Chapter Ten: I Challenge You

At the center of the Ye family’s martial arena, where all gazes converged, two figures faced each other.

“The strength you displayed just now was indeed remarkable, but it’s hard to believe you could unleash such power with only a single bloodline,” Ye Shen fixed his eyes sharply on Ye Cheng.

“Why don’t you try and see for yourself?” Ye Cheng shrugged, his demeanor casual and unconcerned. This opponent offered no real challenge to him with his current ability. He wasn’t yet sure if he could stand against someone who had fully mastered the Blood Qi Realm, but among the younger generation of the Ye family, he feared no one. Let alone Ye Shen, who had only condensed two bloodlines.

“You’re quite confident, it seems. I won’t say more. For the sake of continuing my cultivation under the family’s support, I’ll give it my all. Be careful,” Ye Shen declared. As his words fell, two bloodlines wound around his body, and robust blood energy surged around him. He stamped his foot; a low-level martial technique, “Inch Step,” was executed.

Like an arrow released from the bowstring, his figure shot toward Ye Cheng with a sharp momentum. He spun in midair, his right leg sweeping down with a forceful gust, aiming for Ye Cheng’s head.

Yet Ye Cheng remained motionless, simply watching as Ye Shen neared.

To the onlookers, Ye Cheng’s stillness implied only two possibilities: either he was a master, using silence to counter movement, or he was paralyzed by panic. Most present believed the latter.

Down below, Ye Ling’s face was tight with anxiety. Ye Shen’s strike, driven by vigorous blood energy, carried great force. If it landed, the injury would be severe.

Just as Ye Shen’s sweeping right leg was about to strike, Ye Cheng swiftly stepped back, his waist leaning away, and his right hand shot out, gripping Ye Shen’s leg with precision. A light shake of his arm dissolved the force behind the attack.

In the instant Ye Cheng neutralized Ye Shen’s leg, a blood energy several times stronger than Ye Shen’s erupted from Ye Cheng’s body. The grip of his hand increased dramatically.

With a low shout, Ye Shen’s airborne form was hurled aside by Ye Cheng, drawing gasps from the crowd.

Thrown off balance, Ye Shen could not steady himself and was flung out of the arena, crashing heavily beyond its bounds.

To see Ye Cheng so easily neutralize his opponent’s attack and defeat him so effortlessly instantly sparked discussion among the Ye family elders at the front.

Ye Hong and the others watching from the side also nodded with satisfaction. Ye Cheng’s performance had far exceeded their expectations. In him, they saw the vigor their second brother once possessed.

“To think, Ye Shan’s son is so formidable,” the elder remarked with admiration as he watched Ye Cheng.

“My thanks,” Ye Cheng said modestly, cupping his hands to the disheveled Ye Shen as the latter struggled to his feet outside the arena.

“I’m not as skilled, I concede,” Ye Shen replied straightforwardly, though a look of desolation flashed in his eyes before he faded into the crowd. After this match, he would be relegated, along with other Ye family youths who failed the test, to manage the family’s businesses. Without the family’s support, the path of martial cultivation would become far more arduous.

After Ye Cheng’s effortless defeat of Ye Shen, many of the Ye family youths who had been eager to challenge him immediately gave up the idea. If Ye Cheng could so easily defeat someone with two bloodlines, it was clear their own abilities were not on par.

“For this challenge, Ye Cheng is victorious,” the Third Elder announced loudly, his face beaming with satisfaction as he looked fondly at Ye Cheng, then at the crowd. “Is there anyone else who wishes to challenge?”

The audience was silent. Those who had considered issuing a challenge now kept their silence among the crowd. Each year, only a handful succeeded in challenging the champion. Most of the Ye family’s youths shared the same thought: to challenge knowing you would lose was to bring shame upon yourself.

Seeing no one respond, a trace of disappointment flickered across the Third Elder’s face. The future of a family depended on the fighting spirit of each generation. If they lacked even the courage to challenge, what hope was there for the family’s prospects?

“If there are no challengers, then—”

“Wait!” Just as the Third Elder was about to declare the end, Ye Cheng’s voice rang out.

Hundreds of gazes instantly turned toward the source of the voice, filled with doubt. “Could it be that he wants to challenge someone?”

Indeed, Ye Cheng’s eyes locked onto Ye Wei among the crowd. With a slender finger, he pointed at him, then turned to the Third Elder.

“You want to challenge me?” Ye Wei, seeing Ye Cheng point at him, looked stunned. He had never imagined he would be challenged. Although Ye Cheng’s performance had surprised him, he had never considered Ye Cheng bold enough to challenge him. Defeating Ye Shen in one move seemed easy enough, so Ye Cheng didn’t pose a threat in his eyes.

“What’s wrong? Can’t handle it?” Ye Cheng fixed his gaze on Ye Wei, the corner of his mouth curling into a smile as he teased.

Ye Wei, who had been searching for an opportunity to cause Ye Cheng trouble, burst out laughing. “Of course I can. I just didn’t expect you to come looking for a beating yourself.”

“Who will be beaten is not certain yet. What’s wrong, afraid to step up?” Ye Cheng retorted playfully. For those accustomed to bullying others, only a firmer hand could inspire fear.

Ye Cheng’s words caused an uproar. His audacity left mouths agape—even if he had made remarkable progress, to challenge Ye Wei, who had long been the foremost among the Ye family’s younger generation and had already condensed fifteen bloodlines, was like throwing an egg at a stone. Few believed he stood a chance. The gap between one and fifteen bloodlines was enormous, regardless of Ye Cheng’s unusual strength.

Ye Cheng’s words made Ye Wei’s face flush with a mix of anger and embarrassment. If he didn’t go up, he would look cowardly; if he did, he would be acceding to Ye Cheng’s taunt. After a brief silence, Ye Wei’s expression turned grim as he stepped into the center of the arena. Seeing this, the Third Elder withdrew to the sidelines and signaled for the match to begin.

“Cheng, you’re overreaching yourself this time,” Ye Zhan murmured with a worried face at the front.

“I wouldn’t be so sure,” Ye Hong replied with a smile. “In terms of strength, I can’t compare to you, Third Brother, but when it comes to reading people, you fall short. Cheng is steady by nature—he wouldn’t act rashly. And for him to have improved so much, the Green Spirit Elixir alone wouldn’t suffice. The boy must still be hiding something.”

At those words, Ye Zhan nodded slightly and turned his attention back to the arena, silent.

In the center, the battle was about to begin.

“It’s only been two months, but you’ve grown much more confident. It seems you’re not without ability, but soon I’ll show you that your strength is meaningless in my eyes,” Ye Wei said, his face dark, clearly unsettled by Ye Cheng’s earlier words.

“Is that so? I’d like to see what gives you the right to say that.” Ye Cheng sneered. The time to settle old scores had come. “If I don’t have you bedridden for ten days or half a month, I’ll change my surname!”

“Then I’ll oblige you!” Ye Wei’s figure lunged forward, closing in. His hands curled into eagle claws, fingers slicing through the air with a surge of blood energy, producing a piercing whistle as he struck at Ye Cheng.

Feeling the sharp, tearing wind at his ears, every hair on Ye Cheng’s body stood on end...

Swallowing Saint Chapter 10: I Challenge You! — End of update.