Handmade Beef Meatballs

The waiting area at the edge of the square was packed with people. Even though joining the sect required certain qualifications, there were still over a thousand gathered here. Ye Chuan found a quiet stone bench to sit on, and Bai Qianshuang settled beside him, pressing slightly closer.

Their arms brushed lightly, yet Bai Qianshuang pretended not to notice, as if harboring a maiden’s secret thoughts.

Sunlight glinted in her hair, a single loose strand swaying gently in the breeze. Paired with her cool, detached beauty, she drew lingering glances from several passing youths—until Ye Chuan’s icy gaze swept over them, sending them scurrying away.

Before half an incense stick’s worth of time had passed, an aged voice echoed from the main platform:

"The first trial of the recruitment examination—Combat Training! All registered disciples must step onto the stage. Winners advance directly to the fifth trial, while losers proceed to the second!"

As the announcement ended, a towering white jade arena rose from the center of the square, encircled by a faint blue barrier to prevent stray spiritual energy from harming bystanders.

The crowd of young men and women erupted into murmurs—some cracking their knuckles in anticipation, others nervously clenching their fists.

Ye Chuan, however, merely yawned. Glancing at the novices around him, he couldn’t help but smirk at Bai Qianshuang. "How about you go first, my dear? Quick and easy. Once we’re done, we can stroll around the sect and, uh… ‘collect’ a few things."

Bai Qianshuang nodded and gracefully leaped onto the platform, her skirt fluttering.

With a sword in hand, her black hair drifted softly in the wind. Her serene eyes and ethereal beauty cast a spell over the men watching, leaving them breathless.

So beautiful…

No sooner had she taken her stance than a burly man jumped up to challenge her, gripping a rusted iron sword with eager excitement.

"Young lady, I know your cultivation is high, but I’m no pushover! Shi Tou, mid-stage Qi Refinement realm! Let’s have a good match!"

Bai Qianshuang remained silent, her gaze indifferent.

She simply raised her sword, offering no response.

This was just her nature—aloof and untouchable to strangers.

Besides, she was only here to humor the event. As a Spirit Transformation realm expert, facing a mere Qi Refinement cultivator was like…

An old man toying with a child?

Though the challenger was clearly older than her, his talent was evidently lacking.

Before he could finish speaking, the young man swung his sword, unleashing a wave of earthen-yellow spiritual energy straight at Bai Qianshuang’s face.

The onlookers held their breath—only to see her flick a finger, sending a wisp of pale cyan energy that struck the blade’s spine with pinpoint precision.

Clang!

The iron sword flew from his grip, and the force sent him stumbling back three steps before he collapsed off the platform, stunned. "H-how…?"

"Bai Qianshuang, victory!"

"Good match," she murmured softly before turning and leaping down to rejoin Ye Chuan.

The waiting area erupted in chatter, the crowd now regarding her with awe—

A peak Foundation Establishment realm expert!

A true powerhouse!

"Ye Chuan!"

Soon, it was Ye Chuan’s turn.

He stood and made his way to the platform, where a middle-aged cultivator with a goatee promptly confronted him. Clutching a yellowed manual, the man sneered with the arrogance of an early-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator.

"Young man, reaching Foundation Establishment at your age? Must’ve relied on pills. Today, I’ll show you what real cultivation looks like!"

Ye Chuan arched a brow. Before the man could even settle into his stance, Ye Chuan blurred—reappearing behind him in an instant—and tapped a single finger against his back.

The man stiffened, his spiritual energy scattering instantly before he crumpled to the platform like a sack of mud, muttering, "Impossible… how… so fast…"

"Next." Ye Chuan stood at the center of the arena, his tone bored.

For the next half-hour, challengers came—whether peak Qi Refinement or mid-stage Foundation Establishment—and all met the same fate: a single slap sent them flying, or a pulse of spiritual energy hurled them off the platform without so much as grazing Ye Chuan’s robes.

The waiting area fell into stunned silence. No one dared step forward anymore, and Ye Chuan was promptly advanced to the fifth trial.

