In the starry sky, aboard the cloud ship, Ye Guan sat cross-legged on the ground, hands overlapped on his knees, eyes lightly closed.
He was now in the Space-Shattering Realm, capable of easily destroying space. However, he felt that his current realm was no longer sufficient.
High sword dao realm, low personal realm.
This was his greatest weakness at present.
Because he could not fight prolonged battles.
A man who is only fast but lacks endurance, how can that suffice?
Now, he began studying the Earth Law Realm.
Simply put, the Earth Law Realm involved mastering the power of earth laws upon the land.
Across this vast earth, besides the earth power from deep within, countless special forces lingered on the surface: heavenly thunder falling from the skies, earth fire from deep below, residual wind elements in the world, and so on.
These forces hid within the earth. When a cultivator reached a certain level, they could control them and use them for themselves.
Of course, this was difficult. Though merely residual forces, they were still immensely powerful, beyond what ordinary people could master.
As for true earth power, that was even harder.
Earth power came from the deepest parts of the earth, endless and inexhaustible. Mastering it was exceedingly difficult. Especially since the source of earth power came from the spirit of the earth. To obtain earth power, one needed the permission of the earth spirit.
Of course, except for those with the earth law.
Possessing the earth law allowed one not only to control earth power but also the earth spirit itself.
Like Ye Qing.
He could draw earth power without limit.
As long as he stood on the earth, his strength would flow endlessly.
Thus, the earth law was extremely precious.
Ye Guan studied the Earth Law Realm earnestly. Naturally, he would not neglect his personal realm just because his sword dao realm was high.
Both sword dao realm and personal realm were vitally important. Neither could be ignored.
The only regret was that Tower Master seemed not particularly familiar with realms.
Every time he asked for guidance, Tower Master’s response was to follow his own heart.
This left him quite speechless.
Helplessly, he could only figure it out himself.
It had to be said that lone cultivators differed greatly from those backed by forces. Lone cultivators had to ponder everything alone, while those with backing could seek answers for everything. On the path of cultivation, they would take far fewer wrong turns.
At that moment, Ji Xuan walked to a spot not far in front of Ye Guan. She stared at him. The closer she got to Ye Guan, the more mysterious he seemed.
So young, yet already a Sword Emperor, with a big shot like Tower Master following him.
The more she looked, the more it seemed like some super force was raising a young master in the wild, letting him temper himself, cut through thorns and thistles, and finally reach the pinnacle of the martial path, unifying the entire universe.
Thinking this, Ji Xuan could not help shaking her head with a smile.
The greatest forces in the world were the Guanxuan Academy and the Immortal Treasures Pavilion. Now, one had issued a universe-wide warrant for Ye Guan, while the other had directly blacklisted him.
This was no tempering.
This was trying to kill him outright.
Just then, Ye Guan suddenly opened his eyes. He looked at Ji Xuan and said earnestly, “Miss Ji Xuan, I would like to ask you a few questions about the Earth Law Realm.”
Ji Xuan gathered her thoughts and smiled. “Alright.”
Aboard the cloud ship, the two began discussing realms. Ye Guan was truly delighted, for Ji Xuan could answer all his doubts.
Ji Xuan was utterly shocked, because she discovered that with just a hint from her, Ye Guan could understand fully and even draw inferences about other cases from one instance.
This talent was terrifying.
If Ye Guan studied at the Guanxuan Academy, he would be even more terrifying.
Thinking this, Ji Xuan sighed inwardly.
The Guanxuan Academy losing Ye Guan was undoubtedly a loss.
Of course, the Guanxuan Academy probably would not care. After all, they had many geniuses. One more Ye Guan would not add much, one less would not subtract much.
A great family with vast undertakings.
At that very moment, a terrifying momentum suddenly enveloped the cloud ship. The vessel was forced to stop in place.
Sword momentum.
Ye Guan and Ji Xuan immediately stood. They looked ahead. A hundred zhang from the cloud ship stood a youth in plain robes, long hair flowing over his shoulders, a sword case on his back.
A sword cultivator.
Ye Guan’s eyes narrowed slightly. He was somewhat surprised, for he had not expected a sword cultivator to come.
The young sword cultivator’s gaze fell directly on Ye Guan. He cupped his fists slightly. “I am Cao Bai of the Sword Sect. On a sect mission passing through the Divine Continent, I suddenly heard of a Sword Emperor here. Today, I come specially to seek guidance. I hope Young Master Ye will grant me instruction.”
Sword Sect.
Hearing this, Ji Xuan’s expression changed dramatically. “He is from the Sword Sect.”
Ye Guan looked at Ji Xuan. “Sword Sect?”
Ji Xuan’s expression was unprecedentedly solemn. “The top sect in the main Guanxuan Academy.”
Top sect in the main academy.
Ye Guan was stunned.
This he had not expected.
Number one.
First among all sects.
Ye Guan turned to Cao Bai and smiled. “Sir, you are not here for that bounty warrant?”
Cao Bai shook his head. “I have investigated the full story. In the matter between Young Master Ye and the An family, it was truly the An family’s fault. Young Master Ye rose in righteous resistance. There is nothing wrong with that. Therefore, this academy bounty warrant is truly unfair. It is political suppression. I will not participate.”
Hearing this, Ye Guan looked at Cao Bai with some surprise.
In this world, there were still those who understood reason.
Cao Bai continued, “I have reported the full story to the sect. However, the three Great Sword Emperors of our sect are at the Xuzhen Battlefield. Thus, this matter may have no further development.”
Ye Guan smiled faintly. “A friend told me earlier that now the aristocratic family faction and sect faction are suppressing me. It seems I was somewhat generalising.”
Cao Bai said, “Our Sword Sect does not meddle in such affairs.”
