How can you change the universe if you don’t know its mortal struggles?
Hearing this, Ye Xuan’s heart stirred. Indeed, as he’d said before, to change the world, one must first enter it, experience its hardships. Otherwise, how could one transform it?
Inside the academy, Ye Xuan saw students doing everything themselves. Despite their strength, none used their abilities for convenience.
Self-reliance!
Wen Xiu began cooking over a fire.
Actually cooking!
He looked at Ye Xuan, smiling, “The Pavilion Master said lofty immortals can’t change the universe because they don’t understand the thoughts and needs of the common folk! So, our students must live among the lowest, know their pain, their struggles, to change their lives.”
Ye Xuan nodded slightly, “Indeed!”
Wen Xiu pointed to a thatched hut. “Young Master Ye, that hut holds all our academy’s ancient texts. You’re welcome to read, but you can’t take them!”
Ye Xuan grinned, “Open to everyone?”
Wen Xiu smiled, “The texts are open to all, but cultivation techniques and divine skills aren’t!”
He shook his head. “To me, those texts are more valuable than techniques. Cultivation is about the heart, and reading calms the mind, elevates thought. But many overlook this, thinking reading is useless.”
Ye Xuan smiled, then said, “I’ll go read!”
He headed to the hut.
Gu Han hesitated, then followed.
Wen Xiu glanced at Ye Xuan, silent.
Inside the hut, Ye Xuan found a vast plaza filled with millions of ancient texts!
He grew excited.
Clearly, Qin Guan had collected these.
For the next while, Ye Xuan devoured the books. Cultivators read far easier than mortals, with near-perfect memory, but most didn’t spend time on books.
After all, on the path of cultivation, the goal was immortality or invincibility.
Time flew. Two days passed!
Today was the Immortal Treasure Pavilion’s auction.
Ye Xuan bid farewell to Wen Xiu and left the academy with Gu Han. Before leaving, he copied the millions of texts to bring back to the Guanxuan Academy. These books were invaluable and would greatly benefit his academy.
Wen Xiu didn’t object, as the texts had multiple copies.
…
On the way to the Pavilion, Ye Xuan was thrilled.
The books’ value was immeasurable!
Suddenly, a voice called, “Gu Han?”
Gu Han stopped and turned. A beautiful woman in a low-cut red gown, exuding charm, approached with a young man. The man was strikingly handsome, rivaling Ye Xuan, but his flamboyant attire and bright lipstick gave him a seductive edge, unlike Ye Xuan’s calm, scholarly aura.
Seeing the woman, Gu Han frowned, “Madam Xiao!”
Madam Xiao’s lips curved, her charm radiant. “Gu Han, still so icy…”
Her gaze shifted to Ye Xuan, smiling, “How do I address this young man?”
Ye Xuan smiled, “Ye Xuan!”
Madam Xiao winked, “Ye Xuan? Nice name!”
She openly sized him up, her gaze predatory.
The flamboyant man beside her glanced at Ye Xuan, a flicker of malice in his eyes.
Seeing Madam Xiao’s fiery stare, Ye Xuan frowned, turning to Gu Han. “You catch up, I’m off!”
He turned to leave.
This woman was clearly trouble! He had no interest in her personal affairs, so he chose to go.
But the flamboyant man suddenly blocked his path, sneering, “No manners! Elders are speaking, and you dare leave? So uncouth, you should…”
Mid-sentence, Ye Xuan’s hand shot out, gripping his throat.
Madam Xiao and Gu Han froze.
Ye Xuan stared at the man. “Even my father doesn’t tell me what to do. Who are you?”
He slammed the man’s throat to the ground.
Boom!
The man’s beautiful face shattered, blood spraying!
The crowd was stunned.
Madam Xiao’s face darkened. She glared at Gu Han, “Gu Han, even hitting a dog depends on its master!”
Gu Han replied coolly, “Then hit him! I’m not stopping you!”
Madam Xiao paused, then laughed in fury, “Good, very good!”
She turned to Ye Xuan. “Young man, so ruthless…”
Ye Xuan cut her off, “Is he your paramour?”
Madam Xiao froze.
The gathering crowd froze.
So blunt?
She glared at Ye Xuan, her eyes like blades.
Ye Xuan pointed at the man beneath his foot. “Why did he target me? Clearly, you spoil him. He’s used to bullying with your backing. But I’m not his father—why should I indulge him?”
The flamboyant man snarled, “If you’ve got the guts, kill me! Do it!”
Madam Xiao snapped, “Try touching him!”
Under everyone’s gaze, Ye Xuan stomped down hard.
Boom!
The man’s head exploded, his soul obliterated!
The crowd gasped.
Killing in Immortal Treasure City?
Madam Xiao laughed softly, “Interesting, truly interesting!”
She shook her head. “I thought you were different, but you’re just an idiot! One provocation, and you kill! Young man…”
She grinned, “This is Immortal Treasure City!”
Immortal Treasure City!
The crowd looked at Ye Xuan, shaking their heads.
Killing here was foolish, tantamount to defying the Pavilion!
Suddenly, two powerful auras appeared.
Half-Gods!
Madam Xiao’s smile widened. “Fool, pay the price for your stupidity!”
Two elders from the Pavilion appeared. As the crowd expected them to act against Ye Xuan, they bowed deeply, the lead elder saying respectfully, “Young Master Ye!”
Young Master Ye?
The crowd petrified.
Madam Xiao stood frozen.
The lead elder bowed again. “Young Master Ye, we arrived late. Please forgive us!”
The crowd: “…”
Ye Xuan glanced at Madam Xiao, uninterested in engaging, and turned to leave. But Madam Xiao roared, “Unfair! This is unfair!”
The lead elder frowned.
Madam Xiao glared at Ye Xuan. “The Pavilion’s biased. I refuse to accept this!”
She pointed at Ye Xuan. “He killed in Immortal Treasure City. By the rules, he should be executed and hung on the city walls. He…”
The lead elder snapped, “Silence!”
His voice boomed, and with a wave of his sleeve, a terrifying force surged.
Madam Xiao’s face paled. She punched back!
Boom!
She was flung hundreds of feet away!
Stopping, her face twisted. “Why? Why? Why break the rules and still protect him? Unfair! This world is unfair!”
Ye Xuan frowned. “My heavens, you started this, didn’t you? You even provoked me to kill your paramour… Why act like I’m the villain now?”
Madam Xiao glared. “The city’s rule is no fighting. Fighting breaks the Pavilion’s rules. I only spoke, didn’t act, but you did! The Pavilion not punishing you is intolerable! And if they set this precedent, who’ll respect their rules?”
Ye Xuan turned to the elder. “The rule is no fighting, correct?”
The elder hesitated, then said, “Yes!”
Ye Xuan nodded, glancing up. It was noon. He thought, then said, “From today, fighting is allowed in Immortal Treasure City at noon.”
The elder: “…”
The crowd: “…”
Ye Xuan turned to leave.
Madam Xiao roared, “You think you can change the rules? Who are you? You…”
A voice suddenly rang from above the Pavilion, “From this day, at noon, fighting is permitted in Immortal Treasure City!”
President Xiao Lan of the Pavilion!
The city froze. The rule had actually changed?
Madam Xiao stood dazed, trembling, “Bloody hell… absurd…”
…
