Lying on the stone steps in the distance, Ye Xuan’s consciousness was fading fast.
It was too cold!
He had never experienced such biting cold.
On the other side, Mu Sheng and Han Zhu, along with the Great Dao Pen, were watching him intently.
Suddenly, Han Zhu shook her head, “His consciousness is blurring. If this continues, his soul will dissipate.”
Mu Sheng nodded slightly, agreeing that Ye Xuan had reached his limit.
Just then, the Great Dao Pen spoke, “Wait.”
The two women looked at it, and it added softly, “Just a bit longer.”
As Han Zhu was about to speak, Ye Xuan stirred in the distance.
Seeing this, both women froze in surprise.
Ye Xuan began crawling upward again.
Around him, a blood-red sword intent had appeared, unnoticed until now.
Unyielding Bloodline!
What did unyielding mean?
Never submitting, never giving up, even unto death.
Ye Xuan looked up at the endless stone steps, his gaze resolute, climbing step by step.
Mu Sheng whispered, “I underestimated him.”
Han Zhu glanced at Ye Xuan but said nothing.
The Great Dao Pen spoke, “Someone chosen by the Master, how could he be ordinary? It’s a pity things later spiralled beyond the Master’s control…”
It shook its head, a touch of helplessness in its tone.
Mu Sheng smiled, “Great Dao Pen, are you the Master’s spy by his side?”
The Great Dao Pen shook its head, “The Master wouldn’t do that. I chose to follow him.”
Mu Sheng glanced at it, saying no more.
Han Zhu also gave it a look.
Was the Great Dao Pen planning to betray them?
At that moment, Ye Xuan’s pace quickened.
Seeing this, Han Zhu and Mu Sheng were stunned.
On the distant steps, the power of Ye Xuan’s Unyielding Bloodline grew stronger.
Han Zhu asked, “Is he cheating?”
Mu Sheng shook her head, “His bloodline has evolved. It’s bolstering his soul and will…”
Unyielding Will!
Unyielding Soul!
Ye Xuan’s speed increased, and eventually, he stood. The faint power of his bloodline shielded him from the surrounding cold.
Mu Sheng murmured, “His bloodline… it’s integrated with his soul. Impressive…”
Han Zhu nodded in agreement.
The Great Dao Pen added, “His father once went to the Ruins to snatch someone.”
The women looked at it, and it continued, “More than one.”
Mu Sheng gave a thumbs-up, “Badass.”
The Great Dao Pen glanced at Ye Xuan, “He’s the real badass. His whole family is outrageously badass.”
The women were speechless.
In the distance, Ye Xuan stopped. The steps before him had vanished.
Gone.
Mu Sheng appeared before him, “That’s enough.”
Ye Xuan looked at her. She smiled, “Notice anything different about your soul and will?”
Ye Xuan assessed himself, then said softly, “Unyielding Will, Unyielding Soul.”
Mu Sheng nodded, “Your will and soul have broken through. Now, we can train your body.”
Ye Xuan nodded, “Alright.”
Mu Sheng said, “Follow me.”
She turned and vanished.
Ye Xuan’s face darkened.
Damn it!
He couldn’t sense her presence at all.
Was this woman showing off on purpose?
Mu Sheng reappeared, looking at him, “Why aren’t you coming?”
Ye Xuan said gravely, “Take me with you.”
Mu Sheng frowned, “Why?”
Ye Xuan replied, “I’m too weak.”
Mu Sheng studied him, her expression odd, “You can’t sense my presence, can you?”
Ye Xuan was silent.
Mu Sheng laughed, waved her sleeve, and they vanished together.
In the distance, the Great Dao Pen said, “Shall we follow?”
Han Zhu glanced at it, “You can’t sense her either, can you?”
The Great Dao Pen was silent.
Han Zhu sighed, shaking her head, “You’ve fallen far.”
She took the Great Dao Pen and vanished.
Mu Sheng brought Ye Xuan to a deep underground chamber, with Han Zhu following.
Seeing the place, Han Zhu froze, “Mu Sheng, you…”
Mu Sheng smiled, “What?”
Han Zhu glanced at Ye Xuan but said nothing.
Mu Sheng laughed, “It’s fine. The Master hasn’t come here in ages.”
Ye Xuan quickly asked, “Any treasures here?”
Mu Sheng glanced at him, her smile mischievous, “Yes, lots of treasures.”
