On the life-and-death arena, Nan Xuan lay motionless, blood still flowing from his throat.
All around, there was silence.
Everyone had expected a battle for the ages, but no one had imagined it would end like this.
One sword.
Nan Xuan had not even blocked a single strike from Ye Guan.
Amid the shock, there was more excitement.
A sword cultivator.
There was actually a sword cultivator in the Guanxuan Academy.
On the stone pillar, Zhu Fu glanced at Fei Banqing and smiled. “Junior Sister, you hid it well.”
Fei Banqing remained silent. She had not expected Ye Guan to strike suddenly and expose his sword cultivator identity.
What was he thinking?
After pondering for a moment, she said softly, “Are you trying to tell everyone in front of her that her fiancé is outstanding?”
At this, she shook her head with a smile. “This little fellow.”
Clearly, part of the reason Ye Guan had done this was for that purpose, while also warning outsiders not to harbour any intentions towards Nalan Jia.
At that moment, Xiao Ge suddenly appeared on the life-and-death arena. Without a word, he picked up Nan Xuan’s corpse and vanished into the horizon.
Fei Banqing glanced at the departing Xiao Ge but said nothing.
Nearby, Song Ci suddenly said, “Rest assured, he would not dare act rashly.”
Fei Banqing nodded slightly, then turned and left.
In the arena, the crowd dispersed.
The news that Ye Guan was a sword cultivator quickly spread throughout the entire Guanxuan Academy.
A sword cultivator.
In the whole of Southern Province, sword cultivators were extremely rare, and currently, there were none in the Guanxuan Academy.
But now, one had appeared.
Thus, Ye Guan instantly became the hottest topic in the Guanxuan Academy, discussed by countless people.
…
Ye Guan brought Nalan Jia to the clouds. The two sat on the Path Sword. At the edge of their vision, a red sun slowly rose, surrounded by drifting seas of clouds.
Nalan Jia suddenly said softly, “Why expose your sword cultivator identity?”
Ye Guan smiled. “Before, I did not reveal it because I feared being targeted, with ill-intentioned people coveting it. But now, I no longer fear.”
No longer fear.
Nalan Jia turned to look at Ye Guan. After a long while, she smiled beautifully. “Do you know what is most attractive about you?”
Ye Guan looked at Nalan Jia. She turned to gaze at the distant horizon, saying softly, “Confidence.”
Ye Guan was surprised. “Confidence?”
Nalan Jia nodded. “That confidence you exude, I like it very much.”
Ye Guan smiled. “Actually, there is another reason I used the sword.”
As he spoke, he turned to the distant horizon. “I want to tell everyone that the person you chose is not bad at all.”
Nalan Jia said softly, “I know.”
Ye Guan smiled faintly and said no more.
The two sat on the Path Sword, watching the distant horizon…
…
In a grand hall of the Guanxuan Academy.
Zhu Fu and a group of mentors from the Guanxuan Academy had all gathered here.
Zhu Fu looked at Fei Banqing seated below and smiled. “Junior Sister, you made us worry hard.”
Everyone looked at Fei Banqing, shaking their heads with smiles.
Indeed, no one had expected Ye Guan to be a sword cultivator.
Xiao Ge kept his eyes slightly closed, silent.
Fei Banqing said calmly, “This little fellow is very cautious. He feared that exposing his sword cultivator identity would attract covetous targeting from those with ill intentions.”
Zhu Fu nodded slightly. “His concern is valid. Rest assured, regarding his sword cultivator status, the academy will only be delighted and will absolutely not covet his sword dao inheritance. Although our Southern Province Guanxuan Academy cannot compare to the wealth of the upper realm, we would never do something like harming our own students.”
Fei Banqing nodded slightly. “I know.”
Zhu Fu glanced at Xiao Ge nearby. “Mentor Xiao, the matter between him and Nan Xuan ends here.”
This was an order.
Everyone looked at Xiao Ge. With the academy now having another genius monster, they naturally would not allow anyone to harm him.
Xiao Ge nodded slightly. “I understand the bigger picture.”
He knew that if he dared to act against Ye Guan, he would face collective opposition.
Zhu Fu nodded. “The list for participating in the martial examination in the upper realm has been confirmed: Sun Xiong, Xiao Ge, Ye Guan, Nalan Jia. Besides these four, the mentors may each bring a few talented students along to broaden their experiences.”
Everyone nodded.
Zhu Fu smiled. “Meeting adjourned.”
The crowd left.
But Fei Banqing did not depart.
Zhu Fu looked at her. “Go tell Ye Guan that he can rest easy about the Ye Clan. From this moment, both the Ye Clan and he will be under the academy’s protection.”
Fei Banqing nodded slightly, then stood and left.
Zhu Fu shook his head with a smile. “A sword cultivator… truly unexpected.”
At that moment, Xiao Ge walked in. He approached Zhu Fu and bowed slightly. “Teacher.”
Zhu Fu looked at Xiao Ge. Xiao Ge said, “When clearing the trial that day, it was with Brother Ye, but he asked me to keep it secret, so…”
Zhu Fu smiled. “I understand.”
Xiao Ge nodded slightly.
Zhu Fu looked at him. “Have you sparred with him?”
Xiao Ge shook his head. “We have not sparred, but he is very strong, especially his speed and flying swords. If we were to spar, I would feel pressure. Of course, I am not afraid.”
Zhu Fu smiled. “Neither you nor he has interest in being chief, right?”
Xiao Ge nodded. “Yes.”
Zhu Fu shook his head with a smile. “I knew it… Do you know who I originally wanted as chief?”
Xiao Ge shook his head. “I do not.”
