“Sword Sect!”
As soon as Cao Bai uttered these words, all the hidden powerhouses around immediately retreated, fearing they might catch Cao Bai’s attention.
No one dared provoke the Sword Sect!
Even the several super aristocratic families of the main academy would not provoke the Sword Sect!
Not out of fear, but genuinely unwilling to do so!
In the Guanxuan Universe, the Sword Sect was notoriously prickly!
Bad-tempered!
Protective of their own!
Each one more formidable than the last!
With heaven-defying backgrounds!
Even the Cabinet could only restrain the Sword Sect, never daring to issue harsh commands!
Why?
They were simply too capable in combat!
Within the Sword Sect were three super Great Sword Emperors, plus numerous Sword Emperors. Most importantly, these sword cultivators all had particularly foul tempers. If the Cabinet’s orders displeased the Sword Sect, the sect truly dared ignore the Cabinet!
They even dared openly defy it!
If the three Great Sword Emperors grew stubborn, the Cabinet’s several big shots would all have massive headaches!
Of course, there was another crucial reason. In that battle years ago, the Sword Sect suffered the heaviest losses. All one hundred thousand sword cultivators perished on the Xuzhen Battlefield. That day, Sword Sect powerhouses charged at the forefront, fighting to the last man. Even Listening Cloud Sword Emperor nearly fell in that battle.
That battle nearly wiped out the Sword Sect. Though it slowly recovered vitality later, it never returned to its most glorious era!
Thus, the entire Guanxuan Universe held deep admiration for the Sword Sect.
Fortunately, the Sword Sect usually stayed out of external affairs. Therefore, no one would ever actively provoke it!
Seek revenge on the Sword Sect?
Who the hell would dare!
Even those several super aristocratic families dared not.
Of course, there was utterly no need!
The Sword Sect’s face had to be given.
After all, the martial world was not solely about killing. There was also human sentiment and worldly ways!
Sensing the surrounding auras withdraw, Ye Guan was instantly somewhat shocked. The Sword Sect’s prestige was truly terrifying. A single utterance scared off those hidden powerhouses. Remarkable!
Seeing the crowd retreat, Cao Bai withdrew his gaze.
At this moment, Ye Guan looked at Cao Bai, smiling slightly. “Brother Cao, thank you!”
Cao Bai shook his head lightly. “No need. This matter is my fault. If not for sparring with you, with Brother Ye’s strength, ordinary villains could hardly injure you!”
Ye Guan smiled, then turned to Ji Xuan. “Let us set off!”
Ji Xuan nodded, about to summon the cloud vessel, when Cao Bai suddenly said, “Use this instead!”
With that, he opened his palm. A massive flying vessel nearly a thousand zhang long appeared before the two, extremely luxurious and imposing.
A flash of surprise crossed Ji Xuan’s eyes. “Star vessel!”
Vessels had levels too. Lowest were cloud vessels, then star vessels, cosmic vessels, emperor vessels, and finally divine vessels!
A star vessel was extremely precious, worth at least tens of millions of gold crystals. Only major forces equipped them!
Yet this Cao Bai possessed one alone!
One had to admit, the Sword Sect was truly wealthy!
Ye Guan was also somewhat shocked. Sect disciples were so rich. No wonder everyone wanted the Guanxuan Academy main branch. The benefits and treatment were simply too good!
Thinking this, Ye Guan sighed inwardly. “Tower Master, do you have money? If so, lend me some. I will definitely repay… If you do not trust me, later when I find my father, he can repay. You know my father. You trust him, right?”
Little Tower was instantly stunned!
Damn!
You father and son know how to play!
Truly blood-related!
Ye Guan asked, “Tower Master?”
Little Tower fell silent.
Your father repay?
Naive child, your father owes debts of who knows how many trillions!
Ye Guan wanted to ask more when Ji Xuan suddenly said, “Let us go!”
Ye Guan withdrew his thoughts and nodded. “Good!”
Moments later, Ye Guan and Ji Xuan set off again.
Cao Bai flew on his sword. He truly intended to escort Ye Guan for three days!
With Cao Bai’s escort, indeed no one dared cause trouble along the way!
Cao Bai himself was not that frightening. The frightening part was the Sword Sect!
At this moment, Cao Bai represented the Sword Sect!
Failing to give this face meant the Sword Sect would not let you off easily!
On the star vessel, Ye Guan sat cross-legged. After swallowing a healing pill, he took out some gold crystals to absorb!
As he absorbed them, his complexion gradually recovered!
Ye Guan began recalling the earlier battle!
He had to admit, it was somewhat fortunate!
For he discovered his qi sword truly could not compare to Cao Bai’s two flying swords!
