The burst of soul energy gradually subsided as Shen Yao stepped out of the manor, faint traces of spiritual power still lingering around him.Song Yan's eyes widened slightly as she turned toward him, sensing the residual fluctuations in his aura.
"How did he become a cultivator…?" she murmured, a hint of confusion flashing in her eyes.
Shen Yao approached Ye Kaishan and Song Yan, a bright smile on his face.Ye Kaishan, sensing the radiant flow of energy surrounding him, asked lightly, "Did you break through again?"
"Yes," Shen Yao exhaled softly. "Thanks to you, Brother Ye, I've reached the Soul Breaking Realm."
Song Yan's expression stiffened slightly as her gaze shifted to Ye Kaishan, silently demanding an explanation.Ye Kaishan coughed with a wry smile. Looks like I'll have to explain everything now… she still doesn't know.
"Well, we were just about to head to the Yaochi Tournament," Ye Kaishan said, clearing his throat.
"Tournament? Ah, right!" Shen Yao scratched his head and chuckled. "You two were here for that."He smiled warmly. "Then I wish both of you the best of luck, Brother Ye, Sister Song."
After exchanging a few more words, Shen Yao excused himself and left the manor, his figure slowly disappearing into the morning light.
Once his silhouette vanished, Song Yan crossed her arms and frowned."What did he mean by that?" she asked sharply. "How did he break through to the Soul Breaking Realm? How did he even become a cultivator without forming a Dao bond?"
Her questions came one after another, her tone laced with both curiosity and disbelief.
Ye Kaishan blinked, caught off guard by her rapid questioning. "Wait, wait—I'll explain." He sighed softly before continuing,
"After you went into seclusion, Shen Yao came to me, asking if I could teach him.
He wanted to cultivate, even though I told him he wasn't suited for sword arts. So, I used my Space Manipulation to clear his meridians and open a path for him. That's how he managed to advance."
He paused before adding, "First, he reached the Soul Spirit Realm, and now, the Soul Breaking Realm."
Song Yan blinked in mild astonishment. Clearing someone's meridians using spatial energy?Her thoughts deepened as she gazed at him.
It's actually possible… Why didn't I think of that? Maybe because it never concerned me—as a woman, I never faced such restrictions.
"But still," she said softly, "clearing meridians requires immense control over spatial laws."Her eyes narrowed slightly, a flicker of admiration flashing within them.
"You do realize he won't be able to go beyond the Forging Realm, right? Without a Dao companion, he'll hit a wall."
"I know," Ye Kaishan replied calmly. "I've already told him that. I helped because his heart was pure. Though he may stop at the Forging Realm, who knows? Perhaps fate will open another path for him."
Song Yan sighed lightly. "Enough talk. Let's go—the tournament will start soon, and we'll be late."
Ye Kaishan nodded, and together they stepped out of the manor toward the martial grounds of Yaochi.
The city of Heavenreach Citadel was unusually vibrant that morning.
Thousands of cultivators from countless sects and prominent clans filled the streets. Vendors shouted over one another, pavilions were bursting with activity, and even the inns had been packed for days.
Crowds surged toward the ten grand martial arenas, where distinguished judges stood ready to determine victory and defeat. The high wings were reserved for core spectators—elders, geniuses, and nobles who had come to witness the rising stars of this generation.
The morning sun shone warmly upon the bustling city as the cool mist slowly faded away.
Behind one of the massive crowds, two figures stood watching from the shadows.
"Yin Mo, stop drinking. You'll ruin the plan," Chi Ruo scolded sharply.
Yin Mo frowned, holding her gourd lazily. "I know, I know. I was just… testing it. Anyway, where's Yan Feixue? She should've arrived by now."
"She's here," Chi Ruo replied, her gaze fixed on the crowd. "She's already mixed in with the people from Shadow Moon Sect. Their assassins have blended seamlessly among the spectators."
The crowd's excitement swelled when a faint breeze carried the fragrance of lotus petals through the air.
Hong Lian and Lian Yu descended gracefully from the sky, taking their seats on the high-wing platform. The aura of lotus essence surrounded them, calming yet dignified.
"Hey, is that the representative of this tournament?""She's beautiful… but is she really strong enough to host it?""Be quiet! She's a Soul Saint! One look from her could erase you from existence."
