Hearing Ye Xuan’s words, Gu Ye was momentarily stunned. The next moment, his eyes narrowed sharply, “Say that again!”
Ye Xuan grinned, “None of your damn business!”
Gu Ye’s right hand tightly gripped his sword, which trembled violently, unleashing a terrifying sword aura that enveloped Ye Xuan!
Yet, Ye Xuan remained utterly calm.
At that moment, Shi Li suddenly spoke, “Gu Ye!”
Gu Ye turned to Shi Li, “He insulted me!”
Shi Li said gravely, “Gu Ye, he’s my friend. Asking me a few questions isn’t too much, is it?”
Gu Ye glared at Shi Li, “He’s your friend, but what am I to you?”
Shi Li’s brows furrowed.
Gu Ye’s face turned icy, “Shi Li, don’t think I won’t give you face. He insulted me, which is an insult to the Gu Clan!”
Ye Xuan suddenly said, “Brother Gu Ye, are you targeting me because you’re jealous of how close I am to Miss Shi Li?”
Gu Ye froze, then roared in fury, “What nonsense are you spouting! You…”
Ye Xuan blinked, “Getting worked up, are you?”
Gu Ye abruptly drew his sword, pointing it at Ye Xuan with a grim face, “I challenge you! A life-or-death duel!”
Ye Xuan sighed softly, “Brother Gu Ye, Miss Shi Li and I are just ordinary friends. There’s really no need for you to be jealous!”
He glanced at Shi Li, then smiled, “Besides, even if I were pursuing Miss Shi Li, you should be happy! She’s so outstanding, isn’t it normal for her to have a few suitors?”
Hearing Ye Xuan’s words, Shi Li glanced at him but said nothing.
Gu Ye’s expression grew uglier, “I challenge you! You…”
Ye Xuan cut him off, “A meaningless challenge like this? I see no point.”
He turned to Shi Li, “Miss Shi Li, I’m sorry. I didn’t expect to cause you trouble. Should I… leave?”
Shi Li’s expression was calm, “Leave? You’ve done nothing wrong!”
She turned to Gu Ye, “Gu Ye, Young Master Ye is my friend, and I brought him here. If you have a problem with him, you can come at me directly!”
With that, she looked at Ye Xuan, “Let’s go!”
Ye Xuan hesitated, then nodded, “As you say!”
The two headed toward the Emperor’s Hall in the distance.
Shi Qian glanced at Ye Xuan’s back, inwardly praising, “Damn, that’s slick!”
Nearby, Gu Ye’s face was as dark as it could get!
He was still somewhat dumbfounded!
What the hell just happened?
…
In the distance, Shi Li led Ye Xuan toward the Emperor’s Hall.
Shi Li glanced at Ye Xuan, “Sorry!”
Ye Xuan smiled, “Sorry for what?”
Shi Li said softly, “I didn’t expect him to target you!”
Ye Xuan shook his head with a smile, “I’m not mad!”
Shi Li looked at him, “Why not?”
Ye Xuan smiled, “He targeted me because he thinks you and I are close! A man getting jealous is normal. You shouldn’t be mad either, Miss Shi Li. He’s acting this way because he likes you too much and doesn’t want other men around you. Of course, his approach is wrong. A woman as outstanding as you is bound to have exceptional men pursuing her.”
Shi Li sighed softly, “He targeted you, yet you’re still speaking up for him!”
Ye Xuan smiled, “I’m not speaking for him. I just don’t want to put you in a difficult spot.”
Shi Li looked at Ye Xuan, “How so?”
Ye Xuan smiled, “If I’m not mistaken, the Gu Clan and your Shi Clan are on good terms, and your elders intend to match you two, right?”
Shi Li nodded.
Ye Xuan continued, “So, even if you don’t like Young Master Gu Ye, you still have to consider the face of both families, don’t you?”
Shi Li looked at Ye Xuan, silent.
Ye Xuan chuckled, “The Shi Clan is a major power, and its internal struggles are beyond an outsider’s understanding. As a woman, surviving and rising to your current status must have been incredibly tough.”
Shi Li smiled faintly, “Young Master Ye, you’re a good and kind person. But in the brutal Ancient Desolate Land, being too kind isn’t always a good thing!”
She looked into the distance, “We’re here!”
The Emperor’s Hall!
Inside, three people were already gathered—two men and a woman!
They sat far apart, clearly not very familiar with each other.
Upon seeing Shi Li, all three turned their gazes and nodded in greeting.
Shi Li approached them, smiling, “Brother Yu Feng, Brother Ye Ling, Sister Wenren Meng, it’s been a while!”
Wenren Meng smiled, “Shi Li, come sit!”
Shi Li smiled, sat beside Wenren Meng, then, as if remembering something, looked at Ye Xuan, “Let me introduce you three. This is Brother Ye Xuan from Guanxuan City!”
Wenren Meng looked at Ye Xuan, smiling, “Young Master Ye’s name has been ringing like thunder lately!”
Clearly, they all knew about Boundless Master helping Guanxuan City suppress the Xiao Clan.
