Hearing Emperor Ming’s words, Ye Xuan suddenly understood!
The other party had no intention of challenging his Big Brother. Their true target was Ye Xuan himself!
Ye Xuan sheathed the Qingxuan Sword and smiled. “I’m a bit puzzled. This should be our first meeting. Why target me?”
He raised the Qingxuan Sword. “Is it for this sword?”
Emperor Ming smiled. “That’s just one reason.”
Ye Xuan frowned. “What else?”
Emperor Ming looked at him. “The wisp of sword qi you just put away.”
*Big Brother’s sword qi!*
Ye Xuan was momentarily stunned, then smiled. “I see!”
He turned to Zhou Xin. “Miss Zhou Xin, they’re after me. You should leave.”
Zhou Xin thought for a moment, then shook her head. “That wisp of sword qi isn’t enough to kill him. He won’t face it head-on.”
Ye Xuan smiled. “I know. Since he dares to target me, he must have a way to deal with my brother’s sword qi. Miss Zhou Xin, go.”
Zhou Xin was silent for a moment before stepping up to Ye Xuan. She looked him in the eye. “Are we friends?”
Ye Xuan hesitated, then said, “Not really?”
Without a hint of hesitation, Zhou Xin turned to leave.
Ye Xuan quickly called out, “We are! In my heart, Miss Zhou Xin has long been a friend!”
Zhou Xin stopped and turned back. “You fight first. If you’re outmatched, I’ll step in and get you out.”
Ye Xuan said gravely, “Miss Zhou Xin, think carefully. They have forty-nine Life Mysterious Realm experts!”
Zhou Xin considered, then said, “You fight first. I’ll decide based on the situation!”
Ye Xuan’s face darkened. *Can you even play like that?*
At that moment, Emperor Ming suddenly said, “Let’s not waste time. Shall we?”
Ye Xuan smiled. “Sure!”
As his voice fell, he opened his palm, and a wisp of sword qi shot out!
It was his Big Brother’s sword qi!
The moment it appeared, the faces of Emperor Ming and his group changed drastically!
They were among the strongest in this world, and by all accounts, nothing should threaten them. Yet, with the emergence of this sword qi, every Life Mysterious Realm expert’s expression shifted!
Including Emperor Ming!
At that moment, his face was无比 grave!
As Ye Xuan released the sword qi, Emperor Ming opened his right hand. A small wooden figure appeared, and in an instant, it grew into a black-armoured warrior over ten zhang tall, wielding a massive blade.
The armoured warrior took a step forward, shaking the heavens and earth!
The entire Imperial Tomb began to collapse!
The warrior raised its blade with both hands and slashed down fiercely!
The strike tore the heavens apart, and in an instant, the space-time within millions of li transformed into a massive web!
Seeing this, Ye Xuan’s face grew无比 grave. *Damn, what is this thing? It feels stronger than a Life Mysterious Realm expert!*
As the blade descended, Ye Xuan felt his brother’s sword qi might be shattered!
But the moment the blade touched the sword qi, it cracked. In the next instant, the sword qi pierced through the giant’s chest!
*Boom!*
The giant trembled violently, then exploded into countless fragments!
It was gone!
Yet the sword qi pressed on, slashing toward Emperor Ming.
Emperor Ming’s eyes narrowed. “Formation!”
*Formation!*
As his voice fell, a dragon throne appeared before him. A golden dragon roared out from it, charging at the sword qi!
As it neared, the dragon opened its massive jaws and swallowed the sword qi whole!
The next moment—
*Boom!*
The golden dragon shuddered, let out a mournful cry, and shattered into countless pieces.
The sword qi surged forward, reaching Emperor Ming.
Emperor Ming pointed a finger, striking the sword qi directly.
*Boom!*
His body trembled, then began to fade at a visible rate!
But the sword qi vanished as well.
After all, it was just a casually left wisp, a consumable. If its owner had intentionally left it, it would never have dissipated.
Emperor Ming’s form grew increasingly ethereal, yet his expression remained calm.
Ye Xuan watched him, frowning, sensing something was off.
Soon, Emperor Ming vanished completely!
At that moment, a voice came from the side. “I never imagined the sword qi he left behind would be so powerful… Truly surprising!”
Ye Xuan turned. A man was walking slowly toward him.
It was Emperor Ming!
Ye Xuan’s eyes narrowed. “A clone!”
Emperor Ming nodded slightly. “That was my clone.”
*Clone!*
Emperor Ming looked at Ye Xuan. “Your one trump card is gone!”
At that moment, Ye Xuan opened his palm, revealing another wisp of sword qi.
It was the Man in Green’s sword qi!
Seeing it, Emperor Ming’s expression froze.
