"Just wait and see! Your time is up!"
He Xiong sneered, his eyes filled with bloodthirsty killing intent.
Time passed.
In the blink of an eye, a day went by.
Ye Qing and Ye Mengling stayed in their room the entire time, and no lowlifes came to bother them again.
Today was the day of the life-and-death duel between Ye Qing and Ye Yan!
In the Ye Family estate, there was a stage called the Storm Platform.
This was the very place where members of the Ye Family fought to the death!
A duel on the Storm Platform meant a fight to the death!
No one was allowed to interfere during the duel!
This was the ironclad rule of the Ye Family.
Even the Patriarch of the Ye Family had no right to overrule it!
A battle on the Storm Platform could only end when one side died!
On this day, Ye Qing woke up very early.
It was time to settle the score with Ye Yan.
His sister had also woken up.
Ye Qing brought her along and headed straight for the Ye Family's Storm Platform!
Many members of the Ye Family had been eagerly anticipating this duel on the Storm Platform for a long time.
They had gotten up early and gathered around the Storm Platform to watch the battle!
Almost all the elders of the Ye Family had arrived.
However, neither the Sixth Elder nor the Fifth Elder was to be seen in the crowd.
The younger generation of the Ye Family found this quite strange.
Logically speaking, the higher-ups of the Ye Family should all be here to watch a duel on the Storm Platform.
Yet for the past two days, there had been no sign of the Fifth or Sixth Elder whatsoever.
Naturally, they had no way of knowing that the Fifth Elder and the Sixth Elder were already history.
They had perished in the Ziyang Mountain Range.
Their corpses had even been burned to ashes.
"Whoosh!"
Not far away, a figure flashed rapidly through the crowd.
It was none other than the Patriarch of the Ye Family.
He had come to personally oversee the proceedings!
The Patriarch of the Ye Family had been looking forward to this duel on the Storm Platform for a long time.
He wanted to seize this opportunity to completely eliminate Ye Qing!
The Patriarch had already witnessed Ye Qing's astonishing potential.
If Ye Qing were not gotten rid of, he would not be able to sleep or eat in peace!
Amidst the expectant gazes of the crowd, the young master of the Ye Family, Ye Yan, strode forward!
An immensely powerful aura emanated from Ye Yan's body.
Thick yuan force surged within him!
The birth of yuan force within the body was the hallmark of the Yuan Condensation Realm.
In the Body Refining Realm, one could only rely on physical strength, completely devoid of yuan force.
Trying to fight a martial artist of the Yuan Condensation Realm was simply too difficult.
The sheer suppression of yuan force alone was an almost insurmountable chasm.
As Ye Yan made his appearance, enthusiastic cheers erupted among the younger generation of the Ye Family.
In their eyes, Ye Yan's talent was more than exceptional!
He could truly be called the pinnacle of the younger generation.
Conversely, Ye Qing's bloodline had been plundered; without the blessing of a bloodline, he was destined to go nowhere on the martial dao path!
"Young Master, mighty!"
"Young Master, crush him!"
"Ye Qing is nothing more than trash. To dare challenge the Young Master without a bloodline is sheer courting of death!"
All sorts of taunting voices rang out.
In the minds of those Ye Family disciples, today's duel on the Storm Platform held virtually no suspense.
Whether it was in terms of cultivation or bloodline, Ye Yan held an absolute advantage.
There was simply no way he could lose!
Hearing the roaring cheers, Ye Yan's expression remained calm.
Unfazed by favor or disgrace.
He had long since grown accustomed to such scenes.
"Whoosh!"
Amidst the envious and reverent gazes of the crowd, Ye Yan leaped up and landed directly on the Storm Platform!
The Storm Platform was forged from dark iron and possessed extraordinary durability!
A faint scent of blood drifted across the surface of the platform.
"Ye Qing, today is your doomsday! Why don't you hurry up here and meet your death!"
