Take a look?
The black-robed elder stared at Ye Xuan, itching to slap this flamboyant punk into oblivion!
But he couldn’t read Yan Ban Shan’s stance beside them!
If he made a move and she stepped in to protect Ye Xuan, things would get messy!
Fight or not?
Fighting meant the Law Enforcement Sect would tangle with a woman they’d rather not provoke. Not fighting meant losing face!
The sect was caught in a bind!
The black-robed elder felt a headache brewing.
Just then, Ye Xuan sheathed the Qingxuan Sword and turned to Yan Ban Shan with a grin. “Let’s go!”
He knew full well the sect held back because of her. Time to quit while he was ahead—pushing it further would just leave him humiliated!
Bragging had its limits!
Yan Ban Shan glanced at him, then stood and walked off.
The black-robed elder suddenly called out, “Young Master Ye!”
Ye Xuan turned. The elder locked eyes with him. “This isn’t over!”
Ye Xuan laughed. “If you’ve got a problem, come wipe out my Spirit Mountain! We’re always ready for you!”
The black-robed elder: “…”
Yan Ban Shan shot Ye Xuan another look, her expression souring, but she said nothing. Moments later, the two vanished toward the distant horizon.
The black-robed elder watched them go, his face calm, thoughts unreadable.
After a long pause, he vanished from the spot.
—
At the horizon’s edge, Yan Ban Shan stopped abruptly. She turned to Ye Xuan, palm outstretched. “The sword!”
Ye Xuan glanced at her, then handed over the Qingxuan Sword.
She studied it briefly before returning it. “Follow me somewhere!”
Ye Xuan hesitated. “Where?”
She didn’t answer, simply taking him along as they vanished.
Ye Xuan’s vision blurred—white light streaked past. Soon, his feet hit solid ground, but his head felt leaden!
He shook it off, then glanced at Yan Ban Shan, stunned.
*This woman’s strength is terrifying!*
Yan Ban Shan gazed ahead, a trace of confusion in her eyes.
Ye Xuan turned. They stood before a cliff. Across it loomed a mountain, a stone gate embedded in its belly.
Curious, he asked, “Where are we?”
Yan Ban Shan glanced at him. “Lend me your sword!”
He didn’t refuse, handing her the Qingxuan Sword.
She gripped it, then stepped forward. In an instant, she appeared before the stone gate—but behind her, space-time rippled like water.
Ye Xuan hurried after her, but as he neared the gate, a strange spatial barrier blocked him.
Startled, he summoned his mysterious space-time, crushing the odd barrier!
So far, no space-time could rival the one Qing’er had left him!
He reached the gate safely. Yan Ban Shan stared at him intently.
Ye Xuan touched his face, puzzled. “What’s wrong?”
Her brow furrowed. “You got through?”
He grinned. “Why wouldn’t I?”
She studied him for a long moment, then said, “Nothing!”
She turned to the gate. It trembled, then morphed into a swirling vortex.
Yan Ban Shan glanced at Ye Xuan. “This sword—does it truly ignore all space-time?”
Ye Xuan’s voice grew serious. “What are you planning?”
She pointed at the gate. “This door’s a special space-time construct. Inside, the forces shred everything—flesh disintegrates instantly, and even souls turn to dust in a heartbeat!”
Ye Xuan gaped. “Even you can’t withstand it?”
She shook her head. “No!”
He frowned. “But from what I’ve heard, you should transcend space-time, right?”
She replied, “Depends on who set it up!”
Ye Xuan’s voice deepened. “Your master left this gate?”
She nodded.
A Dao Ling!
Ye Xuan’s expression turned grave. He knew of A Dao Ling—a legend on par with Jun Dao Lin!
Could A Dao Ling be behind this gate?
Yan Ban Shan asked again, “Can this sword really ignore any space-time?”
Ye Xuan nodded. “Yes!”
He trusted Qing’er!
Yan Ban Shan gave a slight nod, then thrust the sword forward.
The Qingxuan Sword stabbed into the vortex!
*Boom!*
The vortex quaked, gradually fading into transparency.
Her expression shifted subtly.
This sword *could* bypass that space-time!
She glanced at Ye Xuan again, curiosity about his origins stirring.
The vortex vanished, revealing a stone staircase.
Yan Ban Shan returned the sword and stepped into the passage.
Ye Xuan sheathed it and followed.
They descended into a vast cave, lit by glowing jade embedded in the walls. A faint fragrance lingered in the air.
Yan Ban Shan stopped, staring ahead at a coffin!
Her hand trembled, her face paling.
Ye Xuan frowned. *Did A Dao Ling fall?*
The coffin vanished. A woman appeared before them!
She wore a white dress, her hair in playful braids.
Yan Ban Shan froze, then bowed deeply, her voice shaking. “Master…”
Master!
Ye Xuan’s eyes widened. This was the legendary A Dao Ling!
But he noticed—she wasn’t fully corporeal!
A Dao Ling grinned at Yan Ban Shan. “Little Ban Shan, when you saw the coffin, did you think I’d kicked the bucket? Heh…”
Yan Ban Shan met her gaze, resolute. “No one could kill Master!”
A Dao Ling laughed, then said, “You surprised me, Little Ban Shan. That space-time gate I set up—you should’ve needed Half-Step No-Realm to break it. But you’re still at No-Path Realm!”
Yan Ban Shan glanced at Ye Xuan. “It’s his sword!”
