Chapter Ten — True Hearts Revealed in Times of Trouble...

“What’s going on? Why did the vital energy I just condensed suddenly vanish?” Ye Chen was extremely puzzled.

After ascending to the Innate Realm, vital energy could be absorbed into the body and stored for use during fierce battles. But now, it wasn’t just a matter of storage; the energy disappeared immediately the moment he absorbed it.

Ye Chen paced back and forth in his room. “What should I do now?”

“Brother Ye Chen, guess what good thing I brought for you?” Liu Jinshui came running into the courtyard.

Seeing Liu Jinshui, Ye Chen brushed away his previous gloom and looked at the two jars in his hands. “Brother Jinshui, what is this?”

In response to Ye Chen’s question, Liu Jinshui said, “You know ginseng? This is a top-grade earthly elixir. Soaking it in water melted from the Tianshan snow to brew wine can be considered a low-grade heavenly elixir wine.”

Ye Chen’s curiosity was piqued. “Where can one find such a thing?”

“This can only be found within the great Qin territory, and even then, it’s rare. Enough talk—drink first!”

Ye Chen pondered for a moment, his brows furrowed with worry. “Brother Jinshui, I’m not in the mood to drink right now. You go ahead. I’m facing some trouble—my vital energy disappears the moment I condense it. It’s really troubling.”

Seeing this, the smile on Liu Jinshui’s face faded, replaced by a hint of concern. He gently patted Ye Chen’s shoulder and comforted him, “Brother Ye Chen, don’t worry. Maybe it’s just a small problem. Let’s drink first; perhaps after a few cups, the problem will resolve itself.”

Saying that, he opened one jar, releasing a rich aroma that quickly filled the room.

When Ye Chen still didn’t move, Liu Jinshui said, “This wine contains a large amount of spiritual energy from heaven and earth. It might not only heal your vital energy but even help you ascend!”

Seeing Ye Chen hesitate, Liu Jinshui pushed the cup toward him. The amber liquid shimmered as if swirling with spiritual radiance.

He smiled, “Brother Ye Chen, trust me, this wine is extraordinary. Try it; you might gain unexpected benefits.”

He then raised his own cup and drank it all in one gulp, his face instantly glowing with delight, as if truly drawing the essence of the universe from the wine, his entire being exuding a gentle aura.

Witnessing this, Ye Chen drained his cup as well...

One breath...

Two breaths...

Three breaths...

Four breaths...

Five, six breaths...

The room was so silent that only their deepening breaths could be heard.

Liu Jinshui’s eyes widened in disbelief. The cup in his hand slipped from his grasp and clattered to the floor, breaking the silence.

Ye Chen’s face remained pale, his eyes filled with confusion. He slowly raised his hand, trying to sense the vital energy within his body again, but felt only an empty void.

The air around them seemed to freeze; even the wind stopped, leaving the two staring at each other, full of doubt and bewilderment.

At that moment, Liu Jinshui asked in shock, “No... no way. You drank a cup, and it didn’t help at all? What exactly is wrong with you?”

Ye Chen was silent for a moment, then shook his head. “I don’t know either.”

“Hey, drink first. We’ll figure it out afterward! Otherwise, it was all for nothing.”

---

One day later...

“Let’s go, let’s go. We’re going to see Elder Yu. He must have a solution.”

The two hurried along, with Liu Jinshui half-dragging Ye Chen toward Elder Yu’s residence. Along the way, ancient trees towered above, birdsong was sparse, as if even nature was making way for their urgency.

Liu Jinshui’s usually smiling face was now filled with anxiety. He frequently glanced back at Ye Chen, his eyes full of concern and confusion.

Elder Yu’s small courtyard was nestled deep within a bamboo grove, serene and elegant. Even before approaching, a faint spiritual aura wafted through the air.

Passing through the swaying bamboo shadows, they stopped before an old wooden door. Liu Jinshui lightly knocked on the door knocker.

“Who is it? What do you want?” came Elder Yu’s voice from within.

Liu Jinshui bowed toward the door. “Junior disciple Liu Jinshui, newly promoted to the outer sect, here with brother Ye Chen to see the senior.”

Hearing this, Elder Yu appeared at the doorway.

“Speak. What do you two youngsters want from me?”

