Chapter Four — Departure

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The Next Day

Ye Chen began absorbing the low-grade spirit stones. Counting the thirteen he had accumulated himself, the total of fifty-three stones was enough to break through to the ninth level of the Body Refinement Realm. So he kept absorbing the energy from these stones without pause.

After absorbing the last trace of spiritual energy, Ye Chen slowly opened his eyes, which sparkled with a sharp gleam. He gently picked up the yellowed manual of the "Crushing Gold Fist," running his fingers over the ancient paper, as if feeling the power distilled by time itself. The candlelight flickered in the room, casting long shadows of his focused figure.

Following the diagrams in the manual, Ye Chen slowly assumed the stance and threw a punch. The air seemed to tear apart, carrying a faint whistle of wind. Immersed in the profound martial art, each punch was delivered with full force, shadow after shadow, as if his will shook the very fabric of space in that instant. The power of the Crushing Gold Fist gradually revealed itself with each strike, filling the room with an aura of determination and unyielding spirit. He continued punching relentlessly, all day long…

By the third day, Elder Shi came to find Ye Chen, ready to depart.

But upon stepping into Ye Chen’s room, Elder Shi instinctively slowed his pace at the scene before him.

In the dim candlelight, Ye Chen’s figure was frozen like a sculpture, sweat streaming down his resolute face and dripping onto the floor with faint but firm sounds. His eyes were closed, yet a faint, barely perceptible smile curled at the corner of his mouth. His fists moved through the air, each strike causing the air to tremble. The room seemed filled with countless golden light shadows weaving and colliding, releasing a pressure beyond ordinary realms that instilled awe in the heart.

Elder Shi stood quietly at the door, his gaze filled with shock. This was the self-forgetfulness realm described in the ancient text—so profoundly stirring. Such a great opportunity must not be disturbed.

Elder Shi made up his mind.

Another hour passed—

“Elder! Elder! We’ve been waiting for you forever, why aren’t you leaving yet?” A man rushed in anxiously.

“Shh! Shh!” Elder Shi quickly covered the man’s mouth, fearing he would disturb Ye Chen.

“Keep your voice down. This is the best time for this young man to grasp the essence. Wait a bit longer.”

“But...” The man was about to protest—

“No buts. Such a chance can’t be missed.” Elder Shi cut him off immediately.

The man fell silent.

However—

Suddenly—BOOM!!!

Ye Chen’s room was shaken to collapse by the force of his punch.

At that moment, Ye Chen regained consciousness, staring bewildered at the ruined room. “Who—who demolished my house? Who?”

“Stop yelling. It was you yourself.” Elder Shi walked beside Ye Chen slowly, saying, “You’ve comprehended the fist’s momentum, and the Crushing Gold Fist has reached its initial success.”

“Huh?” The man was stunned. What was this? He could topple a house with a single punch?

“Oh, hehe,” Ye Chen scratched his head sheepishly.

“I remember this secret technique was the signature move of the Fourth Elder. How did it end up in your hands?” Elder Shi asked, puzzled, glancing at Ye Chen.

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“Hehe, you’ll find out soon enough,” Ye Chen replied with a mischievous smile.

Elder Shi shook his head, “Enough talk. Let’s hurry or it’ll get too late.” With that, he headed out of the clan.

Ye Chen quickly ran after him. “Old Shi, don’t joke around. Hurry up and tell me, what’s this about not making it on time?”

Hearing this, Elder Shi’s beard twitched. He picked up a stick and playfully struck Ye Chen’s backside.

“Hey! What’s that for? Ouch, ouch!” The sound faded as Ye Xuan and the other two watched this scene from a corner, exchanging knowing smiles.

Suddenly, a voice came from behind: “You little brat, where’s my Fortune Spirit Jade Pendant?”

“And my secret technique, you prodigal, where did you put it?”

“My twenty-year brewed Hundred Flower Wine, you little scoundrel, where the hell did you stash it?”

The three glanced nervously backward to see three men approaching fiercely.

“It’s, it’s given to Ye Chen…” Ye Xuan and Ye Kai trembled as they spoke, their eyes flickering uncertainly.

“We… drank with Ye Chen…” Ye Er swallowed hard, hands tightening involuntarily.

“What!” The three middle-aged men’s faces darkened instantly as if hearing the most incredible bad news. Their eyes blazed with fury as their figures blurred like wild storms rushing toward the three youths. Spiritual energy surged around them, whipping up howling winds that bent the surrounding trees and grass.

