The Starfall Ascension Record

Chapter 7: The Third Divine Meridian

When Ye Man kicked open the stone door, Shen Yuan had just finished Cultivating.

That grating sound of shouting entered Shen Yuan's ears, causing his entire face to darken.

According to Sword Pavilion sect rules, when one is inside a Cultivation Secret Chamber, no one is allowed to intentionally disturb them.

This rule is primarily to prevent disciples from suffering Qi Deviation and damaging their Dantian when breaking through a realm due to outside disturbance.

However, Ye Man not only ignored the sect rules but also directly kicked open the stone door.

If Shen Yuan had been in the middle of a Breakthrough just now, the consequences would have been unimaginable.

Thinking of this, a cold light flashed in Shen Yuan's eyes, and he abruptly faced the arrogant Ye Man.

"Xiyao."

At this moment, Shen Yuan saw the graceful figure collapsed outside the door.

Shen Xiyao's delicate face was covered in fatigue and worry, seemingly having not rested for a long time. On her right cheek, there was a bright red palm print, which was particularly jarring.

Seeing this, Shen Yuan immediately knew that Shen Xiyao had not left after he entered the Cultivation Secret Chamber. She was still worried about Shen Yuan's safety, so she secretly guarded the Cultivation Secret Chamber entrance.

For the past three days, she had not only stayed but had never rested, not daring to close her eyes for a single moment.

Just now, Ye Man wanted to rush directly into the Cultivation Secret Chamber, but Shen Xiyao's attempt to stop him failed, and she was slapped by him.

The slap was heavy, knocking Shen Xiyao unconscious immediately, without giving her time to say a word.

In an instant, the cold light in Shen Yuan's eyes vanished, replaced by a killing intent. A bone-chilling killing intent.

Ye Man paid no attention to Shen Yuan's change, still boasting, "You broke Yunchuan's arms and crippled his Dantian. Today, I will return the favor in full."

"If you kneel before me now and beg me to strike, perhaps I can give you a quick death."

"A quick death, my ass."

Killing intent surged in Shen Yuan's eyes. With one step, the ground actually kicked up a shockwave, tearing the air apart and emitting a dull, muffled whistling sound.

"How dare you insult me. You are courting death." Ye Man roared repeatedly, swinging his fists and smashing them towards Shen Yuan.

"Fierce Tiger Crash."

Ye Man held his hands like claws, his Origin Power surging like wind, vaguely condensing the form of a roaring fierce tiger.

The Fierce Tiger Crash ranks among the Human Tier Advanced Martial Arts, focusing on overwhelming force.

This Martial Arts move was Ye Man's specialty, which he had Cultivated to the point of perfection. He was confident that even someone at the fifth level of Condensing Meridians would not dare to be careless.

Boom.

The fist-claws rapidly approached, and a muffled sound erupted the moment they connected.

Ye Man still had a smile on his face, but the next second, he felt a sharp pain spreading from his hands, accompanied by the cracking sound of breaking bones. Each sound piercingly clear.

"Impossible. My Fierce Tiger Crash could not possibly be..." Ye Man's entire face was filled with shock. His cultivation and Martial Skill were far superior to Shen Yuan's. How could he possibly lose?

Doubt filled Ye Man's heart. He suddenly raised his head and met Shen Yuan's eyes. Those ink-black eyes were now cold and sinister, sending a shiver down his spine.

"Even if I lose this time, I will not seek revenge." Ye Man was frightened out of his wits and stepped back, only to find his hands tightly locked by Shen Yuan.

The coldness in those ink-black eyes intensified.

"Since you came, leave your life here."

Shen Yuan coldly uttered those words, immediately activating the Ancient God Devouring Heaven Technique. A terrifying suction force descended, enveloping Ye Man.

A buzzing sound rang out. Just as Shen Yuan had expected, the Ancient God Devouring Heaven Technique could devour everything in the world, naturally including a Martial Artist's Origin Qi.

"You... you..." Ye Man found his strength constantly disappearing, and his entire face was covered in terror.

He suddenly felt immense regret.

From the beginning, he should not have sought trouble with Shen Yuan, and he definitely should not have attacked Shen Xiyao.

Otherwise, his fate would not have come to this.

"Die." Shen Yuan issued the death sentence. With a thought, he completely devoured the Origin Qi within Ye Man's body, simultaneously extinguishing Ye Man's last shred of life.

Rumble.

As the abundant Origin Qi was taken into his body, the Ancient God Devouring Heaven Technique wildly circulated, continuously converting it into Spiritual Qi, gathering it into a flow, and finally condensing a Meridian glowing with golden light.

