In the dense forest, Ye Guan sat cross-legged on the ground. Before him floated the Path Sword.
Ye Guan gazed at the Path Sword, silent.
The little pagoda suddenly asked, “What is wrong?”
Ye Guan said gravely, “Tower Master, it instantly killed a Great Tribulation realm expert.”
The pagoda replied, “Oh.”
Ye Guan paused, then asked in disbelief, “Tower Master, are you not shocked?”
After a brief silence, the pagoda said, “Shocked.”
Ye Guan was speechless.
Was this what shock sounded like?
After a long silence, Ye Guan continued, “Tower Master, there is a question I have always wanted to ask you.”
The pagoda said, “Ask.”
Ye Guan spoke earnestly, “Plain Skirt Sister is not just a Sword Immortal. She is actually… a Sword Sovereign, right?”
The pagoda quickly replied, “Yes.”
Sword Sovereign.
Ye Guan murmured, “I knew it. Tower Master, you have been concealing Plain Skirt Sister’s true strength from me all along. I was right.”
The pagoda fell silent. Fortunately, this fellow had not seen much of the world, or he would be hard to fool.
Ye Guan suddenly added, “Tower Master, are you afraid that if I knew her strength, I would become arrogant and stop cultivating diligently?”
The pagoda said, “Yes.”
Ye Guan shook his head with a smile. “How could that happen? No matter how powerful Plain Skirt Sister is, that is her achievement. True strength comes from oneself. I understand this principle.”
The pagoda laughed. “It is best that you think this way.”
Ye Guan hesitated, then said, “Tower Master, the An family and the Ancient Heavenly Dragon clan are so powerful, especially the An family, which has some connection to the legendary Human Sword Master. Now that I have made enemies of them, could this bring trouble to Plain Skirt Sister?”
After a moment of silence, the pagoda replied, “It should not.”
Ye Guan said gravely, “Consider the worst case. If the An family calls upon the Human Sword Master to target me and Plain Skirt Sister, what then?”
The pagoda fell silent.
Ye Guan asked, “Tower Master?”
The pagoda said, “What you suggest… is unlikely.”
Ye Guan was puzzled. “Why?”
The pagoda remained silent.
Silly child.
How could your father possibly help outsiders against you?
Especially against Sister Destiny… If the An family even entertained such a thought, the entire clan would vanish from existence.
He knew the little master’s temperament. Though usually flamboyant, anyone who disrespected Sister Destiny would face his immediate wrath.
The little master favoured Lady An, but that did not mean he favoured the entire An clan.
Of course, the pagoda could not say this openly to Ye Guan.
To prevent this young man from relying on his ancestors, it had to continue the deception.
The pagoda smiled. “Think about it. The Guanxuan Academy was founded by the Human Sword Master himself. What kind of person is he? A peerless genius who appears once in a million years. Why did he establish the academy? To create a world governed by law and reason. The An family lacks reason. Why would the Human Sword Master help them? What do you think?”
Ye Guan considered this and nodded. “That makes sense.”
The pagoda smiled faintly. “Your task now is to cultivate diligently and strive to become a true Great Sword Immortal.”
A true Great Sword Immortal.
Ye Guan slowly closed his eyes. In truth, he felt some regret.
He had wanted to fight properly against those two Great Tribulation realm experts earlier. From his brief clash with them, he realised Great Tribulation realm experts were not particularly terrifying. He had chosen to retreat temporarily only because he feared others might be lurking in the shadows.
One against two, he truly had no fear. After all, he could shatter spacetime rules, a trump card he had not yet used. But one against three, he would have to play it safe.
Courage was good, but recklessness was not.
Now, he simply wanted to find an evenly matched opponent for a proper battle.
To the Immortal Treasures Pavilion.
They had practical training grounds.
With that thought, he stood and departed.
At that moment, Ji Xuan suddenly appeared before him.
Ji Xuan looked at Ye Guan. “You are a Great Sword Immortal?”
Ye Guan shook his head with a smile. “No.”
Ji Xuan said gravely, “Your sword…”
Ye Guan shook his head again with a smile, saying nothing.
Ji Xuan stared at him for a moment, then smiled. “Take care.”
Ye Guan nodded slightly. “Miss Ji Xuan, you take care too.”
With that, he turned and left.
Ji Xuan suddenly asked, “Do we count as friends?”
Ye Guan paused, then fell silent.
Ji Xuan smiled. “We do not?”
Ye Guan asked, “If those two Great Tribulation realm experts had surrounded me earlier, would you have helped?”
Ji Xuan countered, “If I were surrounded, would you?”
Ye Guan smiled faintly. “Miss Ji Xuan, I also hope we are friends, but for now, we are not. Because neither of us would sacrifice for the other. We both weigh gains and losses. True friends should have no calculations or guards between them. We… can only be partners, cooperating for mutual benefit. What do you think?”
After a brief silence, Ji Xuan smiled brightly. “You are absolutely right.”
Ye Guan nodded. “Miss Ji Xuan, until we meet again.”
With that, he turned into a beam of sword light and vanished into the distance.
Ji Xuan watched the horizon and chuckled lightly. “What an interesting man.”
