At Windless Cliff Plaza, the crowd of onlookers was growing, their eyes fixed on Ye Cheng and the others in the center of the square.

The moment Ye Cheng took a step, a blurry afterimage appeared before him with shocking abruptness. No one had seen it coming.

SWISH!

Ye Cheng’s feet skidded to a halt. Staring at the figure before him, his pupils contracted sharply.

At the same time, the gazes of the onlookers were drawn to this newcomer. When they saw his face, their expressions filled with utter shock.

The figure was none other than the youth who had been holding a sword. He was tall, dressed in long, pale green robes. His features were sharp and chiseled, with elegant, sword-like brows. A cascade of black hair fluttered gently in the wind, giving him an ethereal, otherworldly air.

"One Sword Flying Snow: Jian Bufan!"

It was unclear who first uttered the simple words, but they swept through the entire plaza like a storm, capturing everyone’s attention.

Jian Bufan, the super-genius who had condensed twelve Qi Vortexes!

The number one genius of Broken Sword Peak!

The only Disciple from Broken Sword Peak to have entered the True Essence Realm!

Each resounding title defined just how dazzling the elegant man before them was. He was the object of worship for everyone on Broken Sword Peak.

Having condensed twelve Qi Vortexes elevated him into the top ten Disciples of the Ancient Spirit Sect, a feat few in the entire sect could claim.

As everyone knew, when a Cultivator reached the Qi Vortex Realm, they had to use their True Qi to open Qi Vortexes within their Dantian to absorb nature’s spiritual energy.

Qi Vortexes were a symbol of a Cultivator’s talent. The more vortexes one had, the faster they could absorb nature’s spiritual energy, the more power they could obtain, and the more terrifying their Combat Power became!

Ordinary people could only condense four or fewer Qi Vortexes. Only a few geniuses could manage six or seven, while eight or nine was the mark of a truly powerful prodigy.

Even the Ancient Spirit Sect didn’t have many such powerful geniuses. As for super-geniuses with more than nine, they were few and far between.

One could only imagine what twelve Qi Vortexes represented.

"Jian Bufan!"

Ye Cheng stared at the figure before him and bit out the two words. His eyes then fixed gravely on the Treasure Sword in Jian Bufan’s hands.

He wasn’t the only one; the gazes of many other Disciples also fell upon the Ancient Sword cradled in his arms.

This sword had a name: Flying Snow. When the sword is drawn, snow flies. When the snow falls, men die!

This was a description of the Flying Snow Ancient Sword, but it was also a description of Jian Bufan.

Seeing Jian Bufan make a move, everyone stared intently, their eyes filled with anticipation. They were eager to see how the Flying Snow Ancient Sword in his arms would taste blood.

Ye Wushuang’s gaze also rested on Jian Bufan, his brow furrowed. Jian Bufan gave him an unprecedented level of pressure. This pressure was different from the deathly pressure Anx Shijie had exuded; this was the pressure of a rival of the same generation.

"Jian Bufan, why are you stopping me?" Ye Cheng asked coldly. He didn’t move. In front of Jian Bufan, he didn’t even have the right to move.

"It displeases me," Jian Bufan said with a faint smile, the three words floating out lightly as a lock of hair danced by his cheek.

’It displeases me!’

The crowd’s hearts trembled. To act simply because something displeased him, with no other reason—how domineering!

"But he is a member of the Ye Family. This is Ye Family business," Ye Cheng said with a frown, having no choice but to bring up his family name.

"A member of the Ye Family!" On the side, hearing Ye Cheng’s words, Ye Wushuang laughed, a desolate sound. "In all these years, when have any of you ever treated me as part of the Ye Family? What a joke!"

For all these years, the Ye Family had ostracized and refused to acknowledge him. If not for his father, Ye Xuan, secretly helping him from behind the scenes, he would have long since been kicked out of the Ye Family and left for dead.

"Ye Wushuang, how audacious!" Ye Cheng’s face darkened. "The Ye Family raised you for so many years. Do you have any right to say such things?"

