Third-Turn Peak Saint Light Archpriest spread out in all directions like a tide!
"Lu Li is my student. No one gets to bully my, Song Wanqiu's, student."
Song Wanqiu walked in front of Lu Li, shielding him and Shen Chuyou behind her. Those gentle, beautiful eyes now revealed an unquestionable determination.
"Song Wanqiu!" Patriarch Ye Lingfeng sneered: "You're just a mere Third-Turn Peak support! I gave you face last time! This time, if you block me, don't blame me for being impolite!"
As his words fell, the sword intent around Patriarch Ye Lingfeng surged again! A Fourth-Turn Sword Saint against a Third-Turn Peak. The gap between them was like a chasm!
"You!" Song Wanqiu's expression darkened; she was already prepared to go all out. She knew very well that she was no match for Patriarch Ye Lingfeng. But Lu Li was her student. Today, even if she had to exhaust all her strength, she would not let anyone hurt him!
Golden holy light surged wildly from her body. The entire plaza was illuminated as if it were broad daylight!
"Heh, overestimating yourself." Patriarch Ye Lingfengsneered and slowly raised his hand. Sword intent gathered, and ten thousand swords chimed in unison. A terrifying sword light was forming at his fingertips.
Just at this critical moment, a calm and resonant voice suddenly rang out over the plaza: "If the Shen girl and Dean Song won't do, then what about our Church of Light?"
As the voice fell, a figure dressed in a holy light robe slowly stood up from the viewing stands. He was surrounded by holy light, as if bathed in a spring breeze. Yet, within that holy light lay a terrifying pressure that made even Patriarch Ye Lingfeng slightly change his expression.
It was none other than the Church of Light's Cardinal, Cardinal Su Huairen! He smiled and looked calmly at Patriarch Ye Lingfeng: "Patriarch Ye, Lu Li is a Holy Son candidate of our Church of Light."
As he spoke, he slowly walked down from the viewing stands and stood in front of Lu Li. "Today, whoever wants to touch Lu Li is an enemy of our Church of Light."
As his words fell, the entire plaza fell into a deathly silence. Even Patriarch Ye Lingfeng was stunned in place. A Holy Son candidate?! Since when did Lu Li become a Holy Son candidate of the Church of Light?!
Beside him, Song Wanqiu and Shen Chuyou also showed expressions of surprise. Especially Song Wanqiu; after Lu Li revealed his Holy Name Talent last time, she had called Cardinal Su Huairen to mention that Lu Li wanted to become a part-time Holy Son. During this time, the other party hadn't replied. She had thought it had failed. But she hadn't expected Cardinal Su Huairen to actually stand out at this moment.
"You..." Patriarch Ye Lingfeng's expression became ugly. The Church of Light! That was one of the largest religious forces in the entire Yanlong Country, and even the entire Blue Star! And Cardinal Su Huairen was a Cardinal, a Level 78 Fourth-Turn powerhouse!
He could disregard a Song Wanqiu. But a Cardinal...
"Cardinal Su Huairen, is your Church of Light intending to interfere in my Ye Clan's family affairs?" Patriarch Ye Lingfeng said in a deep voice.
"Lu Li has never joined the Ye Clan, so how can you call it family affairs?" Cardinal Su Huairen remained smiling, but his voice was unquestionable: "If Patriarch Ye insists on taking action, then it is to be an enemy of our Church of Light."
Silence. A deathly silence. The entire plaza was so quiet you could hear a pin drop. Everyone held their breath, watching the figures confronting each other in the center of the plaza.
One was the Ye Clan Patriarch, a Fourth-Turn Sword Saint. One was a Church of Light Cardinal, a Fourth-Turn powerhouse. There was also the Third-Turn Peak Song Wanqiu and the Shen Family's young lady, Shen Chuyou. Yet, the person Patriarch Ye Lingfeng wanted to deal with was merely a youth who hadn't returned to the Clan. How did so many forces get dragged into this?
... PS: Five chapters, 11,000 words! I wrote it all in one go and wrote myself into a thrill. I don't know if you enjoyed reading it. If you enjoyed it, you can give a good review or send some gifts. Thanks to all the big bosses!
Waiting for more - WTR-Lab