“You three prodigals! Those were my treasures!” one middle-aged man roared, his voice nearly shattering the sky. He conjured willow branches in his hands, whipping them fiercely toward Ye Xuan and the others with the sound of rushing wind.

That day, the Ye clan echoed with the sounds of whipping mixed with agonized cries—truly a heart-stirring scene!

Meanwhile, Ye Chen remained calm. At this moment, he sat meditating, but suddenly he felt himself transported to an unknown place—a realm of its own.

He wandered aimlessly and discovered a door inscribed with the character “One.” Without hesitation, he pushed it open and entered the space inside.

The interior was dim and profound, the space seemingly frozen in time. An ancient, worn aura pressed upon him. A white skeleton lay quietly on the ground, telling tales of the passage of time and endless loneliness. Nearby, a long sword named “Red” emitted a faint cold light, its blade shimmering with a subtle reddish hue like flickering flames. The character “Red” inscribed on the hilt seemed to contain boundless power.

Beside it, a yellowed scroll slowly unfurled, covered in ancient runes and obscure writings. Faint chanting echoed in his ears, suggesting a mysterious power that inspired reverence and a desire to explore its secrets.

The moment Ye Chen touched it, the scroll transformed into a beam of light that entered his mind—

Though I am a demonic cultivator, I once accidentally gained a fragment of divine power and participated in a great war. Unexpectedly, I was trapped within this Primordial Seal for ten thousand, two hundred and thirty-one years, unable to escape. Knowing my end draws near, I leave this legacy, hoping a fated one will inherit it...

Just as Ye Chen was about to open the scroll, a female voice came from nowhere:

“Do not. This item is sealed. If you open it now, you will be instantly reduced to dust.”

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Startled, Ye Chen’s face changed. Fortunately, he had not yet opened it. Curious, he asked, “Who’s speaking, Senior?”

“A passerby of this seal. Do you wish to learn swordsmanship?” the woman answered.

“Uh, emmm, is swordsmanship powerful?” Ye Chen asked with curiosity.

“Of course it is.”

“How powerful?”

The woman grew impatient, “Powerful enough to destroy your entire world with a single sword. Do you want to learn or not?”

Ye Chen’s eyes gleamed. “Yes, of course I want to learn.”

Hearing this, the woman no longer hesitated and imparted a sword technique: “The sword art is called ‘One Sword Like Silk.’ Once you comprehend the sword intent and sever a strand of hair with a single stroke, you may practice this technique.”

With a gentle wave of her hand, a beam of light leapt from her fingertip into Ye Chen’s brow. Instantly, countless sword shadows flooded his mind, each delicate as silk, light yet incredibly sharp. He felt surrounded by ten thousand swords, each strand of sword intent entwining with his will, guiding him to grasp the essence of “One Sword Like Silk.”

The scene shifted. Ye Chen found himself in a bamboo forest, where a gentle breeze stirred the leaves. He slowly raised his hand, concentrating a faint sword light at his fingertip, as fine as a wisp but shimmering coldly in the sunlight. With a light flick, a bamboo branch snapped smoothly in the distance, the cut surface as mirror-like as glass, while the bamboo leaves continued to sway gently, untouched.

Suddenly, Ye Chen sensed a mysterious power approaching him—so terrifying it made his heart tremble.

“Sit down quickly and feel it,” the voice urged.

Ye Chen promptly sat cross-legged and began to comprehend the sword intent.

“You are truly a saintly body of the Great Dao, yet surprisingly weak. Well... at least I found you.”

With those words, the voice vanished, leaving the place...

A day and a night passed.

Ye Chen opened his eyes. In that instant, sword qi seemed to swirl around him, and a razor-sharp aura burst forth from his body, piercing the clouds. He stood, lightly waving his hands. Two slender sword lights danced on his fingertips, the sword intent fierce. The surrounding air split with faint explosive sounds. His eyes glittered with brilliant sword light, as though penetrating all illusions in the world. At this moment, Ye Chen was exhilarated.

He looked up to the sky. “Thank you for your guidance, Senior.”

After waiting a while with no response, Ye Chen smiled awkwardly, “Leaving without a word, huh?”

“Wait, how do I get out now?”

And so, Ye Chen wandered around the tower for several more hours...