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Chapter 15 : The Storm That Shook the City
The next day, the entire city of Tianyao was cast into a whirlpool of shock and speculation.
What happened that morning would forever be etched in the history of the region.
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Chan Clan Declares Public Apology
At dawn, a scroll written in gold-trimmed ink was nailed to the ancient spiritwood announcement pillar at the center of the city—a place where only the most significant decrees and declarations were made.
> "The Chan Clan hereby withdraws from all conflict with the Ye Clan.
We offer sincere apologies for all hostilities committed.
The Chan Clan vows to never infringe upon the Ye Clan's borders again.
— By Order of Chan Gu, Patriarch of the Chan Clan"
The words were brief, but they ignited a firestorm.
By noon, the streets buzzed like a stirred beehive. From city merchants to rogue cultivators, wandering swordsmen to outer sect disciples—everyone was talking about it.
> "What happened?"
"The Chan Clan was winning!"
"Why would they apologize to the Ye Clan?"
"They could've crushed them…"
Even within the Chan Clan, disciples whispered in hushed tones. None could understand it.
And within the Ye Clan, there was only stunned silence.
For decades, the Chan Clan had been growing stronger while the Ye Clan deteriorated. It was well-known across the region that the Chan Clan had surpassed them. Their patriarch had even reached the Core Formation Realm, while Ye Clan's strongest—Ye Tian, the Patriarch—was lying on his deathbed just days ago.
How could such a reversal occur?
But just as confusion reached its peak...
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Another Bombshell Drops
As the sun dipped beneath the horizon, a second piece of news spread like wildfire.
> Ye Tian, Patriarch of the Ye Clan, had made a miraculous breakthrough into the Core Formation Realm.
The entire city went mad.
Those who had seen him near death just days ago refused to believe it. But those who saw the spiritual phenomenon above the Ye Clan manor—the pillar of golden light piercing the sky, the phantom of a divine lotus in the clouds—could not deny it.
> "Impossible!"
"Wasn't his core shattered?!"
"He was on the verge of death!"
"And now… he's broken through?!"
Some tried to reason:
> "That's why the Chan Clan retreated! They must've learned Ye Tian was on the verge of breakthrough and feared retribution."
"It all makes sense now."
But only three people truly knew the truth:
Ye Tian, who had experienced the miracle.
Chan Gu, who had seen the immortal-like man deliver it.
And Ye Ling, who had orchestrated it all.
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Chan Clan Meeting Hall
In the heart of the Chan Manor, the atmosphere was grim.
Chan Gu sat on the throne-like chair at the head of the table. Elders filled the room, their faces solemn, some twitching with disbelief, others sweating in anxious silence.
The first elder, a thin, long-bearded man, broke the silence.
> "Patriarch… is it true? The Ye Clan's patriarch truly broke through…?"
Chan Gu's jaw clenched. "Yes."
> "This is unnatural…" another muttered. "He was dying—how could he…"
"Because," Chan Gu interrupted, his voice quiet but firm, "he was helped."
Silence returned.
"He was on his deathbed. But that man—that immortal-like figure—appeared and gave him a divine pill. Not just one to heal his injuries… but one powerful enough to reignite his cultivation and trigger a breakthrough."
The elders stiffened.
"This changes everything," Chan Gu continued, looking around with dark eyes. "We thought we were smart, sparing our clan by retreating. But now… we may have just bowed before a sleeping dragon."
No one dared refute him.
They all felt it—that the tides of the city were shifting… and a new player had arrived. One cloaked in mystery and power far beyond the comprehension of their mortal realm.
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Ye Clan Main Hall – Elder Assembly
Inside the ancestral meeting room of the Ye Clan, a different kind of tension filled the air.
This time, it was not fear—but awe.
Patriarch Ye Tian sat on the elevated seat, his robes flowing like molten jade, skin glowing faintly with the aura of someone who had stepped into Core Formation.
Though his features still bore the pale shadows of recent trauma, his eyes—sharp, clear, filled with vitality—told a different story.
Around him, the elders of the Ye Clan sat in silence.
Some trembled.
Others had tears in their eyes.
A few, who had once quietly considered defecting to rival clans, now kept their heads lowered in shame.
"Patriarch… you…" one elder whispered, "you truly entered Core Formation?"
Ye Tian chuckled lightly. "This old man was prepared for the grave… but the heavens had other plans."
The elders exchanged looks. Several began to rise, bowing deeply.
> "This is the blessing of the ancestors…"
"Our Ye Clan will rise again!"
"With you at Core Formation… we may reclaim our lost glory!"
Yet not one dared to ask how this miracle happened.
They all had their guesses. But something—some instinct deep within their bones—told them that this was not something to probe. That if they dared peel back the veil, they might uncover truths far too great for them to bear.
And in the shadows of the hall, watching from a concealed corridor, Ye Ling smiled faintly.
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Within His Cultivation Chamber
That night, Ye Ling sat cross-legged, breathing slowly as golden light from surrounding spirit stones bathed his form.
The Golden Tyrant Body Scripture circulated silently through his body. Each breath he took filled him with power—not just spiritual, but raw, unshakable strength.
> "The city trembles with mere ripples," he thought, "What will they do… when the waves become storms?"
The first move had been made.
The pieces were set.
And Ye Ling… was just getting started.
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