Chapter 5: The Gulf?

Outside the Ye Residence.

A palpable sense of tension filled the air as numerous martial artists had gathered.

Apart from the family head, Ye Feng, there was a martial artist at the Spiritual Martial Realm Second Stage, three at the First Stage, and dozens at the pinnacle of the Martial Apprentice Realm.

Today, the Ye Family was going to the appointed meeting, determined not to suffer any humiliation.

"Chen'er," at this moment, Ye Chen returned.

"Father, I can handle the matter with the Liu and Ouyang families alone," Ye Chen looked at the Ye family warriors and nodded inwardly. Despite their limited strength, their determination was admirable.

"How could I, Ye Feng, let my child face the enemy alone," Ye Feng's expression was solemn. With a wave of his hand, he led the Ye family members towards the City Lord's Mansion.

At the City Lord's Mansion.

A red carpet was laid out from the mansion's entrance, and the ceremonial platform was already set up.

Standing on the platform were a man and a woman.

The man was dressed in luxurious attire, handsome and charming.

The woman wore a red dress, fair-skinned with long flowing hair, and a delicate face with a hint of beauty.

These two were none other than the first prodigy of Tianyou City, Liu Qing, and the Ouyang family's Ouyang Qian.

"If the Ye Family dares to come, they will be annihilated here," Liu Qing's lips curled up, exuding an arrogant air. At only seventeen years old, at the Spiritual Martial Realm Third Stage, she was considered outstanding in the imperial city. She believed she had the right to be proud.

"I believe in Brother Liu Qing," Ouyang Qian smiled charmingly, captivating.

Compared to Liu Qing, Ye Chen was truly inferior, like dust, not worth mentioning.

How could the man of Ouyang Qian be a waste?

Liu Qing was the only one worthy of being her true love.

In the main seat of the platform, the heads of the Liu and Ouyang families, Liu Wanglong and Ouyang Xiong, sat, their gazes occasionally scanning the surroundings, not to observe the people present, but to anticipate something.

"The Ye Family still hasn't shown up. Are they too afraid to come?" Ouyang Xiong sneered.

Liu Wanglong took a sip of tea and said calmly, "If the Ye Family doesn't come, we'll go to them ourselves, Brother Ouyang, don't worry."

Thump! Thump!

Suddenly, a series of orderly footsteps drowned out the conversations, and the scene fell silent. Everyone turned their gaze outside, only to see dozens of figures approaching like a gust of wind, descending upon the City Lord's Mansion.

"Here they come!"

The expressions of the Liu and Ouyang families instantly sharpened.

The surrounding onlookers began to murmur in low voices.

They had naturally heard about the matters involving the Ye Family, the Ouyang Family, and the City Lord's Mansion, but they hadn't expected the Ye Family to actually show up.

And they were coming in force.

Today, it seemed that a storm was brewing.

"The Ye Family dares to come after all!" Liu Wanglong's expression turned cold, his sharpness evident.

Ouyang Xiong and the others had similarly sharp expressions.

"Why wouldn't we dare come?"

Ye Chen strode into the grand hall as if he owned the place, looking at the members of the Liu and Ouyang families with a cold voice. "The debts owed by your Liu and Ouyang families to the Ye Family must be repaid."

"Repaid? Ye Chen, you're too naive. What are you, anyway?" Ouyang Qian stood on the platform, looking down on Ye Chen with contemptuous disdain.

Did Ye Chen really think he was something?

If it weren't for seeking the resources of the Ye Family, would she have ever considered being with him?

Sixteen years old and still at the Intermediate Martial Apprentice Realm, he was nothing but trash. What right did he have to hold her hand?

Now that the gloves were off, Ye Chen no longer had any value to her. Why should she be polite?

Seeing Ye Chen's disdainful gaze, Ouyang Qian's beautiful eyes narrowed slightly, feeling displeased. She continued, "Ye Chen, I know you're not satisfied, but you're not even worthy of me. What qualifications do you have to be with me?"

