C7 He Was Humiliating Himself!

At the Ye family's training ground, a crowd had gathered around the sparring ring, most of them servants of the Ye household, all summoned by Ye Gao. Today marked the showdown between Ye Xiaoyun and Ye Han, with Ye Han intent on having Ye Xiaoyun embarrass himself before the onlookers.

"Did you bring all these people?" Ye Xiaoyun, clad in a black martial arts uniform that accentuated his fair skin, asked from atop the platform. His silver-white hair cascaded down his back as he fixed Ye Han with a piercing gaze.

"Exactly. I wanted witnesses around in case someone—namely you—refuses to accept defeat," Ye Han replied.

"Fair point. It ensures that if you're the one who ends up losing, there'll be plenty of people to attest to it," Ye Xiaoyun retorted with a grin.

"Nonsense! Fighting me is just asking for humiliation! Today, I'm going to show everyone that even if you've started cultivating, you're still worthless!" Ye Han snapped.

"Hasn't Young Master Ye Xiaoyun recently started cultivating?"

"Yes, just a few days ago, I believe."

"After five years, he's finally cultivating? Seems a bit late, doesn't it?"

"Who knows? But to challenge Young Master Ye Han so soon after starting seems rather foolhardy."

"Indeed, especially since Young Master Ye Han has reached Martial Cultivator Rank Eight! How can Ye Xiaoyun possibly compete?"

The spectators below the ring were abuzz with speculation, none of them giving Ye Xiaoyun a chance at victory.

"Enough talk. Shall we begin?" Ye Xiaoyun called out.

"We're definitely fighting, but let's raise the stakes," Ye Han suggested with a sly grin.

"Oh? And what are you proposing we wager?" Ye Xiaoyun inquired, his curiosity piqued.

"If you lose, you'll bow down, apologize to me, hand over all your cultivation resources, and obey my every command from here on out," Ye Han declared.

"And what if you're the one who loses?" Ye Xiaoyun pressed.

"Me? Lose? How could I possibly lose! Hahaha," Ye Han laughed as if he'd heard the funniest joke.

"I'm serious. What if you lose?" Ye Xiaoyun persisted.

"If I lose, I'll hand over all my cultivation resources to you, bow in apology, and follow your commands to the letter. How does that sound?" Ye Han declared with unwavering confidence.

"Deal," Ye Xiaoyun responded, accepting the challenge.

"Let's get started." With those words, Ye Han unleashed the formidable presence of a Rank Eight Martial Cultivator!

"So you've had a breakthrough. No wonder you're oozing confidence," Ye Xiaoyun remarked, unfazed by Ye Han's advancement to Rank Eight.

"If you're scared, just give up now and save yourself the pain," Ye Han taunted, smirking with pride.

"Too bad for you, I've broken through as well." Ye Xiaoyun retorted, and in an instant, his Rank Six aura burst forth, nearly indistinguishable from that of a Rank Seven Martial Cultivator.

"This... How can this be!" Ye Han was utterly astounded by Ye Xiaoyun's rapid progression.

"What's with that look? You seem shocked," Ye Xiaoyun said, feeling a surge of satisfaction. He remembered how Ye Han used to bully him when they were younger. Seeing him so flustered now was a delightful turn of events.

"Just a Rank Six Martial Cultivator, and you're gloating? I'll show you the real gap between Rank Six and Rank Eight!" Ye Han spat out angrily, launching a vicious onslaught against Ye Xiaoyun.

Ye Xiaoyun was quick to counter. The two exchanged a flurry of blows, their power stirring up fierce winds around them.

Despite his efforts, Ye Han couldn't gain the upper hand. He thought to himself, 'This kid! His combat strength is incredible. How did he train? Why do I, with higher cultivation, have no advantage?'

Ye Han racked his brain but couldn't fathom Ye Xiaoyun's formidable strength.

Seeing Ye Han's bewildered face, Ye Xiaoyun advised, "Focus. Don't get lost in useless thoughts." He then swept a kick towards Ye Han, who hastily blocked with his arm.

The impact sent Ye Han stumbling back several steps, his arm tingling from the blow. Gritting his teeth, he admitted, "This guy is tougher to handle than I thought!"

"Ye Xiaoyun is incredibly strong!"

"Indeed, who would have thought he could hold his own against Young Master Ye Han?"

"Is this the same Ye Xiaoyun who couldn't even cultivate before?"

"He's completely transformed!"

Witnessing Ye Xiaoyun's prowess, the spectators below the stage swiftly revised their opinions of him.

"Humph, I haven't even unleashed my martial skills yet!" Ye Han scoffed.

"Then bring it on! What are you waiting for? If you hold back and lose, you'll never live it down," Ye Xiaoyun challenged.

"Get ready to be carried off the stage!" Ye Han roared, his fists clenched as he concentrated his Qi.

"Is that the Dorje Fist?" Ye Xiaoyun inquired.

"Scared now, are you? Too late for regrets. Take this!" Ye Han launched himself at Ye Xiaoyun in a swift attack.

Ye Xiaoyun stepped up to meet the assault head-on.

Their fists met with a thunderous crash, shaking the entire arena as fierce winds whipped around them and ripples pulsed from the point of impact.

"This can't be!" Ye Han was aghast to find his Dorje Fist had no effect on Ye Xiaoyun.

"I'm using the Dorje Fist as well," Ye Xiaoyun said with a smile.

"I refuse to believe you can outdo me." Undeterred, Ye Han threw a second punch, and Ye Xiaoyun matched it with his own.

"This... This can't be! I won't accept it!" Ye Han yelled in disbelief, throwing a third and fourth punch in rapid succession.

"There's no such thing as impossible. Today, you'll learn who's really humiliating themselves!" Ye Xiaoyun countered with a third and fourth punch, then swiftly delivered a fifth that Ye Han couldn't block, striking him squarely in the chest.

Ye Han felt as if a hammer had slammed into his chest. His ribs cracked, and he was sent flying back several meters, coughing up bright red blood.

"Ye Han, you've been defeated," Ye Xiaoyun declared.

"You... You... You..." Ye Han's words trailed off as he lost consciousness.

"Young Master! Young Master! Please, wake up!" Ye Gao rushed onto the stage, cradling Ye Han and weeping.

"He's not dead yet. Quickly, take him to get medical attention," Ye Xiaoyun instructed Ye Gao.

"Ye Xiaoyun, you'll pay for this! We're not done here!" Ye Gao spat out the threat before hoisting Ye Han onto his back to tend to his wounds.

"Young Master, you were incredible! I never imagined you could actually defeat Ye Han," Ye Xiaoxia beamed as she bounded onto the stage, her excitement palpable as she spoke to Ye Xiaoyun.

"Heh, naturally," Ye Xiaoyun replied with a grin.

"Let's head back and have a proper celebration," suggested Ye Xiaoxia.

"Off we go, then!" exclaimed Ye Xiaoyun, scooping up Ye Xiaoxia in his arms.

"Hey, put me down! With all these people around, and me being your maid, this isn't proper!" Ye Xiaoxia protested, her cheeks flushed with embarrassment.

"What's the issue? Let them talk if they dare," Ye Xiaoyun boasted with a confident air.

"You're... so annoying!" Ye Xiaoxia pouted, turning her head away, choosing to say no more.

Meanwhile, the crowd below buzzed with speculation about Ye Xiaoyun's sudden surge in strength.

By this time, Ye Han had come to from his unconscious state, his voice seething with anger, "Ye Xiaoyun! Don't think I'll forget this! Just wait until my older brother returns; he'll deal with you!"