Zhao Laosi knew Gao Qiang's strength inside out, and in terms of raw power, he had always outmatched Gao Qiang.
Yet now, Gao Qiang actually dared to go toe-to-toe with him—it was nothing short of seeking death!
But the smile on Zhao Laosi's face froze abruptly a moment later.
Because he discovered that his hand had been caught by Gao Qiang, completely unable to move!
"This... How is this possible?!"
Shock rippled through Zhao Laosi's heart.
He stared at Gao Qiang with absolute disbelief.
Gao Qiang flashed a cruel smile.
"Noticed it, have you? Right now, in front of me, you're nothing more than small fry."
With those words, Gao Qiang exerted force in his hand.
With a sharp crack, Zhao Laosi's hand bones were crushed.
"Hisss...!"
The immense pain caused Zhao Laosi to draw a sharp breath, veins bulging on his forehead as he cried out,
"Fishmonger Qiang, how did your strength become so terrifyingly powerful?!"
"Of course this is all thanks to Young Master Ye!
Come to think of it, I really have to thank you for having such power!
You sold Heaven-Tier Villa No. 1 to me, and I presented it to Young Master Ye.
Young Master Ye saw at a glance that there was something wrong with the villa, and then he enhanced my strength, sending me here to teach you a lesson."
Hearing this, Zhao Laosi felt a mix of shock and bitterness in his heart.
He was shocked that Ye Qingyun could elevate Fishmonger Qiang's strength by such a massive margin in such a short time!
Zhao Laosi estimated that Fishmonger Qiang's strength had at least doubled.
The two of them used to be evenly matched, but now he was being completely suppressed and beaten by Fishmonger Qiang!
It was a total rout, leaving him with no ability to fight back whatsoever!
Rebellion simmered in Zhao Laosi's heart.
Their strengths used to be equal; why should Fishmonger Qiang ascend to the heavens in a single bound and become the new king of the underground world?
"Zhao Laosi, this time you've truly been too clever for your own good!
Considering that we've known each other for many years, I won't torture you—I'll give you a quick end!"
As soon as Gao Qiang finished speaking, the blood and vital energy surged through his body, and he prepared to end Zhao Laosi's life with a single punch.
Sensing Gao Qiang's killing intent, Zhao Laosi felt a chill run straight through his heart.
At a moment of life and death, no one could remain calm!
Even an underground boss like him was no exception, and he hurriedly stammered,
"Brother Qiang, I admit defeat! Spare my life, and I'll acknowledge you as the new king of the underground world! From now on, I will follow your lead in all things!"
Seeing his former arch-nemesis groveling so humbly and begging for mercy, Gao Qiang felt a surge of secret satisfaction deep inside.
A look of contentment spread across his face—the feeling of having real power was simply fantastic.
With a cold look of disdain, he replied,
"Zhao Laosi, it's too late. Save it for your next life."
Without giving Zhao Laosi another chance to speak, Gao Qiang threw a punch that directly shattered Zhao Laosi's chest.
Zhao Laosi's head slumped downward, and he died on the spot.
Gao Qiang intended to display Zhao Laosi's corpse to the other underground bosses whose strength was on par with his own.
Gao Qiang knew very well that there were quite a few people who, like Zhao Laosi, refused to submit to him.
He could just use Zhao Laosi to kill the chicken and scare the monkeys, thereby consolidating his throne as the new king of the underground world!
...
The next day.
Waking up as early as he usually did in the mountains, Ye Qingyun got dressed.
With a single bound of his body, he leaped down and arrived at the villa's balcony.
From the balcony, looking out into the distance, layer upon layer of lush green mountains came into view.
"Although the concentration of Spiritual Energy here can't compare to the mountains, it's still much denser than in the city."
Ye Qingyun sat cross-legged right where he was, quieted his mind, and focused his energy with his five centers facing the sky.
As the saying goes, a day's plan starts with the morning.
The moment when the purple Qi comes from the east is the most abundant time of day for Spiritual Energy, making it the absolute best moment for cultivation.
