At eighteen, with a fresh and innocent youthfulness, her looks were nevertheless stunning enough to overthrow states and cities.
Qin Ze's eyes narrowed slightly as a surge of hatred welled up in his heart.
Behind this pure and lovely face of Ye Pianyu lay a cold, calculating heart.
As childhood sweethearts, the Qin Ze of his past life had poured almost everything he had into her.
Yet in the end, it was met with her backstabbing.
In this life, he would never be that foolish again.
"Elder relatives," Ye Pianyu said, stepping inside and offering a slight bow.
"I have come today to reclaim the Tianhun Disk, a treasure belonging to the Ye Family, from Qin Ze."
"Qin Ze, the Ye Family gave you three years to comprehend the Tianhun Disk. Since you have gained nothing from it, please return it." Ye Pianyu held out her palm toward Qin Ze.
A painfully familiar scene was playing out once more.
It was at this exact juncture in his past life that Ye Pianyu had come demanding the Tianhun Disk.
At this very moment, Qin Ze was on the verge of unlocking the secrets of the Tianhun Disk.
Back then, Qin Ze had cast aside his dignity and begged bitterly, thereby buying himself some extra time.
A few days later, he finally comprehended the power of the Tianhun Disk, and his cultivation began to advance by leaps and bounds.
Following that, the Ye Family looked upon him with new eyes, and Ye Pianyu began actively drawing close to him.
Yet what he never expected was that this very moment marked the inception of Ye Pianyu's hatred toward him.
She came to believe that Qin Ze had used despicable methods to rob her of the fortune that rightfully belonged to her.
She convinced herself that Qin Ze's later rise to become a powerhouse of the starry river and an peerless prodigy was entirely due to this Tianhun Disk.
In truth, it was nothing of the sort.
The Tianhun Disk did indeed provide a massive influx of heaven and earth spiritual energy, but at the same time, it devoured the flesh and blood of the cultivator.
The spiritual energy had been split evenly between him and Ye Pianyu.
Yet the flesh being consumed was his alone.
Had he not later inadvertently mastered the Supreme Undying Mantra, Qin Ze might not even have lived past the age of twenty.
In my past life, fearing your guilt, I never told you the truth, yet you blamed me for stealing your fortune.
Then in this life, I shall return this fortune to you completely.
Qin Ze drew the Tianhun Disk from his bosom and tossed it across the room.
With deep and tranquil eyes, he said flatly, "Not only is the Tianhun Disk returned to you today, but the engagement between us is also hereby annulled."
"From this day forward, I, Qin Ze, have no further ties with the Ye Family."
The sudden turn of events left Ye Pianyu rooted to the spot.
She had merely intended to take back the Tianhun Disk; she never imagined Qin Ze would straightaway call off the marriage.
Furious, Ye Pianyu snapped, "Qin Ze, have you lost your mind? Do you even know what you're doing?"
Qin Ze said coldly, "The engagement is canceled, and the Tianhun Disk is returned. Farewell, I won't see you out!"
With a gloomy expression, Ye Pianyu felt a turbulent storm raging in her chest.
Possessed of peerless beauty, she was a proud daughter of heaven.
In her mind, Qin Ze ought to have clung to her like a faithful dog, never leaving her side.
Yet today, he had actually taken the initiative to break off the engagement.
And furthermore, he had torn up the betrothal agreement in front of everyone.
"Qin Ze, what is the meaning of this?" Ye Pianyu asked coldly.
Qin Ze replied indifferently, "Just what it sounds like. Can't you understand? From now on, you take your bridge and I'll walk my road. The two of us have nothing more to do with each other."
Ye Pianyu stood frozen, her expression stubborn, yet her heart plagued by a sense of sudden loss.
Over the years, Qin Ze had catered to her every whim, handing over every spiritual herb and pill he acquired, acting for all the world like a devoted sycophant.
Who could have guessed that this Qin Ze would suddenly put on a completely different face today?
Not only was this sycophant refusing to fawn over her anymore, but he was also cutting ties with her—and doing so with such absolute finality.
"Qin Ze, I'll be honest with you: the reason I wanted back the Tianhun Disk is because the sect selection trials are just a few months away."
"I have already resolved to take first place in the trials and enter the Xuanyang Sect in a blaze of glory."
"By choosing to break off the engagement now, you will surely regret it once I join the Xuanyang Sect."
Looking at Qin Ze, Ye Pianyu spoke with an air of proud arrogance.
Qin Ze's expression remained cold and detached. "Rest assured, no matter how formidable you become, I will never regret it. Moreover, with me around, there is no way you will take first place in the trials."
First place in the trials?
In his past life, it had indeed been hers, but in this life, how could he possibly yield it to her—especially considering those abundant resources?
Looking utterly mortified, Ye Pianyu spat out a cold parting shot: "Since that's how it is, we'll see who has the last laugh."
With that, she turned and strode away.
...
Back on the Qin Family side, the murmurs continued unabated as everyone pointed and whispered at Qin Hao.
