Chapter Twenty-Seven: The Origins of Ye Ling

“Hah!”
In the forest behind the mountain, a figure darted swiftly among the trees, weaving through the thicket with remarkable agility. Whenever a trunk blocked his path, he always managed to slip past at an elusive yet precise angle, exuding a sense of nimbleness and grace.

On closer inspection, the figure was clearly Ye Cheng, a young man wielding a silver spiritual spear. As he moved deftly through the woods, the spear spun and danced in his hands, conjuring dozens of afterimages—silvery flashes that dazzled the eye with their brilliance beneath the filtered sunlight.

With a sudden burst of strength, the youth propelled himself forward, his silhouette flickering like a phantom. Once more, dozens of spear shadows materialized around him. Unlike before, however, these shadows now radiated a crimson energy, as if they were arrows loosed from a bow—each dazzling with a silvery aura, whistling through the air with blinding speed.

Bang! Bang! Bang!
Ye Cheng crashed headlong into every tree that blocked his way, unflinchingly tearing through the forest. Every trunk he struck was sheared cleanly in two, collapsing with a resounding thud to the earth behind him.

Steadying himself, Ye Cheng listened to the sound of falling trees and broke into a delighted smile. Feeling the tremor of the spiritual spear in his grip, he could not help but be inwardly astonished. “At last, this advanced spear technique has reached minor mastery. Its power is truly formidable.”

Beside him, Elder Mu’s figure appeared, his withered face breaking into a look of satisfaction as he surveyed the path of toppled trees left in Ye Cheng’s wake.

“This Thousand Shadows Spear Art is quite impressive. Though you’ve only grasped the basics and can barely unleash thirty percent of its true strength, as your cultivation grows and you practice more, its might will only become greater.”

Ye Cheng nodded in agreement, though recalling Elder Mu’s words, his thoughts drifted to his cultivation. For the past month, he had devoted several hours each day to absorbing the world’s spiritual energy, yet after all that time, he had managed to condense only one bloodline mark. Now, he had just eleven lines—a minor achievement in the Bloodline Condensation Stage. With this in mind, his face grew a shade more somber. “It’s a pity the bloodline refining is so slow. At this rate, who knows when I’ll break into the Origin Realm? The Devouring Constitution’s limitations are truly severe.”

Noting Ye Cheng’s frustration, Elder Mu shot him a glance and offered some reassurance. “You ought to be content. True, your constitution requires vast amounts of energy and condensing bloodlines is difficult, but this is merely the early stage of your physique’s awakening. Even now, you possess the power to challenge those above your level. If others knew, they’d be green with envy.”

“What’s more, once you acquire enough blood nuclei to aid your cultivation, your progress will leap ahead. When you finally step into the Origin Realm and draw the world’s energy into your body, your constitution will awaken further. The devouring ability will then be fully unleashed. At that point, it’ll be as if you’ve found a cheat code—your strength will soar.”

Elder Mu’s words were tinged with exasperation; this young man was complaining, yet so many would give anything to possess such a constitution once it had awakened.

Ye Cheng could only offer an embarrassed smile. Indeed, this constitution was enviable. With enough blood nuclei, the speed at which he could condense bloodlines would be greatly enhanced.

Suddenly, Elder Mu’s expression turned sly. “That girl is coming. I’ll take my leave.” With that, he dissolved into a stream of light and vanished into the jade pendant.

At this, Ye Cheng looked up into the distance. As his vision narrowed, he saw a graceful young girl approaching through the woods—Ye Ling.

Seeing her, Ye Cheng smacked his forehead and gave a rueful smile. “So focused on cultivation, I nearly forgot about Ling’er’s constitution.” Indeed, these past days, he had been training from dawn to dusk, almost forgetting to ask Elder Mu about Ye Ling’s condition.

With this in mind, he recounted Ye Ling’s situation in his thoughts to Elder Mu.

“It shouldn’t be that type of constitution. In such a small place, such a rare constitution is unlikely.” But when Elder Mu learned that Ye Ling sensed fire elements around her, his eyes lit up in contemplation. After a moment of thought, he instructed, “Boy, in a moment, place your hand on the spot atop that girl’s head—the Celestial Spirit Point.”

“The Celestial Spirit Point? Why?” asked Ye Cheng, puzzled.

“That is the most vital point for a martial artist to sense the world’s elements. Only when you touch her Celestial Spirit Point can I, through your hand, fully discern her condition. Otherwise, I’d have to reveal myself.”

Ye Cheng nodded his consent, not noticing that Ye Ling had already come before him.

“Brother, what are you thinking about?” Ye Ling had spotted his pensive expression from afar. She blinked her bright, lively eyes and waved her small hand before his face.

Ye Cheng snapped back to reality, seeing Ye Ling’s gaze fixed on him. He softened, teasing, “Nothing much. But you haven’t come to find me here in the back hills for ages. Be honest—were you meeting some sweetheart and forgot all about your brother?” He couldn’t help but recall the little shadow that used to follow him everywhere.

At his teasing, the girl’s cheeks flushed crimson. She muttered shyly, “Don’t talk nonsense. I have no sweetheart. I wanted to come often, but I was afraid of disturbing your practice, so I didn’t. Besides, I want to stay with you always, never part from you.” Her voice grew so soft it was barely audible.

“So why did you come today?” Ye Cheng smiled, a hint of amusement at his lips. He didn’t expect the girl’s expression to change so suddenly, her eyes brimming with tears.

He reached out to gently wipe away her shimmering tears, quickly comforting her. “What’s wrong, Ling’er? Did someone bully you? Tell me, and I’ll stand up for you.” But her reply left him speechless.

“It was you who bullied me!”

“How did I bully you? I don’t recall doing anything wrong,” Ye Cheng asked in confusion, unable to fathom what had upset her.

She ignored him, tears streaming down her delicate face.

Ye Cheng sighed helplessly. “Don’t cry. You look like a little tabby cat now. Since I’ve made you sad, at least give me a reason. Otherwise, how can I punish myself? I can’t do it for nothing.”

His words finally coaxed a smile from the girl. Ye Ling rubbed away her tears, saying, “Uncle told me you’ll be leaving for a long time. I can’t bear for you to go. Brother, please don’t leave, all right?”

At last, Ye Cheng understood. From her tone, he could feel just how deeply she relied on him. Since childhood, Ye Ling had always trailed behind him. They’d never been apart for more than three days, so it was no wonder she was upset.

“Brother, please don’t go. I don’t want to be apart from you,” Ye Ling pleaded.