Soon, with each inhalation and exhalation by Ye Qingyun, the surrounding Spiritual Energy was drawn by some invisible force and poured into his body.
The cultivation technique Ye Qingyun practiced was called the Great Profound Scripture, a supremely superior technique passed down to him by his master.
It was divided into a total of seven stages.
Right now, Ye Qingyun was at the very first stage: Body Tempering.
He used True Qi to temper the tendons and bones of his whole body, forging his physical hardness to a degree capable of withstanding divine weapons and sharp blades.
Reaching completion in the first stage of the Great Profound Scripture would allow Ye Qingyun's physical strength to rival divine weapons!
As Spiritual Energy continuously poured in, a hazy mist of white vapor began to emanate from the surface of Ye Qingyun's skin.
His entire person seemed to merge as one with heaven and earth.
After practicing his cultivation technique, Ye Qingyun proceeded to practice his pupil technique, the Eye of Insight.
His Eye of Insight was currently also in the first stage, capable of X-ray vision through the consumption of True Qi.
The Eye of Insight was divided into four stages; reaching the highest stage allowed one to see through all things and generate divine power to destroy evil and impurities!
It was an immensely powerful pupil technique.
Having finished practicing his technique and pupil technique, Ye Qingyun opened his eyes, a flash of golden light darting through them.
By this time, half the sun had already risen over the mountain peak, scattering its orange-yellow radiance across the earth in a breathtakingly beautiful sight.
Placed in the city, such scenery would undoubtedly be a tourist hotspot that people would scramble to check in at.
Across the entire Yunyuan Villa Complex, only here in Heaven-Tier Villa No. 1 could such magnificent scenery be appreciated.
Yet Ye Qingyun had long since grown immune to such views.
Every single day in the mountains, he could witness scenery just as breathtaking, if not more so.
Afterward, Ye Qingyun left the villa, grabbed some breakfast, and according to the address written on the marriage contract, arrived in front of a residential building.
Indeed, he had come to find that fiancée he had never met before.
Ye Qingyun pressed the doorbell, and before long, the door was opened as a pretty young woman poked her head out.
Upon seeing Ye Qingyun, the woman gasped in shock,
"It's you?!"
Taking a clear look at the woman before him, Ye Qingyun paused for a moment, thinking to himself,
"What a small world!"
The young woman standing before him was none other than the one Ye Qingyun had encountered outside the bus station yesterday.
Recovering quickly, Ye Qingyun spoke up,
"Miss, is this Lin Qiuyue's home?"
Hearing this, Lin Yingxia replied to Ye Qingyun with an extremely cold attitude,
"That's right, Lin Qiuyue is my older sister. What business do you have with her?"
Producing the slip of paper bearing the marriage contract, Ye Qingyun said,
"Your sister is my fiancée, and I'm here to fulfill the marriage contract."
"Fiancée? What kind of joke are you playing?! With your character, I'm the first one who won't allow it!"
Lin Yingxia said coldly.
She didn't have an ounce of favorable feeling toward the Ye Qingyun standing before her.
The fact that Ye Qingyun hadn't helped her yesterday and lacked any warm-heartedness had left Lin Yingxia holding a grudge.
Ye Qingyun paid no mind to the deliberate trouble-making of this nominal sister-in-law of his.
The person he was marrying was Lin Qiuyue, not her.
Besides, even if things didn't work out between him and Lin Qiuyue, it would simply mean they lacked a connection of fate.
Based on the condition set by his master, Ye Qingyun would still protect Lin Qiuyue for a year.
His master had saved his life, and he would do his utmost to fulfill his master's injunctions.
Just as Ye Qingyun and Lin Yingxia reached an impasse, a vigorous male voice echoed from inside the house.
"Yingxia, who's standing at the door? What are you chatting about out there?"
"Dad, some bumpkin claims to be Sister's fiancée, and I'm about to chase him off!"
With that, Lin Yingxia moved to slam the door shut.
Suddenly, a figure strode up to the doorway, shoving Lin Yingxia aside directly as his gaze locked onto Ye Qingyun, and he eagerly blurted out,
"My good son-in-law, you've finally arrived!"