After giving his instructions, Ye Xuan left with the Spirit Princess and the Spirit Realm’s powerhouses!
Once Ye Xuan and his group had departed, Gu Ming said gravely, “There’s something off about that man!”
The Ancient Clan elder nodded. “He seems like a reckless fool, but in truth, he’s sharp and calculating…”
He turned to Gu Ming. “Our top priority is to bolster our strength as quickly as possible!”
Gu Ming’s expression grew solemn.
The matter of the small pagoda couldn’t be kept secret!
Once the other five realms learned of it, they would never let it go. At that point, the Ancient Clan’s position would become precarious, as the other five realms might unite against them!
Still, he had no intention of giving up the pagoda. It was a treasure capable of changing the Ancient Clan’s destiny!
It was worth a gamble!
With this in mind, Gu Ming immediately ordered, “Recall all clan members abroad at once. Notify the elders in seclusion to emerge immediately!”
The elder nodded and turned to leave.
Gu Ming glanced in the direction Ye Xuan and his group had gone, his brows furrowing slightly. Ye Xuan had given up too readily, which made him uneasy.
After a moment, Gu Ming shook his head and left.
He had no time to dwell on Ye Xuan now. The Ancient Clan had acquired the pagoda—a monumental opportunity, but one that could also become a disaster!
Soon, the entire Ancient Clan went on high alert. All their grand arrays were activated, and the atmosphere within the clan grew tense and heavy!
Meanwhile, Ye Xuan and his group had returned to the Spirit Realm.
In the Spirit Realm.
Ling Tian brought the Spirit Princess to a white palace. Inside, all the Spirit Clan’s powerhouses were gathered. At the centre of the hall stood a crystal coffin, containing only a thumb-sized spirit orb!
Ling Tian looked at the princess. “Kneel!”
The spirits in the hall glared at the princess, their anger palpable.
The princess’s face was expressionless. “If you’re going to kill me, just do it…”
Ye Xuan’s thumb flicked, and the Qingxuan Sword shot into the princess’s brow!
*Boom!*
Her soul trembled violently, then began to dissipate rapidly.
The spirits froze.
Ye Xuan blinked. “Didn’t she say to kill her? So I did! No need to indulge her!”
The princess glared at Ye Xuan, silent.
Ling Tian hesitated, then said, “Hold on!”
Ye Xuan shrugged and recalled the Qingxuan Sword.
Ling Tian turned to the princess. “She treated you like her own daughter. Why did you do this to her?”
The princess sneered. “Like her own daughter? If she truly saw me that way, she wouldn’t have planned to pass the leadership of the Spirit Clan to you!”
Ling Tian frowned. “You killed her just for that?”
The princess retorted, “Why not?”
Ling Tian shook her head slightly. “Do you know I’ve never been interested in leading the Spirit Clan? The reason she told you she’d pass the position to me was her final test for you!”
The princess’s eyes narrowed. “What test?”
Ling Tian shook her head again. “It was to gauge your attitude and your heart. To lead the Spirit Clan, one must have a kind heart and a broad mind—only then can they guide the clan well! She never could’ve imagined your heart was so venomous!”
The princess closed her eyes slowly. “The victor writes history. There’s no point in saying this now!”
Ling Tian looked at Ye Xuan, who grinned. “Kill her! Keeping this woman around is nothing but trouble!”
The princess suddenly glared at Ye Xuan, furious. “Shameless sword cultivator! If not for you, things wouldn’t have ended like this!”
Ye Xuan shook his head. “Princess, even without me, you wouldn’t have succeeded! You’re just too foolish! With your intelligence, trying to seize power? I’m embarrassed for you!”
The princess glared at him. “If you hadn’t taken my sword qi, would I have lost?”
Ye Xuan was exasperated. “Dear lady, that sword qi was my father’s! You tried to kill me with my own father’s sword qi—have you lost your mind? And I told you before, the Spirit Ancestor is part of my family, but you refused to believe me… Honestly, I’m speechless. It’s rare for me to tell the truth, and no one believes me. What a strange world!”
The princess closed her eyes. “Kill me!”
Ye Xuan looked at Ling Tian, who remained silent.
Ye Xuan rubbed his head. “Elder Ling Tian, why are you still hesitating? Shouldn’t we just eliminate someone like her? Let me tell you, if you hadn’t met me this time, my father’s sword qi would’ve killed you instantly. If you died, have you thought about what would’ve happened to the Spirit Clan?”
Ling Tian’s brows furrowed. After a moment, she waved her hand and turned to leave.
Ye Xuan opened his palm, and the Qingxuan Sword pierced the princess’s brow!
*Boom!*
The princess was completely absorbed, leaving nothing behind!
Ye Xuan recalled the Qingxuan Sword and walked outside.
Outside, Ling Tian gazed at the horizon, saying softly, “I never imagined things would turn out like this!”
Ye Xuan smiled. “I didn’t either. I never thought you spirits would fight among yourselves!”
Ling Tian shook her head. “It’s rare.”
