Actually, whether my brother participates in the Martial Soul Banquet or not doesn't matter to me, Ye Xiaoyue.
What I care about is the reward that Ye Xiaofan should receive at the banquet; those are real and tangible cultivation resources.
At this moment, the person who came told her that Ye Xiaofan, despite awakening his Martial Soul, not only didn't receive the reward he deserved, but also didn't even qualify to attend the Martial Soul Banquet.
This, to Ye Xiaofan, is a blatant humiliation. Her brother also awakened his Martial Soul; why can't he receive fair treatment?
"Haha, yes, you're right, Ye Xiaofan did awaken his Martial Soul, but Ye Xiaoyue, don't forget, he awakened a useless Martial Soul that's not even at Level One."
"What? Do you siblings think you haven't embarrassed Ye Village enough in Star Moon City? Do we need to let the Ye Race become the laughingstock of the surroundings as well?"
"Ye Xiaoyue, let me remind you, the Ye Village Martial Soul Banquet is attended by well-known figures from the surrounding areas every year. Take my advice: if Ye Xiaofan goes, it's just asking for humiliation. Listen to the chief's instructions and it's best not to go."
The few young cultivators spoke with stern faces, their tone not hiding their threatening intent in the slightest.
Ye Xiaoyue wasn't intimidated by their threats at all. Instead, she showed a frosty expression, and spiritual power surged from her body: "What if I insist on taking Xiaofan?"
The few of them exchanged glances upon hearing this.
"If that's the case, for the sake of Ye Village's reputation, don't blame us for being ruthless. The Ye Village Martial Soul Banquet absolutely cannot allow an awakener of a useless Martial Soul to appear at the banquet. It would only bring shame to our race and turn us into a joke."
"According to the chief's instructions, if Ye Xiaofan insists on going, we can only break his legs first!"
"I'd like to see who dares!"
As soon as she said this, Ye Xiaoyue took a step forward, with spiritual power boiling all over her body, and the surrounding temperature suddenly dropped.
The few young cultivators responded in kind, releasing their spiritual power. The atmosphere in the living room instantly changed, becoming tense and violent with spiritual power raging.
And at this very moment.
"Sister."
As both sides were in a standoff, Ye Xiaofan pushed open the door and came out.
"Xiaofan?"
Seeing Ye Xiaofan, Ye Xiaoyue's face showed a trace of worry and concern.
Without waiting for the few young cultivators to speak, Ye Xiaofan first expressed: "Don't worry, I won't go to the banquet."
Ye Xiaofan's voice was full of disillusionment and despondency. He had already heard the earlier conversation crystal clear.
He never imagined that Ye Wuyuan would be willing to sacrifice his own legs for that so-called face.
"Xiaofan, you...?"
Ye Xiaoyue wanted to say something, but seeing Ye Xiaofan's expression, she swallowed her words.
"That's better, Ye Xiaofan, at least you have some self-awareness. We don't want this either, we're just thinking about Ye Village's interests."
The few young cultivators said this and then turned to leave.
"Hold on."
Ye Xiaoyue's voice suddenly rang out. She turned to look at them, her face still burning with anger:
"Xiaofan may not be going to the Martial Soul Banquet, but the rewards he's entitled to should not be diminished by a single penny. This is a rule set by our ancestors in Ye Village."
Ye Xiaoyue's intention was very clear, those cultivation resources may not be much, but she had to fight for this breath of dignity for Ye Xiaofan.
However.
"Sister."
Just as Ye Xiaoyue finished speaking, Ye Xiaofan hurriedly intervened, seeing her and shaking his head slightly.
The few young cultivators glanced at each other and no longer lingered.
"Xiaofan, those are rightly yours, why stop sister?" Ye Xiaoyue asked unwillingly.
Ye Xiaofan responded with a gentle smile: "Sister, you can't beat them, and without Aunt here, if a real conflict breaks out, we'll be the ones to suffer."
Ye Xiaoyue heard this and paused slightly, staring blankly at Ye Xiaofan. For a moment, she felt as if her brother had grown up a lot overnight.
The Ye Village Martial Soul Banquet was a grand event, nearly everyone in the village attended, the entire village was decorated with lanterns and streamers, and guests came in an endless stream.
This time, Ye Village had awakened a prodigy with a Level Nine Martial Soul, and many forces from the surrounding regions came to offer their congratulations.
At the banquet, Ye Xiaotian was like a star among the moon, with many older figures even befriending him. This made Ye Wuyuan almost unbearably glad, especially with Ye Village awakening some other high-level Martial Souls, making the occasion exceptionally glorious.
