After parting with Fei Banqing, Ye Guan returned to the Ye Clan.
The hidden danger troubling the Ye Clan had finally been removed, and he could at last breathe a sigh of relief.
Next, he would bid farewell to Ye Xiao and head to the Guanxuan Academy.
In the courtyard, Ye Guan and Ye Xiao sat side by side on the stone steps.
A jug of wine rested in front of each of them.
Ye Xiao spoke softly, “Leaving tomorrow?”
Ye Guan nodded.
Ye Xiao gave a faint smile, “Good thing!”
Ye Guan hesitated for a moment, then said, “Clan Leader, have you ever considered passing the position of heir to Sister Nan?”
Ye Nan.
Ye Xiao’s daughter had joined the Guanxuan Academy a year earlier.
He and Ye Nan shared an extremely close relationship. Though they were not related by blood, they were closer than many blood relatives.
Ye Xiao nodded slightly, “Of course I have thought about it.”
Ye Guan was puzzled, “Then why not?”
Ye Xiao smiled lightly and said, “If you were merely ordinary, I naturally could not hand the Ye Clan to you. After all, the clan leader’s decisions concern the life and death of every clan member; it cannot be entrusted to someone mediocre. But you are outstanding, and your character is excellent.”
He smiled again, “Placing the Ye Clan in your hands will be better for its future!”
Ye Guan hesitated once more, then said, “But I am only an adopted son of the Ye Clan!”
Ye Xiao looked straight at Ye Guan, “In my heart, you are a true member of the Ye Clan.”
Ye Guan fell silent.
Ye Xiao continued, “Little one, your future is limitless. To you, the Ye Clan might one day become nothing more than a burden. I…”
Ye Guan suddenly interrupted, “To me, the Ye Clan is not a burden. This place is my home.”
Ye Xiao turned to look at him. Ye Guan said earnestly, “Clan Leader, trust me. In the future, the Ye Clan will surely become the foremost clan across all heavens and myriad realms!”
Ye Xiao burst into sudden laughter, “I believe you!”
Ye Guan abruptly took out a storage ring and handed it to Ye Xiao.
Ye Xiao was confused, “This is?”
Ye Guan replied calmly, “Inside the ring are some gold crystals. They are for Brother Ye Qing. His talent is exceptional, and cultivation requires resources. These should help him a little at his current stage.”
Ye Xiao was silent for a moment, then nodded, accepted the ring, raised his jug, and drained it in one go.
Ye Guan did the same.
The night passed.
At dawn the next day, Ye Guan left the Ye Clan.
He did not say any formal goodbyes.
He had already said everything the previous night.
What he did not know was that shortly after he left the Ye residence, Ye Xiao appeared at the main gate.
Ye Xiao watched Ye Guan’s retreating back for a long, long time, then smiled faintly and turned away.
Elsewhere, Ye Qing glanced at the departing Ye Guan, then also turned and left.
Inside the main hall.
Ye Xiao looked at Ye Qing standing before him, “You’re leaving too?”
Ye Qing nodded, “Yes.”
After a long silence, Ye Xiao took out a storage ring and handed it to Ye Qing, “This is what Little Guan gave me last night. He asked me to pass it to you.”
Ye Qing hesitated briefly, then accepted it, “Thank you, Clan Leader.”
Ye Xiao said softly, “The Ye Clan will always be your home.”
Ye Qing bowed deeply, “Clan Leader, the Ye Clan will always be my home.”
With that, he turned and departed.
In the empty hall, Ye Xiao watched Ye Qing leave. There was some reluctance in his heart, but far more pride.
These two young men of the Ye family each had their own paths to walk. The small Ye Clan should not become chains holding them back.
Outside the clan grounds.
Ye Qing gazed at the storage ring in his hand for a long time, then smiled faintly and walked toward the horizon.
On the road, Ye Qing asked, “Master, where are we going?”
An aged voice sounded in his mind, “To the Central Lands Divine Continent. There are three seals of the Laws there.”
Ye Qing nodded, “Good!”
With that, he quickened his pace and vanished at the end of the street.
…
Ye Guan arrived at the city gate and immediately saw Nalan Jia and Fei Banqing.
