章節 12: Chapter #12: Provocation

...

As King Zhu Longwei continued to speak with Ye Chen and his siblings, the doors to the throne room opened once more. A group of young nobles, dressed in luxurious robes adorned with the Zhu family crest, entered the room. Their expressions were provocative, and the moved with an air of superiority.

The leader of the group, a tall young man with sharp features and an arrogant smirk, stepped forward. He was flanked by two others, they were equally smug and condescending.

"So these are the infamous 'geniuses' from that lowly place?" the leader sneered, his voice filled with disdain. "I can't believe Uncle Longwei is wasting his time with them."

Ye Chen's eyes narrowed, but he held his composure. Ye Wenling looked angry, her fist clenched at her sides, and Ye Guan's expression hardened.

King Zhu Longewei's gaze darkened as he turned to face the newcomers. "Minghao,you will show respect to your cousins."

Zhu Minghao scoffed. "Respect? For these nobodies? They don't belong here. They're a huge disgrace to our Royal Family."

Before Ye Chen could respond, Zhu Yongzheng stepped forward, his eyes flashing with anger. "Enough, Minghao. You forget your place. Ye Chen, Ye Wenling, and Ye Guang are as much a part of this family as you are. I will not tolerate such disrespect."

Zhu Minghao laughed mockingly. "It's easy for you to say, Grandfather. You're not the one who has to deal with the shame they bring, it's us, who lives with the same generation us them."

Ye Chen stepped forward, his eyes locked onto Zhu Minghao. The tension in the room was palpable, and the air seemed to crackle with energy.

"I've had enough of your insults." Ye Chen said, his voice filled with resolve. "If you think so little of us, the prove your superiority. I challenge you to a duel."

Zhu Minghao's arrogant smirk faltered for a moment, replaced by a flicker of surprise. Then, he laughed, a cold, mocking sound that echoed throughout the extravagant hall. "A duel? With you? This will be over before it even starts."

King Zhu Longwei raised a hand to silence the room once more. "Ye Chen, are you certain about this? A duel is not to be taken lightly." he looked at Ye Chen with concern.

As he spoke, King Zhu Longwei scanned over Ye Chen closely. His sharp eyes quickly assessed Ye Chen's aura, noting the depth and stability of his cultivation. Ye Chen's foundation was remarkably strong, indicating not only his talent, but also his disciplined training. By doing so and not forcibly making a breakthrough, can such a thing happen. Zhu Longwei's concern dissipated as he realized that Ye Chen's power exceeded Zhu Minghao's. Ye Chen's aura can greatly show his ability to defeat opponents with higher cultivation levels. Zhu Longwei nodded to himself, understanding that this dual could serve as a valuable lesson for Zhu Minghao. Only through defeat could Minghao learn humility and recognize his own weaknesses.

With his newfound clarity, Zhu Longwei's expressions softened. He looked back at Ye Chen and Zhu Minghao, who stood with an arrogant smirk. Then, he made a decision.

"Very well," he said, his voice filled with authority. "The duel will proceed. Let it be a fair fight, use some restraints not to hurt each other too much."

Ye Chen nodded and chuckled slightly, fully knowing that the King might've learned about something about him.

...

The duel was set to take place in the grand arena outside the palace.

The vast, open space was designed to host such events, with high walls and tiered seating that could accommodate a large audience. The royal family, guards, and various onlookers gather to witness the match, their curiosity piqued, by the unexpected challenge between the two.

As Ye Chen and Minghao faced each other, the crown murmured with anticipation. Zhu Minghao's friends shouted cheers and insults to Ye Chen, on the other hand, the two siblings were desperately shouting, but it was drowned by the onlookers' shout.

"Go brother!" They both shouted on top of their lungs.

...

Zhu Minghao drew his sword, the blade gleaming with intricate runes that pulsed with a faint, menacing glow. The weapon seemed to hum with power, and the crowd gasped in awe. Minghao smirked, confident in his advantage.

"Spirit Rank Level 6 - *** Sword. What about yours? Don't tell me you don't even have the courage to draw a weapon?" Zhu Minghao sneered, his confidence growing.

"I don't need one." Ye Chen replied calmly.

"Don't regret this, you might lose a few limbs if I'm not careful." Zhu Minghao mocked then pointed his sword at Ye Chen.

