Barren Ancient Abyss!
Ye Xuan arrived at the Barren Ancient Abyss. Before him stretched a vast, boundless chasm, its depths shrouded in darkness. Standing at its edge, he felt like an ant perched on the rim of a basin, utterly insignificant.
Mist swirled within the abyss.
Gazing at the chasm, Ye Xuan’s brows furrowed slightly.
As his divine sense probed into the mist, it vanished without a trace.
Had Qin Guan gone down there?
At that moment, a dozen figures suddenly appeared in the area.
Ye Xuan turned to look at them. The leader, an old man, stared at him. “Who are you?”
Ye Xuan glanced at the “Yuan” character on the old man’s left chest, then said, “Guiyuan Sect?”
The old man’s expression was proud. “Indeed!”
Ye Xuan asked, “Did the girl you were chasing enter this Barren Ancient Abyss?”
The old man’s face turned icy. “Who are you?”
Ye Xuan’s left thumb gently flicked.
Hum!
A sword hum rang out as the Qingxuan Sword slashed forward.
Swish!
Before the old man could react, the Qingxuan Sword pierced through his brow.
He was pinned in place!
The Guiyuan Sect warriors froze in shock.
The old man, terrified, stared at Ye Xuan. “You…”
Ye Xuan said, “Answer my question!”
The old man, trembling, said, “You are…”
Ye Xuan suddenly waved his sleeve.
Boom!
The old man’s soul was absorbed by the Qingxuan Sword!
Ye Xuan turned to a stunned middle-aged man nearby. “You answer.”
The man stammered, “That girl… she jumped down!”
Jumped down!
Ye Xuan glanced at the abyss. Without hesitation, he leaped in. The Qingxuan Sword turned into a streak of light and vanished.
Swish…
All the Guiyuan Sect warriors’ heads flew off simultaneously!
Then, the Qingxuan Sword shot into the Barren Ancient Abyss as a streak of light.
…
Barren Ancient Abyss.
Ye Xuan plummeted straight down on his sword, the abyss seemingly bottomless.
He closed his eyes, gripping the Qingxuan Sword with his left hand, poised for action.
Soon, his brows furrowed. Below him, he saw a golden “Dao” character.
At the sight, a cold glint flashed in his eyes. The Qingxuan Sword trembled, ready to strike, but the character seemed to sense something and vanished.
Ye Xuan froze.
Without thinking further, he turned into a streak of sword light and descended to the abyss’s bottom.
Finally, after an unknown time, his feet touched the ground. Opening his eyes, he frowned.
He stood on a grassland, surrounded by endless mountains, with blue skies and white clouds overhead.
Ye Xuan looked up. Moments later, he murmured, “A world within the earth?”
Suddenly, he turned. Not far away, a small old man had appeared, no taller than a six- or seven-year-old child, holding an iron staff, glaring at Ye Xuan with clear malice.
Ye Xuan remained calm. “Want to fight?”
The old man paused, then grinned. “Yes!”
Ye Xuan vanished from his spot.
A flash of sword light!
The old man’s pupils shrank. He raised his iron staff to block.
Boom!
A burst of sword light erupted, and the old man was sent flying thousands of feet, shattering several mountains along the way.
When he stopped, his iron staff broke apart.
Stunned, he froze as a sword pressed against his brow.
Ye Xuan looked at him. “A girl came here. Where is she now?”
The old man grinned. “A girl? You mean that pretty one?”
He chuckled. “Tch, she’s gorgeous! That figure…”
Ye Xuan suddenly swung his sword across the old man’s face.
Boom!
The old man’s physical body shattered instantly!
The old man froze.
Ye Xuan looked at him. “Do you think you’re funny?”
The old man glared. “Do you know where you are?”
Ye Xuan shook his head. “Annoying!”
His right hand opened, and the Qingxuan Sword shot into the old man’s brow.
Boom!
The sword began frantically absorbing the old man’s soul.
Seeing his soul rapidly fading, the old man cried out in panic and rage, “Sword cultivator, you dare…”
Ye Xuan ignored him and walked off.
The old man roared, “Do you know who I am?”
Ye Xuan glanced back. “Threatening me now? Were you raised on dung? Can’t you see I’m an expert?”
The old man: “…”
Ye Xuan shook his head. “I don’t have time to waste with you.”
He turned and walked away.
The old man shouted, “I know where that woman is! I know…”
From a distance, Ye Xuan waved his hand. “I don’t want to know anymore!”
The old man’s expression froze. Soon, his soul was fully absorbed by the Qingxuan Sword, which turned into a streak of light and returned to Ye Xuan’s hand.