A Dao Ling turned to Ye Xuan, her smile teasing. He quickly bowed. “Greetings, Big Sis!”
Yan Ban Shan: “…”
“Big Sis?”
A Dao Ling blinked, her grin odd. “You’re calling me Big Sis?”
Ye Xuan rushed to explain, “To be honest, I spent some time at Spirit Mountain. I’ve admired you forever! Seeing you today, I… I got so excited I misspoke. Please forgive me, Senior!”
A Dao Ling chuckled, her smile radiant. “Flashy little guy—your tongue’s as slick as they come!”
Her palm opened, and the Qingxuan Sword flew to her.
Studying it, her smile faded, a rare gravity settling in her eyes.
After a long pause, she asked Ye Xuan, “Who forged this?”
Ye Xuan replied, “My sister!”
Her brow creased. “Your sister?”
He nodded. “Yes!”
She paused, then smiled. “You said you admire me?”
Ye Xuan hesitated, then said, “Yes! I admire you, Senior!”
She laughed heartily. “Weren’t you just calling me Big Sis? Fine—I’ll take you as a little brother!”
Ye Xuan’s face froze.
Yan Ban Shan: “…”
A Dao Ling winked. “What, you don’t want to?”
Ye Xuan hurriedly said, “I do! Absolutely! Big Sis!”
She roared with laughter, sizing up the Qingxuan Sword. “Kid, do you know what’s sealed in this blade?”
Ye Xuan ventured, “The Law of Space-Time?”
She shook her head. “That’s just part of it!”
He frowned. “There’s more?”
She nodded. “There’s an unknown, mysterious power—sealed. If this sword levels up again, it’ll unseal. But with your current strength, you’d struggle to wield it!”
Ye Xuan thought, then said, “No worries—I don’t rely on external stuff! I barely use this sword!”
Little Soul: “…”
A Dao Ling laughed again. “You’re a riot, kid. Your vibe—I like it!”
Her palm opened, and the sword returned to Ye Xuan.
He sheathed it, then hesitated. “Sis, can I ask you something?”
She smirked. “You want to know if I’m stronger or weaker than the one who made this sword, right?”
He nodded.
She grinned. “She crafted a sword that casually broke my space-time setup. What do you think?”
Ye Xuan opened his mouth, then stopped.
What he *really* wanted to ask was whether A Dao Ling could sense Qing’er’s true power! In this Boundary Realm, he felt this world might be close to Qing’er and Dad’s level! They’d transcended realms entirely, and this “No-Realm” here seemed eerily similar.
But he held back—too forward!
Timing mattered in words and actions!
Yan Ban Shan suddenly asked, “Master, where’ve you been?”
A Dao Ling shifted her gaze to her disciple, smiling. “A fun place!”
Yan Ban Shan opened her mouth, but A Dao Ling waved her off. “When you’re strong enough, you’ll find out. For now, knowing’s pointless. Just focus on one thing: cultivate hard and hit No-Realm!”
Yan Ban Shan nodded, dropping it.
A Dao Ling’s palm opened, and a storage ring floated to Yan Ban Shan. “What’s in here will help you. With luck, it might push you to No-Realm!”
She eyed her disciple, grinning. “Your foundation’s rock-solid. Reaching No-Realm? No sweat!”
No-Realm!
Yan Ban Shan’s pupils shrank. “Master… you’ve reached No-Realm?”
Ye Xuan gawked too.
Rumors said A Dao Ling had hit No-Realm, but no one knew for sure. Now, it was clear—she had!
A Dao Ling’s lips curved. “Know why I left back then?”
Yan Ban Shan trembled. “You’d already hit No-Realm when you left!”
She nodded, laughing. “Yup. When you reach No-Realm, it’s boring at first—everyone around you feels like ants! The gap between No-Realm and below? Massive—like heaven and earth! After hitting it, nothing seems to matter—you’re invincible! But don’t worry, the boredom fades fast. You’ll stumble into a new world!”
Ye Xuan perked up. “What new world?”
She grinned. “Humans are like a tiny cell in our bodies… Get me?”
“Holy crap!”
Little Pagoda jolted. “She knows this?!”
Ye Xuan frowned, thinking, *You know this too?*
Little Pagoda said gravely, “This woman’s grasped life’s structure!”
A Dao Ling chuckled. “That little pagoda in you—cute!”
Ye Xuan blinked, stunned. “You can hear it, Senior?”
She smirked. “What do you think?”
Ye Xuan: “…”
She continued, “All life’s tiny. Humans in this endless cosmos? Smaller than a cell. This Boundary Realm’s big, sure—but in the universe, it’s dust. The cosmos has no end, and the Dao? Same deal! ‘Beyond the Dao,’ ‘beyond fate’—it’s all nonsense!”
Ye Xuan mused, “So it just… never ends?”
She laughed. “Pretty much! No one’s seen the universe’s edge.”
Ye Xuan fell silent.
Did Qing’er and the others know the cosmos’ end?
Clearly not!
If they did, they wouldn’t still be pushing forward!
A Dao Ling suddenly grinned. “Alright, wrapping up! I’m off to meet your sister!”
Ye Xuan stared, dumbfounded. “Meet Qing’er?”
She nodded, laughing. “Yup! A mysterious powerhouse like that—how could I not? When I’m back, I’ll bring you a gift!”
Ye Xuan blurted, “How about you give it now?”
A Dao Ling: “…”
…
