If there’s any force the Northern Sect truly fears, it’s only one: the Dao Sect.
Seeing a Dao Sect member appear, the elder’s face darkened.
He looked at Yun Qi beside him.
Yun Qi turned to Ye Xuan. Ye Xuan quickly said, “Why are you looking at me?”
Yun Qi smiled. “Will the Dao Sect give you face?”
Ye Xuan fell silent.
Some in the Dao Sect respected him, others didn’t.
At that moment, the man in white suddenly said, “This must be Young Master Ye?”
Ye Xuan looked at him. “You know me?”
The man nodded. “I don’t know you personally, but I’ve heard of you.”
Ye Xuan smiled. “Heard of me?”
The man thought for a moment, then said, “If Young Master Ye wishes to pass, I wouldn’t dare stop you.”
At his words, everyone turned to Ye Xuan, curious.
What kind of background did this guy have?
Even the Dao Sect gave him face.
Yun Qi looked at Ye Xuan, her face full of smiles.
Ye Xuan thought for a moment, then said, “Then let’s go take a look.”
The man in white was speechless.
Ye Xuan glanced at him. “Is there a problem?”
The man hesitated.
Ye Xuan grinned. “Are you joking with me?”
The man gave a wry smile. “How could I, Young Master Ye? If you want to take a look, I’ll guide you.”
Ye Xuan smiled. “I’m with my friend.”
The man glanced at Yun Qi and nodded. “That’s fine.”
Ye Xuan turned to Yun Qi, smiling. “Let’s go.”
Yun Qi nodded slightly. “Alright.”
She turned to the elder. “Wait here.”
The elder bowed respectfully.
The man in white led Ye Xuan and Yun Qi onward.
On the way, he suddenly said, “Why did Young Master Ye come here? Weren’t you in the Four Realms Universe?”
Ye Xuan replied, “Just here to train a bit.”
The man smiled. “I see.”
Ye Xuan asked, “What’s your name?”
The man said, “Bai Xiang.”
Ye Xuan nodded. “Brother Bai Xiang, did that Heavenly Dao leave any treasures here?”
Bai Xiang was momentarily speechless.
Yun Qi added, “Yes, if there are no treasures, we’ll leave.”
Bai Xiang shook his head slightly. “No treasures.”
Yun Qi stopped in her tracks.
Ye Xuan said, “Let’s take a look anyway.”
Yun Qi hesitated, then said reluctantly, “Fine.”
Bai Xiang shook his head with a smile.
Soon, he led them to a mountain peak shrouded in mist, serene and tranquil.
Ye Xuan looked ahead. On a large rock nearby lay a woman in white.
Her hands rested on her abdomen, eyes closed, with no sign of life.
Yun Qi suddenly said, “Mu Tiandao.”
Bai Xiang turned to her. “You know Lady Mu?”
Yun Qi didn’t respond.
Ye Xuan asked, “Is this the Heavenly Dao who was ambushed?”
Bai Xiang nodded. “Yes. Lady Mu was ambushed…”
His eyes flashed with coldness. “If not for the sneak attack, those cowards could never have harmed her.”
Ye Xuan thought for a moment, then asked, “Is she still alive?”
Bai Xiang’s expression dimmed. “Her life imprint is in the Ruins Realm. Whether she lives depends on the Master…”
Ye Xuan glanced around. “Is there nothing else here?”
Bai Xiang hesitated, then said, “Nothing.”
Ye Xuan looked at him and smiled. “Then we’ll leave.”
Bai Xiang nodded. “Take care, Young Master Ye.”
As Ye Xuan and Yun Qi turned to go, a mysterious force suddenly appeared behind them. A shadowy figure emerged not far away.
Ye Xuan and Yun Qi turned. A translucent woman was watching them.
Mu Tiandao.
Seeing her, Bai Xiang’s face changed dramatically, then lit up with joy. He bowed deeply, voice trembling. “Greetings, Lady Mu.”
Mu Tiandao’s gaze settled on Ye Xuan. After a moment, she said, “I have something for you.”
Ye Xuan was stunned.
Bai Xiang looked at Mu Tiandao in shock. “Lady Mu…”
Mu Tiandao glanced at him. “What?”
Bai Xiang hesitated, then said, “He’s not from our Dao Sect.”
Mu Tiandao’s face was expressionless. “So what?”
Bai Xiang’s expression grew strained.
Mu Tiandao turned to Ye Xuan. “I can give you everything I have, with one condition.”
Ye Xuan looked at her. “What condition?”
Mu Tiandao said, “Let my soul fragment follow you.”
Ye Xuan frowned. “That’s it?”
Mu Tiandao nodded.
Ye Xuan thought for a moment, then said, “Alright.”
Mu Tiandao turned into a beam of light and merged into the Qingxuan Sword in Ye Xuan’s hand.
Ye Xuan glanced at the sword, then smiled. “Let’s go.”
Yun Qi looked at Bai Xiang and said, “Alright.”
