As those powerhouses emerged, the expressions of Xu Chong and the others in the field changed drastically!
Who exactly was this Defier?
At the horizon, the leading Dao Clarity Realm expert stepped forward slowly, bowing slightly to the Defier, “Young Master!”
The Defier nodded and turned to Ye Xuan, “Until we meet again!”
Ye Xuan smiled, “Until we meet again!”
The Defier gave a slight nod, then glanced at Gu Qin, the Demon Vein Master. He opened his palm, and a black ancient tome floated toward Gu Qin, “Thank you for your care these days. A small token of gratitude—please accept it, Vein Master Gu!”
Gu Qin hesitated before accepting the tome, “If you have time in the future, come back and visit!”
The Defier smiled faintly, “I will!”
With that, he turned back to Ye Xuan, “Brother Ye, if you get the chance, come visit Eternal Night. It’s a place teeming with geniuses—perfect for you!”
Ye Xuan grinned, “If I get the chance, I’ll definitely go!”
The Defier nodded, said nothing more, and walked leisurely toward the horizon.
The Dao Clarity Realm expert glanced at Ye Xuan, then followed the Defier.
Moments later, the Defier and his entourage vanished at the edge of the sky.
At the horizon, Gu Qin cast a look at Ye Xuan. Suddenly, Ye Xuan asked, “Vein Master Gu Qin, I have a question. Was that Gu Di from your Demon Vein?”
“Gu Di?”
Gu Qin frowned, “Who’s Gu Di?”
Ye Xuan’s brow creased, “You don’t know him?”
Gu Qin shook his head, “Never heard of him. There’s no one named Gu Di in our Demon Vein. You must have the wrong person, Young Master Ye!”
Ye Xuan studied Gu Qin. Could Gu Di have been impersonating someone from the Demon Vein?
Gu Qin added, “Young Master Ye, feel free to visit the Demon Vein sometime. Farewell!”
With that, he turned and disappeared into the sky.
Left behind, Ye Xuan shook his head with a smile after a moment of silence. He turned to Xu Chong beside him, “Senior, what’s this Eternal Night place?”
Xu Chong hesitated, then shook his head, “I don’t know!”
Ye Xuan pressed, “Even you don’t know?”
Xu Chong gave a wry smile, “It’s likely a higher-tier cosmic civilization!”
Ye Xuan fell silent.
Then Mu Shen suddenly asked, “Are you leaving?”
Ye Xuan chuckled, “Not yet!”
He turned to Elder Shen and the other two, “Elders, shall we continue training?”
Elder Shen nodded, “Good!”
With that, the four vanished from the spot.
At that moment, Mu Ge asked, “What’s his background, anyway?”
Xu Chong murmured, “Did you notice his expression just now?”
Mu Ge looked at him, “What expression?”
Xu Chong smiled bitterly, “When he saw those powerhouses behind the Defier, he didn’t show the slightest surprise or fear!”
At that, Mu Ge and Mu Shen’s expressions grew grave!
Why wasn’t Ye Xuan surprised? Why wasn’t he afraid?
The answer was obvious: the force behind Ye Xuan was no weaker than the one behind the Defier!
Xu Chong added softly, “He’ll probably leave soon!”
Mu Ge nodded, “I wonder if he’ll head to that Eternal Night…”
Mu Shen remained silent.
—
In the void world, Ye Xuan was still battling Elder Shen and the trio.
Still one against three!
He remained suppressed by them, but the more he fought, the more exhilarated he became!
Combat on the edge of life and death was the fastest way to unlock one’s potential!
Over this period, his physical body had shattered no fewer than a hundred times! A single misstep, and his body would be smashed apart. Of course, the trio were sparring partners and had no intent to destroy his soul. Even so, Ye Xuan stayed on high alert, not daring to slack off for a moment!
Meanwhile, Elder Shen and the others were starting to feel the strain. Though Ye Xuan was still under their control, he grew stronger with every clash. Facing his swords, they couldn’t afford the slightest carelessness either.
An hour later, the four paused to reflect.
Elder Shen spoke first, “Your reactions are quick. You can now barely hold your own against us three. But understand this: the best defense is offense. Constantly defending only gives us more chances to attack. Got it?”
Ye Xuan nodded, “I know that, but your coordination is too seamless—I can’t find an opening!”
Elder Qiu chuckled, “I watched your fight with the Defier. You unleashed six swords, right?”
Ye Xuan nodded.
Elder Qiu pondered, then asked, “Those six swords were improvised, weren’t they?”
Ye Xuan nodded again.
Elder Qiu smiled, “Why not create a new sword technique?”
Ye Xuan blinked, stunned, “Create a new sword technique?”
Elder Qiu nodded, “With your current strength, when you harness the momentum of the myriad realms, your limit is six swords. I’ve noticed your sword speed is incredibly fast. If you could push it even further—unleashing all six swords in an instant, fusing their momentum into a single point to pierce a surface—the power of those six swords would skyrocket.”
Ye Xuan fell into thought.
