*Uninvited Guest!*
By the river, Ye Xuan turned to look. Not far away, a woman crouched, dressed in a simple cloth skirt, her hair cascading over her shoulders. She scooped up clear water and gently splashed it on her face.
Washing her face!
Seeing her, Ye Xuan’s expression grew solemn.
*Who is this now?*
*Not another ancient high priestess of the Witch Clan, is it?*
He hesitated, then walked over and bowed slightly. “Greetings, Senior.”
The woman turned to him, revealing an ordinary face—not unattractive, just unremarkable. She smiled. “Sit, sit.”
Ye Xuan, unafraid, sat beside her.
She took out a white silk cloth, gently wiping her face, then said, “Have you heard of the Sixth Dimension?”
Ye Xuan’s face changed instantly.
She chuckled softly. “Don’t be shocked. If there’s a Third Dimension, a Fourth, a Fifth, then naturally there’s a Sixth, don’t you think?”
Ye Xuan asked, “By that logic, are there Seventh and Eighth Dimensions too?”
She smiled. “What do you think?”
He shook his head. “My strength doesn’t allow me to ponder such things.”
She disagreed. “You must think about them—at least the Sixth Dimension!”
Ye Xuan said gravely, “Senior, I truly don’t understand why the universe has these Two, Three, Four Dimensions…”
She interjected, “In the mundane world, aren’t people divided into ranks and classes?”
Ye Xuan looked at her. She smiled. “Long ago, some shouted for equality among all beings. The idea isn’t wrong, but can true equality exist? In reality, people are divided into ranks, aren’t they?”
Ye Xuan was silent.
She continued, “The universe is the same. In this vast cosmos, higher civilizations enslave or destroy lower ones—it’s normal. The weak get beaten; that’s an eternal truth.”
Curious, Ye Xuan asked, “Is the Sixth Dimension enslaving us?”
She laughed. “It’s not that simple. It’s more complex.”
He looked at her. “Senior, why tell me all this?”
She smiled. “Originally, you had more time, but things have shifted.”
Ye Xuan frowned. “What do you mean?”
She pointed at the river. “Look.”
He looked. The river transformed into a starry expanse, and deep within, he saw a familiar figure.
*The Plain-Skirt Woman!*
She walked slowly through the starry sky.
Ye Xuan turned to the woman beside him. She said softly, “Keep watching.”
He turned back. The Plain-Skirt Woman stopped before a stone stele with four characters: *Life Forbidden Zone!*
*Life Forbidden Zone?*
Ye Xuan frowned. He’d heard of this forbidden place in the Fourth Dimension but never visited.
Why was she there?
She stared at the stele, expressionless, black and white sword qi coiling around her fingertips.
A shadowy figure appeared before her.
Ye Xuan turned to the woman. “Who’s that?”
She said softly, “Just watch.”
He looked back. The Plain-Skirt Woman opened her palm, a sword light forming. The starry sky dimmed instantly, and the shadowy figure retreated thousands of zhang!
The figure raised its hands, chanting rapidly. Ye Xuan’s face changed as his body cracked without warning, blood spraying.
Blood-red chains appeared above the river, forming a massive net across the sky.
The woman beside him watched silently, doing nothing.
In the starry sky, the Plain-Skirt Woman’s face turned ferocious. Her sword flew out!
*Whoosh!*
The shadowy figure was sliced into nothingness!
The mysterious force on Ye Xuan vanished, and the blood-red chains disappeared.
In the starry sky, the Plain-Skirt Woman’s expression was savage, her sword in hand, radiating endless wrath!
By the river, the woman said softly, “They’re threatening her!”
Ye Xuan looked at her. “Threatening her?”
She nodded. “Using you to threaten her!”
His face darkened. “Who are they?”
She said softly, “They’re tied to the Prophet, and the Prophet is tied to you.”
Ye Xuan stood, looking at the furious Plain-Skirt Woman. “Don’t worry about me! Kill them all!”
She turned, appearing before him instantly—not a projection, but her true self!
At the same moment, in the Heavenly Dao Pawnshop, Xiao Dao, lounging at the counter, looked toward the Witch Clan, her eyes filled with shock.
