The Sect’s Fame

However, the instant her attack launched, Ye Qingyun suddenly stepped back.

The next moment, a heavy thud echoed across the arena, as if a hammer had struck stone.

The Centipede Spirit Pavilion disciple froze, startled. Her venomous spirit attack had missed, and this was the first person she had encountered all day who could evade her strikes.

‘Dodged it? Impossible. It must have been a fluke.’ The Centipede Spirit Pavilion disciple’s delicate brows furrowed. Her eyes gleamed with a sinister light as she unleashed a relentless barrage of attacks.

Yet, Ye Qingyun continuously weaved, either retreating or advancing, causing every single one of his opponent’s strikes to miss their mark.

Ye Qingyun, however, remained impassive, making no move to attack. He simply stared, a detached gaze fixed on his opponent’s eyes.

As her attacks repeatedly failed, the Centipede Spirit lineage disciple grew increasingly agitated. Her movements became erratic and uncoordinated.

Soon, cold sweat beaded on her forehead, and she began to pant heavily.

‘Damn it, she dodged everything! Can she actually see my attacks?’ The Centipede Spirit Pavilion disciple stared at Ye Qingyun, her face a mask of horror.

Still, Ye Qingyun met her gaze with unwavering calm, his eyes never leaving the disciple’s.

Unbeknownst to the disciple, those serene eyes had already cast a chilling shadow deep within her heart.

The Centipede Spirit Pavilion disciple felt a growing unease under Ye Qingyun’s silent scrutiny.

“Hey, stop staring at me like that! Get lost!” The Centipede Spirit Pavilion disciple finally erupted, her patience snapping.

Yet, no matter what she said, Ye Qingyun’s gaze remained fixed.

Moments later, the Centipede Spirit Pavilion disciple suddenly seemed to lose her mind, roaring at the sky. Her entire body’s malevolent energy instantly dissipated, and she collapsed straight to the ground.

She had lost, bafflingly. Ye Qingyun hadn’t even lifted a finger, yet his opponent had simply fallen.

This scene left the other disciples below the stage utterly bewildered.

‘What happened? Why did she just collapse?’

‘She definitely didn’t collapse on her own. This woman must have used some unknown method. It’s so strange; she didn’t make a single move the entire time, and I didn’t sense any power fluctuations. This is insane!’

The disciples in the audience erupted in chatter. Even Mo Qinyin couldn’t comprehend what had transpired; she, too, had detected no spiritual energy fluctuations.

Meanwhile, Ye Qingyun subtly raised his hand, a hint of surprise on his face as he observed the crimson malevolent energy swirling from it. One shouldn’t assume he hadn’t acted; it was simply that ordinary people couldn’t perceive his methods.

As an Internal Art cultivator, his attacks naturally weren’t direct physical blows.

He had been continuously employing his Blood Spirit Demonic Eyes, subtly provoking the Centipede Spirit Pavilion disciple. As the disciple’s anger mounted, Ye Qingyun ultimately triggered an explosion of her emotions, leading to a loss of control over her power and a dispersal of her malevolent energy, resulting in her defeat.

This was a technique for manipulating the mind—subduing an opponent without a fight, without lifting a finger, guiding them toward their own downfall.

‘What a terrifying technique. It kills without a trace.’ Even Ye Qingyun himself found this method remarkably unique.

Despite the unsettling nature of his victory, he calmly walked towards the fallen Centipede Spirit Pavilion disciple. From the storage pouch at the disciple’s waist, Ye Qingyun retrieved a Low-grade Cultivation Conversion Pill, then descended from the stage under the fearful gazes of the crowd.

The Centipede Spirit disciple had been frightening enough, but now an even more inexplicable woman had appeared. What could they possibly feel but a chill that seeped into their very bones?

The unknown, after all, was the most terrifying thing.

“Let’s go, Qinyin. My trial is over,” Ye Qingyun said with a smile.

Mo Qinyin nodded slowly. She had lived with Ye Qingyun for so long, yet she suddenly realized she knew nothing about him. The person beside her had abruptly become shrouded in mystery.

“Sister, was that the power of the Serpent Charm Art you just used?” Mo Qinyin couldn’t help but ask.

Ye Qingyun nodded, a faint, enigmatic smile playing on his lips.

