Ye Xuan sat on the round platform, with everyone below watching him.
Among the students, there was excitement and anticipation!
The Dean!
In their hearts, Dean Ye was a man of great wisdom.
At that moment, a woman suddenly sat beside Qingqiu.
It was Shen Lan, the Lord of the Cloud Realm!
Qingqiu glanced at Shen Lan, then looked up at Ye Xuan.
Ye Xuan suddenly smiled, “Today, I’ll talk to you all about: choice.”
Choice!
The students quickly sat up straight, listening intently.
Ye Xuan sat cross-legged, hands on his knees, and after a moment of thought, said, “In our universe, cultivators have two main goals: first, immortality, second, invincibility. To me, cultivation is about satisfying inner desires. The stronger you become, the greater your desires, and desires are endless. Thus, once a cultivator steps onto the martial path, they embark on a road without end. On this path, it’s like rowing against the current, if you don’t advance, you perish. For longevity, cultivators will do anything to improve, and over time, they may resort to unscrupulous means, gradually abandoning their principles.”
He paused, then added, “In other words, losing themselves!”
Losing themselves!
At those words, Shen Lan and Yan Bei below visibly reacted.
Ye Xuan suddenly looked at Shen Lan beside Qingqiu, smiling, “May I ask, miss, do you still remember your original reason for cultivating?”
Shen Lan stared at Ye Xuan, her right hand clenched, saying nothing.
Ye Xuan smiled slightly, then turned to Qingqiu, “Qingqiu, what was your original reason for cultivating?”
Qingqiu blinked, “To establish a heart for the universe, a life for all beings, to carry on the lost teachings of the sages, and to bring peace to all ages!”
Ye Xuan gave a thumbs-up, “What a fine young lady, just like me! We truly see eye to eye!”
Everyone, “…”
Qingqiu giggled, “Young Master Brother, you’re a tiny bit shameless!”
Ye Xuan quickly turned serious, “Let’s continue the lesson!”
Qingqiu promptly stopped smiling and listened attentively.
Ye Xuan thought for a moment, then continued, “Everyone should have a goal before them, one that, at least to them, is great. If their deepest belief, the voice in their heart, deems it great, then it truly is. Thus, we must seriously consider whether the goal we choose is right, whether it’s what we truly want.”
He smiled faintly, “Once, my purpose in cultivating was to protect my little sister, to keep her safe and carefree. Now, I’m ashamed, I haven’t seen her in a very long time! On the path of growth, we’ll surely have new goals and needs, but I believe we should never forget our original reason for cultivating. My Qing’er once said, ‘Stay true to your heart, and you’ll be invincible.’ I’m ashamed, only now do I truly understand!”
Below, Shen Lan suddenly spoke, “But what if my goal is immortality and invincibility?”
Ye Xuan thought, then said, “Then strive for it!”
Shen Lan looked straight at him, “Do you think that’s right?”
Ye Xuan countered, “Miss, do you have family?”
Shen Lan was silent.
Ye Xuan asked again, “Miss, do you have friends? The kind so close they’d risk their life for you?”
Shen Lan remained silent.
Ye Xuan pressed, “Miss, do you have someone you love? Someone you miss so much that a day apart feels like ten thousand years?”
Shen Lan’s brows furrowed.
Ye Xuan smiled, “Pursuing immortality and invincibility isn’t wrong! But I think our universe shouldn’t just be about fighting and killing! Honestly, from Qingcheng till now, every day I’m either fighting or on my way to a fight. I’m tired of this life. Now, I want to slow down, to truly live. Truth be told, I want to create a new sword path, and I’ve even named it: Human Sword Path. The mundane world as the sword, all living beings as its soul!”
Human Sword Path!
Shen Lan looked at Ye Xuan, “You’re a sword cultivator!”
Ye Xuan nodded, “I am a sword cultivator!”
Shen Lan said calmly, “I hadn’t noticed!”
Ye Xuan smiled, then continued, “Back to the topic, choice. Dear students, I hope today you’ll reflect on why you study, why you cultivate, what your ultimate purpose is! Set a goal and strive for it. In our universe, the strong rule, strength speaks, the powerful can do as they please, while the weak must accept their fate. I don’t like this, and I hope you’ll join me to change this world.”
A student suddenly said, “Dean, changing the world, changing the rules, that’ll be hard, won’t it?”
Ye Xuan smiled, “It will be hard, but do you trust me?”
The student immediately replied, “I trust you!”
Nearby, Yan Bei suddenly said, “Young Master Ye, by doing this, you’ll offend many powers. Aren’t you afraid of death?”
“Death?”
Ye Xuan shook his head with a wry smile, somewhat helpless, “Honestly, my dad’s invincible, my big brother’s invincible, my sister’s invincible… I really can’t think of anyone who could kill me!”
