C5 Provocation!

The rotund Yuan Mu suddenly broke into a grin, his eyes darting around before he exclaimed in surprise, "Yuan Ling is here! Weren't you just itching to humiliate him? Well, now's your chance!"

All the children's eyes swiftly turned to follow Yuan Mu's gaze.

Yuan Ling was approaching, his brow furrowed in concern.

Yuan Kong's eyes flickered uneasily. Truth be told, Yuan Ling's sword skills were a source of fear for him. Meanwhile, Yuan Shi, standing to the side, puffed up with arrogance.

As the eldest, Yuan Shi was quick to step forward, boasting confidently, "We don't need Master Yuan Kong to deal with this runt. I can handle it myself."

Without giving anyone a chance to stop him, Yuan Shi shouldered his way through the crowd and strode toward Yuan Ling.

"Yuan Ling, I've heard you're quite the swordsman. You can use your wooden sword, and I'll come unarmed. How about a friendly spar? If you're too scared, it just means you're a coward!"

Yuan Kong, the son of the wealthiest man in Yuan Village, had the support of many children whose elders had worked for his father for years. They naturally sided with him.

With Yuan Shi stirring the pot, the other children quickly joined in the taunting.

They didn't care if it was a case of the strong bullying the weak; supporting their elder brother was the right thing to do.

A smug smile spread across Yuan Kong's face as he turned his attention to a short boy standing next to Yuan Ling.

"Yuan Ling, if you think you can't handle Yuan Shi alone, why not call on your good friend Yuan Sang? Two against one should be fair, right?"

Yuan Sang, with his delicate features and refined appearance, could have been mistaken for a girl.

Next to the cool and aloof Yuan Ling, he seemed particularly anxious, his eyes betraying a deep-seated fear when he glanced at Yuan Kong.

Yuan Ling's frown deepened as he regarded Yuan Kong.

The boy was insufferable. He and Yuan Sang were known as the village's good-for-nothings.

Nearly ten and still not a single meridian opened.

Challenging Yuan Shi was nothing short of outright humiliation.

When Yuan Ling remained silent, Yuan Kong's smirk grew wider.

"Too scared to speak? You're nothing but trash. Someone like you doesn't deserve to stay in Yuan Village, much less take part in the Yuan Town baptism. You're a disgrace to our village, tarnishing our reputation!"

Yuan Shi strode forward, arms crossed and a sneer of disdain etched on his face.

"I really can't fathom why the Village Chief insists on letting you two losers join the baptism. It's a complete waste! How about we make a bet? If you two manage to defeat me together, I'll steer clear of you in the future. But if you lose...

Heh! I want you to drop out immediately, forfeit your spot, and stop participating in Yuan Town's baptism."

Yuan Ling paid them no mind, but Yuan Sang was visibly upset as he retorted, "Yuan Shi, don't push it. The Village Chief decided we should participate in Yuan Village's baptism. What gives you the right to meddle?"

Yuan Shi just smirked.

"What does it matter if the Village Chief decided? If I break every bone in your body, do you really think you'd still qualify to participate in Yuan Town's baptism?"

Yuan Kong's eyes sparkled at the thought.

The baptism in Yuan Town could propel someone forward significantly. If Yuan Ling were unable to participate, he might never unlock his meridians for as long as he lived.

And if he couldn't unlock his meridians, wouldn't Yuan Kong always have the upper hand?

The more he thought about it, the more thrilled he became. Yuan Kong gave Yuan Ling a cold laugh and said, "Exactly! I'll break their limbs so they can't join the baptism. Whoever pulls it off gets ten Golden Dragon Coins!"

As soon as Yuan Kong's words hung in the air, it sent a ripple of excitement through the children.

A single Golden Dragon Coin could support an ordinary family for a month; ten could be life-changing!

Even though they were just kids and didn't fully grasp the significance of ten Golden Dragon Coins, they understood that money could buy many things, and that was enough for them.

Yuan Shi's eyes gleamed with greed.

"Master Yuan Kong, do you mean it?"

"Absolutely. Achieve this, and I'll hand over ten Golden Dragon Coins right away. To me, that amount of money is trivial."

Yuan Kong unfastened a pouch from his belt and displayed ten Golden Dragon Coins.