At the banquet, someone accidentally mentioned Ye Xiaofan, immediately causing Ye Wuyuan's face to darken: "Why bring up that waste? Haven't we been humiliated enough?"
Ye Wuyuan's words ensured that no one else in the village dared mention Ye Xiaofan who awakened a Martial Soul not even at Level One.
Compared to the bustling and lively Ye Village Banquet, the home of Ye Xiaofan and his sister appeared so quiet and lonely, even somewhat desolate.
However, Ye Xiaofan did not care about these things and instead focused entirely on cultivation.
Even though he was only seven years old, living on the Martial Soul Continent, he had long understood the principle of the strong being respected. Nothing offered more security than becoming strong yourself.
Time passed slowly, and three days slipped by.
On this morning.
Ye Xiaofan again awoke from his cultivation state, but his expression was even more astonished.
"Profound Spirit Third Layer!"
The terrifying cultivation speed left Ye Xiaofan shocked and ecstatic.
Though he was delighted, he also felt a slight unease.
After three days of arduous practice, he not only condensed spiritual power to open his Dantian, but also broke through continuously, directly stepping into the Third Layer of the Profound Spirit Realm.
This was too astounding.
Ye Xiaofan felt a bit apprehensive.
But in a simple conversation with Ye Xiaoyue, Ye Xiaofan learned that for some incredibly talented prodigies, entering the Profound Spirit Realm in three days was normal, and some even monstrous demon fiends could break through several layers in a day.
After all, the closer to the front of the realms, the easier it was to cultivate and break through. Breaking through multiple realms later on wasn't as easy, just that in the relatively remote Star Moon City, such extraordinary monsters were rare.
Hearing his sister's words, Ye Xiaofan finally felt relieved.
However, he did not continue his intense cultivation. Breaking through realms too quickly wasn't necessarily a good thing, it required time to consolidate strength; pursuing speed alone would only backfire.
Therefore, in the days that followed, Ye Xiaofan didn't seek further realm breakthroughs, spending most of his time meditating to consolidate his cultivation or going to the back mountain to practice his Sword Technique.
Before awakening his Martial Soul, Ye Xiaofan couldn't sense the Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi, so for those years, he mostly practiced Sword Techniques.
The Sword Technique he had access to wasn't any Heaven-defying Martial Technique, just the most common "Grass Cutting Sword Technique," a Sword Technique so common that in the Star Moon City area, everyone had a copy; anyone could get one.
Yet through years of practice, Ye Xiaofan had already mastered this Sword Technique to a point of doing as he pleased.
The autumn wind swept the leaves in the forest, and the color changed at the rise of the sword.
With the infusion of spiritual power, Ye Xiaofan's swordsmanship became increasingly sharp, his speed improved several times over, and he achieved a natural balance.
For a time, Sword Shadows crisscrossed in the forest, countless leaves being split in two. The ordinary Sword Technique, in his hands, seemed to undergo a qualitative transformation...
One day.
As usual, after practicing his sword skills, Ye Xiaofan headed back to the village, facing the setting sun.
As he passed through the village, several youths were excitedly discussing.
"Have you heard? It's said that Brother Xiaotian's power greatly increased after receiving the chief's medicinal bath, and after taking the Profound Spirit Pill, he broke through to the Profound Spirit First Layer last night."
"Wow, it's only been a few days since the Martial Soul Awakening and Brother Xiaotian already broke through to the Profound Spirit First Layer?"
"That's the terrifying power of a Level Nine Martial Soul. According to the chief, Brother Xiaotian is expected to reach the Profound Spirit Second Layer before the Star Moon City competition, and he might even try for the Profound Spirit Third Layer, making the elders and chief extremely pleased."
The youths were full of admiration and envy.
A month to potentially reach the Profound Spirit Third Layer was a rare feat even in the entire Star Moon City domain, giving him a hint of being the foremost among the younger generation.
"Profound Spirit First Layer?"
Ye Xiaofan murmured to himself upon hearing this, falling into deep thought.
The Level Nine Martial Soul Nine-headed Flood Dragon, along with the medicinal bath and Profound Spirit Pill, only broke through to the Profound Spirit First Layer last night.
In comparison, Ye Xiaofan gained more understanding of his Martial Soul.
However, he didn't say anything, just quietly passed by them and headed towards home.
"Ye Xiaofan?"
The youths also noticed Ye Xiaofan, exchanged glances, and suddenly one of them signaled the others with his eyes.
Immediately understanding, they all rushed up together, arrogantly surrounding Ye Xiaofan.