The Patriarch's mind was a tempest. The animosity between him and the Grand Elder was ancient, a festering wound that refused to heal. What began as a battle for the Patriarch's Challenge had now devolved into a vicious Young Master Challenge. His son, Ye Chen, was an innocent caught in the crossfire.
Lost in thought, the Patriarch made his way to Ye Chen's chambers. He was mildly surprised to find the magical Restriction still firmly in place. He tried to send a message, but there was no reply. Still, his Transmission Ring held several voice messages from Ye Chen.
"Father," Ye Chen's voice echoed from the ring, "I won't be leaving my room until the family gathering. Trust me, I'm preparing a truly massive surprise for you then!"
The Patriarch frowned, shaking his head faintly. He’d heard this song and dance before, countless times. Every year, before the family gathering, Ye Chen would lock himself away, hoping to pull a rabbit out of a hat. But that ominous power… even the Quasi-Emperor Old Ancestor couldn't resolve it. How could his son, alone, possibly? Still, a flicker of warmth sparked in his heart.
"Chen'er," he murmured, "you're a good boy, my pride. Seven years… seven years you've faced scorn and never once given up. Who else could show such willpower?" A pang of sorrow mixed with the warmth. "Your mother would be so proud… but…"
With a sigh, the Patriarch turned from Ye Chen's residence.
...
Meanwhile, the Grand Elder arrived at his son Ye Liangchen's courtyard. From within the chambers, a chorus of delighted feminine moans echoed. "Ah… faster, Brother Liangchen…"
"Ahem, ahem, ahem!" The Grand Elder's face twitched, and he gave a deliberately loud cough, clenching his fists. He knew his son, Ye Liangchen, was a man who lived life in the fast lane, always chasing fleeting pleasures. The Grand Elder didn’t see this as a flaw; after all, as the foremost genius of the Ye Family, countless beauties practically threw themselves at him. His son was a master of casual encounters, never letting sentiment cloud his judgment. In fact, the Grand Elder considered it a healthy balance, a way to relax and even aid his cultivation.
Normally, he'd discreetly withdraw, letting his son enjoy his… leisure. But not today! He was practically vibrating with urgency. Ye Liangchen had to begin cultivating the Fuyao Dynasty's Supreme Secret Art, and he had to start now! Time was a luxury they couldn't afford. This Supreme Secret Art needed to be impressed upon Ye Liangchen immediately. If he could achieve even a flicker of comprehension, or better yet, trigger a Heaven and Earth Phenomenon, they'd have a powerful talking point when Empress Fuyao arrived.
The incessant moans, however, showed no signs of abating. The Grand Elder’s face darkened, and he began to pound on the door. "BANG! BANG! BANG!"
A groan of annoyance immediately answered from within. "Father, is there some emergency?" Ye Liangchen, bare-chested and barefoot, grudgingly wrapped himself in a silk robe before pulling open the door with a creak.
The Grand Elder’s face was alight with barely contained excitement. "Liangchen, let me in! I have incredible news! This could be the chance of a lifetime for you!"
Inside, two exquisite beauties, their skin flushed, huddled together on the bed, pulling the sheets up to their chins. Their disheveled state and alluring figures were a sight to behold, but the sight of the Grand Elder sent shivers of fear through them.
The Grand Elder gave the women a brief, dismissive glance, a slight frown creasing his brow. "You two, out," he commanded curtly. Immediately, the two beauties scrambled, fumbling for their clothes to cover their exposed forms, before scuttling out of the room like startled rabbits.
The Grand Elder shut the door and, with a swift flick of his wrist, erected a Saint-tier Forbidden Formation Plate around the room. Brilliant spirit patterns flared, shimmering into existence to seal the space. Ye Liangchen watched, a flicker of genuine surprise in his eyes. His father's frantic intrusion clearly signaled a matter of immense importance.
Without preamble, the Grand Elder revealed the earth-shattering news: Empress Fuyao was returning! Ye Liangchen froze. "What?! The Ye Family… we were once a vassal of the Fuyao Dynasty?" His mind reeled. "And now the Empress is back, expecting to reclaim us?" A storm raged in his heart. An Empress! A true Great Emperor!
The Grand Elder’s expression grew serious. "The Empress's return is a golden opportunity for you to shine, Liangchen. You're the top genius of the Ye Family's younger generation! Who knows? You might even earn her guidance, or perhaps… she might take you as a disciple." Ye Liangchen's eyes lit up, two fires blazing within them. To become the Empress's disciple? His future would be boundless! "Father," he declared, "I understand the gravity of this. This is far more important than the Young Master Challenge!" The Grand Elder nodded. "Indeed it is!"
With that, the Grand Elder tapped Ye Liangchen’s forehead. "I bestow upon you a Supreme Secret Art of the Fuyao Dynasty! You have but three days. Any insight you gain is a bonus, but if you can trigger a Heaven and Earth Phenomenon, you're guaranteed to impress the Empress!" Whoosh! A torrent of divine light flooded Ye Liangchen's mind. It was the ancestral knowledge, passed down through generations. A colossal wave of information detonated in his spiritual sea, and he gasped, realizing the sheer, terrifying power of this Supreme Secret Art.
"My son," the Grand Elder continued, "we both walk the Path of Spirit Fire. I myself once triggered a Heaven and Earth Phenomenon in the ancestral lands; I can share my insights as a reference for you." He paused, his gaze intense. "I have no doubt you can achieve the same!" Ye Liangchen, practically buzzing with excitement, nodded vigorously.
