The outer yard fell into a strange silence.
The air seemed to freeze.
Every pair of eyes was fixed on the two figures standing in the center—Ye Feng and Ye Lin.
Ye Lin's expression had completely darkened.
He had never imagined that he would be forced back—twice—by someone he had always considered nothing more than trash.
"You…!"
His chest rose and fell as anger burned in his eyes.
But beneath that anger, there was something else.
Shock.
Ye Feng stood calmly where he was.
His breathing was slightly heavier now.
The previous exchanges had not been easy for him. After all, he had only just begun cultivating.
But his gaze remained steady.
There was no hesitation.
"Do you still want to continue?"
His voice was calm.
Yet those simple words struck Ye Lin harder than any punch.
The surrounding disciples froze.
No one dared to speak.
No one could believe what they were hearing.
Ye Lin's face twisted.
"You're courting death!"
He roared.
This time, he no longer held back.
Spiritual energy surged through his body.
A visible aura spread outward, pressing down on the surrounding air.
"This… he's serious now!"
"Ye Lin is going all out!"
The nearby disciples quickly stepped back, fear flashing across their faces.
They knew this was no longer a simple clash.
This was real.
Ye Feng's pupils shrank slightly.
He could feel it.
This attack would be far more dangerous than before.
But—
He did not retreat.
Instead, he slowly took a breath.
His mind became calm.
In that instant, everything around him seemed to slow.
"Stay focused…"
"Watch carefully…"
Ye Lin suddenly moved.
Faster than before.
Stronger than before.
His figure blurred as he closed the distance in an instant, his fist carrying a faint trace of spiritual force as it shot toward Ye Feng's face.
The pressure was intense.
If it landed, it would not end with just being pushed back.
But at the critical moment—
Ye Feng moved.
A slight shift.
A precise step.
His body tilted just enough—
The attack missed.
Again.
"What?!"
Ye Lin's eyes widened in disbelief.
Three times.
Three consecutive attacks—
All avoided.
Before he could recover—
Ye Feng had already stepped forward.
His movement wasn't fast.
But it was perfectly timed.
A single punch—
Straight to the chest.
Bang!
A dull, heavy sound echoed across the yard.
Ye Lin's body trembled violently.
This time, he was forced back several steps in a row.
His footing became unstable.
He nearly fell.
The entire courtyard exploded.
"That's the third time!"
"He dodged again—and countered again!"
"How is this even possible?!"
Voices erupted everywhere.
No one could stay calm anymore.
This was no longer something that could be explained by luck.
Something had changed.
Something fundamental.
Ye Lin barely managed to steady himself.
His face turned pale, then red.
Humiliation.
This was pure humiliation.
And it was happening right in front of everyone.
He stared at Ye Feng, his voice low and cold.
"What… did you do?"
Ye Feng did not answer.
He simply looked at him.
Calm.
Unshaken.
"You shouldn't have provoked me."
He spoke slowly.
Each word was clear.
"You started this."
"Now—"
"You deal with the consequences."
The courtyard fell silent again.
Those words carried a weight no one could ignore.
Since when…
Had Ye Feng become like this?
Ye Lin's face darkened completely.
Just as he was about to attack again—
A sharp voice suddenly rang out from the distance.
"Enough!"
The voice wasn't loud.
But it carried authority.
Everyone turned instantly.
A steward was approaching quickly, his expression stern.
His gaze swept across the scene.
"Fighting is forbidden in the outer yard."
"Do you wish to be punished?"
Ye Lin froze.
His fists tightened.
In the end, he lowered them.
But his eyes never left Ye Feng.
"This isn't over."
His voice was cold.
Then he turned and walked away.
The two disciples behind him hurried to follow.
Soon, they disappeared from sight.
The pressure in the air slowly faded.
But something had already changed.
All eyes turned back to Ye Feng.
This time—
There was no laughter.
No mockery.
Only shock.
And a faint trace of caution.
Ye Feng stood there for a moment.
Then slowly exhaled.
The power within his body was still trembling slightly.
This had been his first real fight.
And the result…
Exceeded his expectations.
"So this is what it feels like…"
He murmured softly.
"To grow stronger."
He glanced at his hands briefly.
Then lowered them.
Without another word, he turned and walked back to the pile of firewood.
He picked up the axe again.
And swung.
Crack!
The wood split cleanly.
The sound echoed across the yard.
But this time—
No one laughed.
In the silent courtyard, whispers began to spread.
About Ye Feng.
About what had just happened.
The name that once meant nothing—
Was beginning to change.