Qin Hao laughed heartily. "Qin Ze, you piece of trash, you're killing me. You originally had the Ye Family's protection, but you went and threw it away with your own two hands."
Hearing this, the crowd erupted into mocking laughter.
With the Ye Family betrothal keeping him afloat, Qin Ze had still possessed a chance to rise.
But now, he had zero chance left.
Qin Hao continued, "Loser, ten days from now I will officially become the head of the Qin Family, and by then you'll need to hand over the family seal. You'd better be a good boy and show up obediently, or else I'll take your dog's life."
The handover of the Qin Family headship: as the son of the previous family head, personally delivering the seal to the next patriarch was considered entirely proper and justified.
The onlookers stared at Qin Ze, expecting him to refuse.
Yet Qin Ze wore a look of utter ease and calm.
With a sweep of his gaze, he etched the smiles of everyone present into his memory.
Qin Hao, Qin Wuyang, and their pack of lackeys.
He had almost forgotten about all this messy business in the Qin Family.
However, since he was living a new life and had run into it now, he would just settle things properly.
"Ten days from now, is it? Perfect, ten days is more than enough. I'll be there, so make the most of enjoying your lives these next few days." Qin Ze curved the corner of his mouth into an alluring, wicked smile.
The Qin Family was the clan his father had left behind.
Following the deaths of Qin Ze's parents, the Qin Family had been usurped by the Great Elder, Qin Wuyang, who even installed his son Qin Hao as the young lord.
In his past life, when Qin Ze fled the Qin Family, Qin Wuyang had even sent men to hunt him down.
Though he managed to escape safely, the Qin Family remained in usurped hands.
In this life, he would not run away again.
Ten days from now, he would exact his revenge with his own hands.
...
Returning to his room, Qin Ze found a spot and quickly sat down cross-legged.
He took a deep breath, guiding his breath down to his dantian, only to find it utterly empty.
This body possessed no cultivation whatsoever at present.
The cultivation methods and martial arts techniques he had learned in his past life brought no response either.
It seemed everything would have to start over from scratch.
However, as long as the memories of his past life remained, everything else was a minor issue.
In his past life, he was a legend of the starry domain.
Starting from Yuelong City in the First Layer of Heaven, he advanced step by step until he became one of the most powerful beings in the starry domain.
He had cultivated the ancient secret technique known as the Supreme Undying Mantra, possessing the Nine-Death Golden Body, and was revered as the Undying God of War.
Thinking of the Supreme Undying Mantra, Qin Ze sat cross-legged on the bed and silently recited the formulas.
After a few breaths, the meridians throughout his body began to tremble violently, as if battle drums were pounding within him and ten thousand horses were galloping across a plain.
An hour later, a golden imprint emerged right between Qin Ze's brows.
He snapped his eyes open as a surge of qi erupted from within him, causing the entire room to tremble.
The First Layer of the Supreme Undying Mantra—so fast!
Even he was somewhat surprised.
Yet his familiarity with this cultivation method was so profound that such rapid early progress was entirely normal.
Qin Ze stood up, an aura beginning to swirl around his body.
Though he still lacked cultivation at this moment, the physical strength of his body was already capable of rivaling martial artists at the fourth or fifth layer of the Earth Spirit Realm.
After all, this was a divine ability, far beyond the reach of ordinary cultivation techniques.
The might of the Supreme Undying Mantra was all-encompassing.
Not only could it enhance a martial artist's offensive and defensive capabilities, but it could also rapidly elevate their innate talent.
Cultivated to a certain degree, it could even grant an indestructible golden body.
Reaching the hundredth layer allowed one to be killed nine times without dying.
This was why Qin Ze had the confidence and certainty to deal with Qin Wuyang and his son ten days from now.
Right at that moment, a bronze-colored flash of light darted past.
In the air before him, a phantom miniature pagoda unexpectedly materialized.
The pagoda was entirely bronze in color, slightly larger than a fist, its outer surface covered densely in bizarre runes, while trails of five-colored spiritual mist swirled around its peak.
"Could this be... the Soul-Devouring Tower?"
Qin Ze was somewhat shocked. Hadn't this thing been blown to smithereens along with him during his self-detonation?
The Soul-Devouring Tower was a supreme treasure of primeval antiquity.
Back in his past life, Qin Ze had discovered it the moment he stepped into the Soul-Devouring Abyss.
He had studied it for a full century without ever managing to activate it.
During his self-detonation, the Soul-Devouring Tower had been shattered right along with him.
He never imagined that after its destruction, this object would actually have fused with him.
Qin Ze reached out and touched the body of the tower.
The next instant, a force pulled at his consciousness, drawing him directly into the interior of the tower.
His consciousness experienced a violent jolt.
Surrounding him was heaven and earth spiritual energy so dense it was practically suffocating.
Above him loomed layer upon layer of mist—there was no telling how many floors there were, as if they led straight to the vault of heaven.
