In the bamboo grove, Ye Xuan sat cross-legged.
He was deeply troubled.
With only ten million cosmic veins left, what could he do?
What now?
Ye Xuan felt helpless.
He needed to acquire more cosmic veins!
And he knew, going forward, the demand for cosmic veins would only grow. A small sum wouldn’t solve the issue.
The academy wasn’t yet on stable footing, so it couldn’t generate profits soon. During this period, it relied on his support, or its growth would be stunted.
Money!
Ye Xuan stared at the storage ring in his hand, silent.
Two hundred million!
The two hundred million cosmic veins he’d had were gone in no time.
To nurture Ancient God Realm and Upper Ancient God Realm cultivators, he’d need far more.
And now, he couldn’t even cultivate, as each practice of his sword techniques cost a fortune. Without money, he couldn’t break through the current universe and leap beyond…
Awkward!
Earn money!
Ye Xuan sighed softly. He had to go make money!
Sell the *Divine Dao Codex*?
He’d considered it, but felt uneasy about selling the book Qin Guan had given him.
There was another way, though!
Like giving lectures!
At that thought, Ye Xuan’s lips curled slightly.
If he lectured and spread the *Divine Dao Codex*, it would carry a different meaning!
With that, Ye Xuan stood, ready to leave, when a student approached and bowed. “Dean, Miss Xian Gu Yao from Immortal Ancient City is here to visit!”
Xian Gu Yao!
Ye Xuan was momentarily stunned, then said, “Invite her in!”
The student bowed and was about to leave when Ye Xuan added, “Never mind, I’ll go myself!”
He vanished on the spot.
At the Guanxuan Academy’s entrance, Ye Xuan saw Xian Gu Yao. She wore a snow-white gown, her black hair flowing, her figure graceful and serene. Her gentle eyes held a faint sorrow, stirring pity in those who saw her.
Seeing Ye Xuan, Xian Gu Yao paused, then said softly, “You’re back.”
Ye Xuan smiled. “Next time you visit, no need to announce yourself, just come in!”
Xian Gu Yao’s expression was calm. “I wouldn’t dare! You’re the dean of Guanxuan Academy now.”
Ye Xuan chuckled. “Are you upset?”
Xian Gu Yao replied flatly, “No.”
Ye Xuan laughed. “Don’t be mad! I just returned, and the academy has new rules, so I wasn’t aware. I’ve told them, next time you come, you can go straight to find me!”
Xian Gu Yao looked at him, silent.
Ye Xuan sized her up, surprised. “You’ve reached Insightful Mystery?”
Xian Gu Yao nodded.
Ye Xuan gave a thumbs-up. “Impressive, my Yao!”
Xian Gu Yao’s cheeks flushed, and she glared at him, half-angry, half-shy. “You’re being cheeky again!”
Ye Xuan laughed heartily, then said, “I’m going to give lectures. Want to join me?”
Xian Gu Yao frowned slightly. “Lectures?”
Ye Xuan nodded. “The academy’s just starting, and everything’s tough, especially funds. I need to lecture to earn some money.”
Xian Gu Yao asked gravely, “How much are you short?”
Ye Xuan nodded.
She suddenly handed him a storage ring. Inside were thirty million cosmic veins.
Ye Xuan was stunned. “What’s this?”
Xian Gu Yao said calmly, “Take it and use it.”
Ye Xuan shook his head. “No, I can’t take your cosmic veins!”
Xian Gu Yao looked at him coldly. “Why not?”
Ye Xuan smiled wryly. “Don’t get mad, I didn’t mean anything by it, just…”
Xian Gu Yao said icily, “Just what? Is it too little?”
Ye Xuan sighed. “You know that’s not what I meant.”
Xian Gu Yao placed the ring in his hand. “When you have money, you can pay me back.”
Ye Xuan asked seriously, “Do your parents know you’re doing this?”
Xian Gu Yao replied calmly, “I’m the next head of the Xian Gu Clan. Everything in the clan is mine.”
Ye Xuan: “…”
Xian Gu Yao glanced at him. “I won’t join you for the lectures. Next time… if you return, will you visit Immortal Ancient City?”
Visit Immortal Ancient City!
Ye Xuan fell silent.
He’d vowed not to return there.
Clearly, Xian Gu Yao still held onto this matter.
She said softly, “If you’re unwilling, it’s fine. The Xian Gu Clan went too far back then. I…”
Ye Xuan smiled. “You’re you, the Xian Gu Clan is the Xian Gu Clan.”
Xian Gu Yao looked at him. “But I’m the next head. The clan is mine.”
Ye Xuan chuckled. “I know, don’t dwell on it. I’m not angry anymore, really!”
Xian Gu Yao was quiet for a moment, then said, “Take care.”
She turned to leave.
