Stepping out of the Martial Skill Pavilion, Ye Chen instantly caught sight of Wang Yuan, who was standing outside the Pavilion.
By Wang Yuan's side was Ma Jiu, who had just received a lesson from him.
Clearly, Ma Jiu was not the type to tolerate being slighted, he really had brought Wang Yuan over, intending to retrieve some face from Ye Chen.
Not far behind Wang Yuan and Ma Jiu stood a large crowd of onlookers. This group included not only the Qingyun Sect's outer disciples who had heard the news and came but also those outer disciples from Wang Yuan's courtyard who were previously turning themselves into human punching bags.
Wang Yuan didn't reprimand those who came to watch the excitement. In his heart, he actually hoped that more people would come to watch.
After all, someone had bullied his subordinates, and it didn't look good on him. He wanted to take advantage of the crowd to establish his authority, to show everyone an example. This would let the outer disciples know that opposing him, Wang Yuan, was asking for trouble.
As for Ye Chen, Wang Yuan had never taken him seriously.
Although he was somewhat surprised that Ye Chen could defeat Ma Jiu, as a fourth-layer True Qi Realm powerhouse, Wang Yuan had no one to fear among the outer disciples, especially now that he had just cultivated the new mid-rank Yellow grade martial skill "Blood Fiend Claw" to Minor Accomplishment, which made him even more arrogant.
A mid-rank Yellow grade martial skill was something few outer disciples could successfully cultivate. Wang Yuan himself had mastered three low-rank Yellow grade martial skills and one mid-rank Yellow grade martial skill.
Ye Chen? That Qingyun Sect's third-rate disciple, even if he's had some dog's luck and his strength has improved a lot, can he surpass him?
Wang Yuan had never imagined that Ye Chen could also break through to the fourth layer of the True Qi Realm, and had mastered the most formidable Yellow grade mid-rank martial skill, Torrential Rain Sword Skills.
After all, such an occurrence that even the Elder guarding the Pavilion would be astonished by, he wouldn't think would happen to Ye Chen.
Looking at Ye Chen who had just walked out of the Martial Skill Pavilion with an indifferent expression, Wang Yuan sneered coldly, "Ye Chen, you've got quite the nerve to mess with my people."
"I don't know what kind of dog's luck you've stumbled upon to beat Ma Jiu but even if you beg for mercy on your knees today, I will let you understand just how high the sky is and how thick the earth is!"
As he spoke, Wang Yuan turned his head to glance at the onlooking outer disciples and with a step forward, he walked toward Ye Chen.
Witnessing Wang Yuan approaching, Ye Chen's expression didn't change in the slightest, "I beg for mercy? Wang Yuan, I really don't know what gives you such confidence."
Whir!
Ye Chen's defiant words stirred excitement among the onlooking outer disciples.
When they realized that the person standing up to Wang Yuan was Ye Chen, they didn't hold much hope for this obviously lopsided confrontation, but little did they expect that Ye Chen would actually dare to challenge Wang Yuan.
"Is this really that third-rate disciple of Qingyun Sect, Ye Chen?"
"Since when did he become so formidable? Is he really not afraid of Wang Yuan?"
Although Ye Chen had, apart from Ma Jiu, also taught Zhao Jing and Bai Kun a lesson, Ye Chen wasn't one to show off, and Zhao Jing and Bai Kun certainly wouldn't spread news of their own defeats; hence, these outer disciples had no idea that Ye Chen had changed radically from before.
Ye Chen's words incited a buzz among the onlookers, and Wang Yuan's face turned unsightly in an instant.
"What, you really think you stand a chance against me?"
"Very well, then I shall let you witness the real strength of a powerhouse!"
Wang Yuan gave Ye Chen a frosty smile, the more confident Ye Chen looked, the more Wang Yuan despised him. The thought of completely crippling Ye Chen bubbled up uncontrollably as he stepped forward with a draconian gait and reached out with a claw toward Ye Chen's Qi Sea, aiming to completely destroy Ye Chen's cultivation.
