Chapter 10

Regarding the mysterious woman’s explanation, Ye Fan did not fully understand it, nor did he dwell on it. As long as it was not detrimental to him, that was enough. Seemingly recalling something, Ye Fan asked, “Senior, you saw that woman earlier. What do you think of her?” The woman he referred to was naturally An Lanxiu. The mysterious woman replied indifferently, “Nothing special. You and your sister are not inferior to her, especially your sister—she is even better than her.” “My sister?” Ye Fan was stunned. “Senior, what do you mean?” The mysterious woman said, “Don't worry about that for now. You have already mastered the basics of swordsmanship; you can now attempt to practise some sword techniques.” Hearing this, Ye Fan hurriedly asked, “What sword techniques?” Sword techniques! Such things were exceedingly rare. It was worth noting that despite the Ye family’s long-standing history, they only possessed about ten martial techniques, all of which were low-level! Martial techniques were categorised into ranks: Heaven, Earth, Spirit, Profound, Human, and Common. The best martial technique owned by the Ye family was only a lower Human-rank technique, and even then, only the family head was allowed to practise it. As for Qingcheng, the best martial technique available was a lower Spirit-rank one possessed by the City Lord’s Mansion! Martial techniques were considered more valuable than even elixirs! As for sword techniques, they were even rarer—Qingcheng likely had none at all! At that moment, the mysterious woman said, “I have two sword techniques for you to choose from. The first is a rather good one, extremely lethal, but it has a limit that cannot be surpassed. The second is an evolving technique—it has no rank and no limits. The stronger you become, the stronger it becomes. It can accompany you for life. However, this technique has a major flaw: if your killing intent and sword conviction are not strong enough, it will weaken over time. Conversely, the stronger your killing intent and sword conviction, the stronger it becomes—until it reaches an unfathomable level!” Ye Fan asked solemnly, “Senior, can I practise both?” The mysterious woman said, “No. Greed leads to failure. Mastering many techniques is not as good as excelling in one. You can learn other sword techniques in the future, but for now, it is best to focus on one, as your understanding of swordsmanship is not deep. Learning too many would be futile. Each sword technique, especially the ones I am imparting to you, is unique. A sword technique represents an attitude, a way of life, and a philosophy of swordsmanship. Do you understand?” Ye Fan glanced around and then asked, “Senior, are you also a sword cultivator?” The mysterious woman replied indifferently, “You ask too many questions.” Ye Fan: “......” The mysterious woman said, “Choose. Which one will it be?” Ye Fan smiled bitterly. “Naturally, the second one.” The mysterious woman said, “You have great ambition, but remember—ambition must be matched with strength.” Ye Fan nodded slightly. “Understood.” The mysterious woman continued, “This sword technique is called: ‘One Sword Decides Life and Death.’ Its essence lies in this—once I draw my sword, your fate is sealed. Unlike other sword techniques, this one is more of a belief in swordsmanship. Whether you can master it or not depends entirely on your own comprehension!” As the mysterious woman’s words fell, knowledge of the sword technique appeared in Ye Fan’s mind. Ye Fan immediately summoned his Lingxiao Sword and attempted to perform the technique according to its method. However, he was shocked to find that it had no effect at all! Not only was it ineffective, but he also felt a stifling discomfort in his heart! Ye Fan looked around in confusion. “Senior, what is this?” The mysterious woman explained, “This sword technique has six stages. You have yet to unlock the first stage, so naturally, you cannot perform it. As for when you will be able to, that depends on your own comprehension.” Ye Fan’s expression turned strange. Damn, what kind of sword technique is this? It even needs to be unlocked? The mysterious woman suddenly said, “A true sword cultivator does not draw their sword lightly, but when they do, it must determine life or death. The core of this technique lies in your killing intent and conviction in the Way of the Sword. Do not force it; when the time is right, you will naturally succeed.” Ye Fan smiled bitterly. For now, this was his only option. In the days that followed, Ye Fan did not stop practising. Instead, he trained relentlessly against the shadow figure. These battles significantly improved his speed, strength, and reaction time! He was already battle-hardened, and now, not only had he attained the Hidden Realm, but he had also become a true swordsman. Compared to before, his combat strength had increased exponentially! Although he was only at the Sixth Grade of Qi Transformation, ordinary Qi Manipulation practitioners were no match for him! Time passed quickly, and soon, the day of Ye Fan and Ye Lang’s life-and-death duel arrived. Due to Ye Lang, news of their duel had spread throughout the Ye family, and soon, the entire Qingcheng knew about it. Ye Fan! The people of Qingcheng were not unfamiliar with this name. Back then, it was Ye Fan who had saved the Ye family from a disadvantageous situation in Qingcheng. He was, without a doubt, the greatest contributor to the Ye family. Unfortunately, now the Ye family had Ye Lang. Royalty has no sentiment, and noble families are even more ruthless. They support only those who are useful. Within the family, there could not be two tigers on the same mountain, as there could only be one patriarch. Simply put, the Ye family had to choose between Ye Fan and Ye Lang. And it was obvious to everyone whom they would choose. Today was Ye Lang and Ye Fan’s life-and-death duel. The Ye family had even invited the major noble families of Qingcheng to witness it. Moreover, the duel’s location had been moved outside Ye Manor. Outside Ye