Shen Lan!
Lord of the Cloud Realm!
Ye Xuan smiled faintly, then turned to leave.
In truth, he deliberately sought to befriend her. The academy, newly founded, needed more than just money—what else?
Connections!
The Guanxuan Academy had no roots in the Divine Universe. Freshly established, it desperately needed a vast network of relationships. After all, Ye Xuan’s goal was to create an academy that could change the universe, not dominate it.
Thus, he needed to build good ties with local powers. Besides, when away from home, having one more friend was surely better than one more enemy.
Making himself known would ensure others gave the academy’s students some respect in the future!
The martial world was all about human connections!
…
Shortly after Shen Lan left the academy, she stopped amidst a sea of clouds. Not far ahead stood a woman—Yan Bei.
Yan Bei looked at Shen Lan, “What did you say to him?”
Shen Lan replied calmly, “None of your business!”
Yan Bei’s eyes narrowed, her right hand slowly clenching.
Without a word, she suddenly threw a punch!
Boom!
Instantly, the clouds in the sky surged together, forming a fist imprint that shot toward Shen Lan.
Shen Lan’s expression didn’t change. She took a step forward, leaning in.
Boom!
Her lean was like ten thousand mountains collapsing, a terrifying force shattering the cloud-fist.
From afar, a cold glint flashed in Yan Bei’s eyes.
Shen Lan glanced at her coldly, “A piece of advice: that man isn’t someone you can fool. Be good to him, and he’ll be good to you. Be unkind, and his ruthlessness will exceed your imagination!”
With that, she vanished at the horizon’s end.
Yan Bei stood there, her expression icy, lost in thought.
…
Ye Xuan returned to the bamboo grove in the back mountains, sat cross-legged, and began cultivating.
He’d entrusted the academy’s development to Shu Xian. Truth be told, Shu Xian was capable, but too “scholarly,” often inflexible. Thankfully, Qingqiu was there, a clever little sprite, unlike her master.
One scholarly, one martial, they managed the academy vibrantly.
This freed up Ye Xuan’s time.
He was still practicing One Sword Shatters Void!
He aimed to perfectly fuse it with Slash Past, Slash Future, and Slash Present!
He was now at the Knowing Mystery Realm!
His goal? To instantly kill those in the Knowing Mystery Realm!
Currently, ordinary Knowing Mystery cultivators were no match for him, especially since he was in that realm himself and had his father’s One Sword Shatters Void.
But his aim wasn’t just to defeat them—he wanted to instantly kill Knowing Mystery cultivators and reliably slay those in the Profound Realm!
To perfectly blend these three sword techniques, he revisited the study of the Way of Space-Time and the Way of Ages.
In the past, he cultivated for cultivation’s sake, but now, he found the process of exploring these principles fascinating. Often, he cared less about the outcome and more about the journey.
Now, cultivation was learning, was enjoyment!
Days passed.
Outside Guanxuan Academy, more and more people came to study—some sent by major powers, others genuinely seeking knowledge. But Shu Xian and Qingqiu were strict in their admissions!
The first criterion was character!
If character didn’t pass, they were rejected, no matter how great their talent!
A person of poor character could taint the entire academy!
Ye Xuan had no patience for scheming with students!
At the academy’s gates, Shu Xian and Qingqiu were reviewing applicants.
Indeed, there were many—over a thousand gathered before the gates!
Qingqiu looked at the crowd, her face beaming with a bright smile.
Shu Xian sighed softly, “Most of these people have ulterior motives…”
Qingqiu smiled, “Master, think differently! They come with goals, or why else would they? We should be glad for ambitious people—they’ll work harder!”
Shu Xian hesitated, then said, “But if we admit them, I fear some will ruin the academy’s reputation or cause chaos!”
Qingqiu’s eyes narrowed, “First, educate their minds and guide them slowly. Second, for those truly unteachable, kill them.”
Shu Xian froze, turning to Qingqiu with a hint of shock.
Qingqiu smiled lightly, “Young Master Brother is too kind to people, his strength, but also a risk. If you’re too kind, over time, people take it for granted. As the saying goes, a peck of rice breeds kindness, a bushel breeds enmity.”
