Ye Kaishan sipped his tea as the soft melody of the zither echoed through the pavilion. Warm lantern light flickered across polished wood, glinting on the teacups and silken sleeves of the cultivators gathered within.
His calm gaze drifted lazily across the crowd — their luxurious robes, ornate accessories, and composed manners revealed their origins from prominent sects and noble clans.
The gentle hum of conversation filled the air like ripples upon a tranquil pond.Yet Ye Kaishan paid it no mind.
He sat quietly, savoring the fragrance of the tea, letting the zither's notes flow through his mind like a cool mountain breeze.
Outside, night deepened. The twin moon shone inside the sea of stars as the lanterns swayed softly in the evening wind.
Inside, the tea pavilion had become packed to its limits. Every table was occupied, yet more cultivators continued to enter, the air thick with pride and power.
"Hey, you. Get up. This seat is mine now," a cold, domineering voice cut through the melody like a blade.
Ye Kaishan's brows remained still.
A woman stood before him — tall, rough-faced, her dark pupils burning with hostility. Crimson hair framed her scarred features, and the faint scent of iron clung to her brown robe.
Soul energy rippled around her like a coiled serpent — fierce, unrestrained. Behind her stood five subordinates, already forcing other guests from their tables with kicks and curses.
But Ye Kaishan remained unmoved. His eyes half-closed, he seemed lost in a tranquil world of tea and music. To him, the noise was nothing but distant thunder.
The woman's frown deepened."Hey, you peasant, I'm talking to you!" she snapped, her voice sharp enough to rattle teacups.
Still, Ye Kaishan didn't respond. He simply lifted his cup again.
Veins bulged on the woman's neck, her muscles tightening as fury coiled through her frame."Good… looks like you mortals have really forgotten your place."
Crack—Her knuckles popped like breaking branches as she clenched her fist, a cruel smile twisting her lips."Don't blame me if you lose a few teeth."
Soul energy surged around her arm, glowing a violent crimson. She swung her fist forward, air splitting apart with a shrill whistle—
Boom!Before the strike could land, a figure darted out from the crowd.A dull thud rang out as Shen Yao caught the blow barehanded.
Gasps rippled through the room. The zither strings snapped in fright.
"Who are you, and what business do you have with Brother Ye?" Shen Yao's tone was sharp, his eyes cold as tempered steel.
Reckless woman… good thing I was here, he thought grimly, forcing her fist back with trembling strength.
The red-haired cultivator's eyes widened.He caught it? Impossible! Even if that wasn't my full power, a Soul Spirit shouldn't be able to stop my punch!
Her expression darkened as she studied the young man before her.
Ye Kaishan, meanwhile, opened one eye, a faint smile curving his lips.I didn't expect Shen Yao to be here. Still, that saves me some trouble — I'd rather not attract attention before the Yaochi Tournament.
He shifted his gaze to the woman and her entourage. Their arrogant bearing and embroidered robes spoke of influence and backing.They must be from a prominent force. That explains their insolence.
The zither's melody faded completely. The air thickened, heavy with spiritual pressure. Whispers darted from table to table.
"Who are they?""Shh! Don't speak so loudly — can't you feel it? They're from a major sect!"
Ignoring the murmurs, the woman's eyes gleamed with murderous intent."Peasant," she hissed, gathering crimson energy around her arm, "know your place!"
Her fist ignited again, this time several times stronger — a burning comet tearing through the air toward Shen Yao.
The young man's pupils contracted. The floor cracked under the weight of her aura, yet he stood firm, golden energy surging around his arm."Come then," he murmured.
Boom!
The two forces collided. A blinding flash erupted, followed by a thunderous shockwave. Tables shattered, walls cracked, and the pavilion's roof caved in, raining splinters and dust.
The once-elegant hall became a storm of chaos and screams.
Ye Kaishan sighed softly."Tch… good guy."
With effortless grace, he caught Shen Yao by the collar. The space around them shimmered — and in the blink of an eye, they vanished into the void.
Silence fell.
Dust rolled through the ruined pavilion like fog. Cultivators coughed and staggered to their feet, their faces pale.
"W-Where did they go?" the red-haired woman stammered, scanning the devastation. Her eyes darted across the wreckage but found no trace of the two men — only shattered tables, collapsed beams, and groaning survivors buried beneath the debris.