Just as he prepared to leave, the crowd suddenly parted. Liu Chengfeng limped into view, supported by two attendants, followed by a young man clad in a crimson-gold feathered robe.

The newcomer had sharp, cold features, a Phoenix Feather Sect inner disciple token hanging from his waist, and eyes as piercing as blades—Liu Chengfeng’s cousin, Liu Qingyun.

"Cousin, it’s him!" Liu Chengfeng pointed at Ye Chuan, his voice shaking with rage. "He injured me and dares cause trouble at the Phoenix Feather Sect’s recruitment! Cripple him!"

Liu Qingyun’s murderous gaze locked onto Ye Chuan. "You harmed a member of the Liu family in Phoenix Feather City and disrupted the sect’s recruitment. Ye Chuan, do you admit your crimes?"

Leaning against the arena railing, Ye Chuan smirked. "Ah, so it’s the ‘Ridiculous Brother.’ First, he offends my wife, and now you come asking for death. The Liu family really has a talent for delivering themselves to me."

"You’re dead!" Liu Qingyun roared, leaping onto the platform. "Injuring fellow disciples before even joining? You’re unfit to enter the Phoenix Feather Sect!"

As Liu Qingyun confronted him, Ye Chuan glanced at the nearby outer sect elders—only to find them deliberately looking away, unwilling to interfere.

After all, the Liu family, as city lords, held deep ties with the Phoenix Feather Sect. These elders couldn’t afford to oppose them.

"Liu Qingyun is making his move. Rumor has it he’s been in the Crystal Core realm for decades. That newcomer is done for."

"Tch, offending the Liu family never ends well. They’re a true noble clan."

"Tsk tsk tsk, he picked the wrong fight."

Liu Qingyun’s palms erupted in flames, searing the air as he struck toward Ye Chuan with devastating force.

The crowd scrambled back, fearing the backlash—but Bai Qianshuang stood calmly below, showing no concern. She knew Ye Chuan’s strength. Liu Qingyun was nothing to him.

Ye Chuan didn’t move until the flames were upon him. Then, slowly, he raised his right hand, a wisp of black chaotic energy swirling in his palm.

"This is all you’ve got? Daring to show off in front of me?"

With a flick of his wrist, the chaotic energy collided with Liu Qingyun’s fiery strike.

There was no earth-shaking explosion—just a sizzling hiss as the flames were devoured. The chaotic energy surged onward, slamming into Liu Qingyun’s chest.

His pupils shrank. A mouthful of blood sprayed from his lips as his body hurtled backward like a broken kite, crashing into the barrier before collapsing onto the platform.

After a few feeble twitches, he lay still.

Dead silence.

Dead?

Liu Qingyun… dead?

He killed him?

A single move to annihilate a Crystal Core realm expert?

The recruits gaped, too stunned to speak. Even the outer sect elders stared wide-eyed, as if they’d seen a ghost.

Ye Chuan hopped down from the platform and strode toward Liu Chengfeng, looking down at him with cold amusement.

"Well, well. You got slapped and came running for backup. Seems you’ve got a death wish."

Liu Chengfeng trembled in terror, scrambling backward on all fours. "D-don’t kill me! I was wrong! I’ll never dare again!"

Even his own cousin—killed like slaughtering a chicken. A madman, a complete madman!

"How about we play a game?" Ye Chuan’s voice was icy, yet he wore a chilling smile. "First, pound your own demon core a hundred times."

Demon core?

But… he didn’t have one anymore.

"Oh, I forgot about that. Healing spell." With a flick of Ye Chuan’s hand, a healing spell surged forth, and Liu Chengfeng watched in disbelief as his demon core miraculously regenerated.

It was… restored?

"Now then…" Before Ye Chuan could finish, Liu Chengfeng felt his arm move against his will, lifting the scabbard high.

"Hand-beaten beef balls," Ye Chuan announced. "Let’s begin."

"Wait… why can’t I control my body? No—stop! STOP!!!!!!!!"