Upon seeing him, Nalan Jia smiled gently.
Ye Guan walked up to Fei Banqing and bowed slightly, “Mentor Fei.”
Fei Banqing nodded, “Let’s go.”
She led the two of them up into the clouds. With a flick of her palm, a cloud ship dozens of zhang long appeared among the clouds.
Fei Banqing brought them aboard. Ye Guan looked down; at this moment, the entire Ancient Desolate City seemed so very small.
Fei Banqing suddenly said, “Little Guan, your identity as a sword cultivator must remain hidden at all times.”
Ye Guan looked at her. Fei Banqing said gravely, “The sword dao inheritance is of utmost importance. Especially since an Emperor-tier demonic beast appeared here recently. If your sword cultivator identity were exposed now, outsiders would definitely link you to that beast. Things would become extremely troublesome.”
Ye Guan nodded, “I understand. Once I reach the Academy, I will keep a low profile in my conduct but act boldly when necessary.”
Fei Banqing glanced at him, “You may not look for trouble, but trouble may come looking for you.”
Ye Guan replied calmly, “I am a reasonable person.”
Fei Banqing asked, “And if others are unreasonable?”
After a brief silence, Ye Guan said, “I kill, you clean up the mess.”
Fei Banqing stared at him without speaking.
Nalan Jia shook her head with a smile.
She had to admit, her fiancé was truly something else.
After a moment, Fei Banqing said, “I may have given you the false impression that I am invincible. Let me remind you: inside the Academy, everything follows the Guanxuan Laws. Anyone who violates them will be severely punished by the Tribunal, no exceptions, not even the Dean.”
Ye Guan nodded, “As soon as I arrive, I will study the Guanxuan Academy’s laws.”
Fei Banqing looked at him for a while, then shook her head.
At this moment, she felt a little worried.
This fellow looked refined and gentle, but when he fought, he was extraordinarily ruthless.
Her instinct told her that once this boy entered the Guanxuan Academy, the younger generation there was in for a shake-up.
She was already getting a headache.
Nalan Jia suddenly asked, “Teacher, will the Nan family and Zheng family really let this go?”
Fei Banqing shook her head, “Absolutely not. They lost two geniuses and gained nothing. How could they possibly let it go?”
Nalan Jia’s brows furrowed slightly, “So they might scheme in the dark?”
Fei Banqing nodded, “The Zheng family is less of a concern. Their younger generation has declined in recent years and is not as strong as before. But the Nan family…”
She paused, then continued, “The Nan family has a genius at the Academy named Nan Xuan. He is the last personal disciple of Mentor Xiao.”
Nalan Jia fell silent.
Nan Xuan.
The Guanxuan Academy had three great mentors: Fei Banqing, Xiao Ge, and Song Ci.
Previously, Song Ci had almost accepted Ye Guan as a student, though not as his last personal disciple.
A mentor could have many students, but only one last personal disciple. Nalan Jia was Fei Banqing’s last personal disciple.
Fei Banqing glanced at Ye Guan and kept shaking her head.
This journey to the Guanxuan Academy was destined to be anything but peaceful.
Ye Guan suddenly said, “Mentor Fei, we do not stir trouble, but we are not afraid of it either.”
Fei Banqing laughed, “Exactly. Remember: do not cause me trouble, but do not fear it either. If anyone bullies you, hit back hard. Among the younger generation, if you lose a fair fight, I will not avenge you. But rest assured, if anyone senior bullies you with greater cultivation, I will stand behind you.”
Ye Guan nodded, “Understood.”
Fei Banqing looked at the two of them, “You two chat.”
With that, she turned and left.
Ye Guan gazed at the distant horizon and said softly, “A bigger stage.”
He had to admit, he was truly looking forward to the Guanxuan Academy.
It was the strongest power in the entire Southern Province.
Countless geniuses and monsters gathered there.
Nalan Jia glanced at him and smiled, “Why do I feel you are going to cause a huge commotion?”
Ye Guan laughed, “No choice. My fiancée is too beautiful.”
The corner of Nalan Jia’s mouth curved upward, “There are plenty of beautiful women at the Academy.”