There was still a great difference between qi sword and physical main sword!
As for the Path Sword…
Using it in a spar was somewhat excessive! This sword was indeed overpowered!
At this moment, he thought of the Human Sword Master. The Human Sword Master’s sword must be severely overpowered, right?
For the Path Sword, he both loved and worried!
Frequent use would give him a false sense of invincibility. Truly, gripping this sword made him immensely inflated. Many times, he even felt Tower Master was just so-so.
Thus, he had to be cautious!
When possible, find a sword not so invincible, one he could wield without getting arrogant!
Using the Path Sword made arrogance too easy!
Little Tower: “…”
At this time, Cao Bai suddenly appeared before Ye Guan and Ji Xuan. Looking at Ye Guan, he asked, “Brother Ye, if I may be presumptuous, who is your master?”
With such sword dao attainment, Ye Guan surely had sword dao inheritance. Moreover, the person behind him must be very strong. He was very curious!
Ye Guan smiled. “My aunt!”
Aunt!
Cao Bai paused, then nodded without further questions!
Of course, even if he asked, Ye Guan could say little!
After all, he himself knew not much!
Cao Bai looked at Ye Guan before him, sighing inwardly. What a pity!
Such a sword dao genius was not from the Sword Sect!
Truly a great pity!
Invite Ye Guan to join the Sword Sect now?
Definitely impossible!
At least, he himself lacked the qualification!
Though aristocratic families and some sects gave the Sword Sect face, it did not mean they truly feared it. Forcibly inviting Ye Guan now would not only slap those aristocratic and sect factions’ faces but slap the academy’s face!
The academy, aristocratic factions, and sect factions would never allow the Sword Sect to do so!
Though the Sword Sect was formidable, it could not incur universal outrage!
This matter was beyond one sword cultivator’s handling!
Three days!
This was the most he could do now!
Cao Bai sighed inwardly again!
Truly too regrettable!
Actually, due to historical reasons, the Sword Sect was extremely united internally, with almost no infighting, because externally it always had powerful enemies!
The Sword Sect had once been a sword of Guanxuan Academy!
A chillingly sharp sword!
Now, the Sword Sect was no longer as powerful as before. Sword cultivators grew fewer. Precisely for this, Cao Bai felt such regret.
Ye Guan was a wild sword cultivator. Joining the Sword Sect, his achievements would surely be higher!
Yet now, matters had developed to this point!
Not to mention him, even if the Sword Sect wished to intervene, it would weigh carefully!
Unless… the Qingqiu Empress awakened.
Since the Human Sword Master’s disappearance, only the Qingqiu Empress could suppress the entire academy with one word, turning the tides!
Alas!
Cao Bai shook his head slightly, turning to gaze into the starry depths. Upon returning this time, he must report external affairs thoroughly to the sect elders!
Beside him, Ye Guan sat cross-legged, still recalling his battle with Cao Bai!
This battle revealed his shortcomings!
First, speed was still insufficient. Against ordinary foes, his speed sufficed, but against divine arts masters or genius sword cultivators like Cao Bai, his speed was suppressed. Once suppressed, he became very passive!
Second, realm too low. This issue grew increasingly evident!
Low realm meant insufficient profound qi. Insufficient profound qi prevented prolonged battles. Unable to end fights quickly, he grew weaker, strength declining!
He was now like a one-sword style. If one sword failed to slay, he fell passive, easily countered and killed!
These two issues needed solving!
Otherwise, facing true powerhouses, he would suffer greatly!
Unfortunately, he now had little time.
Switching to star vessel shortened a month to twenty days, but even so, it was extremely brief!
In these twenty days, he could not cultivate or study normally!
Enemies would grow more numerous and stronger!
Ye Guan slowly raised his head to the starry horizon, his gaze gradually turning icy!
Now, he had only one path!
Cultivate through killing!
Kill while cultivating!
Only this path!
At this time, Ji Xuan approached Ye Guan. She said softly, “We will surely reach Qingzhou!”
Ye Guan nodded. Now, his only hope was reaching Qingzhou, finding the sword qi left by the Human Sword Master, then beseeching the Human Sword Master to manifest!
Three days passed.
This day, on the star vessel, Cao Bai cupped his fists to Ye Guan. “Brother Ye, I must go!”
Ye Guan smiled. “Brother Cao’s escort, this favour Ye Guan remembers! If I survive this Qingzhou journey, one day I will visit the Sword Sect to thank Brother Cao!”
Cao Bai shook his head. “Merely a small matter!”
Pausing, he added, “Brother Ye, the road ahead is fraught. Take care!”
Ye Guan nodded. “Until we meet again!”
