After leaving the Mysterious Realm, Ye Xuan arrived at the Yan Clan.
The Yan Clan leader, Yan Xiuran, was already waiting at the city gate.
Seeing Ye Xuan, Yan Xiuran hurried forward, clasping his fists, “Young Master Ye!”
Ye Xuan smiled, “Clan Leader Yan, all well?”
Yan Xiuran laughed, “In just a few days, Young Master Ye’s strength has grown even greater.”
Ye Xuan smiled faintly, “Clan Leader Yan, you know why I’m here?”
Yan Xiuran nodded, “If Young Master Ye wishes to recruit students, come freely, of course, I have a small request: I hope a few from my Yan Clan can join Guanxuan Academy!”
Ye Xuan smiled, “That’s fine! But I need people of excellent character!”
Yan Xiuran said seriously, “Of course, I’ll personally select them!”
Ye Xuan nodded, “If Clan Leader Yan chooses them, I’m naturally at ease!”
He opened his palm, and the *Divine Path Codex* appeared before Yan Xiuran.
Yan Xiuran hesitated.
Ye Xuan smiled, “What’s wrong?”
Yan Xiuran gave a wry smile, “Young Master Ye, my son offended you before, yet you showed great magnanimity, and now you offer such a precious gift, I… I’m ashamed!”
Ye Xuan shook his head with a smile, “What’s past is past, let it go! We should look forward, no? Besides, I took your twenty million cosmic veins, so our old grudges are settled!”
Yan Xiuran bowed deeply, “With your words today, I’m truly relieved!”
Ye Xuan laughed, “Clan Leader Yan, hurry and read the *Divine Path Codex*! I’ve got to visit the next place!”
Yan Xiuran smiled, “Alright!”
He took the *Codex*, and moments later, returned it to Ye Xuan, shocked, “This Pavilion Master Qin Guan is truly remarkable!”
Ye Xuan nodded, “Second only to my Qing’er!”
Yan Xiuran was stunned, “Someone surpasses Miss Qin Guan?”
Ye Xuan smiled faintly, “In terms of knowledge, Qing’er is unmatched! Qing’er, forever a god!”
With that, he turned and left.
Forever a god!
Yan Xiuran was momentarily stunned, then shook his head with a smile, watching Ye Xuan depart, feeling deep admiration, this Young Master Ye’s demeanor and worldly wisdom were impeccable!
Truly, each generation brings forth new talents, each stronger than the last!
Yan Xiuran turned and left.
…
After leaving the Mysterious Realm, Ye Xuan went straight to the Cloud Realm.
This time, no one greeted him.
At the foot of Cloud Mountain, the core of the Cloud Realm and home to Shen Lan, a forbidden area, Ye Xuan arrived.
An elder appeared, bowing slightly, “Young Master Ye!”
Ye Xuan returned the gesture, “Please inform Lord Shen Lan that Ye Xuan from Guanxuan Academy requests a visit!”
The elder hesitated, then said, “Apologies, the Lord is in seclusion, I…”
Seclusion!
Ye Xuan glanced up, thought for a moment, and asked, “How long?”
The elder gave a wry smile, “I don’t know!”
As Ye Xuan was about to speak, the elder added, “Young Master Ye, the Lord just sent word, two days, she’ll be out in two days!”
Ye Xuan smiled, “I’ll wait!”
The elder nodded, “Very well!”
Ye Xuan pointed to the mountaintop, “May I go up?”
The elder hesitated.
Ye Xuan smiled, “Not allowed?”
The elder thought, then said, “Please, Young Master Ye!”
He could tell Shen Lan held Ye Xuan in high regard, so why interfere?
Ye Xuan smiled and ascended to the mountaintop, a desolate place shrouded in clouds, like a celestial realm.
Surveying his surroundings, he noticed something and walked right, reaching a cliff face inscribed with: *Who says women are inferior to men?*
Seeing this, Ye Xuan shook his head with a smile, most of the great figures he’d met were women!
Two days to wait!
He lay before the cliff, pulling out an ancient text.
*Songs of Chu*!
Its era of origin was unknown, containing no cultivation methods, just ancient poems by literati, the earliest romantic poetry anthology in literary history.
Sadly, it was incomplete.
Ye Xuan sighed, having seen many universes, each with its own civilization, mostly martial ones!
In a universe where might ruled, literary civilization was overlooked, especially by stronger forces.
He understood why.
In the vast cosmos, without strength, everything was meaningless!
His academy and educational efforts relied on his formidable power, without it, opening an academy was a pipe dream.
In this world, to reason with others, you first had to show your fist.