Qin Ze's consciousness remained on the first floor; he tried desperately to push upward, but he was utterly unable to break through the fog shrouding the ceiling.
Suddenly, a stream of information drilled directly into his consciousness.
Just as Qin Ze tried to resist, a strange feeling washed over him.
"The First Stage of the Soul-Devouring Heavenly Art: Devour!"
A mere single sentence of information left Qin Ze rooted to the spot.
The Soul-Devouring Heavenly Art?
Devour?
The Soul-Devouring Heavenly Art—the number-one supreme technique of primeval antiquity.
Legend had it that the Soul-Devouring Heavenly Art incorporated numerous powerful divine abilities from primeval times, but it had been lost as early as the Great War of Gods and Demons in ancient antiquity.
He never expected that upon his reincarnation in this life, after activating the Soul-Devouring Tower, he would acquire it right here within the tower.
Furthermore, merely by entering the first floor of the Soul-Devouring Tower, he had already learned the Devouring Divine Ability.
"Such a powerful technique. Compared to it, the Supreme Undying Mantra isn't even in the same league."
In his past life, Qin Ze had relied solely on a single divine ability, the Supreme Undying Mantra, to become a Ten-Star Great Emperor and one of the strongest beings in the starry river.
If he possessed the Soul-Devouring Heavenly Art in this life, who knew if he might break through his shackles?
He knew that beyond the starry domain, even more formidable worlds existed.
If he could master this Soul-Devouring Heavenly Art, perhaps he truly could break through the starry domain and venture forth to take a look at those stronger worlds.
Qin Ze relaxed his consciousness and accepted the First Stage of the Soul-Devouring Heavenly Art: the Devouring Divine Ability.
The Devouring Divine Ability could devour any object containing heaven and earth spiritual energy and use it for cultivation.
"All things in heaven and earth, nothing cannot be transformed."
Those eight characters were grand, majestic, and soul-stirring.
Once he had fully assimilated the Devouring Divine Ability, Qin Ze's consciousness withdrew from the Soul-Devouring Tower.
He stepped out into the courtyard and unleashed the Devouring technique upon a clump of earth spirit grass.
The heaven and earth spiritual energy flowed straight through his palms and into his body.
The spiritual energy nourished his meridians in a way that felt indescribably comfortable.
The Devouring Divine Ability was truly formidable; the spiritual energy entered his body directly, bypassing the refining process entirely.
He only needed his body to slowly absorb it, and his cultivation realm would naturally rise.
As expected of a divine ability; even divine-tier cultivation methods could not compare to its functionality in the slightest.
Qin Ze's consciousness returned to the Soul-Devouring Tower, wishing to see what divine abilities could be acquired higher up, but unfortunately, the mist of the second floor remained impenetrable.
When he tried to force his way through regardless, a surge of information echoed in his mind.
"Only upon cultivating to the Zunwu Realm and surviving the heavenly tribulation may one enter the second floor of the Soul-Devouring Tower."
Qin Ze felt a stir of excitement; although he couldn't enter the second floor right now, at least he had a target. After all, the Zunwu Realm wasn't unimaginably difficult to reach.
For a martial artist in the First Layer of Heaven, the first three realms were respectively the Earth Spirit Realm, the Heaven Spirit Realm, and the Profound Spirit Realm, with each realm divided into nine stages.
And breaking through the Ninth Layer of Profound Spirit Realm led straight to the Zunwu Realm.
Early-stage cultivation advanced at a blistering pace for him. It wouldn't be long before he broke through to the Zunwu Realm.
By then, he would be able to enter the second floor of the Soul-Devouring Tower and acquire another divine ability.
With the day drawing to a close, Qin Ze planned to go acquire some cultivation resources tomorrow.
He sat cross-legged on the bed once more and resumed his cultivation of the Supreme Undying Mantra.
...
Early the next morning, the Supreme Undying Mantra had already reached the third layer.
His physical strength was now approaching that of a martial artist in the Heaven Spirit Realm.
However, since his body lacked actual cultivation, the mantra could no longer be advanced further.
Only by raising his bodily cultivation realm could he continue practicing the Supreme Undying Mantra.
Yet cultivation required resources, and right now Qin Ze was penniless and lacking in medicinal pills, making his path forward somewhat awkward.
He certainly wasn't lacking in the ability to make money.
Alchemy, array formations, talismans—pulling out any single one of those skills would astonish the entire Bahuang Domain.
Yet those endeavors also required initial capital; after all, even a clever housewife could not cook a meal without rice.
Fortunately, Qin Ze possessed the memories of his past life and knew the approximate locations of certain spiritual herbs in the forest outside the city.
However, lacking cultivation for the time being, venturing rashly into the forest still carried some risk.
After all, around this time period, a very powerful ferocious beast lurked in those woods—one that had nearly taken his life back then.
A ferocious beast?
An idea suddenly sparked in Qin Ze's mind, a light flashing in his eyes as a plan formed.