Chapter 228

Chapter 228: Inescapable Fate

Ye Shi looked at He Jingyue's terrified face and bit his lip resentfully, "Who exactly is Bai Chenxing?"

"Bai Chenxing is a legend in the Bai family. From birth, he displayed exceptional talent in cultivation and array mastery, advancing rapidly in his practices."

"Around twenty years ago, he faced a calamity, suffering grave injuries. His powers diminished greatly and it was said he was beyond saving."

"Bai Chenxing had a childhood sweetheart, Xia Ruoxue. She came from the Xia family and also had a talent in array mastery. They were a match made in heaven. But when Bai Chenxing was injured, the Xia family called off the engagement."

"Bai Chenxing, deeply affected, left the Bai family and vanished without a trace."

"Three years later, he returned. Somehow, he had acquired the lineage of a supreme array master. His powers and array mastery had been restored. When he came back, he had attained the rank of a five-star martial master, a top-tier array master – a force to be reckoned with. Even my grandfather is no match for him."

Ye Shi nodded dejectedly, "I understand. I won't say anything out of turn."

He had barely managed to get ahead of Zhuang Yu, and now she was catching up again. Ye Shi couldn't help but feel anxious!

Zhuang Yu is so lucky. Everywhere she goes, she seems to find strong backers.

"No matter how powerful Bai Chenxing is, he was still abandoned by a woman!" Ye Shi said with a touch of schadenfreude.

He Jingyue smiled, "After Bai Chenxing's talents were destroyed, the Xia family broke off the engagement. Yet, even after breaking off the engagement with Bai Chenxing, no one dared to marry Xia Ruoxue."

"When Bai Chenxing returned, more powerful than ever, the Xia family wanted to rekindle their relationship and restore the engagement with Xia Ruoxue. But Bai Chenxing declined. Strangely, he never remarried and remained alone for over a decade. It's as if he has seen through the world's illusions. Truly puzzling."

Ye Shi laughed dismissively, "What's so puzzling about it? I understand perfectly."

Crossing her arms with interest, He Jingyue said, "Oh? If you understand, then explain why."

Ye Shi cast a sly glance at He Jingyue and whispered, "He's impotent."

Annoyed, He Jingyue glared at Ye Shi, "What nonsense are you spouting? You shouldn't make such careless remarks." Even though Bai Chenxing is young, his power is legendary. Ye Shi really has a wild imagination.

No wonder Ye Shi is so fearless. Born in a remote region, he has no idea how terrifying Bai Chenxing truly is. Ignorance is indeed bliss!

Ye Shi shrugged, "That's why whispered it to you! trust you won't go around gossiping."

"Let's go." Wanting to prevent Ye Shi from causing any more disturbances, He Jingyue impatiently pulled him away.

A luxurious flying carriage soared across the sky. Ye Shi watched intently, a hint of recognition in his eyes.

The cloud patterns on that carriage matched those in the book his father left him.

"What's wrong?" He Jingyue asked, noticing the carriage.

Ye Shi smiled, "The patterns on that carriage are quite unique."

He Jingyue's expression changed, "That symbol represents the Bai family."

Ye Shi frowned in thought. There seemed to be some connection between him and the Bai family. If his blood could unlock the Bai family's array book, then...

Ye Shi bit his lip. Since Zhuang Yu was involved with Bai Yi, it might not be wise to directly approach the Bai family. Rumor had it that Bai Yi was a key figure in the Bai family. His own father might have been a mere freeloader there.

He's currently affiliated with the Array Master Guild, and there seems to be some tension between the guild and the Bai family. It's best to clarify things.

"There seemed to be a young lady in that flying carriage," Ye Shi changed the topic.

He Jingyue nodded, "That's Bai Jinle, the prodigy of the Bai family and Bai Chenxing's adopted daughter."

"Adopted daughter?" Ye Shi questioned.

He Jingyue confirmed, "Yes. Bai Jinle is 23 years old and already a seven-star martial king. She might not be as accomplished as Bai Yi, but she's formidable in her own right."

Bai Chenxing had been alone for years, giving off an aura of destined solitude. Bai Jinle, born to a branch of the Bai family, was given to Bai Chenxing as an adopted daughter in an attempt to curry favor.

"People initially thought Bai Jinle would marry Bai Yi. But now, with Bai Yi entangled with Zhuang Yu, the animosity between Bai Jinle and Zhuang Yu is palpable."

With a hint of pity, Ye Shi said, "Apart from Mu Chen, I haven't seen a man resist Zhuang Yu's charm. She's not that special. It's sad for Bai Jinle."

Hearing Ye Shi's words, He Jingyue silently agreed. Zhuang Yu was indeed enigmatic.

"Bai Jinle is part of the Bai family, while Zhuang Yu is an outsider. You'd think the Bai family would prefer Bai Yi to be with Bai Jinle," Ye Shi mused.

He Jingyue shook her head, "It's not that simple. The Bai family has a history of favoring males over females. With Bai Yi possessing the Spirit Pattern Eye and Zhuang Yu the Innate Spirit Eye, the Bai family hopes for a powerful offspring from their union. So, they wish for Bai Yi to have both Zhuang Yu and Bai Jinle."

Ye Shi: "..."

"However, Bai Jinle is so proud and disdainful, always looking down upon Zhuang Yu. The two frequently come to loggerheads," He Jingyue remarked.

Ye Shi: "..."

"Are there many in the Bai family who possess the Spirit Pattern Eyes?" Ye Shi inquired.

He Jingyue responded, "Not many. Among the younger generation, only Bai Yi and Bai Jinle have the Spirit Pattern Eyes."