Ye Yan sneered savagely.
His eyes were filled with bloodthirsty killing intent.
He had prepared for this for a long time.
After breaking through to the Yuan Condensation Realm, he had even spent two full days consolidating his cultivation.
Right now, Ye Yan could be said to be in his prime, having adjusted his condition to absolute peak state!
He was completely confident of victory!
"Whoosh!"
Ye Qing moved in a flash, leaping onto the Storm Platform.
He stood facing Ye Yan.
"In the Ye Family, I am the ultimate prodigy, while you are nothing more than trash!"
"Ye Qing! Do you have any last words before you die? Once the fighting starts, you won't get the chance!"
Ye Yan burst into arrogant laughter.
Suddenly, Ye Qing summoned his Green Peak Sword and charged straight at him.
He didn't waste a single word of nonsense.
This was a life-and-death battle on the Storm Platform!
To stand there chattering away was nothing short of being an utter idiot.
In a life-and-death duel, seizing the initiative was of paramount importance!
The Wind Sword Art cultivated by Ye Qing placed its primary emphasis on speed.
He needed to secure the first strike.
There was simply no time to dawdle and exchange pleasantries with Ye Yan.
Outside the Storm Platform.
In the spectator stands, the expression of the Ye Family Patriarch sank.
He mentally cursed Ye Yan for being far too overconfident.
This was a life-and-death battle!
And yet he was still wasting time with nonsense!
He was practically handing Ye Qing an opening on a silver platter!
Ye Yan wanted to say a few more words.
To his shock, Ye Qing didn't even bother to exchange pleasantries before charging straight at him.
Panic instantly washed over his face!
Ye Yan truly wasn't ready yet.
It was his habit to deliver a few grandiose lines before any fight.
He had assumed Ye Qing would spout some harsh threats and trade blows with him verbally.
But none of that happened.
Ye Qing was extremely volatile!
He attacked directly to seize the initiative!
Ye Yan's expression flickered slightly, but he quickly reined it in.
After all, he was a prodigy of the Ye Family and the finest talent of the younger generation.
At eighteen years of age, he had already broken through to the First Stage of Yuan Condensation, possessing truly outstanding talent!
Facing Ye Qing's sword strike, Ye Yan showed not a shred of fear.
He stepped forward and threw a punch!
Protecting his body with yuan force, he met Ye Qing's sharp sword head-on.
As a martial artist in the Yuan Condensation Realm, Ye Yan possessed absolute confidence.
Behind Ye Yan, a bloodline manifestation suddenly materialized.
The phantom of a gigantic Azure Flame Fire Sparrow hung suspended in the air.
The massive azure firebird radiated a scorching heat.
His bloodline power was formidable!
A five-star bloodline truly existed at the pinnacle within Jizhou.
As Ye Yan unleashed the might of his five-star bloodline, the momentum he exuded instantly escalated by a tier.
It was incomparable to before!
In the spectator stands, the Ye Family Patriarch let out a sigh of relief.
He muttered to himself that his son was still relatively cautious after all, displaying the power of his bloodline the very moment they crossed paths.
He hadn't let arrogance cloud his judgment!
Even though Ye Qing had seized the initiative, Ye Yan's chances of winning remained overwhelmingly high!
Within the crowd, a cold smile crept across He Yuman's face.
In He Yuman's view, for Ye Qing to dare ascend the Storm Platform to duel Ye Yan with a crippled bloodline was practically seeking his own demise.
"Slash!"
In an instant.
A flash of sword light cut through the air and vanished.
The next moment.
Ye Yan's right arm was cleanly severed on the spot.
Fresh blood spurted out, staining the ground crimson.
A pungent, bloody stench drifted over on the chilling wind.
Every single member of the Ye Family present was dumbfounded.
The shock in their hearts was simply beyond description.