She turned to Ye Xuan. “You had me swear by the Spirit Ancestor that if the Ancient Clan handed her over, the Spirit Realm would seal itself off for ten years… Were you serious?”
Ye Xuan nodded.
Ling Tian looked puzzled. “What are you planning next?”
Ye Xuan grinned. “What do you think I’ll do?”
Ling Tian said gravely, “I don’t know!”
Ye Xuan smiled faintly. “Elder Ling Tian, the Six Realms are about to descend into chaos! At a time like this, the Spirit Realm should stay out of it!”
Ling Tian looked at him. “You don’t seem worried about the pagoda at all!”
Ye Xuan laughed. “Right now, they’re treating it like a treasure. Why should I worry?”
Ling Tian frowned slightly. “Aren’t you afraid you won’t get it back?”
Ye Xuan said softly, “Someone will be more anxious than me!”
Ling Tian paused, then understood.
Ye Xuan glanced back at the hall. “That white orb just now—what was it?”
Ling Tian said gravely, “It’s the clan leader’s spirit core… like a human’s body!”
Ye Xuan asked, “Her consciousness is gone?”
Ling Tian nodded.
Ye Xuan sighed softly. So, even Little White couldn’t bring her back!
After a moment, Ye Xuan said, “Elder Ling Tian, let’s part ways here. Remember, no matter what happens outside, the Spirit Realm must stay out of it!”
With that, he walked off.
Ling Tian suddenly called out, “Wait!”
Ye Xuan turned to her. She hesitated, then opened her palm, revealing a storage ring before him.
Ye Xuan glanced at it—inside were twenty star veins!
Twenty!
Ye Xuan looked at Ling Tian. “Elder Ling Tian, what’s this?”
Ling Tian said gravely, “No ulterior motives—just a small token of gratitude. I hope you’ll accept it!”
Ye Xuan thought for a moment, then took the ring. “Thank you!”
Ling Tian looked at him. “If you encounter danger out there, come back to the Spirit Realm. Here, we have the strength to fight!”
Ye Xuan felt a warmth in his heart. He smiled. “Thank you!”
With that, he turned and vanished at the horizon’s edge.
Ling Tian gazed after him, a trace of worry in her eyes. She knew Ye Xuan was keeping the Spirit Realm out of this mess to protect them!
After a moment, Ling Tian shook her head and left.
…
Just as Ye Xuan left the Spirit Realm, he was approached by Bai Yi from the Shenyong Mercenary Group and Nanning, the leader of the Jiangpan Mercenary Group.
Ye Xuan paused, then smiled. “I didn’t expect you two to come looking for me!”
Bai Yi said gravely, “Brother Ye, can we speak somewhere else?”
Ye Xuan laughed. “Of course!”
The three vanished from the spot.
In a cloud-shrouded realm, Bai Yi glanced at Ye Xuan and said gravely, “Brother Ye, about that pagoda in the Ancient Realm…”
Ye Xuan smiled. “Which faction do you represent?”
Bai Yi fell silent.
Ye Xuan laughed again. “No sincerity, eh?”
Bai Yi gave a wry smile. “Brother Ye, it’s no secret. My Shenyong Mercenary Group is backed by the Xumi Realm, and Miss Nanning’s Jiangpan Mercenary Group is supported by the Divine Realm. We’ve come to you to clarify… about that pagoda…”
Ye Xuan suddenly said, “The pagoda’s abilities are real! Ten years inside, one day outside!”
Both their expressions grew solemn.
Bai Yi said gravely, “Brother Ye, if I may ask, how did you come by such a divine artifact?”
Ye Xuan smiled. “I stumbled upon it by chance. But that’s not important now. What matters is that the pagoda is in the Ancient Clan’s hands. Soon, they’ll dominate the Six Realms—no, by then, there may only be the Ancient Realm, with the other five gone!”
Their faces darkened.
Ye Xuan smiled faintly. “You two, this place isn’t safe anymore. I’ve decided to leave!”
Bai Yi frowned. “Leave?”
Ye Xuan nodded. “I’m afraid the Ancient Clan will come after me!”
Bai Yi hesitated, then said, “Brother Ye, are you really just giving up?”
Ye Xuan sighed helplessly. “What choice do I have? The Ancient Clan is too powerful, and I’m alone. How can I stand against them?”
Nanning suddenly said, “Don’t you have the Spirit Realm behind you?”
Ye Xuan shook his head. “That was just a temporary alliance. They won’t help me fight the Ancient Clan.”
Nanning’s brows furrowed. After a moment, she said gravely, “Young Master Ye, what if we’re willing to help you?”
Ye Xuan quickly shook his head. “No, no! Don’t help me. The Ancient Clan is too strong—I don’t dare oppose them. Farewell, you two!”
With that, he turned to leave.
Nanning blocked his path, staring at him. “Young Master Ye, you’re really giving up?”
Ye Xuan gave a bitter smile. “Miss Nanning, it’s not that I want to give up, but I know my limits. Tell me, a lone man like me with no backing or support—what can I do against the Ancient Clan? You two are different. You have factions and support behind you. I have nothing! Sigh…”