Such a ruthless move!
Seeing Wang Yuan directly targeting Ye Chen's Qi Sea, many of the outer disciples watching couldn't help but scream out loud.
To rupture the Qi Sea was practically a death sentence to a True Qi Realm cultivator, far crueler than breaking a person's limbs.
Could Ye Chen block it?
The hearts of the outer disciples hung in suspense.
On the second floor of the Martial Skill Pavilion, by a window ledge, the guarding Elder, who was observing from above, furrowed his brows as he saw Wang Yuan's move, "This Wang Yuan is so treacherous, daring to cripple someone's Qi Sea right outside my Martial Skill Pavilion."
The guarding Elder moved slightly, entertaining the thought of intervening, but then, he hesitated and stopped, "If Ye Chen really said he mastered the third form of the Torrential Rain Sword Skills, he should handle this situation with ease. If he's been boasting lies, then having his Qi Sea ruined serves as punishment!"
With that thought, the guarding Elder suppressed the urge to step in and took up his position by the window again.
"I hope Ye Chen isn't just talking big."
Amidst the gasps of the outer disciples, Wang Yuan's claw had already reached above Ye Chen's Qi Sea when suddenly, Ye Chen moved. In the blink of an eye, he dodged the claw and instantly flashed behind Wang Yuan. At the same time, his right fist shot out, targeting Wang Yuan's back.
"Startling Goose Steps! Great Accomplishment level Startling Goose Steps!"
From the Martial Skill Pavilion above, the guarding Elder exclaimed with surprise as he saw Ye Chen's movement technique.
"If he has cultivated the Startling Goose Steps to Great Accomplishment, then there's a real possibility he's succeeded with the Torrential Rain Sword Skills!"
The guarding Elder remembered that Ye Chen had once borrowed two sets of martial skills, and one of them was this mid-rank Yellow grade movement technique, the Startling Goose Steps.
Though the Startling Goose Steps were not as difficult to cultivate as the Torrential Rain Sword Skills, compared to the low-rank Yellow grade martial skills, it was significantly harder. To have cultivated such a movement technique to Minor Accomplishment within a month would already be impressive.
And since Ye Chen had managed to cultivate the Startling Goose Steps to Great Accomplishment, it was evident that his comprehension was extremely strong.
The guarding Elder was already looking forward to Ye Chen demonstrating his sword skills.
The guarding Elder could see Ye Chen's movement, but those outer disciples watching could only see a blur before noticing Ye Chen had moved behind Wang Yuan.
They hadn't caught clear sight of how Ye Chen had moved.
However, seeing Ye Chen evading Wang Yuan's attack and counterattacking, they fully understood that Ye Chen truly had the strength to contend with Wang Yuan.
"Hm?"
Wang Yuan, who was suddenly outmaneuvered and attacked from behind by Ye Chen, was also taken aback. He had not expected Ye Chen's movement technique to be so swift.
Wang Yuan snorted coldly, turned his claw into a fist, and struck directly towards Ye Chen's fist.
Bang!
Their fists collided with a thunderous impact, and the powerful explosion of True Qi sent both combatants tumbling backwards.
Shuffle! Shuffle! Shuffle!
After retreating seven or eight steps to stabilize himself, Wang Yuan looked at Ye Chen in disbelief and exclaimed, "True Qi Fourth Layer! You've actually reached the True Qi Fourth Layer as well?!"
Only someone at the True Qi Fourth Layer could force him back without being at a disadvantage. It was impossible for Ye Chen, who was at the first layer not so long ago, to have done this.
Ye Chen had only been at the first layer of True Qi recently. How could he have suddenly advanced to the fourth layer?
"Is it so hard to believe that I'm at the True Qi Fourth Layer too?"
Ye Chen said to Wang Yuan, speaking calmly.
"True Qi Fourth Layer, how can Ye Chen possibly enter the True Qi Fourth Layer?"
