After Ye Qian's departure and the intervention of the Absolute Soul Sect's Master, the Ye and Bai families ceased their fight, temporarily halting hostilities. After today's event, the two families were like fire and water, with Luo City unlikely to find peace.

"Thank you, Sect Master, for your assistance. Without you, the Bai family would have faced a great calamity today," Bai Qing Shan, leading the Bai family, expressed his gratitude.

"There's no need for thanks. Shang Long's actions were against the principles, and people of the Absolute Soul Sect would not stand idly by," said the Absolute Soul Sect Master indifferently before turning to Gu Cao, "How are your injuries?"

"Thank you for your concern, Sect Master, it's nothing serious," Gu Cao replied with a bow.

"Good, let's go then."

"Yes." Gu Cao nodded.

However, at that moment, Bai Ye suddenly called out.

"Sect Master, I wish to join the Absolute Soul Sect!"

The Sect Master paused, turning to look at him, and after a moment of silence, asked, "With your qualifications, you could join a better sect like Ye Qian, or even the Royal Capital Academy. Why do you wish to join the Absolute Soul Sect?"

"Sect Master dared to abolish Shang Long's cultivation, showing that the Absolute Soul Sect doesn’t fear the Holy Academy. Its strength must not be inferior to the Royal Capital Academy. Moreover, if I join the sect, the Ye family wouldn’t dare to harm my father!" Bai Ye stated bluntly.

"You are very honest," the Sect Master nodded in approval. "I will accept you. But don't think just because you have a six-layered soul, you will enjoy special treatment in the Absolute Soul Sect. You will still start as an ordinary disciple. The path of soul cultivation requires steady progress. Don’t aim for quick success."

With those words, the Sect Master leapt into the sky and disappeared into the horizon.

Bai Ye, looking at the departing figure, was full of aspirations.

Having decided to join the sect, there was no time to delay. He immediately set off.

Bai Ye approached Bai Chen, bowed his head, and said hoarsely, "Dad, take care of yourself after I leave."

"Go, child. If you ever feel tired outside, come back," Bai Chen smiled weakly, his eyes filled with reluctance.

This was the first time Bai Ye had left Luo City in many years.

His eyes reddened slightly. After nodding at Bai Qing Shan and the others, he left with Gu Cao.

After this battle, no one in Luo City dared to call themselves a genius anymore.

Watching Gu Cao leave, it was only after a long while that Bai Qing Shan asked in a deep voice, "Where did Bai He go?"

"He fled to the Ye family," someone answered.

"That traitor!" Bai Qing Shan clenched his teeth in anger.

Now, the Ye and Bai families were officially at war. However, with Bai He, an external aide for the Ye family, who knew many secrets of the Bai family, the Bai family remained at a disadvantage.

...

...

The Absolute Soul Sect was located on the top of Python Mountain, with majestic buildings towering over the mountain, resembling a coiled serpent.

The Absolute Soul Sect had a history of several hundred years, but it was just an obscure small faction until the current Sect Master took over decades ago, after which the sect rapidly grew and prospered.

Despite being Luo City's number one, Bai Ye did not receive any special treatment from the Sect Master. After completing the entry formalities with Gu Cao and changing into the sect's uniform, he became the most ordinary disciple.

His task was to clean the yard in front of the 'Scripture Pavilion.' Every day before dawn, he would quickly finish his chores and then immerse himself in studying techniques in the Pavilion.

The Scripture Pavilion stored all the techniques and soul arts of the Absolute Soul Sect. Countless disciples visited daily.

"Bai Ye?"

A melodious female voice called out from afar. Bai Ye looked over to see a beautiful young woman leading a few older disciples towards him.

"Who are you?" Bai Ye asked.

"So you really are Bai Ye?" The woman observed him and scoffed, "I can't believe such a waste could join the Absolute Soul Sect. Heaven must be blind!"

"I joined the Absolute Soul Sect with the Sect Master's approval. Are you suggesting that the Sect Master is also blind?" Bai Ye retorted.

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The woman was at a loss for words, looking around and then sternly said, "Be careful. I'll settle this account with you later!" She and her group then entered the Scripture Pavilion.

Bai Ye was puzzled until he heard the discussions of the other disciples and realized that this woman was Bai He's eldest daughter, Bai Zhixin.

Bai Zhixin was the Bai family's top genius. After awakening her soul at a young age, she joined the Absolute Soul Sect and had been nurtured by its members. Her strength was said to be not much weaker than Ye Qian. Bai Ye had seen her a couple of times when he was younger, so it was normal not to be familiar with her now.

Bai Ye paid no attention to Bai Zhixin. With a four-layered single soul and being at the sixth stage of the Force Soul Realm, she wouldn't be too difficult to handle.

In the center of the Scripture Pavilion was a reclining chair where an old man with white hair lay peacefully, as if taking a nap. Each disciple entering the Pavilion would first pay respects to the old man before browsing the books. Bai Ye was no exception.

The first floor of the Pavilion housed countless heart methods and soul techniques. It's easy to bite off more than one can chew, so there was no need to pick the best, just the most suitable.

He wandered around and noticed a book on the shelf near the entrance. Whenever a disciple picked it up, they would immediately put it down, either shaking their heads and leaving or scoffing at it.

Bai Ye, curious, walked over.

"'Flash Sword Technique'?"

He quickly flipped through the book. The technique emphasized surprise attacks, seizing any opportunity during combat to draw the sword with lightning speed and strike unexpectedly.

