"We're here."
As Wang Yanran spoke, Ye Chuan noticed the car entering a mountain villa and driving into an underground parking lot within the complex.
"Is this where the Super Martial Assembly is being held?" Ye Chuan asked, eyeing the villa ahead.
Nestled between mountains and water, it was a picturesque location.
Would be even better if there was a farmhouse restaurant nearby.
"Correct. Since super martial artists are… unique, the Super Martial Alliance has rules prohibiting them from revealing their powers in front of ordinary people. That’s why even the Super Martial Assembly is held in remote areas like this," Wang Yanran explained.
After parking, Ye Chuan noticed a row of luxury cars—not a single affordable one in sight.
"Mr. Ye, we’ve been expecting you."
Hearing the voice, Ye Chuan turned to see a group of unfamiliar faces waiting to greet him. It wasn’t until Wang Yanran called out "Grandfather" that he realized the elderly man leading them was her grandfather.
"This is my grandfather, Wang Ba," Wang Yanran introduced.
"Wang… Ba?" Ye Chuan almost thought he misheard. Clearing his throat, he smiled politely. "Hello, Mr. Wang Ba. I’m Ye Chuan."
"Hahaha, Mr. Ye, you truly are a blessing to our Wang family. Please, come inside." The old man chuckled warmly.
He wore a short-sleeved shirt, revealing thick, muscular arms.
Ye Chuan couldn’t help but wonder—was this really a ghost tamer?
Looks more like he could physically beat ghosts into submission.
The other Wang family members exchanged glances at the sight of their usually dignified patriarch fawning over Ye Chuan.
Who would’ve thought their esteemed family head would personally welcome a guest—and with such deference? The rumors must be true: Ye Chuan really was a super martial artist from that place.
With this realization, the Wang family members quickly adopted respectful attitudes—except for one.
Wang Teng.
Ever since Ye Chuan killed Wang Li, Wang Teng had been seething with hatred over his father’s death. But after learning of the incident, the old man had already warned him sternly the night before.
The message was simple: I know what you’re thinking, but if you provoke Ye Chuan, don’t blame me for enforcing family discipline.
Compared to the Wang family’s future, Wang Li and Wang Teng were insignificant—even if they were the patriarch’s own son and grandson.
Taking a deep breath, Wang Teng suppressed his resentment and forced himself to stay silent as Ye Chuan walked past.
……
"And this is…?" Wang Ba’s attention shifted to Bai Qianshuang beside Ye Chuan. He was struck by her ethereal beauty—like an immortal who’d wandered out of a cultivation novel, pristine and untouchable.
"My senior sister, Bai Qianshuang," Ye Chuan explained.
"Hello." Bai Qianshuang gave a slight nod, her expression cold and distant.
Senior sister…
Wang Ba immediately clasped his hands. "Ah, Miss Bai! My apologies for not recognizing you earlier."
If Ye Chuan was this formidable, how much more terrifying must his senior sister be?
The old man felt like he’d struck gold.
After escorting Ye Chuan, Bai Qianshuang, and Lan Xiaoke to the lounge, the Wang family promptly served tea.
"Mr. Ye, we’ll be relying on your strength for this Super Martial Assembly," Wang Ba said, sighing at their family’s poor rankings. The Wang family’s ghost-taming techniques were hard-countered by lightning and fire-based super martial arts. If they could borrow power, he’d take it in a heartbeat.
The Super Martial Assembly was restricted to younger participants, leaving the elders as mere spectators.
"No problem. Payment for services rendered," Ye Chuan replied. "Yanran, don’t forget the hundreds of thousands in reward money."
Hundreds of thousands…
Wang Ba froze, then shot Wang Yanran a questioning look—as if to say, Granddaughter, you only offered that much?!
"Ah…" Wang Yanran looked helpless, offering her grandfather an awkward smile. After all, it was Ye Chuan who’d named the price.
"Of course. Yanran’s reward is separate from the Wang family’s," Wang Ba smoothly interjected.
Simple solution: Yanran pays her share, the family pays theirs.
"Oh?" Ye Chuan raised an eyebrow.
Are they offering more money?
Excellent. Ye Chuan had a soft spot for generous investors. His gaze toward the old man warmed considerably.
"Then you can decide the reward. We’ll discuss it after the Assembly," Ye Chuan said.
"Of course, of course."
Wang Ba stroked his beard before turning to Bai Qianshuang.
"Miss Bai, is there anything you require?"
He’d noticed her sitting silently with her head slightly bowed since their arrival.
Hearing this, Ye Chuan glanced at his senior sister. Following her line of sight, he picked up a pastry from the table and handed it to her.
"Here, eat."
"I’m not hungry," Bai Qianshuang murmured—but took it anyway.
Wang Ba immediately gestured to a servant. "Bring out all the best snacks!"
"Right away."
……
The Super Martial Assembly wouldn’t begin until afternoon, so Ye Chuan and the others retired to their rooms to rest.
"These are profiles of all the super martial families in our region. Twenty-four will compete today," Wang Yanran said, handing Ye Chuan a dossier—though she doubted he’d need it.
"Mm." Ye Chuan skimmed the materials without interest. Given that his opponents were likely at the Qi Refining stage, it wasn’t worth his time.
As a Crystal Core realm expert, worrying about Qi Refining ants was beneath him.
"Well, well—if it isn’t little Yanran?"
As they walked down the hallway, a group of young men in aristocratic attire approached.
"Ye Chuan, these are members of the Lei family. They’ve been rivals—no, outright enemies—of our Wang family for generations," Wang Yanran whispered, ignoring the newcomers.
Ah. Hostile faction.
"Hey, hey, don’t tell me you’re competing in tomorrow’s Assembly?" one of the Lei youths taunted when Wang Yanran didn’t respond.
"What a shame if we face you in the first round. Your little ghosts don’t stand a chance against lightning."
The Lei family relished clashing with the Wangs in the Assembly.
Nothing pleased them more than watching their hard-countered opponents struggle helplessly.
Their lightning-based techniques even allowed them to detect ghosts, rendering ghost tamers useless.
"What can you do? Get obliterated, I guess," Ye Chuan cut in.
"Hahaha! Are you with the Wangs? At least you know your place!" The Lei members burst into laughter.
"Exactly. I love beating up shameless trash like you," Ye Chuan mused.
The Lei group stiffened, realizing he meant they were the ones who’d be obliterated.
"The hell? Who do you think you are?!" the leader snarled—just before Ye Chuan’s slap sent him crashing to the floor with a yelp.
Ye Chuan clasped his hands behind his back. "Pathetic."
"The Lei Family? I never expected you to have the audacity to slap my hand with your face. I’ll report you for violating the rules by attacking me in private."
Other young masters of the Lei Family: Huh?