Journey to become a God

Zhao Yanyan Was Kidnapped

Ye Chen arrived at the school's backyard garden, searching for Zhao Yanyan. However, she was nowhere to be found. A sense of dread settled in his chest as he noticed a familiar butterfly ribbon lying on the ground. The ribbon, which Zhao Yanyan often wore, was torn and trampled.

His heart pounded. Something was wrong.

Focusing his Spirit Sense, Ye Chen scanned the area within a five-mile radius. Nothing. He expanded his range to ten miles, but still, there was no sign of her.

"Yuechan, can you help me locate Zhao Yanyan?" Ye Chen asked urgently.

"Yes, but I'll need to use your profound energy," Chu Yuechan responded.

"Do it."

Almost immediately, Ye Chen felt his energy being rapidly drained. Chu Yuechan's Spirit Sense stretched far beyond his limits.

"She's about twenty-five miles north of here," Chu Yuechan said after a moment. "She's moving fast, likely in a vehicle. There are nine people with her. One of them is a cultivator."

Ye Chen's eyes turned cold. Without hesitation, he shot into the sky, flying in the direction Chu Yuechan had indicated.

---

Inside a black van speeding down the highway, four men in ski masks sat with loaded pistols. Their leader, a man known as Boss, grinned as he glanced at the young woman bound and gagged in the backseat.

"She's a beauty," one of the men chuckled. "Boss, can we have some fun before we sell her?"

"We need to check with the big boss first," Boss replied. "She's valuable. If we play it right, she'll fetch a high price."

"Tch. What a waste," the man muttered.

Another criminal smirked. "Don't worry. There are plenty of other girls at the school. We'll take them one by one."

Zhao Yanyan trembled. She had never been so terrified in her life. She had simply been waiting for Ye Chen in the school's garden when a classmate—a quiet, gloomy boy Ye Chen had once saved—approached her. Before she could react, he had pressed a cloth over her nose, and everything had gone black.

Now, she was trapped with criminals, guns aimed at her head. She could only pray for a miracle.

---

Ye Chen flew at full speed, his rage burning hotter with each passing second. Soon, he spotted two black vehicles speeding down the highway.

He landed on the road ahead of them with a deafening impact, the ground beneath him cracking from the force.

Inside the van, one of the criminals noticed him. "Boss, there's someone in the middle of the road! Should we stop?"

Boss sneered. "Run him over. If he tries anything, shoot him."

The men in the first car rolled down their windows and aimed their pistols. Without hesitation, they opened fire.

BANG! BANG! BANG!

The bullets struck Ye Chen—but did nothing. They bounced off his skin as if they were mere raindrops.

"What the hell?!" one of the criminals gasped.

Seeing that their bullets were useless, the driver floored the gas pedal, intending to ram into Ye Chen.

Ye Chen clenched his fists. As the car sped toward him, he raised his arm and delivered a devastating punch.

BOOM!

The car was sent flying through the air, spinning multiple times before crashing down and erupting into flames. The men inside never stood a chance.

The second vehicle screeched to a halt, stopping ten meters away. The remaining four criminals scrambled out, dragging Zhao Yanyan with them. Two pointed their guns at Ye Chen, while the third pressed a pistol against Zhao Yanyan's head.

Ye Chen's gaze darkened. His eyes locked onto the familiar face of the traitor—his former classmate, the same boy he had once saved.

"You..." Ye Chen's voice was dangerously low. "You betrayed her?"

The boy avoided his gaze, gripping the gun with trembling hands.

"Who the hell are you?!" Boss growled, drawing a one-handed katana. Unlike his subordinates, he was a third-level Spirit Formation cultivator. He didn't fear ordinary men—but the sight of Ye Chen shaking off bullets like dust unsettled him.

Ye Chen didn't bother responding. He vanished from sight, moving faster than the eye could follow.

In an instant, the three gunmen were sent flying, blood spraying from their mouths as they crashed onto the pavement, lifeless.

The only one left standing was Boss.

Fear crept into the man's eyes. He had killed before. He had faced life-and-death battles. But nothing had ever made him feel true terror—until now.

"Damn you!" Boss roared, slashing his katana toward Ye Chen.

Ye Chen simply raised a finger. A small flame flickered at the tip before shooting forward, expanding as it engulfed the man.

"AHHHH!" Boss's agonized screams filled the air. Within seconds, he was reduced to nothing but ashes.

Zhao Yanyan stared, eyes wide with shock. Her kidnappers were gone, burned, or broken in an instant.

Ye Chen turned to her, his expression softening. Gently, he untied the ropes binding her hands and removed the gag from her mouth.

The moment she was free, Zhao Yanyan collapsed into his arms, sobbing uncontrollably.

"Ye Chen... I was so scared," she cried. "I thought I'd never see you again."

Ye Chen wrapped his arms around her protectively. "I'm here, Yanyan. I'll always protect you. I promise."

Police sirens echoed in the distance.

"We need to go," Ye Chen said, scooping Zhao Yanyan into his arms. He took off into the sky, carrying her away from the chaos.

As they disappeared into the horizon, Zhao Yanyan held onto him tightly, no longer afraid. She knew that as long as Ye Chen was by her side, she would always be safe.