No longer interested in money!
Ye Xuan fell silent, a pang of discomfort in his chest, feeling uneasy.
“Two hundred one billion?”
In the distance, the young man burst into laughter. “You’re too stingy!”
He turned to the woman on stage, boldly declaring, “Three hundred billion!”
Beside Ye Xuan, Qin Guan said, “Bid. Bid freely.”
*Bid freely!*
Ye Xuan smiled faintly, “Three hundred one billion!”
*Three hundred one billion!*
Just one billion more!
The young man looked at Ye Xuan. “Four hundred billion!”
Ye Xuan immediately said, “Four hundred one billion!”
The young man’s eyes narrowed. “Five hundred billion!”
Ye Xuan grinned, “Five hundred one billion!”
The young man stared at Ye Xuan. “Do you even know what five hundred billion is?”
Ye Xuan shook his head, “Nope!”
The young man glared, his gaze icy. “You don’t know, and you still bid?”
Ye Xuan looked puzzled, “Can’t I bid without money?”
The crowd’s lips twitched.
*Damn!*
*No money, and you’re bidding?*
The young man turned to the woman on stage. “Can you bid without money?”
The woman smiled, “Sir, you can bid without money, but if the winner can’t pay, the Immortal Treasure Pavilion will handle the punishment!”
The young man grinned, “What kind of punishment?”
The woman glanced at Qin Guan beside Ye Xuan, then said, “Depends on the person!”
The crowd: “…”
The young man’s smile turned cold. “So, if they have a big backer, you let them off?”
The woman smiled faintly, “Sir, you can keep bidding or stop. If you stop, the item goes to the gentleman beside you!”
The young man glared at her. “What if he has no money?”
The woman’s expression remained calm. “That’s between the Immortal Treasure Pavilion and him!”
The young man was silent for a moment, then said, “Six hundred billion!”
Beside him, Ye Xuan grinned, “Six hundred one billion!”
The young man stared at Ye Xuan. “Seven hundred billion!”
Ye Xuan instantly said, “Seven hundred one billion!”
The young man turned to the woman. “One thousand billion!”
*One thousand billion!*
The hall fell silent.
This was no small sum, even for the Guanxuan Universe’s top forces, who couldn’t produce it easily or quickly!
For this young man to bid one thousand billion, he was no ordinary figure!
He turned to Ye Xuan, taunting, “Keep bidding!”
Ye Xuan stood, glaring at him, face dark with anger. “One thousand five hundred billion!”
The crowd: “…”
Seeing Ye Xuan like an enraged bull, the young man’s lips curved into a barely noticeable smirk. “One thousand seven hundred billion!”
Ye Xuan suddenly said, “I’m out!”
He sat back down.
The young man’s smile froze, his mind reeling.
The crowd’s expressions turned strange.
The young man stared at Ye Xuan. “You’re playing me!”
Ye Xuan looked puzzled, “What do you mean? I don’t have that much money, so I stopped. Is that a problem?”
The young man’s eyes narrowed. “No one’s ever dared mess with me like this!”
Ye Xuan seemed genuinely confused, “Didn’t you say you have nothing but money? If you’re so rich, why get mad? Unless…”
He feigned shock, “Unless you’re like me, with no money, just blindly bidding?”
The crowd: “…”
The young man stared at Ye Xuan. “One-on-one!”
Ye Xuan shook his head, “No thanks!”
The young man sneered, “No guts?”
Ye Xuan thought, then said, “What’s in it for me?”
The crowd: “…”
The young man glared, “You want a reward for a fight?”
Ye Xuan said seriously, “Why fight without a reward? Am I bored? If you want a fight, fine, but there’s got to be a stake. That Heavenly Pulse of yours isn’t bad—let’s bet with that!”
*Heavenly Pulse!*
The crowd’s expressions shifted.
So, this kid was after the Heavenly Pulse!
The young man looked at Ye Xuan, realizing he wasn’t foolish but pretending, eyeing his Heavenly Pulse!
Ye Xuan grinned, “Fight or not?”
The young man glanced at him. “I have a Heavenly Pulse. What do you have?”
Ye Xuan opened his palm, revealing a stone.
Another Heavenly Pulse!
Seeing it, the young man’s eyes narrowed. “You have it!”
