Secret Jealousy

News that Ye Lingyun had defeated Ye Ming and Ye Bao in succession at the Ye Family Small Tournament and advanced to the final landed like a heavy bomb, stirring towering waves throughout the Ye Family. Clansmen who had once dismissed him now looked at him with newfound surprise and awe. Yet among those many gazes, a few brimmed with jealousy and resentment, like venomous snakes lurking in the darkness, ready to strike a fatal blow at any moment.

Ever since his defeat in their earlier clash, Ye Hu's jealousy and hatred toward Ye Lingyun had grown like weeds running wild. Now, seeing Ye Lingyun shine in the tournament and prepare to contend with Ye Long for the championship, he found it even harder to bear. Ye Hu had thought Ye Lingyun had merely enjoyed a brief stroke of luck. He had never expected him to cut through one opponent after another and threaten the standing of the strongest members of the Ye Family's younger generation.

"That little bastard is actually this hard to deal with!" Ye Hu paced back and forth in his room, his face twisted with malice. He could not bear to watch Ye Lingyun rise, much less accept being surpassed by someone who had once been a good-for-nothing. In his eyes, a collateral-branch disciple like Ye Lingyun deserved only to live forever in his shadow.

Ye Bao, Ye Hu's younger cousin, was equally jealous of Ye Lingyun. Having lost to him in the semifinals, he felt he had lost every shred of face. Ye Bao had always taken pride in being a disciple of the Ye Family's direct line, yet now he had been defeated by Ye Lingyun, someone he had once regarded as an ant. How could he swallow that humiliation?

"Cousin, we can't just sit back and watch Ye Lingyun steal the limelight in the final. We have to find a way to disgrace him!" Ye Bao sought out Ye Hu and spoke through gritted teeth.

Ye Hu stopped pacing, a vicious glint flashing in his eyes. "Hmph, of course I won't let him have an easy time. Still, Ye Long is powerful. Beating him won't be easy for Ye Lingyun. But even if he loses, I'll make sure his reputation is utterly ruined in the final!"

The two huddled together, plotting in hushed voices how to deal with Ye Lingyun. They knew full well that acting openly would bring severe punishment from the family. After all, this tournament was an important family event, attended by many elders and people from other forces. They therefore decided to strike in secret and catch Ye Lingyun off guard before the final.

First, Ye Hu and Ye Bao bribed several collateral-branch disciples who were on poor terms with Ye Lingyun, instructing them to spread rumors near his residence that he had used underhanded means in the tournament and only reached the final by cheating. These rumors spread like a plague through the Ye Family's younger generation. For a time, malicious talk about Ye Lingyun rose into a deafening clamor.

"Have you heard? Ye Lingyun only won because he secretly took a forbidden drug before the match to boost his strength."

"No wonder he could defeat Ye Bao. So he used such despicable methods. What a disgrace to the Ye Family."

These rumors seriously damaged Ye Lingyun's reputation among the Ye Family's younger generation. Many who had begun to see him in a new light now started to harbor doubts about him. Ye Lingyun, however, knew nothing of this. He was wholly absorbed in preparing for the final.

Besides spreading rumors, Ye Hu and Ye Bao also planned to have people ambush Ye Lingyun on his way to the tournament grounds on the day of the final. They recruited several capable independent cultivators, promising them a handsome payment to lay a trap along a route Ye Lingyun had to take. These independent cultivators were all ruthless men who would do anything for money.

"As long as we injure Ye Lingyun before the final, he's certain to lose. Then he won't just lose the match-he'll become the laughingstock of the entire Ye Family!" A smug smile appeared on Ye Bao's face, as though he could already see Ye Lingyun disgraced and ruined.

Meanwhile, at his residence, Ye Lingyun was intently studying the characteristics of Ye Long's martial techniques. By questioning clansmen who had fought Ye Long and reviewing records of his previous matches, he had gained some understanding of Ye Long's strength. Ye Long practiced the Ye Family's top martial technique, the Dragon Flame Heaven-Dominating Art, and his martial soul had reached yellow tier middle grade. His strength far surpassed Ye Lingyun's.

