Heavenly Origin City.
The capital of the Heavenly Origin Imperial Dynasty, where aristocratic clans stood in great numbers and sects dotted the city.
The Ye Lineage was one of Heavenly Origin City's four great lineages, and its strength was formidable.
"Today's the day the Ye Lineage tests everyone's strength, right?"
"Yeah. Speaking of which, Ye Qiubai will be taking part too, won't he?"
"What a shame about Ye Qiubai. He accidentally entered the forbidden grounds of the Sword Saint's inheritance and was attacked by supreme Sword Qi. Though he barely escaped with his life, he lost all his cultivation, his meridians were completely destroyed, and his talent plummeted a thousand fathoms."
"Ye Qiubai... once the greatest genius in Heavenly Origin City, now reduced to this. It really makes you sigh."
"Yeah... Ye Qiubai was far too upright and offended quite a few powerful people back then. Now that he's lost all his cultivation, even the Ye Lineage has abandoned him. Who knows whether he'll survive the storm of retaliation after this test..."
"The seeds sown then bear fruit today..."
The Ye Lineage.
Before the ancestral hall.
Many people gathered beneath a raised platform.
On that platform stood a Heaven-Reaching Stone capable of testing talent and strength.
"Next, Ye Qiubai!"
In a corner, Ye Qiubai rose silently with a sword held against his chest and slowly walked toward the Heaven-Reaching Stone.
The people around him watched. Some sighed in regret, while others wore mocking expressions.
After all, the higher someone once stood, the harder... they would crash when they fell from their pedestal.
Three people sat on the platform. At their head was the patriarch of the Ye Lineage, Ye Qing, who was also Ye Qiubai's father.
Watching Ye Qiubai silently cradle his sword, Ye Qing sighed softly. Why was his son's fate so full of hardships?
Beside Ye Qing stood a lavishly dressed woman with a cold expression, watching the scene indifferently.
Ye Qiubai reached the Heaven-Reaching Stone.
The elder beside it said coldly, "Ye Qiubai, place your hand on the Heaven-Reaching Stone."
Ye Qiubai glanced at the elder, who had once greeted him with smiles, then raised his head and looked up. His gaze settled on the cold woman, and a flicker of realization crossed his eyes.
They had been childhood sweethearts.
They had cultivated together, hunted for treasure together, and eaten together.
After they grew up, their families had arranged their engagement, as they were well matched in status.
But now, after he had lost all his cultivation, the engagement had been called off and the marriage contract destroyed.
The little girl from back then had now become so unfamiliar.
He withdrew his gaze and placed his hand on the Heaven-Reaching Stone.
Soon, a faint glimmer flickered on the Heaven-Reaching Stone.
Seeing this, the elder sneered and announced, "Ye Qiubai, Qi Refining Third Level. Low-grade talent."
"Just as expected. Ye Qiubai must have known himself. Why come here to embarrass himself again?"
"Maybe he was so used to being a genius that he couldn't accept becoming an ordinary person and wanted to try again."
"But Ye Qiubai offended so many people before. I'm afraid there won't be any good days ahead for him."
"Whatever happens, from now on, there's no place for Ye Qiubai in the Ye Lineage... no, in all of Heavenly Origin City."
Watching from above, Ye Qing's expression was exceedingly grim.
The woman seemed to have known the result long ago. Without saying anything, she turned and left.
She seemed to have come here merely to confirm whether Ye Qiubai had truly lost all his cultivation.
Listening to the mockery around him, Ye Qiubai could not help letting out a bitter laugh.
Yes.
There was no longer a place for him in the Ye Lineage.
The Ye Lineage was one of the Heavenly Origin Imperial Dynasty's four great lineages, a top aristocratic clan.
How could it possibly accept a piece of trash who had lost all his cultivation?
If word got out, it would be a disgrace!
He looked at the sword held against his chest, then glanced at the departing woman's back.
Suddenly, as though he had thought something through, he called up loudly, "Father, I will leave the Ye Lineage today and travel alone. I hope you will agree!"
Staying in the Ye Lineage would only mean enduring endless humiliation, and he would bring his father more trouble too. Rather than that, he might as well venture out alone. Perhaps he might find some opportunities?
Ye Qing naturally understood Ye Qiubai's thoughts. He could only sigh. "Have you... thought this through?"
With determination in his eyes, Ye Qiubai nodded. Only by going out and seeking a fortuitous opportunity would he have even a sliver of a chance to recover his cultivation!
Though that chance was pitifully small, almost nonexistent...
Seeing this, Ye Qing could only nod. As patriarch, his hands were tied. Rather than let his son remain in the Ye Lineage and suffer humiliation, he might as well let him venture out alone.
Besides, how would those elders ever let Ye Qiubai remain in the Ye Lineage after he had lost all his cultivation?
Ye Qiubai bowed, then turned and left the Ye Lineage.
Beyond Heavenly Origin City lay a dense forest.
Within the forest, Ye Qiubai suddenly stopped. Looking at the three black-clad figures before him, he seemed to have expected this long ago. His expression was calm as he smiled. "You've followed me for so long. Finally couldn't hold back?"
The grudges formed in the past had finally erupted.
One of them smiled. "Ye Qiubai, if you'd known this day would come, why act that way back then?"
Ye Qiubai smiled. "Even if time turned back, I would still do the same."
As he spoke, Ye Qiubai had already gripped a jade pendant in his hand.
He had known someone would come to kill him, but that did not mean he would be foolish enough to make no preparations!
"Still, I'd like to ask just who is so impatient to get rid of me."
Assassins had followed him the moment he left Heavenly Origin City. Though he no longer held his former standing, he was still the son of the Ye Lineage's patriarch.
That showed just how much the other party hated him.
The black-clad man sneered. "What could you do even if you knew? You won't have a chance to take revenge anyway.
"Besides, you've offended so many people over the years. What's the point of asking?"
"That's not necessarily true..."
Ye Qiubai tightened his grip on the jade pendant.
This was the only thing he had brought out of the Sword Saint's inheritance grounds. It contained an array that, once unleashed, would be impossible for these three to withstand.
However, with his current strength, he feared he would be unable to withstand the array's backlash himself. But he had no other choice now.
"In that case..."
The man in the lead raised his sword and slashed at Ye Qiubai!
Sword-Ray flickered along the blade, its might sweeping toward Ye Qiubai!
His opponent had no intention of holding back at all. He struck with his full strength, seeking only to kill in a single blow!
Ye Qiubai's expression tightened. Just as he was about to throw the jade pendant, a figure in blue robes appeared before him.
A finger reached out, and the sword met the blue-robed man's fingertip, unable to advance another inch!
The Sword-Ray struck his finger like a clay ox entering the sea, vanishing without so much as a ripple!
"I can't let you kill him. If he dies, where am I supposed to find a disciple?"
"Who are you?"
The black-clad man's expression changed in shock, and he immediately withdrew his sword and retreated!
"Me?" The blue-robed man shook his head and jabbed his fingertip out repeatedly.
At once, bloody holes appeared between two of the men's eyebrows.
The remaining man had already frozen in place.
The blue-robed man looked back at Ye Qiubai and smiled. "There's one left. Do you want to ask him who wants you dead?"