Chapter 51: The Clamor Subsides (Second Update)

The tumult subsided, and all returned to tranquility.

As night fell, the crescent moon, shaped like a scythe, hung high in the sky, shedding its pale light across the earth. The Ye residence was enveloped in peace; nearly everyone had slipped into sleep, save for Ye Feng, who sat alone in the garden.

"The Sacred Land has retreated from Shrouded Heaven City, and now the name Ye Feng is known to all. The road ahead will only become harder. But… I will not give up," Ye Feng murmured softly, gazing up at the moon.

"Next, it's time to head to the capital. That mess still awaits my hand to clean it up," he whispered, closing his eyes and savoring the rare silence.

Xiao Chong and Lie Kuang had departed, under the pretense of returning to report to the court. The message was clear: Ye Feng would not be without allies in the capital.

Half an hour later, unable to still his mind, Ye Feng hoisted the monkey onto his shoulder and slowly walked out of the Ye residence.

"Fela's final punch! Had I not grasped the blade's insight at that critical moment, I could never have blocked it! And that old man, appearing brazenly before me once more, yet I remain powerless…" Tonight was destined to be extraordinary; everything he had endured during the day weighed heavily upon him.

Greater mysteries lingered, and though Ye Tianya had not revealed the truth, through Fifth Uncle's words, Ye Feng could surmise that he was already caught in a whirlpool.

"Why does the Ye family persist in their feud with the Sacred Land? Is it only vengeance for my parents? And why does the Sacred Land seek to invade the Ye family?" Ye Feng mused silently.

Having grown up as an assassin, his cultivation of the mind had reached a profound level. Most external influences could no longer sway him; he could infer from words that seemed trivial.

Yet, regarding the Ye family and the Sacred Land, he could not fathom their motives.

"Life is but a play! Truly, it is all a play! I wished only to live as an ordinary young master, but instead, I am drawn into yet another vortex. This feeling is truly unpleasant!" He looked helplessly up at the moonlit sky, shaking his head and sighing. "But since I am Ye Feng, the play of Ye Feng shall be sung by me! Ha, Sacred Land, you not only wasted fifteen years of my life, but robbed me of a mother's love!"

Strolling along the streets of Shrouded Heaven City, Ye Feng whispered to himself in resignation.

Status changes a life; two sides once like strangers, forced by a single word to flee in disgrace, separated from kin for fifteen years. The feeling of being bullied made him deeply uncomfortable.

"But before absolute strength, the Ye family had no choice but to bow their heads." In the end, he ceased his musings, hands clasped behind his back as he walked onward.

"The true masters of the imperial capital have yet to arrive, and the strongest of the Sacred Land have not shown themselves. I wonder how terrifying their strength truly is!" Aimless, Ye Feng wandered the empty streets, muttering to himself.

After some time, Ye Feng arrived at a clearing, where he sat cross-legged. Slowly, the form and flow of a blade technique surfaced in his mind.

His thoughts raced, spiritual power surged within; suddenly, Ye Feng leapt up, swiftly drawing a long blade.

As his spiritual power circulated, a faint golden aura enveloped him. Within his meridians, clear streams of power flowed like rivers, converging into his left arm that wielded the blade.

His left arm shone with golden light, with every vein and vessel visible. The five fingers gripping the hilt became conduits, channeling spiritual power ceaselessly.

A resonant hum followed…

The next moment, the lines of power fused, and the blade seemed to come alive, emitting a deep, vibrating sound.

Dragon Severance…

Blade light exploded forth—a golden dragon-shaped stream several yards long poured down like a waterfall from the heavens, crashing onto the hard bluestone slabs.

A roar echoed…

In the blink of an eye, the slabs shattered into fragments that scattered in all directions. The golden power roared like a giant dragon in the void, shockwaves slicing through flowers and grass within dozens of meters, severing them cleanly.

He drew a sharp breath…

As the dust cleared, Ye Feng stared at the yawning pit he had blasted—nearly a yard deep—unable to suppress his astonishment.

"This was only a clumsy imitation, based on a vague memory—yet its power is terrifying! Though not as monstrous as that blade stroke in daylight, I can summon it at will now, no longer relying on luck. Once more…"

Ye Feng closed his eyes, striving to recapture the state of selfless emptiness he had achieved earlier.

A torrent of spiritual power converged again—this time, five streams.

He was eager, still shaken by the blade he had unleashed earlier. If he could fully master it, with his innate middle-tier cultivation, he would fear no spirit king below the middle tier.

A crack resounded…

Suddenly, as the five streams merged into the blade, the weapon could not withstand the force—splintering inch by inch, it fell to the ground in pieces.

He stared in speechless disbelief at the shattered blade.

After a long silence, Ye Feng gave up. That stroke could still not be summoned at will; it was not the blade's fault, but his own lack of cultivation.

At dawn, when others rose to begin their day, Ye Feng finally left, returning to the Ye residence.

After Ye Feng’s departure, several figures emerged from distant corners, faces full of shock. Exchanging glances, they hurried toward the inn.

These were spies from the noble families of the capital. Ye Feng's blade from the previous day had stunned them all!

If Ye Feng could wield that stroke freely, many in the capital would lose sleep.

As for the spies, Ye Feng simply smiled. Since he had chosen a side, gathering intelligence was inevitable. The display of his power tonight would suffice for the nobles to make their choice.

His aim was simple: if he did not speak, he would remain silent; but when he did, it would shake the heavens, trampling every foe beneath his feet.

Standing before the Ye residence, Ye Feng turned to look toward the capital. Soon, he would set foot there; there, he would shine with dazzling brilliance.

…………………

In a secret chamber of the Ye residence, Fifth Uncle sat across from Ye Tianya.

"It seems Feng’er has truly returned! In less than half a year, he’s reached innate middle tier… astonishing! Now he’s not far behind the most celebrated youths of the capital," Ye Tianya opened his eyes with a smile.

"Who would have thought! Less than half a year since his return, beset time and again by schemes, yet he advances with unstoppable momentum. What do you think Tang Hen will make of him when he returns to the imperial capital?" Fifth Uncle, no longer so proud as he had been in daylight, was now brimming with joy, like a child discovering something delightful.

"The Sacred Land will dispatch a large number of their younger generation within three months at most. This time, the elders will not intervene; it will be a battle among the young. I wonder if this boy will surprise us yet again!"