"Qualifications? To be with you? You overestimate yourself," Ye Chen sneered.

Did Ouyang Qian really think he was worthy of her?

The illustrious Eternal Immortal Emperor, in the Immortal Martial Realm, had countless celestial maidens willing to follow him, even as slaves. Yet here was Ouyang Qian, thinking he, Ye Wujin, was not worthy.

Where did she get her confidence?

Ye Chen shook his head, no longer bothering with Ouyang Qian. He truly felt sorry for the original owner of this body.

He had once treated her with such love and care, yet she not only looked down on him but also used him, almost causing the Ye Family's downfall.

"You think too highly of yourself. You're not even worthy of me, let alone comparing yourself to Brother Liu Qing. It's pathetic that you're arrogantly demanding repayment." Ouyang Qian mocked again.

"Liu Qing, is he really that strong?" Ye Chen's tone was disdainful.

"Ouyang Qian looked at Ye Chen disdainfully, mocking as she laughed, 'Brother Liu Qing is only seventeen, yet he has already reached the Spirit Martial Realm Triple, even if you look at the Imperial City, his talent is remarkable. You and him, one is on the ground, the other in the sky.'"

"It's only exceptional geniuses like Brother Liu Qing who are worthy of my love," Ouyang Qian said, holding hands with Liu Qing, her face filled with admiration and infatuation.

Her man, Ouyang Qian believed, should be someone like Liu Qing, a true genius. As for Ye Chen, he was nothing but trash and completely unworthy.

Ouyang Qian's words only made Liu Qing more proud. Taking a step forward, he looked at Ye Chen with disdainful eyes and sneered, 'Ye Chen, in cultivation, one may be worthless, but as a person, one cannot be worse than a beast. The Ouyang Family once treated you well, but you dared to have inappropriate intentions towards my little sister Ouyang Qian. If you won't even spare such a young girl, you're not fit to be called a human.'"

Liu Qing's words, accompanied by the crying of a young woman from the Ouyang family, seemed to reveal Ye Chen's true character to the surrounding crowd. Instantly, they looked at Ye Chen with disdain, and murmurs of condemnation rose around him.

"Nonsense!" Ye Feng shouted angrily, rebuking, "My Ye Family treated the Ouyang Family with sincerity, even giving up our medicinal garden, yet the Ouyang Family repaid us like this. Who's worse than a beast? You all know very well."

"What does it matter if we know?" Liu Qing said arrogantly, his momentum beginning to radiate. His white spiritual power flowed around him, creating an astonishing aura.

"Spirit Martial Realm Triple, Liu Qing's talent is amazing!"

"No wonder he's a freak who can enter the Xuantian Academy. At only seventeen, he's second only to City Lord Liu Wanglong in the Imperial City."

"His future is limitless."

The surrounding crowd was moved. Liu Qing's talent was truly remarkable, shining like a bright star in the city.

Admiration, jealousy, and awe—all these emotions were directed towards Liu Qing. Undoubtedly, he was quite dazzling in the city.

Ouyang Qian loved this feeling. She looked at Ye Chen with disdain, like a princess looking down on ignorant ants.

"Ye Chen, this is the difference between you and Brother Liu Qing, like a chasm. He's destined to soar to the sky like a dragon, while you are destined to crawl like an ant for a lifetime."

"A chasm?"

Ye Chen shook his head and smiled, stepping onto the platform and walking towards Liu Qing.

"You're right. The martial world has never been about reason. So why should I bother reasoning with you?" Ye Chen's tone was indifferent. He was here to collect debts, not to explain himself or reason with anyone.

"You're looking for death!"

Liu Qing's voice was cold as he clenched his fist, gathering his strength. Like a mountain breaking through the air, he fiercely attacked Ye Chen.

Today, he would single-handedly destroy the Ye Family of Tianyou City and demonstrate his strength.

As for Ye Chen, he was just getting started.