Chapter Forty-Six: A New Respect

Four years ago, the man who should have died now stood before him. No wonder he had felt a sense of familiarity, and even that old urge to bully him surfaced upon seeing him. The truth was, the man facing him was Ye Zihan!

Ye Xiang was shaken to his core, so much so that he stuttered, “You… you’re still alive?”

There was another sentence he dared not utter: not only was Ye Zihan alive, he now possessed the qualifications to cultivate—a truly unbelievable reality. Was this really the same useless man from four years ago?

“No… how is this possible…” Ye Xiang still couldn’t believe it. Even though he was witnessing it with his own eyes, disbelief lingered. When he’d heard of Ye Zihan’s death four years ago, he’d rejoiced for days.

“I’m sorry to disappoint you. Not only am I alive, but I’m doing quite well,” Ye Zihan said with a smile. His expression was inscrutable—whether it was anger or genuine joy, no one could say for certain.

Yan Chen frowned slightly. Ye Zihan? Ye? Could it be the Ye Clan, the last among the Five Great Families? He pondered this silently, but kept his speculation to himself.

Zhang Chu and Xiang Kuang, unaware of Ye Xiang’s reaction, exchanged glances. Xiang Kuang asked, “Young Master Ye, do you know this man?”

Ye Xiang’s pupils contracted into a thin line. He paused, then replied coldly, “This man is a notable figure from my Ye Clan. He was supposed to die four years ago, yet he still lives. He must have encountered some extraordinary fortune.”

He hesitated, then continued, “That dagger in his hand appears ordinary, but I suspect it has a remarkable origin, and is exceedingly precious. Otherwise, how could a simple thrust have killed my most formidable beast, the Fireless…”

The mighty tiger-eagle, robust as an ox, had been reduced to charred bones by an unknown fire, black as ink.

Zhang Chu and Xiang Kuang’s eyes gleamed at Ye Xiang’s words, their gazes fixed on the Red Lotus Dagger in Ye Zihan’s hand. Zhang Chu let out a sinister laugh, “All the more reason not to let him leave.” Turning to Ye Xiang, he asked, “Young Master Ye, you won’t mind?”

Ye Xiang sneered, “Of course I don’t mind. I wouldn’t want him to return to the Ye Clan alive.” He sensed clearly that the useless Ye Zihan from four years ago had achieved cultivation, reaching the mid-stage of the Three Talents—only a step below himself.

If Ye Zihan returned, the Ye Clan would surely nurture him, which would threaten Ye Xiang’s own standing. He was determined not to allow that. At this moment, only the three of them knew, and once Ye Zihan was slain, he would truly be dead, as he should have been four years ago.

“It’s a pity you didn’t die in the Beast Mountains four years ago. Now that you’ve run into me, death is inevitable. I won’t give you any chance to return to the Ye Clan!” Ye Xiang roared, forming seals with his fingers and summoning three early-stage, third-rank Explosive Lions—each as muscular as an ox, their powerful limbs sinking deep into the earth.

Zhang Chu began weaving seals as well; the ground trembled, and razor-sharp earth spikes surged upward, forcing Ye Zihan and Yan Chen to retreat.

Meanwhile, Xiang Kuang, wielding a broad, long blade, charged. He unleashed his strongest Night-level technique, causing the air to crackle with thunderous force.

The three Explosive Lions followed, mouths agape, drool spilling forth, a foul stench wafting from their jaws as they lunged at Ye Zihan and Yan Chen.

“Go deal with the scarred man,” Ye Zihan commanded coldly. He quickly summoned three third-rank Flame Wolves, pitting them against the Explosive Lions. At the same time, the Red Lotus Dagger appeared, aimed squarely at Zhang Chu, who was still weaving seals and launching attacks.

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Earth spikes, each half a yard tall, burst from the surface, blocking Ye Zihan’s advance and disrupting Yan Chen and Xiang Kuang’s battle.

All three, Ye Xiang, Zhang Chu, and Xiang Kuang, were at the late stage of the Three Talents realm, while Ye Zihan was only at the mid-stage. Yan Chen matched their strength, able to hold his own.

Now, only Ye Zihan’s situation was precarious. He aimed to defeat Zhang Chu, the earth-sealing mage, before dealing with the weaker Ye Xiang. But Zhang Chu was resourceful—earth spikes surged, sandstorms blinded, meteors rained from above, leaving Ye Zihan scrambling.

Fortunately, his mind remained calm as still water. Despite the dire circumstances, he maintained a cool head, strategizing his escape.

Elsewhere, Yan Chen and Xiang Kuang’s battle was spectacular. Their strength was evenly matched, blows exchanged with intensity. From the look of things, Yan Chen could not disengage to assist Ye Zihan.