He recalled his father's words: if money could solve a problem, then there was no problem at all.

Yuan Kong thought it would be a bargain to spend ten Golden Dragon Coins to break Yuan Ling's limbs. Yuan Sang was merely collateral damage.

Yuan Shi's family wasn't affluent, unlike other kids in the area. He knew that the ten Golden Dragon Coins could significantly improve his family's living conditions. And all it would take was to break the limbs of these two. It seemed like a fair trade to him.

"Rest assured, Young Master Yuan Kong, I will make sure to break every bone in their hands and feet!" Yuan Shi said, his face contorting with a sinister grin as he advanced towards Yuan Ling and Yuan Sang.

At that moment, his only desire was to break their limbs and claim the ten Golden Dragon Coins.

Yuan Sang was shaking, his face ashen. Yuan Shi had already mastered three meridians, and the disparity in their strength filled him with despair.

"Don't worry, I've got this," Yuan Ling said, his voice icy.

To him, a child's scuffle was trivial, especially after facing life and death situations. But Yuan Kong's intentions were clear—he wanted to leave his opponent disabled and incapable of cultivation. That was crossing the line.

Fury surged within him. He drew his wooden sword and positioned himself protectively in front of Yuan Sang. Yuan Ling had changed; he was no longer the boy who feared Yuan Shi.

Yuan Sang, however, was still anxious. He remembered all too well how Yuan Shi had previously pummeled Yuan Ling. He couldn't muster confidence in Yuan Ling's assurance.

If they were maimed and missed the chance for the baptism, their hopes for a better life would be dashed. Yuan Sang was nearing ten years old and had yet to open his meridians. The upcoming baptism was his final chance.

Without it, he knew he'd be cut off from the path of cultivation forever.

Yuan Shi's mouth twisted into a malevolent smile as he launched a punch. It was a brutish, gorilla-like blow, devoid of finesse.

The Long Armed Ape Fist—Yuan Village's rudimentary Foundation Building Fist Arts—relied solely on raw, beast-like power and aggression.

And for a martial artist, unlocking just one meridian could grant them Genuine Qi, exponentially increasing their innate power.

The fist arts that emphasize strength seemed even more formidable when utilized by someone of Yuan Shi's size—it was like watching a young gorilla in action. As he threw his punch, a smug expression spread across Yuan Shi's face. He was aware that his talent was average, which is why he had only mastered this particular style of fist arts. Yet, he was confident that within Yuan Village, he had no equal among his peers.

Yuan Shi's strike elicited gasps of astonishment from the children who were watching. With three meridians opened, his Genuine Qi surged powerfully, making him the undisputed champion among the youths of the village. Yuan Shi looked at Yuan Ling, who hadn't opened a single meridian, with eyes brimming with anticipation, almost as if he could already see the boy's limbs being broken.

His punch perfectly captured the essence of the ape's power. It was as if a massive gorilla was lunging forward with each blow. With the strength of his Genuine Qi and three meridians open, Yuan Shi's fists could exert the force of hundreds of kilograms—enough to break not just a person, but even a tree.

Yuan Shi's use of such a lethal technique from the start was a clear sign of his serious intent to cripple Yuan Ling. If his opponent truly aimed to harm him, Yuan Ling had no reason to hold back. Confronted with Yuan Shi's fist, Yuan Ling remained composed. The Tongbi Ape Fist was far from flawless, and Yuan Shi had not mastered it completely. Yuan Ling could easily spot several defects in his technique, one of which was particularly critical.

Without hesitation, Yuan Ling activated the Rushing Thunder Heart Technique, his body brimming with Genuine Qi, ready to make his move. But suddenly, a figure appeared before him. With a mere sweep of his sleeve, Yuan Shi was sent flying like a stone, landing face-first into the snow several meters away.

"Village Chief!"

The crowd, especially the children who had been eager to see Yuan Ling taught a lesson, were left in shock by the sudden intervention. The village chief, nearly seventy but not showing his age, fixed his steely gaze on Yuan Kong.

"I have no objection to the young ones sparring and learning from each other—in fact, I encourage it. But if the intent is malicious, if someone aims to deliberately cripple another to prevent them from participating in the baptism and ruin their future, then I won't hesitate to revoke their baptismal rights."

