Ye Xuan made a spectacular impression at the national tournament!
News of his meteoric rise—achieved through a method bordering on self-harm—quickly spread across all the major martial arts families in the Celestial Dragon Nation.
Some were shocked, some wary, and some… began to scheme.
Celestial Dragon Nation, Huangfu Family.
Inside an ancient and dignified council hall, several elders with deep, restrained auras sat gathered.
“This Ye Xuan is an interesting seedling. Unfortunately, his foundation is too shallow. Burning his potential for strength is ultimately a heretical path—it won’t last,” one white-haired elder commented while sipping tea.
“Ye Xuan isn’t the main issue,” another elder with a hooked nose said, eyes gleaming sharply. “The key is that boy from the Lin family—Lin Yuan!”
“He suppressed Ye Xuan with a single thought during the academy tournament, displaying what appeared to be 9th stage Bone Refining Realm strength, attracting all kinds of attention. But then, he suddenly gave up the national tournament—a perfect opportunity to make his name—and retreated to his estate to lie flat like a salted fish.”
“Unusual behavior means there must be something odd! I suspect the power he displayed earlier either came from some costly, powerful secret treasure, or… his Cultivation Technique has a serious flaw, making him unable to sustain prolonged combat!”
At those words, the elders around the table all fell into deep thought.
The Huangfu and Lin families were old enemies.
Back when Lin Zhan rose to power in the northern territories, stepping over countless powerhouses to reach the peak, he had trampled on the Huangfu family’s predecessors.
That blood debt had never been forgotten.
But Lin Zhan’s influence was immense, and with the Northern Legion in his grasp, they hadn’t dared act rashly.
Now, however, an opportunity seemed to be presenting itself.
“Lin Zhan may be old, but he’s not dead. We can’t touch him. But if we can make an example of the grandson he values most—humiliate him completely—that would be a fine move!” the hooked-nose elder said coldly.
“Exactly! I suggest we send someone to test that Lin Yuan’s true strength!”
“Who should go?”
Everyone’s eyes fell to the end of the hall—on a young man standing straight and proud, with rebellion written all over his face.
Huangfu Zhuo.
The most outstanding genius of the Huangfu family’s current generation. Only twenty years old, and already a powerhouse at 8th stage Bone Refining Realm.
With the Huangfu family’s secret arts, even someone at the 9th stage might not be his match!
“I’ve long wanted to meet this so-called Lin family prodigy. I want to see if he’s truly a dragon—or just a posturing mudfish!”
The hooked-nose elder nodded in satisfaction. “Good! But you can’t go challenge him directly in the Lin family’s name. That would make us look bad.”
“You’ll go under your own name to the Capital Martial Arts Academy. Officially, you’ll say you couldn’t stand seeing Lin Yuan abuse his status to suppress a grassroots genius like Ye Xuan and are there to ‘seek justice’ for him!”
“This way, we can probe Lin Yuan’s strength and appear morally upright—killing two birds with one stone!”
“I understand!” Huangfu Zhuo’s lips curled into a cruel smile.
Humiliate Lin Yuan?
That wouldn’t be enough to satisfy him.
What he wanted… was to crush the so-called Lin family prodigy in front of everyone and trample him so thoroughly that he would never rise again!
…
The next day.
The Capital Martial Arts Academy of the Celestial Dragon Nation received an uninvited guest.
A luxurious floating sports car descended directly onto the plaza at the campus gate, blatantly ignoring the academy’s no-fly regulations and drawing the attention of countless students.
The door opened. Huangfu Zhuo stepped out, dressed in white martial robes, his handsome face holding a look of arrogance, surrounded by black-clad bodyguards.
“Where is Lin Yuan?!”
His voice, thunderous and infused with Spiritual Power, echoed across half the campus.
“Tell him to crawl out here and face me!”
His brazen display instantly stirred public outrage.
“Who does this guy think he is? Daring to act so arrogant at our academy?”
“Huangfu Zhuo? From the Huangfu family? What are they doing here?”
Huangfu Zhuo ignored the murmurs and seized a passing student, asking coldly, “That coward Lin Yuan—where is he hiding?”
The student was so overwhelmed by his 8th stage Bone Refining Realm aura that his legs went weak. Trembling, he pointed to the rear garden. “L-Lin… Senior Lin… he’s usually napping under the ancient tree… in the Rear Garden…”
Napping?
Hearing that word, the disdain and contempt on Huangfu Zhuo’s face deepened.
What a useless piece of trash!
With enemies at the gate, and he still had the mood to nap?
He snorted coldly, pushed the student aside, and strode straight toward the Rear Garden.
A wave of curious students followed closely behind, excited to watch the drama unfold.
Soon, they arrived at the Rear Garden.
Under a centuries-old tree with lush branches, a comfortable recliner sat in the shade. Lin Yuan lay on it, wrapped in a blanket, sleeping soundly. His breathing was steady, and sunlight filtered through the leaves, casting dappled patterns over him—a scene of pure peace and serenity.
Seeing this, the last trace of caution in Huangfu Zhuo’s heart vanished.
How could a real powerhouse sleep so defenselessly in public?
This Lin Yuan was clearly all show!
A cruel smile formed on his face as he stepped forward.
The surrounding students instinctively held their breath.
They could sense that a great clash was about to erupt before their eyes.
Standing less than ten meters away from Lin Yuan, Huangfu Zhuo smirked with contempt.
He had already decided—he would crush this useless man with his own aura, forcing him to awaken in the most humiliating way possible!
“Trash, wake up for me!”
He gave a low shout. The terrifying pressure of an 8th stage Bone Refining Realm expert burst forth like a flood breaking its banks, crashing toward Lin Yuan on the recliner.