To master the 'Flash Sword Technique,' one needed not only rapid speed but also the ability to draw the sword under any circumstance, making it exceedingly demanding. No wonder others shunned it. To master this technique would require a significant amount of time, and with that effort, cultivating other soul arts would be more beneficial. Besides, the power of this technique was probably underwhelming.

Despite these thoughts, Bai Ye didn't put the book down. Although it wasn't a soul art, he always had a soft spot for physical techniques. The content wasn't much, so after memorizing it, he moved on to other shelves.

"'Surprising Step Technique,' focusing on the flexibility and variability of body and footwork? Not bad." Bai Ye greedily absorbed the information, engrossed for half a day.

After finishing the book, a thought struck him.

What if he combined the 'Surprising Step Technique' with the 'Flash Sword Technique'? Would it create a unique power?

With that thought, he picked up both books and headed out.

"Look at that fool, thinking of practicing the 'Flash Sword Technique'?"

"Ha, who would bother with such a useless technique?"

He heard a few mocking voices behind him.

Ignoring them, Bai Ye grabbed a few peaches and headed to the back mountain.

He had planned to go to the practice field, but it was too crowded there.

The back mountain had a vast forest inhabited by many spirit monkeys.

As soon as Bai Ye entered the forest, the monkeys, attracted by the scent of the peaches, rushed towards him.

He picked up a stick and, staring at the monkeys in the trees, threw a few peaches into the air.

Instantly, hundreds of monkeys leapt up, reaching for the peaches like flying creatures. With too few peaches, some cunning monkeys stealthily approached, eyeing the bag next to Bai Ye and lunging to steal the fruit.

Seeing this, Bai Ye recalled the techniques from 'Flash Sword Technique' and immediately swung the stick.

The number of monkeys grew increasingly numerous.

The bolder monkeys even began throwing stones at him.

Initially, Bai Ye managed to cope, but later, he became somewhat flustered.

The key to the 'Flash Sword Technique' was twofold: speed and certainty. Regardless of the current state – whether falling, being hit, or even on the verge of death – once an opponent's flaw is spotted, a strike must be made.

This required calmness and extraordinary insight.

Enduring the pain on his body, Bai Ye dodged the monkeys' bites and swung the stick. The forest seemed to be swarming with monkeys, threatening to overwhelm him.

He took a deep breath and calmly responded.

Swordsmanship couldn't be mastered overnight. The eternal path of martial arts required years of refinement. The weak would be trampled at will, and to avoid being weak, one must become strong.

After half a day, the large bag of peaches he brought was completely stolen. The monkeys scattered, and Bai Ye, covered in scratches, walked out of the forest, enduring the laughter of others on the way.

The next day, Bai Ye returned.

After more than half a month of hard practice, he made some progress, but the restless monkeys in the back mountain forest attracted the attention of some disciples.

After practicing for half a day, Bai Ye looked at the bulging bag and the bruised monkeys in the trees, his face breaking into a wry smile. Initially, the monkeys managed to snatch some peaches, but later, they only got beaten.

"Thank you for practicing with me for so many days. Take these," Bai Ye said, scattering the peaches on the ground. He bowed to the monkeys and then turned to leave.

The monkeys immediately swarmed over the peaches, and the forest erupted into chaos once more.

However, as Bai Ye stepped out of the forest, his pace slowed down. Outside the woods stood a group of people, whom he didn't recognize, except for the leader, Bai Zhixin.

Bai Ye frowned and gripped the wooden stick in his hand.

"Bai Ye, do you remember what I said to you half a month ago?" Bai Zhixin spoke coldly.

"Bai Zhixin, we are both from the Bai family, and even cousins. We should be helping each other, yet you choose to oppose me. Is it because of your father, Bai He?" Bai Ye spoke calmly.

"Hmph, good that you know. Because of you, my father was expelled from the Bai family and suffered humiliation. Can't I settle this account with you?" Bai Zhixin said coldly.

"Your father committed numerous misdeeds to seize the position of the family head and framed my father and me. His expulsion from the Bai family was self-inflicted."

"Nonsense!" Angered by his words, Bai Zhixin was about to attack.

Bai Ye's eyes sharpened, and he raised his wooden stick, speaking sharply, "If you are confident, then come on!"

Hearing this, Bai Zhixin froze in her steps.

The fact that Bai Ye had defeated Luo City's number one genius, Ye Qian, had already spread throughout the Absolute Soul Sect, and no one dared to underestimate this new disciple.

Although she was confident in her strength, she still fell short compared to Ye Qian.

"Brat, don't be too arrogant! Can't you see your current situation?"

"Trying to scare us?"

The others behind her voiced their discontent.

Unperturbed, Bai Ye sneered, "So it's about numbers, is it? If it were a one-on-one contest, any incident could be explained as a sparring session to the sect, but if you all gang up on me, it won't be easy to explain once things get out of hand."

"You…" The others were at a loss for words.

Bai Ye snorted and was about to leave when a taunting voice floated over.

"Just because you defeated the useless Ye Qian, you think so highly of yourself. If we let you continue like this, won't you soon disregard everyone in the sect?"

Bai Ye stopped and turned his head to see a slightly older man walking behind Bai Zhixin. The man had a buzz cut, a smiling face, but his eyes flickered with malice.

"Mo Senior Brother!"

"Mo Senior Brother!"

...

People greeted him eagerly.

Mo Senior Brother was clearly a figure of some importance in the sect. Bai Ye tensed up, preparing himself for whatever might come next.