An hour later, Ye Xuan and his group arrived deep within a mountain range.
Mu Sen glanced around and said, “Miss Xue, is this the ancient ruin?”
Yang Nianxue nodded.
Mu Sen frowned. “But there’s nothing here!”
Yang Nianxue smiled. “There’s a trick to it!”
With that, she walked to a nearby tree and pressed her right hand lightly against it. A mysterious force seeped into the tree, and gradually, a large mountain hundreds of meters away began to turn illusory before their eyes.
Soon, under their watchful gazes, the mountain split open, revealing an ancient black palace within!
At this sight, Mu Sen and the others were visibly moved.
A ruin!
The two were about to step forward when they paused, as if recalling something, and turned to look at Ye Xuan.
Yang Nianxue chuckled. “Gentlemen, this place isn’t simple. Take that area just ahead—it’s a spacetime array. Outsiders who enter will instantly lose their bearings and fall into an endless spacetime abyss. Even a Primordial Spirit Realm expert couldn’t ignore that abyss!”
Mu Sen said gravely, “Thank you for the warning, Miss Xue!”
Ye Xuan smiled. “Let’s go!”
With that, he started walking toward it.
Mu Sen and the others hurriedly followed.
As Ye Xuan and his group stepped into the spacetime zone, the space around them began to twist and intertwine chaotically.
Seeing this, Mu Sen and the others’ expressions shifted slightly. At that moment, a mysterious spacetime aura suddenly emanated from Ye Xuan. As this aura appeared, the surrounding spacetime array began to dissipate bit by bit!
It couldn’t withstand Ye Xuan’s mysterious spacetime power!
Witnessing this, Mu Sen and Elder Xuanji exchanged a glance, their eyes filled with shock.
*This guy’s a real powerhouse!*
Even Yang Nianxue was inwardly stunned. She’d initially thought Ye Xuan was just bluffing, but lately, she’d realized he was genuinely formidable!
Ye Xuan turned to them with a smile. “Let’s keep going!”
The group pressed forward.
When they reached the foot of the mountain, they saw a middle-aged man standing at the stone steps. He wore a simple gray robe and a bamboo hat, his eyes closed, looking almost lifeless.
Ye Xuan glanced at him. Suddenly, the man opened his eyes. At this, Mu Sen and Elder Xuanji’s expressions tightened, their guards rising inwardly.
They couldn’t see through this man!
The man’s gaze settled directly on Ye Xuan, silent.
Ye Xuan remained quiet as well.
The air grew still.
Then, Ye Xuan took a step forward. The man still said nothing, just watching him.
Abruptly, Ye Xuan unleashed a mysterious spacetime field that enveloped the man. The man blinked, a flicker of surprise in his eyes. “This…?”
Ye Xuan smiled. “How may I address you, sir?”
The man studied him. “You’re quite extraordinary!”
Ye Xuan gave a slight smile. “May we ascend?”
The man shook his head. “No.”
Ye Xuan laughed. “Why not?”
The man replied, “You are not the fated ones.”
*Fated ones!*
Ye Xuan’s lips curved slightly. “What makes someone fated?”
The man looked at him. “If you were fated, my master would have given me a sign. But there’s been no sign.”
Ye Xuan glanced up at the palace atop the steps, then opened his palm. The Qingxuan Sword floated slowly toward the black palace.
Seeing this, the man frowned but didn’t intervene.
Moments later, a hoarse voice echoed from within the palace. “Fellow Daoist, please come up for a chat!”
*Fellow Daoist!*
Hearing this, Mu Sen and Elder Xuanji exchanged another glance, their hearts pounding with awe.
Clearly, the palace’s master was a Life-Knowing Realm expert—and they recognized Ye Xuan!
That made sense—both were in the Life-Knowing Realm, after all!
Ye Xuan turned to the middle-aged man, who bowed slightly. “Please, sir.”
Ye Xuan looked at Yang Nianxue, who smiled. “Go ahead!”
Ye Xuan nodded and walked toward the palace. Soon, he entered. The interior was empty save for a statue, before which the Qingxuan Sword hovered quietly.
Ye Xuan looked at the statue. Suddenly, it turned illusory, and a white-haired old man appeared before him.
Dressed in a white robe, with snow-white hair and beard, the old man exuded an air of immortal grace.
He studied Ye Xuan and smiled. “You surprise me!”
Ye Xuan chuckled. “How so?”
The old man glanced at the Qingxuan Sword. “This sword is no ordinary blade. But it’s not truly yours—and you’re not Life-Knowing. You walk the Path of the Infinite!”
Ye Xuan fell silent.
In that moment, he knew for certain: this man was indeed Life-Knowing Realm!
Before such a powerhouse, bluffing was impossible!
Fortunately, he’d sealed the small pagoda, so Xu Wang couldn’t overhear their conversation.
The old man suddenly added, “When you entered, you used a mysterious spacetime power. Could you show it to me again?”
