Ye Guan stared at the sword in his hand, excitement coursing through him.
He did not fully understand everything the little pagoda had said. All he knew was that he could now become a sword cultivator!
A sword cultivator!
In the current South Continent, sword cultivators were far too rare!
Because almost all sword dao inheritances had vanished long ago. Only Guanxuan Academy in South Continent and a few super aristocratic families might still possess such sword dao legacies!
If he could become a sword cultivator, the sheer prestige would be off the charts!
At that moment the little pagoda suddenly spoke. “Start directly with the Sword Controlling Art!”
Ye Guan nodded eagerly. “Yes! Yes!”
Instantly, a stream of information poured into his sea of consciousness. “The sword is mere mortal iron. It gains spirit through being grasped, moves through the heart, lives through blood, and dies through stray thoughts. The art of controlling the sword lies in regulating breath, embracing the origin and guarding the one, uniting man and sword in the five spirits, cycling without end, eternally renewing…”
Moments later, Ye Guan sat cross-legged and began cultivating.
Under the little pagoda’s guidance, his progress was terrifyingly fast!
One month later.
By the seaside, Ye Guan stood upon a rock. The sea wind whipped his clothes until they billowed.
He pointed two fingers and commanded, “Rise!”
Whoosh!
The Execute Dao sword shot skyward, piercing straight into the clouds!
Ye Guan narrowed his eyes and slashed downward with his fingers.
Rip!
The Execute Dao sword carved a streak of sword light that tore the cloud layer apart!
A slight smile lifted the corners of Ye Guan’s mouth. His fingers kept moving. In the arena, the Execute Dao sword flashed again and again, trails of sword light criss-crossing the horizon.
After a long while, Ye Guan felt his profound energy waning and stopped. He exclaimed excitedly, “Tower Master, I did it!”
The little pagoda replied, “You may leave now! I need to recuperate for a time.”
Ye Guan frowned slightly. “Tower Master, are you injured?”
The little pagoda answered, “Yes! Otherwise I would not have kept absorbing your profound energy. You must find a way to obtain many spirit crystals for me, the very highest quality ones.”
Before Ye Guan could ask more, the world blurred. The next instant, he was back in his courtyard!
He hurriedly checked his hand. The Execute Dao sword was still there!
Seeing this, Ye Guan examined his cultivation and, upon discovering it remained, let out a huge sigh of relief!
It was not a dream!
Truly not a dream!
As if remembering something, he glanced around. The sky was only just growing light. The Tower Master had spoken the truth: ten years inside equalled one day outside!
It was utterly shocking!
Everything felt like a dream!
Looking at the sword in his hand, Ye Guan laughed. Not only had his cultivation returned, he had become a sword cultivator. It was an enormous, unexpected blessing!
At that moment an elder suddenly approached from afar.
Ye Guan quickly concealed the Execute Dao sword!
He could not let anyone know he had become a sword cultivator yet.
Previously in South Continent, the appearance of a single spirit sword had triggered a bloodbath. Countless great clans fought madly for it, and even Guanxuan Academy had joined the fray!
If word got out that he had become a sword cultivator, it would bring catastrophe upon both him and the Ye clan!
The elder hurried up to Ye Guan. “Young Patriarch, Tutor Song Ci from Guanxuan Academy has arrived!”
Guanxuan Academy!
Ye Guan paused, somewhat surprised, but he nodded without overthinking it. “Very well!”
With that, he followed the elder into the distance.
…
“Young Master Ye Guan, I am truly sorry. After discussion, Guanxuan Academy has decided to revoke your guaranteed admission.”
In front of the Ye clan residence, a grey-robed elder looked at the youth before him with a trace of regret in his eyes.
This youth, Ye Guan, had been the most monstrous genius in the history of Ancient Desolate City. At age six he had broken through the Ninth Realm mortal shackles to reach the Innate Realm. At ten he surpassed Innate to reach the Divine Infant Realm and formed a divine infant. At sixteen he broke his own limits again to reach the True Dharma Realm and cultivated divine dharma arts.
Such talent was rare not only in Ancient Desolate City but across the entire South Continent.
Thus, Guanxuan Academy had offered him their highest treatment: direct entry without tests or examinations, and upon enrolment he would be taught by a senior tutor second only to the Academy Head.
Unfortunately, one month ago, perhaps out of heavenly jealousy, this youth’s cultivation had suddenly vanished, turning him into an ordinary person.
An ordinary person naturally could no longer receive special treatment from the Academy.
The Academy did not accept mediocrity!
