Ye Xuan and Qin Guan were sent back to the Nanman Clan by Nanman’er!
Ye Xuan’s brows furrowed slightly.
He realized that Nanman’er was far from simple. When she sent him away earlier, he hadn’t even had time to react!
At that moment, Qin Guan suddenly asked, “Why did you come?”
Ye Xuan snapped out of his thoughts and looked at her. “Anyou said you were in trouble!”
Qin Guan smiled. “I could’ve handled it!”
Ye Xuan nodded. “I know!”
Qin Guan looked at him. “You knew and still came?”
Ye Xuan said softly, “I wouldn’t feel at ease if I didn’t.”
Qin Guan fell silent.
The atmosphere grew slightly awkward.
Just then, a woman appeared nearby—it was Nanman’er.
Seeing her, Ye Xuan froze.
Nanman’er “shakily” approached him, nearly collapsing as she reached him. Ye Xuan quickly supported her, shocked. “You…”
Before Nanman’er could speak, she coughed up a mouthful of blood.
Ye Xuan was stunned.
Nanman’er said weakly, “That Barren Ancient Demon King… he was too strong! I… I nearly died at his hands!”
With that, she spat out another mouthful of blood!
Ye Xuan hesitated, then asked, “You killed him?”
Nanman’er nodded. “Yes!”
Ye Xuan fell silent.
The Barren Ancient Demon King was Half-Step Heaven Knowledge Realm, yet this girl had taken him down!
That was a bit absurd!
Nanman’er glanced at Ye Xuan, then said weakly, “Am I going to die? I feel so awful… that Demon King was too powerful!”
Barren Ancient Demon King: “…”
Ye Xuan studied her, then said, “You don’t look like you’re in mortal danger!”
Nanman’er blinked. “But why do I feel so bad?”
As she spoke, her hand, clutching her stomach, pressed slightly harder.
“Pfft!”
Another mouthful of blood sprayed out!
Ye Xuan: “…”
At that moment, the Nanman Clan’s warriors rushed over. Seeing Nanman’er so “weak,” they were stunned.
Nanman’er wiped the blood from her lips and said, “Young Master Ye, Miss Qin, are you leaving?”
Ye Xuan looked at Qin Guan, who smiled. “Yes!”
Ye Xuan nodded slightly.
Nanman’er’s expression dimmed.
Qin Guan gave a faint smile. “Miss Barbarian, are you hoping Little Xuanzi will help your clan break the seal here and free the Nanman Clan?”
Nanman’er hesitated, then said, “I won’t lie—I do have that hope. But… would it cause trouble for Young Master Ye?”
Ye Xuan and Qin Guan exchanged a glance, both shaking their heads with a smile.
Ye Xuan laughed. “Miss Barbarian, I prefer the straightforward you!”
Neither he nor Qin Guan were fools—how could they miss Nanman’er’s little scheme?
Nanman’er shook her head with a smile. “No choice, it’s all for survival!”
Ye Xuan thought for a moment, then said, “Miss Barbarian, freeing your clan is a small matter, but I need a promise from you!”
Nanman’er considered, then said, “No need for a promise! How about this: if our clan escapes, we’ll follow your order. Whatever you say, goes!”
The Nanman warriors froze, some showing displeasure and about to speak, but Nanman’er’s glare silenced them!
Hearing her words, Ye Xuan fell silent.
Nanman’er was about to speak when Ye Xuan said, “You don’t need to follow my order!”
Nanman’er froze.
Ye Xuan smiled. “If my order is good, you’ll naturally follow it. If it’s not, forcing you would be meaningless—you wouldn’t truly comply. So, Miss Barbarian, don’t force your clan to follow my order. Once you’re out, live the life you want! For safety, though, you should join my academy. But you’ll be free—if you don’t want to stay, you can leave anytime. This isn’t coercion; it’s an opportunity for you, me, and the academy. What do you think?”
Nanman’er looked at Ye Xuan. “Deal!”
Ye Xuan nodded slightly. “Then let’s leave this place!”
Nanman’er glanced at him. “Now?”
Ye Xuan nodded. “Are you all ready?”
Nanman’er smiled. “We’ve been ready for a long, long time!”
Ye Xuan said, “Let’s go!”
He looked up at the distant sky. His palm opened, and the Qingxuan Sword soared upward!
Boom!
A massive vortex appeared in the sky, followed by a golden “Dao” character in everyone’s view.
Seeing it, the Nanman warriors’ faces darkened.
This character had trapped their clan for countless years!