She looked down at her trembling hand, a flicker of unease dimming her fiery gaze.
Far away, in Shen Yao's quiet courtyard—
The void rippled, then split apart with a low hum. Shen Yao fell through, landing hard on the stone floor."Ouch…" he groaned, rubbing his back.
Ye Kaishan stepped out behind him, unruffled as ever, his robes untouched by the distortion of space. A faint smile tugged at his lips.
I didn't expect this kid's talent to be so extraordinary. That woman's energy was clearly of the Soul Forging Realm, yet he managed to meet her blow. Even injured, he still stands.
His gaze fell on Shen Yao's swollen, blood-slick hand."Here, take this," Ye Kaishan said, tossing a small crimson pill.
Shen Yao caught it, hesitating."Brother Ye, it's not that bad. My hand will heal in a few days. You should keep it."
Ye Kaishan laughed softly."I'm not giving it for free. I'm no rich young master. I'm giving it because you stood up for me. Take it — and cultivate well."
The young man nodded, swallowing the pill. Warmth spread through his veins, the pain fading from his fingers as spiritual energy flowed gently through his meridians.
Outside, the night wind whispered through bamboo leaves, carrying faint traces of the zither's last melody — a reminder of fleeting peace before the storm to come.
After chatting briefly with Ye Kaishan, Shen Yao excused himself and returned to his room.
Ye Kaishan remained in the courtyard. For a while, he simply stood under the moonlight, the cool breeze brushing against his robes.
Then, with a quiet exhale, he flicked his wrist. A sword and a worn-out manual appeared before him.
The faint silver of the moon shimmered on the blade as he opened the manual. Its pages fluttered gently, revealing cryptic diagrams of sword movements.
He grasped the sword with a steady hand and began to move.
At first, each swing was rigid, his stance slightly uneven. The metallic hum of the blade sliced through the silence — harsh, raw, unrefined. But as time passed, the rhythm deepened.
The movements grew smoother, the sword's arc tracing moonlit patterns through the air.
The once awkward strikes gradually merged into a dance — wild yet harmonious.
The faint glow of spatial energy began to ripple around him as Ye Kaishan practiced, merging his swordsmanship with the Laws of Space.
Under the vast sky, a lone figure trained in silence, his blade gleaming beneath the tranquil light of the moon.
Meanwhile, in another room, Song Yan sat cross-legged in meditation. Her body shimmered with divine light as threads of soul energy from heaven and earth spiraled toward her, weaving into her meridians.
The air itself seemed to tremble as she drew the energy inward — devouring, refining, transforming it into her own power.
Two Days Later — Heavenreach Citadel
"Yawn…"
Ye Kaishan stretched lazily as the first light of dawn filtered through the window. Rising from his bed, he stepped outside. The morning air was crisp and filled with the scent of dew. Twilight brushed the horizon in soft shades of gold and blue, and the world slowly awakened from its slumber.
For two days, no one had left the manor. Shen Yao and Song Yan were in deep cultivation, while Ye Kaishan had immersed himself in sword practice.
"Today's the day of the tournament," he murmured. His eyes drifted toward the quiet manor. "I wonder if Song Yan will come out."
As he turned, a flicker of light crossed his eyes.
The surrounding air trembled — waves of space laws surged across the courtyard.
Boom!
A powerful burst of soul energy erupted from the manor, shaking the air and distorting the space around it. Ripples spread like shockwaves, bending the light before gradually subsiding.
Creak—
The door opened slowly.
Song Yan stepped out, her steps light yet steady. Her complexion glowed with a healthy luster, and her aura pulsed gently with harmonious space energy.
She approached Ye Kaishan, a faint smile curving her lips.
"Did you break through to late Nirvana?" Ye Kaishan asked,
Song Yan exhaled softly. "Even better," she replied calmly. "I've advanced to the peak of the Soul Nirvana Realm."
"Peak Nirvana?" Ye Kaishan raised his brows. Then he smiled faintly.
"I guessed as much when I felt the space laws trembling earlier."
Boom!
Before he could say more, another eruption of soul power surged from within the manor. The air trembled again, stirring the courtyard.
Song Yan turned, confusion clouding her expression. "Someone else is cultivating inside?" she muttered.
"Could it be Shen Yao?" Ye Kaishan wondered, his gaze fixed on the glowing energy radiating from the manor.