Yuan Kong's face fell. If he were unable to participate in the baptism, he would undoubtedly become the butt of every joke in the village.

In an instant, Yuan Kong whipped his head around, fixing Yuan Ling with a venomous glare.

He dared not direct his anger at the village chief, well aware that the decision to participate in the baptism was essentially at the chief's discretion. Not just him, but even his father had to tread lightly and cater to the chief's wishes.

And, of course, Yuan Ling would be the one to blame for all of this.

"You little bastard, this isn't over!" Yuan Kong vowed silently.

Yuan Ling frowned inwardly. If the village chief hadn't shown up just then, taking down Yuan Shi wouldn't have been a challenge.

Once he had dealt with that kid, Yuan Kong would be next on his list.

Even if he didn't break his limbs, giving him a thorough thrashing was definitely on the cards.

Unfortunately, the Golden Dragon's Heaven Arts automatically concealed his cultivation level; otherwise, the village chief wouldn't have intervened.

The village chief didn't look at Yuan Ling but surveyed the group of children from Yuan Village, speaking in an even tone.

"Competition is indeed commendable, but if you're looking to lash out and break someone's limbs, know that I will deal with you harshly if I discover such behavior!"

"Now, to the heart of the matter. The baptism is the Yuan family's most significant event, occurring once every decade. It determines whether you soar like a dragon or a phoenix or lead an ordinary life. Seize this opportunity, and you might become the mainstay of the Yuan family. If not, then choosing to live an ordinary life isn't a bad option either."

The village chief's lengthy speech left the inexperienced children restless and bored, despite their appearance of rapt attention. Whether they truly grasped his words was another matter.

Yuan Ling watched the village chief, who was a torrent of words, and could only muster a wry smile.

The village chief had many virtues, but he was also prone to rambling and being overly verbose.

Without a pause, he would go on indefinitely, leaving Yuan Ling no choice but to stand helplessly behind the children, waiting for the chief to conclude.

Across from the village chief's house, in a small building, two figures lurked in the shadows, observing the scene unfolding in the courtyard.

"How are the preparations coming along?"

A gentle voice reverberated softly through the small building, stirring desires in the hearts of men during the chill of winter.

A woman, clad in a black brocade robe with her face shrouded by a dark veil, revealed only her haunting eyes.

Standing beside her was another woman.

Plain in appearance, yet her full, sensuous red lips were captivating, capable of enticing any man with the slightest movement.

She was a young married woman, exuding an inherent charm that could ensnare a man's soul, igniting passion even in the depths of winter's cold.

Her gaze fell upon the courtyard as she spoke in a subdued tone, "Everything is ready. We will go undetected."

The masked woman eyed the children in the courtyard, her brow furrowed. "We cannot afford any mistakes. We must succeed without fail."

The young married woman chuckled with assurance.

"Rest assured, Saintess. Since he is of the Yuan family's bloodline, I assure you, no trace of this affair will be uncovered."

The masked woman shook her head slightly.

"We've been planning for so long, attempting every conceivable method without success. This proves the Yuan family is no simple foe.

"So, what is your plan, Saintess?"

The masked woman's gaze remained icy as she observed the children below.

"To reach our goal, sacrifices are necessary. I've already tampered with the Yuan descendants due for baptism. Once we muddy the waters, the likelihood of the banners passing will significantly increase."

The young woman's heart jolted, and she exhaled a soft sigh.

"It's truly regrettable. These little ones anticipate a bright future, unaware of the harsh reality that awaits them."

"Feeling sympathetic?"

The masked woman let out a cold laugh.

"You misunderstand, Saintess. For the sake of our objective, we must be willing to sacrifice even our own flesh and blood without hesitation, let alone these unrelated underlings."

The young woman also broke into laughter as a biting wind swept through, chilling to the bone.

The masked woman remained silent, offering no response, her cold gaze fixed ahead.

She watched as the village chief personally escorted the children away from the village.

Snowflakes swirled in a heavy dance, blanketing the world in a vast expanse of white.

The persistent snowfall in Essence Connecting State, which had been going on for days, had lessened considerably by nightfall.