Suddenly, Ye Xuan leaped into the sky, overlooking the endless mountains below, a trace of ferocity in his eyes. His right hand opened, and the Qingxuan Sword flew out.
Boom!
The sword trembled violently, unleashing countless strands of Mortal Sword Intent!
Ye Xuan coldly surveyed the land below, not attacking but waiting.
Soon, an old man appeared before him. “Who are you?”
Ye Xuan’s right hand gently waved, and a portrait of Qin Guan appeared. He looked at the old man. “Is she here?”
The old man glanced at the portrait, frowning. “She…”
Ye Xuan quickly asked, “Where is she now?”
The old man looked at him. “Dead!”
Ye Xuan froze. His eyes turned blood-red, and the Qingxuan Sword slashed down, countless Mortal Sword Intents sweeping forth. The surrounding mountains boiled and began to disintegrate!
Seeing the sword, the old man’s face changed drastically. He shouted, “She’s not dead, not…”
The sword fell!
Boom!
The old man was blasted to the ground. The earth collapsed, forming a bottomless chasm!
A streak of sword light shot into the endless abyss.
“Ah!”
A piercing scream echoed from the abyss’s depths. The Qingxuan Sword flew up, carrying a soul—the old man’s soul!
The sword brought the soul to Ye Xuan, who stared in terror. “You…”
Ye Xuan grabbed the soul, snarling, “Do you think you’re funny?”
The old man cried, “Who are you?”
Ye Xuan’s right hand clenched tightly.
Boom!
The old man’s soul shattered, turning to nothingness!
Gone!
Ye Xuan turned, closing his eyes. Suddenly, the Great Dao Pen said, “To the right!”
Ye Xuan turned into a streak of sword light and vanished toward the right horizon.
Soon, he arrived in a mountain range. Not far ahead, a giant approached, its height like a mountain, nearly a thousand feet tall. Each step shook the earth like an earthquake.
On the giant’s shoulder sat a girl of sixteen or seventeen, holding a long braid.
Ye Xuan gazed at the giant, his eyes cold.
The giant stopped, looking down at Ye Xuan, who seemed like an ant in its eyes.
The girl flew to Ye Xuan, looking at him. “Aren’t you afraid of me?”
Ye Xuan shook his head.
The girl’s lips curved slightly. “The clan leader wants to see you!”
Clan leader!
Ye Xuan frowned.
The girl added, “The girl you’re looking for is with our clan!”
Ye Xuan nodded slightly. “Good!”
The girl returned to the giant’s shoulder. Ye Xuan rose on his sword, appearing beside her.
The girl glanced at him. “Are you a sword cultivator from the outside world?”
Ye Xuan nodded.
She smiled. “I heard sword cultivators are strong. Is that true?”
Ye Xuan nodded again.
She studied him, then said, “You’re quite handsome!”
Ye Xuan turned to her. She said, “I mean it!”
Ye Xuan thought for a moment, his killing intent and ferocity fading. He asked, “What’s your name?”
She smiled. “I’m Nanman’er!”
Ye Xuan said, “I’m Ye Xuan!”
She blinked. “Can I ask you a question?”
Ye Xuan nodded. “Sure!”
She asked earnestly, “Do people outside all look as good as you?”
Ye Xuan fell silent.
This was the first time he’d encountered such a conversation. He wasn’t quite used to it!
She watched him, waiting for his answer.
He thought, then said, “People like me are rare outside.”
Nanman’er nodded slightly. “I thought so! How could there be so many good-looking people?”
Ye Xuan glanced at her. “Have you never been outside?”
She sighed softly. “I can’t go out.”
Ye Xuan was puzzled. “Why not?”
She explained, “Long ago, my ancestors fought the Great Dao Pen’s master and lost. We were sealed here. Without a pardon, our clan can never leave the Barren Ancient Abyss.”
Fought and lost!
Ye Xuan suddenly said, “If you want to go out, I can take you to explore!”
Nanman’er looked at him. “You’d take me out?”
Ye Xuan nodded. “Yes!”
She said seriously, “The Great Dao Pen’s master will beat you!”
Ye Xuan smiled. “I’m not afraid!”
She thought, then asked, “Can I really go out with you?”
Ye Xuan nodded. “Yes!”
She flew to his side, glanced around, and whispered earnestly, “My grandpa says you’re special and wants to use you. When you meet him, be careful not to be tricked! Got it? My grandpa is very cunning!”
Ye Xuan looked at her, silent.
Grandpa: “???”