Ye Xuan nodded, “Fight or not?”
The young man fell silent.
Ye Xuan laughed, “If you won’t fight, fine. I’ll sell this Heavenly Pulse for at least two thousand billion Star God Veins!”
The young man’s right hand slowly clenched as he stared at Ye Xuan, lost in thought.
Everyone knew there were three Heavenly Pulses. His family had two, and he was determined to get the third!
With that in mind, he looked at Ye Xuan and smiled, “Fighting hurts harmony. Brother, I was rude earlier—please forgive me!”
Ye Xuan fell silent.
This was unexpected—the guy backed down!
The young man glanced at Ye Xuan and looked away. He wasn’t stupid. If this kid dared bet a Heavenly Pulse, it meant confidence!
*Hold back!*
The woman on stage walked to him, holding the sword case. “Sir, one thousand seven hundred billion Star God Veins!”
The young man was silent.
The woman said calmly, “Sir?”
He said in a low voice, “I don’t have that much!”
The woman nodded and stepped aside. A terrifying pressure suddenly filled the hall, and Shenxiu appeared before the young man.
Seeing her, his pupils shrank, heart racing.
*Half-Step Guanxuan Realm!*
The Immortal Treasure Pavilion had such a terrifying powerhouse?
Shenxiu looked at him, “Three choices: pay in full, pay thirty percent penalty, or leave your head to hang outside the hall!”
The young man’s face darkened. He pointed at Ye Xuan, “He bid recklessly too, breaking your rules!”
Shenxiu said expressionlessly, “How do you know he has no money?”
The young man snapped, “He said it himself—everyone heard!”
Ye Xuan laughed, “I don’t have money, so I stopped! You don’t have money, so why bid? The final price was yours, not mine!”
The young man stared, silent.
Shenxiu said, “Choose.”
After a moment, he said, “I’ll pay the penalty!”
*Penalty: hundreds of billions!*
A massive loss!
But he couldn’t pay the full amount—one thousand seven hundred billion was too much, even for his family!
He considered fleeing, but Shenxiu crushed that thought!
He opened his palm, and a storage ring floated to the woman. She took it and walked to Ye Xuan and Qin Guan, handing it to Qin Guan.
Seeing this, the young man’s face darkened. “You… you and the Immortal Treasure Pavilion set me up!”
An elder on the left sneered, “Set you up? Kid, open your eyes! That’s Pavilion Master Qin Guan! You’re blind!”
*Pavilion Master Qin Guan!*
The young man froze, then quickly clasped his fists, “Pavilion Master Qin, I was rude!”
Qin Guan smiled, “Sir, you tried to trick my friend first, but you misjudged the situation and got tricked instead. You brought this on yourself!”
The young man lowered his head, silent.
Qin Guan took the storage ring and handed it to Ye Xuan, “Yours!”
Ye Xuan blinked, “For me?”
Qin Guan nodded.
Ye Xuan chuckled, “How embarrassing!”
He pocketed the ring.
Qin Guan rolled her eyes, then picked up the sword case, examining it. “This is indeed exceptional and suits you perfectly!”
She handed it to Ye Xuan, “For you!”
Ye Xuan looked at her, “For me?”
Qin Guan nodded, “Yes!”
Ye Xuan was silent for a moment, then said, “Why?”
Qin Guan smiled, “I like it, so I’m giving it to you!”
Ye Xuan paused, then said, “Alright!”
He took the sword case.
Qin Guan stood, “Time to part ways!”
Ye Xuan looked at her, stunned, feeling the suddenness.
Qin Guan smiled, “I have to go somewhere to handle something!”
Ye Xuan thought, then smiled, “Until we meet again!”
Qin Guan smiled faintly, hesitated, then said, “Want Shenxiu to stay and help you?”
Ye Xuan shook his head, “No need!”
Qin Guan blinked, “Relying on yourself?”
Ye Xuan nodded.
Qin Guan smiled, “Take care!”
She turned to leave.
Ye Xuan suddenly asked, “Will we meet again?”
Qin Guan stopped, silent for a long time, then said, “Probably not!”
Ye Xuan was puzzled, “Why?”
Qin Guan turned to him, blinking, “Can I speak the truth?”
Ye Xuan laughed, “Of course!”
