Venting

The moon hung low in the sky, its gentle light obscured by fleeting clouds. As the moonlight graced the imperial capital of the Xue Empire, the lively night market brought vibrancy to the otherwise shadowed streets and winding alleyways.

Paper lanterns cast their inviting glow over the animated faces of cultivators and locals alike as they strolled through the myriad stalls.

Amid this bustling spectacle, Zhou Yuan navigated the crowd using his spirit sight, even so his steps kept on faltering as if he were losing his balance. He ssem to have entered a state of depression. 

Yang Jin, his loyal friend, followed closely with worry etched across his face. Seeing him in this state made Yang Jing feel extremely frustrated as he was completely powerless to help his friend but understood all he could do was be there for him. 

Thinking about what had happened at the auction hall, his temper nearly flared again. He really couldn't fathom the reason the proud Saintness of the Purple Cloud Palace would use such cruel words when meeting someone for the first time. 

Suddenly, Zhou Yuan stumbled again in the crowded night market, crashing into a towering figure. The large man had dark brown hair and fixed a harsh glare at him. His face was somewhat flushed, making it obvious that he had been drinking. 

"Damn brat, watch where you're going!" the man barked, his irritation palpable in his rough tone. As he grabs Zhou Yuan's collar. Zhou Yuan however, did not display any response as he simply said in a cold tone. "Let me go." 

Hearing this the large man was laughing. "Haha! Why should I listen to you?" 

The way he replied showed no sympathy even though the other party was much younger than him. Zhou Yuan raised his head looking at the large man straight to his eyes and said again. "Let me go." 

The large man was slightly stunned as he realized that Zhou Yuan was actually blind. But his expression darkened.

"A blind brat actually tried to order me around." His grip became much stronger. Seeing this Yang Jin was furious, just as he was about to make his move. 

Sensing the grip on his collar becoming tighter, Zhou Yuan's expression grew ice cold. He was already extremely upset and finally had enough, he needed to vent. 

In that moment, Zhou Yuan tapped into the depths of his soul power, channeling the energy of his soul onto his skin to temporally enhance his physical abilities.

With this sudden burst of strength, he broke free from the man's grip, surprising both the onlookers and the large man himself. A powerful aura enveloped him, his eyes radiating an otherworldly glow that sent shivers through the onlookers.

"I'll give you ten seconds. GET LOST!!!" Zhou Yuan's voice was commanding, and everyone in the night market seemed to hold its breath.

The large man was only at the 4th Rank of Qi Gathering, facing Zhou Yuan's Foundation Establishment level soul pressure he was just nothing but an ant. He swiftly got up and left. Not wanting to embarrass himself any longer. Zhou Yuan and Yang Jin also quickly prevented any other unforeseen incidents from happening. 

As Zhou Yuan and Yang Jin neared the Zhou Clan estate, Zhou Yuan couldn't help but dwell on his recent encounter with the drunken man in the bustling night market. It struck him that he might have underestimated the true potential of his soul.

In the world of cultivation, a cultivator's divine sense drew its strength from their soul. The stronger the soul, the more potent the divine sense. Zhou Yuan had a suspicion that his soul had grown in power to a level akin to someone at the Foundation Establishment stage, and it had become more substantial than he initially realized. This newfound strength was the key to his telekinetic abilities.

While telekinesis wasn't an unheard-of skill among cultivators, it was exceptionally challenging for those in the Qi Gathering stage to access their soul sea as Zhou Yuan had. 

Curious, Yang Jin asked. "Brother Yuan, what actually happened just now?."

"Nothing much, it's just a small trick I picked up. " Zhou Yuan just gave a short response as he continued to say with a small smile. 

"Brother Jin, don't worry, I won't let what that woman said bother me." Yang Jin felt relieved seeing that Zhou Yuan was not depressed anymore. "That woman was really too vicious. What do you think her motive was?" 

"She mentioned that she met Ling Jia before, they must be acquainted. Maybe their friends." said Zhou Yuan.

Zhou Yuan was told by his grandfather that around 1 year ago, that when Ling Jia was out on a mission with her Senior Sister near the territory of the Purple Cloud Palace. 

On the way back from their mission, they ran into a 3th Rank Mystic Beast which was the equivalent of a 3th Rank Core Formation human cultivator.

With no other choice, her Senior Sister who was only in the 7th Rank of the Foundation Establishment stage sent a distress signal to the Purple Cloud Palace as they continuously tried to escape. 

Luckily, according to his grandfather it was Qing Yue, who was nearby at the time that rushed to their rescue. Upon meeting, the two ladies must have bonded and become friends. This connection between Ling Jia and Qing Yue was the most likely scenario as it would explain the woman's hostile behavior at the auction. Such an occurrence was not very rare, although the gap in power was obvious it didn't stop people from appreciating one another. 

Zhou Yuan raised his head looking up into the night with a bitter smile while thinking to himself, "Looks like this fiance of mine that I've never met really hates me."

***

After reassuring Yang Jin, they went their separate ways. Zhou Yuan entered the Zhou Clan's estate feeling tired, the day's events weighing on his mind. 

As he made his way through the familiar surroundings of the estate, his distant and disconnected demeanor did not escape the notice of Qing'er and the others who exchanged concerned glances as he passed them by.