Ye Qiubai's talent had recovered, and his strength surpassed what it had been before!
He had instantly killed the Qiu Lineage's eldest young master, Qiu Siwu, with a single move.
The news spread throughout Heavenly Origin City with astonishing speed!
For a time.
Everyone in Heavenly Origin City marveled that the balance of power in the city was about to change again.
And now, at the center of everyone's discussions.
The Ye Lineage.
The elders all stepped forward, whether with false warmth or feigned sincerity.
Their faces were wreathed in smiles as they greeted Ye Qiubai.
After Ye Qiubai had lost his talent, every one of these people had treated him with utter indifference, even hurling abuse at him.
Although Ye Qiubai did not care about any of this and had no intention of taking revenge.
Expecting him to show a pleasant face to these elders who fawned on the powerful was hardly possible either.
The elders could only smile awkwardly at this.
His face full of delighted surprise, Ye Qing patted Ye Qiubai's shoulder and laughed heartily. "Wonderful, wonderful! All that matters is that you've recovered!
"But Qiubai, how did you recover your strength? Did you happen upon another fortuitous encounter?"
At this, Ye Qiubai could not help smiling.
"Master saved me. When I left the city gates, someone was hunting me down, and I happened to meet Master.
"He not only saved my life but also used a pill to restore my talent and taught me a supreme cultivation technique, allowing my strength to advance by leaps and bounds."
"Then we really must thank your master properly."
Ye Qing asked in surprise, "But how could someone who possesses such a pill be a nobody?"
Ye Qiubai shook his head. "Although Master belongs to the Hidden Dao Academy, he doesn't like the limelight. Very few people know of him."
The Hidden Dao Academy?
That explained it.
Ye Qing nodded in understanding. Then, as though something had occurred to him, he frowned. "Do you know who tried to kill you before?"
Someone had ruthlessly tried to kill his son as soon as he left Heavenly Origin City. How could Ye Qing not be furious?
An overwhelmingly domineering presence surged forth!
After all, Ye Qing was the head of the Ye Lineage and one of Heavenly Origin City's foremost experts.
The expressions of some nearby people with low cultivation instantly changed, and they were forced back repeatedly by the pressure of his presence!
Ye Qiubai's expression remained unchanged as he looked at Jiang Tianhan behind him, whose expression was complicated.
In truth, Jiang Tianhan knew something of what his daughter had done.
Ye Qing followed Ye Qiubai's gaze to Jiang Tianhan and said harshly, "Jiang Tianhan?"
Ye Qiubai shook his head. "It was Jiang Chan."
Hearing this, Ye Qing's presence erupted!
His pressure bore straight down on Jiang Tianhan as he shouted furiously, "Jiang Tianhan, your Jiang Lineage owes me an explanation!"
Previously, they had not merely torn up the marriage agreement unilaterally before the entire Ye Lineage and humiliated his son.
Now, they had even tried to kill him and leave no loose ends!
Ye Qing's fury surged straight to the crown of his head!
He stepped forward, and a longsword slid into his hand!
Clearly, if Jiang Tianhan's explanation failed to satisfy him, Ye Qing would strike with his sword!
Seeing this, Jiang Tianhan could only sigh and smile bitterly. "Brother Ye, our Jiang Lineage has indeed wronged you in this matter. I apologize to you on behalf of my daughter, Jiang Chan."
"Does an apology make it right?" Ye Qing roared. "If you knew it would come to this, why did you commit such a heartless act in the first place?"
Jiang Tianhan could only reply helplessly, "At the time, I didn't discover Chan'er's plan either. I only learned everything after it happened. This was my failure as a father."
"Enough talk. Hand Jiang Chan over."
Ye Qing took another step forward and pointed his longsword at him, his expression hostile. "If you refuse, don't blame my Ye Lineage for declaring war on the Jiang Lineage."
"Chan'er has already left Heavenly Origin City."
Jiang Tianhan shook his head and looked at the utterly calm Ye Qiubai. "I also hope Qiubai can let go of this grudge. In return, my Jiang Lineage is willing to give you three years' proceeds from our businesses in Heavenly Origin City."
Three years' proceeds!
That was no small sum of resources!
Ye Qing was about to speak, but Ye Qiubai stepped forward and interrupted him. "Where did Jiang Chan go?"
If tearing up the marriage agreement had made Ye Qiubai and Jiang Chan strangers.
Then the attempt on his life had made them mortal enemies!
Repay vengeance with vengeance, and settle every grudge.
That was Ye Qiubai's stance.
Jiang Tianhan's expression stiffened, and he said gravely, "Qiubai, I know there is hatred in your heart, but you cannot take revenge. Chan'er has already joined a power you could never reach in your entire life."
Could never reach in my entire life?
Ye Qiubai thought of his master, Lu Changsheng.
He truly could not imagine anyone in this world who could match his master.
The Primordial Sword Scripture did not seem like a martial art of the mortal world.
The Fortune Pill seized the very fortune of heaven and earth, something utterly unheard of in the mortal world.
And there was that painting scroll.
As well as the grand formation his master had laid before he descended the mountain...
Ye Qiubai shook his head. "You needn't trouble yourself over that."
"The Northern Region. The Sunset Dynasty."
Beside him, Ye Qing was appalled to hear this!
Ye Ling's expression filled with alarm!
Ye Qiubai was also momentarily taken aback.
The Northern Region was the strongest of the four regions.
And the Sunset Dynasty ruled the Northern Region.
It had countless experts who swept unhindered across the world.
And the current sovereign of the Sunset Dynasty ranked fourth on the Four Regions Martial Ranking.
The Four Regions Martial Ranking recorded the strength of the known experts throughout the four regions.
Even Qin Tiannan, the head of the Southern Region's Hidden Dao Academy, could only rank twenty-sixth...
One could well imagine how much weight it carried.
To think Jiang Chan had actually gone to the Sunset Dynasty!
In that case, even if Ye Qiubai's master belonged to the Hidden Dao Academy, he would still...
After a brief moment of surprise, Ye Qiubai regained his composure.
After all, he truly could not imagine anyone who could match his master.
Not even the Sunset Dynasty.
However, Ye Qiubai had no intention of asking his master to help him take revenge.
This was his own affair, after all.
Seeing Ye Qiubai remain silent, Jiang Tianhan assumed he had given up. "I will hand over the next three years' proceeds to you. I am also deeply sorry about what happened to Qiubai..."
With that, Jiang Tianhan turned and left with his people.
Ye Qing sighed and patted Ye Qiubai's shoulder. "Don't dwell on it. Focus on improving your strength."
Ye Qiubai nodded.
Meanwhile, the Qiu Lineage declared war on the Ye Lineage.
If they handed over Ye Qiubai, the war could be halted.
Ye Qing had expected this. After all, Qiu Siwu had died at Ye Qiubai's hands.
He had also made preparations to respond.
He was just about to speak when he saw that Ye Qiubai was already walking toward Ye Yan.
An imposing pressure rose steadily, and Sword Qi soared into the air!
Ye Qiubai stared coldly at Ye Yan, whose eyes were filled with terror. "Do you dare fight me to the death?"