In the sea of flowers, the two embraced tightly!
Ye Xuan gazed at the fading glow on the horizon, his right hand gently stroking Jiang Jiu’s back.
The thin veil between him and Jiang Jiu had finally been pierced.
This trip, he had come to make promises to the women he loved.
After a long while, Ye Xuan and Jiang Jiu parted ways.
Jiang Jiu returned to the Jiang Kingdom, while Ye Xuan went back to Canglan Academy.
At Canglan Mountain, the small pagoda suddenly spoke up, “Little Master, what did Little Mistress Jiu say to you when you parted? It made you grin so… lecherously!”
Ye Xuan replied calmly, “None of your business!”
The pagoda: “…”
Ye Xuan approached Nan Litian, who looked up at him. “I know I was wrong!”
Ye Xuan smiled. “Get up first.”
Nan Litian hesitated, then stood.
Ye Xuan studied her. “You love swords?”
Nan Litian nodded. “Yes!”
Ye Xuan thought for a moment, then asked, “What’s your purpose in learning the sword?”
Nan Litian met his gaze. “Whatever purpose you want me to have, that’s my purpose!”
Ye Xuan’s expression froze, but he chuckled and shook his head. “How about this: from now on, you’ll be a guardian of Canglan Academy. Sound good?”
Nan Litian nodded. “Good!”
Ye Xuan flicked his finger, and a wisp of white light entered her forehead.
*Boom!*
Nan Litian’s body trembled slightly as countless pieces of information flooded her mind.
Ye Xuan said, “This is a swordsmanship legacy. From today, you are a guardian of Canglan Academy!”
With that, he turned and left.
At the hall’s entrance, Nan Litian stood silently for a long time before turning to leave.
In the distance, the small pagoda suddenly asked, “Little Master, aren’t you afraid she’ll go back on her word?”
Ye Xuan laughed. “Once she cultivates my swordsmanship, she’ll revere me like a god!”
With that, he vanished from the spot. When he reappeared, he was in Tuoba Yan’s palace.
At the entrance to the palace hall, Tuoba Yan stood quietly, clad in her dragon robe, her graceful figure and stunning beauty as captivating as ever.
She turned to Ye Xuan, rolling her eyes. “I thought you weren’t coming back!”
Ye Xuan grinned. “How could I not?”
He walked up to her, wrapping his arms around her waist.
Tuoba Yan nestled her head against his chest, whispering, “It’s good that you’re back!”
Ye Xuan gently stroked her silky hair, and the two stood in a quiet embrace, doing nothing more.
At dusk, Ye Xuan sat on the stone steps, gazing at the star-filled sky, vast and profound.
Tuoba Yan leaned against his shoulder.
Ye Xuan looked down at her, smiling. “This peaceful life is actually quite nice!”
Tuoba Yan met his gaze, smiling faintly. “Without reaching the peak, what right do you have to speak of peace?”
Ye Xuan laughed heartily. “True!”
A peaceful life?
If someone sought peace without ever tasting the heights, that was forced tranquility, not a pursuit of it.
Even someone like his father was still striving—how could Ye Xuan talk of peace?
If he didn’t strive now, what if some great power took a dislike to Qingzhou one day and obliterated it with a mere whim?
Peace, often, was a form of helplessness!
*Strive!*
Ye Xuan took a deep breath, then said, “Yan’er, I’m heading to the Xuan Realm. Will you come with me?”
Tuoba Yan shook her head. “I’ll stay here. The outside world is too vast—I’m not used to it!”
Ye Xuan looked at her, smiling. “Alright!”
With the Qingxuan Sword, returning to Qingzhou was a matter of moments.
Tuoba Yan suddenly asked, “Are you leaving now?”
Ye Xuan laughed. “Of course not!”
With that, he whisked Tuoba Yan away, simultaneously tossing the small pagoda into the depths of the starry sky…
The pagoda: “…”
Ten “days” later, Ye Xuan left Qingzhou.
In the starry sky, Ye Xuan opened his palm, and the small pagoda appeared. Entering the pagoda, he began absorbing the cosmic hearts the Immortal Treasure Pavilion had given him.
Among them was a Sixth Realm cosmic heart!
Soon, Ye Xuan absorbed all the remaining cosmic hearts, reaching the equivalent of the Fifth Layer of the Cosmic Heart Realm!
His strength had grown significantly!
The Qingxuan Sword, having absorbed the souls of the Demon Sect’s powerhouses, had also improved greatly.
And the small pagoda couldn’t be overlooked—it was now formidable!
One man, one pagoda, one sword!
The pagoda suddenly asked, “Little Master, are we heading to the Xuan Realm now?”
Ye Xuan shook his head. “I need to see an old friend first!”
The pagoda asked, “Is it a woman?”
Ye Xuan snapped, “None of your business!”
With that, he vanished.
…
Soon, Ye Xuan arrived in the Nine-Dimensional Universe.
*The Immortal Emperor Clan!*
Ye Xuan had never forgotten this clan, which had fought to the death for him.
In a small hall, Ye Xuan sat across from Dongli Jing.
Dongli Jing looked at him. “I thought you wouldn’t come back!”