Manor, the Ye family had built an arena tens of metres wide for the duel. The Ye family’s intention was clear to those with insight. Ye Lang had been in the spotlight recently, and the Ye family wanted to give him an even greater boost in reputation, solidifying his prestige. At the same time, this was also a show of strength. Ye Lang rarely appeared in public, and this time, he was clearly aiming to make a name for himself. This arrangement by the Ye family suited many in Qingcheng. They were all eager to see just how extraordinary the so-called ‘chosen one’ truly was. As a result, almost the entire city had gathered outside Ye Manor. At this moment, the area outside Ye Manor was packed with people, a sea of heads, buzzing with excitement. Inside Ye Manor. In the ancestral hall, all the elders of the Ye family were present, and Ye Lang was there as well. Ye Lang wore a black robe—not an ordinary one, but one woven with golden threads, making it highly resistant to blades. Additionally, he wore a jade pendant at his waist. This was no ordinary item either; it was called the ‘Tranquil Jade,’ capable of clearing the mind and maintaining mental clarity—an invaluable trait in critical moments. Most importantly, the Tranquil Jade contained refined spiritual energy. As a Qi Manipulation practitioner, Ye Lang could harness this energy, giving him a significant advantage. It was evident that the Ye family had invested greatly in Ye Lang. However, they all believed it was worth it. The Grand Elder bowed respectfully towards the ancestral tablets. “The heavens and our ancestors have blessed us. The Ye family has produced a chosen one. From today onwards, we shall reclaim our former glory.” With that, everyone present bowed deeply. After the ceremony, the Grand Elder turned to Ye Lang. “Ye Lang, today is your grand debut. Show no mercy to Ye Fan.” Hearing this, the other elders all nodded. Ye Fan was too unruly—it was best to eliminate him. Ye Lang smiled slightly. “Naturally.” The Grand Elder nodded approvingly. “I have received word that people from Flame City and Luo City have come to Qingcheng. They must have been sent by the powerful factions of those cities. Your duel with Ye Fan today will establish your reputation. Once you kill Ye Fan, those factions will surely seek to ally with our Ye family. This will also be an opportunity for you to gain recognition. With their support, you will have a great chance of catching the attention of the figures from the mountain—even the Cangmu Academy!” Ye Lang nodded slightly. “Understood.” The Great Elder walked up to Ye Lang and gently patted his shoulder. "A chosen one, possessing memories of a past life. No matter who you were before, you carry the bloodline of the Ye family. You wouldn't deny that, would you?" Ye Lang smiled. "Of course, my soul and blood both belong to the Ye family." However, a trace of mockery lingered at the corner of his lips. Ye Fan was merely his stepping stone, and as for the Ye family, it was nothing more than a foothold for him! A faint smile appeared on the Great Elder’s face. "That's good. Let's go!" Soon, under the leadership of the Great Elder and the other elders, Ye Lang left the Ye residence and stepped onto the newly constructed duelling stage. As soon as the crowd saw Ye Lang, the atmosphere grew lively. A prodigious genius! A once-in-a-lifetime talent capable of triggering celestial phenomena—Qingcheng had never seen such a figure before. Ye Lang glanced at the people below, a faint smile forming on his lips. In his past life, he had once looked down upon others just like this. But in this life, the heavens had favoured him, allowing him to summon celestial signs. In this life, he was destined to be one of the most dazzling stars in the Qingcang realm! That legendary Demon List—Ye Lang would surely claim a place on it! At that thought, Ye Lang’s smile widened. A moment later, he suddenly turned his head towards the Ye residence and shouted, "Ye Fan, come out and meet your death!" His voice, like thunder, echoed through the sky. Ye Fan! The crowd instantly turned to look at the Ye residence. Where was Ye Fan? Yet, the main gate of the Ye residence remained shut—Ye Fan had not emerged. "Could he be afraid?" "Impossible! Ye Fan was once called 'Ye the Ruthless.' He doesn’t seem like the type to fear death." "'Ye the Ruthless'? Pah! Look at who his opponent is! This is the chosen one, a man capable of summoning celestial phenomena!" "Enough talk. Let’s wait and see. The Ye family will surely give the public an answer!" Not far away, on the specially constructed viewing platform, the Great Elder of the Ye family frowned as he glanced at the residence. "What is he playing at? Go and check!" Hearing this, Ye Ku nodded and turned to leave. Inside the Ye residence. In a room, Ye Fan was holding a bowl of medicinal soup, carefully feeding Ye Ling spoonful by spoonful. An hour ago, he had already been prepared to leave. "Brother, today is your life-and-death duel with Ye Lang," Ye Ling whispered. Ye Fan smiled faintly. "Don't worry. Here, drink this medicine. Open your mouth. Good girl..." A moment later, Ye Fan stood up. "Brother has to go now." Ye Ling obediently nodded. Ye Fan leaned down and placed a gentle kiss on Ye Ling's forehead before turning to leave. As he reached the door, Ye Ling's voice suddenly rang out behind him. "Brother... you will come back, right?" Ye Fan nodded. "I promise." With that, he pushed open the door and stepped out. On the bed, Ye Ling slowly closed her eyes. Her right hand reached under the bedsheet, where a pair of scissors lay hidden. A long time ago, she had thought of taking her own life to avoid being a burden on Ye Fan. But every time she saw him, she found herself unable to go through with it. It wasn’t that she feared death. She simply feared that if she died, Ye Fan would be left utterly alone. Ye Ling gripped the scissors tightly. If Ye Fan did not return… then she would have no reason to live either. In life, she would stand by her brother. In death, she would follow him too!