The elder looked at Ye Xuan, a smile playing on his face.
Ye Xuan returned a faint smile. “So, Wuling City’s invitation is for me?”
The elder nodded. “Of course!”
Ye Xuan chuckled, “Then please lead the way, sir!”
With a slight bow, the elder replied, “Temple Master Ye, follow me!” Then he turned and walked off.
Ye Xuan and the Great Heavenly Venerable followed.
On the way, the Great Heavenly Venerable’s expression was grim, lost in thought.
Ye Xuan smiled, “The Heavenly Soul Temple uprooted itself to find me—Wuling City would naturally investigate in secret. It’s not surprising they know about me!”
The Great Heavenly Venerable nodded, “I know that. I’m just… concerned!”
Ye Xuan glanced into the distance. “Worried they’ll move against me?”
The Venerable nodded again.
Ye Xuan grinned, “Let’s go see for ourselves!”
The Great Heavenly Venerable gave a slight nod.
Soon, guided by the elder, they arrived at the Wuling Hall.
Inside, three figures awaited: an old man, a middle-aged man, and a strikingly beautiful woman.
The old man, clad in a drab gray robe, leaned back in his chair, eyes half-closed as if deep in thought.
The middle-aged man wore an ornate robe, his face bearing a warm, approachable smile. When he saw Ye Xuan and the Venerable enter, he looked their way and nodded with a friendly grin.
The woman, however, caught Ye Xuan’s eye. She was stunning, her silver-ice hair cascading down—not the usual black—adding an ethereal allure.
As Ye Xuan and the Venerable stepped in, she glanced at Ye Xuan, her gaze icy and wordless.
Suddenly, the Great Heavenly Venerable’s voice whispered through mystic energy: “The old man is the Great Wilderness Elder from the Northern Wilderness—reached Life Awareness millions of years ago, his strength unfathomable. The middle-aged man is Ku Pu, head of the Ku Shen Sect, a descendant of Ku Xiu!”
*Ku Xiu’s descendant!*
Ye Xuan stole a glance at Ku Pu, mildly surprised.
The Venerable continued, “The woman’s from Great Snow Mountain—Xue Linglong, a descendant of the invincible Snow Mountain King! Aside from that eccentric Zang Man’er from the Burial Domain, all the top powerhouses are here!”
Before Ye Xuan could ask more, a woman strode in from outside.
All eyes turned to her. She wore a fiery red skirt, a crimson whip coiled around her right arm. Her beauty rivaled Xue Linglong’s, her hair tied into countless small braids spilling behind her. Her attire and demeanor screamed trouble.
Ye Xuan had already guessed her identity.
This had to be Zang Man’er!
Entering the hall, Zang Man’er scanned the room, her gaze settling on Ye Xuan. “You’re Ye Xuan, Temple Master of the Heavenly Soul Temple?”
Ye Xuan nodded with a smile, “That’s me!”
Zang Man’er approached, sizing him up, then frowned. “Divine Body Realm?”
Ye Xuan nodded again, “Yep!”
She stared at him. “To become Temple Master at Divine Body Realm, there’s only two explanations. First, you’re a hidden powerhouse. But I’ve checked—you’re genuinely just Divine Body Realm!”
With that, she sauntered to a nearby seat.
Curious, Ye Xuan asked, “And the second explanation?”
Zang Man’er sat, crossing her legs. “You’re a second-gen—someone the Heavenly Soul Temple’s desperate to curry favor with!”
Ye Xuan: “…”
Nearby, Xue Linglong and Ku Pu glanced at him, saying nothing.
Truth be told, they were curious about his identity too!
A mere Divine Body Realm cultivator as Temple Master—how could that be simple?
Zang Man’er spoke again, “Ye Temple Master, a question. You can answer or not!”
Before Ye Xuan could respond, she asked, “The Heavenly Soul Temple’s sudden annihilation—several Life Awareness experts fallen, even the former Temple Master erased—does that have anything to do with the one backing you?”
Ye Xuan glanced at her.
Damn it!
Why’s everyone I meet so sharp now?
Zang Man’er grinned, “I’ve got my answer!”
But Ye Xuan suddenly laughed, “Why not think I did it myself?”
At that, Ku Pu and Xue Linglong, who’d looked away, turned back to him. Even the Great Wilderness Elder opened his eyes.
Zang Man’er met his gaze. “You did it?”
Ye Xuan chuckled, strolling to a chair and sitting down, but he said no more.
Out in the world, strength mattered. But when strength was lacking, bluffing had to fill the gap!
Bluffing wasn’t a crime, after all!
Zang Man’er watched him, grinning, “So, Ye Temple Master isn’t Divine Body Realm?”
Ye Xuan smiled back, “Miss Man’er—uh, you don’t mind me calling you that, right?”
Before she could reply, he pressed on, “Miss Man’er, I could tell at first glance you’re a bold, straightforward person. Honestly, I like that about you—I’m pretty open myself! If you’re curious about me, we can chat privately. Too many people here—some things aren’t easy to say. You get me, right?”
