Hearing Ye Xuan’s words, the faces of the Shi Clan experts darkened.
This sword cultivator was no ordinary man!
Trying to sow discord between Shitian and the Shi Clan—how sinister were his intentions?
Some Shi Clan experts were ready to act, but Shi Yuan stopped them.
Ye Xuan was now in the Time Realm. Ordinary experts attacking him would be courting death.
Shi Yuan looked at Ye Xuan with a light chuckle. “Ye Xuan, I must say, both you and Dao Ling have surprised me. Dao Ling can achieve nirvana in a desperate situation and charge toward the Time Realm—his talent is rare in history! As for you…”
Ye Xuan grinned. “What about me?”
Shi Yuan stared intently at him. “You have someone backing you, don’t you?”
Ye Xuan nodded. “To be honest, I do!”
Shi Yuan smiled. “Are they strong?”
Ye Xuan laughed. “Pretty decent, just a tiny bit stronger than me.”
Shi Yuan’s eyes narrowed, his faint smile hiding his thoughts.
At that moment, a Shi Clan expert said gravely, “Clan Leader, he’s stalling!”
Ye Xuan chuckled. “Elder, it’s not just me stalling—your Clan Leader is stalling too!”
Everyone turned to Shi Yuan.
Shi Yuan said expressionlessly, “I don’t know how he reached the Time Realm, but such a method must have side effects. We just need to wait. In time, his secret technique will fade, and he’ll likely weaken.”
He looked at Ye Xuan. “Am I right, Young Master Ye?”
Ye Xuan nodded. “Correct!”
Inside, he was thrilled.
Did using the Qingxuan Sword to boost himself have side effects? Not really! The only issue was that he couldn’t fully control Time Realm power yet. As Shi Yuan said, using it would weaken him. But if he didn’t use it, he wouldn’t weaken at all!
Ye Xuan was ecstatic!
If Shi Yuan and the others attacked together, he’d be in trouble. Despite the Qingxuan Sword, these three were genuine Time Realm experts—they could wear him down!
The scene fell quiet.
The Shi Clan waited!
Unaware of the small pagoda’s existence, they weren’t in a rush.
Ye Xuan was waiting too!
Suddenly, Shi Yuan said, “Young Master Ye, I hear you know Pavilion Master Qin!”
Ye Xuan nodded. “Yes.”
Shi Yuan stared at him. “What’s your relationship?”
Ye Xuan smiled. “Friends!”
Shi Yuan chuckled. “Friends? Young Master Ye, are you joking?”
Ye Xuan was speechless.
He realized that when he, Ye Xuan, told the truth, no one believed him!
Shi Yuan pressed, “Young Master Ye, what’s your real relationship with Pavilion Master Qin?”
Clearly, he feared Qin Guan!
Ye Xuan said, “Friends!”
Shi Yuan stared at him. “Impossible. From what I know, she’s always been a loner with no friends. You can’t be her friend!”
Ye Xuan frowned. “Then what do you think we are?”
Shi Yuan paused, then said, “I don’t know!”
Ye Xuan: “…”
Shi Yuan added, “Young Master Ye, if you think Pavilion Master Qin’s presence will make our Shi Clan spare you, you’re mistaken!”
Ye Xuan laughed. “Clan Leader Shi Yuan, you keep mentioning Miss Qin. It’s clear you’re very afraid of her!”
He saw through it!
This Shi Yuan was deeply wary of Qin Guan!
With that thought, Ye Xuan smiled again. “Clan Leader Shi Yuan, I’ll be honest. I have someone behind me—someone you can’t afford to provoke. How about we call a truce, go our separate ways, and never trouble each other again? What do you say?”
Shi Yuan sneered. “Ridiculous!”
Ye Xuan was speechless.
*See? I lay my cards on the table, and no one believes me!*
At that moment, Shi Ru said, “Clan Leader, something’s off!”
He studied Ye Xuan. “He shows no signs of backlash!”
Shi Yuan frowned, noticing it too! Ye Xuan remained calm, his aura steady, without a hint of disorder!
Just then, Ye Xuan coughed violently, his face turning slightly pale.
Seeing this, Shi Yuan and Shi Ru froze.
Some Shi Clan experts smirked. Ye Xuan was suffering backlash!
Shi Yuan looked at Ye Xuan. “Is he faking?”
Shi Ru said gravely, “It’s possible!”
Suddenly, blood trickled from Ye Xuan’s mouth.
Shi Ru and Shi Yuan froze again.
*He’s bleeding?*
Ye Xuan looked at Shi Yuan, laughing. “Clan Leader Shi Yuan, I’ve heard you’re the top powerhouse in the Zhou Tian Universe. I’d like to spar with you—please indulge me!”
Shi Yuan stared at him. “You’re about to collapse!”
Ye Xuan’s eyes widened, as if enraged. “Nonsense! I can still fight! Come on, let’s duel!”
Shi Yuan smiled. “Young Master Ye, such agitation will harm your mindset!”
Ye Xuan glared at Shi Yuan, as if trying to kill him with his gaze.
The angrier Ye Xuan seemed, the happier the Shi Clan experts became!