The formidable Young Master of the Ye Family, Ye Yan—someone blessed with a five-star bloodline—had actually had one of his arms lopped off by Ye Qing in a single exchange!
"Impossible!"
Ye Yan let out a roar of anguish.
His expression was contorted with agonizing pain and deep, festering resentment.
He refused to believe that with his mighty strength, he could be defeated in a single move right in front of Ye Qing.
"I refuse to accept this!"
Howling in fury, Ye Yan's body shook violently as he unleashed a vast sheet of searing azure flames.
That was his bloodline talent!
The Azure Flame Fire!
The power granted by the five-star Azure Flame Fire Sparrow bloodline was astonishing!
Earlier, Ye Yan's punch had only carried a fraction of the Azure Flame Fire's power.
But right now, Ye Yan had directly unleashed torrents of blazing azure fire!
The massive Storm Platform was instantly transformed into a sea of fire.
Under the scorching heat of the azure flames, even the dark iron of the Storm Platform began to melt.
That alone demonstrated the terrifying might of the flames.
At this moment, Ye Yan could be said to be firing on all cylinders.
In the distance, within the spectator stands.
The face of the Ye Family Patriarch turned as dark as ink.
He had never imagined that Ye Qing would actually sever one of Ye Yan's arms.
For Ye Yan, this was undoubtedly a devastating loss.
From now on, Ye Yan's future prospects in martial arts would likely be severely compromised.
Legend had it that supreme martial dao experts could achieve the regrowth of severed limbs.
But those were merely legendary figures; who knew what kind of realm one had to reach to accomplish such a feat!
An armless Ye Yan would probably hold very little competitive edge even if placed in the capital of the Great Zhou Empire.
"My son, you must kill him!"
muttered the Ye Family Patriarch.
Standing beside the Patriarch, He Yuman wore a look of utter shock.
To this moment, He Yuman still could not believe that her husband had actually suffered a severed arm within a single move.
The combat prowess displayed by Ye Qing completely baffled He Yuman.
"Die! Burned to ashes by the Azure Flame Fire, you won't even leave an intact corpse behind!"
He Yuman sneered viciously.
Her eyes were filled with venomous malice.
Beneath the Storm Platform.
Ye Mengling had been watching the battle the entire time.
When she saw Ye Qing engulfed by the sea of fire, she let out a cry of alarm.
Her beautiful eyes were filled with worry!
The temperature of the Azure Flame Fire was simply too high.
Many Ye Family martial artists outside the Storm Platform had retreated a considerable distance.
They were terrified of being caught in the backlash of the azure flames!
"Ye Qing, you severed my arm, so I will have you buried in a sea of fire!"
"Reduced to ashes!"
Ye Yan laughed crazily, his facial expression twisted in a ferocious grimace.
"Hum!"
Just as the azure flames were about to completely swallow Ye Qing's body.
Suddenly, a wisp of golden flame flared up amidst the surrounding azure fire.
At first, the golden flame was still quite feeble.
It was nothing more than a tiny spark.
However, in the blink of an eye, the golden flame surged and expanded rapidly.
The next moment.
The azure flames vanished completely.
They were thoroughly overwhelmed and devoured by the burning golden fire!
Ye Qing had unleashed his own bloodline talent, the Eight Desolations True Fire!
The bloodline talent bestowed by the six-star Eight Desolations Fire Dragon bloodline was incomparably tyrannical!
Compared to the Azure Flame Fire, how could Ye Qing's Eight Desolations True Fire be merely ten times stronger?
Right now, Ye Qing's cultivation was still at the Body Refining Realm, making it impossible for him to truly unleash the full might of the Eight Desolations True Fire.
Even so, it was more than enough to deal with the Azure Flame Fire.
On the Storm Platform.
Ye Yan was still laughing maniacally.
Suddenly, he discovered that the azure flames he had unleashed had all vanished without a trace in the span of a single breath!
Panic gripped Ye Yan.
The next instant.