Cao Bai cupped his fists, then turned and flew on his sword, vanishing into the starry horizon in a blink!
After Cao Bai disappeared, Ye Guan smiled lightly. “Our troubles should be coming!”
Ji Xuan laughed. “Let them come!”
Ye Guan suddenly turned to Ji Xuan. Truth be told, he had never known Ji Xuan’s true strength!
Just how strong was she?
He did not know!
For he had never seen her truly battle anyone!
Ji Xuan suddenly waved before Ye Guan’s eyes, laughing. “Why stare at me? Do I have flowers on my face?”
Ye Guan shook his head with a smile. “No. I was wondering just how strong you are, Miss Ji Xuan?”
Ji Xuan smiled slightly. “Not bad, not bad!”
Ye Guan laughed. “You were once the chief of the Central Divine Continent Academy!”
Ji Xuan smiled lightly. “All in the past!”
Ye Guan grew somewhat curious. “Miss Ji Xuan, your family background is?”
Ji Xuan shook her head, saying nothing!
Ye Guan nodded slightly, asking no more.
The star vessel sailed into the starry depths. At this speed, fifteen days to Qingzhou!
Closer to Qingzhou meant greater danger!
But he had prepared mentally for everything!
…
Elsewhere, a woman stood in the starry depths, watching Ye Guan’s star vessel sail slowly away.
The woman wore a tight white long robe, figure graceful and slender, long hair flowing to her hips, reddish-gold in colour. Not only her hair, but her pupils were pale gold.
Hands clasped behind her back, she gazed at the distant star vessel!
Behind her followed a black-robed elder!
The black-robed elder bowed slightly. “Young Clan Leader, will you not act?”
Young Clan Leader!
This woman was none other than the current young clan leader of the Heavenly Dragon Clan, Ao Qianqian!
Ao Qianqian said calmly, “Elder Xian, three days ago you saw Young Master Ye’s battle with that Cao Bai. Have you no other thoughts?”
Ao Xian hesitated, then said, “This Ye Guan is indeed monstrous. Precisely for this, he cannot be left alive! Otherwise, once he matures, it would be extremely detrimental to our Heavenly Dragon Clan!”
Ao Qianqian smiled lightly. “Elder Ao Xian, is that all you think?”
Ao Xian said gravely, “Please enlighten me, Young Clan Leader!”
Ao Qianqian said calmly, “Cao Bai, though not the top in the Sword Sect, is a rare genius monster in sword dao. At eighteen, he reached half-step Sword Emperor, guided by famous masters from youth, possessing three immortal swords. Yet…”
She said softly, “He lost to this Young Master Ye!”
Ao Xian was stunned.
Ao Qianqian continued, “Have you not realised the gravity of this?”
Ao Xian said gravely, “He is indeed extraordinary, but so what? Our Heavenly Dragon Clan fears nothing!”
Ao Qianqian said calmly, “Then you go!”
Ao Xian paused.
Ao Qianqian laughed. “You are not afraid. Then you go!”
Ao Xian’s expression turned grim.
Ao Qianqian smiled slightly. “Elder Ao Xian, see? You are not afraid because behind you stands the Heavenly Dragon Clan! But one thing, have you not noticed? He seems unafraid of us too!”
Ao Xian fell silent.
Ao Qianqian said softly, “Do you know why I came personally?”
Ao Xian looked at Ao Qianqian. She said, “I came to see this Young Master Ye. Now having seen, his bearing is truly extraordinary. With heaven-defying talent and strength, yet without the slightest arrogance. Far beyond ordinary maturity and steadiness. In action, edge fully exposed. In stillness, restrained and profound.”
Saying this, her eyes narrowed. “From his sword dao inheritance and character, he surely has a wise master guiding. If his backer were inferior to our Heavenly Dragon Clan, that day he would not have been allowed to slay our clan members, forming mortal enmity. But his backer did not stop him. Only one explanation: his backer fears neither our Heavenly Dragon Clan nor the An family… or rather, fears neither of those two Martial Gods!”
Ao Xian was horrified!
Ao Qianqian’s hands clasped behind slowly clenched. “If we fail to kill him, our Heavenly Dragon Clan faces eternal doom! Even if we succeed, besides venting anger, our clan gains nothing!”
Saying this, her hands slowly relaxed. She said softly, “Order all clan powerhouses to retreat a thousand li. No further pursuit. Whoever acts, I kill!”
With that, she walked towards the distance.
Ao Xian trembled. “Young Clan Leader, this is?”
Ao Qianqian said calmly, “Gamble my future and life once. Gamble he survives this time. Gamble his backer is unrivalled and heaven-defying!”
