C11 A Thousand Miles of Hometown

"Don't get ahead of yourself!" Ye Jian, noticing Ye Bufan gaining the upper hand, vigilantly watched Lin Shanfeng's every move. As Lin Shanfeng took to the air, Ye Jian sprang into action.

With a resounding crash, shockwaves emanated from where their palms collided. Ye Bufan, caught in the blast, stumbled back several steps before regaining his footing, feeling his insides churn.

"Such strength! Is this what it means to be at the Qi Stage?" Ye Bufan marveled inwardly.

Seeing Ye Jian intervene, Lin Shanfeng leapt down from the Life and Death Arena and lifted Lin Feiyang off the ground. Ye Jian swiftly positioned himself by Ye Bufan's side, ready to ward off any surprise attacks.

The crowd fell silent. Lin Feiyang, who had been dominating the match, was now easily bested? The onlookers, particularly Lin Feiyang's admirers, were in disbelief. Their faces drained of color, and countless young women stood with hands over their agape mouths, momentarily forgetting to close them.

When had the Ye family's notorious scion become so formidable?

As Ye Jian and Lin Shanfeng parted ways, a flicker of disappointment crossed Yun Tianao's eyes. He then ascended the Life and Death Arena and announced, "In the Life and Death Arena duel, Ye Bufan of the Ye family emerges victorious!"

Beyond the Ye family's entourage, there was no overwhelming applause from the civilians; their expressions resembled those who had just witnessed a villain triumph over a hero. Ye Bufan smirked self-deprecatingly, "It seems this young man has quite the infamous reputation..."

Ye Tianzhan watched Ye Bufan with intense eagerness in his gaze. To him, Ye Bufan's past misdeeds were inconsequential. The real draw was the impressive combat prowess Ye Bufan displayed, igniting a burning desire within him for a challenge.

Ye Jian raised his hand gracefully and said, "My thanks to my nephew Meng Lin for his graciousness. The Ye family is grateful. Regarding the wager, I would kindly ask the head of the Lin family to deliver the gold coins to our residence." His words were couched in humility, but his face couldn't hide his smug satisfaction.

How many years had it been? The name Ye Bufan had almost become a byword for uselessness in Cloud Peak City. Ye Jian, ever indulgent of Ye Bufan, had never been overly critical, but what father doesn't yearn for his son to make a name for himself?

Today! It happened today! Ye Bufan demonstrated with his own might that he is far from the worthless trash some claimed him to be! Moreover, he triumphed over Lin Feiyang, a formidable Eighth Rank Power Stage adversary, with only the strength of the Seventh Rank. How could Ye Jian contain his elation? Despite his usual composure, Ye Jian was visibly thrilled.

The gambling house on the city's eastern edge is a well-known Lin family establishment, a fact known to all in Cloud Peak City. It was only now that Ye Jian recalled mentioning his wager of one million gold coins on Ye Bufan's victory!

With odds at 1 to 10 for Ye Bufan, the payout was a staggering 10 million gold coins. The thought of such a vast fortune sparked avarice in the commoners' eyes, even as they ruefully recalled betting on Lin Feiyang's sure win.

Many had been so certain of the match's outcome that they staked their entire fortunes on Lin Feiyang, only to now cast glances at him devoid of their former reverence, their eyes filled with anger over their lost wealth.

"Why has the Lin family produced such a failure!"

"He couldn't even beat Ye Bufan; it seems the Lin family is out of successors..."

Those who had gambled away their money began to jeer. Lin Feiyang, already pale from exhaustion and injury, turned even paler as he heard these biting comments.

Lin Shanfeng, supporting the defeated Lin Feiyang, shot a stern look that silenced the murmuring crowd, though their stares remained hostile toward the Lin family members.

Casting a glance at the victorious Ye family duo on the stage, Lin Shanfeng spoke in a grave tone to Lin Feiyang, "We're leaving."

As the Lin family retreated in defeat, the Ye family also made their way home, mindful that Ye Bufan, despite his victory, appeared to have sustained significant injuries.

Back at the Ye residence, all but Ye Jin were jubilant. For years, despite sharing dominance over Cloud Peak City with the Lin and Yun families, the Ye family had often been outshone by their younger members. But today, Ye Bufan had changed that narrative, igniting an undeniable excitement among them.

Ye Jin couldn't help but beam with joy, yet inwardly, he was incessantly muttering to himself. The extent of Ye Bufan's strength had surpassed his wildest expectations. Being at the third Qi Stage level himself, it was clear to him that the combat prowess Ye Bufan had shown in the recent fight was far beyond what Ye Tiannan could hope to match.

Amidst the barrage of curious glances that filled the ancestral temple, reminiscent of eager reporters, Ye Bufan preempted any questions. "Father, I'm feeling under the weather," he announced. "I'll retire to my room to rest. Please have the servants bring me another batch of the medicinal herbs they delivered previously."

Ye Jian was inclined to request the Great Elder to check on Ye Bufan's injuries, but having witnessed the Wind Devil Sword Technique and Ye Bufan's performance in today's battle, he harbored an unspoken trust in his son. Convinced that Ye Bufan had his own methods, since he hadn't asked for anything else, Ye Jian simply nodded in agreement and summoned the household guards to accompany Ye Bufan to his quarters.

Silence is golden, but when Ye Bufan made a sound, it was earth-shattering! The Ye family's ancestral temple buzzed with talk of Ye Bufan's remarkable display, but such accolades were of little concern to him. What preoccupied his mind were the injuries he had sustained. Though they were minor, merely flesh wounds, improper care leading to scars would be less than ideal.