The onlookers, those seven or eight disciples who had often been used as punching bags by Wang Yuan, were most familiar with Ye Chen. They simply couldn't believe that Ye Chen, who used to be at the first layer like them, had broken through to the fourth layer.
It was an astonishing feat, unbelievable!
Wang Yuan's eyes were fixed on Ye Chen: "Ye Chen, you really surprised me. No wonder you were able to defeat Ma Jiu."
"However, to have ascended to the True Qi Fourth Layer in such a short time, you must have used some special means. Perhaps you just happened to swallow a Demon Beast's Demon Core, or forcefully consumed a Qi Boosting Elixir. I do not believe you've achieved this through your own cultivation."
"Such methods are inferior and cannot compare to my True Qi cultivated through practice!"
As a cultivator at the True Qi Fourth Layer, Wang Yuan had heard of many ways to enhance True Qi, such as swallowing the Demon Core of a powerful Demon Beast or consuming Qi Boosting Elixirs to leap several ranks in a short period.
However, these methods also came with many drawbacks and could even prevent the cultivator from advancing further in the future.
Only warriors with no hope of breakthrough would make such a choice.
In Wang Yuan's heart, Ye Chen must have used these means to reach the True Qi Fourth Layer; otherwise, he couldn't imagine how Ye Chen could have suddenly increased his strength to such an extent.
"How I've improved is none of your concern, Wang Yuan. If you have any techniques left, use them. Otherwise, I'm afraid you won't have the opportunity to make a move," Ye Chen said to Wang Yuan, his voice steady.
"How audacious!"
Feeling belittled by Ye Chen, Wang Yuan was furious. The four True Qi cyclones within him shook, and his claws turned crimson in an instant.
"Feel the sensation of having your Qi Meridians torn apart by my 'Blood Fiend Claw'!"
Wang Yuan swung both his claws, shooting towards Ye Chen like lightning. The crimson claws, brimming with violent True Qi, clawed straight at Ye Chen's Qi Sea and Qi Meridians.
The claw wind was soul-shattering, tearing through the air with a fierce noise. The mere sight of the bloody glow on the claws was enough to change one's expression.
This was Wang Yuan's newly cultivated mid-grade yellow-tier martial skill — Blood Fiend Claw!
Ye Chen's eyes grew cold. Wang Yuan kept using ruthless techniques, aiming to cripple his cultivation with every strike. Ye Chen wondered if Wang Yuan really thought him so easy to bully.
If that's how it was going to be, then he shouldn't be surprised by a lack of courtesy!
Clang!
A clear unsheathing sound rang out, and all the onlooking disciples witnessed a scene they would never forget.
A dazzling sword light exploded forth like a burst.
What a brilliant sword light it was!
The sword light was swifter than lightning. In a fraction of a blink, it pierced through the air and arrived in front of Wang Yuan.
It was like slicing tofu. The unstoppable sword effortlessly severed both of Wang Yuan's approaching claws.
With a flicker of the sword light and a swift turn of the tip, even before the previous sword light had faded, the next stab had already reached right before Wang Yuan's Qi Sea.
Pff!
With a muffled sound, the sword stabbed directly into Wang Yuan's Qi Sea Acupoint.
Wang Yuan, who was so intent on crippling Ye Chen's cultivation, had his Qi Sea pierced in the blink of an eye, effectively crippling his own cultivation!
"Ah!"
Within Wang Yuan's scream, he saw his claws flying off and the True Qi in his body rushing out, rapidly disappearing, followed by an agony that sent him straight into unconsciousness.
"Torrential Rain Sword Skills, Torrential Rain's Descent!"
"It's really the Torrential Rain Sword Skills!"
"He really did succeed in cultivating the Torrential Rain Sword Skills!"
At this moment, in the Martial Skill Pavilion above, the custodian elder didn't pay any attention to Wang Yuan who had fallen to the ground; his eyes were completely fixed on Ye Chen.
Ye Chen's last strike had finally made it clear to him.
Ye Chen hadn't lied.
This young man truly comprehended the Torrential Rain Sword Skills in one month's time!