The moment Ye Chen saw Feng Yuji, something violent stirred inside him. His fists tightened unconsciously as memories from his previous life surged up—every humiliation, every blow, every moment of helplessness.
Anger burned through his veins, thick and suffocating.
A dark aura spilled out of his body… slowly at first, then violently, like a silent explosion. The air grew heavy around him. Students nearby froze, their expressions twisting into fear.
"W–What's happening to us?" someone whispered, trembling as that suffocating pressure washed over them.
Only then did Ye Chen realize what he was releasing.
He forced himself to breathe, to pull the darkness back inside. Slowly… painfully… the aura collapsed into him again.
Just as he regained control, Feng Yuji walked toward him, laughing as if nothing in the world could touch him. He slapped a hand onto Ye Chen's shoulder.
"How the hell did you dodge my kick, huh?" Yuji mocked, smirking. "You used to choke on every single one of them, loser Chen."
Ye Chen brushed Yuji's hand away—calm, cold, unfazed.
"Don't ever try that again," he said quietly. "Or it won't end well."
He turned to leave with Mingkai.
But Yuji's ego snapped.
"WHAT did you say, loser Ye Chen?" he roared. "How dare you talk back to me! You're nothing but my punching bag!"
He threw a punch—qi swirling around his fist, aggressive and bright.
"Chen! Move!" Mingkai yelped.
But Ye Chen didn't move.
His hand rose… and he caught Yuji's qi-infused punch effortlessly, like he was catching a falling leaf.
Gasps erupted from every direction.
Yuji's eyes bulged. "H–How did you do that?! I'm already at Qi Refining—Second Level! You've always been trash!"
Ye Chen's lips curled faintly.
"I'm not strong," he murmured. "You're just weak."
Then he twisted Yuji's wrist sharply.
Crack.
Yuji screamed, collapsing to the ground clutching his broken arm.
Ye Chen didn't look back. He simply walked away. He didn't want to escalate things—not before he gained enough power to face the Feng family head-on.
But inside… he felt something strange.
Strength.
Real, solid strength pulsing under his skin.
He lifted his hand.
The dark sword-shaped mark etched across his skin glowed faintly— ominous, hypnotic.
So the power came from this…
Behind him, Feng Yuji snarled through clenched teeth.
"Ye Chen! I won't spare you! My brother will destroy you! Just wait—he'll teach you your place!"
Mingkai paled instantly. "Chen, maybe you should apologize… Feng Yuji's brother, Fang Xinhao… He just reached Foundation Level! You can't fight someone like that."
Ye Chen went silent.
This world had barely any spiritual energy left. Only ancient lands and hidden ruins still held qi, and those were monopolized by powerful clans. Ordinary people like him had no chance.
But Ye Chen knew something no one else did.
In a few years, spiritual energy would awaken again.
And when that day came… everything would change.
If he wanted revenge…
If he wanted to protect his mother…
If he wanted power…
He had to get stronger.
Fast.
As they reached college, whispers filled the entire campus.
"Did you hear? That loser Ye Chen broke Feng Yuji's arm!"
"No way! Yesterday Shen Fei's gang beat him to a pulp!"
"How can someone that weak hurt Yuji?"
Ye Chen ignored all of them and stepped into the classroom.
But before he could sit, a shadow blocked his way.
A girl.
Yuan Qingmei.
The woman who had ruined his previous life—draining his money, distracting him from studies, using him until he broke. Because of her, he had failed college. Because of her manipulations, he had worked nights and studied nothing.
In this life… he would make sure she regretted everything.
She glared at him with anger and entitlement.
"How dare you break Brother Yuji's arm? Do you not know who he is? Go apologize right now—otherwise I'll break up with you!"
Ye Chen stared at her, disgust crawling through his nerves.
She had cheated on him.
Used him.
Controlled him.
Not again.
"I won't apologize," he said, voice calm as ice. "Do whatever you want. And stop disturbing me."
She froze. The shock on her face was priceless. Yesterday, Ye Chen would have begged for her attention. Today… he didn't even look at her.
Her pride cracked.
She stepped closer, deliberately leaning forward so her chest brushed into his view.
"Brother Chen… you misunderstand," she said softly, fake sweetness dripping from every word. "I'm only thinking about your safety. The Feng family is powerful. Even if you're from the Ye family, they abandoned you. If you apologize, they'll forgive you… maybe they'll only break one finger…"
Her smile was soft.
Her eyes were poisonous.
Ye Chen's expression didn't change.
"I'm not apologizing. And I don't need your concern. Don't speak to me again."
She opened her mouth to snap back—
—but the classroom door opened.
Teacher Li Jia entered.
Ye Chen's heart tightened.
In his previous life, she had been the only one who truly supported him, the only one who encouraged him. But he'd taken her kindness for granted. Later he'd learned she had feelings for him. Her marriage had been hell, her divorce worse—and eventually, she had died mysteriously.
Not this time.
He would protect her.
When her eyes met his, she smiled gently.
Warmth spread through Ye Chen's chest. He found himself returning a small smile.
After class, as he was leaving, her voice called softly behind him.
"Ye Chen."
He stopped.
Li Jia looked at him with gentle concern. "Your grades are low. If you don't study properly, you might fail. I know your financial situation isn't good… so if you want, you can come to my house at night for tutoring. One hour a day. I'll help you prepare for exams."
A faint blush colored her cheeks.
For a moment, Ye Chen was stunned.
She still cared.
He nodded. "Thank you, Teacher Li."
Later, he reached a quiet park and sat beneath a tree.
He closed his eyes and began cultivating.
At first—nothing.
Then slowly, spiritual energy seeped into him, like warm currents washing over his skin. His body absorbed it, but instead of filling his dantian…
…it flowed straight into the dark sword mark.
The mark drank everything greedily.
Suddenly—
Heat exploded in his core.
Power surged through his limbs. His senses expanded—sharper, clearer.
He punched a stone nearby.
It shattered instantly.
He had reached Qi Refining—Eighth Level.
In minutes.
He stared at the glowing sword mark.
"Is this because of you…?"
Before he could think deeper—
A blade sliced through the air.
Ye Chen reacted instantly, tilting his head aside.
A dagger flew past him and buried itself deep into the tree bark.
Ye Chen's eyes turned cold.
He slowly lifted his gaze toward the attacker.
Someone… had come to kill him.