Ye Xuan glanced at him, hesitated, then stepped forward. The mysterious spacetime aura reappeared, filling the space.
The old man examined it, and after a moment, excitement flashed in his eyes. “What an incredible spacetime! I’ve never seen it—never even heard of it!”
Ye Xuan said nothing.
The old man turned to the Qingxuan Sword. “And this sword—it’s extraordinary too. The spacetime mysteries within it are profoundly intricate!”
Ye Xuan laughed. “Senior, you’re not thinking of taking it, are you?”
The old man blinked. “I left this wisp of soul here to find a successor. I never expected to meet you instead of one!”
Ye Xuan smiled. “I could be your successor!”
The old man laughed. “Perfect! But what gift will you offer your new master?”
Ye Xuan chuckled. “Senior, you wouldn’t be after my sword and this mysterious spacetime, would you?”
The old man looked at him. “What if I said yes?”
Ye Xuan grinned. “Senior, you’re just a soul fragment!”
The old man burst out laughing. “I knew you’d say that. Look outside!”
Ye Xuan turned to the hall’s entrance. Above the clouds outside, a mysterious force suddenly surged down, causing the entire spacetime of heaven and earth to boil!
At the mountain’s base, Mu Sen and Elder Xuanji paled in terror, the overwhelming aura pressing down on them, making it hard to breathe.
*Life-Knowing Realm!*
From the clouds, a white-robed old man descended step by step.
Inside the hall, Ye Xuan’s face darkened.
*Damn it!*
This guy had come in person—just for the Qingxuan Sword and the mysterious spacetime within him!
He was taking Ye Xuan far too seriously!
The white-robed old man glanced at Mu Sen, Yang Nianxue, and Elder Xuanji below. In an instant, a mysterious force locked them in place!
*Boom! Boom! Boom!*
Their bodies shuddered violently, unable to move!
Yang Nianxue frowned, a wisp of sword light quietly forming in her palm, though she held back.
The old man stepped into the hall, looking at Ye Xuan with a smile. “That mysterious spacetime in you and the sword in your hand—I’ll take them!”
Ye Xuan thought for a moment, then said, “You’d have to ask the one behind me if they agree!”
The old man’s eyes narrowed. “The one behind you?”
Ye Xuan smiled. “Senior, if the one behind me agrees, I’ll hand over both treasures immediately!”
The old man laughed. “Are you threatening me?”
Ye Xuan shook his head. “I wouldn’t dare! But doesn’t Senior want to meet the one behind me first, then decide if you still want these treasures?”
The old man guffawed. “Fine, let me see this person behind you—let’s see what kind of big shot they are!”
Ye Xuan nodded and handed the Qingxuan Sword to him. “Senior, you can find the one behind me through this sword!”
The old man glanced at Ye Xuan, then took the sword. “I’ve roamed countless universes. Those who make me wary exist, but they number no more than two!”
He gripped the Qingxuan Sword tightly, and it trembled fiercely. The spacetime before him twisted, growing increasingly illusory.
Ye Xuan watched silently.
Suddenly, the old man chuckled. “I hope the one behind you doesn’t disappoint me!”
Ye Xuan smiled faintly. “Senior, I have a question!”
The old man laughed heartily. “You can ask later!”
Ye Xuan shook his head. “I’d rather ask now—I’m afraid I won’t get the chance later!”
The old man frowned. “What do you mean?”
Ye Xuan didn’t answer directly. Instead, he asked, “Senior, have you ever met a powerhouse above Life-Knowing?”
The old man blinked, then laughed. “Are you saying the one behind you is above Life-Knowing?”
Ye Xuan smiled, saying nothing.
The old man shook his head, grinning. “Utterly ridiculous! There’s no such thing as ‘above Life-Knowing’ in this world. That realm hasn’t been created yet! You think you can fool me? How foolish!”
Ye Xuan smiled faintly, still silent.
At that moment, the old man looked up at the sky, his eyes narrowing. “I sense it!”
*Whoosh!*
A streak of sword light pierced straight into the old man’s brow!
*Boom!*
His body jolted, his life force instantly snuffed out!
The old man’s eyes widened in disbelief!
*Instantly killed?*
*Me, killed in an instant?*
His mind spiraled into chaos.
A peak Life-Knowing Realm master, felled in a single blow!
And he didn’t even know who struck him!
He turned to Ye Xuan, about to speak, when Ye Xuan swung the sword, decapitating him. In the same motion, Ye Xuan snatched the storage ring from the old man’s hand!
Ignoring the ring, Ye Xuan grabbed the head and walked outside. When Mu Sen, Elder Xuanji, and Yang Nianxue saw the severed head, they froze in place!
The middle-aged man at the steps was equally dumbfounded. *My master… dead?*
Ye Xuan chuckled lightly. “Our talk wasn’t very pleasant, so I killed him. Pity—he was too weak to even take one swing from me…”
He sighed softly. “Are the Life-Knowing experts of this era all this feeble? That strike only used thirty percent of my strength!”
The group: …
