From Death To Dominion

As Ye Xian and Reiner casually walked out of the classroom, murmurs and grumbles spread among the students.

"Tsk! How arrogant!" one student muttered, clenching his fists.

"I swear, if the teachers weren't around, I'd beat that smug face of his!" another growled.

"Did you hear him? 'The most beautiful fiancée in the whole empire'—ha! What a joke!" a third sneered.

A hot-tempered student slammed his desk. "Damn it! How did he end up with Xuan Lingshuang? What does she even see in him?"

"Yeah! If it weren't for that engagement arranged by their families, she wouldn't even spare him a glance!" someone added.

Meanwhile, a few students sighed in frustration. "Why do I feel like punching him, even though I know he's just messing with us?"

"Because he's too damn good at it!"

"Ugh! Next time, I'll make sure to put him in his place!"

Despite their anger, none dared to actually confront Ye Xian. His ability to turn any situation to his advantage was infuriating, and deep down, they all knew they'd just end up making fools of themselves—just like Suyu Pu.

As Ye Xian and Reiner walked toward the canteen, a commotion caught their attention. A group of students was forcefully dragging away two others, their distressed voices barely audible amidst the murmuring crowd.

Reiner narrowed his eyes and muttered, "Looks like a daylight robbery."

Ye Xian, however, remained silent, his mind flashing back to his own experience during his first month at the academy. Back then, some students had attempted to rob him of his allocated resources, only to back off upon realizing he was from the Ye Clan. He had been spared that time, but the experience had given him an idea.

Instead of intervening, he simply filed the scene away in his thoughts, a plan slowly taking shape.

By the time they reached the canteen, the atmosphere had shifted from tense to lively. The dining hall was filled with students dressed in a variety of attires—some in traditional Chinese robes, others in more modern Eastern or Western styles, and a few opting for casual, free-flowing outfits. The diverse mix of clothing reflected the academy's open culture, where students from different regions and backgrounds mingled.

Reiner, eyes scanning the room, grinned as he admired the sight of young women swaying their hips as they moved about. "Ah, the view here never disappoints," he sighed dramatically.

Ye Xian shook his head in amusement as they took a seat. A waiter soon arrived, ready to take their orders.

Reiner smirked and said, "Brother Ye, you really did a number on Suyu Pu. Watching her fume like that was hilarious. The meal's on me today, order whatever you want!"

Ye Xian raised an eyebrow. "Are you sure?"

"Of course!" Reiner replied confidently, before quickly adding, "Just keep it under two gold coins..." His voice trailed off, sounding slightly embarrassed.

Ye Xian clicked his tongue. "Tsk, tsk. Here I thought you were being generous, but you're just watching your pockets."

Reiner laughed awkwardly as the waiter stood by, awaiting their decision.

Ye Xian leaned back casually. "Fine, I'll be kind. Let's go with roasted lamb, some grilled crabs, and pastries."

Reiner's expression stiffened slightly. "That's a bit over the budget."

Ye Xian smirked. "Don't worry, I'll cover some of it too."

The two exchanged grins, and soon after, their food arrived. As they began eating, Reiner leaned in, his curiosity getting the better of him.

"So, tell me," he said, chewing on a piece of meat. "How did you manage to secure a marriage with Xuan Lingshuang?"

Ye Xian smirked. "Isn't it obvious?" He tapped his cheek. "It's because I'm incredibly handsome."

Reiner nearly choked on his food before bursting into laughter. "You? Handsome? Hahahaha! Brother Ye, I swear, your shamelessness is on another level!"

Ye Xian playfully raised a fist. "Laugh again, and I'll let you taste my punch instead of the food."

Still chuckling, Reiner held up his hands in surrender. "Alright, alright! I won't doubt your 'handsome' charm."

As they enjoyed their meal, another disturbance in the hall drew their attention. The sound of hushed whispers and admiring gasps filled the air.

A young man in a silver robe strode confidently across the garden, his sharp features and well-groomed black hair making him stand out. His deep brown eyes carried an air of superiority, and behind him trailed four or five young men, their gazes filled with admiration and arrogance.