Ye Xuan shook his head, smiling. “This is my home!”
*Home!*
The Immortal Emperor Clan was his mother’s family, and thus his own.
Dongli Jing was silent for a moment, then asked, “When are you leaving?”
Ye Xuan smiled. “Soon!”
He opened his palm, and a storage ring floated to Dongli Jing. “Clan Leader, this ring contains star veins, cultivation resources, and legacies that will help the Immortal Emperor Clan!”
Dongli Jing looked at the ring. “We feel like parasites, relying on you for everything…”
Ye Xuan shook his head. “We’re family—why say such things? If I have something, I share it with the clan. If I don’t, there’s nothing I can do!”
Dongli Jing was silent for a moment, then took the ring. “Alright!”
Ye Xuan stood to leave but paused, as if recalling something. “Clan Leader, has anyone broken the sword qi I left behind?”
Dongli Jing shook her head. “No one.”
Ye Xuan smiled. “Should I weaken it a bit?”
Dongli Jing shook her head. “No need. A challenge is better!”
Ye Xuan laughed. “Alright, Clan Leader, I’m off!”
Dongli Jing nodded.
Ye Xuan turned and vanished.
In the hall, Dongli Jing looked at the ring, silent for a long time before shaking her head with a smile. “This lad…”
…
Above the Immortal Emperor Clan, Ye Xuan glanced at the sword qi he’d left behind, smiling. “Little Pagoda, do you think anyone will ever break my sword qi?”
The pagoda replied, “Definitely!”
Ye Xuan was curious. “How so?”
The pagoda said, “Little Master, you’re not *that* powerful right now… Your sword qi isn’t that intimidating!”
Ye Xuan: “…”
The pagoda added, “But if someone does break it, it’ll mean the start of another legendary tale!”
Ye Xuan laughed heartily, transforming into a streak of sword light and vanishing into the horizon.
…
*The Xuan Realm.*
Ye Xuan’s destination this time was the Xuan Realm. Since Dongli Nan had given him the location, he used the Qingxuan Sword to teleport directly there.
Upon arriving, a middle-aged man appeared before him.
It was Zuo Jingsi, one of the Four Gods.
Zuo Jingsi bowed slightly to Ye Xuan. “Young Master, I’ve been waiting!”
Ye Xuan smiled. “Tell me about the Xuan Realm!”
Zuo Jingsi nodded. “Young Master, follow me!”
As they walked, Zuo Jingsi explained, “The Xuan Realm was created by the Mistress. It has four main divisions. The first is our Four Gods Hall, led by four hall masters: myself, Right Law Heaven Hall Master, Xuan Weijin Hall Master, and Nan Weiyang Hall Master. Below us are the Eight Pavilions, led by eight pavilion masters—four civil, four martial—handling the realm’s internal affairs. Below them are the Sixteen Gates, responsible for executing the policies set by the Eight Pavilions.”
Ye Xuan smiled. “What authority do I have?”
Zuo Jingsi shook his head, chuckling. “Young Master, the entire Xuan Realm is yours!”
Ye Xuan blinked. “So everyone will listen to me?”
Zuo Jingsi nodded. “Of course!”
Ye Xuan, as if recalling something, asked, “What about that Yang Yan… is she still here?”
He hadn’t forgotten Yang Yan and the Young Commander. He didn’t believe for a second that the Young Commander acted without someone pulling the strings.
Zuo Jingsi said, “Young Master, rest assured. Though the Mistress spared her, Yang Yan wouldn’t dare harbour ill intentions toward you!”
Ye Xuan smiled. “Was she the Mistress’s adopted daughter?”
Zuo Jingsi nodded. “Her ill intentions stemmed from wanting to seize the Young Master’s position!”
Ye Xuan laughed. “Let’s not talk about her. I have many questions—let’s find a place to talk!”
Zuo Jingsi smiled. “Young Master, you’ll have to wait for your questions!”
Ye Xuan was puzzled. “Why?”
Zuo Jingsi said, “The Mistress left something for you!”
Ye Xuan froze. “Something for me?”
Zuo Jingsi nodded. “Yes! Young Master, follow me!”
With that, he turned and left.
Ye Xuan hurriedly followed, curious and expectant. What had his mother left for him?
Led by Zuo Jingsi, Ye Xuan arrived at a small hall. Soon, they reached a stone door.
Zuo Jingsi bowed slightly. “Young Master, go in alone.”
Ye Xuan nodded. “Alright!”
As he took two steps forward, the stone door opened automatically.
Entering, the door closed behind him, and Ye Xuan froze.
Before him stood three swords!
They were utterly ordinary, just plain iron swords.
But!
But!
Each sword contained a strand of sword qi—his father’s sword qi, familiar to him. Unlike the sword qi he’d received before, these three strands carried the aura of sword spirits. Even the Demon Sect’s little demon leader had been powerless against such sword qi!
*Three strands of Father’s sword qi!*
Ye Xuan’s heart warmed. He knew his mother must have gone to great lengths to obtain these.
He shook his head, smiling, and collected the three swords. Turning, he looked elsewhere—and froze.
…