With that, she flashed away, thunder and wind surging around her.
She too was in the Great Tribulation realm.
Earlier, she had followed Ye Guan in secret. When he was attacked by the two experts, she had asked herself if she would intervene.
She thought she would.
Because she did not dislike this man.
…
Ye Guan arrived directly at the Immortal Treasures Pavilion. As soon as he entered, Qin Feng came out to greet him with a hearty laugh. “Brother Ye, you are here.”
Ye Guan smiled faintly. “Brother Qin.”
Qin Feng stared at him. “You are a Great Sword Immortal?”
Ye Guan shook his head with a smile, offering no explanation.
Even if he explained, the other might not believe him.
A single sword instantly killing a Great Tribulation realm expert?
Who would believe that?
He himself barely did.
Seeing Ye Guan remain silent, Qin Feng was tactful and asked no more. He smiled. “Brother Ye, what brings you here this time?”
Ye Guan nodded slightly. “I want a place to train, the practical combat kind.”
Practical combat.
Qin Feng thought for a moment, then said, “I will arrange it for you.”
Ye Guan cupped his fists. “Many thanks.”
Qin Feng laughed. “No need for thanks. Come.”
With that, he crushed a scroll.
Boom.
In an instant, he and Ye Guan vanished. When they reappeared, they were in a starry void.
Not far ahead stood an ancient black city.
Ye Guan looked surprised. “Brother Qin, where is this?”
Qin Feng smiled. “A teleportation hub, the largest in the Central Divine Star Domain. It can send you to many cosmic planes.”
He led Ye Guan into the ancient city. Inside, countless teleportation arrays stretched as far as the eye could see, hundreds of thousands of them.
Ye Guan asked curiously, “Where are we going to train?”
Qin Feng said seriously, “The Mysterious Tower.”
Ye Guan frowned slightly. “The Mysterious Tower?”
Qin Feng nodded. “It is located in the Mysterious Realm, which has been transformed into a training ground. Countless geniuses from great clans and sects across all realms train there. It is the premier training site aside from Little Guan Continent.”
Ye Guan looked at him. “Little Guan Continent?”
Qin Feng smiled. “The main Guanxuan Academy is on Little Guan Continent, which lies within the Guanxuan Universe. The Guanxuan Universe is vast, encompassing many worlds, but Little Guan Continent is the core because the academy headquarters is there.”
Ye Guan nodded slightly. “Understood.”
Qin Feng said gravely, “Brother Ye, you intend to compete for the Great Dao fortune, correct?”
Ye Guan nodded.
Qin Feng stared at him. “Then I must warn you. The geniuses competing this time are truly terrifying. From what I know, several have trained at the main Guanxuan Academy. They have the best resources and guidance from enlightened masters. Their vision and strength far surpass ordinary geniuses.”
Ye Guan thought for a moment, then nodded. “I understand. But my Tower Master is also very powerful. With his guidance, I believe I am second to none.”
Inside the pagoda, it burst into laughter.
Tower Master.
Qin Feng glanced at Ye Guan with a faint smile, unsurprised. He continued, “Brother Ye, once in the Mysterious Realm, head straight to the Mysterious Tower. It has seventy-two levels, each a self-contained world with all kinds of trials. However, it is very expensive, extremely expensive.”
Ye Guan’s expression darkened.
He currently had twenty-six million gold crystals, but he knew that was not much. Cultivation burned money.
Qin Feng went on. “One more thing you must remember. There, everyone signs a life-and-death contract. Trials are not play. They are real battles where people truly die. Especially in practical combat, all participants sign the contract. If you are killed, it is only because your skill was inferior. Understand?”
Ye Guan said excitedly, “How thrilling.”
Qin Feng’s expression stiffened.
Ye Guan quickly added, “Brother Qin, let us go.”
Qin Feng shook his head with a smile. “Brother Ye, one last reminder to avoid confusion when you arrive.”
Ye Guan gave an embarrassed smile. “Good, speak.”
Qin Feng nodded. “In the Mysterious Realm, you may encounter geniuses from Little Guan Continent. If you do, avoid them if possible.”
Ye Guan was puzzled. “Is the training on Little Guan Continent not better? Why go to the Mysterious Realm?”
Qin Feng gave a wry smile. “Naturally, to show off.”
Ye Guan’s expression froze. He shook his head with a smile. “What is there to show off? Truly boring. I do not understand those who constantly seek to flaunt.”
The pagoda: “…”
Qin Feng laughed. “Not all geniuses are like that, just a few. So if you encounter them, steer clear. These are all second-generation heirs. Their families either hold power or are extraordinarily wealthy.”
He paused, then added, “Brother Ye, your personal strength would stand out even in the Guanxuan Universe. But you must understand that in conflict, they will not fight you one-on-one. They will compete in background, influence, and calling reinforcements. What would you do then?”
Ye Guan fell silent.
Compete in background?
Influence?
Calling reinforcements?
Ye Guan shook his head with a wry smile. “I have nothing. My Tower Master says my father lives off a woman…”
The pagoda suddenly panicked. “Damn it… stop bringing that up.”