It was Ye Shen, Ye Xian's younger stepbrother.

"Look at him," one girl whispered dreamily. "He's so handsome…"

"And so talented!" another added. "Despite his young age, he's already at the peak of the Element Disciple Realm!"

Some of the girls in the canteen looked at Ye Shen with starry eyes, clearly envious of anyone who could be by his side.

Meanwhile, the male students scoffed, their voices laced with jealousy.

"Tch! Why is it always the handsome ones who get all the attention?"

"Yeah, if I had his looks, I'd be surrounded by beauties too!"

As the chatter continued, Ye Xian and Reiner quietly ate their food, listening in on the conversation without reacting.

The young men trailing behind Ye Shen showered him with flattery, their words carefully chosen to inflate his ego. On the surface, Ye Shen acted as though their praise was beneath him, his expression one of cool indifference. However, deep inside, each compliment added to his confidence and satisfaction.

As his gaze swept across the canteen, he suddenly caught sight of Ye Xian sitting with his friend, Reiner, eating casually as if the world around him didn't exist. A sneer curled on Ye Shen's lips as disdain flickered in his eyes.

'Enjoy yourself while you can, Ye Xian… Soon, I'll send you to your grave.'

The thought amused him so much that he chuckled under his breath. The followers behind him exchanged confused glances but didn't dare question him, simply continuing to trail behind as he walked away.

Seated at their table, Reiner observed the scene and smirked. "Your younger brother sure has a lot of admirers."

Ye Xian, however, acted as though he hadn't heard a thing. Instead, he calmly finished his meal.

After satisfying their hunger and paying the bill, the two left the canteen. As they made their way back to the classroom, Ye Xian suddenly stopped.

"I need to meet someone," he said.

Reiner raised an eyebrow in surprise. "Who?"

Ye Xian smirked. "That's a secret."

Before Reiner could pry further, Ye Xian turned and walked away, heading in the direction where he had seen a group of students dragging away two others earlier.

Following the trail, Ye Xian moved discreetly through the academy grounds until he reached a secluded area hidden by thick trees. The moment he arrived, the sound of hushed voices and muffled protests reached his ears.

A cool breeze swept through the secluded training ground, rustling the fallen leaves. The sun hung high, casting sharp shadows beneath the thick canopy of trees.

Near the center of the clearing, five students loomed over two trembling boys.

The two victims—both young, from Yellow Class—had their backs pressed against a large tree, their bodies tensed in fear.

The leader of the group, a fat, broad-shouldered young man with a thick neck and greedy eyes, sneered as he held out a pudgy hand. His chubby fingers wiggled expectantly.

"Hand over your Ki Stones. Now."

His voice wasn't loud, but it carried the unshakable authority of a seasoned bully.

One of the frightened students—a frail-looking boy with short brown hair—gulped and stammered, "B-but… we barely have enough for our own cultivation. Please, don't take them—"

Smack!

Before he could finish, a heavy palm slapped him across the face. The impact sent him stumbling sideways.

His friend—the slightly taller of the two—instinctively reached out to support him. But before he could react, a rough shove from behind sent him crashing onto the dirt.

The gang laughed.

Fatty cracked his knuckles. "Looks like you didn't hear me right."

The two victims were clearly from the Yellow Class, students of lower status within the academy. Each month, they were allocated a meager five Ki Stones to assist their cultivation, and now, those resources were about to be stolen.

The fat student scoffed, his expression darkened with annoyance as he barked, "This isn't stealing or anything—it's a protection fee."

"Protection fee?!" the one on the ground blurted, his voice shaky. "W-we don't need protection! Please, just let us go!"

Fatty's grin widened.

"Oh? So you'd rather have no protection?"

He bent down, his massive form casting a heavy shadow over them.

"That means the next time someone picks on you, we won't be there to help. Accidents might happen… arms might break… or worse…"

The two boys shuddered. Their faces turned pale.

They had heard the rumors. This gang had been preying on weaker students for months, using the excuse of "protection fees" to rob them of their resources.

Even if they refused today, the gang would just find them later—alone, vulnerable.