After My Rebirth, I Ended Up Happily Ever After with the Saintess - Chapter 10

The high-hanging morning sun illuminated the Ye Family training ground.

The massive bluestone square was already packed with people—a cacophony of voices and noise filled the air. Family disciples, stewards, servants, and even representatives from a few friendly minor families all cast their gazes towards the three tall martial arts stages in the center of the square. The atmosphere was thick with excitement, nervousness, anticipation, and various complex emotions.

On the high platform, the Family Head, Ye Tian, sat in the center, his expression calm, commanding respect without needing to show anger. On either side, the First Elder Ye Xiao, the Third Elder Ye Lang, the Fourth Elder Ye Yun, and other core family figures were seated in order. Their expressions varied—some solemn, some indifferent, some scrutinizing the surging crowd below.

The annual Family Great Competition was not only a grand event to test the cultivation of the younger generation but also a crucial occasion for various forces to observe the Ye Family’s future potential. It was also a critical platform for the different internal factions of the Ye Family to flex their muscles and redistribute resources.

In front of the stages, a massive wooden board was plastered with the names of the participating disciples, awaiting the drawing of lots to determine their opponents.

Ye Li stood near the edge of the crowd. Her worn, faded clothes looked strikingly out of place amidst the brocade-robed boys and girls surrounding her, drawing countless overt and covert glances and whispers. She seemed oblivious, her gaze calmly sweeping over the high platform and the stages before settling on the large drawing board. Her eyes were deep, contemplating who knows what.

“Silence!”

An official presiding over the competition shouted loudly, his voice enhanced by spiritual energy, echoing throughout the entire venue.

The noise gradually subsided.

“The Family Great Competition now begins! First item: Drawing lots to determine opponents! Those whose names are called, step forward and draw your numbered slips!”

The official began calling out names according to the list. The disciples called upon stepped forward one after another, drawing a number-engraved wooden slip from a sealed cylinder. A scribe nearby would then register the number beneath the corresponding name on the wooden board.

The atmosphere tensed up again. Everyone hoped to draw a good lot, avoiding those already famous geniuses, especially the few prodigies from the main lineage.

“Ye Lang!” the official called.

The arrogant Ye Lang strode forward, casually drew a slip, and after a glance, a satisfied smile appeared on his face. The scribe announced loudly: “Ye Lang, Stage Three, Lot Seven!”

“Ye Ming!” “Ye Liang!” … Ye Lang’s few followers also stepped up to draw lots. Their luck seemed good, as none encountered a strong enemy in the first round.

Soon, it was the turn of the branch family disciples.

“Ye Xiaodou!” the official called. The scrawny boy nervously stepped up, his hand trembling slightly. He drew a slip and handed it to the scribe without daring to look. “Ye Xiaodou, Stage Two, Lot Fifteen!”

…

“Ye Li!”

When this name was called out, the entire venue fell silent for a moment. All eyes—curious, disdainful, schadenfreude-filled—focused simultaneously on that figure.

Ye Li was expressionless. Under the scrutiny of countless gazes, she walked slowly forward. Her steps were steady, showing no trace of nervousness, forming a sharp contrast with the excited or anxious youths around her.

She reached out, casually drew a wooden slip from the cylinder, and without looking, handed it directly to the scribe next to her.

The scribe took the slip, glanced at it, and a clear look of surprise flashed across his face. He even subconsciously looked up towards the high platform, seemingly hesitant.

This subtle action was immediately noticed by the observant people below.

“What is it? Who did she draw?”

“Could it be a bye? Impossible!”

“Look at his expression, he seems shocked?”

A low buzz of discussion arose from the crowd.

The official frowned and looked at the scribe. The scribe then came to his senses, took a deep breath, and announced in a tone of slight disbelief:

“Ye Li, Stage One, first round—bye… No,” he seemed to confirm again, his voice abruptly rising, tinged with oddity, “Stage One, first round, the opponent is— Ye Hua!”

Ye Hua?!

As this name was uttered, the crowd first went silent, then burst into an uproar far more intense than before!

