Non-Absorption Also Explodes

The line slowly inched forward as Bai Qianshuang unconsciously twisted the hem of her skirt between her fingers. Whispers of young men and women filled the air—most voicing their longing for immortal cultivation, occasionally mixed with curious glances cast her and Ye Chuan’s way.

Her stray hair swayed slightly as she peeked up at Ye Chuan, who had an arm draped around her. He was gazing toward the main platform, a careless smile playing on his lips. Sunlight spilled over his profile, making her heart skip a beat before she hastily lowered her eyes to the patterns on the stone pavement.

"...What’s wrong with me?"

For some reason, ever since returning to the Tianxuan Continent—perhaps because she’d been alone with Ye Chuan—Bai Qianshuang couldn’t stop thinking about him.

"Why’d we stop?" someone grumbled as the line suddenly halted.

Ye Chuan raised a brow and looked ahead, where a crowd had gathered around what seemed to be an argument.

"Move aside, all of you!" A group of attendants clad in embroidered martial attire pushed through the crowd, escorting a young man in moon-white robes riding a winged beast.

The youth had a face like polished jade, a ruby-inlaid jade pendant hanging from his waist, and an air of arrogance about him. His sweeping gaze carried undisguised disdain.

"It’s Young Master Liu Chengfeng of the Liu family!" someone gasped in a hushed voice. "They say he’s the nephew of Fengyu City’s lord, born with a mid-grade Fire Mystic Body, and was long since guaranteed a spot as an inner disciple of Fengyu Sect!"

Liu Chengfeng ignored the murmurs, his eyes scanning the crowd until they landed—almost involuntarily—on Bai Qianshuang.

In that instant, the arrogance in his gaze faded, replaced by awe, and he instinctively reined in his mount.

What a stunning fairy.

"Young lady," Liu Chengfeng adjusted his sleeves and approached with what he assumed was an elegant smile, his tone deliberately softened. "I am Liu Chengfeng. Might I ask for your name?"

Bai Qianshuang frowned and instinctively stepped closer to Ye Chuan, refusing to answer.

Ye Chuan, meanwhile, slid an arm around her waist and met Liu Chengfeng’s gaze with a flat tone. "My wife’s name isn’t something you’re entitled to ask for."

Wife?!

Bai Qianshuang: —△—!

Being called "wife" so openly made her turn her head away in embarrassment.

Liu Chengfeng’s smile stiffened, his eyes turning icy as they locked onto Ye Chuan. "What kind of trash dares interfere with my affairs?"

"What I am doesn’t matter," Ye Chuan smirked, eyeing the other’s attire with mockery. "What matters is that I can make you a little less of a man."

The onlookers gasped. No one expected this seemingly mild-mannered youth to speak so sharply. Liu Chengfeng’s face flushed red with fury—when had anyone in Fengyu City ever dared provoke him like this?

"Good, very good!" Liu Chengfeng sneered. "You’ve got guts, challenging me. Seems you don’t know how to spell ‘death.’"

He raised a hand, gathering spiritual energy to shove Ye Chuan, but his wrist was caught in a vice-like grip.

A faint crack sounded, followed by Liu Chengfeng’s pained cry as cold sweat beaded on his forehead. "You dare lay hands on me? My uncle is the lord of Fengyu City! My cousin is an inner disciple of Fengyu Sect! If you harm me, they’ll—"

Ye Chuan tightened his grip, eliciting another scream. "Let go! Release me now!"

"Tch. Talking like some generic NPC. Boring." Ye Chuan rubbed his chin, then seemed to have an idea.

"Let’s make this fun."

With that, he kicked straight between Liu Chengfeng’s legs. A sickening crunch echoed, followed by a burst of blood mist.

"Ugh—!! AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!" The agonized shriek could’ve shaken all of Fengyu Sect.

The attendants lunged forward.

"Kneel." Ye Chuan’s indifferent command sent them crashing to the ground under an invisible pressure, immobilized.

What?!

Liu Chengfeng gnashed his teeth, glaring venomously at Ye Chuan, but fear kept him from further defiance. He could tell—this man’s strength was no joke.

"Now apologize," Ye Chuan said cheerfully.

"I-I’m sorry…" Liu Chengfeng clutched his ruined groin, voice trembling. "Miss, I shouldn’t have offended you."

Ye Chuan released his aura, letting Liu Chengfeng stagger back before collapsing. After one last hate-filled glare at the pair, the young master fled with his entourage in disgrace.

The crowd stood frozen, only breaking into hushed discussions after a long pause.

"That guy’s insane! He actually messed with Liu Chengfeng!"

"Does he have some kind of backing? How else would he dare?"

"Who cares? That was satisfying! Liu Chengfeng’s been running rampant in the city—someone needed to put him in his place!"

Bai Qianshuang tugged lightly at Ye Chuan’s sleeve. "Husband, why not just kill him?"

Ye Chuan ruffled her hair. "Killing him outright would’ve been too merciful."

"I left a trace of Chaos Force in his dantian. It’ll keep devouring his vitality—no recovery, ever."

Bai Qianshuang blinked at his confident grin, only half-understanding.

Was a ruined dantian really that bad? Couldn’t he just… focus on cultivation?

"Oh, and once the Chaos Force absorbs enough energy, it’ll explode," Ye Chuan added.

Bai Qianshuang: "What if it doesn’t get enough?"

"Then it explodes anyway."

Bai Qianshuang: "..."

So much for thinking he’d grown kinder. Not a chance.

The line resumed, and soon it was their turn. The middle-aged cultivator handling registrations glanced up, pausing at the pair’s extraordinary presence—especially Bai Qianshuang’s peerless beauty.

"Name, age, cultivation level."

"Ye Chuan, twenty, late-stage Foundation Establishment."

"Bai Qianshuang, twenty, peak Foundation Establishment."

The registrar’s brush halted mid-stroke. He gaped at them. "You—what? Late-stage? Peak?"

Even the nearby applicants turned in shock.

Most outer disciples of Fengyu Sect were barely at Qi Refining, and inner disciples hovered around Foundation Establishment. Yet these two, at just twenty, were already at levels that could qualify them as core disciples! Why were they even at a recruitment event?

Talents like these were usually scouted long ago.

"That’s right," Ye Chuan confirmed, amused. "Problem?"

The registrar took a deep breath, scrutinizing them. Their auras were steady—no lies detected. After testing them with a spirit stone, he asked,

"No issue. Are you rogue cultivators? Why join the recruitment?"

"Bored. Came for fun."

The registrar: "..."

The crowd: "..."

Did he just say… for fun?

The middle-aged cultivator shook his head helplessly, wrote down the two individuals' information in the registry, and then handed them two tokens:

"These are entry tokens. Take them and wait at the square over there. Once everyone has registered, someone will guide you to the assessment area."

"Thank you," Ye Chuan replied, accepting the token before leading Bai Qianshuang toward the square.

……