Ye Xuan looked at him and smiled. “I’ve got more! The last one was my brother’s. This one’s my father’s.”
Emperor Ming stared at Ye Xuan, his face darkening.
*Damn it!*
*Have I run into a second-generation heir?*
Ye Xuan asked, “Is this a clone too?”
Emperor Ming was silent.
To counter that sword cultivator’s qi, he had sacrificed so much. The giant and the dragon throne were treasures of Shangqiu! And his clone—it had taken nearly ten million years to cultivate!
Yet all were destroyed by that wisp of sword qi!
And now, Ye Xuan had another one!
Emperor Ming’s face was unspeakably grim.
Ye Xuan smiled. “Still want to fight?”
Emperor Ming looked at him. “No more fighting!”
Ye Xuan grinned. “Then I’ll be off!”
Emperor Ming nodded. “Alright.”
Ye Xuan turned to Zhou Xin. “Let’s go.”
Zhou Xin nodded slightly.
As they turned to leave, Emperor Ming suddenly said, “Little guy, want to cooperate?”
Ye Xuan turned back. “Cooperate?”
Emperor Ming nodded. “I know of an ancient secret realm containing a divine artifact: the Cosmic Book. Interested?”
Ye Xuan frowned. “Cosmic Book?”
Zhou Xin suddenly said gravely, “The Cosmic Book…”
Ye Xuan looked at her. “What’s that?”
Zhou Xin was silent for a moment, then said, “The origin book of martial arts in our Prime Universe. A legendary existence!”
She looked at Emperor Ming. “You’re already above Life Mysterious Realm. Why care about the Cosmic Book?”
Emperor Ming shook his head. “I’m not above Life Mysterious Realm—I’m only at its peak. To go further, I need the Cosmic Book!”
Ye Xuan suddenly said, “Why are you so obsessed with realms?”
Emperor Ming and Zhou Xin looked at him. Ye Xuan said earnestly, “Don’t you know the highest realm is having no realm?”
Emperor Ming stared at him. “What are you getting at?”
Ye Xuan said seriously, “True powerhouses have no realms! Look at me—I have no realm!”
Emperor Ming frowned. “Are you strong?”
Ye Xuan: “…”
Emperor Ming added, “Also, it’s not that you have no realm—you’re just low-level! At your age, instead of learning properly, you’re all about flashy deception. Without your backers, you’d be dead a hundred times over!”
Ye Xuan said calmly, “You and I aren’t from the same era. Dare to lower your realm and fight me?”
Emperor Ming retorted, “I earned my strength through cultivation. Why should I lower my realm to fight you? On what grounds?”
He pointed at Ye Xuan. “As I said, without your father and brother, you’re nothing!”
He then pointed at Zhou Xin. “And her—why is she with you, standing by you? You think she values you? No, she’s after the people behind you, hoping to form a connection! Yet you think she’s here for you… Without your backers, this girl wouldn’t even glance at you!”
Zhou Xin suddenly said, “You’re wrong!”
Emperor Ming looked at her. “What, going to be hypocritical too?”
Zhou Xin shook her head. “You’re wrong. First, have you cultivated to this point solely on your own? If I’m not mistaken, you were born into the imperial clan, with access to Shangqiu’s vast resources, right?”
Emperor Ming looked at her, silent.
Zhou Xin continued, “Same for me. I have good talent, but if I hadn’t been born into the Zhou Clan, I wouldn’t be where I am today. We both rely on our ancestors’ legacies—what right do we have to criticise him for relying on his father and brother?”
She shook her head again. “Another thing: you’re not from his era. At his age, I’m certain you weren’t as strong as he is! You, an old monster who’s lived countless years, comparing yourself to a young man—that’s inherently unfair. It’s not just unfair—it’s shameful. Anyone with a shred of shame wouldn’t do such a thing!”
Emperor Ming’s eyes narrowed, his expression unkind.
Zhou Xin ignored him and continued, “If you’re truly great, truly bold, go challenge his brother or father directly. But you don’t dare! You couldn’t even handle a wisp of his brother’s sword qi, meaning you’re not even in the same league as his brother or father. That’s why you want to cooperate with him. Why? Because you don’t dare use force, but you’re unwilling to let it go. You think without his brother and father, you could crush him with one slap! Too bad—he has them!”
She looked at Ye Xuan. “You also have an invincible sister, right?”
Ye Xuan nodded honestly. “But I’ve never relied on them. My journey has been through my own efforts!”
Zhou Xin stepped closer and whispered, “If you keep acting this pretentious, I won’t be able to cover for you! I’ve never said so many insincere words in my life. Don’t make this harder for me, okay?”
Ye Xuan: “…”