By the river, the Plain-Skirt Woman looked at Ye Xuan. “I’ve lingered because I’m worried about you.”
Ye Xuan asked, “Worried about what?”
She said softly, “You’re still too weak. This world isn’t safe for you.”
He grinned. “Look, I’m already at the second stage of the Mortal Sword!”
She shook her head. “Not enough.”
He looked at her. “You should trust me!”
She gazed at him, silent.
He said earnestly, “Trust me. I can walk the path ahead alone! I can’t rely on you forever, and I don’t want to!”
She remained silent.
He added, “I can do it!”
She stepped closer, gently touching his cheek. “I’m so afraid… afraid of losing you again.”
*Fear!*
The woman beside them looked at her. “They know this, so they provoke you deliberately.”
The Plain-Skirt Woman’s eyes narrowed, killing intent flaring.
Ye Xuan grinned. “Then go kill them!”
The woman said, “That’s what they want. If she leaves, nothing in this universe can threaten them.”
Ye Xuan ignored her, holding the Plain-Skirt Woman’s hand. “You don’t owe this universe anything, or me. I can feel it—you want to kill them, don’t you?”
She nodded.
He smiled. “Then go kill.”
The woman interjected, “If she leaves, you’re in danger. It’s a trap within a trap.”
Ye Xuan focused on the Plain-Skirt Woman. “Do you trust me?”
She said softly, “I do, but I want to give you more time.”
The woman said, “If you stay, this universe and he will be safe.”
The Plain-Skirt Woman looked at Ye Xuan. “I have to go.”
The woman beside them closed her eyes.
She knew the Plain-Skirt Woman had made her choice!
She trusted Ye Xuan!
The woman wanted to shout: *The man you trust is utterly unreliable!*
But she knew it was futile. To this invincible woman, this unreliable man was a treasure!
Ye Xuan asked, “The Prophet is tied to me?”
She nodded. “Someone’s manipulating fate in the shadows.”
He asked, “Who?”
She shook her head. “I don’t know. I need to go up to find out.”
He hesitated, then asked, “Can you beat them?”
She looked at him. “Your Qing’er is unmatched in the world!”
He blinked. “Impressive!”
She looked to the starry sky. “All beings, these countless stars, this vast universe—each has its fate. Few can break free. In the Fourth Dimension, I sought the source of fate with my sword intent, but they’re too far. I can’t sense them.”
She turned to Ye Xuan. “To resolve the karmic source on you, I must leave. From here on, you’ll walk your path alone.”
He nodded. “Go without worry. I’ll walk my path well!”
She smiled faintly. “I trust you. Before I go, walk with me?”
He grinned. “Sure!”
She waved her right hand, and they vanished, leaving the woman alone.
By the river, the woman sat silently, then whispered, “The skies are about to change!”
…
*Witch Clan.*
The Plain-Skirt Woman brought Ye Xuan to the Witch Clan city. A Mu appeared, glancing at her and bowing. “Greetings, Senior.”
She nodded, silent.
Ye Xuan grabbed her hand, grinning. “Let’s go eat noodles!”
He led her off, with A Mu following.
They left the Witch Clan, arriving at Fu City, a small附属 city of the Rune Sect. It was bustling, with crowds flowing through.
Ye Xuan led them to a noodle shop and smiled at the owner. “Boss, three bowls of noodles!”
The owner laughed. “Coming right up! Please wait!”
Ye Xuan found a spot, sitting with A Mu and the Plain-Skirt Woman. He looked at her. “Ever had noodles?”
She shook her head. “Never.” After a pause, she added, “Are there steamed buns?”
*Steamed buns!*
Ye Xuan blinked, then got up. He returned soon with two buns in hand.
He handed them to her. She took one, bit gently, and said, “Delicious!”
He smiled. “You like buns?”
She nodded.
As he was about to speak, a powerful pressure swept from the sky, shaking Fu City like an earthquake. Many were forced to the ground by the force.
A middle-aged man appeared nearby.
Ye Xuan froze, recognizing him.
*Godcraft!*
Godcraft smiled at Ye Xuan. “Human King, I’ve been looking for you! My strength is fully restored. Unless the Heavenly Dao itself comes, no one can save you!”
Ye Xuan: “…”