Liu Jinshui quickly stepped forward respectfully. “Elder Yu, my brother Ye Chen has recently encountered something strange in his cultivation. The vital energy he condenses disappears the moment it enters his body, which is truly baffling. I dare to ask if you could help look into it and see if there’s any solution.”

He stepped aside to let Elder Yu see Ye Chen’s pale and confused face more clearly.

Elder Yu frowned slightly, his piercing gaze scanning Ye Chen as if trying to peer into the secrets within his body.

“You... I don’t see anything unusual about you. As for why this happens, I truly don’t know,” Elder Yu said, shaking his head. “Such a pity about your purple aptitude. Alas, what a pity.”

Before his words finished, a breeze rustled the bamboo grove, as if sighing for this unsolvable affliction...

Ye Chen’s complexion paled even more. He looked up at the sky; sunlight filtered through the bamboo leaves, casting mottled shadows, but it could not penetrate the darkness in his heart.

A glint of unwillingness flashed in his eyes. His hands clenched into fists, as if battling fate itself.

Liu Jinshui felt a complex mix of emotions. He gently patted Ye Chen’s back, trying to comfort him, though his own eyes were filled with confusion and helplessness.

“Let’s go,” Ye Chen said, slowly walking toward the outer sect disciple peak.

At the disciple peak, Liu Shaoying strode straight up to him. “Ye Chen, don’t think you’re special just because of your talent! I’m still stronger than you!”

Ye Chen ignored him and kept walking.

At that moment, a man named Yin Yun, a double-stage Innate Realm cultivator, blocked his way.

Yin Yun drew a sword, its tip aimed directly at Ye Chen.

“I told you to ignore Brother Liu!”

Ye Chen unleashed a layer of sword intent, slowing Yin Yun’s movements. Then with his right hand, he drew the Red Sword and swung it, severing Yin Yun’s arm.

Disbelief filled Yin Yun’s eyes as his sword clattered to the ground. Blood gushed from the severed limb, staining his clothes crimson.

He cried out in pain, his face instantly pale, staggering back several steps, nearly collapsing.

Ye Chen held the Red Sword, its tip trembling slightly, still dripping with bright red blood. His gaze was cold and resolute, as if the strike had been casual.

The outer sect disciples gasped in shock. They had never seen such fierce sword intent and ruthless technique. For a moment, the entire disciple peak fell into silence, broken only by Yin Yun’s agonized cries and the sound of dripping blood.

---

“Remember this: I, Ye Chen, may have no vital energy to use, but that doesn’t mean I can’t defeat you. If heaven wants to destroy me, I will destroy heaven. If earth wants to eradicate me, I will sever the earth. If they refuse me cultivation, I will persist regardless!”

Ye Chen’s words thundered in everyone’s ears. A faint sword aura surrounded him—an otherworldly presence. Even without vital energy, he shone brilliantly.

He suddenly raised his head, eyes blazing with indomitable spirit, as if piercing through all obstacles.

At that moment, an invisible force surged from within him. The sword intent intensified to a triple layer, like three sharp blades piercing the clouds, tearing the sky above the disciple peak apart...

The crowd was first stunned, then sneered disdainfully. No matter how talented he was, without vital energy, he would only remain beneath them, subject to their mercy.

With that, Ye Chen turned and left...

News of Ye Chen becoming a failure spread quickly.

A year later, Ye Chen’s figure was often seen in a remote corner of the outer sect disciple peak.

In the sunset’s afterglow, he sat side by side with Liu Jinshui on a large rock, each holding a jar of wine, but the laughter and joy of old days were gone.

Ye Chen’s gaze often drifted past Liu Jinshui’s shoulder, fixed on the distant training grounds where disciples moved with vigor. Their vital energy surged like tidal waves, showcasing rapid growth.

Ye Chen took a small sip of wine, its bitterness spreading on his tongue. His eyes held both envy and dissatisfaction. He closed his eyes, attempting once more to guide the universe’s vital energy into his body, but only felt emptiness.

“I’m going to train now,” Ye Chen said, then left.

In the woods, Ye Chen continuously stimulated his body with sword intent. During this process, his body absorbed vital energy bit by bit.

Suddenly, he sensed a faint trace of vital energy and was shocked. He quickly sent his spiritual consciousness into his body.

He saw the vital energy linger for a breath, then was abruptly drawn away by a tremendous force. Ye Chen looked—and saw the Cosmic Divine Tree!!!

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