"Conventional methods probably won't work if I want to defeat Ye Long." Frowning, Ye Lingyun paced back and forth in his room. He knew he had to devise a unique strategy to have any chance of winning the final. After careful consideration, he decided to focus on fusing his martial soul with his martial technique. He intended to combine his unique understanding of martial souls with the Star-Splitting Void Sword Technique to create an entirely new way of fighting.

Over the next few days, Ye Lingyun shut himself in his room and trained tirelessly, day and night. He kept experimenting with different ways of integrating his martial soul's power into his sword technique, striving for the best possible result. Every attempt subjected him to tremendous spiritual power backlash, but through sheer determination, he gritted his teeth and persevered.

As the date of the final drew near, Ye Lingyun's preparations gradually approached completion. He felt that his understanding of the fusion between his martial soul and sword technique had deepened, and his strength had improved as well. Yet he had no idea that a conspiracy was silently closing in on him.

On the evening before the final, Ye Lingyun decided to go out and relax, and stop by the Library Pavilion to consult a few more sources. As he passed through a secluded alley, he suddenly heard a commotion. Before he could react, a group of black-clad men rushed out from every direction and surrounded him.

"Who are you? What do you want?" Ye Lingyun eyed the black-clad men warily, silently speculating about their purpose.

The leader sneered. "Ye Lingyun, today is the day you die! If you know what's good for you, surrender without a fight. Perhaps we'll even grant you a quick death!"

Ye Lingyun's heart sank. He knew these men had come prepared, and that he was unmistakably their target. He swiftly circulated his spiritual power, readying himself for the coming battle. Before he could act, however, the black-clad men surged forward together and attacked him.

The black-clad men were formidable and coordinated seamlessly. They attacked from different directions, leaving Ye Lingyun struggling to fend them off at first. He unleashed Breeze Phantom Steps, weaving between them and evading their blows while searching for openings. His longsword swept through the air as he executed the Star-Splitting Void Sword Technique, sending streaks of sword energy shooting toward them.

The black-clad men responded by unleashing martial techniques to defend themselves. For a time, spiritual power spilled through the alley, and battle cries rang out without pause. Relying on his exceptional movement technique and swordsmanship, Ye Lingyun temporarily held them at a stalemate. But he knew this could not continue. He had to escape this predicament quickly, or the consequences would be unthinkable once too much of his spiritual power had been drained.

Amid the fierce battle, Ye Lingyun noticed that although the black-clad men worked together seamlessly, one man's attack rhythm differed slightly from the others'. An idea stirred in his mind, and he decided to seek a breakthrough through that man. Ye Lingyun deliberately exposed an opening to lure him in. Sure enough, the man took the bait and lunged at him. Seizing the right moment, Ye Lingyun flickered aside, evading the attack as his longsword thrust out like lightning and pierced the man's arm with pinpoint accuracy.

"Aah!" The black-clad man let out an agonized scream, his weapon falling to the ground. At the sight, the others' assault faltered slightly. Ye Lingyun seized the opportunity to counterattack, unleashing his improved Star-Splitting Void Sword Technique. Powerful sword energy swept toward the black-clad men like a raging torrent. Unable to withstand it, they retreated one after another.

Ye Lingyun gave them no chance to catch their breath and pressed his advantage. Under his ferocious assault, the black-clad men gradually struggled to hold out. Finally, seeing that the situation had turned against them, their leader had no choice but to flee hastily with the remaining men.

Watching the black-clad men's retreating figures, Ye Lingyun was filled with questions. He did not understand why they had attacked him, especially at such a sensitive moment on the eve of the final. But he knew his most urgent task was to replenish his spiritual power as quickly as possible and prepare for tomorrow's match.

After returning to his residence, Ye Lingyun quickly swallowed several healing pills, sat cross-legged, and began circulating his spiritual power to heal his injuries. He knew tomorrow's final would be even more difficult, but he would not back down. No matter how many schemes and challenges he faced, he would prove his strength in the final...