Qin Guan was silent for a while, then said, “Young Master Ye, to be honest, I’m already beyond the Guanxuan Universe. I came back to meet you for two reasons. First, you’re Uncle Yang’s son. He’s remarkable, rising from nothing—it’s incredibly hard. I wanted to see what his son is like. Second, you’re this era’s Chosen One. I wanted to meet the Chosen One of this age.”
She paused, then continued, “You asked if we’ll meet again, and I said probably not. My pace is fast—you might not catch up.”
Ye Xuan: “…”
Qin Guan giggled, “Not mad, right?”
Ye Xuan shook his head, smiling.
Qin Guan walked to him, opened her palm, revealing a small wooden figure, and handed it to him. “If we meet again and you’re still willing to give it to me, I’ll accept.”
Ye Xuan looked at the figure, “It only represents pure friendship.”
Qin Guan looked at him, “Can I speak the truth?”
Ye Xuan: “…”
Qin Guan smiled, “I know you have Uncle Yang and an invincible Chosen One behind you, but I don’t befriend people for their status or backers. I judge them for who they are.”
She paused, then added, “You’re clever and loyal, but, Young Master Ye, frankly, your path has veered off.”
Ye Xuan looked at her, “What do you mean?”
Qin Guan thought, then said, “What I say next might hurt, but I mean to help.”
She paused, then continued, “You’re alive today not because you’re the Chosen One, but because of the Chosen One and Uncle Yang. You know this but keep avoiding it. Avoiding your heart is weakness, and you haven’t realized this inner frailty. The true path of the Dao is walked alone, not paved by others. They’ve paved your way, and you walk it with ease—that’s not good. You may not know, but you’ve survived this far because the Chosen One in the Milky Way has been extending your life. Without her, your story would’ve ended long ago!”
She shook her head, sighing softly, “Young Master Ye, the path isn’t just forward—you should look back sometimes. Looking back helps you remember your original intent. In Qing City, relying on no one, you still thrived. Your resolve then was no weaker than your father’s. Now, you’re flashy. You’re flashy not because of your strength, but because of the Chosen One. With her, you’re fearless.”
She smiled faintly, “I came to find and help you, and you probably think I’m currying favor with Uncle Yang or the Chosen One, right?”
Ye Xuan was silent, fists clenched.
Qin Guan said softly, “Young Master Ye, have you noticed a serious problem? Often, your confidence doesn’t come from you, but from the Chosen One. She’s there, so you’re confident. Don’t you think that’s sad?”
Ye Xuan lowered his head, lost in thought.
Qin Guan placed the wooden figure in his hand, smiling, “I don’t dislike second-generation heirs, but I don’t like those who take pride in it. Young Master Ye, I look forward to meeting again, and to you rediscovering your true self. Your three swords aren’t scary—what’s scary is you treating them as your ceiling, thinking they can’t be surpassed. The more you think that, the less you’ll surpass them!”
She smiled, “The universe’s boundary lies where human heart and steps haven’t reached, and so does the Dao. Don’t limit yourself with the three swords—limit yourself with *you*. Young Master Ye, may we meet again!”
She turned and walked out of the hall.
Ye Xuan remained silent.
Moments later, his aura plummeted, his realm dropping rapidly…
In moments, Ye Xuan fell to the First Rank Body Tempering Realm.
In the hall, the young man froze, then laughed wildly, “Pathetic, truly pathetic! A mere sword cultivator, your Dao heart shattered! Your Dao heart was built on others, haha…”
Sighs echoed in the hall. His mindset had collapsed—this man was finished.
At the hall’s entrance, Qin Guan stopped, sighed softly, and quickly vanished into the distance.
In the hall, Ye Xuan suddenly laughed, “Miss Qin, thank you. Today, I, Ye Xuan, destroy my Dao heart. I am me—not Yang Ye’s son, not Qing’er’s brother, not some Chosen One. I am *me*…”
His voice fell, and his aura surged wildly!
*Dao heart reforged!*
In an instant, his aura peaked!
Suddenly, Ye Xuan vanished. The young man’s face changed, but before he could act, Ye Xuan’s sword pierced half an inch into his brow.
Ye Xuan stared at him, “Go on, laugh. Laugh until I’m satisfied!”
The young man: “…”
…
