Chapter Seventeen: Assault on the Manor!

After being steadied by He Shan, Yang Haishan gritted his teeth, regained his balance, pushed He Shan aside, and turned to walk into the meditation chamber.

“Master, should we cancel tomorrow’s birthday banquet?”

Watching Yang Haishan’s figure disappear into the darkness of the chamber, He Shan hesitated, then finally spoke.

A voice came from the darkness. “All this over a useless son and an irrelevant woman? Women can be replaced, sons can be born anew, another ship can be bought to replace the sunken Haishan. But my one hundred and twentieth birthday comes only once in a lifetime!”

The chill in his words made He Shan’s heart grow cold.

“I understand,” He Shan replied, his gaze flickering as he nodded. He cast a deep glance at the shadowed chamber before turning to leave.

Suddenly, Yang Haishan’s voice echoed again, “Old He, the murderer might appear at the banquet tomorrow. Have the men keep watch—if you spot any unfamiliar faces, investigate them thoroughly. Don’t worry about offending anyone.”

“Yes, sir!” He Shan turned back and bowed.

After He Shan’s departure, Yang Haishan sealed the chamber.

This meditation chamber was specially constructed; the walls and ceiling were reinforced with alloyed steel plates, capable of withstanding armor-piercing rounds. No lights were turned on—the darkness was absolute.

Yang Haishan reached into his inner pocket and produced a primary stellar beast core, only half-absorbed of its starlight. If he could fully consume the energy within, along with what he had accumulated over the years, he would be able to break through to the Stellar realm.

For a cultivator, this was a daunting threshold. If the breakthrough failed and the planetary core within his sea of stars could not be “ignited” to form a star, there would never be a second chance.

Previously, Yang Haishan had been apprehensive. But now, everything had changed. The Haishan had sunk—a loss built from most of his fortune. His most beloved second son was dead. The most capable woman at his side was dead too…

Reeling from these blows, Yang Haishan now found himself with nothing left to lose.

If he could not ascend to the Stellar realm, it would be better to die.

Drawing a deep breath, Yang Haishan clenched his teeth and began to absorb the beast core’s energy.

At once, the core in his hand burst forth with a crimson glow.

…

Outside the manor, Yang Ye stood upon the branch of a great tree, gazing at the brightly lit estate ahead.

Within the grounds, countless servants bustled about, preparing the venue.

Long Xiaoqing lay draped across Yang Ye’s shoulder, her eyes never leaving the scene.

“Xiaoqing, this was my childhood home,” Yang Ye said, raising a hand to indicate the manor. “Back then, it wasn’t nearly as grand. There were a dozen villas nearby, and kids my age from the neighborhood would often come play with me…”

“Husband, you almost make me miss my grandfather,” Long Xiaoqing replied, her eyes brimming with sorrow.

Yang Ye sighed, comforting her, “Xiaoqing, once I settle this matter, we’ll focus on growing stronger. When we’re powerful enough, we’ll surely find your grandfather.”

“Mm!” Long Xiaoqing nodded, though a trace of sadness lingered in her expression.

—

Yang Ye scooped Long Xiaoqing into his hands and planted a kiss firmly on her forehead.

“Husband!” Long Xiaoqing cried out shyly.

This trick never failed—her gloom was instantly dispelled.

“Xiaoqing, say it again,” Yang Ye teased with a smile.

“Husband!”

“Xiaoqing!”

“Husband!”

“Xiaoqing!”

Her voice was so melodious—Yang Ye couldn’t help but wonder what she would be like once she could take human form.

Their playful banter was interrupted by a sudden surge of energy—a fluctuation only cultivators could sense—rippling out from within the manor.

Hmm?

Yang Ye frowned. From the starlight aura, he felt a scorching intensity, as if a burning star blazed in his mind.

“Yang Haishan is breaking through to the Stellar realm. Looks like he’ll succeed soon,” Yang Ye said, clenching his fist.

Long Xiaoqing asked, “Should we charge in now and kill him?”

Yang Ye nodded. “I didn’t expect him to advance tonight. I had planned to kill him tomorrow, so he’d die on the same day as my father. But now, I must end him immediately. Otherwise, who knows how long I’d have to wait.”

With that, Yang Ye leapt toward the manor.

With a flash of blue light, Long Xiaoqing merged into Yang Ye’s body.

Instantly, Yang Ye’s body erupted with a fierce starlight aura.

Man and dragon became one.

Yang Ye made no effort to conceal his presence or intent to kill; to other cultivators, he was like a beacon in the night.

—

In a spacious room, He Shan was meeting with a group of family retainers.

He had barely finished giving instructions when Yang Ye’s overwhelming presence and murderous intent swept through the estate.

“Enemy attack! First squad, protect Mr. Yang; second and third squads, intercept the intruder!”

He Shan reacted instantly, issuing orders.

A hundred cultivators rushed from the room, moving swiftly to their assigned positions.

—

With a thunderous crash, Yang Ye barreled through the courtyard wall, bursting into the manor grounds.

The open space was filled with tables and chairs, but Yang Ye didn’t bother dodging—he plowed straight through.

—

The servants, busy setting up for the banquet, screamed and scattered in panic.

A Starlight-level cultivator rushed forward to block Yang Ye’s path.

With a single swipe of his razor-sharp dagger, Yang Ye passed by, and the man crumpled lifeless to the ground.

More cultivators converged from all sides—dozens at the Starlight level, and three at the planetary stage.

But none could stop Yang Ye.

His movements were spectral—he slipped past several opponents, his dagger slicing through flesh as he went.

“So fast!” He Shan exclaimed in shock from a distance.

Faced with such ferocity, many of the cultivators hesitated, knowing that to confront Yang Ye was to court death.

“Who goes there?”

A thunderous shout rang out as a burly, mid-planetary stage cultivator in black leather armor blocked Yang Ye’s path.

But instead of charging straight ahead, Yang Ye suddenly veered aside and dashed toward the meditation chamber where Yang Haishan was.

His objective was clear: kill Yang Haishan as swiftly as possible.

“Afraid to fight me? Coward!”

A mocking voice called out from behind, the planetary cultivator challenging him.

He succeeded in provoking Yang Ye.

Yang Ye halted abruptly and spun around.

With a roar, he dashed straight at his heckler.

“Take this!”

The burly cultivator swung a fist at Yang Ye.

But after merging with Long Xiaoqing, Yang Ye’s strength and speed far surpassed anyone at his level.

Yang Ye met the blow with a punch of his own.

With a resounding explosion, the collision echoed through the manor.

Using the recoil, Yang Ye spun away, resuming his charge toward the meditation chamber.

Behind him, the burly cultivator was sent flying, crashing to the ground, his entire right arm shattered by Yang Ye’s starlight force—a mangled mess of blood and flesh.