The auction had ended!
Ye Xuan nodded slightly and stood up. Under Xiao Lan’s guidance, he entered a grand hall.
Inside, three people were already gathered—two men and one woman, all appearing quite young.
So young?
Ye Xuan was momentarily stunned.
The three glanced at him upon his arrival, then quickly looked away.
Xiao Lan spoke, “The four of you are the only ones who know about the Dao God Relic. You will share it, and what you gain from it depends on your own fortune!”
With that, he glanced at Ye Xuan and quietly withdrew.
The hall fell into silence.
Ye Xuan looked at the three, seated far apart, clearly strangers to each other, with no interaction.
He smiled lightly, “No need to be so tense. We might need to cooperate soon! Let’s introduce ourselves. I’ll start. I’m Ye Xuan, from the Divine Cosmos.”
The three glanced at him but remained silent.
Ye Xuan chuckled, “To be blunt, this mindset won’t do. We haven’t even reached the Dao God Relic, and you’re already wary and suspicious of each other. Imagine what happens when we get there—we’ll probably end up fighting.”
He paused, then added, “Is the Dao God Relic free of danger?”
Still, silence.
Ye Xuan smiled, “And are you all confident you can take out the other three?”
More silence.
Ye Xuan continued, “I think cooperation and mutual benefit are better than suspicion. What do you say?”
Finally, the man on the left spoke, “Qin You!”
The man on the right followed, “Zhu Fan!”
The woman in the middle looked at Ye Xuan, smiling faintly, “Xiao Yuer!”
Ye Xuan smiled, “Let’s head to the Dao God Relic!”
The four arrived in a starry region, where Xiao Lan appeared again, behind him a cosmic vessel.
Xiao Lan smiled, “The journey to the Dao God Relic is long, so the Immortal Treasure Pavilion prepared this cosmic vessel for you. It can traverse space-time starfields, saving you considerable time!”
His gaze lingered on Ye Xuan.
Clearly, the vessel was arranged for Ye Xuan!
Ye Xuan smiled, “Thank you!”
Xiao Lan laughed, “No need for thanks!”
He clasped his fists, “Ye… everyone, take care!”
Ye Xuan nodded, and the four boarded the vessel, which started and vanished into the starry horizon.
Xiao Lan gazed at the distant stars, murmuring, “With such an invincible background, yet still so hardworking, what excuse do I have not to strive?”
…
At the starry edge, Ye Xuan stood on the vessel, engrossed in an ancient book.
A voice came from beside him, “What are you reading?”
Ye Xuan turned to see Xiao Yuer, dressed in a flowing light purple gown, cinched at the waist with a white sash, accentuating her graceful figure.
Her features were delicate, her voice soft like a spring breeze, her demeanor gentle, and her large, sparkling eyes made her a rare beauty.
Ye Xuan smiled, about to speak, when Xiao Yuer glanced at his book and blinked, “A romantic saga?”
Ye Xuan nodded, “Yes!”
Xiao Yuer smiled, “You enjoy these lovey-dovey stories?”
Ye Xuan laughed, “These aren’t just lovey-dovey tales. Amid the romance, there’s a critique of the world…”
He shook his head with a smile, looking around to change the topic, “This starry sky is beautiful, isn’t it?”
Xiao Yuer nodded, “Indeed.”
Then she shifted gears, “Young Master Ye, you seem close with the Immortal Treasure Pavilion?”
Ye Xuan chuckled, “So, Miss Xiao is here to probe me!”
Xiao Yuer blinked, her smile unwavering, “You don’t mind, do you?”
Ye Xuan smiled lightly, “As you guessed, I do have a good relationship with the Immortal Treasure Pavilion, but I’m not one of theirs!”
Xiao Yuer smiled, “Someone treated so courteously by President Xiao Lan can’t be ordinary!”
Ye Xuan smiled, “I’m just an ordinary guy who loves reading!”
He figured the truth was better left unsaid. No one would believe it anyway, and it’d sound like bragging!
Stay low-key!
Xiao Yuer glanced at him and said, “Young Master Ye, shall we team up?”
Team up!
Ye Xuan frowned, “What do you mean?”
Xiao Yuer smiled, “Zhu Fan and Qin You have already allied, and their families have ties, so I think we could team up too.”
Ye Xuan turned to look. In the distance, Zhu Fan and Qin You sat separately, seemingly cultivating.