Zhu Fu said, “Nan Xuan.”
Xiao Ge was stunned.
Zhu Fu said softly, “True geniuses and monsters cannot stay in Southern Province. You need a bigger stage. Whether it is you, Ye Guan, or Nalan Jia, all three of you have outstanding talent and character. Once you go to the upper realm, even if you do not achieve good results, the upper realm academy will keep you.”
Xiao Ge fell silent.
Zhu Fu smiled. “This is good for both you and the academy, because for the academy, the purpose of participating in the martial examination is to secure more resources. The academy will not bind you, because the more outstanding you are, the better for the academy’s future.”
Xiao Ge lowered his head slightly, silent.
Zhu Fu smiled lightly. “I know you have always worried about this. Today, I say this to let you completely set aside your burdens. When young, one should strive, fight, and show oneself.”
Xiao Ge bowed deeply. “No matter where I am in the future, this place will always be my home.”
Zhu Fu smiled. “Speaking of Nan Xuan, he was actually the best candidate for academy chief, but he had one fatal flaw: too focused on petty tricks. In dealing with people, one can be a gentleman or a petty person. Thus, the academy has always been observing and guiding him. Unfortunately, this time he met Ye Guan…”
As he spoke, he shook his head with a smile, somewhat helpless.
Xiao Ge shook his head. “This person is narrow-minded and cannot bear others being more outstanding than him. If he became chief, it would absolutely not be good for the academy.”
Zhu Fu nodded slightly. “The martial examination is in three months, and we must head to the upper realm in advance one month from now. You should prepare.”
Xiao Ge nodded. “Understood.”
Zhu Fu smiled. “Go then.”
Xiao Ge bowed slightly, then turned and left.
After a moment of silence, Zhu Fu said, “Issue the order: from this moment, Ye Nan is promoted to inner courtyard student, with all cultivation resources tripled, and personally guided by Inner Courtyard Chief Mentor Mu.”
“Compliance.”
As the voice fell, an elder in the corner bowed slightly, then prepared to withdraw.
At that moment, Zhu Fu added, “Also, prepare a generous gift to send to the Ye Clan in Desolate Ancient City. Go personally, then select three promising Ye Clan disciples to bring to the academy. And inform the Ye Clan that from now on, every year, we will select one person from the Ye Clan to bring to the academy for guidance.”
A fixed quota.
This was treatment only great aristocratic families had.
The elder glanced at Zhu Fu, bowed slightly, and turned to leave.
Zhu Fu slowly closed his eyes.
…
In a grand hall of the Nan family.
Xiao Ge stood in the centre of the hall. Before him lay Nan Xuan’s corpse.
At that moment, a beautiful woman was holding Nan Xuan’s corpse, weeping bitterly.
Not far beside the woman stood a middle-aged man. He looked at Nan Xuan’s corpse, his face terrifyingly grim.
These two were Nan Xuan’s parents.
At the head seat sat an elder in a loose black robe. He looked at Nan Xuan’s corpse below, silent, his expression unreadable.
At that moment, Xiao Ge suddenly sighed softly. “Clan Head Nan Mo, I underestimated Ye Guan. This matter is all my fault. Had I known he was a sword cultivator, I would never have let Nan Xuan face him in the life-and-death arena.”
Nan Mo shook his head slightly. “How can this be blamed on Mentor Xiao? It was his own arrogance.”
Xiao Ge sighed heavily, then said, “Does the Nan family have a suitable person? If so, I can bring them to the academy and teach them personally.”
Nan Mo stood, cupping his fists. “Many thanks.”
As he spoke, he quickly said, “Xiao Feng.”
With those words, a boy of fifteen or sixteen walked out. He quickly approached Xiao Ge and bowed deeply. “Greetings, Mentor Xiao.”
Xiao Ge appraised Nan Feng, nodding slightly. “Acceptable.”
Nan Feng immediately knelt. “Greetings, Teacher.”
Xiao Ge nodded. “Come to the academy with me tomorrow.”
With that, he turned and left.
Once Xiao Ge departed, the beautiful woman suddenly said ferociously, “Clan Head, you must avenge Xuan’er. If that Ye Guan does not die, I…”
“Silence.”
Nan Mo suddenly roared. The woman was startled into silence.
Nan Mo stared fixedly at her. “If you dare mention revenge again, I will personally expel you.”
The woman was full of disbelief.
Nan Mo sighed softly. “This person is a sword cultivator, meaning he has obtained a sword dao inheritance. That is to say, there is very likely a mysterious expert behind him. Moreover, now that he is a sword cultivator with such terrifying combat power, the Guanxuan Academy will surely cultivate him fully. If our Nan family dares to retaliate against Ye Guan or the Ye Clan at this time, our Nan family will face the danger of annihilation.”
The woman trembled. “Then we just let it go like this?”
Nan Mo slowly closed his eyes, saying softly, “What we should think about now is not revenge, but whether this person will come to retaliate against our Nan family…”
As he spoke, he looked at Nan Feng before him. “Remember this: once you go to the Guanxuan Academy, do not show any hostility towards Ye Guan. Not even a trace. When you see him, stay far away. Just focus on studying and cultivating. Mind nothing else. Understand?”
Nan Feng nodded. “Understood.”
Nan Mo then looked at an elder in the right corner. “Go to the Ye residence. Prepare a generous gift and say that the Nan Shan incident was entirely a misunderstanding. Our Nan family misunderstood Young Master Ye Guan. We have investigated clearly: Qing Yue’s death had nothing to do with him… Forget it. I will go apologise personally. That will show more sincerity.”
Everyone: “…”