The gong sounded, and Zhu Minghao lunged forward, his sword slicing through the air with deadly precision. He aimed for a quick victory, intending to overwhelm Ye Chen with a barrage of swift strikes to make him realize the difference between the two of them.

However, Ye Chen easily sidestepped each attack, his movements were fluid and precise. It was clear that he was toying with his opponent, using the most minimal effort to avoid the blows.

"You'll have to do better than that." Ye Chen said, his voice was calm and almost bored.

Zhu Minghao's frustration grew, his attacks becoming more erratic and desperate. He swung his sword with increasing aggression, but Ye Chen continued to evade them effortlessly, not even breaking a sweat.

The audience watched in stunned silence as the duel progressed. It was clear that Zhu Minghao was outmatched. Ye Chen's swift movements clearly shows his superior strength, skill, and control.

With a roar of anger, Zhu Minghao channeled all his energy into a single, powerful strike. The sword glowed brightly, leaving a trail of light as it descended towards Ye Chen. But just as the blade was about to connect, Ye Chen made a decision and moved.

In one smooth, fluid motion, he sidestepped the attack and delivered, a swift, powerful palm strike to Zhu Minghao's chest. The force of the blow sent Zhu Minghao sprawling to the ground, his sword clattering away from him.

Ye Chen shooked his head, he only used an ounce of his power to deliver this blow, he didn't even need to use his elemental skill to defeat the opponent in front of him.

Zhu Minghao spat a mouthful of blood, struggled to get up, his face red with humiliation and anger. "You.... you tricked me!" he glared at Ye Chen.

Ye Chen shook his head. "There's no tricks involved here. It's just that, you underestimated me and overestimated yourself."

Everyone knows one thing, Zhu Minghao's talent is not bad and can be included in the top 100 of the Empire's geniuses, and yet someone who came from a lowly place easily defeated him. Someone who does not have the access to their resources.

The crowd fell silent. The demonstration of Ye Chen's power and humility left a deep impression on everyone present.

Determined to show a fraction of his true strength, Ye Chen decided to end the duel. He gathered his energy, his body glowing with a fierce, golden light. The air crackled with power as he raised his hand, and a sphere of condensed energy formed in his palm. The sight left the audience in awe.

"This is my 'strongest' attack," Ye Chen said, his voice steady. He launched the sphere toward Zhu Minghao, but at the last moment, he reduced its power significantly. The energy struck Minghao, sending him tumbling backward, but left him unharmed.

Zhu Minghao laid on the ground, his hair and body were slightly scorched. He looked up at Ye Chen, his eyes wide with a mix of fear and respect.

He for sure learned one thing, the power Ye Chen delivered to him is probably only a fraction of his strength.

King Zhu Longwei raised a hand to silence the room once more. "Ye Chen is the victor," he declared, his voice resonating through the arena. "Let this be a reminder to everyone. Even though you have background, qualifications, and resources. Always remember one thing, there's always someone who's better than you in all aspects."

The arena echoed with the weight of King Zhu Longwei's words, settling over the gathered spectators like a profound revelation. As the applause and murmurs of the crowd slowly subsided, the atmosphere remained charged with the lesson imparted by Ye Chen's victory.

Zhu Minghao, lying on the ground, felt the weight of his defeat acutely. His hair and clothes were still scorched from the minimal impact of Ye Chen's restrained attack, a stark reminder of the vast gulf in their abilities. He struggled to push himself up, his mind racing with a mixture of embarrassment and newfound respect for this cousin of his.

Ye Chen stood calmly, his gaze unwavered as he surveyed the crows. His victory had not been a display of dominance, but rather a demonstration of skill and restraint. He had shown that true strength lay not only in power, but in wisdom and control.

King Zhu Longwer's voice echoed across the arena once more. "In our pursuit of greatness, we must always remember humility," he continued, his tone was firm and yet compassionate. "Not matter our backgrounds or privileges, there will always be challenges ahead of us. This duel taught us that strength is not just all about physical prowess, but also integrity and understanding."

The onlookers nodded thoughtfully, their eyes still fixed on Ye Chen and Zhu Minghao.

Zhu Yongzheng stepped forward, his expression a mix of pride and concern. "Minghao," he said gently, offering a hand to help his grandson to his feet. "This defeat is a lesson, not a disgrace. Use it to grow stronger, both in spirit and skill."

"I understand, Grandfather." he murmured, his voice was low with a mixture of embarrassment and gratitude.

...