The girl in the green dress was Chu Qingyun's younger sister, Chu Qingzhi.

Like Chu Qingyun and Chu Changfeng, she was also a direct descendant of the Chu Family.

Chu Changfeng's suggestion to keep her by his side as a maid was purely to humiliate her and Chu Qingyun!

How could Chu Qingzhi endure such humiliation?

She was born with a cold constitution, frail and sickly, destined not to live past eighteen.

Now, overwhelmed with anger, tears streamed down her face, her delicate body trembling uncontrollably, her complexion as pale as paper.

"Chu Changfeng... you... shameless..."

Chu Qingzhi clutched her aching chest with one hand and pointed at Chu Changfeng with the other, trying to scold him harshly.

But before she could finish her words, she couldn't catch her breath, and her vision darkened as she was about to faint.

At that moment, a strong and steady arm appeared behind her, supporting her.

She turned her head to see who it was and immediately breathed a sigh of relief.

"Brother..."

It was clear that Chu Qingyun had returned at the crucial moment.

He had heard Chu Changfeng's humiliating words to Chu Qingzhi clearly.

"Qingzhi, don't get angry. Rest for a while."

Suppressing the anger in his heart, Chu Qingyun smiled gently at his sister, his tone soothing.

His smile and tone had an inexplicable calming effect.

Chu Qingzhi felt much more at ease and calmed down.

After nodding to Chu Qingyun, she quietly picked up her bundle from the ground and stepped aside.

Then, Chu Qingyun faced Chu Changfeng directly, his gaze turning sharp, his expression cold as ice.

He approached Chu Changfeng step by step, an invisible aura emanating from him, pressing down on Chu Changfeng like a mountain.

"Chu Changfeng, you despicable opportunist! Apologize to my sister!"

Intimidated by his aura, Chu Changfeng's expression changed, and he instinctively took half a step back.

"Chu Qingyun! You and Chu Qingzhi have already been expelled from the Chu Family!

If you dare to cause trouble here, I'll have the guards throw you out!"

With that, Chu Changfeng signaled to the guards to stop Chu Qingyun.

However, Chu Qingyun merely glanced coldly at the guards, and they were too frightened to move.

Although Chu Qingyun was not the son of the Family Head, he was the greatest genius of the Chu Family's younger generation.

Over the years, he had often fought and killed outside, helping the Chu Family expand its territory, compete for resources, and cultivate.

With his extraordinary talent and outstanding achievements, he had crushed his peers in the Chu Family and secured the position of Young Master.

Even though he had become known as a waste, his prestige in the Chu Family was deeply ingrained and could not be erased overnight.

"Chu Changfeng, apologize!"

Chu Qingyun demanded coldly once more, his aura even more oppressive, his eyes burning with anger.

Seeing Chu Qingyun approaching, the guards dared not intervene. Chu Changfeng was both shocked and furious, shouting, "Chu Qingyun! Do you want to die?

Times have changed. Now you're just a waste, and you dare to shout at me?"

With that, Chu Changfeng unleashed his fiery spiritual power, launching a flaming punch at Chu Qingyun's chest.

In his view, Chu Qingyun, whose strength had fallen to the Qi Condensation Realm, would surely be sent flying by his punch, unable to get up.

Then, like a dead dog, he would be thrown out by the guards, becoming the laughingstock of the city once again.

But to his surprise, Chu Qingyun not only didn't dodge but dared to raise his palm to meet the attack head-on.

"Snap!"

With a light sound, Chu Qingyun's right palm, flickering with spiritual light, caught Chu Changfeng's fist, crushing the flaming punch.

Immediately, Chu Qingyun's palm pressed down, and a violent force pinned Chu Changfeng to the ground.

Before Chu Changfeng could get up, Chu Qingyun stepped on his back.

Chu Changfeng felt like he was being trampled by an elephant, blood seeping from the corner of his mouth, his face turning pale.

Trapped under Chu Qingyun's foot, he was both furious and humiliated, struggling desperately, but unable to break free.

"Ahhh! Chu Qingyun, you bastard, let me go!"

Chu Changfeng roared sharply, his face twisted.

Looking down at him, Chu Qingyun asked coldly, "You call me a waste? Then what does that make you, who has been under my foot all these years?"

"You..." Chu Changfeng was filled with shame and anger, unable to retort.

He temporarily suppressed his humiliation and anger, his heart filled with shock.

"He clearly became a cripple, his dantian vanished.

I have the strength of the seventh level of the Hualing Realm. How could he defeat me?

Could he be cunning, pretending to be a cripple?

But Father and the elders would surely see through his disguise and wouldn't deceive me!"

As Chu Changfeng was lost in thought, Chu Qingyun shouted coldly again, "Apologize!"

As he spoke, he increased the pressure on his foot.

"Ugh..."

Chu Changfeng spat out a mouthful of blood, several ribs breaking under the pressure.

He knew very well that with Chu Qingyun's character, if he didn't apologize and yield, the other party would not let it go.

If the broken ribs pierced his organs, he would lose his life on the spot, which would be too humiliating.

Thus, Chu Changfeng endured the humiliation, speaking with resentment, "Chu Qingyun, you win!

Chu Qingzhi, I apologize to you...

I was merely conveying the decision of the Family Head and the elders, with no intention of insulting you.

I'm... sorry!"

The last two words were almost shouted through gritted teeth.

"Not enough!" Chu Qingyun was dissatisfied with his attitude, increasing the pressure on his foot.

