Ye Xuan looked at the man in front of him and asked earnestly, “Who told you that?”
The man blinked. “Everyone knows!”
Ye Xuan: “…”
The small pagoda suddenly chimed in, “Little Master, can you tolerate this?”
Ye Xuan was about to respond when Nan Litian, in the distance, abruptly turned, pointing her sword at Ye Xuan’s statue. “I know you can hear me. Come out and fight!”
*Come out and fight!*
The crowd turned to Nan Litian. The Canglan Academy students were furious. As proud and spirited individuals, how could they tolerate such a provocation against their academy? Several students immediately stepped forward to challenge her.
At that moment, a voice rang out from the crowd. “Teacher Mo!”
*Teacher Mo!*
Everyone turned toward the mountainside, where a man was slowly descending.
This man was Mo Yunqi, one of the academy’s leading mentors!
Seeing Mo Yunqi, the Canglan Academy students bowed respectfully.
Nan Litian looked at Mo Yunqi, her expression haughty.
But Mo Yunqi didn’t even glance at her. He walked straight to Ye Xuan, smiling. “When did you get back?”
Ye Xuan grinned. “Just arrived!”
Mo Yunqi sized Ye Xuan up, then shook his head. “Is the gap between us getting bigger and bigger?”
Ye Xuan playfully punched Mo Yunqi’s chest. “In terms of looks, the gap is definitely growing!”
They exchanged a glance and burst into laughter.
At that moment, the man beside Ye Xuan stammered, “Brother… Ye… You’re not… Dean Ye, are you?”
Ye Xuan glanced at the man and smiled. “You guessed right!”
The man’s expression froze, and the next moment, he collapsed, his mind racing with one thought: *I’m done!*
*Ye Xuan!*
The crowd erupted!
Ye Xuan was back!
The legendary figure had returned?
From Canglan Mountain, countless students rushed out, nearly the entire academy emptying. Even elders and mentors in seclusion emerged!
The news of Ye Xuan’s return spread like wildfire through Qingzhou, drawing countless people to Canglan Academy!
Though Ye Xuan was the dean of Canglan Academy, he was deeply revered throughout Qingzhou. He had once saved the region and significantly advanced its martial culture.
His prestige in Qingzhou was unparalleled!
At the foot of Canglan Mountain, countless people gazed at Ye Xuan, their eyes filled with excitement and admiration!
Mo Yunqi glanced at Nan Litian. “She’s here for you. Deal with it?”
Ye Xuan turned to Nan Litian, who was staring at him.
Ye Xuan smiled. “Miss Nan, didn’t you want to spar with me? Come on, then!”
Nan Litian locked eyes with Ye Xuan. “Dean Ye, please enlighten me!”
As her voice fell, she opened her palm, and a sword appeared in her hand. The next moment, she roared, “Ten Thousand Swords Return to Origin!”
With her words, her sword shot skyward, piercing the clouds. Moments later, the air was filled with the resounding hum of swords.
Ye Xuan raised an eyebrow. Was this girl summoning the swords of every sword cultivator in Qingzhou? Interesting!
At that moment, Nan Litian opened her palm, and a sword case appeared. The next instant, ten thousand swords flew out from the case.
Ye Xuan fell silent.
She brought her own swords?
Nan Litian pointed at Ye Xuan and declared, “Ye Xuan, witness my ultimate sword technique!”
As her voice fell, she formed hand seals and chanted an incantation. Soon, the swords began to tremble, then shot toward Ye Xuan in unison. At first glance, the spectacle was awe-inspiring!
Ye Xuan smiled faintly. As the swords reached about ten feet from him, they all stopped abruptly. The next moment, they plummeted to the ground, trembling slightly.
They were afraid!
Ten thousand swords were trembling in fear!
Seeing this, Nan Litian’s eyes filled with disbelief. “This… how is this possible!”
Ye Xuan opened his palm. “Sword, come!”
As his voice fell, the entire Qingzhou quaked. Every sword in the region shot into the sky, traversing space to gather above Canglan Academy. In an instant, over a million swords filled the sky!
Among them were the ten thousand swords Nan Litian had brought!
Then Ye Xuan said, “Again!”
As his voice fell, the distant cosmic starry sky trembled. Countless swords, like meteors, streaked from the stars into the Qingcang Realm, converging above Canglan Academy.
At least several million swords hovered above the crowd!
Everyone stood petrified!
Nan Litian stared at Ye Xuan as if he were a monster. “You…”
Ye Xuan smiled. “Miss Nan, want to learn this sword-summoning trick?”
Nan Litian froze, then snapped, “Are you trying to humiliate me?”
Ye Xuan shook his head, chuckling. “You’re overthinking it.”
With a gentle wave of his right hand, all the swords vanished.
Ye Xuan turned to Mo Yunqi. “Let’s go see Elder Ji!”
*Elder Ji!*
Mo Yunqi’s expression grew solemn. After a moment, he nodded. “Alright!”
The two left.
At that moment, Nan Litian’s voice trembled. “I… I’m willing to learn from you!”
Ye Xuan paused and glanced back at her but said nothing, continuing on with Mo Yunqi.
Nan Litian stood in place, her face pale.
…
At Canglan Academy’s back mountain.