Now, the disciples of the nine major clans were strictly ordered not to provoke Guanxuan City!
“You’re Ye Xuan from Guanxuan Academy!”
A voice suddenly came from the hall’s entrance.
Ye Xuan turned to see Gu Ye, the one who spoke.
Ye Xuan smiled, “Yes!”
Gu Ye stared at him, silent.
Ye Xuan smiled, sat beside Shi Li, and at this sight, Gu Ye’s face darkened further!
Wenren Meng glanced at Gu Ye, her lips curling slightly, “Brother Gu Ye, you don’t seem in the best mood!”
Gu Ye’s face was expressionless as he sat to the side, closing his eyes.
Wenren Meng smiled, then looked at Ye Xuan, “Young Master Ye, you’re a sword cultivator?”
Ye Xuan smiled, “Yes!”
Wenren Meng blinked, “Brother Gu Ye is also a sword cultivator!”
Ye Xuan glanced at Gu Ye, smiling, “What are you getting at, Miss Meng?”
Wenren Meng said earnestly, “Brother Ye, you’re an outsider sword cultivator, and Brother Gu Ye is a sword cultivator of the Ancient Desolate Land. Why not have a spar?”
Shi Li’s brows furrowed!
Wenren Meng was stirring trouble!
At that moment, Gu Ye opened his eyes, “I’m ready anytime!”
Wenren Meng quickly looked at Ye Xuan, smiling, “Young Master Ye, what about you?”
Ye Xuan glanced at her, then smiled, “Miss Meng, this is our first meeting, right?”
Wenren Meng nodded, “Yes!”
Ye Xuan smiled, “Since it’s our first meeting, why are you targeting me? I haven’t offended you, have I?”
Wenren Meng looked innocent, “Young Master Ye, you misunderstand! I just wanted to see a fight between sword cultivators, no intention of targeting you! If you feel targeted, I apologize! Sorry!”
Shi Li suddenly said, “Miss Meng is engaged to the Xiao Clan’s heir, Xiao Yun!”
The Xiao Clan!
Ye Xuan laughed, “I see!”
He walked up to Wenren Meng, leaned down to her delicate face, and said, “The Xiao Clan nearly got wiped out. Want the Wenren Clan to try it too?”
His voice wasn’t loud, but everyone in the hall heard it!
The temperature in the room plummeted!
Wenren Meng’s smile vanished. She stared at Ye Xuan, who smiled, “If you don’t believe me, nod and try it!”
Wenren Meng looked at him, silent, and didn’t dare nod.
Ye Xuan’s smile faded. He leaned to her ear and said, “Don’t play your white lotus act with me. I don’t buy it, got it?”
At that moment, Gu Ye slammed the table and stood, “Ye Xuan, don’t think you can do whatever you want just because you have Boundless Master backing you. This is the Ancient Desolate Land, you…”
Ye Xuan suddenly turned. The instant he did, he vanished.
Gu Ye’s face changed drastically. He reached for his sword, but a blade was already piercing his brow.
Swoosh!
A spurt of blood shot from the back of Gu Ye’s head!
Gu Ye was stunned!
Not just him—everyone in the hall was dumbfounded!
Ye Xuan looked at Gu Ye, sword in his brow, and said calmly, “Think I’m giving you too much face?”
Gu Ye stared in horror, “You…”
At that moment, a shadowy figure appeared before Gu Ye, gradually solidifying into a black-robed elder holding a sword.
Ye Xuan looked at the elder, who clasped his fists, “Young Master Ye, please show mercy!”
Ye Xuan’s face was expressionless, “Your Gu Clan’s Gu Ye has provoked me repeatedly. Why should I show mercy? You owe me… an explanation, don’t you?”
The elder’s face was grim, “Young Master Ye, the Gu Clan bears no ill will toward you, we…”
Ye Xuan waved his hand, “Skip the nonsense. Give me something real!”
Real?
The elder froze, then opened his palm. A storage ring floated to Ye Xuan, containing five crystal kings!
Five!
Ye Xuan said seriously, “What do you take me for?”
The elder hesitated, then opened his palm again. Another ring floated over, also containing five crystal kings!
Ye Xuan took both rings, about to speak, when Gu Ye suddenly roared, “Unfair! Ye Xuan, you ambushed me. If you’ve got the guts, fight me fairly!”
Everyone: “…”
Ye Xuan glanced at Gu Ye, then at the elder, “Go back and tell your clan leader to make a new one. This one’s done for!”
The elder glanced at Ye Xuan, then said, “He’s not our Xiao Clan’s heir. This was just to let him gain experience. Sorry for the embarrassment, Young Master Ye. Farewell!”
With that, he grabbed Gu Ye’s shoulder to leave, but Gu Ye roared, “I’m not convinced! Ye Xuan, if you’re capable, fight me fairly! You’re shameless, ambushing me…”
The elder trembled with rage, “Young Master Ye, just kill him! I’m done!”
He looked at Ye Xuan, “Can you return my crystal kings?”
Ye Xuan: “…”