"Ugh..." Chu Changfeng spat out another mouthful of blood, his breath growing weaker.

He struggled to breathe, his vision darkening, and in fear, he hoarsely shouted, "Chu Qingyun, Chu Qingzhi... I'm sorry!

I was wrong! I shouldn't have insulted..."

Before he could finish, his eyes closed, and he fainted.

"The Young Master has fainted!"

"Quick, help him!"

The guards panicked, rushing to check Chu Changfeng's injuries and calling for help.

The entrance of the Chu Residence descended into chaos.

Seeing this, Chu Qingyun frowned and left the Chu Family with Chu Qingzhi.

...

The Abandoned Garden Chu Changfeng mentioned was an unused estate of the Chu Family, located at the end of Wutong Alley in the southern city.

The old house had a history of over two hundred years, long neglected and in disrepair, it had become dilapidated.

The entire Wutong Alley was filled with abandoned houses and estates, usually deserted, silent like a ghost town at night.

Under the setting sun, Chu Qingyun and Chu Qingzhi, carrying their bundles, walked through the alley covered in fallen leaves, arriving at the entrance of the Abandoned Garden.

The mottled gate, with rusted rings and locks, was covered in dust on the threshold stone.

Chu Qingzhi took out a key to unlock the door, while Chu Qingyun raised his hands to push open the heavy gate.

The gate creaked, as if it might collapse at any moment.

Just as the siblings were about to step inside, a shadow darted out from within.

"Whoosh..."

The shadow moved like the wind, brushing past the siblings, bouncing twice in the alley before disappearing into another dilapidated house.

Chu Qingyun caught a glimpse; it was a two-foot-long black cat, its fur like needles, eyes like red rubies.

Startled, Chu Qingzhi patted her chest, taking a moment to calm down.

The siblings closed the gate and stood in the overgrown courtyard, surveying the abandoned estate with complex emotions.

The main house, living room, and bedrooms were relatively intact, though covered in dust, with cobwebs hanging from the eaves and windows.

The side rooms and kitchen had varying degrees of collapse, with cracked and tilted walls, and many holes in the roof, the tiles shattered.

In the southeast corner of the courtyard stood a hundred-year-old wutong tree.

The fallen leaves over the years had formed several layers on the ground.

Fortunately, the well in the northeast corner hadn't dried up, though covered in weeds, it could be used after cleaning.

After inspecting the Abandoned Garden, the siblings began clearing weeds and cleaning the rooms.

After all, this would be their home from now on.

Considering Chu Qingzhi's youth and frailty, Chu Qingyun asked her to rest.

But she couldn't bear to see her brother working alone, so she took the initiative to clean the rooms, clearing dust and debris.

Chu Qingyun focused on clearing weeds and fallen leaves, making simple repairs to the kitchen, and dealing with the cracked walls and roof.

As he worked, he recalled the day's encounters with Ling Zifeng and Chu Changfeng.

Although he had mastered the first layer of the Heaven Devouring Art, he hadn't truly grasped it, not yet entering the initial stage.

During the fight with Ling Zifeng, he instinctively used the Heaven Devouring Art, attempting to harness the spiritual power stored in the black vortex.

As a result, the black vortex unleashed a powerful devouring force, turning Ling Zifeng into a dried corpse.

On the way back to the Chu Family, Chu Qingyun pondered this issue.

Could it be that he could only absorb others' power and not use spiritual power normally?

Thus, when he fought Chu Changfeng, he had a sudden idea to reverse the Heaven Devouring Art.

Normally, no one would do this, as reversing the flow of spiritual power would lead to chaos.

At best, it would damage the meridians and rupture the organs; at worst, it would lead to madness and death.

But Chu Qingyun had carefully considered it; the Heaven Devouring Art was no ordinary technique, mysterious and sinister, surely with unexpected effects.

The facts proved him right, and he succeeded!

Reversing the Heaven Devouring Art, his body felt no discomfort, and he successfully activated his spiritual power, defeating Chu Changfeng with one move.

"Normally using the Heaven Devouring Art unleashes devouring power.

Reversing the technique allows the use of the spiritual power in the black vortex.

It seems this is the correct way to use the Heaven Devouring Art."

This thought flashed through Chu Qingyun's mind, a hint of satisfaction in his eyes.

While working, he silently practiced the Heaven Devouring Art, sometimes activating spiritual power, sometimes releasing devouring power, switching effortlessly.

Only now, having practiced the first layer of the Heaven Devouring Art, did he truly enter the initial stage.

Before long, night fell.

Chu Qingyun fetched a bucket of water, and he and Chu Qingzhi washed away the dust and sweat, resting in the room.

Chu Qingzhi found two candles from somewhere, lighting them with a fire striker.

In the silent, dilapidated Abandoned Garden, there was finally a warm glow.

"Brother, you must be hungry, right?

I brought some dry food from the Chu Family, I'll go heat it up in the kitchen."

Chu Qingzhi, not yet resting, took out some dry food from her bundle and headed to the kitchen.

Chu Qingyun nodded, preparing to practice the Heaven Devouring Art, absorbing the spiritual energy of the world.

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Though he had gained this mysterious technique by accident, his current strength was still at the first level of the Hualing Realm.

He needed to train diligently, quickly returning to the Spirit Sea Realm.

But just then, Chu Qingzhi's scream came from the courtyard, followed by the sound of clothes fluttering in the wind.