Elder Qiu continued, “Your existing sword techniques are formidable, each with unique strengths. You could combine them to forge a new technique. Right now, your ‘Moment of Life and Death’ sword isn’t quite cutting it anymore!”
Ye Xuan asked gravely, “Is that possible?”
Elder Qiu grinned, “Give it a shot!”
Ye Xuan’s lips curled up, “Then I’ll try!”
The three elders retreated a thousand zhang away.
Ye Xuan closed his eyes slowly, his left thumb resting on the sword hilt, poised to strike.
Suddenly, the three elders vanished from their spots. Almost simultaneously, Ye Xuan’s thumb flicked.
*Whoosh!*
A sword shot through the air!
In the same instant, another sword flew from his scabbard, followed by a third!
Three swords in a single thought!
Each carried his sword momentum and aura!
*Boom! Boom! Boom!*
In the distance, three sword lights shattered. At the same time, Elder Qiu and the others were forced back nearly ten thousand zhang!
Ye Xuan froze, stunned.
This was the first time he’d gained the upper hand against them.
Far off, Elder Qiu glanced at his right hand, where a deep sword mark marred his arm. If that strike had been a fraction stronger, his arm would’ve been gone!
He looked at Ye Xuan and smiled, “Your sword speed can get even faster, right?”
Ye Xuan nodded, “Yes!”
His ‘Moment of Life and Death’ sword hadn’t reached his full speed limit—it could go faster!
Elder Shen said, “Again!”
Ye Xuan nodded, “Good!”
As his voice fell, another sword appeared in his scabbard!
For practical training, he couldn’t take the trio into the pagoda—the pagoda’s world couldn’t withstand their power. But that didn’t matter to him now!
His reliance on the Qingxuan Sword, bloodline power, and the pagoda had diminished significantly!
—
Three months later.
In the void world, Ye Xuan sat cross-legged, facing Elder Shen and the trio.
After a moment, he stood and looked at them. The next instant, the three elders vanished, and Ye Xuan’s thumb lightly flicked.
*Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh! Crack!*
Six sword lights tore through the field!
*Boom! Boom! Boom!*
With three explosive roars, Elder Shen and the others were blasted back tens of thousands of zhang!
When they stopped, all three had lost their right arms at the root. Sword marks covered their bodies, grazed by stray sword qi!
They could no longer get close to Ye Xuan!
One-on-one, none of them stood a chance against him now.
Elder Mu spoke softly, “If you added the momentum and power of the myriad realms from that day to these six swords… you could probably kill us instantly!”
Elder Shen and Elder Qiu’s expressions grew solemn.
As Elder Mu said, with the power of the myriad realms, the might of those swords would multiply several times over.
Elder Mu added, “I hear you have a special sword, right?”
Ye Xuan nodded, opening his palm. The Qingxuan Sword appeared.
Elder Mu glanced at it, “Want to test your new technique’s power with that sword?”
Ye Xuan blinked, “Against you three?”
Elder Mu nodded, “We’d like to see that sword’s strength too!”
Ye Xuan hesitated, then said, “Elder Mu, this sword’s power is… kind of intense!”
Elder Mu laughed, “No worries, we’ll give it a try!”
Ye Xuan thought it over, “Alright!”
Truth be told, he wanted to test it too!
He looked at the trio, “Seniors, be careful!”
Elder Mu grinned, “Bring it!”
Ye Xuan closed his eyes slowly, his thumb resting lightly on the Qingxuan Sword’s hilt. Suddenly, it flew out.
*Whoosh!*
In an instant, the entire void world annihilated!
Far off, Elder Mu and the others’ faces paled. They struck out together in unison.
*Boom!*
With a deafening explosion, the trio was flung back hundreds of thousands of zhang. When they stopped, only their souls remained—and those were dissipating at a terrifying rate!
In mere breaths, they’d be utterly erased!
Seeing this, Ye Xuan’s expression shifted. He hurriedly used the Qingxuan Sword to stabilize their souls!
At that moment, Elder Mu and the others were still reeling. A hair’s breadth more, and they’d have been wiped out.
Elder Mu looked at Ye Xuan, his face grave, “That sword of yours…”
Ye Xuan glanced at the Qingxuan Sword, inwardly startled. The power of that strike had exceeded his expectations!
Now that he’d elevated his own strength, wielding the Qingxuan Sword felt like adding wings to a tiger.
Terrifying!
And he hadn’t even used his bloodline power or the myriad realms’ momentum. With everything combined, he was confident he could instantly kill a Dao Clarity Realm expert!
Elder Mu shook his head with a wry smile, “We can’t help you anymore!”
Ye Xuan bowed respectfully to the three.
He held genuine reverence for them!
Elder Shen smiled, “Are you leaving?”
Ye Xuan nodded, “Off to find stronger opponents!”
Elder Shen hesitated, then said, “I have an immodest request!”
Ye Xuan grinned, “Please, speak!”
Elder Shen said solemnly, “Could you leave a record of your swordsmanship legacy here? Perhaps, years from now, the Holy Vein might produce a sword genius like you!”
Ye Xuan thought it over, “Sure!”
At that, the three elders bowed slightly to him, “Thank you!”
