Ye Xuan glanced at the old man pointing the way. In the next instant, a sword flashed across the scene!
The old man’s face paled. His right hand shot forward, clenching as a surge of powerful energy erupted from his palm.
The Qingxuan Sword slashed through the air!
*Shink!*
The blade pierced straight through the old man’s hand, a spray of blood bursting forth.
But by then, the old man had already turned and fled!
The other elder vanished just as quickly!
They’d escaped!
Seeing this, Ye Xuan fell silent.
If a powerhouse of the No-Heart Realm refused to engage him and focused solely on fleeing, killing them instantly was tough—unless he caught them off guard!
As long as they were prepared, a one-shot kill was out of reach!
After a moment, Ye Xuan turned and headed toward Spirit Mountain.
Upon returning, Elder Xuan suddenly asked, “Why do you cultivate so fast?”
Ye Xuan grinned. “A prodigy of heaven!”
Of course, he wouldn’t reveal the secret of the little pagoda. No way—that thing’s abilities were downright heaven-defying! If word got out, he’d be drowning in trouble!
Keep wealth hidden, right?
Elder Xuan studied him, saying nothing.
Ye Xuan pulled out a sheep to roast, then asked, “Senior, what kind of force is this Law Enforcement Sect?”
Since he’d already crossed them, he needed to understand his enemy.
Elder Xuan paused, then said, “I don’t know!”
Ye Xuan frowned. “Don’t know?”
Elder Xuan nodded. “I haven’t left this mountain in many years!”
Ye Xuan’s voice deepened. “You don’t just sweep the grounds here every day, do you?”
Elder Xuan smiled. “I do!”
Ye Xuan asked, “For how many years?”
Elder Xuan thought for a moment. “About nine million, I’d say!”
Ye Xuan’s expression froze.
Nine million years of sweeping?
That’s insane!
Elder Xuan glanced at him. “The Mountain Lord’s coming back soon. You should head down!”
Ye Xuan’s brow creased. “You mean Yan Ban Shan, the Mountain Lord?”
Elder Xuan nodded. “The girl’s got a temper—not the best. She probably won’t like you. Best you leave!”
Ye Xuan was puzzled. “Why wouldn’t she like me?”
Elder Xuan replied, “You talk too much, and you’re all flashy.”
Ye Xuan: “…”
Elder Xuan added, “Why’d you come to our Xuan Mountain anyway?”
Ye Xuan hesitated, then said, “King Zhongshan sent me. Said I should join Yan Ban Shan’s faction…”
Elder Xuan frowned. “King Zhongshan?”
Ye Xuan nodded.
Elder Xuan paused, then said, “He might’ve set you up!”
Ye Xuan: “…”
Elder Xuan continued, “The Mountain Lord’s got a nasty temper, and she’d never take you as a disciple!”
Ye Xuan’s brow furrowed. “Am I not good enough?”
Elder Xuan hesitated, then said, “Honestly, no—not quite.”
Ye Xuan’s face darkened. *This old guy’s got no filter!*
Elder Xuan said, “Go on, leave!”
Ye Xuan thought it over, then nodded. “Alright!”
With that, he stood, gave a slight bow, and started down the mountain.
But moments later, he was back in front of Elder Xuan.
Elder Xuan looked at him. “What now?”
Ye Xuan pointed into the distance below. “A bunch of Law Enforcement Sect powerhouses showed up!”
Elder Xuan glanced down. Far off, two elders and a middle-aged man had appeared.
The middle-aged man wore a dark golden robe, gripping a long halberd.
Elder Xuan said, “No-Thought Realm!”
Ye Xuan nodded. “Stronger than that Gu Yi from earlier!”
Elder Xuan studied Ye Xuan, silent.
Ye Xuan hesitated, then asked, “Can I stay here a few more days? Just five!”
Elder Xuan replied, “Up to you!”
Ye Xuan beamed. But then Elder Xuan added, “Fair warning—the Mountain Lord could return any time. If she does, you might be in deep trouble!”
The Mountain Lord!
Ye Xuan considered it, then said, “I shouldn’t be *that* unlucky!”
With that, he turned, entered a straw hut, and began cultivating!
This time, he didn’t aim to break into the No-Heart Realm. Instead, he focused on refining his *Flying Sword: Life or Death*!
During his earlier strike, he’d realized this technique could be faster—especially with the enhanced Qingxuan Sword, which could now ignore space-time!
Speed!
His goal was simple—one word: fast!
Fast to the extreme!
—
Below Spirit Mountain.
The halberd-wielding middle-aged man gazed up at the peak, lost in thought.
An elder said gravely, “Elder Gu, it’s clear Spirit Mountain intends to shield that Ye Xuan!”
Elder Gu’s face remained impassive. “And what can you do about it?”
The elder’s expression soured.
They really couldn’t do much!
