*Pretending!*
The Shi Clan experts’ faces turned extremely grim. They finally understood!
Ye Xuan was faking it!
But the question was, how was Ye Xuan, who used a secret technique to reach the Time Realm, not suffering any backlash?
This was what Shi Yuan couldn’t figure out!
*How is this possible?*
In the distance, Ye Xuan stood with his sword, a faint smile on his face. “Clan Leader Shi Yuan, you must have a lot of questions, huh?”
Shi Yuan looked at him. “Why aren’t you suffering backlash?”
Ye Xuan laughed. “Wanna know?”
Shi Yuan nodded. “Very curious!”
Ye Xuan grinned. “I’m not telling you!”
Shi Yuan’s eyes narrowed. The next moment, he vanished.
*Slash!*
The space in front of Ye Xuan split into a massive rift, ten thousand zhang wide. A colossal hand emerged from the rift.
*Boom!*
As the hand appeared, the starfield trembled violently, then shattered like glass under a hammer’s blow—utterly terrifying.
Before that colossal hand, Ye Xuan seemed insignificant!
Yet, there was no trace of fear in his eyes!
Ye Xuan slowly closed his eyes.
*Calm breath!*
*Focused mind!*
*Steady heart!*
In that moment, Ye Xuan felt the world go silent. Between heaven and earth, it was just him and his sword!
The colossal hand slammed down.
As it descended, the starry sky began to annihilate!
Ye Xuan’s eyes snapped open. He stomped his right foot, transforming into a streak of sword light that shot skyward.
*Buzz!*
A sword’s cry echoed through the stars, and a slash of sword light struck the giant hand.
*Boom!*
The hand trembled but didn’t break. Instead, it continued its descent.
*Boom!*
Ye Xuan plummeted from the starry sky, crashing into the ground below, creating a bottomless abyss!
The space where the hand passed was utterly erased!
In the starry sky, Shi Yuan frowned, sensing something off. His pupils shrank. “He’s escaping!”
He dove downward!
*Slash!*
The heavens and earth tore open with a massive gash!
His speed was too fast!
But Ye Xuan had already vanished into the abyss using the Qingxuan Sword.
In another unknown starfield, a rift opened, and a sword light flew out!
It was Ye Xuan!
He glanced around, then vanished again. But at that moment, the space-time he was in exploded, and a terrifying force yanked him out of his spatial traversal!
As he emerged, Shi Yuan appeared before him, along with two other Time Realm experts. The one whose body Ye Xuan had shattered earlier had restored his form and was now glaring at Ye Xuan with a gaze that could devour him.
He’d been tricked! It was a humiliating disgrace!
Ye Xuan glanced at the three. “Martial code—duel!”
Shi Yuan sneered. “Duel? Why would we duel you? If you’ve got the skills, call for backup!”
Ye Xuan hesitated, then said, “That’s not great, is it?”
Shi Yuan’s expression was calm. “Go on, call them!”
Ye Xuan shook his head. “I won’t!”
Shi Yuan’s eyes narrowed. “Why not?”
Ye Xuan thought, then said, “If Qing’er shows up, things might get messy!”
Small Pagoda: “…”
Shi Yuan’s right hand slowly clenched. “The one behind you isn’t Pavilion Master Qin!”
Clearly, he’d goaded Ye Xuan to call for help to see who backed him.
Even now, Shi Yuan was cautious. Why? He hadn’t figured out Ye Xuan’s true origins. Someone like Ye Xuan must have a powerful force behind him!
Without knowing that force, he couldn’t rest easy.
Ye Xuan was exasperated. “Clan Leader Shi Yuan, I’ve told you! The one behind me is super strong—really, really strong, stronger than Pavilion Master Qin. Believe me just this once, please? I swear, I’m not lying this time! Trust me, the one behind me is invincible!”
Shi Yuan looked at him. “You’re trying to bluff me!”
Ye Xuan’s expression froze. “Damn it!”
Shi Yuan continued, “You keep emphasizing how strong your backer is—laughable! It’s like rich people in the mortal world: the truly wealthy never brag about their wealth! You say your backer’s invincible, but clearly, you’re bluffing! Am I right?”
Ye Xuan: “…”
Shi Yuan went on, “I’m almost certain now—you have a force behind you, but it’s not that strong. So, Ye Xuan, prepare to die!”
His voice fell, and his right hand shot upward.
*Boom!*
A thunderous roar erupted from the depths of the starry sky. Countless dark divine thunderbolts surged forth, causing the entire star river to tremble violently. Matter began to annihilate bit by bit.
Ye Xuan frowned. *What’s this now?*
Shi Yuan roared, “Condense!”
*Boom!*
In the starry sky, the countless dark divine thunderbolts coalesced into a massive sword, tens of thousands of zhang long!