Suddenly, more blood spilled from Ye Xuan’s mouth. He quickly wiped it away.
Seeing this, the Shi Clan experts couldn’t help but chuckle.
Relying on external tools wasn’t the true path!
Shi Yuan laughed. “Young Master Ye, if you can’t hold on, don’t force it!”
Ye Xuan stood silently, his body starting to tremble.
He closed his eyes, muttering inwardly, “Dao Ling, how much longer? If I keep pretending, I’ll run out of blood to spit!”
After a pause, Dao Ling said, “Brother Ye… I’ve hit a snag!”
Ye Xuan: “…”
Dao Ling said gravely, “There are many issues I can’t figure out. Brother Ye, I… I need more time! I…”
Ye Xuan snapped, “More time? Do you think I can take on the entire Shi Clan alone?”
Dao Ling gave a bitter laugh. “Brother Ye, it’s tough! The Time Realm—I’ve never touched it before. This is my first time, so I’m confused by many things.”
Ye Xuan said, “What’s so confusing about the Time Realm?”
As he spoke, a notebook appeared before Dao Ling.
Dao Ling froze. “Brother Ye, what’s this?”
Ye Xuan said calmly, “My notes. They contain my thoughts and understanding of the Time Realm. Take a look!”
Dao Ling hesitated, then opened it. Moments later, his pupils shrank. “Holy crap, Brother Ye… Did you really write this?”
Ye Xuan remained composed. “Who else?”
Dao Ling swallowed hard, his voice trembling. “Brother Ye… You’re incredible! I thought you were an uneducated slacker before. I’m ashamed… So ashamed!”
*Slacker?*
Ye Xuan: “???”
Dao Ling quickly added, “Brother Ye, I’ll break through soon. Hold on a bit longer. Once I’m out, we brothers will join forces and wipe out the Shi Clan in a snap!”
Outside.
Ye Xuan stood quietly, occasionally spitting blood. His chest was now stained red with blood.
At first glance, he looked pretty pitiful!
The Shi Clan experts’ smiles grew brighter.
Clearly, Ye Xuan was on his last legs!
But Shi Ru, beside Shi Yuan, frowned. “Something’s wrong!”
Shi Yuan looked at him. “What?”
Shi Ru stared at Ye Xuan. “He’s spitting blood, but his aura’s stable. Though he seems angry, his gaze is calm! I think he’s faking!”
Shi Yuan looked at Ye Xuan. After a moment’s silence, his right hand slowly clenched.
Just then, Ye Xuan’s aura began to weaken!
*His aura’s fading!*
Seeing this, Shi Yuan froze, then laughed. “What, Young Master Ye, are you suffering backlash?”
Ye Xuan closed his eyes, fists clenched.
Shi Yuan chuckled. “Young Master Ye, using a secret technique to reach the Time Realm must come with strong side effects, right?”
Ye Xuan glanced at him, silent.
Shi Yuan smiled. “Don’t worry, Young Master Ye. We won’t attack now. We can wait!”
Ye Xuan suddenly said, “Clan Leader Shi Yuan, can we talk?”
Shi Yuan laughed. “Talk? What does Young Master Ye want to discuss?”
Ye Xuan thought, then said, “Clan Leader Shi Yuan, look, we have no real grudge. Escalating a small matter into a life-or-death conflict doesn’t seem worth it!”
Shi Yuan sneered. “I think it’s very worth it. Haven’t you heard of cutting the grass at the root? Besides, if you held the advantage today, would you be talking with us? No, you wouldn’t!”
Ye Xuan sighed softly.
Shi Yuan added, “Young Master Ye, in this world, there’s often no right or wrong—just positions. Your existence threatens our Shi Clan, so you must die. Understand?”
Ye Xuan nodded after a pause. “Got it! I’ll remember your words today.”
Shi Yuan laughed. “Planning revenge? Too bad you won’t get the chance!”
Ye Xuan suddenly spat out a mouthful of vital blood, his body bending as if about to collapse. At that moment, Shi Yuan’s eyes narrowed, and he signaled. Instantly, a Time Realm expert vanished!
*Slash!*
A cold glint sliced toward the collapsing Ye Xuan!
Shi Yuan stayed vigilant, scanning for anyone who might try to save Ye Xuan.
He was guarding against the Zhou Tian Clan, fearing they’d swoop in to rescue Ye Xuan and Dao Ling!
As the Time Realm expert reached Ye Xuan, Ye Xuan suddenly looked up. In a flash, he lunged forward, slashing his sword.
Seeing Ye Xuan spring into action, the Time Realm expert’s face changed. *This guy was faking?*
*Boom!*
A burst of sword light erupted. The next moment, the Time Realm expert was hurled back tens of thousands of zhang, his body shattering upon stopping!
The Shi Clan experts froze!
Shi Yuan was stunned, then snarled, “You were pretending!”
Ye Xuan blinked, then spat another mouthful of blood. “Ouch, I can’t go on! Clan Leader Shi Yuan, I really can’t! My heart hurts… I’m in so much pain…”
Everyone: “…”
