Young Master?
At Zhang Shi’s words, the black-robed old man and the sect’s elder froze in place!
In the distance, Ye Xuan looked at Zhang Shi, “You know me?”
Zhang Shi nodded respectfully, “Of course, how could I not recognize the Young Master of the Yang Clan?”
Ye Xuan pointed at the black-robed old man, “Why doesn’t he know me?”
Zhang Shi gave a wry smile, “He’s not from the Yang Clan!”
Ye Xuan frowned, “Not from the Yang Clan?”
Zhang Shi nodded, “He’s just a minor figure from a vassal force, with no ties to our Yang Clan.”
Ye Xuan turned to the black-robed old man, who trembled as he spoke, “Zhang Shi… is he really the Young Master?”
Zhang Shi’s face was expressionless, “Do you think I enjoy kneeling to others?”
The black-robed old man’s expression stiffened. After a moment, he turned to Ye Xuan with a bitter smile, “Young Master, if you’re the Yang Clan’s Young Master, why didn’t you say so earlier?”
Ye Xuan smiled, “Didn’t I? I did, didn’t I? And how did you respond? You said the Sword Master only has a daughter, not a son… that was you, right?”
Black-robed old man: “…”
Ye Xuan then looked at the sect’s elder, whose soul had burned to near transparency, like a wisp of smoke ready to dissipate in the wind.
The elder glared at Ye Xuan, “Is this amusing? Is it?”
Ye Xuan gave a faint smile and turned to leave.
Behind him, Zhang Shi paused, then raised his right hand. The next moment, ten terrifying auras appeared in the area.
Zhang Shi’s face remained impassive, “Slaughter!”
With that, he followed Ye Xuan into the distance.
Behind them, the elder roared, “Ye Xuan, I curse you! I curse you to a miserable death, I curse the Yang Clan to extinction… The Heavenly Dao is just, it may not act now, but the time will come. Don’t believe me? Look up and see who the Heavenly Dao spares, you…”
Boom!
A divine thunderbolt struck the elder’s head, erasing him instantly.
Moments later, a voice echoed from the distant starry depths, “The Heavenly Dao Clan declares that we hold no malice toward the Yang Clan. This man’s words have no connection to us. Please, Young Master Ye, understand!”
The sect: “…”
…
Ye Xuan returned to Xianbao City, with Zhang Shi following closely.
Looking at Ye Xuan, Zhang Shi was cautious, still uneasy, unsure if Ye Xuan would hold him accountable.
Ye Xuan turned to Zhang Shi with a smile, “Aren’t you leaving?”
Zhang Shi hesitated, then said, “I’ll stay to serve Young Master Ye!”
In truth, the Yang Clan had issued orders not to aid Ye Xuan unless his life was in danger.
But Zhang Shi had his own ambitions. Staying was a calculated risk—he wanted to climb higher, and following Ye Xuan was a rare opportunity. If he built a good relationship with Ye Xuan, who in the Yang Clan would dare punish him?
With the right backing, he could soar to the heavens!
Ye Xuan smiled, “Are you at the God Transformation Realm?”
Zhang Shi shook his head, “I’m at the Upper God Realm!”
Ye Xuan frowned slightly, “Upper God?”
Zhang Shi nodded, “The realm above God Transformation. I oversee a top-tier universe, wielding the faith power of that universe, so I’m an Upper God.”
Ye Xuan was curious, “Top-tier universe?”
Zhang Shi nodded, “One with over ten billion beings, most of them exceptionally strong.”
He paused, then added, “Upper God is a threshold. For most, reaching it is incredibly difficult. Of course, in the Yang Clan, an Upper God is nothing remarkable!”
Ye Xuan blinked, “In the Yang Clan, Upper God means little?”
Zhang Shi nodded, “Yes!”
Ye Xuan grew curious, “What’s your rank in the Yang Clan?”
Zhang Shi gave a bitter smile, “To put it simply, if the Yang Clan is a vast empire, I’d be like a minor village chief in some remote hamlet!”
Ye Xuan fell silent.
A village chief!
Ye Xuan shook his head with a smile. It seemed the faction his father created was far stronger than he’d imagined!
Return to inherit the family legacy?
The thought flickered but was quickly dismissed.
Though he was a second-generation heir, his ultimate goal was to be a first-generation founder!
Zhang Shi added, “Young Master, are you returning to the clan? If so, I can contact the higher-ups!”
Ye Xuan shook his head, “Not yet!”
Zhang Shi nodded slightly, “Very well!”
Ye Xuan said, “I’ll cultivate for a while. You…”
Zhang Shi quickly interjected, “I’ll guard Young Master.”
Ye Xuan glanced at him and smiled, “Alright!”
With that, he entered the starry cultivation ground.
Upon entering, Wenren Lan appeared before him. Ye Xuan sized her up—she had reached the God Transformation Realm!
God Transformation!
Wenren Yi also appeared.
