Chapter 2: Once a Genius, Now Fallen

Tianyuan City.

As the capital of the Tianyuan Dynasty, it was home to many powerful families and sects. Among them, the Ye family was one of the four great families, known for its immense strength.

"Today is the day the Ye family tests their strength, right?"

"Yes, and I heard Ye Qiubai is participating too?"

"It's truly a pity about Ye Qiubai. He accidentally entered the Sword Saint's forbidden ground and was attacked by supreme sword energy. Although he survived, he lost all his cultivation, his meridians were destroyed, and his talent plummeted."

"Ye Qiubai, once the number one genius of Tianyuan City, has now fallen to such a state. It's really lamentable."

"Indeed… Ye Qiubai was too straightforward in character and offended many nobles. Now that he's lost his cultivation, even the Ye family has abandoned him. I wonder if he can survive the storm of revenge after this test…"

"What goes around comes around…"

...

The Ye family.

In front of the ancestral hall.

Many people gathered around a high platform.

On the platform was a stone that could test one's talent and strength—the Heaven-reaching Stone.

"Next, Ye Qiubai!"

In a corner, Ye Qiubai, holding a sword in his arms, silently stood up and walked slowly toward the Heaven-reaching Stone.

The onlookers watched him, some sighing with regret, others wearing mocking smiles.

After all, the higher someone once stood, the harder they fall when they tumble from their pedestal.

On the high platform, three people were seated. The foremost was the head of the Ye family, Ye Qing, who was also Ye Qiubai's father.

Watching Ye Qiubai approach in silence, Ye Qing sighed softly. Why had his son's fate been so tragic?

Next to Ye Qing stood a richly dressed woman with a cold expression. She watched the scene with indifference.

Reaching the Heaven-reaching Stone, an elder beside it spoke coldly, "Ye Qiubai, place your hand on the Heaven-reaching Stone."

Ye Qiubai glanced at the elder, who had once greeted him with smiles, then looked up at the high platform, his eyes landing on the cold-faced woman. A flash of realization crossed his eyes.

In their childhood, the two had been childhood sweethearts.

They trained together, explored treasures together, and ate together.

As they grew older, the two families arranged their marriage.

But now, with his cultivation lost, the engagement was annulled, and the betrothal letter destroyed.

The little girl he once knew had become a stranger.

Retracting his gaze, he placed his hand on the Heaven-reaching Stone.

Soon, a faint light flickered on the stone.

Seeing this, the elder sneered and announced, "Ye Qiubai, third level of Qi Refining, inferior talent."

"As expected, Ye Qiubai surely knew this himself. Why come here to make a fool of himself?"

"Maybe he's used to being a genius and isn't willing to become an ordinary person. He wanted to give it another try."

"But Ye Qiubai has offended so many people. His future days won't be easy."

"Regardless, from now on, there's no place for Ye Qiubai in the Ye family… No, in the entire Tianyuan City."

Ye Qing's face darkened as he watched this unfold.

The woman, seemingly having anticipated the result, said nothing and turned to leave.

She seemed to have come only to confirm that Ye Qiubai had truly lost his cultivation.

Listening to the mocking around him, Ye Qiubai couldn't help but let out a bitter laugh.

Yes.

There was no place for him in the Ye family anymore.

The Ye family, as one of the four great families of the Tianyuan Dynasty, was a top-tier clan.

How could they possibly accept a useless person who had lost all his cultivation?

Such news would be a disgrace!

Looking at the sword in his arms, Ye Qiubai glanced at the departing figure of the woman.

Suddenly, as if understanding something, he raised his voice to his father above and said, "Father, I will leave the Ye family today to travel on my own. I hope you will agree!"

Staying in the Ye family would only bring humiliation and add trouble for his father. It was better to venture out alone and perhaps find some opportunities.

Ye Qing, understanding his son's thoughts, sighed and asked, "Have you thought it through?"

Ye Qiubai's eyes were firm as he nodded. Only by going out to seek opportunities did he have a slim chance to restore his cultivation.

Though this chance was pitifully small, almost impossible...

Seeing this, Ye Qing could only nod. As the head of the family, he was left with no choice. It was better to let his son venture out alone than to stay and be humiliated.

Moreover, the elders would never allow a person who had lost all his cultivation to stay in the Ye family.

Ye Qiubai bowed deeply, then turned and left the Ye family.

...

Leaving Tianyuan City, he entered a dense forest.

In the forest, Ye Qiubai suddenly stopped. Seeing the three men in black in front of him, he seemed to have anticipated this and calmly smiled, "You've been following me for so long, and you finally couldn't hold back?"

Old grudges were finally catching up to him.

One of them laughed, "Ye Qiubai, if you had known today, why did you act that way back then?"

Ye Qiubai chuckled, "Even if time turned back, I would still do the same."

As he spoke, he clutched a jade pendant in his hand.

He knew someone would come to kill him, but that didn't mean he hadn't prepared!

"However, I would like to know who is so eager to kill me."

Just after leaving Tianyuan City, assassins followed. Even though he had lost his former status, he was still the son of the Ye family's head.

This showed how deeply someone hated him.

The man in black sneered, "What does it matter if you know? You won't have a chance to take revenge.

Besides, you've offended so many people over the years. What's the point of asking?"

"That may not be the case…"

Ye Qiubai tightened his grip on the jade pendant.

This was the only thing he had brought out from the Sword Saint's legacy ground, containing a formation. Once released, the three men would not be able to withstand it.

However, with his current strength, he probably couldn't bear the backlash of the formation either. But now there was no other choice.

"Since that's the case…"

The leader raised his sword and slashed towards Ye Qiubai!

Sword light gleamed on the blade, its power enveloping Ye Qiubai!

Clearly, the attacker had no intention of holding back, aiming for a swift, lethal blow.

Ye Qiubai's expression tightened, and he was about to throw the jade pendant when a figure in a green robe appeared before him.

With a single finger, the green-robed man stopped the sword, unable to move an inch further!

The sword light shattered against his finger like a wave crashing against a rock, leaving no trace.

"I can't let you kill him. If he dies, where will I find a disciple?"

"Who are you?"

The man in black was shocked and immediately withdrew his sword, retreating.

"Me?" The green-robed man shook his head, his fingers flicking out.

Instantly, two blood holes appeared on the foreheads of the two men.

The remaining man stood frozen in place.

The green-robed man turned to Ye Qiubai and smiled, "There's one left. Do you want to ask him who wants to kill you?"