Journey to become a God

Finally, Chen Qiu's aunt brought food to Ye Chen's table. The delicious aroma wafted through the air, making Ye Chen's mouth water. Without hesitation, he picked up a skewer and took a bite.

Ever since he became a cultivator, Ye Chen had never truly felt full. While he could go days without eating, whenever he did eat, it felt like he could consume an endless amount. Perhaps it was because he had been surviving on dry rations and bitter fruits during training that the food here tasted so incredible. The rich flavors overwhelmed his senses, making him crave more.

Within minutes, Ye Chen had devoured an entire serving of goat satay. "Auntie, bring me 30 more skewers," he said.

Chen Qiu watched in astonishment. He had never seen anyone eat so quickly before. Even more surprising was that 30 skewers still weren't enough for Ye Chen.

Without hesitation, Aunt Chen Qiu started grilling more skewers. Just as she was preparing the next batch, a group of thugs barged into the stall.

"Hey, old lady, where's our protection money?" one of them sneered.

Chen Qiu's aunt nervously replied, "We just opened for the day. We haven't made any money yet. Please give us some time."

"That's not our problem. We want our money now," another thug demanded.

Ye Chen recognized these men. They were the same ones who had caused trouble at the antique goods exhibition the day before. However, their leader, the blond man, was missing—likely still recovering from the beating he received.

Seeing them harass Chen Qiu's aunt ignited Ye Chen's anger. This time, he wasn't going to let them walk away unscathed.

Standing up, Ye Chen walked toward the gang members.

"Hah! Look at this guy trying to play hero!" one of them laughed mockingly.

"Listen, kid, you have no idea who we are. If you kneel down and lick my boots, maybe we'll let you go," the thug smirked, pointing to his dirty shoes.

Ye Chen remained unfazed. "This is your last warning. Leave now, or you'll regret it."

"You're looking for trouble!" The thug swung his fist at Ye Chen, but before he could make contact—Bang! He was sent flying across the street, landing in a trash can.

The other gang members froze in shock. Before they could react, Ye Chen moved swiftly, taking them down one by one. In seconds, they were all groaning in pain on the ground.

Chen Qiu was speechless. He had never imagined Ye Chen was this strong.

Ye Chen looked down at the defeated thugs. "If you ever come back here again, I'll make sure you won't be able to get out of bed for a very long time."

Terrified, the gang members scrambled to their feet and fled as fast as they could.

"Ye Chen, thank you for helping my aunt," Chen Qiu said gratefully.

"It's no problem, Auntie. If they ever come back, just let me know."

"But Ye Chen, what if they try to get revenge on you later?" Aunt Chen Qiu asked, concerned.

Ye Chen smirked. "If they value their lives, they won't dare."

Aunt Chen Qiu nodded, reassured. "Alright, I'll finish grilling your food."

After finishing all the lamb satay available, Ye Chen paid and left the stall. He still had a few hours before nightfall, so he decided to head to a place with pure energy for training. He knew just the right spot.

Flying across the city, Ye Chen arrived at a park. Unlike other places, this area was free from pollution and had a natural, undisturbed energy. Fortunately, since it wasn't a holiday, the park was mostly empty.

Ye Chen sat on a stone, crossed his legs, and closed his eyes. Slowly, he began absorbing the surrounding energy.

After three hours, he opened his eyes.

"The energy here is too thin," he muttered. Compared to his usual training grounds, the energy on Earth was lacking. He barely made any progress. "It's faster to absorb Yin Qi from Zhao Yanyan or Teacher Lin Rouxi."

Realizing it was already late at night, Ye Chen decided to visit Teacher Lin Rouxi. He took out the note she had given him and checked the address.

Lin Rouxi lived in the women's dormitory provided by the school. The school had separate dorms for men and women, but Ye Chen had opted to rent a place outside since it was cheaper. The dorm rent was around $400–$500 per month, while VIP dorms cost $800–$1000 per month—more than what Ye Chen earned in a full month of work.

Not wanting to waste time, Ye Chen took the fastest route—flying. He made sure no one was watching before landing near the dormitory.

Reaching the fourth floor, Ye Chen knocked on the door. Moments later, it opened, revealing Teacher Lin Rouxi.

This time, she wasn't dressed in her usual professional attire. Instead, she wore casual clothes that suited her well. At 25, she was in the prime of her beauty, radiating elegance and charm.

"Come in," she said, stepping aside to let Ye Chen enter.

Ye Chen followed her inside.

"Have a seat," Lin Rouxi said, heading to the kitchen to prepare a drink.

As Ye Chen settled into the soft chair, he noticed the pleasant fragrance in the air. He wondered if it was perfume or simply her natural scent.

He leaned back, waiting for what was to come next.