Ye Xuan arrived at Elder Ji’s grave. Without hesitation, he knelt.
*A teacher for a day, a father for life!*
Ye Xuan remained kneeling.
Nearby, two figures approached slowly.
It was Ji Anzhi and Bai Ze!
They stood to the side, silent.
After a while, Ye Xuan stood and turned to face Mo Yunqi, Ji Anzhi, and Bai Ze, smiling. “It’s been years!”
He looked at Mo Yunqi, his expression complex.
The Mo Yunqi before him was no longer the carefree rogue of the past. He had matured!
Bai Ze remained as taciturn as ever.
Ji Anzhi was still a foodie, holding a chicken drumstick even now.
Mo Yunqi suddenly grinned. “Let’s catch up! You cook!”
Ye Xuan laughed heartily. “Alright!”
The group headed to the academy’s kitchen—the same kitchen as before. Looking at the large table and chairs, Ye Xuan shook his head, smiling as a wave of familiarity washed over him.
Ye Xuan put away the Qingxuan Sword and started cooking.
Mo Yunqi, Bai Ze, and Ji Anzhi helped out.
Mo Yunqi suddenly said, “Bandit Ye, tell us about your adventures!”
Bai Ze nodded in agreement.
Ji Anzhi looked at Ye Xuan too.
Ye Xuan laughed. “Honestly, there’s not much to tell! But since you want to hear, I’ll share my invincible journey! So, after leaving the Five-Dimensional Universe, I was unmatched. To find stronger opponents, I…”
As he cooked, Ye Xuan bragged, growing more animated with each boast.
Mo Yunqi and the others listened with rapt attention.
The outer universe!
Truthfully, they were somewhat curious, but they knew their own strength. With their current power, venturing out would be incredibly dangerous.
After a while, Ye Xuan prepared a table full of dishes, and the four sat around it.
Mo Yunqi looked at Ye Xuan. “What’s your next move?”
Ye Xuan said, “I’m going to inherit the family fortune my mother left me!”
Mo Yunqi’s expression froze.
Ye Xuan added, “It’s roughly an entire universe!”
Mo Yunqi tossed down his chopsticks. “I’m not eating!”
Bai Ze hesitated, then said, “Can you leave me a small world? Something the size of Qingzhou will do!”
Ye Xuan looked at Bai Ze, curious. “What for?”
Bai Ze said, “To herd sheep!”
Ye Xuan’s expression froze.
Mo Yunqi shook his head, chuckling. “He’s obsessed with herding sheep now. He’s got tens of thousands under his care!”
Ye Xuan smiled. “Bai Ze, how’d you get into herding sheep?”
Bai Ze shoveled some rice into his mouth, then said, “It’s an interest!”
*An interest!*
Ye Xuan laughed. “Alright, I’ll save a spot for you!”
He turned to Ji Anzhi. “Anzhi, what about you?”
Ji Anzhi was silent for a moment, then said, “You once said this is your home, and you’d return here eventually, right?”
Ye Xuan nodded. “Yes.”
Ji Anzhi looked at him. “Then I’ll wait for you here.”
Ye Xuan was silent for a long time before saying, “Alright.”
Ji Anzhi froze slightly, then picked up her drumstick and started gnawing.
*Alright!*
That was a promise!
Ye Xuan looked at the three, then said, “This time, I’ve seen big changes in Canglan Academy and the Qingcang Realm. With the realm’s current strength, it’s only a matter of time before it connects with the outside world. So, you all need to improve your strength! We may not aim to dominate the universe, but we need the power to avoid being dominated!”
Mo Yunqi nodded. “Agreed!”
He looked at Ye Xuan. “Got anything good for us?”
Ye Xuan nodded and placed a storage ring on the table. “This ring contains star veins—very precious. Don’t reveal too much, or you’ll attract unnecessary trouble!”
Mo Yunqi unceremoniously took the ring. “Anything else?”
Ye Xuan shook his head. “Not for now!”
Mo Yunqi nodded. “Let’s eat!”
The three immediately began devouring the food.
Ye Xuan laughed and was about to pick up his chopsticks when a woman appeared at the kitchen door—Nan Litian.
Nan Litian looked at Ye Xuan and knelt. “Take me as your disciple!”
Ye Xuan looked at her. “Why should I take you as my disciple?”
Nan Litian stared at him. “I won’t disgrace you!”
Ye Xuan shook his head.
Nan Litian fell silent.
Soon, the four of them polished off the table’s dishes.
Mo Yunqi wiped his mouth, grinning. “Still the same taste! I’ve got some things to handle.”
He stood to leave but paused after a few steps, turning to Bai Ze with a meaningful look. “Aren’t you going to herd your sheep?”
Clearly, he was trying to give Ye Xuan and Ji Anzhi some alone time.
Bai Ze glanced at Mo Yunqi. “It’s nighttime. Herd what sheep? You idiot!”
Mo Yunqi’s face darkened. “Go herd your sheep!”
Bai Ze slammed the table. “Mo, you prick, are you picking a fight today?”
Mo Yunqi’s expression was grim. “No wonder you’re single—you’ll be single forever, you moron!”
Bai Ze froze, then glanced at Ye Xuan and Ji Anzhi. “Did I… interrupt you two?”
Ye Xuan: “…”
