Though Yue Qingshan had clawed his way to the Enlightenment Realm Peak, the gulf between his strength and Yun Lan's remained vast.
He couldn't sense her presence—not even a whisper of her tracking him through the shadows.
More damning still, the fool never imagined anyone would possess the patience to follow him this long. Half a month he'd spent buried in the Ancient Ruins. Half a month she'd waited, motionless as stone.
Yue Qingshan lifted his gaze skyward, drinking in the sight after his prolonged absence. The heavens had turned leaden and oppressive.
Rumble!
Thunder cracked across the firmament. Lightning carved jagged scars through churning clouds, heralding a deluge that could break at any moment.
"A rainy day. Just my luck."
Dissatisfaction seeped through Yue Qingshan's words.
His cultivation fell woefully short of altering the weather's temperament—he could only endure what the heavens inflicted upon him.
He'd emerged expecting sunlight, warmth on his face after the tomb's darkness. Instead, this gloom greeted him, souring his mood like vinegar in wine.
With growing impatience, Yue Qingshan abandoned the cursed place. Nothing remained here worth his time.
The true prizes—artifacts of genuine value—already rested within the spatial ring on his finger. That deceptively plain band held a fortune in treasures.
His objective secured, Yue Qingshan set off toward Ashen Orchid City with satisfaction warming his chest.
The moment he vanished beyond the treeline, Yun Lan emerged from concealment.
She trailed him with practiced ease, simultaneously channeling spiritual energy to relay intelligence to Ye Qian.
"Reporting to the Young Master: Yue Qingshan has emerged from the Ancient Ruins.
Having obtained the legacy of a supreme master, his cultivation has soared directly to the Enlightenment Realm Peak."
...
Within the secluded chambers of the Ye Clan estate's main palace, Ye Qian absorbed the distant message transmitted by Yun Lan.
The news that Yue Qingshan had soared to Enlightenment Realm Peak in a mere half‑month caught him off guard. Such sudden fortune was not something he had anticipated.
Enlightenment Realm Peak—just one step beneath Holy Induction Realm Early Stage. One step beneath Ye Qian himself.
Yet that single step yawned like a chasm. Yue Qingshan would not cross it anytime soon, if ever.
In contrast, Ye Qian had spent the past two weeks solidifying his foundation.
The might of Holy Induction Realm Early Stage now answered his every command with perfect obedience. His cultivation continued to rise steadily, unhurried and assured.
The Supreme Immortal Body truly lived up to its reputation—the Slaughtering Immortal Art flowed through his meridians without resistance, each circulation as natural as breathing.
The Supreme Demon Eyes granted him vision beyond mortal comprehension.
When paired with the Ancient Demon Scripture, his dual cultivation of immortal and demonic arts drove his strength forward in explosive leaps.
If he unleashed everything—abandoned caution about exposure—Ye Qian had confidence he could contend even with Holy Induction Realm Late Stage cultivators.
Of course, that assumption hinged on one absolute condition: no one could discover his demonic powers.
An impossibility.
He had to conceal it, bury it deeper than graves. No one could learn he walked both paths—not even his parents.
A single slip of the tongue could invite catastrophe.
Even as the Ye Clan's Young Master, practicing Demon Arts could turn him into an enemy of the entire Immortal Realm.
Until he possessed absolute, crushing strength, he would never reveal his dual cultivation.
The past half‑month had yielded no Villain Points. Most of his hours had been devoted to consolidating his breakthrough, leaving little time to properly train Yue Ming.
"Sister Lan, I've grasped the situation. Maintain your surveillance on Yue Qingshan.
While you are at it, devise a way to lure him back to my doorstep.
I find myself wondering if he still has the spine to challenge me...
Besides, I am eager to see the look on his face when he realizes the Yue Family has branded him a wanted criminal."
A sinister smile curled Ye Qian's lips as he spoke.
How Yun Lan accomplished the task was her concern. He had no need to micromanage every detail.
"As you command, Young Master. Yun Lan knows what to do."
An idea had already taken shape in her mind.
Yue Qingshan was still young, after all—hot‑blooded and reckless, at least according to rumors and recent events.
The woman he loved, Yue Ming, had been claimed by Ye Qian, who had acted intimately with her right before Yue Qingshan's eyes.
More importantly, Ye Qian had crushed him, humiliated him utterly.
Yue Qingshan remembered every detail with painful clarity. Those memories festered in his heart like infected wounds.
Apply the slightest pressure, offer the right provocation, and the fool would swallow the bait without hesitation.
After severing the communication, Ye Qian contemplated his next moves against Yue Qingshan.
Currently, the protagonist's Luck Value hovered at 4,800 points—neither abundant nor paltry. One final squeeze should drain him completely dry.
When the boy returned and learned of his expulsion from the Yue Family, his spirit would fracture. That psychological blow would yield a wave of Villain Points.
Then he'd have Yue Ming deliver crushing words to devastate Yue Qingshan further—another harvest.
Finally, Ye Qian would appear personally to grind Yue Qingshan's hopes into powder, drowning him in complete despair. By that point, the harvesting would approach completion.
After the final wave, Ye Qian would eliminate Yue Qingshan with his own hands.
He found himself anticipating what treasures the Villain Treasure Chest would provide after Yue Qingshan's elimination.
He'd glimpsed the lottery's offerings before—artifacts from all heavens and myriad realms, each one worthy of expectation.
He simply didn't know whether this Villain Treasure Chest would yield items equivalent to the Top-tier lottery draws.
Regarding that question, the System had offered only vague reassurance that such outcomes were possible.
"Young Master, Young Miss Yun Xi seeks an audience."
Xia He's voice drifted through the timber door, pulling Ye Qian from the depths of his contemplation.
Ye Qian stirred from his thoughts. He'd been consumed with cultivation these past weeks and hadn't visited his cousin.
Her Affection Rating held steady at seventy-two, and her Luck Value was far from insignificant.
She was a crucial pawn; intercepting Li Fei through her would yield a massive harvest of Villain Points.
Realizing he needed to maintain that asset, Ye Qian kept his tone casual as he replied.
"Very well. Tell her I will meet her in the gardens."
...
In the garden behind Ye Qian's palace, Yun Xi occupied a stone seat, her attention wandering across the courtyard scenery.
Her white dress flowed like mist around her frame.
From a distance, she resembled a fairy descended from celestial realms. Her exquisite features would stir any heart that beheld them, awakening emotions unbidden.
Yun Xi's cultivation granted her keen senses—she detected approaching footsteps immediately.
She rose swiftly, turning toward the sound. Her gaze collided with Ye Qian's as he entered the garden, and for a heartbeat, neither looked away.