Su Chen fell into a deep slumber as the Heaven's Mandate Pearl exhausted its final traces of energy. He did not know how much time had passed before he felt faint strands of energy flowing in. The influx revived him slightly, and his consciousness gradually cleared.

However, Su Chen frowned. His foolish disciple's situation seemed far from optimistic.

...

Dongfang Yunxing was being hunted. Ever since his encounter with Su Chen and the receipt of the Nirvana Art, he had quietly accumulated energy to improve his talent and cultivation. He had finally broken through to the Spirit Gathering realm.

After painstaking searching, he located the enemy who had massacred the entire Dongfang—Chen Xuan of the Chen Family. The former useless son of the Chen Family had become its greatest genius and strongest expert.

Chen Xuan's reason for destroying the Dongfang was simple: a conflict with Dongfang Yunxing's elder brother, Dongfang Yunhai.

Chen Xuan had taken a fancy to his nominal sister-in-law, Liu Yuehong. She was the daughter of the Liu Family patriarch and had grown up as Dongfang Yunhai's childhood sweetheart.

Though Liu Yuehong claimed she had always treated Dongfang Yunhai as an older brother, she never broke off the engagement. The Liu Family had long enjoyed benefits from the Dongfang, and she had accepted every resource Dongfang Yunhai gave her without hesitation.

This nominal sister-in-law, the woman his brother loved most, had thrown herself into the arms of a man she had only met a few times.

That single act of mercy had brought disaster upon the entire Dongfang.

Somehow, in just half a year, Chen Xuan advanced through multiple realms. His cultivation far surpassed ordinary Spirit Vein experts. Upon his return, he slaughtered his way through the Dongfang. No one could withstand a single blow from him.

After annihilating the family, he even planned to marry his nominal sister-in-law.

A pair of adulterous dogs.

Dongfang Yunxing was determined to avenge his entire clan. He had lain low for a long time. Starting as a lowly horse groom, he spent three months preparing. On the eve of the wedding, he finally gained access to Liu Yuehong. He did not question why she had betrayed the Dongfang. He only wanted to kill the treacherous woman.

Dongfang Yunxing had miscalculated one thing: his cultivation was still far too low. Even with a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and what he believed was a foolproof plan, the moment he tried to kill Liu Yuehong, a protective light flashed from her body. It was a third-grade defensive artifact, equivalent to a Spirit Vein-level treasure.

This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.

Dongfang Yunxing was only at the Spirit Gathering realm. In despair yet decisive, he chose to flee. He carried the hatred of ninety-nine family members on his back. He could not die here.

The Liu Family reacted swiftly and surrounded him with their forces, including the patriarch's son—Liu Yuehong's younger brother.

"Dongfang Yunxing, you're still alive!"

Liu Rufeng laughed loudly.

"How wonderful. My brother-in-law has been searching for the last survivor of the Dongfang. Your head will bring glory to the Liu Family!"

Liu Rufeng's words sent a chill through Dongfang Yunxing.

Liu Rufeng died.

Dongfang Yunxing ignored his own injuries and killed him anyway. Having practiced the Nirvana Art—even if only once—no one in the Liu Family could easily kill him without a Spirit Vein expert stepping in.

Blood soaked Dongfang Yunxing's clothes. Like an asura descended upon the world, he stepped on Liu Rufeng's terrified face.

The rest of the Liu Family trembled in fear and did not dare confront him.

"The Dongfang treated your Liu Family well, yet this is how you repay us!"

Under the shocked gazes of the crowd, Dongfang Yunxing crushed Liu Rufeng's head beneath his foot.

He glared furiously, and not a single person from the Liu Family dared meet his eyes.

"Feng'er… You killed my Feng'er!"

The Liu Family patriarch arrived late, his face twisted with grief. As a Spirit Vein realm expert, the pain of losing his son drove him mad with rage. He attacked Dongfang Yunxing without hesitation.

...

Su Chen awakened. Although the Heaven's Mandate Pearl had only absorbed a tiny amount of energy, he heard an angry roar. His disciple seemed to be in danger.

Su Chen could not let him die like this.

The Liu Family patriarch's furious strike sent dust and dirt flying, leaving only a deep crater behind.

Dongfang Yunxing had vanished.

"Could the Dongfang remnant have been blasted into pieces by the patriarch?"

Some Liu Family members stared at the crater, awed by how terrifying their patriarch's power had become. Only the patriarch himself knew the truth: Dongfang Yunxing had not died. Somehow, he had escaped.

...

In a dense forest.

Dongfang Yunxing had already prepared himself to die. Yet he was still alive. The surroundings were unfamiliar, with no Liu Family pursuers in sight.

"Master?!"

A thought struck him. He looked down at the Heaven's Mandate Pearl on his chest.

"Foolish disciple, don't be so reckless next time! Life is only given once."

A weary voice emerged from the pearl.

Su Chen had barely gained a trace of energy, but most of it was now spent saving Dongfang Yunxing. This time, he was smarter. He remained inside the pearl to conserve energy. He had more important matters to attend to. He needed to learn how the Heaven's Mandate Pearl gathered energy.

"Thank you, Master, for saving my life."

Dongfang Yunxing felt deeply moved. He could hear the exhaustion in his master's voice and knew Su Chen had paid a heavy price to rescue him.

"What exactly happened to you? Tell me everything that has occurred during this time. Perhaps I can help you think of a solution."

Su Chen's voice came from within the pearl, carrying a tone of concern.

Dongfang Yunxing held nothing back. He recounted every detail: the grudge between his elder brother Dongfang Yunhai and Chen Xuan, the destruction of the Dongfang, how he obtained the Nirvana Art, his efforts to gather information on his enemies, and his quest for revenge. He spoke of enduring humiliation as a horse groom, infiltrating the Liu Family, and his failed assassination attempt that led to his pursuit.

Su Chen: "..."

A worthless nobody suddenly rises and becomes a supreme genius? Unable to walk away from a beauty, slaughtering everyone for a woman? Falling in love at first sight?

Hiss! This plot felt all too familiar.