The two left.
Bai Xiang watched them go, lost in thought.
…
After descending the mountain, Yun Qi suddenly said, “Bai Xiang probably wanted Mu Tiandao’s inheritance, so he guarded this place in the Dao Sect’s name, keeping outsiders out. Now that you’ve got her soul fragment, meaning you’ve inherited everything she had, I think he might take a risk.”
She looked at Ye Xuan. “Split half with me. I’m not afraid of the Dao Sect.”
Ye Xuan opened his palm, and a storage ring floated to Yun Qi.
Inside were twenty million ancient crystals.
Ye Xuan smiled. “We share the blessings and the troubles.”
Yun Qi nodded, took the ring, and asked, “Where to next?”
Ye Xuan fell silent.
He’d planned to return, but having only fought once here went against his original purpose.
Yun Qi suddenly said, “Want to visit the Northern Realm with me?”
Ye Xuan thought for a moment, then nodded. “Sure.”
Yun Qi nodded. “Let’s go.”
She led Ye Xuan to the group of powerhouses waiting below.
Yun Qi said, “Young Master Ye is coming to the Northern Realm to look around.”
The elder glanced at Ye Xuan and nodded slightly. “Welcome.”
He turned, waving his sleeve.
Boom!
The sky split open.
The group entered a space-time tunnel, vanishing at the horizon.
After they left, Bai Xiang appeared, staring at the space-time rift, lost in thought.
…
Guanxuan Academy.
In a courtyard, Qingqiu was reading. Opposite her was Gu.
Both were engrossed in their books.
Suddenly, Qingqiu put down her ancient text and said softly, “I wonder how Brother’s doing out there.”
Gu glanced at her. “Don’t worry. Your brother’s sharp as a tack. He won’t come out worse for wear.”
Qingqiu said softly, “I’m still worried. He’s great in every way, just too honest, too kind.”
Gu looked at her. “Are you serious?”
Qingqiu met her gaze. “Isn’t my brother honest?”
Gu was speechless.
Your brother, honest? Hardly.
She didn’t dwell on it, saying instead, “I explored a bit earlier. The order in this universe is solid. If it fully forms, it’ll be a huge help to your brother.”
Qingqiu smiled faintly. “Yes.”
Gu said gravely, “You’re pursuing external order.”
Qingqiu blinked. “External order?”
Gu glanced at her, sighing inwardly. How could such a powerhouse know so little about realms?
Regaining her thoughts, Gu continued, “Order is divided into internal and external. Internal order is built within the Great Dao Pen Master’s framework. External order is established outside it. Your order isn’t within the Pen Master’s.”
Qingqiu suddenly said, “We’re definitely building our own order. Why build under the Pen Master’s?”
Gu said, “Anyone building order outside his is targeted.”
Qingqiu’s expression was calm. “Let him try.”
Gu was speechless.
Qingqiu added, “By creating a new order, my brother becomes its founder.”
Gu said solemnly, “You might end up clashing with the Great Dao Pen Master.”
Qingqiu stood, smiling faintly. “Miss Gu, it’s not us who should worry, but the Pen Master. I’ve got things to do.”
She turned and left.
Gu sat in silence, then murmured, “Impressive.”
…
Some time later, Ye Xuan opened his eyes. He was now on a mountain peak.
Beside him were Yun Qi, the elder, and the others.
Yun Qi smiled. “We’re in the Northern Realm. Welcome.”
Ye Xuan looked around. “This is the Northern Realm?”
Yun Qi nodded. “Just ahead is the Northern Sect.”
She led Ye Xuan forward.
The elder and others followed closely.
Soon, they reached the Northern Sect. A group of powerhouses appeared before Yun Qi, led by a black-robed elder who bowed slightly. “Miss Qi, you’re back?”
Yun Qi nodded. “I just went for a stroll. You didn’t need to send so many people to find me.”
The elder gave a wry smile. “Next time you go out, please let us know.”
Yun Qi nodded. “I didn’t want to trouble you.”
The elder quickly said, “What trouble?”
Yun Qi smiled, then said, “This is Young Master Ye. I invited him to visit. Make sure no one from the Northern Sect bothers him, understood?”
The elder glanced at Ye Xuan and said, “Of course. Welcome, Young Master Ye, to the Northern Sect.”
Ye Xuan smiled. “Thank you.”
Yun Qi turned to Ye Xuan. “I’ve got some things to handle. Feel free to explore. When I’m done, I’ll find you and take you to a special place.”
She turned and vanished nearby.
Ye Xuan looked at the black-robed elder. “She’s not from your Northern Sect?”
The elder hesitated, then said, “She’s staying with us temporarily.”
He looked at Ye Xuan. “Are you and Miss Qi friends?”
Ye Xuan thought for a moment, then said, “Sort of.”
The elder fell silent.
Ye Xuan smiled. “I’m just an ordinary guy, really.”
The elder was speechless.
I don’t believe you for a second.