Ye Xuan smiled, “Miss Lan, congratulations!”
Wenren Lan nodded slightly, “I should thank you!”
Ye Xuan smiled, “You’re likely the youngest in the Wenren Clan’s history to reach God Transformation, aren’t you?”
Wenren Lan shook her head, “My ancestor was greater!”
Ye Xuan was curious, “The Wenren Clan’s ancestor?”
Wenren Lan nodded, “Our ancestor had extraordinary talent, far surpassing me!”
Ye Xuan smiled, “You’re already impressive!”
Wenren Lan looked at Ye Xuan, “God Transformation alone isn’t enough to become clan leader, but if I return now, my status will be completely different.”
Ye Xuan nodded, saying nothing.
Wenren Lan said solemnly, “If I become the Wenren Clan leader, what do you hope I do for you?”
Ye Xuan thought for a moment, then said, “Open an academy in your Wenren Clan, or allow my academy to recruit students there.”
Wenren Lan looked at Ye Xuan, “That’s all?”
Ye Xuan nodded.
Wenren Lan nodded, “Agreed!”
She seemed to recall something and glanced outside, “Who’s that person to you?”
Ye Xuan was taken aback, then smiled, “You mean Zhang Shi?”
Wenren Lan nodded.
Ye Xuan thought for a moment, then smiled, “One of my father’s subordinates!”
Wenren Lan stared at Ye Xuan, “What clan are you from?”
Ye Xuan smiled, “The Yang Clan!”
Wenren Lan frowned slightly and turned to Wenren Yi, who shook her head.
Ye Xuan was curious, “You haven’t heard of it?”
Wenren Lan shook her head, “Never!”
Ye Xuan thought for a moment, then asked, “Have you heard of the Upper God Realm?”
Wenren Lan’s pupils shrank, “The Upper God Realm—you’re from there!”
Ye Xuan asked, “You know of it?”
Wenren Lan nodded, her expression grave, “The Upper God Realm is a super universe with true Upper God Realm powerhouses. Do you know what Upper God Realm is?”
Ye Xuan shook his head.
Wenren Lan said solemnly, “Incredibly terrifying. Even a Half-Step Upper God is formidable. After God Transformation, there are nine stages. Beyond the fifth is Half-Step Upper God! In our region, the strongest is only a God Transformation Sixth Stage, but in the Upper God Realm, there are true Upper God Realm powerhouses!”
She looked at Ye Xuan, “Is the Yang Clan a major clan in the Upper God Realm?”
Ye Xuan fell silent.
He didn’t know how to answer without sounding like he was boasting.
Wenren Lan sized him up, then said, “I didn’t expect you to be from the Upper God Realm!”
Ye Xuan smiled, “What are you two sisters planning now?”
Wenren Lan was silent for a moment, then turned to Wenren Yi, “Sister, what’s your plan?”
Wenren Yi looked at Ye Xuan and smiled, “Young Master Ye, I’d like to join your Guanxuan Academy directly. I may not be that strong, but I should be able to help a bit!”
Ye Xuan smiled, “Welcome!”
Wenren Yi was an Ancestral God Realm powerhouse, far from weak for the current Guanxuan Academy.
The academy sorely lacked strong fighters. Qingqiu was just one person and needed support.
Hearing Ye Xuan’s words, Wenren Yi smiled faintly, “Young Master Ye, if I join your academy, the Nantian Clan may not let it go. Be prepared!”
Ye Xuan was about to respond when he frowned. Wenren Yi looked into the distance, “The Nantian Clan is here!”
Nantian Clan?
Ye Xuan’s brows furrowed.
At that moment, Zhang Shi appeared behind Ye Xuan, glancing into the starry depths with a calm expression.
Wenren Lan gave Zhang Shi a deep look, a trace of solemnity in her eyes. She couldn’t sense his realm, but her instincts told her he was terrifying.
Boom!
Suddenly, the starry sky above them turned into a massive vortex. Soon, a man slowly emerged from it!
God Transformation Realm!
As the man appeared, Wenren Yi frowned—she clearly recognized him.
Wenren Lan’s face darkened. This man was Nantian Yan, the Nantian Clan’s heir, once betrothed to Wenren Yi!
Upon appearing, Nantian Yan waved his right sleeve, erasing the vortex and restoring the starry sky.
He glanced at Wenren Yi below, expressionless, then turned to Ye Xuan, “You’re Ye Xuan?”
Ye Xuan nodded.
Nantian Yan stared at him, “I hear you like meddling in others’ affairs?”
A formless pressure surged toward Ye Xuan!
Ye Xuan frowned, about to act, when Zhang Shi opened his right hand and pressed downward.
Thud!
In everyone’s shocked gazes, Nantian Yan’s legs buckled, and he knelt.
Zhang Shi looked at the terrified Nantian Yan calmly, “When speaking to my Young Master, you kneel. Understood?”
Everyone: “…”
Ye Xuan: “…”
