Hearing Ye Yu’s words, Ye Xuan couldn’t help but glance at her. This little girl’s maturity was almost too much for her age. It wasn’t necessarily a good thing. But he didn’t say anything more.
Ye Xuan led Ye Yu to the North Sect, a small sect, though much stronger than the forces in Qing City. As they arrived, an old man blocked their path.
The old man looked at Ye Xuan. “Who are you?”
Ye Xuan smiled. “I want to see your sect leader.”
The old man’s eyes narrowed. “Who are you?”
Ye Xuan suddenly flicked his sleeve, and a sword soared into the sky, tearing a massive rift in the heavens. The old man’s face changed instantly, shocked. “You…”
Ye Xuan smiled again. “I want to see your sect leader.”
The old man hurriedly said, “Please wait.” He turned and left.
Soon, a middle-aged man appeared before Ye Xuan—the North Sect’s leader. He clasped his fists. “May I ask who you are?”
Ye Xuan smiled. “Can the feud between the North Sect and the Zhang family end here?”
The Zhang family. The sect leader’s face shifted. He hesitated, then asked, “Who are you?”
Ye Xuan looked at him. “Answer my question.”
The sect leader quickly replied, “Of course it can.”
Ye Xuan nodded slightly, then took Ye Yu’s hand and turned to leave.
The sect leader suddenly called out, “Are you Young Master Ye?”
Ye Xuan paused, turning to look at him. “You know me?”
The sect leader respectfully said, “There’s a statue of you in the Guanxuan Academy.”
Ye Xuan smiled. “I see.” He took Ye Yu’s hand and vanished into the horizon.
Left behind, the sect leader’s face was drenched in cold sweat. Ye Xuan—the godlike existence in the Qingcang Realm. He hadn’t expected to meet him in person. Looking toward the distant sky, he murmured, “The greatest sword cultivator of the Qingcang Realm…”
…
Ye Xuan brought Ye Yu to the Guanxuan Academy, which, as always, was bustling with activity. Every day, people came hoping to join, knowing that entry meant leaping through the dragon’s gate and changing their fate.
The martial dao civilisation of Qingzhou had once been low, but the Guanxuan Academy had elevated it to new heights. To leave the Qingcang Realm and explore the wider universe, joining the academy was the fastest path. Guanxuan Academies now existed across the myriad universes, holding annual literary and martial competitions.
At the academy’s gate, a man appeared before Ye Xuan and Ye Yu—Mo Yunqi, now much more mature.
Ye Xuan grinned. “Old Mo!”
Mo Yunqi laughed. “Ye Bandit, how do you have time to come back?”
Ye Xuan smiled. “I missed you all. Came to check in.”
Mo Yunqi chuckled. “I don’t believe a word of that. Come on, let’s go inside.”
Ye Xuan nodded.
Mo Yunqi led him to the inner courtyard, where Bei Ze and Ji Anzhi appeared. Seeing Ye Xuan, Bei Ze laughed heartily and gave him a big hug. Ji Anzhi glanced at him, said nothing, and took a bite of the greasy chicken leg in her hand.
Ye Xuan looked at her and smiled. “Anzhi.”
Ji Anzhi nodded slightly.
Ye Xuan turned to Mo Yunqi. “This girl’s in your care.”
Mo Yunqi looked at Ye Yu and grinned. “Come with me, little one.”
Ye Yu suddenly looked at Ye Xuan. “Will we meet again?”
Ye Xuan smiled faintly. “Probably.” He opened his palm, and a wisp of sword intent flew out, merging into Ye Yu’s body. Crouching before her, he said earnestly, “If you want to revive the Ye Clan, you need to work hard. Understand?”
Ye Yu nodded. “I will.”
Ye Xuan smiled. “I believe in you.”
Ye Yu looked at him for a moment, then turned and left with Mo Yunqi and Bei Ze.
Only Ye Xuan and Ji Anzhi remained. He walked to her, gently wiping the grease from her mouth, and smiled. “Walk with me.”
He took her hand, and Ji Anzhi didn’t resist.
They headed toward the back mountain. Along the way, Ye Xuan turned to her and smiled. “How have you been these years?”
Ji Anzhi nodded.
Ye Xuan said solemnly, “Want to come with me?”
After a long silence, Ji Anzhi shook her head. “I’ll wait for you here.”
Ye Xuan suddenly asked, “What if I don’t come back?”
Ji Anzhi looked at him. “I’ll keep waiting.”
Ye Xuan was silent for a moment, then pulled her into his arms. As the sun set, they stood quietly, embracing.
Ye Xuan didn’t make a public appearance upon his return. After spending time with Ji Anzhi and the others, he went to Tuoba Yan’s palace. He hadn’t forgotten the first woman in his life.
