Chapter 3: The Fierce Ye Chen

## Chapter 3: The Ferocious Ye Chen

Stepping out the door, Ye Chen surveyed his surroundings. This was a small garden, merely twenty *zhang* in circumference, with a single spirit fruit tree planted at its center.

Aside from the young boy named Tiger Kid, only an old man resided within the garden.

The three of them gathered around a modest stone table. Beside them squatted a massive bird, its eyes fixed with hungry anticipation on the food spread before them. In the world of cultivators, such creatures were known as spirit beasts, often employed by cultivators for transportation.

Through their conversation, Ye Chen learned that the old man who had saved him the previous night was named Zhang Fengnian. Due to a past transgression, his cultivation had been crippled, and he had been demoted from the sect, his dwelling now situated near the foot of Hengyue Sect's spirit mountain.

"Here, Little Eagle, this piece is for you." Tiger Kid tossed a piece of cured meat he was reluctant to eat towards the giant bird. As he spoke, he affectionately stroked the bird's large head, clearly treating it as a close companion.

Meanwhile, Zhang Fengnian smiled gently and turned to Ye Chen. "Young man, you're a cultivator, correct?"

Ye Chen, who had been ravenously stuffing food into his mouth, quickly put down his bowl and chopsticks and nodded with a smile at Zhang Fengnian's question.

"Which sect are you from?"

"Old man, I have no sect or faction. I am merely an itinerant cultivator."

"That truly is a pity," Zhang Fengnian sighed softly. "In the prime of your life, you should seek out a cultivation sect. After all, within a sect, you will find the cultivation resources you need. It's regrettable that at your age, your cultivation is only at the first layer of the Qi Condensation realm."

"Senior is correct," Ye Chen replied with another smile, still concealing his past. Naturally, if he could cultivate again, he would certainly seek out a cultivation sect.

Zhang Fengnian's words held wisdom. Being an itinerant cultivator was not only dangerous but also presented a significant challenge in acquiring cultivation resources. A sect disciple, on the other hand, had a sect to rely upon, ensuring a certain guarantee of cultivation resources.

Seeing Ye Chen deep in thought, Zhang Fengnian offered a kind smile. "Young man, would you be interested in becoming a disciple of Hengyue Sect?"

"Of course, I would be interested!" Ye Chen replied eagerly, a smile playing on his lips.

He had been considering this very possibility. Hengyue Sect was not significantly weaker than Zhengyang Sect, and at this juncture, he had nowhere else to go. Staying at Hengyue Sect seemed the most suitable choice.

He was brimming with anticipation. At Zhengyang Sect, he had been an exceptional individual. He firmly believed that with the assistance of that true fire, he would undoubtedly shine brightly at Hengyue Sect in the near future.

"Senior, the threshold to enter Hengyue Sect must be quite high, right?" Ye Chen looked at Zhang Fengnian and inquired.

"No matter. I can write you a letter of introduction. I believe that should be enough for you to become an outer disciple."

A letter of introduction?

Upon hearing these four words, Ye Chen couldn't help but secretly appraise the old man once more. Though seemingly a cripple incapable of cultivation, he was clearly not as simple as he appeared.

*Bang!*

Just at that moment, the door to the small spirit garden was kicked open, and a youth in white robes strode in.

"Well, well! Enjoying a meal, are we?" The white-robed youth sneered.

"Zhang Tao, what are you doing?" Tiger Kid immediately stood up, glaring angrily at the white-robed disciple. Zhang Fengnian's face also darkened instantly. Even the giant bird beside them squawked incessantly, spreading its large wings to shield Tiger Kid behind it.

Ye Chen cast a glance at Zhang Tao, recognizing him as a Hengyue disciple due to the sect's name embroidered on his robe. Moreover, with a single look, he could discern Zhang Tao's cultivation level – he had already reached the second layer of the Qi Condensation realm.

*Humph!*

Zhang Tao let out a cold snort and glared fiercely at Zhang Fengnian. "Old man, hand it over quickly, or don't blame me for being impolite."

"I don't have what you want," Zhang Fengnian breathed deeply, his aged face instantly turning pale.

"Refusing a toast only to drink a forfeit!" With a sudden roar, Zhang Tao kicked the table over with ferocity, like a bandit who had tasted blood.