Spirit Mountain had only two people, but no force in the Burial Domain dared provoke them lightly!
Beyond the invincible A Dao Ling of old, Yan Ban Shan herself was a terrifying figure!
Elder Gu looked up at the mountain, murmuring, “From what I know, that kid was just at Life Body Realm before. In half a month, he’s reached Life Knowing… and he can one-shot Elder Gu Yi! Sure, he caught Gu Yi off guard, but that’s no small feat!”
The elder nodded. “It’s mainly that sword. We analyzed it—Gu Yi’s death had three causes. First, he underestimated Ye Xuan’s strength. Second, he had no guard up and got blindsided. Third, and most critical, that sword! It ignored the space-time prison Gu Yi set up. That sword—it’s extraordinary!”
Elder Gu said softly, “Hard to believe a world down there could produce such a terrifying weapon!”
The elder nodded. “We’re digging into its origins!”
Elder Gu glanced at him. “Found anything?”
The elder’s voice darkened. “The sword was forged by a woman—said to be Ye Xuan’s sister!”
Elder Gu frowned. “That’s it?”
The elder nodded. “We’ve uncovered plenty about Ye Xuan, but that plain-dressed woman…”
Elder Gu asked, “Nothing on her?”
The elder nodded again. “Untraceable. But we got a tip—supposedly, if you hold Ye Xuan’s sword, you can sense that woman through it!”
Elder Gu’s brow creased. “That’s possible?”
The elder confirmed, “Yes! Grip his sword, and you can feel the one who forged it.”
Elder Gu nodded slightly. “Got it!”
—
Atop Spirit Mountain, inside the little pagoda.
Ye Xuan trained like a madman on *Flying Sword: Life or Death*. To push his sword speed to the limit, he entered the mysterious space-time abyss within the pagoda!
Training there proved miraculous!
In the abyss, the space-time density was insanely thick. The Qingxuan Sword’s speed here was several times slower than outside!
Ye Xuan was puzzled—by rights, the Qingxuan Sword should ignore this space-time. Why was it slower here?
He didn’t dwell on it—just kept training!
He even roped in Xu Wang to practice alongside him, teaching her *Flying Sword: Soul Lock*. He held nothing back from her!
She was family, after all!
No sense letting talent go to waste!
For days on end, Ye Xuan trained relentlessly. In the abyss, his sword speed grew faster and faster. His goal? Match its speed inside to its speed outside!
If he could do that, then once he left this mysterious space, his sword speed out there…
The thought sent a thrill through him.
Day after day, years ticked by—over a decade of grueling practice.
After more than ten years, his flying sword’s speed in the abyss matched its pace outside!
Emerging from the abyss, Ye Xuan willed it—his sword shot out, appearing ten thousand meters away!
Staring at the Qingxuan Sword in the distance, a grin tugged at his lips, widening until he burst into wild laughter!
His sword speed now was at least several times faster than before!
Facing a No-Heart Realm foe now, he was 100% confident he could one-shot them—even if they were on guard!
Invincible!
Ye Xuan roared with laughter.
Then the little pagoda chimed in, “Little Master, I’d bet the Master’s head you won’t stay smug for three seconds!”
Ye Xuan’s grin froze. “Little Pagoda, you’re getting bold! You really don’t respect the old man anymore, huh?”
The pagoda said gravely, “I still respect the Master deeply! Also, I’ve been upgraded by Sister Destiny…”
Ye Xuan shook his head.
*Damn, this pagoda’s begging to get smashed by Dad one day!*
He didn’t dare use Qing’er to suppress Dad, but this pagoda kept dreaming of it—charging down the path to its own doom!
Ignoring the pagoda, Ye Xuan left it behind and headed down the mountain.
Elder Xuan glanced at him. “You’ve hidden your aura!”
Ye Xuan nodded. “Yup!”
Elder Xuan studied him. “That middle-aged guy down there, the leader—he’s No-Thought Realm. You know what that is?”
Ye Xuan laughed heartily. “A mere ant!”
With that, he strode down the mountain, exuding invincible swagger!
Elder Xuan: “…”
Soon, Ye Xuan reached the base. He faced Elder Gu, itching to strike—but then he noticed Gu staring him down, a terrifying force shielding the man!
Not space-time power!
Ye Xuan’s face darkened.
*Damn it! This guy’s on high alert!*
Just then, Elder Gu spoke. “Ye Xuan, we’d like to meet the one behind you.”
Ye Xuan blinked. “Which one?”
Elder Gu fixed his gaze on him. “How many are behind you?”
Ye Xuan replied, “Three! My big brother, my dad, my sister!”
Elder Gu stared harder. “We want to see your sister—the one who forged that sword!”
Ye Xuan paused, then said, “Your request… reminds me of someone!”
Elder Gu frowned. “Who?”
…
