Did That Scumbag Summon a Heavenly Phenomenon?
Yeop Rang, standing before An Ranxiu, cupped his fists in salute and spoke.
"Greetings, Lady An!"
An Ranxiu's gaze swept over Yeop Rang. Her eyebrows shot up.
This is the one they call the Heaven's Chosen One, the summoner of a heavenly phenomenon?
The so-called Heaven's Chosen One referred to those who had cultivated martial arts to a certain realm, exhausted their lifespan, and reincarnated. But to those truly favored by the heavens, such beings were objects of contempt—pathetic weaklings desperately reborn.
She hadn't come to Qingcheng seeking Yeop Rang because he was a Heaven's Chosen One, but because he was the man who had summoned a heavenly phenomenon. Seeing him up close now, she couldn't hide her disappointment.
Yeop Rang was also concealing his cultivation realm, though it wasn't solidly hidden. His skills weren't weak, but they fell far short of An Ranxiu's level.
In contrast, Yeop Hyeon beside him had foundations as solid as her own. Moreover, he was a sword cultivator who had reached a hidden realm. In her eyes, Yeop Hyeon appeared far superior as a martial artist.
Could it be that the one who summoned the heavenly phenomenon isn't Yeop Rang, but Yeop Hyeon?
Ignoring Yeop Rang entirely, An Ranxiu addressed Yeop Hyeon.
"In two days, I shall come seeking you!"
With those words, she departed. The onlookers in the hall were left dumbfounded. Yeop Rang was just as flustered. Regaining his wits, the Great Elder hurriedly chased after her and asked politely.
"Lady An, are you leaving without even sparring with Yeop Rang?"
An Ranxiu mounted her horse without so much as glancing at the Great Elder.
"He lacks the qualifications!"
The entire Ye Family stared at her retreating figure, dumb as clams with honeyed mouths. Yeop Rang's face darkened to black. It was the first time he'd faced such outright disdain.
Unable to endure it, Yeop Rang dashed forward. The Great Elder tried to stop him, but it was too late. An Ranxiu halted her horse and aimed the fierce tip of her spear at him. The intense pressure from the spear tip froze Yeop Rang in place.
Yeop Rang stared at her in shock. It was unmistakably spear intent!
As Yeop Rang no longer advanced, An Ranxiu withdrew her spear.
"You're overflowing with pointless arrogance. As expected of a reincarnator..."
She glanced at the Yeop Hyeon siblings and sighed.
"The higher-ups of the Ye Family are truly beyond idiotic!"
An Ranxiu whipped her horse and left the grounds. Yeop Rang's face twisted hideously as he watched her receding back.
Yeop Hyeon returned to his quarters with Yeop Ryeong in tow. He spared no thought for Yeop Rang or the Great Elder. His mind was filled only with training, Yeop Ryeong, the duel in two days, and plans to take her to the Imperial City afterward.
"Oppa, wasn't that big sister just now super pretty?"
"Yeah, the prettiest lady after you."
He wasn't lying. Like his own handsome features, his little sister's beauty was blossoming bit by bit. Yeop Hyeon had no doubt she would soon become Jiang Kingdom's greatest beauty. Yeop Ryeong beamed happily.
Yeop Hyeon returned to the Gyeok Ok Tower.
"Heavenly Maiden, a woman saw through my cultivation realm at a glance. Didn't you say I'm the first to cultivate a hidden realm?"
A moment of silence passed before the Heavenly Maiden's voice echoed.
"Your hidden realm differs from others'."
"How so?"
"Others pass through lightly, but you must endure the agony of death to reach it."
"Why must I?"
"Because you cultivate not just your muscles and bones, marrow, organs, but your entire limbs. Understand?"
Yeop Hyeon had no further rebuttals to the Heavenly Maiden's explanation.
"What of that woman?"
She was referring to An Ranxiu.
"Not bad. But you don't fall short of her. Especially your little sister—she's far superior."
"My sister?"
Yeop Hyeon asked, puzzled.
"What do you mean?"
"Pay it no mind. More importantly, you've learned basic swordsmanship. Now it's time for sword techniques."
Yeop Hyeon asked urgently.
"What sword techniques?"
Sword techniques were exceedingly rare. Over long years, the Ye Family possessed only a dozen or so martial techniques, none of high grade. Martial techniques were graded as Heavenly (천계), Earth (지계), Spirit (영계), Mystery (현계), Human (인계), and Mundane (속계).
Even the Ye Family's best was low-grade Human rank, accessible only to the clan leader. Qingcheng's finest was merely low-grade Spirit rank, held by the city lord's office.
Martial techniques were rarer than elixirs. Even rarer were sword techniques, scarcely found anywhere in Qingcheng. The Heavenly Maiden's voice continued.
"Choose one of my two sword techniques. One boasts extreme lethality—a fine technique. But at higher realms, it may hit limits. The other is an evolving type, boundless in grade or realm. It grows with your strength, usable eternally. However, it weakens if your killing intent or sword path conviction falters. Conversely, stronger conviction yields unlimited power."