“Yes, and no,” Ye Qingyun replied, pointing to his eyes. “When I completed my origin quest, I acquired a pair of Blood Spirit Demonic Eyes. These eyes allow me to cast illusions.”

“Oh? Is that so? Your luck is incredible! That’s a talent-tier skill, isn’t it?” Mo Qinyin’s envy resurfaced.

However, envy was futile; many things in this game were unique.

In the following days, whenever Ye Qingyun found time, he would frequent the training grounds to spar with others. His reasons were twofold: to hone his mental manipulation abilities and to acquire additional Cultivation Conversion Pills, all while learning about other branch techniques.

Over these days, not a single person managed to land a hit on Ye Qingyun. Everyone lost their matches in the most perplexing ways.

It was utterly bizarre, a defeat so strange it bordered on the demonic. While the Demonic Path might be sinister, its methods were usually discernible. Yet, not one person who fought Ye Qingyun understood why they had lost.

Inevitably, the more opponents Ye Qingyun defeated, the more renowned he became among the new disciples, attracting an ever-increasing number of challengers.

Today, his opponent was a disciple from the Toad Spirit Pavilion. This disciple controlled a truly grotesque, enormous toad, a sight so horrifying it sent shivers down the spines of all present.

Even Ye Qingyun found it somewhat unbearable.

‘That’s disgusting. The poisonous spirits of these Toad Spirit Pavilion disciples are truly repulsive; I can barely stand it.’ Indeed, compared to the other five lineages, the Toad Spirit Pavilion’s venomous spirits were undeniably the most hideous.

On the stage, the Toad Spirit lineage disciple commanded her venomous spirit to charge towards Ye Qingyun.

“Senior Sister Ye, quickly defeat that Toad Spirit Pavilion fellow!” some female disciples shouted from below the stage.

Ye Qingyun was already famous among the outer disciples. Within the same sect, it was simple enough to learn someone’s name.

Ye Qingyun paid them no heed, his gaze fixed on the Toad Spirit Pavilion disciple controlling the venomous spirit. However, upon noticing Ye Qingyun’s continuous stare, the disciple, for some unknown reason, seemed to realize something was amiss and promptly closed her eyes.

The moment her eyes shut, the unsettling sensation of her mind being seen through vanished. This person was quite clever.

‘So that’s it,’ the Toad Spirit Pavilion disciple thought to herself. ‘I understand now. Her power can interfere with an opponent’s emotions, causing mental tension that ultimately leads to emotional collapse.’

Ye Qingyun’s expression flickered with surprise when he saw his opponent close her eyes. However, the venomous spirit continued its advance without hesitation.

‘Not bad, she figured out one of my attack methods,’ Ye Qingyun mused, a hint of admiration in his thoughts.

Yet, Ye Qingyun’s repertoire of attacks extended far beyond just his eyes.

“Hehe, Senior Sister Ye, your attack won’t work now! I finally understand why everyone kept collapsing so inexplicably. It turns out your power interferes with our minds. As long as I don’t look at you, what can you do to me? It seems the title of ‘Number One Junior Disciple’ will be mine!” the Toad Spirit lineage disciple boasted with a laugh.

Upon hearing this, the audience immediately erupted in murmurs, especially those disciples who had been defeated by Ye Qingyun.

“That’s right, exactly! No wonder I kept feeling agitated and then suddenly lost control. Is this a power unique to the Snake Spirit Pavilion? Ah, why didn’t I realize it back then?” some disciples sighed.

However, a Snake Spirit Pavilion disciple immediately stepped forward to refute this.

“No, our Snake Spirit lineage doesn’t possess such power. While we can indeed manipulate emotions, it’s always targeted. We can’t ignite everyone’s emotions like Senior Sister Ye can. Even if we could, it would be an incredibly complex feat,” a Snake Spirit Pavilion disciple explained.

As soon as these words left their mouth, a strange air settled among the crowd.

Back on the stage, Ye Qingyun, who had remained silent until now, suddenly spoke with a smile.

“Oh? Do you truly believe I can only deal with you using my eyes?” Ye Qingyun asked with a faint, ethereal laugh. His voice was clear and resonant, captivating everyone’s attention the moment he spoke.

It was like the toll of a temple bell—impossible to ignore.