Ultimately, the one with the bigger fist held the truth!
Ye Xuan shook his head with a smile, he must study and grow stronger.
Refocusing, he read on, murmuring, “The world is turbid, yet I alone am clear, all are drunk, yet I alone am awake…”
“Is this your work?” a voice came from behind.
Ye Xuan turned to see Shen Lan approaching, wearing an ink-green gown embroidered with mountains and rivers, serene and elegant, her face half-covered by a silver mask, yet even that half was breathtakingly beautiful.
Ye Xuan stowed the text, smiling, “No…”
He paused, eyes flashing with surprise, “Cave Mysterious?”
He noticed Shen Lan had reached Cave Mysterious Realm!
Shen Lan looked at him, “How did you know?”
Ye Xuan pointed to his waist, smiling, “This can pierce any concealment!”
Shen Lan glanced at the brush, asking again, “What brush?”
Ye Xuan grinned, “Great Dao Brush!”
Shen Lan was stunned, “Are you serious?”
Ye Xuan countered, “Have I ever lied to you?”
Shen Lan stepped closer, a faint fragrance making Ye Xuan’s heart stir.
She stared at him, “Great Dao Brush?”
Ye Xuan nodded, handing it to her, “Take a look?”
Shen Lan studied him, then took the brush, her pupils shrinking as she gripped it, quickly letting go, “You…”
Ye Xuan frowned, “You can’t hold it?”
He’d noticed Xiu Fan had the same reaction, releasing it instantly.
Shen Lan’s voice trembled, “The moment I held it, I felt like I’d be erased!”
Erased?
Ye Xuan frowned, looking at the brush, “Why don’t I feel that?”
Great Dao Brush: “…”
Shen Lan asked again, “Is this really the Great Dao Brush?”
Ye Xuan, slightly annoyed, “What do I gain by lying?”
Shen Lan, incredulous, “Why do you have the Great Dao Brush?”
Ye Xuan blinked, “Shall we change the topic?”
Shen Lan paused, then said, “Alright!”
Ye Xuan smiled, “I’m here to discuss something, my academy needs recruits, can I recruit from the Cloud Realm?”
Shen Lan glanced at him, “Yes!”
Ye Xuan smiled, “Thank you!”
Shen Lan suddenly said, “Can you help me with something?”
Ye Xuan nodded, “Tell me!”
Shen Lan said gravely, “I want you to accompany me to a place.”
Ye Xuan was curious, “Where?”
Shen Lan replied, “Cloud Tomb!”
Ye Xuan frowned, “Cloud Tomb?”
Shen Lan nodded, “In our Cloud Realm, every Lord reaching Cave Mysterious must visit the Cloud Tomb, I don’t know why, but no ancestor who went ever returned!”
Ye Xuan said seriously, “Dangerous?”
Shen Lan nodded, “Very dangerous!”
She looked at him, “If you go with me, there’ll be benefits.”
Ye Xuan’s smile vanished, his expression turning cold, “Not going!”
He turned to leave.
Shen Lan was stunned, seeing him vanish into the horizon, she hurriedly followed.
At the sky’s edge, Shen Lan blocked him, “We were talking fine, why are you angry?”
Ye Xuan said calmly, “Figure it out yourself!”
Shen Lan frowned.
Ye Xuan looked at her, “Can’t figure it out? Then don’t!”
As he moved to leave, Shen Lan grabbed his arm, “If you don’t want to go, no need to act like this!”
Ye Xuan looked at her, “Is that what you think?”
Shen Lan stared back, “What did I say wrong?”
Ye Xuan smiled faintly, “I thought we were friends, but I was wrong! You asked for my help, and I agreed without hesitation, but you offer benefits… Tell me, am I helping you for benefits? You talk of benefits, what can you give me? Cosmic veins? I have several *Divine Path Codices*, each worth billions! Divine artifacts? This brush is the Great Dao Brush, what in this universe compares?”
He stepped closer, staring into her eyes, “Benefits? Tell me, what benefits can you offer?”
Shen Lan was silent.
Ye Xuan continued, “I see you as a friend, but you? Your words drip with distance! If so, there’s no need for friendship, farewell!”
He turned to leave on his sword.
Shen Lan held him tightly.
Ye Xuan turned, annoyed, “What do you want?”
Shen Lan hesitated, then said, “I misspoke, don’t be angry!”
Ye Xuan was expressionless, “No sincerity!”
Shen Lan looked at him, “What do you want?”
Ye Xuan thought, then said, “My Guanxuan Academy is new and short on people, want to join? Lots of benefits!”
Shen Lan: “…”
…
