The masked figure tilted their head slightly, amusement dancing in their hidden eyes.
"Funny," the voice murmured. "You call him trash, but are you really any better? Do you think you're truly worthy of her?"
A sneer formed behind the mask.
Lu Aotian's eyes sharpened. "Why don't you remove your mask? The only outsider here is dead." He gestured to Di Wi's corpse.
Instead of answering, the masked person turned toward the assassin. After a silent moment, Lu Aotian gave a dismissive wave.
"Leave us," he ordered.
The assassin bowed and exited the room, shutting the door behind him.
With slow, deliberate motion, the masked person removed their disguise, revealing their face in the flickering candlelight.
Her skin was pale and smooth. Cold blue eyes, a small nose, and a dangerous smile graced her coldly beautiful face.
It was Sheng Qinhua—Ye Xian's first stepmother, and Ye Shen's mother.
Lu Aotian's interest wasn't just in the girl. He wasn't a complete fool—he knew he couldn't afford to provoke the Meng Clan, but the Ye Clan was a different story. All he really wanted was the cultivation manual Ye Xian possessed, the one Ye Xian had once attempted to cultivate, only to suffer a backlash that caused his entire realm to collapse.
When Sheng Qinhua approached him promising he would get that manual, he agreed immediately. If he got the manual, that was one gain. And if he could also use Sheng Qinhua—who was above his cultivation level. His assassin would be enough to handle her. Then he could satisfy both goal and desire.
He had already planned it: once he had the manual, he'd give Ye Shen another younger sibling—while enjoying Sheng Qinhua, that mature woman, to his heart's content.
The men who had attacked Ye Xian were killed, and their heads were so badly disfigured by Lu Aotian's men that no one could identify them.
Sheng Qinhua was a clever and ruthless woman. She had known all along that her son had ordered people to go after Ye Xian. But when Ye Xian returned to the clan, the first thing she did was cover up all traces of it—with Lu Aotian's help.
She didn't even tell her own son that she had secretly joined forces with Lu Aotian to plot against Ye Xian.
Sheng Qinhua was fully aware that Lu Aotian had his own hidden motives. But she was no fool—if this scoundrel ever tried to cross her, she was ready to tear his manhood out by the roots.
"I have another plan," Sheng Qinhua said softly, her tone filled with quiet confidence. "But we'll need patience. There's something that needs to be tempered first…"
As she began to explain, Lu Aotian leaned forward, surpressing his urge and thought to shred her clothes. His voice dropped to a whisper.
"What if it doesn't work? What if things go wrong?"
Sheng Qinhua smiled slyly, her eyes gleaming. "Then we use the other plan," she said, her voice cold and sure.
"The clan tournament is in three weeks. It happens every five years. All the clans will be there to show off their talents and compete for prestige. It's the perfect stage to make your move. Cripple him there."
Lu Aotian's eyes narrowed. "But if I do that, I'll be disqualified! The tournament is the most important event. If I get caught, everything I've built will be ruined."
Sheng Qinhua remained calm. "You won't need to do it yourself. Others can handle it. You just have to make sure it happens at the right time—during the tournament, when everyone's distracted."
Lu Aotian drummed his fingers on the table, thinking hard. "I see… It's the perfect cover. A public event where no one will question it. So obvious, it'll be overlooked. But the timing has to be perfect."
"Exactly," Sheng Qinhua replied, eyes gleaming with malice. "With the tournament approaching, it's the perfect opportunity. Everyone will be too focused on their own victories to notice your scheme. You can eliminate Ye Xian without ever lifting a finger—Just like in the same tournament five years ago, when your older brother crippled the Ye Clan patriarch's son."
.
.
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A soft knock stirred Ye Xian from his slumber. He groaned quietly, having pushed himself deep into the night practicing the Shrouded Aura Triad Technique, his body sore and exhausted. Blinking the sleep from his eyes, he rose and opened the door, half-expecting trouble.
Instead, he was greeted by an ethereal sight.
Standing there was a stunningly elegant young woman—Sheng Qianying. Her silky pale skin glowed under the morning light, her clear blue eyes sparkled gently, and her soft pink lips curved in a smile that could melt glaciers. The very sight of her erased his fatigue.
"Good morning," Ye Xian greeted, his voice a little husky from sleep, but his smile genuine. Seeing her first thing made his chest warm and his thoughts stir.
Qianying stepped inside with grace, quietly shutting the door behind her. That sweet, inviting smile never left her face as she turned—and without a word, she suddenly embraced him.
Her body pressed close, her soft, ample breast flattening against his torso. The thin fabric of her robe did little to hide her curves. Her subtle fragrance wrapped around him like an intoxicating haze—floral, fresh, and deeply feminine.
Ye Xian's arms instinctively slid around her slim waist, his fingers resting just above the gentle curve of her hips. Her body was warm, soft, and fit perfectly against his.
Qianying nestled her face into his chest, her cheeks slightly flushed, her breath tickling his skin.
"I've broken through," she whispered, her voice soft as silk. "I've entered the Element Disciple Realm."
Ye Xian's eyes widened. Surprise turned into joy. He gently brushed his lips against her forehead, his heart genuinely moved. "That's incredible, Qianying. I'm proud of you."
She closed her eyes at his touch, a pleased shiver running through her. For years, she had been stuck at the peak of the Ki Warrior Realm. With only C-grade talent, her cultivation had been a painful uphill struggle.
But something had changed. After her time with Ye Xian yesterday morning—their shared moment of closeness—her ki began to flow differently.
It was as if something deep inside her had awakened. Then she had secluded herself in her chamber, pushed through the bottleneck, and emerged victorious.
When she broke through to the Element Disciple Realm, her very first thought was to tell Ye Xian. So here she was, bringing him the news.
Still leaning into him, she looked up through long lashes, her voice shy yet proud.
"Do you want to know which element I awakened?"
Ye Xian gave a curious nod. "Tell me."
Her lips curled into a soft, almost teasing smile.
"Light."
The answer stunned him. Truly stunned him.
Light was one of the rarest and most revered elements—not just in Azure Sky City but in the entire Qing Empire. There were only a handful of known cultivators who had ever awakened it.
To possess the Light element was to be kissed by destiny.
Ye Xian looked down at her, his arms tightening slightly around her body. In that moment, with her body pressed against him, her warmth radiating into his skin, and her beautiful eyes shining with happiness—he couldn't help but lean in closer.
"You really are… extraordinary," he murmured, his voice low and filled with something deeper.
Qianying blushed again, but this time she didn't look away. Instead, her arms slipped around his neck and she pressed her body more fully against him, her breath warm against his ear.