Yan Bei was stunned, “Young Master Ye, do you know of the Great Dao Pen? It controls the fates of all beings, don’t you fear it?”
Great Dao Pen, “…”
Ye Xuan fell silent.
Shen Lan glanced at Ye Xuan, saying nothing.
At that moment, Shu Xian slowly approached Ye Xuan, “Dean, the Immortal Ancient City Clan Leader requests a visit!”
Ye Xuan shook his head, “Not seeing them!”
Shu Xian nodded, “Understood!”
He turned and left.
Ye Xuan suddenly stood, “Everyone, today’s lesson ends here. You’re free to go!”
With that, he turned to leave.
After a few steps, he turned back, and there was Shen Lan.
Ye Xuan looked at her, smiling, “Something up?”
Shen Lan was silent.
Ye Xuan smiled, “If you don’t want to say, then head back!”
Shen Lan suddenly said, “Be careful of the veiled girl by your side!”
Ye Xuan smiled faintly, “Thanks!”
Shen Lan frowned slightly, “With your wisdom, you should know her origins aren’t simple, yet you don’t seem to care. Don’t you know carelessness can get you killed?”
Ye Xuan thought, then said, “I know!”
Shen Lan looked at him for a moment, then said, “I understand!”
She turned to leave, but after a couple of steps, she stopped and looked at Ye Xuan, “Why have you never asked my name? Don’t you want to know, or do you already know?”
Ye Xuan smiled, “I don’t know!”
Shen Lan stared at him, “Don’t you want to know?”
Ye Xuan smiled, “Miss, do you know why I asked you those questions earlier?”
Shen Lan’s brows furrowed, “Why?”
Ye Xuan thought, then said, “Because I knew you probably don’t have friends or someone you love.”
Shen Lan stared at him, “Why?”
Ye Xuan smiled, “First, you’re exceptional. At such a young age, your strength is remarkable, and you’re a woman, which is no small feat. Second, though I don’t know your background, you could bid fifty million cosmic veins for the Divine Dao Codex, so you’re likely the leader of a major power. To achieve such strength and become a hegemon at such a young age is extraordinary. With such accomplishments, your standards must be sky-high, ordinary people, especially men, wouldn’t catch your eye, right?”
Shen Lan looked at Ye Xuan, silent.
Ye Xuan continued, “The first time we met, you struck me as aloof, even more so than Miss Yao. In that state, most people wouldn’t dare befriend you, especially men. Without great strength, most men would feel inferior just standing before you.”
Shen Lan suddenly smiled, “Young Master Ye, can I take this as you complimenting me?”
Ye Xuan smiled, “You can!”
Shen Lan’s smile widened, “I must say, I’m quite pleased. Go on!”
Ye Xuan smiled, “When I asked if you’d ever loved someone, I already knew you hadn’t.”
Shen Lan’s eyes narrowed, “How were you so sure?”
Ye Xuan smiled faintly, “Because across the entire Divine Universe, no one is worthy of your affection!”
Shen Lan was stunned.
Ye Xuan smiled, “Miss, everything I’ve said comes from the heart. Lastly, may I offer a small suggestion?”
Shen Lan nodded, her expression softening, “Speak!”
Ye Xuan said earnestly, “This world isn’t just about fighting and killing, there are many beautiful things. If you look at it with a different mindset, you’ll find much beauty. If you have time outside cultivating, come to the academy, I’d be happy to chat with you.”
Shen Lan looked at Ye Xuan, silent.
Ye Xuan continued, “Miss, do you remember our first meeting?”
Shen Lan nodded.
Ye Xuan smiled, “You asked why I answered everything you asked. I said, ‘With utmost sincerity.’ It’s the same now, from our meeting till today, everything I’ve said to you, every answer, has been completely sincere, from the heart!”
Shen Lan was silent for a moment, then said, “The veiled girl’s real name is Yan Bei, from the Desolate Universe. There are two major powers there: Shura City and the Yan Family of Divine Mountain. She’s likely the Divine Maiden of the Mountain. It’s said the Divine Maiden must dedicate her life to the divine, forbidden from relationships with men. Her presence by your side might be to use you against the Yan Family. Be cautious, don’t be played for a fool, unless you like her. But I suggest you send her away, the Yan Clan is no simple matter, they’ll bring you great trouble!”
Ye Xuan nodded slightly, “Thank you!”
Shen Lan glanced at him, “I’m leaving!”
She turned, but didn’t move.
Ye Xuan was briefly puzzled, but soon understood, smiling faintly, “How may I address you, miss?”
Shen Lan’s lips curved, “Shen Lan, Lord of the Cloud Realm, currently at half-step Profound Realm.”
With that, she drifted away.
…