"Ye Wushuang, you ungrateful, traitorous beast! You harmed your own kin! You’ll die a dog’s death!" beside him, Ye Feng pointed with a venomous expression.

"He clearly tried to kill someone, got his arm cut off in return, and now he’s blaming the other guy. He’s shameless!" Hearing Ye Feng’s shout, someone in the crowd immediately scoffed.

A few other Disciples nodded in agreement, silently seconding that person’s words.

Seeing the crowd’s reaction, a chill went through Ye Cheng’s heart. He turned and commanded Ye Wushuang, "Let him go, and we’ll call it even for today."

"If he hands over the resources I want, I’ll let him go without you needing to remind me." Ye Wushuang pointed his Ancient Sword at Ye Wei and said coldly, "It’s up to you. Will you give them or not?"

"Kill me if you have the guts," Ye Wei roared, trying to act tough.

"You think I don’t dare?" Ye Wushuang sneered. "I’ll count to one. If you don’t hand them over, I’ll cripple your Dantian."

"You dare!" Seeing Ye Wushuang raise his Ancient Sword, not looking like he was joking, Ye Wei’s expression changed. He had just witnessed Ye Wushuang’s ruthlessness when he lopped off Ye Feng’s arm with a single strike. He wasn’t sure if Ye Wushuang would actually kill him.

"Bastard!"

Seeing that Ye Wushuang was giving him no face at all, Ye Cheng’s killing intent flared, and he prepared to move.

CLANG!

However, a smirk touched Jian Bufan’s lips. The Flying Snow Ancient Sword in his arms rang out, as if thirsting to be drawn and taste blood!

A wave of icy Sword Intent washed over them, forcing Ye Cheng to instantly dismiss his thoughts.

"One!"

In that instant, a single word left Ye Wushuang’s mouth.

But Ye Wei didn’t move.

SWOOSH!

Ye Wushuang smiled, a brilliant smile. The Ancient Sword in his hand suddenly thrust downward. A cold, killing intent flooded Ye Wei’s heart like a nightmare.

"No!" Suddenly, Ye Wei’s last shred of bravado crumbled to dust. He was finally afraid. "I’ll give it to you! Don’t cripple my Dantian!" he shrieked in terror.

"I’ll give it, I’ll give it..."

By the end, Ye Wei’s voice was tinged with sobs and pleas. He had already wet himself, and the acrid smell of urine made the crowd recoil and cover their noses.

Finally, the Ancient Sword in Ye Wushuang’s hand came to a stop.

With a terrified expression, Ye Wei frantically fumbled in his robes, pulling out a Jade Bottle and handing it to Ye Wushuang.

"Why make it so difficult?" Ye Wushuang shook his head, took the bottle, and said, "I was just trying to scare you. I didn’t think you’d be such a coward, so easily frightened. It seems I overestimated you. Trash."

’I was just trying to scare you?’

The faces of the crowd twitched. They were utterly speechless. This guy was like a God of Slaughter one moment, and a comedian the next.

’Just a scare? Was that really it?’

The crowd immediately denied it in their hearts. He dared to slice off his cousin Ye Feng’s arm right in front of Ye Cheng. For someone that ruthless, was there anything he wouldn’t do?

’This madman.’

For a moment, the crowd couldn’t help but recall the recent rumors about Ye Wushuang. Madman and ruthless were the two words most often used to describe him.

"Ye Wushuang, you’ve done well!"

Seeing Ye Wei concede, Ye Cheng’s face was ugly. He spat out the cold words, then quickly left with Ye Feng.

Never mind that he couldn’t make a move with Jian Bufan blocking him. Ye Feng’s severed arm needed immediate medical attention. There was no point in staying; it would only lead to more humiliation.

And Ye Wei, freed from Ye Wushuang’s pressure, scrambled to his feet. After shooting a venomous glare at Ye Wushuang, he scurried away in disgrace. To remain here was to be nothing but a laughingstock.