Chapter 9: This Play Leaves a Bitter Taste

Lin Yi was shocked.

He was not shocked by Ye Fan’s sudden strike, but by the strength Ye Fan had just displayed. Previously, he only knew that Ye Fan had broken through to the Golden Core stage, but that punch had been so fast that even he could barely track it. He himself was at the Golden Core stage, and even when facing someone in the late Golden Core stage, the disparity should not have been this immense.

Could it be that in this short span of time, Ye Fan had broken through once again?

No… that was impossible! Even with top-tier talent, it was absolutely impossible to cross a major realm in such a short time. Furthermore, he had reached the Nascent Soul stage, a height that countless cultivators might never attain in their entire lives.

Just as Lin Yi was wavering in his uncertainty, the aura within Ye Fan surged again, instantly becoming so oppressive that both of them struggled to breathe. Only then did Lin Yi fully believe it.

"Nascent Soul stage!"

"You… when did you break through again?"

It was not just Lin Yi who was shocked; Chu Ling’er was the same. Her eyes flickered, and her expression became dazed. Was this really the same loser from before? How could he have become so powerful in such a short time? Had she known Ye Fan possessed such immense potential, she would never have betrayed him, no matter what.

"What? Are you two shameless wretches surprised?" Ye Fan sneered. "I suppose that makes sense. After all, how could frogs at the bottom of a well ever know how vast the firmament is?"

As he said this, Ye Fan felt a sudden surge of emotion. If not for the stroke of fortune that allowed him to be reborn, he would never have had such an opportunity.

Tears welled up in Chu Ling’er’s eyes. She put on a pitiful expression, shook her head slightly, and said, "No, that’s not it. Brother Ye Fan, please listen to me! The reason I acted that way at the wedding was simply to test your sincerity toward me. Lin Yi and I truly only share the bond of fellow disciples. I never knew things would turn out like this. I was wrong! I truly know I was wrong. Brother Ye Fan, please… please give me another chance. I really won't be unreasonable anymore! Let’s make up, okay? Actually… I have always had you in my heart. If you can forgive me, I am willing to give you a chance as well!"

It must be said that while Chu Ling’er’s first few sentences sounded somewhat like an apology, her final remark instantly exposed her true colors. Ye Fan was taken aback, almost thinking something was wrong with his ears. What did she mean by "she was also willing to give him a chance"?

It was common knowledge that Chu Ling’er was shameless, but he hadn't expected her to reach such a level! Come to think of it, the entire Linghan Sect seemed to be made of such trash. If the Tianxuan Continent were to hold a "Shamelessness Competition," who could possibly rival the curs of the Linghan Sect?

Seeing a flicker of surprise on Ye Fan’s previously cold face, Chu Ling’er assumed that he still held feelings for her. *It seems the Grand Elder and the others were right; Ye Fan is still the same Ye Fan, and he still loves me!*

Thinking this, she became smug, feeling that the plan they had devised now had hope. In her mind, she was already imagining herself becoming the young mistress of the Lingxiao Sect, slowly infiltrating it from within, and eventually controlling the entire sect to dominate the Northwest region.

Seizing the moment while Ye Fan seemed moved, she decided to strike while the iron was hot and present another "great gift" of her own design.

"Brother Ye Fan! To show our sincerity, we have decided that Senior Brother Lin Yi will withdraw from his sect and join the Lingxiao Sect to become your direct disciple! You know Senior Brother Lin Yi’s talent; he is considered top-tier among the younger generation. He is truly being wasted in our Linghan Sect. If he can serve under the Lingxiao Sect in the future, he will surely become a pillar of your sect. This is a win-win for everyone!"

As she finished speaking, she immediately signaled Lin Yi. Seeing this, Lin Yi forgot the pain in his chest and immediately knelt before Ye Fan.

"Brother Ye! No, Young Master Ye! From now on, I, Lin Yi, am a disciple of the Lingxiao Sect. I will follow your lead, go through fire and water, and never waver! Please rest assured, Young Master Ye, once I join the sect, I will cultivate diligently and never let you down!"

Watching Chu Ling’er and Lin Yi singing in harmony before him, Ye Fan sneered inwardly. *Shameless wretches are always shameless wretches; they have no self-awareness at all.*

Their hidden agendas had long been seen through by Ye Fan. Their words sounded sweet, but their goal was singular: to avoid the compensation owed by the Linghan Sect. If he were the version of himself from before his rebirth, he might have truly fallen for their trap. But now, he had been completely reborn; he would never be fooled by such ghosts' talk again. The only reason he hadn't spoken up until now was to see if their little performance was entertaining enough.

However, he was now growing weary; the play made him feel nauseated.

"Are you finished with your noise?" Ye Fan asked coldly. "Since you aren't here to return the betrothal gifts, you can get lost now."

The two froze. They had clearly seen a look of being moved on Ye Fan's face just moments ago—why had his attitude changed so suddenly? Seeing them remain motionless, Ye Fan grew impatient, his voice dropping into a dark, menacing tone.

"Did you not hear me? I told you to get lost!"

The word "lost" was delivered with the powerful aura of a Nascent Soul expert, sweeping toward them. The shockwave sent them flying again. For Lin Yi, who was already injured, this worsened his condition significantly; he spat out another mouthful of blood and nearly fainted on the spot!

Seeing his "white moonlight" severely wounded, Chu Ling’er could no longer keep up her act. She lashed out at Ye Fan, "Ye Fan, don't be ungrateful! You were the one who proposed breaking off the engagement! You are the one who should be paying compensation, and it should be at least ten million spirit stones! You ruined my reputation first, and forced me to break off the engagement second—this is all your fault! If you are still a man, you should compensate me for my losses!"

At this moment, Chu Ling’er had no dignity left; she looked exactly like a shrew cursing in the street.

Ye Fan couldn't be bothered to waste more breath on such an unreasonably stupid woman. With a casual wave of his hand, a visible palm print appeared on the face of the severely injured Lin Yi.

"From now on, if you don't leave, and if you dare to say one more word, I will beat him again. I think you wouldn't want to see your pathetic lover beaten to death, would you?"

"The poor loser doesn't even have the room to fight back. A thing like this has the audacity to call himself a genius; it simply pollutes the word."

Ye Fan's words pierced into Lin Yi’s ears, striking deep into his arrogant heart. This was the first time he had ever suffered such immense humiliation; as someone who prided himself on his outstanding talent, he found it completely unbearable. Even now, he couldn't fathom how Ye Fan had reached such heights in just a few days. While he was deeply shaken, the seeds of hatred were planted deep within him, growing wildly.

Chu Ling’er was trembling with rage. She wanted nothing more than to skin Ye Fan alive, but in the end, she held back. After all, with her current strength, she wouldn't even be able to touch the hem of his garment if she tried to fight him.

Chu Ling’er helped the severely injured Lin Yi up, and they stumbled away in the direction from which they had come.