The moment the sword formed—
*Boom!*
The star river turned illusory, and all things fell silent!
The starfield couldn’t withstand the sword’s power. Some Shi Clan experts retreated. The might of this sword was unbearable even for Inner Contemplation experts!
Clearly, Shi Yuan aimed to kill Ye Xuan outright!
It made sense—by now, Shi Yuan had no more reservations.
Below, Ye Xuan froze at the sight of the terrifying sword.
*What kind of move is this?*
In the distance, Shi Yuan pointed furiously at Ye Xuan. “Ye Xuan, you’re a sword cultivator too. Today, you’ll die under this sword forged from Time Divine Thunder. As a sword cultivator, dying by a sword is a fitting end!”
Ye Xuan hesitated, then said, “Why not try another move? This sword might not work on me!”
Shi Yuan laughed in anger. “Is that so? Let’s see how you block this! Ye Xuan, I’ll tell you, I spent tens of thousands of years refining this Time Divine Thunder from the river of time. I’ve never used this move on anyone—you’re the first. Aren’t you honored?”
His voice fell, and his right hand slammed down. “Slash!”
*Slash!*
The massive sword in the starry sky plunged straight down.
*Slash!*
Where it passed, everything annihilated!
Time Divine Thunder—under this thunder, all laws and Daos perished, all matter ceased to exist.
Hundreds of thousands of zhang away, the Shi Clan experts watched with grave expressions. Though they were far from Ye Xuan and Shi Yuan, the sight of the sword descending filled them with despair!
True despair!
Even Inner Contemplation experts felt like ants before this Time Divine Thunder, unable to muster any resistance!
The two Time Realm experts were equally solemn. This move was too terrifying. The Time Divine Thunder, refined from the river of time, embodied time itself. Though Shi Yuan hadn’t refined much, it was still horrifying!
Everyone looked at Ye Xuan below. Before the Time Divine Thunder, he seemed as insignificant as an ant on the ground!
Yet Ye Xuan’s expression was calm, without a trace of panic!
Everyone watched him, certain he wouldn’t just sit and wait for death. He must have a big move!
They waited quietly!
Shi Yuan stared at Ye Xuan, eager to see what trump card he’d play!
But as the massive sword, carrying world-ending might, reached Ye Xuan’s head, he suddenly spread his arms, exclaiming excitedly, “How can I accept this… Haha…”
Under everyone’s gaze, the sword struck Ye Xuan.
*Boom!*
His body trembled violently, and then—the massive sword was absorbed by him.
*Gone!*
Everyone froze!
*Big thunder, small rain?*
Across from Ye Xuan, Shi Yuan was completely dumbfounded!
*Gone?*
*What happened?*
His mind buzzed!
This was Time Divine Thunder he’d refined for tens of thousands of years!
*Just gone?*
In the distance, Ye Xuan frantically absorbed the sword’s energy, utterly thrilled!
Time Divine Thunder!
It carried the power of time!
And now, he could directly absorb that power!
Ye Xuan’s aura surged like a volcanic eruption, unstoppable!
*Breakthrough?*
Ye Xuan was stunned. He hadn’t expected to break through!
But he was already in the Time Realm!
If he broke through now, what realm would he reach? The next realm hadn’t even been defined!
Ye Xuan was stumped!
The Small Pagoda suddenly said, “Little Master, you can stabilize the Time Realm. If you do, even without the Qingxuan Sword, you’ll truly be in the Time Realm!”
Ye Xuan hesitated, then asked, “Is that possible?”
Small Pagoda: “Give it a try!”
Ye Xuan thought, then nodded. “Let’s try!”
He began frantically absorbing the terrifying power within him, converting it for his own use!
In the distance, Shi Yuan muttered in disbelief, “You… You’re absorbing my Time Divine Thunder?”
Ye Xuan glanced at him, quickly shaking his head. “No, you’re mistaken!”
“Ye Xuan!” Shi Yuan roared. “How can you absorb my Time Divine Thunder? Why is it ineffective against you? Why?!”
Ye Xuan hesitated, then said, “Maybe it’s too little, not powerful enough. How about you release a few more bolts? It might work then!”
Shi Yuan glared at him. “Who are you?! How can you use external tools to reach the Time Realm without backlash and ignore my Time Divine Thunder? Who’s behind you?!”
Ye Xuan said seriously, “Destiny—heard of her?”
Shi Yuan’s face was dark. “No!”
Ye Xuan, extremely serious, said, “She’s invincible!”
Shi Yuan roared, “Do you think I’m stupid enough to believe your nonsense?”
Ye Xuan: “…”
Shi Yuan’s face twisted. “Who are you?!”
Ye Xuan thought, then said, “I’m your dad, alright?”
…
