Qing’er!
In that moment, Ye Xuan thought of Qing’er again.
He could sense her profound loneliness, perhaps deeper than that of Big Brother or Xiaoyaozi.
Qing’er’s temper was fiercer than his father’s or Xiaoyaozi’s. If she had no one left to cherish in this world, she might truly destroy the entire endless universe.
And if she went wild, no one—not his father, not Big Brother—could stop her.
No one could restrain a rampant Destiny!
Sigh!
Ye Xuan suddenly longed to see Qing’er.
Before him, the woman watched him, her expression calm despite his bold words, dismissing them as bravado.
She said abruptly, “Let’s go!”
Turning to Shen Lan, she asked, “Back to the clan?”
Shen Lan glanced at Ye Xuan, nodding, “Alright.”
As the woman prepared to lead Ye Xuan and Shen Lan away, a figure appeared before them.
Ye Xuan froze.
It was Qingqiu!
He frowned, “Qingqiu, why are you here?”
Qingqiu said gravely, “I was worried about you, Young Master Brother!”
Ye Xuan shook his head, “I’m fine. Go back.”
Qingqiu looked at the woman, “Young Master Brother, is she taking you away?”
Ye Xuan nodded, “I’m ashamed—I couldn’t beat her.”
Qingqiu faced the woman, “Let’s fight!”
Ye Xuan was stunned.
The woman sized Qingqiu up with interest, “Sure.”
Qingqiu threw a punch!
The strike carried a righteous aura!
The woman narrowed her eyes, countering with a punch of her own!
*Boom!*
A terrifying force erupted between them. Qingqiu was thrown back ten thousand feet, but the woman staggered back thousands!
Ye Xuan gaped.
Was he really that useless?
In the distance, Qingqiu clenched her fist behind her back, standing tall, gazing calmly at the woman.
The woman glanced at her cracked hand, then at Qingqiu, her eyes flashing with shock and excitement, “What a terrifying punch! Girl, would you take me as your master?”
Ye Xuan: “…”
Qingqiu glanced at her, “In my heart, there’s only Young Master Brother.”
The woman looked at Ye Xuan, shaking her head, “He’s impressive, but not as exceptional as you.”
Ye Xuan’s face darkened.
Qingqiu smiled lightly, “You wouldn’t understand Young Master Brother’s aspirations.”
She turned to Ye Xuan, “Young Master Brother, go with peace of mind. I’ll ensure the academy runs smoothly.”
Ye Xuan thought, then opened his palm, a storage ring floating to her, “Sixty million cosmic veins inside. Use them as you see fit.”
Qingqiu hesitated, then nodded, “Alright.”
She took the ring.
Ye Xuan looked at the woman, “Let’s go.”
The woman suddenly said, “Little girl, do you know what it means to take me as your master?”
Qingqiu glanced at her, “With you, I’d be invincible in one universe. With Young Master Brother, I’d be invincible across endless universes!”
With that, she turned and left.
The woman’s brows furrowed.
Ye Xuan felt a bit sheepish.
Qingqiu’s blind faith in him was almost overwhelming!
He’d have to work harder to live up to it.
The woman turned to him, “Do you know how exceptional she is?”
Ye Xuan said earnestly, “About as exceptional as me.”
She paused, then said, “Your thick skin shocks me.”
Ye Xuan: “…”
Shen Lan interjected, “He’s always been exceptional!”
The woman glanced at Shen Lan, then Ye Xuan, “I didn’t say he’s not, but that girl’s more so.”
Ye Xuan smiled, “There’s little point debating this here. Let’s head to the God Ancient Clan.”
She nodded, “Fine.”
With a wave, she led Ye Xuan and Shen Lan into the vortex.
They began traversing space-time.
Her hands behind her back, she faced away from them.
Ye Xuan turned to Shen Lan, “Why come?”
Shen Lan, expressionless, said, “Why ask?”
The woman suddenly said, “I must admit, I’m curious how you got the Great Dao Pen to follow you.”
She turned to Ye Xuan, “How’d you do it?”
Ye Xuan thought, then said, “Personal charm.”
Great Dao Pen: “…”
She frowned, “You’re exceptional, but not enough for the Great Dao Pen to follow.”