In the palace, Tuoba Yan, handling official duties, looked up and saw Ye Xuan. A smile spread across her face.
Ye Xuan walked to her and grinned. “I’m back.”
Tuoba Yan stood, slowly embracing him, and said softly, “It’s good to have you back.”
Ye Xuan held her tightly. Home. Returning to Qingzhou gave him that sense of home—where loved ones and friends were.
He and Tuoba Yan sat at the palace entrance. It was late, and a full moon hung in the starry sky. Tuoba Yan lay in his arms.
Suddenly, she said, “I want to have your child.”
Ye Xuan froze, then gave a wry smile.
Tuoba Yan looked at him. “We’ve never taken precautions… Why can’t I get pregnant?”
Ye Xuan said solemnly, “Maybe it’s my bloodline, or maybe something else…”
Tuoba Yan frowned. “Something else?”
Ye Xuan nodded slightly. “It’s complicated. But don’t worry, I’ll sort it out.”
Tuoba Yan nodded. “Alright.”
Looking at the beauty in his arms, Ye Xuan smiled faintly. “Maybe if we try a few more times, it’ll happen.”
Tuoba Yan’s cheeks flushed. Ye Xuan laughed, picked her up, and vanished.
Days later, Ye Xuan left the palace and returned to the Rebellious Chaos Land, where the Guanxuan Academy had taken shape. As the top force in the region, it attracted countless people, growing stronger as more joined.
In a grand hall, Ye Xuan sat at the head, facing eleven ancient giants, led by Tian Chen. Everyone knew Ye Xuan had given the seal to Tian Chen, making him the law of this land. But Ye Xuan was the true leader.
He glanced at the group. “You must all follow the academy’s rules. Understood?”
They nodded quickly, filled with both respect and fear for Ye Xuan.
He looked at Fei Yu and smiled. “Teacher Fei Yu, are you settling in?”
Fei Yu hurriedly said, “Yes.”
Ye Xuan nodded. “The academy is still being built and needs talent. I’d like you to help recruit.”
Fei Yu grinned. “Trying to poach from Galaxy Academy?”
Ye Xuan shook his head. “I only wanted you from Galaxy Academy. The others don’t matter.”
Fei Yu blinked. “Really?”
Ye Xuan nodded. “Of course.”
Fei Yu covered her mouth, chuckling. “I’m flattered.”
Ye Xuan thought for a moment, then said, “Everyone’s goal is cultivation. I understand that, so I’ll do my best to help you all advance.”
The hall buzzed with excitement. Who wanted to stay stuck in the No-Path Realm?
Ye Xuan suddenly asked, “Any movement from the Han Clan?”
Tian Chen stepped forward. “We heard an elder from the Han Clan visited the Rebellious Chaos Land but left soon after.”
Ye Xuan nodded. “If they’re gone, we’ll leave them be for now.” He stood. “I’ll leave the academy’s affairs to you all.”
Tian Chen quickly said, “Rest assured, Young Master Ye. The academy’s matters are our matters. We’ll give our all.”
Ye Xuan smiled. “Good.”
Half an hour later, the meeting ended.
In the hall, Ye Xuan’s brows furrowed. The next moment, he vanished, reappearing in a starry expanse. Before him stood an old man in black.
The old man looked at Ye Xuan silently.
Ye Xuan smiled. “From the Law Realm?”
The old man’s face was expressionless. “You broke the rules.”
Ye Xuan laughed. “Are you here to talk things out or to settle a score?”
The old man shook his head. “There’s nothing to discuss. Young Master Ye, we know you’re acquainted with the Great Dao Brush and have some connection to the Master. But that doesn’t mean you can act recklessly. We demand you return the seal and apologise to the Law Realm. Otherwise, you’ll pay a price.”
A price.
Ye Xuan was about to respond when the Great Dao Brush spoke. “What price?”
The old man looked at it. “Great Dao Brush, you colluded with an outsider to kill a law. Do you know you’ve committed a grave sin?”
The Great Dao Brush sneered. “Grave sin? Don’t try to scare me, old man. Do you know that this realm’s law colluded with local forces for profit, severely violating the Master’s will? You…”
The old man waved his hand. “Even if it was wrong, that’s for the Law Realm to handle. What gives you the right to kill it? What gives you the right?”
Ye Xuan’s brows furrowed.
The Great Dao Brush laughed. “Looks like the Law Realm is rotten to the core.”
The old man glared at it. “You think you’re still the Great Dao Brush of old? We give you some face, and you think you’re something special? Pathetic.”
He turned to Ye Xuan, sneering. “And you, you think having a backer makes you invincible? What a joke.”