Yet for reasons unknown, Yan Chen was utterly confident in Ye Zihan, unconcerned by his mid-stage cultivation against two late-stage opponents. His faith was unwavering.

Driven back by earth spikes, Ye Zihan continued to weave seals, summoning another beast—his limit. As a summoner of the Three Talents realm, he could summon up to three beasts at once, four at the utmost.

He had dozens of beasts at his disposal, but could only summon four at a time.

Ye Xiang watched, his eyelids twitching, secretly astonished: He can summon four beasts—four?! His own limit was three, even after repeated attempts at the late stage.

Witnessing this, Ye Xiang felt deeply unsettled. The useless man who couldn’t even cultivate could now summon four beasts, and at only the mid-stage. He gritted his teeth in secret, a feeling of suffocation swelling in his chest. If he admitted it, the word would be frustration.

The newly summoned third-rank Flame Wolf followed orders, joining the fray against the Explosive Lions. Now four Flame Wolves faced three Explosive Lions, the numerical advantage immediately apparent as the lions began to falter.

Sensing trouble, Zhang Chu formed seals, raising an earth prison to trap one Flame Wolf. But as if anticipating the move, the wolf dodged nimbly.

After one mistake, Ye Zihan would not repeat it. Master of all five elements, he understood earth techniques well enough to command the wolves to evade—an easy task.

Thus, Zhang Chu was unable to assist Xiang Kuang, leaving Yan Chen with an opening. Though their strength was equal, Yan Chen hailed from a hidden clan, possessing techniques far superior to Xiang Kuang’s.

Seeing Xiang Kuang’s predicament, Zhang Chu grew anxious, which gave Ye Zihan an opportunity. With a burst of speed, he executed an intricate footwork, wielding the Red Lotus Dagger and lunging forward.

Zhang Chu was terrified, quickly forming seals to raise an earth wall before him as a shield. But unexpectedly, the Red Lotus Dagger pierced through the wall’s defenses, passing straight through. The foot-long blade was about to stab into his chest; his eyes widened in horror, and he spat a mouthful of blood that transformed into a blood shield, barely preventing his death.

Yet, as he spat blood, the earth wall vanished, the spikes disappeared, and the ground grew calm.

When the mage’s focus wavers, all earth techniques fade. Ye Zihan sneered, lips curling, as he pressed forward with renewed force.

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With Zhang Chu dealt with, Ye Xiang would be next.

But at that moment, Ye Xiang’s voice rang out, “Brother Zhang Chu, Brother Xiang Kuang, hold out a bit longer, I’m going to fetch reinforcements, I’ll be back soon!”

Without waiting for a reply, he abandoned even his Explosive Lions and turned to flee.

Zhang Chu and Xiang Kuang, hearing this, were enraged, cursing aloud. Their concentration faltered, giving Ye Zihan and Yan Chen an opening.

The Red Lotus flashed with crimson light, ignoring the rising earth walls, easily breaking through and plunging deep into Zhang Chu’s chest. Blood sprayed like a fountain.

Zhang Chu’s eyes bulged, fish-like, unable to believe how he had gone from certain victory to death. His gaze was filled with hatred as he watched Ye Xiang’s fleeing figure, as if wishing to bite him to death.

His short body collapsed, and on the other side came three anguished roars—the three Explosive Lions, mauled by four Flame Wolves, were covered in blood and wounds too numerous to count.

“Haha… Your partner fled, the other is dead. Let me send you on your way!” Yan Chen laughed, his Clearwind Sword dodging the blade’s attack and tracing a perfect arc, scattering beads of blood.

Xiang Kuang’s tall form crashed to the ground, his dying scream filled with rage: “Ye Xiang, you despicable wretch…”

With both foes defeated, Ye Zihan recalled the four Flame Wolves, then he and Yan Chen raced after Ye Xiang.

They could not let him escape—their injuries were thanks to him, and his insults had fueled Yan Chen’s fury. He would not rest until Ye Xiang was slain.

Ye Zihan and Ye Xiang’s enmity ran deep. When enemies meet, it’s life or death; Ye Zihan would not allow Ye Xiang to return to the Ye Clan.

Though they shared blood, their relationship was colder than strangers. Everything Ye Xiang had done was to eliminate Ye Zihan, so Ye Zihan need show no mercy, but repay him in kind.

The two darted through the bamboo forest, Ye Xiang fleeing desperately ahead. Nerves taut, fear overwhelming him, he ran blindly, sometimes stumbling and falling, unsure of direction—only knowing he must keep moving forward to escape his pursuers.

Suddenly, Yan Chen halted and pulled Ye Zihan back. “If we go any further, we’ll reach the depths of the Lost Bamboo Forest. There exists a power not inferior to the Five Families and Four Sects of humanity.”