Ye Guan smiled, “There are countless beauties in the world, but what does that have to do with me, Ye Guan? If I fell for every beautiful woman I saw, would I not become a breeding stallion?”
Nalan Jia said, “I once read a book whose author claimed that appreciating beauty is a man’s nature. What do you think?”
Ye Guan blinked, “Can I choose not to answer?”
Nalan Jia looked at him and smiled, “You may.”
Ye Guan laughed heartily.
Nalan Jia turned to gaze at the horizon. She gently tucked a stray lock of hair behind her ear and said softly, “Do you think we will really end up together in the future?”
Ye Guan was quiet for a moment, then asked, “Do you dislike being with me?”
Nalan Jia shook her head.
Ye Guan smiled, “I do not dislike being with you either.”
Nalan Jia smiled, “Then let us leave the future to heaven’s will.”
At that moment, a cool breeze blew past.
The temperature on the cloud ship dropped sharply.
Ye Guan immediately took off his robe and gently draped it over Nalan Jia’s shoulders.
Nalan Jia looked toward the horizon without speaking.
Ye Guan also turned to the horizon and said softly, “Little Jia, I want to invite you to do something with me.”
Nalan Jia turned to him. Ye Guan extended his right hand.
After looking at him for a moment, she gently placed her hand in his.
Ye Guan laughed loudly, “Sword, come!”
Whoosh!
The Path Sword flew out from his body and steadied itself beneath his feet.
Ye Guan stepped onto the sword, bringing Nalan Jia with him. The next instant, with a thought, the Path Sword shot forward as a streak of sword light.
The sword pierced through the clouds, soaring across the sky.
Amid the sea of clouds, Ye Guan flew on his sword with Nalan Jia. Layers of cloud were torn apart, producing constant whooshing sounds.
Ye Guan held Nalan Jia lightly by the waist, keeping a respectful distance.
Nalan Jia, standing at the front, looked around her. A brilliant smile bloomed on her breathtakingly beautiful face.
She had never smiled so radiantly before.
Sword flight!
Which cultivator did not love flying on a sword?
On the cloud ship, Fei Banqing watched the two soaring figures and fell silent.
Sword flight!
She realised she had still underestimated this new student of hers.
Sword flight did not merely require a sword dao inheritance; it demanded an extremely high-quality sword. Even now, not a single sword in the entire Guanxuan Academy of the Southern Province met that standard.
How could a youth from Ancient Desolate City possess a sword dao inheritance?
Fei Banqing was filled with questions.
A moment later, she shook her head and turned away.
She really did not want to eat any more of this dog food.
…
Some time later, Ye Guan brought Nalan Jia back to the cloud ship.
Nalan Jia still felt as though she were floating.
Ye Guan smiled, “Did you like it?”
Nalan Jia looked at him and smiled beautifully, “I loved it.”
Ye Guan raised his head to the starry sky, “It is a pity my current strength is insufficient to break through the atmosphere and enter the stars. But I believe that day will not be far off. When it comes, I will take you into the starry sky to behold the beauty of the cosmos.”
Nalan Jia looked at him, “It is a promise.”
Ye Guan said, “Of course.”
The two looked at each other and smiled.
Night fell.
Countless stars hung overhead; the cloud ship was clad in silver moonlight.
Ye Guan sat cross-legged at the bow, slowly closing his eyes.
Just as he was about to cultivate, he suddenly asked, “Tower Grandpa, do you know about the Guanxuan Academy?”
After a moment, Little Tower replied, “I do.”
Ye Guan grew curious, “Tower Grandpa, did you know the first Dean of the Guanxuan Academy, the Human Sword King?”
Little Tower was silent for a while, then said, “I did.”
A look of longing appeared on Ye Guan’s face, “Legend says the Human Sword King was invincible in his era, suppressing all enemies. My goal is to become a peerless expert like the Human Sword King. I…”
“Stop!”
Little Tower suddenly interrupted him, “How about you choose someone else as your goal?”
Ye Guan frowned, puzzled, “Why?”
Little Tower said gravely, “Pick someone else, and I will give you some benefits.”
Someone: “…”