Ye Xuan gazed at it silently. Suddenly, the character grew illusory and soon vanished under everyone’s eyes.
The seal’s power was gone!
The Nanman warriors stood stunned, their faces filled with disbelief!
It was gone, just like that?
Nanman’er’s expression was complex.
As a Heaven Knowledge Realm cultivator, she was among the world’s top powers.
Yet she couldn’t touch that character. She’d considered breaking it by force, but doing so would destroy this inner world, annihilating the Nanman Clan!
Even if she could break it, stronger seals would follow!
It was a karmic burden she and her clan couldn’t bear!
Ye Xuan looked at Nanman’er and the others. “Let’s go!”
Nanman’er said softly, “Young Master Ye, thank you!”
Ye Xuan smiled faintly. “Miss Barbarian, you’re now part of the academy. We’re family—no need for thanks!”
Nanman’er smiled. “Alright!”
Ye Xuan said, “We’ll wait for you above!”
With that, he and Qin Guan turned into a streak of sword light and vanished into the horizon.
In place, Nanman’er turned to the clan. “From now on, our clan is free!”
The clan’s expressions were complex.
They were free!
But Nanman’er had to join the academy…
She smiled. “Everything has a price—there’s no gain without effort! Besides, joining the academy isn’t necessarily bad! Young Master Ye follows External Order. If he succeeds, the entire universe will be his. Then, our clan will have the merit of following him!”
She glanced at the warriors, smiling. “Look further ahead!”
The clan fell silent.
Nanman’er said softly, “Prepare to leave this place!”
The warriors bowed slightly to her and retreated.
Nanman’er turned, gazing around, her eyes slowly closing.
A mysterious rune appeared between her brows!
The Heaven Knowledge Mark!
Reaching the Heaven Knowledge Realm allowed one to glimpse the true traces of fate. For most, the future was uncertain, but at her level, she could see various possibilities and choose the most favorable path.
The Heaven Knowledge Realm’s greatest power was choice—the ability to pick the best road.
But she couldn’t see Ye Xuan’s fate. His destiny was a blur, completely unreadable.
Uncertain, unknown.
Her choice to align with Ye Xuan was a gamble!
Not a whim, though.
While she couldn’t see his fate, she could see his bloodline, his sword, his External Order, his Mortal Sword Intent…
In life, effort, opportunity, and platforms matter, but choice matters most!
The Heaven Knowledge Realm was about choice!
Nanman’er chuckled softly. “Let’s see what the future holds!”
She turned and left.
…
Ye Xuan and Qin Guan left the inner world. But as they reached the surface, a dozen powerful divine senses locked onto them.
Ye Xuan looked into the distance, where an old man approached slowly.
Knowing Realm!
Behind him followed six other Knowing Realm warriors, each with an imposing aura!
The old man stared at Ye Xuan. “You killed my clan’s people?”
Ye Xuan nodded. “Not convinced?”
The old man froze, then sneered. “So arrogant! Truly arrogant, you…”
Ye Xuan vanished.
The old man’s pupils shrank. He summoned a black shield.
Swish!
A tearing sound rang out, and the Qingxuan Sword pierced his brow, blood spraying from the back of his head.
The clan warriors froze!
Ye Xuan walked up to the old man, who looked at him in disbelief. As he tried to speak, Ye Xuan slashed.
Swish!
The old man’s head flew off!
Ye Xuan turned to the remaining warriors. Their faces changed, and they retreated, none daring to act!
Ye Xuan had instantly killed a Knowing Realm warrior!
This meant his strength far surpassed Knowing Realm, likely Earth Knowledge Realm—beyond their ability to resist!
Realizing this, they turned and fled, vanishing into the starry sky in a blink!
Ye Xuan didn’t pursue.
Qin Guan approached, smiling faintly. “Shall we go?”
Ye Xuan shook his head.
Qin Guan froze.
Ye Xuan smiled faintly. “To the Clan!”
Qin Guan looked at him. “For what?”
Ye Xuan said, “To kill!”
Qin Guan thought, then said, “How about… we let it go?”
Ye Xuan shook his head. “No!”
Qin Guan looked at him. “I’m fine, aren’t I?”
Ye Xuan said, “Still no.”
He walked off.
Qin Guan watched him, silent.
Suddenly, the Great Dao Pen’s voice sounded in Ye Xuan’s mind. “You’re a scholar, meant to build a lawful order. Such killing…”
Ye Xuan interrupted, “In my world, family comes first, I come second, the universe third.”
He turned to Qin Guan. “Come, let’s kill! If I go mad, remember to take me home!”
…
