At night, whispers filled the square of Ye Family Village, accompanied by the sound of a long blade slicing through the air. Beneath the starry sky, a young figure practiced martial arts alone in the vast square; this individual was Ye Tian.
In recent days, Ye Tian had been immersed in studying the essence of the blade, and it had become a habit to practice in the square undisturbed, as the villagers respected his solitude.
"My sword techniques are lethally precise, and my past life as a special forces soldier imbues my blade with a murderous intent; perhaps this is the reason I grasp the essence of the blade!" Ye Tian mused to himself.
To comprehend the essence of the blade, one must understand the nature of their own insights. The Blade Saint, Feng Wudi, embodied the essence of destruction, while Ye Tian's understanding was rooted in the essence of slaughter!
The essence of slaughter was the fruit of Ye Tian's recent arduous training.
With a single stroke, a fierce killing aura emanated, coalescing into intent, breaking through with deadly force to strike down his enemies.
"Hah!" Ye Tian's gaze sharpened as he twisted the blood-soaked blade in his hand, slashing forward. The momentum surged, and an invisible aura of slaughter burst forth, leaving a deep gash on the ground before him.
"Hmm?"
Suddenly, Ye Tian's ears perked up, and his body tensed instinctively, but he soon relaxed, turning slightly to bow in greeting. "Uncle Feng, you've arrived."
As his words fell, footsteps echoed from the shadows, and then Ye Feng's figure emerged before him.
"Ye Tian, your strength has truly grown. Despite my distance and deliberate concealment, you still managed to detect my presence," Ye Feng approached slowly, his eyes filled with admiration and surprise.
Ye Tian smiled slightly, planting the blood-stained blade into the ground. "I sensed your aura, Uncle Feng. It's a familiar presence that has accompanied my growth; how could I possibly forget?"
"Aura? You can distinguish my aura?" Ye Feng asked, astonished.
"Yes, each person's aura is unique. I only recently discovered this," Ye Tian nodded. In his quest to understand the blade's essence, he realized his spiritual perception had sharpened significantly, enabling him to detect the distinct auras of every individual in Ye Family Village.
Ye Feng sighed in contemplation, recognizing the child's remarkable talent. Perhaps Heaven intended for Ye Family Village to flourish in this life, thus bestowing upon them this prodigious youth.
After a brief reflection, Ye Feng smiled and said, "Ye Tian, how has your training in blade essence progressed? I heard from Ye Ba that you managed to slay the Purple Cloud Leopard." At this, his smile broadened.
The news of Ye Tian's triumph over the Purple Cloud Leopard had already spread throughout Ye Family Village, and upon hearing it, Ye Shi, Ye Feng, and the others were immensely excited, knowing well the formidable nature of the creature, which approached the strength of a tenth-level warrior.
It could be said that Ye Tian had already achieved strength comparable to that of a tenth-level warrior.
"Well, it's barely acceptable, but I still lack sufficient understanding of blade essence," Ye Tian replied.
Ye Feng was momentarily taken aback, then sighed, "It's a waste of talent for Ye Family Village. With your gifts, you could have become a warrior in those sects long ago."
"Uncle Feng, even within Ye Family Village, I can become a warrior," Ye Tian shook his head, his face brimming with confidence.
Ye Feng regarded the confident youth before him and sighed lightly, then said, "Ye Tian, after we return from Wangjia Village to celebrate the birthday, you should head to Blood Jade City. With your strength, joining the Blood Clothes Guard would be more than sufficient. I believe you will grow even faster there."
Ye Tian was taken aback. Blood Jade City and the Blood Clothes Guard were dreams he had long aspired to pursue. However, considering the current state of Ye Family Village, he shook his head, saying, "Uncle Feng, I think it's better to stay. Ye Family Village is in dire need of manpower right now; how can I leave?"
He was not a selfish person; even though he yearned for Blood Jade City, he would not abandon Ye Family Village at this critical moment.
Ye Feng smiled upon hearing this; he knew he had not misjudged the young man. He clapped Ye Tian on the shoulder, a powerful aura emanating from him, leaving Ye Tian in awe.
"Uncle Feng, you... have broken through!" Ye Tian's eyes widened in disbelief as he stared at Ye Feng. This overwhelming presence was something he had only sensed from the village leader.
Did this mean Ye Feng had reached the level of a tenth-level warrior?
"Yes, I finally broke through! In the recent encounter with the wolf pack, on the brink of life and death, I sensed my bottleneck loosening, and now I've successfully advanced to the tenth level," Ye Feng said with a smile.
Though he had lost an arm, he had turned misfortune into opportunity, breaking through to the tenth level and becoming the second tenth-level warrior in Ye Family Village.
"Congratulations, Uncle Feng!" Ye Tian exclaimed with genuine excitement, delighted for Ye Feng, the resilient man finally receiving some recognition for his efforts.
"Now you can leave Ye Family Village with peace of mind. With me and the village leader here, Ye Family Village will be safe." Ye Feng looked earnestly at Ye Tian. "Go to Blood Jade City; that's where you truly belong. You need to grow stronger quickly; Ye Family Village will rely on you to rise from this impoverished land."