Yeop Hyeon asked gravely.
"Heavenly Maiden, can I cultivate both?"
"No. Greed avails nothing—it's inferior to mastering one pure technique. Later, once one is perfected, you may switch. Your current sword path understanding is too shallow to digest more than one. All sword techniques demand this, but mine are especially unique. One technique, one stance, one life, one sword path ideology! Remember that."
Yeop Hyeon scanned his surroundings with his eyes and asked.
"Are you a sword cultivator too, Heavenly Maiden?"
"Too many questions. Choose—which will you cultivate?"
Yeop Hyeon gave a wry smile.
"The second one."
"Bold choice. But remember: without skill to back it, boldness is worthless."
"I'll keep it in mind."
"The technique I impart is One Sword Determines Life and Death. Once unleashed, it shall decide life or death without fail. Its cultivation differs from other sword techniques—it's a matter of conviction. Success depends on your harmony with it!"
As the Heavenly Maiden finished, the technique's circulation method imprinted in Yeop Hyeon's mind. He hurriedly drew his sword and executed it as guided.
But something was off. No matter how he swung, nothing happened. His chest only grew stuffy. Yeop Hyeon couldn't comprehend it.
"Heavenly Maiden, what is this...?"
"This sword technique has six stages. You haven't unlocked even the first key, so you can't manifest it. It depends on how swiftly you harmonize with the sword."
The Heavenly Maiden's words sounded like riddles to Yeop Hyeon. He had no clue how to "unlock the key." She continued.
"A sword cultivator decides the foe's fate the instant the sword is drawn. Again: its foundation is killing intent and sword path conviction. Engrave it deeply in your mind, and one day, with opportunity, you'll awaken naturally."
Yeop Hyeon pressed on with training. Sparring furiously with shadows, he vastly improved his speed, power, and reactions. Since discovering his hidden realm and becoming a true swordsman, his combat prowess had multiplied several times. Though merely at the sixth rank of the Qi Transformation Realm, no ordinary Control Qi Realm martial artist could match him.
Time flew like an arrow, and the day of the life-and-death duel arrived.
Riding Yeop Rang's fame, word of the duel had spread throughout Qingcheng. Yeop Hyeon was infamous in Qingcheng too. Though now overshadowed by Yeop Rang, it was Yeop Hyeon who had sustained the Ye Family this long. He had earned the most merit within the clan.
But two tigers cannot share one mountain. Cruel as it was, the Ye Family had to choose one between Yeop Rang and Yeop Hyeon.
For their life-and-death showdown, the Ye Family invited all major Qingcheng powers. To accommodate them, the venue was set outside the mansion.
For this day, the Ye Family erected a massive dueling platform dozens of zhang wide. The sharp-eyed saw through their intent: to elevate Yeop Rang's rising fame and momentum.
Yeop Rang had rarely appeared publicly before. This event would etch his face and skills into everyone's memory. The crowd enthused at the Ye Family's scheme.
Everyone yearned to see how mighty a Heaven's Chosen One truly was. Most of Qingcheng turned out to witness the duel. The Ye Family Mansion outskirts were a sea of people.
Ye Family elders and Yeop Rang gathered at the ancestral hall. Yeop Rang wore a black robe lined with gold thread inside, hard to pierce with ordinary blades. At his waist hung a blue jade plaque called the Spirit-Concentrating Jade—a rare treasure that kept one's divine sense alert. Moreover, it contained pure spiritual energy to bolster his Control Qi Realm qi, like giving wings to a tiger.
The Ye Family spared no support for Yeop Rang. To them, he was worth that much.
The Great Elder bowed to the ancestral tablets and spoke.
"Heavens, ancestors, look upon us! A Heaven's Chosen One has been born in our Ye Family. From this day, we shall shine brilliantly before the world."
All in the hall bowed to the tablets. The Great Elder turned to Yeop Rang.
"Yeop Rang, today you debut before the masses. Show no mercy to Yeop Hyeon—unleash your full power!"
The other elders nodded. Better to swiftly eliminate the thorn in their side, Yeop Hyeon. Yeop Rang smiled faintly.
"Of course I won't hold back!"
The Great Elder nodded.
"Not just Yancheng, but powers from Luocheng have come to observe. This duel is the perfect chance to spread your name. Once you slay Yeop Hyeon, your fame will soar among them. Even mountain-dwellers or Cangmu Academy may take notice. Remember that."
"I will."
The Great Elder patted Yeop Rang's shoulder.
"Heaven's Chosen One, bearer of past-life memories. I know not who you were before, but now you're Ye Family blood. Isn't that right?"
Yeop Rang smiled.
"Of course. My soul and blood belong to the Ye Family."
Yeop Rang's lips curled subtly. In truth, he harbored goals apart from the Ye Family.
"Good. Now, let's go!"