“Ye Hua?! Is that the Ye Hua? The one from the main lineage?”

“A Mid-Stage Spiritual Awakening Realm! They say he’s close to breaking through to the High-Stage! He’s Young Master Ye Lang’s right-hand man!”

“Oh my god! This waste… Ye Li’s luck is too ‘good,’ isn’t it? She runs into him in the very first round?”

“Hahaha! Now we have a show! Ye Hua is notorious for his heavy hands!”

“This draw… it’s practically signing her up to be eliminated in the first round!”

The crowd discussed animatedly, their faces alight with the excitement of watching a spectacle. Almost everyone believed that Ye Li was finished! With her “recently” broken-through Initial-Stage Spiritual Awakening Realm strength (the outside world was unaware she had reached the Mid-Stage), she stood no chance against Ye Hua, who had long been immersed in the Mid-Stage! She might even be severely beaten!

On the high platform, the expressions of several elders also slightly changed.

Third Elder Ye Lang curled a cold, barely perceptible smile at the corner of his mouth, lightly blowing on his teacup.

First Elder Ye Xiao slightly frowned, his gaze sweeping over the drawing area below, then glancing at the Third Elder beside him. His eyes were deep, but he said nothing more.

Family Head Ye Tian maintained his usual composed appearance, only his finger lightly tapped the armrest.

Ye Lang, standing below the platform, was stunned for a moment, then an unconcealed, malicious grin and delight spread across his face. He winked at Ye Hua, whose face seemed to have paled slightly not far away, and made a gesture to “teach her a harsh lesson.”

Ye Hua, who was initially annoyed at drawing a “soft persimmon” like Ye Li, feeling it was an unworthy victory, immediately showed a cruel smile upon receiving Ye Lang’s instruction. He cracked his finger joints, making a kaka sound, and looked at Ye Li as a hungry wolf would look at a lamb.

Ye Li stood still. She showed not a trace of surprise, fear, or anger at the drawing result, remaining chillingly calm. She merely cast a faint glance at the smug Ye Hua not far away, then withdrew her gaze, as if he were just an irrelevant extra.

This extreme calmness formed an incredibly sharp contrast with the surrounding clamor and Ye Hua’s arrogant, triumphant demeanor!

“Hmph! Just for show!” Ye Hua was enraged by her disregard. He shouted across the crowd, his voice full of mockery: “Ye Li! Kneel and beg now, and roll off the stage yourself, and you might save a few broken bones! Otherwise, when we start fighting, fists and feet have no eyes. If I accidentally beat you into a true cripple, don’t blame me!”

The malicious words were unconcealed, drawing a burst of laughter and agreement from the surrounding crowd.

“Brother Hua is right! A waste should know her place!”

“Just admit defeat! Don’t waste everyone’s time!”

Facing the overwhelming mockery and malice, Ye Li didn’t even lift an eyelid. She simply turned around silently, walked to a corner of the waiting area for Stage One, and stood there quietly, closing her eyes to meditate and adjust her breathing, completely isolating herself from all the outside noise.

Her composure, in turn, caused a hint of suspicion to arise in the minds of some who were initially just pure spectators.

This reaction… is far too abnormal. Does she really have some backing?

Or has she simply given up, deciding to face the inevitable?

On the high platform, Fourth Elder Ye Yun looked at the girl standing alone, eyes closed in meditation, and a subtle trace of doubt and curiosity flashed in her eyes.

Meanwhile, the official presiding over the draw and the scribe quietly exchanged a look, both harboring a hint of unease deep in their eyes. The slip cylinder… had someone tampered with it just now? But they dared not speak up.

The drawing of lots continued, but the topic of Ye Li encountering the strong opponent Ye Hua in the first round had already become the focus of attention for the entire venue.

Everyone was looking forward to the “clearly one-sided” match about to begin on Stage One.

Ye Li’s calmness and Ye Hua’s arrogance formed the most eye-catching scenery before the start of the competition.

The storm was already gathering above the stage.