Eating Well and Living Lavishly

But before Ye Qingxuan could figure out what that familiar feeling was...

Within the Sea of Thunder, a third figure wreathed in lightning slowly rose to its feet once more.

A full three Human Dao Sages stood proudly on the scene!

Before the few present could recover from their shock, a terrifying pressure swept out. Even the four who were far from the center turned pale and hastily retreated.

Many great cultivators rushing toward the area also sensed an inexplicable pressure. One by one, they halted, staring in horror at the distant silhouettes of the three sages, frozen in place.

If an epiphany that summoned a single Human Dao Sage could dominate Azure Prefecture for a thousand years, what did three represent?!

At the very center, Ye Yu's face was deathly pale. Silver light, white light, and blood energy tangled around him, seemingly locked in conflict, neither willing to yield.

Until cracks began to appear on Ye Yu's body, and blood seeped out.

Inside his dantian, Small Cauldron suddenly burst forth with a humming sound. Its lid flipped open, absorbing all three beams of light in an instant.

In that moment, heaven and earth fell silent. The sun shone brightly, as if nothing had ever happened.

Ye Yu's tightly shut eyes slowly opened. Blood trickled from the corner of his mouth, and he couldn't help but feel a lingering fear.

The pain of his body being torn apart was still fresh in his memory. Fortunately, Small Cauldron had intervened in time; otherwise, Ye Yu would have surely died on the spot.

Coming to his senses, Ye Yu realized what had just occurred. Three Divine Abilities had appeared in his mind—far surpassing ordinary techniques—and his body's affinity for heavenly and earthly spiritual energy had become markedly stronger.

At this moment, Ye Yu's body was like a bottomless vortex, madly devouring the spiritual energy that converged around him.

It was hard to imagine that a mortal without spiritual roots could possess such terrifying absorption efficiency.

Taking a deep breath, Ye Yu looked at Small Cauldron inside his dantian. The cauldron shook briefly, spitting out three beams of light that transformed into glowing orbs, floating within his dantian.

Threads of silver light, blood light, and white light seeped out, merging into the spiritual power within Ye Yu's body.

Instantly, Ye Yu felt his spiritual power rise to another level, imbued with even greater strength—a sensation no less formidable than when he had condensed the Blood Infant.

His cultivation also recovered to the peak Golden Core Stage, just one step away from the Nascent Soul Stage.

Ye Yu let out a long breath, restrained his aura, and once again appeared as a man devoid of spiritual power. He strode out of the cave.

Outside the cave, Qin Ruoxian and the other three furrowed their brows, uncertain of what had just happened.

When the pressure of the three Human Dao Sages had been about to crush them, it had suddenly and inexplicably vanished from heaven and earth.

"Did it fail?" Ye Qingxuan murmured.

According to ancient records, an epiphany that summoned a Human Dao Sage would, upon success, bestow a celestial light containing the Great Dao and supreme techniques. But just now, no celestial light had descended.

Ye Qingwan sighed, her face full of resignation. "It seems it failed."

She had hoped to recruit the person involved for the Great Yan Dynasty, to shine in the future War of a Hundred Dynasties, securing greater benefits for Great Yan and finding a good ally for Ye Xuan. But she hadn't expected failure.

Compared to the two, Qin Ruoxian's expression was far more complicated. She knew it was Ye Yu. To have drawn the attention of three Human Dao Sages—if he had succeeded, he would have shaken the continent. But... he failed.

She hoped Ye Yu wouldn't be too disheartened!

Just as she was thinking this, footsteps rustled from the dense forest. The four looked over and saw a figure emerge from below—it was Ye Yu.

Instantly, the expressions on Ye Qingwan and Ye Qingxuan's faces turned extremely vivid. They hadn't expected the one who had drawn the attention of the Human Dao Sages to be this waste!

Ye Qingxuan finally confirmed the source of that inexplicable familiar feeling.

Ye Qingwan's regret vanished in an instant, replaced by relief. She let out a long breath, glad he hadn't succeeded. A mocking smile curled onto her lips as she said, "So it was you, this waste, still dreaming of defying fate? It seems you still covet the Imperial Throne, your ambitions undying! As a waste, you should have the awareness of a waste. Don't reach for things that don't belong to you."

As her words fell, even the old man beside Qin Ruoxian frowned. It was hard to imagine such words coming from a blood relative—not offering comfort, but kicking someone when they were down.

Ye Yu ignored Ye Qingwan's taunts. Instead, his gaze fell on Qin Ruoxian. That familiar, beautiful face brought scenes from his past life flooding back like yesterday.

In his past life, when everyone had rejoiced at Ye Yu's death, it was this Ninth Princess of Great Qin who, against all opposition, had set up a memorial tablet for him, wept bitterly before his spirit tablet, and even traded most of Great Qin's territory to retrieve his corpse, just to give him a proper burial.

Only then had Ye Yu realized that this Ninth Princess, whom he had met only once, had long harbored deep feelings for him.

Caught under Ye Yu's unblinking stare, Qin Ruoxian's cheeks flushed, and she quickly turned her head away.

The old man beside her was inwardly astonished. He knew his Ninth Princess's temperament well—she was practically a little demon—yet here she was, acting like a bashful young girl.

Thinking this, the old man smiled reassuringly. His gaze shifted to Ye Yu below, and their eyes met.

In that instant, the old man's heart jolted violently. The Nascent Soul within his dantian tensed up, as if facing a formidable enemy. His spiritual power churned uncontrollably, and a wave of deathly aura washed over him.

Fortunately, Ye Yu quickly looked away.

The old man's ragged breathing steadied, his back drenched in cold sweat. Failed?! What a joke! With just a look so terrifying, you're telling me his epiphany failed!

"I failed. Are you happy?" Ye Yu looked at Ye Qingwan, his tone flat.

"Happy or not, it doesn't matter. You're just a waste cast out of the royal family. A bootlicker like you has no right to draw the attention of a Human Dao Sage. Only Xiao Xuan is worthy of that honor," Ye Qingwan said with a faint smile. "But since you failed, I'll give you a chance. Go tell Xiao Xuan what you learned, kneel and apologize to him, and I'll allow you to return to the palace—though you'll eat and sleep with the servants."

With that, Ye Qingwan looked down at Ye Yu, her tone dripping with condescension and confidence.

She believed that as long as it meant returning to the palace, Ye Yu would accept any condition.

Ye Qingxuan remained unusually silent, staring intently at Ye Yu. Her extraordinary talent made her especially sensitive to spiritual energy, and she could sense that Ye Yu was different from before! Right now, Ye Yu gave her a dangerous feeling.

"Tch, what's so great about your palace? My Great Qin has one too. Ye Yu, come with me! This princess guarantees you'll eat well and drink well!" Qin Ruoxian sneered, not waiting for Ye Yu's reply before speaking.