Ye Shi nodded slightly, uttering a soft "I see."

As He Jingyue and Ye Shi strolled down the street, they coincidentally bumped into Bai Yi and Zhuang Yu.

He Jingyue tried to lead Ye Shi away, but as soon as Zhuang Yu spotted Ye Shi, she grabbed Bai Yi and approached them. He Jingyue found herself unable to avoid them.

Ye Shi clenched his fists, a hint of menace flashing across his face.

"Ye Shi, how did you end up in Zhongzhou?" Zhuang Yu asked with a hint of confusion.

Bai Yi had always said it was nearly impossible for outsiders to enter Zhongzhou. Zhuang Yu thought that even if Mu Chen and Ye Shi were powerful, they'd remain in the outer regions, limited to a Martial Master rank at most, mere frogs at the bottom of a well. Yet, here was Ye Shi in Zhongzhou.

Ye Shi, biting back his anger, glared coldly at Zhuang Yu. A deep-seated resentment welled up within him. "What's it to you?"

Zhuang Yu frowned, saying, "Ye Shi, why are you always so hostile towards me? I was just asking. Where is Mu Chen?"

Ye Shi tightened his grip on his fists, his heart quaking with fury. "He didn't get transported here."

Even though he wanted nothing more than to slap Zhuang Yu, remembering Mu Chen's advice, Ye Shi restrained himself. Being a newcomer, he couldn't afford to carelessly offend Bai Yi, the local powerhouse.

"You abandoned him and came here alone," Zhuang Yu said accusingly, her eyes flashing with reproach.

Ye Shi clenched his fists even tighter, seething with anger. "None of your concern."

Zhuang Yu looked at Ye Shi with evident displeasure, letting out a deep sigh. "For the sake of your own ambition, you ultimately left Mu Chen behind."

Hearing Zhuang Yu's words, rage bubbled within Ye Shi.

Bai Yi cast a glance at Ye Shi and said to Zhuang Yu, "Let's go."

"Thud." Ye Shi clutched his chest and coughed up blood.

As Ye Shi watched the retreating figures of Bai Yi and Zhuang Yu, he gritted his teeth, swearing vengeance. They were indirectly responsible for his separation from Mu Chen, and now they flaunted it.

Seeing Ye Shi's expression, He Jingyue also felt a surge of indignation.

According to Ye Shi, Mu Chen chose not to teleport because of a lack of Yuan Stones. Yet, Zhuang Yu made it seem as if it were Ye Shi's fault.

He Jingyue helped Ye Shi up, asking, "Are you alright?"

Gritting his teeth, Ye Shi replied, "I'm fine. Let's go."

"Don't worry, Mu Chen is exceptional. He'll come looking for you," He Jingyue consoled.

Ye Shi nodded, some color returning to his pale face. "You're right, Mu Chen will come. He won't leave me behind. He'll come searching."

If Mu Chen can't make it, then he could return. Since Bai Yi could be transported to Ling Tower Continent, he could too. He needed to gather enough Yuan Stones and high-quality spirit stones. Once he accumulated enough, he could return and bring Mu Chen with him.

Bai Yi turned to Zhuang Yu, inquiring, "That man earlier, do you know him?"

Zhuang Yu nodded, replying, "Yes."

"He must be the prodigious youth from the outer region who was teleported to the Array Tower," Bai Yi surmised.

The influential Bai family got wind of Ye Shi's arrival almost immediately after his arrival.

Zhuang Yu paused, pondering, "Really? He managed to transport himself here, achieving the rank of a 7th-level Array Master?"

Bai Yi nodded in agreement, "Being teleported to the Array Tower means he's certainly a 7th-level Array Master."

Zhuang Yu's expression shifted, thinking to himself, So Ye Shi has reached this point.

A shadow passed over Bai Yi's eyes, "Do you know of Ye Shi's parents' background?"

Zhuang Yu nodded, sharing, "Yes, his father, Ye Xun, is a Martial Artist. In recent years, he's deteriorated severely and become an alcoholic. Despite having many Yuan Stones and capabilities, Ye Shi neglected him, allowing him to spiral downwards. He's also very rough towards his half-sister."

"And his mother?" Bai Yi probed.

"She was Shuang'er, a concubine to Ye Xun. It seems she passed away from sorrow over a decade ago," Zhuang Yu revealed.

Bai Yi nodded, saying, "So that's how it is! How old is this Ye Shi?"

"I think he's eighteen," replied Zhuang Yu.

"An eighteen-year-old with a two-star Martial Emperor rank, raised in the outer realms – he's quite talented," remarked Bai Yi.

Zhuang Yu was taken aback, "He's a two-star Martial Emperor?"

Bai Yi nodded gravely, "Yes."

And here he had thought there weren't any talents in the outer realms. To think such a person as Ye Shi exists, a two-star Martial Emperor at eighteen. At that age, he himself hadn't reached such a stage.

Zhuang Yu's expression shifted, saying, "It's just luck. You wouldn't know, but once several Martial Emperors took him, who was still at a Martial Spirit level, into a secret realm. Ye Shi didn't just hoard all the resources within, he also manipulated the prohibitions to kill several Martial Emperors. He's known for his ingratitude. His advancement might have come from consuming many elixirs, likely poisoning his body in the process. Though he's strong now, his future potential is probably limited."

A hint of disdain flashed in Bai Yi's eyes, "Really? Our family had thought about recruiting him. If he's so two-faced, perhaps it's not worth it."

Zhuang Yu lowered his head, a weight lifting from his heart.