Ye Xuan stayed calm, silent.
She added, “Regardless, you’re mysterious. Win this contest for my clan, and your feud with us is erased.”
She turned away, done speaking.
Ye Xuan closed his eyes, asking mentally, “Pen Brother, who is Qingqiu reincarnated from?”
The Great Dao Pen didn’t respond.
Ye Xuan frowned, “Don’t want to say, or don’t dare?”
Still no response.
Ye Xuan was speechless.
He grew more curious about Qingqiu.
She was far too extraordinary!
Before her, every genius he’d met—including himself—seemed like trash.
The woman said, “We’re here!”
A white light appeared, and they plunged into it.
After some time, Ye Xuan opened his eyes to see countless floating cities, massive as beasts, standing among the clouds—hundreds of them!
Ahead, a towering statue of a man, nearly a thousand feet tall, gazed forward with an awe-inspiring presence.
Ye Xuan frowned, “God Ancient Clan?”
The woman nodded, “Yes.”
Shen Lan whispered, “So many familiar auras!”
The woman glanced at her, “That’s your bloodline. You have the God King bloodline, but only sixty percent awakened. Seventy percent is a threshold—if you reach it, your strength will soar.”
Shen Lan’s face darkened, “Was my father killed by you?”
The woman replied, “Likely by Gu Qian.”
Shen Lan’s expression grew colder.
The woman added, “Your ancestor’s line committed a grave error and should’ve been eradicated, but the clan leader then was merciful…”
She shook her head, “No point discussing this now.”
Shen Lan wanted to speak, but Ye Xuan stopped her. He smiled, “Without strength, arguing with them is pointless.”
Shen Lan nodded after a pause.
The woman glanced at Ye Xuan, “Your mind’s like a mirror.”
Ye Xuan smiled, “A question: how many warriors of your level exist?”
She shook her head, “In this universe, only a few.”
Ye Xuan asked, “What universe is this?”
She glanced at him, “The God Universe. Six ancient gods and two primordial gods once emerged here.”
She paused, turning to him, “You think these ‘gods’ are just stronger people, don’t you?”
Ye Xuan nodded.
She shook her head, “You’re wrong.”
He frowned.
She continued, “To some, they *are* gods. Only those stronger than them can call them mere people.”
Ye Xuan fell silent.
True enough!
Right now, he couldn’t match these so-called ‘gods.’ Qing’er could dismiss them, but he couldn’t.
No helping it!
After spending time with Qing’er, he’d started seeing everyone as ants…
He thought of the little tower, which, after staying with Qing’er so long, probably looked down on everyone now.
An elder appeared, bowing deeply to the woman, “Clan Leader!”
Clan Leader!
Ye Xuan froze.
She was the God Ancient Clan’s leader?
She glanced at Ye Xuan, “He’ll represent us against the Di Huang God Clan!”
The elder, stunned, stammered, “Clan Leader, but Gu Xin…”
“Hm?”
Her brows furrowed.
The elder, startled, bowed deeply, silent.
She said nothing more, moving to leave. Ye Xuan called out, “Is the Di Huang God Clan strong?”
She stopped, nodding.
Ye Xuan said seriously, “This contest matters greatly to your clan, right?”
She turned, “What’s your point?”
He said gravely, “They’re strong, and this contest is crucial. Shouldn’t you… boost my strength a bit?”
Shen Lan: “…”
The woman, after a pause, said, “With the Great Dao Pen, you’re nearly invincible below Half-God. Against normal Half-Gods, you can hold your own.”
Ye Xuan shook his head, “The pen can only be used twice a year, and I’ve used it twice already.”
Her brows furrowed, “Twice?”
He nodded, “Yes. The pen’s extraordinary, but I’m weak, so it’s limited to two uses annually.”
He smiled, pulling out an ancient book, “I’ve studied sage texts since childhood and never lie.”
She glanced at him, “I believe you.”
Ye Xuan nodded, face calm.
But inwardly, he sighed.
Damn it!
He wasn’t cut out for the path of utmost sincerity. Lately, no one believed his truths.
Yet his lies? People bought them!
What a world!
He sighed inwardly.
Since ancient times, sincerity wins no trust—only schemes capture hearts!
…