Zang Man’er blinked, then burst out laughing, “Ye Temple Master, you’re interesting—really interesting, haha…”
Just then, a middle-aged man entered the hall.
Behind Ye Xuan, the Great Heavenly Venerable whispered, “Wuling City’s current lord, Wu Qing!”
Wu Qing scanned the room and smiled, “I’ve invited you all here today, as stated in the invitation, because Wuling City has discovered a relic left by Senior Ku Xiu! However, we can’t open it alone, so I’ve gathered you all to brainstorm.”
Zang Man’er grinned, “If we open it, how do we split it?”
All eyes turned to Wu Qing, who smiled, “Evenly, of course! Assuming we can get in!”
Evenly!
Zang Man’er smirked but said nothing.
The Great Wilderness Elder, silent until now, spoke, “Lord Wu Qing, the relic’s authenticity…”
Wu Qing grinned, “Absolutely genuine!”
The elder nodded, falling silent again.
Wu Qing continued, “Let’s not waste time! Everyone, to the relic!”
He spread his palm, sweeping it lightly, and a teleportation array appeared before them.
Without another word, Wu Qing stepped in.
The others exchanged glances. Zang Man’er laughed, “What, afraid Wuling City’s out to get us?”
She followed suit.
Soon, Xue Linglong and the rest entered too.
Behind Ye Xuan, the Great Heavenly Venerable murmured, “Temple Master, this might not be straightforward!”
Ye Xuan paused, then said, “Head back to the Heavenly Soul Temple. Keep an eye on Wuling City!”
With that, he stepped into the array.
The Venerable lingered a moment, then left.
—
A quarter-hour later, Ye Xuan and the others arrived in an unknown stretch of starry sky. At its edge loomed a hazy palace.
Wu Qing pointed, “That palace was once Senior Ku Xiu’s cultivation sanctum!”
Eyes turned to Ku Pu—Ku Xiu’s descendant, likely the most familiar with it.
Ku Pu studied the palace, then shook his head, “I can’t confirm it. After my ancestor left, even our clan has scant records of him!”
Xue Linglong asked, “Can’t we get through?”
Wu Qing chuckled, “Not easily! There’s thirty-six layers of mysterious spacetime blocking the way—each unique. Some are like labyrinths…”
He shook his head with a wry smile, “Too tough!”
*Spacetime!*
Ye Xuan’s eyes lit up.
Hell yeah!
With the Qingxuan Sword and his mysterious spacetime, what spacetime couldn’t he crack?
But he wasn’t dumb enough to show off—revealing his sword and spacetime here would be a death sentence!
Low profile!
Out in the world with middling strength, staying discreet was key!
Just then, Xue Linglong stepped forward. Within moments, the spacetime before her warped. She pressed on for about a quarter-hour until her form blurred!
Seeing this, Zang Man’er and the others frowned.
Xue Linglong retreated, pale and shaken, “The twenty-sixth spacetime—it’s complex, powerful…”
Wu Qing nodded, “Wuling City stalled there too…”
He sighed, “Even if we crack the twenty-sixth, there’s ten more even stronger behind it!”
The group’s expressions grew grave.
The Great Wilderness Elder spoke up, “Lord Wu invited Temple Master Ye—surely he has something special?”
All eyes turned to Ye Xuan. He glanced at the elder, silent.
Wu Qing smiled at Ye Xuan, “Temple Master Ye’s no ordinary man. I hear you wield a sword that counters spacetime, yes?”
Ye Xuan shook his head with a laugh, “Lord Wu, my sword does counter some spacetime, but only basic ones. These are Senior Ku Xiu’s—I couldn’t possibly break them!”
Wu Qing grinned, “Why not give it a try?”
Ye Xuan hesitated, then nodded, “Alright!”
He walked forward but stopped well before the twenty-sixth spacetime—halted by the ninth!
Seeing this, Wu Qing and the others’ faces darkened!
Is this guy a total fraud?
Ye Xuan stumbled back, drenched in sweat, pale as death, looking utterly drained!
He waved frantically, “Too terrifying! I can’t get through—really can’t…”
The group’s expressions soured. Damn it, we thought this guy was a big shot—turns out he’s a dud!
Xue Linglong fixed him with a stare, “Temple Master Ye, can’t you get in—or won’t you?”
The mood shifted subtly.
Is he faking it?
*Even if you can’t pass the twenty-sixth, you shouldn’t be stuck at the ninth!*
Ye Xuan gave a bitter smile, “Miss Xue Linglong, I’m only Divine Body Realm!”
Divine Body Realm!
The group’s faces twisted in disbelief.
Seriously?!
You’re really just Divine Body Realm?
Xue Linglong paused, then said, “Young Master Ye, forgive my bluntness. If you’re truly just Divine Body Realm, why come? Don’t you know everyone here is at least Life Awareness—pure, unadulterated Life Awareness? You’re Divine Body—what gives you the confidence to show up?”
Ye Xuan was quiet for a moment, then replied, “You invited me!”
All eyes turned to Wu Qing, who paused before saying, “Sorry, Young Master Ye. I didn’t realize you were this weak… I thought you were a heavyweight…”