The fleeting glimpse of Yun Ruoshuang's delicate beauty upon his rebirth had sparked a newfound curiosity and thirst for knowledge within Ye Bufan. In his past life, engrossed in the art of alchemy, he had spared little thought for romantic pursuits. Yet, the memory of his rebirth remained indelibly marked in his soul.

Shortly after settling into his room, the promised medicinal herbs were delivered. He selected a leaf from the Trileaf Cloud Grass, placed it in his mouth, and instantly felt a refreshing coolness cascade through his body. The herb was known for its regenerative properties, and during his week of seclusion, Ye Bufan had nearly mastered the effects of the world's basic medicinal flora.

With a fire now kindled, Ye Bufan set about the serious business of concocting his medicine.

He downed a dose of the oral medicine and prepared a bucket of wash. Since he wasn't concocting pills, he simply needed to activate the medicinal power within the herbs. Getting the proportions and the heat right was all it took. Thus, Ye Bufan completed the task in just six hours.

After ingesting the slightly bitter liquid, Ye Bufan plunged into the bath barrel. His skin tingled with itchiness and numbness as the cuts from the sword Qi scabbed over at a visibly rapid pace.

Soaked in the medicinal bath, Ye Bufan didn't succumb to relaxation but instead reflected on the recent fight. Lin Feiyang had tapped into his potential with sword skills to unleash formidable power. Had Ye Bufan not reached an epiphany and ascended to the seventh rank of the Power Stage before the duel, the outcome at the Life and Death Arena might have been uncertain.

This sword technique bore a striking resemblance to the Dao Arts of the Cultivation World he knew in a past life, yet here, even ordinary Power Stage warriors could wield it. Clearly, he had much to learn about this new world.

Yet, had he deployed the Wind Devil Sword Technique from the start, denying Lin Feiyang the chance to display his skills and controlling the fight, the subsequent peril wouldn't have occurred. In his previous life, revered as the Alchemy Saint, few dared to oppose him, leaving him with scant battle experience.

Lost in thought, fatigue washed over him, and the weary Ye Bufan drifted off to sleep in the barrel.

In his dream, he was back on Earth, the esteemed Alchemy Saint, cultivating at ease and crafting pills in his leisure—such bliss. But as Ye Bufan's laughter filled his dream, Yun Ruoshuang's icy visage intruded, yanking him from slumber back to reality.

Awakening to find himself asleep in the bath, Ye Bufan shook his head with a wry smile.

He rose, donned fresh clothes, and stepped outside to a sky speckled with stars, the night's stillness punctuated by the soft chirping of insects.

With the night breeze caressing his face, Ye Bufan stood by the courtyard pool, gazing up at the stars, his expression one of longing. These stars were not those of his homeland, and he wondered if there might come a day when he'd no longer dream of home. His hand brushed the black bead pattern at his Dantian. "You brought me here," he mused, "can you take me back?"

"Still up at this hour?" Ye Jian had silently appeared behind Ye Bufan before anyone noticed.

"Father," Ye Bufan greeted in a soft voice tinged with a trace of melancholy.

Observing the world-weariness on his son's youthful face, Ye Jian inquired, "What's the matter? Are you troubled by something?"

With his father's gaze filled with concern, Ye Bufan replied, "It's nothing serious. I was just reflecting on today's duel with Lin Feiyang."

"You performed admirably today. But I'm curious, where did you pick up that novel sword technique?" Ye Jian seized the opportunity to ask the question that had been gnawing at him all day.

Within the ancestral temple, everyone from my brothers to the elders had posed the same question. Yet, even I was unaware of the sword technique my son had displayed, which was quite disheartening.

"I received guidance from a master in the forest one day, and had a moment of enlightenment," Ye Bufan smoothly replied, leveraging the situation. He wouldn't dare reveal the actual circumstances, not only because he questioned whether his father would believe him, but also because he was uncertain how his father would react to someone else inhabiting his son's body.

"And where is this master now?" Ye Jian pressed eagerly.

"I have no idea," Ye Bufan responded with a shrug.

Ye Jian considered this and realized it made sense. A person capable of teaching such advanced swordsmanship was certainly no ordinary individual. He even entertained the thought that his son might have encountered a legendary Spirit Stage master. With this in mind, Ye Jian's gaze upon Ye Bufan turned envious. "Should you encounter this master again, make sure to treat him with the utmost respect and courtesy," he advised.

"Father, would you mind coming to my room for a moment?" Seeing that Ye Jian was convinced, Ye Bufan breathed a sigh of relief, knowing he could attribute any future incidents to this mysterious master.

Upon entering the room and spotting the remnants of herbs in the cauldron, Ye Jian's brow furrowed, and he silently chided, "This child still tends to be reckless."

Pointing to the medicinal brew in the bath, Ye Bufan invited, "Father, would you care to test it by reaching in?"

With a hint of skepticism, Ye Jian dipped his hand into the medicinal solution, feeling its potency steadily permeate his skin. It appeared to have a rejuvenating effect on the flesh, yet Ye Jian, having already advanced to the Ninth Rank of Power Stage and ascended into the Qi Stage, experienced only a slight benefit. Nonetheless, the revelation nearly sent him leaping with excitement. The impact of the medicinal liquid was far more profound than Ye Bufan's triumph earlier that day!

As the patriarch, Ye Jian grasped the full significance of this elixir. It signified a new era for the Ye family's youth, one where they would begin their journey with an unparalleled advantage!