When Ye Guan heard Tutor Song Ci’s words, he paused, then said, “Tutor Song Ci, there is still one month until the new term begins, is there not?”
Song Ci nodded slightly. “Indeed.”
Ye Guan hesitated, then began, “Actually, my cultivation…”
Song Ci cut him off. “To be frank, we have already given this place to Young Master Li Chuan of the Li clan!”
Ye Guan froze.
Li Chuan!
A super genius of the Li clan. Of course, one month ago that so-called super genius had been utterly ordinary compared to Ye Guan.
Song Ci looked at Ye Guan. “Young Master Ye, the once-in-ten-years martial examination is approaching. Our academy needs a genius who can win us a good ranking and thereby secure better educational resources from the main academy. The old you would naturally have been the perfect choice, but now… forgive my bluntness, you would be of no use to the academy at present! The words are harsh, but they are the truth!”
With that, he extended his right hand. “Young Master Ye, please return the Guanxuan wooden token!”
Ye Guan smiled. “Very well!”
He produced the token that symbolised a Guanxuan Academy student’s identity and handed it over.
Since the other party had put it so plainly, he would never lower himself to beg.
Song Ci took the token, said nothing more, and turned to leave.
The moment Song Ci departed, a somewhat hunchbacked Ye clan disciple ran excitedly toward the inner clan, shouting as he went, “Great Elder! The Young Patriarch Ye Guan has had his admission revoked! He has been revoked! Haha…”
Ye Guan: “…”
Soon, an elder came rushing out of a distant hall. He sped up to Ye Guan. “Yo… Ye Guan, the Great Elder has invoked elder privilege to convene a clan meeting in the ancestral shrine. He asks you to go there at once!”
Ye Guan asked calmly, “Is it to strip me of the Young Patriarch position?”
The elder hesitated, then said, “I do not know.”
Ye Guan nodded slightly and walked toward the ancestral shrine.
Ye Clan Ancestral Shrine.
The moment Ye Guan entered, Clan Leader Ye Xiao slammed the table. “Strip Ye Guan of his position? This old man will never agree!”
Ye Guan froze.
He glanced around the shrine. All the Ye clan elders were already present.
At the head sat Clan Leader Ye Xiao. The seat of honour to his lower left belonged to the Great Elder.
At this moment everyone turned to look at the entering Ye Guan, their expressions complicated.
How had such a fine genius turned into a cripple?
Ye Guan bowed slightly to Ye Xiao. “Clan Leader!”
Seeing Ye Guan, Ye Xiao nodded, his face softening considerably. “Sit!”
A guard immediately brought a stool.
The moment Ye Guan sat, the Great Elder beside him spoke up. “Clan Leader, what virtue or ability does Ye Guan possess now to remain Young Patriarch of our Ye clan?”
Everyone looked toward the Great Elder. He rose to his feet and stared down at the seated Ye Guan. “I acknowledge that over the years Ye Guan has risked his life and shed blood for the clan. Of our current twenty-six spirit mines, his contributions are undeniable! Yet now he has no cultivation at all. He is a complete and utter ordinary person. If we continue letting him hold the Young Patriarch position, the Ye clan will become the laughing stock of all Ancient Desolate City. Moreover, the Young Patriarch is not a mere mascot. He must go out and win glory for the Ye clan. Tell me, does Ye Guan still have that ability?”
His words rang like hammered iron!
The elders in the shrine fell silent.
Ye Guan glanced at them but said nothing.
He wanted to see, now that his strength was gone, who would truly stand by him and who would kick him while he was down.
Only when a person falls on hard times can you see clearly who around you is genuine!
When someone loses honour and power, everyone nearby reveals their true colours.
At the head seat, Ye Xiao’s face turned iron-blue. “Great Elder, you yourself said Ye Guan has rendered great service to our Ye clan. Let me ask you this: the moment he is expelled from Guanxuan Academy, we immediately strip and discard him. What difference is there between such behaviour and that of beasts?”
With that, he turned to Ye Guan. “Ye Guan, remove your robe!”
Ye Guan glanced at Ye Xiao, then took off his outer robe. His torso was covered in scars!
Ye Xiao swept a cold gaze across the assembled elders. “Ninety-six scars in total. And where did these ninety-six scars come from? From serving our Ye clan!”
On both sides, the elders looked at Ye Guan’s wounds and remained silent.
The Great Elder suddenly stood. “I have never denied Ye Guan’s contributions to the clan. However, the Ye clan is not a charity. We exist to fight for profit against other clans. The Young Patriarch is the backbone of our younger generation. He must lead our Ye children into battle outside. Do you truly believe Ye Guan is still suitable?”