Ye Xuan was speechless.
The Great Dao Pen said, “You know physical training is painful, right?”
Ye Xuan nodded, “Of course.”
The Great Dao Pen continued, “Mu Sheng’s method is different. Brace yourself.”
Ye Xuan smiled, “Don’t worry. I’ve endured all kinds of pain training my body over the years.”
The Great Dao Pen hesitated.
Mu Sheng’s smile grew more sinister.
Seeing it, Ye Xuan felt a twinge of unease.
Han Zhu suddenly said, “Young Master Ye, I heard you killed quite a few from the Dao Sect. The Law God of the Law Realm died by your hand, right?”
Ye Xuan nodded, “Yes.”
Han Zhu looked at him, “Why?”
Ye Xuan smiled, “You’d better not ask me. Ask the Great Dao Pen.”
The Great Dao Pen quickly said, “Why ask me? I’ve always been firmly on your side.”
Ye Xuan was exasperated, “Why so nervous? Just tell her the truth.”
The Great Dao Pen said, “No need. They’re already dead.”
Ye Xuan was speechless.
Han Zhu said gravely, “Young Master Ye, from knowing you, you don’t seem unreasonable. So, I’m curious why you’ve clashed so much with our Dao Sect.”
Ye Xuan thought, then said, “I wouldn’t say I’m at odds with the entire Dao Sect. I get along well with some of your people. It’s just a few I’ve had issues with. I don’t oppose the whole sect.”
Han Zhu was about to speak when Mu Sheng interrupted, “It’s normal. Many in the Dao Sect think they’re the heavens, the law, acting superior and arrogant. Even I find them annoying.”
Han Zhu glanced at Mu Sheng, speechless.
Mu Sheng stopped before a stone door, smiling, “Be careful.”
She waved her sleeve, and the door opened. Instantly, the temperature soared, and Ye Xuan’s face changed as his soul began to blur.
Mu Sheng said, “Quick, protect your soul.”
Ye Xuan tried to summon his bloodline power and mortal sword intent, but they vanished upon appearing.
He was horrified.
Mu Sheng looked at Han Zhu, who hesitated, then stood beside Ye Xuan. The temperature dropped significantly.
Ye Xuan looked at Mu Sheng, “What is this place?”
Mu Sheng smiled, “A very special place. The Master used to stay here, but it’s been abandoned.”
She glanced at Han Zhu, “Without her, I wouldn’t dare bring you. You couldn’t handle the power here. But with her, you can withstand the Spirit of Molten Lava.”
Ye Xuan frowned, “Spirit of Molten Lava?”
Mu Sheng laughed, “You’ll see soon.”
She walked through the stone door.
Ye Xuan and Han Zhu followed, and he felt a terrifying heat again, sticking close to Mu Sheng.
Han Zhu glanced at him but said nothing.
Soon, Ye Xuan saw a flame hovering on a stone platform, a small talisman above it.
The flame suddenly exclaimed, “Mu Sheng! Han Zhu… holy crap… Great Dao Pen, you’re out? No, you must’ve escaped!”
The Great Dao Pen was silent.
Mu Sheng smiled, “Molten Spirit, long time no see.”
Molten Spirit sighed softly, “Yeah, it’s been ages. You never visit… I know, the world’s just that harsh…”
Mu Sheng laughed, “If we can’t save you, what’s the point of visiting?”
Molten Spirit froze, then said excitedly, “Can you save me?”
Mu Sheng glanced at Ye Xuan and nodded.
Ye Xuan stayed silent.
Was he here to save it?
The Great Dao Pen said, “The Master didn’t ignore the Dao Sect’s wrongdoers, but he couldn’t manage everything. It’s impossible to stop all mistakes. This one was punished for its errors and locked here.”
Ye Xuan smiled, “You brought me to Mu Sheng so I could save it?”
The Great Dao Pen said, “Yes. But it can help you too. Use it to forge your body, and I can responsibly say, it’ll be incredibly powerful.”
Ye Xuan was silent.
The Great Dao Pen added, “It’s been locked up for tens of millions of years. It’s paid for its mistakes.”
Ye Xuan thought, then asked, “Were you also locked in the galaxy for a mistake?”
The Great Dao Pen said, “Yes.”
Ye Xuan was curious, “What mistake?”
After a pause, the Great Dao Pen said, “Embezzlement.”
Ye Xuan’s expression froze.