"Furthermore," the Grand Elder pressed on, his voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper, "during the Young Master Challenge, just eliminate Ye Chen. That boy is far too cunning. Seven years of relentless mockery and humiliation, and he still hasn't given up? Such a tenacious spirit must be snuffed out before it truly blossoms!" Ye Liangchen scoffed. "A mere waste, nothing more."
The Grand Elder, however, shook his head gravely. "No, no, no! The game has changed entirely! Remember, Empress Fuyao is coming. What if… what if she possesses a method to resolve that ominous power within Ye Chen?" Ye Liangchen’s face paled. "Father, you're right!" he hissed. "Cut the weeds but leave the roots, and they'll sprout anew with the spring breeze! Ye Chen… I'll make sure he’s utterly destroyed."
The Grand Elder nodded, a smirk playing on his lips, immensely pleased with his son's ruthlessness. "And one more thing. If you eliminate Ye Chen, his father, Longfeng, will undoubtedly come for revenge! That's when I'll seize the opportunity to strike him down, and the Patriarch's seat will fall to me as a matter of course!" The words hung in the air, and Ye Liangchen's eyes widened in astonishment. "Father, that's brilliant! A truly interconnected scheme! I clearly need to study your profound wisdom more closely!" The Grand Elder chuckled, basking in the flattery. "My son, you'll surpass me one day."
A brief silence settled, then Ye Liangchen spoke, an unexpected question on his lips. "Father, I just had a thought." "What is it?" "You said Empress Fuyao has returned. She's not a Great Emperor anymore, is she?" The Grand Elder pondered. "The Old Ancestor stated she's below the Profound Saint Realm! But remember, protocol must be maintained! The Empress's authority is absolute!"
A sly grin spread across Ye Liangchen’s face. "Father, it seems Empress Fuyao must have been gravely wounded in that ancient war. Perhaps she still carries those injuries? Perhaps her mind hasn't fully recovered?" The Grand Elder blinked, confused. "What are you getting at?" Ye Liangchen lowered his voice, a dangerous gleam in his eyes. "Father… what if I could make Empress Fuyao fall for me? Make her… submit to me?" The Grand Elder froze, utterly dumbfounded. What?! Was Ye Liangchen actually fantasizing about conquering the Empress?! Holy hell! How had he not thought of such a depraved, audacious scheme himself? But… what if it actually worked? She was the Empress, yes, but currently, she wasn't a Great Emperor!
Ye Liangchen suddenly puffed out his chest, brimming with perverse confidence. "Father, I’ve probably 'conquered' no less than a thousand women in my time. I know exactly how to manipulate them, whether they're haughty noblewomen or common maidens; they all fall into my hands with ease." His eyes gleamed. "Do you truly believe I can conquer Empress Fuyao?" Just imagining it sent a thrill through Ye Liangchen, his body responding to the depraved fantasy. The Empress! To subdue her, to… to bring her to her knees… The mere thought was enough to send shivers down his spine. A blazing inferno of ambition ignited in his heart. "Father, I will master this Supreme Secret Art! I will absolutely astound Empress Fuyao with my talent!"
The Grand Elder nodded, then added a cautionary note. "Liangchen, be careful not to be too aggressive! If you truly intend to 'conquer' the Empress, you must play a long game, slowly and subtly. You absolutely cannot let her discover your intentions, or the consequences will be unimaginable." Ye Liangchen merely smiled, a predatory glint in his eyes. "Father, I know. The Empress is still a woman, and women have emotions and desires. My experience with hundreds of women over the years… that’s my guide to conquering an Empress."
"Enough talk," the Grand Elder urged. "Now, begin comprehending the Supreme Secret Art. This is your first step towards Empress Fuyao." Hearing this, Ye Liangchen settled into a cross-legged position and began to circulate his cultivation technique. BOOM! A terrifying, peerless spirit fire erupted from his body, coalescing into a swirling storm that spiraled upwards. Brilliant spiritual patterns flickered across his skin as his aura grew increasingly profound, a direct result of absorbing the Grand Elder's insights.
Witnessing his son’s progress, the Grand Elder quietly retreated from the room, careful not to disturb him. "My son," he murmured to himself, "I pray you can manifest a Heaven and Earth Phenomenon! We both cultivate the Path of Spirit Fire, and your talent is every bit as great as mine. You can do this, my boy!"
...
In Ye Chen's room, Lu Xuan watched from a comfortable distance. Since Elder Yao was so eager to help Ye Chen absorb the Bone-Chilling Ghost Flame, Lu Xuan figured he’d let him take the lead. It was clear Yao Yan possessed profound mastery over spirit fire, as he meticulously prepared the terrifying flame.
Ye Chen, meanwhile, wasn't idle. Elder Yao had transmitted a series of spirit fire insights, instructing him to comprehend them in preparation for absorbing the Bone-Chilling Ghost Flame. As Ye Chen delved into the Path of Spirit Fire, the System's familiar voice chimed in Lu Xuan's ear.
[Host's second disciple, Ye Chen, has gained insights into the Path of Spirit Fire. Synchronizing!]
Lu Xuan offered a faint smile. With Elder Yao acting as Ye Chen's personal 'grandpa guide,' the boy's mastery of spirit fire was bound to skyrocket. Perfect.
Just then, Elder Yao inquired, "Ye Chen, how are those insights treating you?" Ye Chen's face held a hint of frustration, the spirit fire flickering erratically in his palm. "Elder Yao," he admitted, "it feels a bit obscure in places, some concepts aren't quite clicking." Elder Yao chuckled reassuringly. "Don't fret, my boy. Just commit these spirit fire principles to memory for now. Once you begin absorbing the Bone-Chilling Ghost Flame, the true understanding will come naturally." Ye Chen nodded, still looking a little lost but trusting.