Ye Qing charged forward ferociously.
He grabbed Ye Yan by the throat and hoisted him into the air.
As easily as lifting a chicken!
At this moment, facing Ye Qing, Ye Yan possessed zero capacity to resist.
Ye Yan was utterly dumbfounded!
A thick wave of terror took root in his heart.
He simply couldn't fathom it.
Ye Qing was merely in the Body Refining Realm, and his bloodline had been crippled to boot!
How on earth could he erupt with such terrifying combat power?
The flames unleashed by Ye Qing drove Ye Yan into absolute despair.
"Impossible!"
"Wasn't your bloodline crippled?"
"Why has your bloodline been reborn?"
Ye Yan muttered to himself, his eyes filled with boundless horror.
The flames Ye Qing had just released were undoubtedly his bloodline talent.
"Stop!"
On the Storm Platform, the outcome of the battle had been decided.
Ye Yan was defeated!
A thunderous roar echoed from the spectator stands.
The Ye Family Patriarch bolted forward like a streak of lightning, moving with terrifying speed!
"Ye Qing, to dare kill the Young Master of the Ye Family is an act of supreme treason!"
The Ye Family Patriarch charged forward like a madman, his velocity staggering to behold.
"A life-and-death duel on the Storm Platform—the defeated must die!"
"This is the rule of the Ye Family!"
"Could it be that the Patriarch intends to violate family rules?"
Ye Qing sneered, tightening his grip and applying force as a series of cracking sounds rang out.
Ye Yan's tongue bulged outward.
His eyeballs protruded, and he was on the verge of suffocating to death.
"Courting death!"
The Ye Family Patriarch surged onto the Storm Platform like a gale-force wind, launching a ruthless attack!
At this moment, the Ye Family Patriarch could no longer care about any rules.
Seeing his son on the brink of death at Ye Qing's hands, he had no choice but to intervene!
Watching the Patriarch charge onto the Storm Platform, several elders of the Ye Family furrowed their brows.
Duels on the Storm Platform were indeed a longstanding tradition of the Ye Family.
No one was permitted to interfere!
For the Patriarch to personally step in was equivalent to trampling the rules of the Ye Family beneath his feet!
Several senior elders present found this deeply unpalatable.
However, none of them stepped forward to stop him.
The might of the Ye Family Patriarch was enough to cow all rivals!
Within the Ye Family, not a single elder could match him.
"Release my son, and I might spare your life!"
The Ye Family Patriarch sneered savagely, a cruel grin plastered across his face.
"Whoosh!"
Beneath the Storm Platform.
Within the crowd, two elders of the Ye Family—namely the Third Elder and the Fourth Elder—began to move.
They actually rushed toward Ye Mengling!
Clearly, they intended to use Ye Mengling as leverage to threaten Ye Qing.
"You're courting death!"
A ruthless glint flashed in Ye Qing's eyes.
He released a sheet of scorching Eight Desolations True Fire from his palm, scorching Ye Yan's body.
Ye Yan let out a screech of agonizing pain.
The next instant.
His head was burned into absolute nothingness!
Beneath the platform, the two elders closed in on Ye Mengling and grabbed her firmly.
"Ye Qing, you..."
The Fourth Elder barely managed to speak before realizing that Ye Qing had already killed Ye Yan!
"Audacious! How dare you..."
Roared the Third Elder in fury.
He grabbed Ye Mengling and hoisted her into the air.
The Third and Fourth Elders were both loyal henchmen of the Ye Family Patriarch.
Seeing that Ye Yan was dead and the Patriarch had gone berserk, they knew exactly what needed to be done!
Today, Ye Qing had to die!
"Brother..."
Ye Mengling cried out in alarm, feeling as though she could no longer breathe.
"You dare touch my sister!"
Murderous intent surged to the heavens within Ye Qing.
The next moment.
With a single stride, he leaped off the Storm Platform.
"Hum!"
