Poor!
Ye Xuan felt genuinely poor at this moment!
Because all his Dao Crystals had been taken by Qin Guan!
Ten billion!
He needed Dao Crystals for his cultivation. After this period of training, he had less than a few hundred million left. If he continued, his Dao Crystals would run out within a month. Moreover, Guanxuan Academy was expanding rapidly, requiring funds for everything!
Especially the students practicing sword techniques, which consumed Dao Crystals heavily!
Though the academy was earning some money, it was just starting and not yet profitable.
Qin Guan thought for a moment and said, “Go explore ancient ruins!”
With that, she pointed two fingers, and a white light entered Ye Xuan’s forehead.
Ye Xuan froze.
Qin Guan smiled, “My exploration team sent news. They found an unknown star domain with ruins from an unknown era, but they didn’t dare venture deeper. So, you go!”
Ye Xuan asked, “You’re not coming?”
Qin Guan shook her head, “No, I’m staying to help Miss Qingqiu with the academy’s many issues!”
Ye Xuan nodded, “Alright!”
Qin Guan smiled, “Be careful!”
Ye Xuan grinned, “To kill me now, they’d need at least ten Heavenly Knowledge Realm experts!”
Qin Guan shook her head with a smile, “Look at you, so smug!”
She opened her palm, and a storage ring flew to Ye Xuan.
Ye Xuan was puzzled, “What’s this?”
Qin Guan smiled, “Pills refined by Dan Chen, for healing. They’re extremely effective!”
Ye Xuan was surprised, “Why haven’t I seen Dan Chen this time?”
He remembered Dan Chen, who helped him greatly in the Galaxy Realm and founded the Pill Academy, serving as its head!
Qin Guan said, “She’s refining pills and will come here later!”
Ye Xuan nodded, took the storage ring, and said, “I’m off then!”
Qin Guan nodded.
Ye Xuan turned, soared on his sword, and vanished at the end of the starry river.
Qin Guan watched the starry horizon and murmured, “A man earning money, that’s nice!”
With that, she turned and left.
…
As Ye Xuan left the Xiao Guan Universe, dozens of powerful auras approached from afar.
Ye Xuan frowned. At that moment, a woman appeared before him.
Seeing her, Ye Xuan was stunned!
The woman was also slightly taken aback.
Ye Xuan smiled, “It’s Miss Taichu Zhen!”
It was none other than Taichu Zhen, the leader of the Taichu Clan!
Taichu Zhen glanced at Ye Xuan and smiled, “Young Master Ye, why are you here?”
Ye Xuan smiled, “My academy is here!”
Hearing this, Taichu Zhen’s face darkened!
She had come for this reviving universe, knowing a revitalized universe could nurture many strong cultivators!
But now, hearing Ye Xuan’s words, she was speechless!
The King of Backers had beaten her to it!
Ye Xuan suddenly asked, “Why is Miss Zhen here?”
Taichu Zhen snapped back to reality and smiled, “I heard Young Master Ye founded an academy here, so I came to congratulate you!”
Ye Xuan blinked, “Got any gifts?”
Taichu Zhen’s expression froze.
Ye Xuan laughed, “Just kidding!”
Taichu Zhen smiled slightly, “Young Master Ye, how’s my sister doing?”
Ye Xuan nodded, “She’s fine, in seclusion!”
Seclusion!
Taichu Zhen smiled, “She’s probably about to break through!”
Ye Xuan glanced at her and smiled, “Clan Leader Zhen, I have things to do, so I’ll take my leave! If you’re interested, visit the academy. My sister will host you! Farewell!”
With that, he soared on his sword and vanished at the starry horizon!
Taichu Zhen looked into the distance, silent for a long time, then turned toward Guanxuan Academy, murmuring, “Sister…”
Thinking of that woman in the plain skirt, a chill ran through her!
That woman was terrifyingly strong!
Even now, the memory left her shaken!
After a moment, Taichu Zhen vanished.
…
Using the Qingxuan Sword to traverse space-time, Ye Xuan marveled at its speed. In a blink, he crossed nearly a million star domains! Of course, he kept the sword sheathed.
The Qingxuan Sword couldn’t be unsheathed now!