"Indeed!"
Feeling the trust in Ye Feng's gaze, Ye Tian nodded firmly.
"To Blood Jade City, I, Ye Tian, am coming!"
Three days passed in the blink of an eye. On the eighth day of August, a crowd of villagers stood at the entrance, bidding farewell to Ye Tian and Ye Ba.
Ye Ba rode a magnificent black horse, exuding an air of authority, yet he paled in comparison to Ye Tian. For Ye Tian was mounted on a formidable white tiger, its massive frame dwarfing that of the black horse, and its fierce gaze disdainfully scrutinized Ye Ba's steed.
"Ye Tian, your white tiger is truly a rarity! I can hardly fathom where you found such a creature," Ye Ba remarked enviously, his eyes filled with admiration for Ye Tian's mount. This steed drew attention wherever it went, a striking presence that commanded the focus of all who beheld it.
Initially, the villagers of Ye Family Village regarded the young white tiger as merely a small cat, but once it grew, they were astounded; it was no ordinary feline but a grand white tiger.
"Ha ha!"
Listening to Ye Ba's words, Ye Tian offered a faint smile, keeping the origins of Xiao Bai a secret from everyone.
At that moment, he was bidding farewell to the village chief and others.
"Ye Tian, during this trip, the people of Wang Family Village are sure to cause us trouble. Let Ye Ba take the lead. You're merely going to broaden your horizons; be cautious not to expose your true strength," Ye Shi cautioned solemnly.
Ye Tian nodded, replying, "Chief, I understand. I am not so foolish as to act recklessly."
"Ha ha!" Ye Shi chuckled in relief, ruffling Ye Tian's hair. "Think of this as a valuable experience. Learn from Ye Ba how to navigate the world; it will serve you well when you venture out on your own."
Unbeknownst to Ye Shi, he perceived Ye Tian as a mere novice, unaware of his past lives, and thus invested considerable effort in his guidance.
Ye Tian appreciated Ye Shi's intentions, finding them unnecessary yet deeply touching. "Chief, rest assured; I will not disappoint you."
Ye Shi nodded with satisfaction, feeling a mix of worry and hope for Ye Tian's safety, fearing that without exposure to the outside world, he would be bullied when he eventually arrived in Blood Jade City.
…
Riding Xiao Bai, Ye Tian and Ye Ba sped past breathtaking scenery, disappearing from the villagers' sight.
Baiyun Town was not small, yet the finest lands had been claimed by Wang Family Village. Even the formidable Ye Family and Lin Family Villages had been pushed to this remote area.
Consequently, Ye Family Village and Lin Family Village were quite close to one another, while Ye Family Village lay a considerable distance from Wang Family Village. Even on horseback, it would take three to four hours to reach.
Setting off in the morning, Ye Ba and Ye Tian pressed onward, finally arriving at Wang Family Village before noon.
The first thing that greeted Ye Tian was a dirt wall, about three people high. Although somewhat crude, it possessed an imposing presence, far superior to the walls of Ye Family Village or Lin Family Village.
In front of Ye Tian stood a simple wooden gate, which could hardly be deemed a proper city gate.
"Ye Tian, look! Wang Family Village harbors grand ambitions, constructing their village to resemble a city, all with the hope of one day unifying Baiyun Town and establishing a true city of their own," Ye Ba explained as they ventured into Wang Family Village.
As Ye Tian scanned the various shops around him, he gleaned insights into Wang Family Village's aspirations.
The streets of Wang Family Village were orderly and well-maintained, indeed resembling the layout of a city. It was clear that their ambitions extended towards building a settlement akin to Blood Jade City.
"Hey! Who is that young man? What an impressive white tiger!"
"That white tiger is truly magnificent!"
"That's Ye Ba from Ye Family Village! I recognize him, but why has he come with an unknown young lad instead of Ye Feng?"
…
Upon entering Wang Family Village, Ye Tian and Ye Ba attracted the attention of onlookers, largely due to the striking white tiger.
Such a remarkable steed inevitably became the center of attention wherever they went. Young men regarded Xiao Bai with eyes filled with admiration, captivated by its grandeur.
"Ye Ba, I didn't expect you to lead this expedition! Is that lad your son?" a booming voice called out suddenly, parting the crowd as a familiar figure approached.
The Black-Faced Mad Tiger!
Ye Tian focused on the newcomer, instantly recognizing the voice. He had caught a distant glimpse of the Black-Faced Mad Tiger three days prior at Ye Family Village, leaving a lasting impression.
The Black-Faced Mad Tiger approached, his dark visage exuding steadfastness, and his penetrating gaze bore down on Ye Tian, scrutinizing him thoroughly.
Yet Ye Tian had long since concealed his presence, rendering the Black-Faced Mad Tiger's efforts fruitless, for he could not discern the depths of Ye Tian's capabilities.
"Wang Hu, this is my nephew, brought along to broaden his horizons!" Ye Ba interjected, redirecting the intimidating gaze of the Black-Faced Mad Tiger.