But he knew they were watching.
Suddenly, Ye Xuan’s brows furrowed deeply.
If those two hadn’t allied, Xiao Yuer approaching him would surely prompt them to team up.
And she’d been chatting with him so cheerfully…
Ye Xuan turned to Xiao Yuer, who blinked innocently, her eyes clear and guileless.
Ye Xuan sighed inwardly.
How could he believe she was innocent?
Anyone sent to vie for the Dao God Relic, whether in strength or cunning, was top-tier!
This woman was trying to use him!
Playing mind games?
Ye Xuan smiled, “Miss Xiao, I’m a straightforward guy, no beating around the bush. Honestly, we haven’t even reached the Dao God Relic, and we’re already scheming against each other. Is that appropriate?”
Xiao Yuer’s smile remained.
Ye Xuan continued, “I know, once we’re at the Relic and find something good, we’ll fight for it. But we’re not there yet! And are you sure the Relic is safe? What if there’s danger?”
Xiao Yuer’s smile faded.
Ye Xuan added, “I’ll say it again, I think we four should team up, at least for now.”
Xiao Yuer looked at him for a moment, then chuckled, “Young Master Ye, read fewer books. The world’s far more complex than you think. Too much reading rots the brain, makes you pedantic!”
With that, she turned and left.
Ye Xuan shook his head, sighing, muttering to himself, “Silly girl, if I hadn’t read so much, I’d have taken all three of you out already!”
The vessel fell silent again.
Ye Xuan realized he couldn’t unite these people.
His real goal was to recruit them, as all three were Half-God Realm at such a young age—limitless potential!
But he saw now that his idea wouldn’t work!
These were top prodigies groomed by their families, not easily swayed!
The journey was quiet.
Three days later, the vessel stopped.
They’d arrived!
Ye Xuan looked ahead. In the distant starry sky, a mass of black mist floated, within it, the Dao God Relic.
Xiao Yuer and the others stood, gazing at the mist.
Ye Xuan was about to speak when Zhu Fan and Qin You vanished, reappearing inside the black mist.
Xiao Yuer glanced at Ye Xuan, “See? They’ve teamed up!”
Ye Xuan smiled, “Let’s go!”
With that, he vanished.
Xiao Yuer looked at him, then followed.
…
Moments later, Ye Xuan arrived in a mountain range. Deep within, a massive palace floated, surrounded by towering peaks piercing the clouds.
The place felt ancient, steeped in eons, with towering trees casting a gloomy, oppressive air.
Ye Xuan and Xiao Yuer reached the palace. Qin You and Zhu Fan hadn’t entered, standing before the overgrown entrance.
Suddenly, Zhu Fan and Qin You turned to Ye Xuan. Zhu Fan spoke, “Didn’t expect you to actually show up!”
Ye Xuan smiled, “Why?”
Zhu Fan smiled faintly, “We discussed earlier, the fewer who know about the Dao God Relic, the better!”
Ye Xuan frowned, “You want to kill me?”
Zhu Fan looked at him, “Yes!”
A terrifying aura suddenly locked onto Ye Xuan—Xiao Yuer’s!
Clearly, the three had already allied!
Xiao Yuer smiled at Ye Xuan, “Know why we’re targeting you first?”
Ye Xuan shook his head.
Xiao Yuer smiled, “Because you, the bookworm, seem like an idiot!”
Ye Xuan: “…”
Zhu Fan glanced around, then said, “Know why we’re doing this here? Notice anything? There’s an array blocking all divine senses, meaning no outside senses can reach here! We kill you, blame it on the Relic—perfect!”
Ye Xuan thought for a moment, then said, “I wanted to be sincere, to work together for mutual gain, but now…”
He shook his head, sighing.
Xiao Yuer sneered, “Mutual gain? You’re hopelessly naive, no, stupidly naive. To think someone so gullible exists—it’s laughable!”
Ye Xuan suddenly said, “Know why I didn’t team up with you?”
Xiao Yuer frowned, about to speak, when Ye Xuan flicked his fingers lightly.
*Slash!*
Without warning, Zhu Fan’s head flew off, blood gushing like a fountain.
Instant kill!
Xiao Yuer and Qin You’s faces changed drastically.
Ye Xuan smiled faintly, “Because to me, you three are no different from ants…”
He shook his head, chuckling, “Sorry, I’m showing off again!”
The two: “…”
…