Ye Guan nodded slightly. “Brother Cao, I too wish to battle a sword cultivator.”
Cao Bai suddenly made a gesture of invitation. “Brother Ye, please step aside.”
Ye Guan nodded. With a light tap of his toe, he rose on his sword and appeared several hundred zhang to the right.
Ji Xuan put away the cloud ship to avoid collateral damage.
Cao Bai looked at Ye Guan. “Brother Ye, your sword dao realm is higher than mine. My personal realm is higher than yours. Neither bullies the other.”
Ye Guan smiled. “Good.”
Cao Bai suddenly stepped forward, fingers together, pointing. “Sword, out.”
Hum.
With a sword hum resounding, a flying sword suddenly shot skyward from the sword case behind Cao Bai. It turned into a sword rainbow slashing towards Ye Guan.
On the sword body burned flames. Wherever the sword passed, space was torn and melted.
A sword of overwhelming momentum, as if it could cleave everything.
Seeing this sword, Ji Xuan in the distance narrowed her eyes. This Cao Bai was actually a half-step Sword Emperor.
The instant that sword slashed towards Ye Guan, he had already vanished from where he stood.
Instant Kill Sword.
Facing this sword cultivator, he naturally dared not be careless.
The moment Ye Guan disappeared, Cao Bai pressed his fingers together at his chest, then pulled them apart fiercely. “Suppress.”
Boom.
In an instant, the space within a hundred zhang of Cao Bai trembled violently. Then, the space within a hundred zhang cracked directly, transforming into swords, forming a terrifying long sword prison.
Sword domain.
Seeing this, shock appeared in Ji Xuan’s eyes nearby.
This was the legendary sword domain.
She had read about such sword domains in ancient records at the Guanxuan Academy years ago. She had not expected to see one here today.
When Ye Guan charged with his sword into Cao Bai’s sword domain, his speed slowed in an instant. At the same time, a flying sword suddenly slashed swiftly from behind.
It was precisely the first sword Cao Bai had released.
Feeling himself suppressed by a mysterious force, Ye Guan frowned. But at this moment, he had no time to think, for the flying sword behind him had already arrived.
Ye Guan narrowed his eyes. His right hand spun the sword.
Crack.
Space in the field suddenly cracked. The next moment, his sword directly reached Cao Bai’s face.
Rule-breaking.
Seeing Ye Guan break rules with this sword, surprise flashed in Cao Bai’s eyes. However, his reaction was extremely quick. With a light tap of his toe, sword light flashed. In an instant, he retreated a hundred zhang. The next moment, another sword flew from the sword case behind him.
Whoosh.
This sword was lightning-fast.
Not only incredibly swift, but thunder flickered on the sword body, containing overwhelming sword momentum, utterly terrifying.
Ye Guan’s sword had just missed. This sword arrived directly before him. Behind him, another flying sword.
One flying sword named Earth Fire.
One flying sword named Heavenly Thunder.
Two swords attacking in tandem.
At that moment, Ye Guan suddenly stopped. He opened his palm. A qi sword suddenly flew from his palm, slashing towards the sword behind him.
Sword control technique.
He knew it too.
At the same time, he suddenly stepped forward, thrusting his sword. However, as he thrust, he vanished from where he stood, but the sword still thrust towards Cao Bai’s Heavenly Thunder.
Ye Guan rushed before Cao Bai like a ghost. Cao Bai’s expression remained calm as water, for the instant Ye Guan reached him, he unleashed his sword domain again, forcibly suppressing Ye Guan’s speed.
Ye Guan’s speed was truly too fast, fast enough to make him wary. Thus, he had to suppress it. Otherwise, he might be killed in one sword strike.
With the sword domain’s appearance, Ye Guan’s speed slowed instantly. But just then, a terrifying sword momentum suddenly surged from Ye Guan’s body.
Sword Emperor momentum.
As this momentum appeared, Cao Bai’s face changed dramatically, for he discovered his sword domain could not withstand this momentum at this moment and began to shatter.
At that instant, Ye Guan suddenly vanished.
Horror surged in Cao Bai’s heart. His right hand suddenly opened. The sword case trembled violently. A sword was about to fly out. At the same time, Earth Fire and Heavenly Thunder slashed back to protect him.
However, at that moment, a sword pressed directly against Cao Bai’s brow.
Whoosh. Whoosh.
Almost simultaneously, Earth Fire and Heavenly Thunder reached half a zhang behind Ye Guan. At the same time, a sword in Cao Bai’s sword case had only flown halfway out.
All three swords dared not move.
For if they moved, he would die.
Ye Guan was just a little faster than him. And that little bit decided victory.
At this moment, Ye Guan’s face was somewhat pale.
The consumption was too great.
If this sword had not won, he would have lost, for he could no longer afford the expenditure.
Cao Bai suddenly said, “I lost.”
Ye Guan said, “You let me win.”
With that, he withdrew his sword.
At that moment, Ji Xuan walked to Ye Guan’s side. She said softly, “Are you alright?”
Ye Guan shook his head. “Somewhat weak.”
Ji Xuan said gravely, “Several hidden powerful auras have appeared around us.”
Ye Guan glanced around, brows furrowed. Clearly, some were preparing to be the oriole behind.
This was troublesome.
Ye Guan fell silent.
Just then, Cao Bai suddenly said, “Brother Ye, I am willing to protect you for a stretch.”
Ye Guan looked at Cao Bai. Cao Bai suddenly glanced around and said coldly, “Within three days, whoever dares attack Brother Ye, no matter who you are or what force backs you, I will slay without mercy. If you are unconvinced, come to my Sword Sect for revenge at any time.”
As his voice fell, all the auras around instantly scattered, vanishing without trace.