Ye Xuan called out, “The cosmic veins…”
Without turning, Xian Gu Yao said, “If you don’t want them, throw them away!”
She vanished at the horizon.
Ye Xuan looked at the ring in his hand, sighing. He seemed to have a knack for living off others!
Without further thought, he left.
With Qingqiu and Shuxian at the academy, he was at ease. His goal now was to earn money!
This time, he headed to Immortal Treasure City.
That was the big stage!
He left the Dao God’s inheritance with Shuxian, to be given to Tianqi when he arrived.
Among his friends, Ye Xuan felt Tianqi was the most suitable.
The man’s mind was pure, and his cultivation was terrifying.
In the starry sky, Ye Xuan paused, changing into a cloud-white robe. On the left chest were two words, Guanxuan. At his waist hung the Great Dao Pen, still without its sheath.
After changing, he let his hair fall loosely, exuding a mix of carefree charm and scholarly grace. He then pulled out a thick ancient book.
He’d brought many of Shuxian’s annotated books, mostly on cultivation, with some literary classics.
To lecture, he needed to be thorough!
Shuxian’s annotations were incredibly detailed.
After preparing, Ye Xuan vanished into the starry sky.
Soon, he arrived at Immortal Treasure City. At the gates, the heads of the Mysterious God Realm still hung.
All who entered saw them.
A warning!
The Mysterious God Realm, said to have Upper Ancient God Realm cultivators, couldn’t shake the Immortal Treasure Pavilion, making people even more curious about its power.
How terrifying was the Immortal Treasure Pavilion?
At the city gates, Xiao Lan, the pavilion’s president, greeted Ye Xuan. Seeing his attire, Xiao Lan paused, then said respectfully, “Young Master Ye!”
Ye Xuan smiled. “President Xiao Lan!”
Xiao Lan smiled. “Young Master Ye, all well lately?”
Ye Xuan chuckled. “Fine, just a bit poor.”
Xiao Lan’s mouth twitched, unsure how to respond.
Ye Xuan said, “President Xiao Lan, I want to give lectures in Immortal Treasure City.”
Xiao Lan frowned. “Lectures?”
Ye Xuan nodded. “Yes. I’m not well-known, so no one would come. I need your help to spread the word. With the Immortal Treasure Pavilion’s influence, the forces of the myriad worlds will give face. Get their people to attend, the more, the better.”
Xiao Lan hesitated, then said, “I’ll arrange it.”
Ye Xuan smiled. “Thank you!”
Xiao Lan smiled. “Young Master Ye is too polite.”
He stepped back.
Ye Xuan was once again placed in the most prestigious room in the Immortal Treasure Tower.
In the starry sky, Ye Xuan sighed softly.
The Immortal Treasure Pavilion was truly a money-maker!
The tower alone brought in unimaginable monthly profits, and the city’s annual rent…
Ye Xuan felt embarrassed just thinking about it.
How unimaginable was Qin Guan’s wealth?
A thought crossed his mind, why not live off her?
The idea startled him!
Qin Guan wasn’t someone he could handle lightly.
Dismissing the thought, Ye Xuan began preparing his lecture.
With no fame, few would attend, so the first lecture was crucial to build his reputation.
He decided to start with the *Divine Dao Codex*.
A day later, Xiao Lan came to his room, bowing respectfully. “Young Master Ye, the audience is ready.”
Ye Xuan asked, “How many?”
Xiao Lan smiled. “About a hundred thousand.”
A hundred thousand!
Ye Xuan nodded. “Not bad.”
He stood. “Let’s go.”
…
In a starry expanse, the Immortal Treasure Pavilion had set up a martial arena, now converted into a lecture venue.
A hundred thousand people had gathered.
But they were bewildered.
A lecture?
By Ye Xuan?
Who was that?
If not for the Immortal Treasure Pavilion’s face, they wouldn’t have come.
A sword light flashed from the starry depths, and Ye Xuan appeared on the stage.
Seeing him, the crowd’s expressions turned odd, clearly surprised by his youth.
Ye Xuan smiled. “Thank you all for attending. Today, I’ll lecture on the *Divine Dao Codex*.”
The crowd remained calm.
Suddenly, the Great Dao Pen at Ye Xuan’s waist trembled, and his aura surged, soaring from Ancient God Realm to Upper Ancient God Realm!
The hundred thousand spectators froze, stunned.
Upper Ancient God Realm!
Someone gasped, “Bloody hell… that’s insane?”
Ye Xuan smiled faintly. “Allow me to introduce myself. I’m Ye Xuan, dean of Guanxuan Academy… Don’t mind the Upper Ancient God Realm, it’s no big deal. My true identity is a second-generation heir… Today, I’ll talk about how to show off… I mean, how to learn…”
The crowd: “…”