Whispers filled the air from both men and women as they gazed at the two celestial figures.
Yin Mo squinted lazily, pointing with her finger. "Oh… she's… um…" She frowned, trying to recall. "Where did I see her before…?"
Chi Ruo sighed helplessly. "You can't even remember recent events now, can you?"
On the high wing, Lian Yu gazed over the vast crowd of cultivators below, their faces alight with excitement and fighting spirit.
"Looks like the number of participants this year far exceeds the last," he remarked with a faint smile. "What do you think, Hong Lian?"
He turned to the woman beside him—but Hong Lian seemed distant, her eyes unfocused, lost in thought.
"Hong Lian?" Lian Yu called softly, shaking her shoulder. Her long white lashes fluttered as she blinked, returning to the present.
"What happened?" he asked with a frown. "Are you still worrying? Don't overthink. With so many cultivators and spectators present, they wouldn't dare act recklessly."
"...Sigh."
Hong Lian exhaled softly, her gaze sweeping over the sea of cultivators, each radiating fervor and vitality. "You're right. Perhaps I'm overthinking again. I should focus on the tournament."
But then—her eyes narrowed. "Wait… her!"
Her pupils contracted as she locked onto a familiar figure walking toward the martial grounds.
"That's the same girl from that day," Hong Lian murmured. Her gaze lingered on Song Yan, who entered the grounds beside Ye Kaishan. Both registered their names and held their entry tokens in hand.
A slight frown touched Hong Lian's lips. I didn't have the chance to ask her that time… Did she come here just for the tournament?
Down below, Song Yan and Ye Kaishan stood behind the dense crowd of cultivators, waiting for the event to begin.
"Looks like we'll have to wait," Ye Kaishan said calmly. "It hasn't even started yet."
"Yes," Song Yan replied softly, her eyes focused on the grand stage ahead. "But it's already time. They should begin soon."
Thud!A sudden jolt ran through the crowd as a woman brushed past Song Yan's hand and strode forward in haste.
Song Yan's brows knit slightly, a faint ripple of spiritual energy flickering around her fingertips before it faded.
"Are you alright?" Ye Kaishan asked, steadying her hand.
"Yes, I'm fine," she exhaled softly, her tone calm yet faintly cold.
Ye Kaishan's gaze followed the woman's retreating figure, then caught sight of something on the ground—a faint glimmer beneath the morning light. He crouched and picked it up.
It was a talisman—aged and brittle to the touch, yet pulsing with a faint crimson glow. Strange runes were carved upon its surface, twisting like living veins. The intricate patterns formed a sinister beauty that sent a faint chill through the air.
"What is it?" Song Yan asked as she stepped beside him, her shadow falling over his hand.
When her eyes met the talisman, her expression changed. Her pupils constricted sharply, and for a moment, the surrounding noise of the martial ground seemed to dull into silence.
"This…" she murmured, her tone tightening as a trace of alarm crossed her gaze.
"You recognize it?" Ye Kaishan asked, watching her reaction.
Song Yan nodded slowly. "Yes. It's a talisman used in formation arrays." Her voice dropped, carrying a heavy undertone.
She took a quiet breath, the air between them trembling faintly. "But it's not an ordinary one. The runes and these markings—they belong to a formation that suppresses a cultivator's power."
Ye Kaishan's expression hardened, a faint glint flashing through his eyes.
"There are many formations that restrict power," Song Yan continued, her voice calm yet laced with tension, "but most require the cultivator's consent.
This one…" Her gaze deepened as she studied the crimson veins. "This one is different. It's forged from the blood of thousands—made to suppress even Saints through cruel, forbidden means. It doesn't need consent… or forgiveness."
The faint wind stirred between them, carrying the scent of dust and tension as the talisman's crimson light flickered once, then dimmed in Ye Kaishan's palm.
"I had a feeling this might happen," Song Yan murmured to herself, brows furrowed.
"Still… it's strange. In my previous life, nothing like this ever happened," Song Yan murmured, brows tightening. Her gaze grew dark as if the light around her had dimmed.
Is the future shifting because of my interference? A butterfly effect?
Her eyes fell to the talisman in Ye Kaishan's hand. The crimson runes seemed to throb. This was forged with blood—the blood of those from the outer district.
She exhaled slowly. I don't know what they're planning… but something feels wrong.