At that moment another elder stepped forward and sighed softly. “Clan Leader, I believe the Great Elder is right. Ye Guan has merits, but the clan is not a charitable institution. So what if he has merits? Which of us seated here does not? We need benefits, someone who can secure benefits for the family. He cannot do it now, so he should step down and yield the position to Ye Mian. As for him, forgive my bluntness, the fact that the clan has not stripped him of all privileges after losing his cultivation is already extremely merciful!”
Ye Guan glanced at the elder. This was the Third Elder, who had previously been quite close to him.
Upon hearing the Third Elder’s words, many elders turned to look at Ye Xiao.
Ye Xiao stared at the Great Elder. “You want your grandson Ye Mian to take the position!”
The Great Elder showed no expression. “Ye Mian has the ability!”
The moment he learned Ye Guan had been expelled, he knew his chance had come! If Ye Mian became Young Patriarch, his own status in the Ye clan would rise dramatically.
Ye Guan suddenly spoke. “Honoured Elders!”
Everyone looked at him. Ye Guan said calmly, “Could you grant me one month? If after one month my body has not recovered, I will voluntarily resign as Young Patriarch!”
“No!”
Before the Great Elder could speak, the Third Elder cut in directly. He stared at Ye Guan. “The position of Young Patriarch is far too important. How can we keep delaying?”
At that point the Sixth Elder stepped forward and nodded. “The Third Elder speaks truly. The Young Patriarch position concerns the interests of our Ye clan. We cannot delay any longer!”
He smiled toward the Great Elder. “Ye Mian is young and capable. I think he will do nicely!”
Clearly, he was picking a side!
Two more elders stepped forward in agreement.
The time for choosing sides had arrived!
Ye Guan was finished. If they did not pick a side quickly, once Ye Mian became Young Patriarch it would be extremely disadvantageous for them.
Seeing five or six elders supporting him, a smile appeared on the Great Elder’s face. He nodded slightly in acknowledgement. Then he turned toward the Second Elder. This Second Elder held real power, controlling most of the Ye family’s industries and carrying great weight in the clan.
The Second Elder glanced at the calm Ye Guan below, remained silent for a moment, then slowly closed his eyes!
He would not take a stance!
Whoever became Young Patriarch made no difference to his interests. His own useless grandson could never hold the position anyway. Let them fight! He would befriend whoever won in the end!
Seeing the Second Elder remain neutral, the Great Elder paid it no mind. He was about to speak to Ye Guan when Ye Xiao suddenly rose and glared furiously at the Great Elder. “Ye Kun, do you truly intend to take this to the bitter end?”
Ye Kun’s face was expressionless. “Mian’er!”
At his call, a youth suddenly strode into the ancestral shrine!
It was none other than Ye Mian!
Ye Mian bowed slightly to everyone present, then smiled at Ye Guan. “According to clan rules, I may issue a challenge to the Young Patriarch. Ye Guan, I challenge you right now! A life-and-death challenge!”
Life-and-death challenge!
Everyone was shocked.
The Ye clan had two kinds of challenge. The first was a fair contest that decided only victory or defeat, not life or death. A life-and-death challenge decided both winner and loser, and who lived or died!
This was pushing things to the absolute extreme!
Ye Xiao stared fixedly at Ye Kun. Ye Kun said calmly, “If the Clan Leader has the ability, then change the clan rules as well!”
Ye Xiao’s face turned livid with rage!
At that moment Ye Guan suddenly stood and smiled. “I accept!”
Accept!
All the elders turned to look at Ye Guan. He looked toward Ye Kun. “Ten days from now, Ye Mian and I will fight!”
“No!”
Ye Kun glared at Ye Guan. “Five days… no, tomorrow! We settle it tomorrow!”
Ye Guan glanced at Ye Kun. “Very well!”
With that, he bowed slightly to Ye Xiao and turned to leave.
Ye Kun suddenly roared, “No! Right now! Right this instant!”
Ye Guan’s calm demeanour had stirred a trace of unease in his heart!
Damn it!
He could not give this fellow any chance at all!
Ye Kun walked up to Ye Mian. “Kill him! Then you become Young Patriarch and your life will be completely transformed!”
Beside them, Ye Guan hesitated, then said, “Great Elder, we are all family. There is no need to go this far! A friendly spar…”
“Who is family with you? You are an adopted son of the Ye clan! Adopted son!”
The Great Elder shot Ye Guan a cold glance, then turned to Ye Mian. “Remember, show no mercy! Absolutely no mercy! Being soft toward an enemy is cruelty toward yourself. Understand?”
…
