"Wu Mei'er?" Xiao Ye frowned. The name was familiar. Wu Mei'er, granddaughter of the village chief of Qingyang Town's Wu Clan, was famed as the "First Beauty of Qingyang." Back when Xiao Ye was still the pride of Xiao Family Village, she'd courted him openly. Now, she clung to Xiao Teng—a man Xiao Ye despised with every fiber of his being.
"A woman who bows to power…" Xiao Ye shook his head, turning to leave—until the crowd parted.
Xiao Teng strode forward, arm wrapped around a girl of fourteen. Her face was enchanting, her figure curvaceous, her eyes gleaming with seductive charm. Unlike Liu Yiyi's ethereal purity, this girl radiated allure.
Side by side, Xiao Teng and Wu Mei'er looked like a celestial couple.
"Ah? Xiao Ye!" Xiao Teng halted abruptly.
All eyes turned to Xiao Ye. Murmurs rippled through the crowd.
"He's awake?"
"What's the point? He's no longer the top genius."
Most gaped in shock, but a few smirked. The clash of Qingyang's former prodigy and its new golden boy had arrived.
Unfazed, Xiao Ye stepped into the spotlight.
"Brother Teng, let's go." Wu Mei'er's lips curled in disdain. To her, Xiao Ye was a discarded relic—a failure who'd once rejected her.
"Hearing you're still single, Xiao Ye?" Xiao Teng sneered, gripping Wu Mei'er's hand. "How about I spare you some of my excess invitations?"
His message was clear: You're beneath me.
Xiao Ye chuckled. Does he think this will wound me? He'd never desired Wu Mei'er—or any woman who judged worth by status.
"Sorry, but I won't take scraps meant for you," Xiao Ye said. "Though you've made a habit of collecting rejects: broken pills, stolen blood, and now her."
Xiao Teng's face reddened with rage. Words failed him.
"How dare you!" Wu Mei'er screeched, clawing at Xiao Ye's honor like a cornered feline. "I'm the one who rejected you!"
Xiao Ye ignored her theatrics. Turning away, he left a final promise lingering in the air: "The tournament arena. I'll be there."
"Coward!" Xiao Teng roared. "If you show your face, I'll break it!"
But Xiao Ye was already gone.
In His Room
Xiao Ye sat cross-legged, internal energy surging through his veins.
"Houtian Realm First Tier… To advance further, I need a cultivation manual."
Basic techniques like the Fierce Tiger Fist only strengthened his body. True power required Houtian techniques—scrolls the village chief distributed to prodigies.
"After the tournament," he decided. Two days remained.
Dawn of the Tournament
Sunlight painted Qingyang Town in gold. Villagers poured into the central square, where a towering arena stood. This was no ordinary event—a youth's worth was measured here by strength and suitors.
"Xiao Ye!" Whispers erupted as he passed. A nobody attending without invitations?
Xiao Ye's parents trailed behind, worry etched into their faces.
"Are you sure?" Xiao Yang asked.
"Trust me," Xiao Ye replied, calm. "By sunset, no one will mock us."
The Village Chiefs' Rivalry
The square buzzed with tension. Leaders from three dominant clans—Xiao, Wu, and Shi—faced off.
"Still playing matchmaker for your granddaughter, Wu?" Xiao Tianxiong taunted.
"At least I don't need coffins to make friends!" Wu Shi snapped back.
Their feud drew eye-rolls, but Shi Zhan, the third elder, intervened. "Enough. Let's focus on the tournament."
Wu Shi's gaze lingered on Xiao Teng, then his granddaughter. "A fine match,"* he mused.
Xiao Teng puffed his chest, basking in approval.
"Remember when Wu Mei'er chased Xiao Ye?" Shi Zhan teased.
Wu Shi bristled. "Preposterous! My granddaughter deserves a real man—like Xiao Teng!"
The Crowd's Whisper
"Did you hear? Xiao Ye's here!"
"With zero invitations? What's he thinking?"
Xiao Ye's entrance silenced the crowd. Clad in simple robes, he walked with quiet resolve.
Xiao Teng's smirk faltered. "You've got guts," he muttered.
"This is my right," Xiao Ye said simply.