The Shura Blood Sword materialized in Ye Qing's hand.
A crimson sword beam shot through the air!
"Rip!"
The next second.
The Third Elder's arm went flying through the air!
"You!"
Panic gripped the Third Elder. Overwhelmed by agonizing pain, his face twisted in agony.
The Third Elder had never imagined that with his own strength, he wouldn't even be able to block a single sword strike from Ye Qing.
Furthermore, he was holding Ye Mengling hostage.
Logically speaking, Ye Qing should have been hesitant to act rashly out of fear for her safety.
Yet Ye Qing had moved.
Ye Qing's sword was so fast that the Third Elder didn't even have time to react.
Beside the Third Elder, the Fourth Elder was struck with terror.
Just as he moved to intervene.
"Rip!"
In a flash, a streak of bloody light flickered.
The Fourth Elder's head was lopped clean off.
Fresh blood spurted everywhere!
Moreover, the primordial blood within the Fourth Elder's body was drained dry by the Shura Blood Sword in an instant!
With the Shura Blood Sword in hand, Ye Qing looked like a living Shura.
He killed without batting an eye!
Whoever dared to lay a hand on his sister, he would slaughter!
At this moment, killing intent raged tempestuously within Ye Qing's heart.
There was only a single word left.
Slaughter!
"You're asking for it!"
The Third Elder was still trying to speak.
Suddenly, he felt a chilling sensation sweep across his neck.
And then, he completely lost consciousness!
Two elders had perished beneath Ye Qing's sword.
Worse still, upon their deaths, the primordial blood inside their bodies was completely devoured by the bloody sword in Ye Qing's hand.
"This..."
"What a terrifying sword!"
"Ye Qing actually killed Ye Yan, along with two elders!"
The Ye Family martial artists present were utterly dumbfounded.
On the Storm Platform, the Ye Family Patriarch had just intended to rescue his son.
Only to discover that Ye Yan's head had already been burned to ashes!
Consumed by fury, the Ye Family Patriarch charged straight at him.
His eyes were filled with a bloodthirsty glare.
"Ye Qing, you killed my son! Today, I will tear you limb from limb!"
The Ye Family Patriarch roared in madness, his hands curving like eagle talons as he lunged forward.
Behind him, a bloodline manifestation materialized!
A four-star Soaring Cloud Hawk bloodline.
It excelled exceptionally in both speed and lethal power.
"Ye Yan plundered my bloodline; he deserved to die!"
"You old dog, when you threw me into the Jizhou Dungeon, did you ever imagine this day would come?"
Ye Qing sneered savagely.
Wielding the Shura Blood Sword in his hand, he unleashed a mesmerizing, blood-red sword beam.
Behind Ye Qing, the six-star Eight Desolations Fire Dragon bloodline manifestation also emerged!
"Hiss!"
"This... This is bloodline power! He has awakened his bloodline!"
"His bloodline was plundered, and yet it was reborn!"
"Such formidable bloodline coercion! Could this be a six-star bloodline?"
The elders of the Ye Family were all struck with shock and awe.
A six-star bloodline possessed monstrous, peerless talent!
Had the Ye Family thrown its full support behind Ye Qing from the very beginning.
Then, with Ye Qing's peerless talent, he would surely have led the Ye Family toward ultimate glory in the future!
Yet, the Ye Family Patriarch and Ye Yan had chosen to plunder Ye Qing's bloodline instead.
They had forged an irreconcilable blood feud with Ye Qing.
One that could never be resolved!
"Such powerful bloodline pressure! Our Ye Family has produced a supreme monster!"
Within the crowd, the Great Elder of the Ye Family wore a look of intense excitement.
Yet shortly thereafter, his gaze quickly dimmed.
Ye Qing had suffered endless mistreatment within the Ye Family; going forward, he would likely refuse to ever work for the family again.
"Patriarch, stop! This boy cannot be killed!"