She glanced at the applicants, “We manage students the same way. Reward when deserved, punish without mercy! Take the Divine Dao Codex: they’re here for it, not to study. So, Master, we must set rules. From now on, only those meeting certain standards can view the Codex, and only one page at a time.”
Shu Xian hesitated, “Is that wise?”
Qingqiu nodded gently, “If not, they’ll think the Codex is cheap and won’t value the chance to read it. Over time, they’ll assume Young Master Brother sharing everything is owed to them. To avoid this, we need rules now. An academy must have order, or chaos will follow!”
Shu Xian thought, then nodded, “Alright!”
As an afterthought, he added, “The academy’s growing. Won’t that draw suspicion and attacks from other powers?”
Qingqiu smiled faintly, “Master, think: would someone who shares the Divine Dao Codex be ordinary? Those powers are smart, they won’t act against us. We just focus on growing. And Master, remember, our goal isn’t small gains but the vast cosmos. Follow Young Master Brother’s steps, our vision and scope must be grand! Otherwise, we might soon fade from his side…”
Shu Xian asked, “Girl, you say our vision and scope must be grand—how grand?”
Qingqiu blinked, “Infinitely grand!”
Shu Xian was stunned.
Qingqiu said softly, “You must dare to dream… If someone doesn’t even dare to dream, how are they different from a salted fish?”
Shu Xian fell silent.
…
Immortal Ancient Mansion.
In the hall, Xian Gu Tong, the beautiful woman, and Xian Gu Yao were together.
Xian Gu Tong hesitated, then said, “Yao’er, why stay cooped up at home lately? Go out and explore! I think Guanxuan Academy is nice, you could visit there!”
The beautiful woman quickly agreed, “Yes, that Young Master Ye seems good! Though we had some misunderstandings with him before, he’s a man of great wisdom, surely magnanimous. He won’t hold it against us! Don’t let our past actions weigh you down and stop you from befriending him, that’s not right.”
Xian Gu Yao glanced at them, then said, “He said he’d never come to Immortal Ancient City again!”
Xian Gu Tong said sternly, “Angry words! Just angry words!”
The beautiful woman nodded quickly, “Angry words!”
Xian Gu Yao shook her head, unwilling to talk more, and turned to leave.
Xian Gu Tong suddenly said, “Girl, I know you dislike our pragmatism, think us too worldly, but there’s no choice. As your father, in a high position, I must consider the clan. Tell me, would an ordinary person suit you? Of course not! Girl, I’ve been through it, I know how vital it is to be well-matched. If the match is unequal, the gap too wide, life together will bring big problems!”
Xian Gu Yao glanced at Xian Gu Tong, “Now you think I’m well-matched with Young Master Ye?”
Xian Gu Tong hesitated, then said, “Young Master Ye’s background is surely extraordinary!”
Xian Gu Yao shook her head, sighing softly.
Xian Gu Tong said gravely, “Girl, this time is different. I can tell you feel differently about Young Master Ye. No matter what the future holds, at least you could be friends, right? But now, because of us, you’re avoiding him… That’s wrong. In my eyes, you’re a bold girl. If you like him, go for it! Hesitation leads to defeat. Young Master Ye is so outstanding, he’s bound to have many women around him. If you’re not decisive, not brave, he’ll be taken by another!”
The beautiful woman quickly added, “Yes, look at how exceptional Young Master Ye is! Not only strong, with an impressive background, but learned and refined. Think, wouldn’t you be happy with him?”
Happy?
Xian Gu Yao’s brows furrowed.
Happy?
She thought about it and suddenly realized, it did seem quite happy!
At that thought, Xian Gu Yao’s heart jolted, and she quickly shook her head, banishing the jumbled thoughts.
Xian Gu Tong hurriedly added, “Girl, Young Master Ye is a dragon among men, and interesting too. If you miss him, I guarantee you’ll never meet a better man! You’ll regret it for life!”
Xian Gu Yao suddenly said, “If he were just an ordinary person, without a powerful background, would you still say this?”
Xian Gu Tong snapped, “Do your mother and I seem that shallow?”
Xian Gu Yao, “…”