The third Divine Meridian successfully condensed.

At this moment, three golden Divine Meridians were hidden within Shen Yuan's body, each one profoundly mysterious.

The strength Shen Yuan possessed also reached six hundred jin, comparable to someone at the sixth level of Condensing Meridians.

However, Shen Yuan felt no joy after the Breakthrough. He gently picked up Shen Xiyao, a trace of tenderness showing on his face, and slowly walked towards the Separate Courtyard.

"Young... Young Pavilion Master." Not far away, a group of Sword Pavilion disciples came running upon hearing the noise.

When they saw the corpse on the ground, their jaws nearly dropped.

Ye Man, a Peak fourth level Condensing Meridians practitioner, was actually dead. Killed instantly by Shen Yuan?

Shen Yuan ignored the expressions of the crowd, simply holding Shen Xiyao and walking outside without saying a word.

Just as he was about to leave, Shen Yuan suddenly stopped and said without turning his head, "The few of you, send Ye Man's corpse to Ye Tong, and help me relay a message to him."

"There are still four days until the Fighting Arena battle. Since I have already crippled Ye Yunchuan and killed Ye Man, I do not mind striking a few more times and killing a few more people."

"If you send one, I will kill one."

"If you send two, I will slaughter a pair."

As the chilling words fell, all the Sword Pavilion disciples present felt a tightening in their hearts.

When they looked towards Shen Yuan's direction again, his iron-blooded figure was gone, leaving only a trail of footprints leading into the distance.

"So terrifying. Is this the demeanor of a peerless genius?"

"No, compared to four years ago, the oppressive feeling the Young Pavilion Master gives off is even stronger. It is truly suffocating."

"Even so, Ye Man's cultivation was only at the fourth level of Condensing Meridians, far inferior to Ye Yunshan. The Young Pavilion Master's chances of winning the Fighting Arena battle four days from now are still very slim."

The group of Sword Pavilion disciples chattered incessantly. They glanced at Ye Man's corpse, and while their bodies trembled, they could not stop sighing internally.

At the same time, in the Ye Family Separate Courtyard.

Ye Tong and Ye Yunshan stood side by side beneath a tree, looking up and gazing at the lightly falling snow, their expressions serious.

"After three days of recuperation, Yunchuan's injuries have completely stabilized. However, the damage this time was too severe. It will likely be quite difficult for him to fully recover." Ye Tong narrowed his eyes, grinding his teeth audibly.

Ye Yunchuan, his most doted-upon youngest son, had actually been reduced to this state.

All of this originated from Shen Yuan.

If it were not for his status, he probably would have already killed Shen Yuan himself.

"Father, rest assured. I will personally kill Shen Yuan during the Fighting Arena battle four days from now." Ye Yunshan was equally unable to contain his rage. He paused, then changed the subject. "By the way, Father, I heard Ye Man has returned."

"He returned a few days ago." Ye Tong turned and walked into the Courtyard, saying unhurriedly, "I told Ye Man everything that happened that day, and I told him to go cause trouble for Shen Yuan."

"Oh?"

Ye Yunshan was startled, not understanding the meaning of Ye Tong's action.

Ye Tong sat down, leisurely took a sip of hot tea, and then replied, "Shen Yuan lost all his cultivation, yet he was able to severely injure Yunchuan. This clearly indicates that this child is hiding something deep down, and we must be wary. That is why I let Ye Man strike first, to test him out."

"Ye Man has decent talent, and his cultivation is about to step into the fifth level of Condensing Meridians. Having him test Shen Yuan is foolproof. Even if Shen Changyuan investigates, it will just be seen as sparring between the younger generation, giving them no pretext to interfere."

After hearing Ye Tong's words, Ye Yunshan nodded repeatedly.

Ye Man, at the Peak of the fourth level of Condensing Meridians, was several times stronger than Ye Yunchuan. Even if Shen Yuan truly was hiding something, Ye Man would be able to retreat safely.

"Reporting to Master, Young Master Ye Man..."

Suddenly, a middle-aged man dressed as a Steward walked in, his face pale and gasping for breath.

"He is back, so what is the panic?" Ye Yunshan glared at the Steward, scaring the Steward into immediately stopping his words and standing aside, trembling.

"Three days is not too slow." Ye Tong adopted the profound air of someone with everything planned out. After slowly rising, he said to the Steward, "Go, let Man'er come in."

"Master, I am afraid that will not be possible."

The Steward looked at Ye Tong and Ye Yunshan with extreme dread, then suddenly knelt on the ground, saying with great difficulty, word by word: "Young Master Ye Man, he... he is dead."