*Squawk! Squawk!*

The giant bird beside them had already flapped its wings and rushed over. Despite being a low-level spirit beast, it possessed a higher intelligence. Its large eyes held a human-like expression – anger.

"Seeking death," Zhang Tao's eyes glinted coldly. True qi lingered between his fingers, instantly condensing into a blade of energy that swiftly left a bloody gash on the large bird's body.

Blood splattered from the large bird, and it instantly fell to the ground.

"Little Eagle!" Tiger Kid lunged forward.

*Squawk! Squawk!*

The big bird's cries were weak and hoarse. Even so, it still used its large wings to protect Tiger Kid beneath its body.

"You evil disciple!" Pointing a trembling finger at Zhang Tao, Zhang Fengnian was consumed by a surge of anger and nearly collapsed.

"Hand it over, or don't blame me for being ruthless..." Zhang Tao took a step forward. Before he could utter the word "cruel," Ye Chen, who had been standing beside him, slapped him squarely in the face.

*Pa!*

The sound of the slap was crisp and remarkably loud.

Zhang Tao was stunned by the blow. Before he could even react, he felt Ye Chen's fierce grip on his arm. His body instantly lost its balance, then separated from the ground as he was swung through the air.

*Bang!*

Accompanied by a loud crash, the arrogant Zhang Tao from the previous moment was fiercely slammed into the ground by Ye Chen. A human-shaped pit was directly indented into the hard earth.

*Puff!*

A mouthful of fresh blood sprayed out. Zhang Tao had been smashed by Ye Chen until his internal organs were completely dislodged.

This scene left even Zhang Fengnian in a daze. Tiger Kid, witnessing such a ferocious Ye Chen, couldn't help but swallow hard. Zhang Tao, a cultivator at the second heaven of Qi Condensation, had been brought down by Ye Chen in a single encounter.

Indeed, Ye Chen had employed a sneak attack, but his strength was also terrifyingly immense.

However, they had no way of knowing that Ye Chen possessed a Dantian Sea.

Comparing true qi, even with the same cultivation at the first layer of the Qi Condensation realm, Ye Chen's Dantian Sea contained three times the quantity of true qi compared to others. Calculating it this way, although Ye Chen's cultivation was at the first layer of Qi Condensation, he was comparable to an ordinary cultivator at the third layer of the Qi Condensation realm.

"Heaven watches over those who act righteously. Accumulate more virtue for yourself."

Following Ye Chen's loud reprimand, Zhang Tao, whose flesh and blood were already a bloody mess, was flung out of the small spirit garden by Ye Chen.

That night, Ye Chen channeled true qi into Little Eagle, thereby saving its life. However, for a considerable time to come, this loyal giant bird spirit beast would find it very difficult to fly.

"Young friend, I truly thank you today," Zhang Fengnian sat on the stone steps, his demeanor appearing much older. To be subjected to such malicious actions by his own disciple was truly an incomparable pain for an old man like him.

"Senior, you speak too highly. It was merely a small matter," Ye Chen replied with a carefree smile.

"Alas!"

Zhang Fengnian sighed deeply, his cloudy old eyes filled with a nostalgic sorrow. He seemed to be recalling a painful past. "I was once an elder of Hengyue Sect. Only because I committed a great wrong was I demoted to this small spirit garden. And that Zhang Tao is the disciple I once had. It is all my fault. I did not teach him well."

"The master leads you through the door, but cultivation depends on the individual," Ye Chen offered comfort. "Senior, there is no need to blame yourself. It is simply his nature."

"He just wants grandfather's Heaven Spirit Talisman!" Tiger Kid exclaimed angrily, his small fists clenched tightly. "All the things grandfather has saved over the years have been stolen by him. He comes to bully us every single day."

Heaven Spirit Talisman?

Ye Chen was not unfamiliar with this name. Hengyue Sect possessed a type of spirit talisman called the Heaven Spirit Talisman. Once affixed to a person, it would seal their true qi for a short period. This type of talisman was already famous throughout the three sects.

This kind of talisman was extremely precious and never circulated. Ye Chen had never imagined that this Zhang Fengnian would actually possess such a talisman.

"Young friend, I have already written the recommendation letter. Go up the mountain to cultivate tomorrow! Your talent is not low; it should not be buried." As Ye Chen was pondering, Zhang Fengnian had already handed him a letter and a scroll. "Also, this scroll introduces Hengyue. Read it carefully."

"Thank you, Senior."

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