Ye Xuan appeared on a plain, the surrounding space-time trembling and twisting!
After a moment, the space-time stabilized!
Ye Xuan opened his eyes and looked into the distance, where an ancient city was faintly visible.
A woman suddenly appeared not far from him, bowing slightly, “Young Master Ye!”
Ye Xuan looked at her and smiled, “I’ve seen you before. You’re the captain of the Xiao Guan exploration team!”
The woman smiled, “Yes! In the Galaxy System, my name is Qiu Jing. Young Master Ye, you can call me Xiao Jing!”
Ye Xuan nodded, “Miss Xiao Jing, you said you found ruins from an unknown era?”
She nodded and pointed into the distance, “That city! But we didn’t dare approach it. It’s too eerie!”
Eerie!
Ye Xuan looked at the city, sending his divine sense toward it, but it vanished without a trace upon reaching the city.
His brow furrowed!
Truly eerie!
Xiao Jing suddenly said, “Young Master Ye, since you’re here, we’ll leave.”
Ye Xuan looked at her, “Not going in to check it out together?”
Xiao Jing shook her head, “No, our mission is to explore unknown universes. If we sense level-ten danger, we absolutely cannot enter!”
Ye Xuan frowned, “Level-ten danger?”
Xiao Jing nodded, “Yes! Danger is graded from one to ten, ten being the highest!”
Ye Xuan hesitated, then asked, “Very dangerous?”
Xiao Jing nodded, “Yes!”
Ye Xuan asked gravely, “How do you assess this danger?”
Xiao Jing said, “Instinct, then estimation!”
Ye Xuan asked, “Is it accurate?”
Xiao Jing nodded, “Very accurate!”
Ye Xuan fell silent.
Xiao Jing bowed slightly, “Young Master Ye, we’re busy and won’t stay. Farewell!”
With that, she turned and vanished into the starry depths.
Ye Xuan glanced into the starry depths. Xiao Jing was really gone!
After a moment of silence, he turned and walked toward the ancient city!
Since he was here, he couldn’t just leave!
Besides, he was confident in his strength!
Soon, Ye Xuan reached the city gate. It was a desolate city, slowly decaying. The gate was gone, the walls overgrown with weeds, looking like a ghost town!
Ye Xuan opened his palm, and the Little Pen and Little Tower appeared in his hand!
The Little Tower hesitated, then asked, “Little Master, what are you doing?”
Ye Xuan smiled slightly, “Giving you some presence!”
With that, he tossed them into the city.
Little Tower: “???”
Little Pen: “???”
Ye Xuan watched the city, waiting quietly.
After a long time, the Little Tower’s voice came from within, “Little Master, it’s safe inside. Come in!”
Ye Xuan blinked, “Little Tower, are you being threatened?”
The Little Tower fell silent.
Suddenly, a piercing scream echoed from the city, followed by a golden light shooting out!
It was the Little Tower!
It flew tens of thousands of feet, shattering the space-time around it.
Ye Xuan blinked, then turned to the city. A stroke of pen energy surged upward, only to shatter instantly. A black light flew out!
It was the Great Dao Pen!
The Great Dao Pen fared better, stopping after ten thousand feet, but it trembled violently, as if in pain!
Ye Xuan looked at the Little Tower and Great Dao Pen. In terms of durability, the Little Tower was superior, no doubt thanks to Qing’er’s modifications!
Thinking of something, Ye Xuan quickly showed ‘concern,’ “Are you two alright?”
The Little Tower’s voice trembled, “Little Master, is this how you play?”
Ye Xuan said seriously, “Little Tower, this is for your own good! Think about it, it’s been so long, and you’re losing presence! My gut tells me the Great Dao Pen’s master has set you up! So, I think it’s necessary to give you some presence!”
The Little Tower was silent for a moment, then said, “Little Master, I know you had a tough childhood, which left some darkness in your heart. I’m telling you, this isn’t right! We’ve been through so much together. Treating me like this, aren’t you afraid I’ll feel hurt? You…”
Ye Xuan suddenly said, “Should I ask Qing’er to modify you next time… Sigh, such a dilemma!”
The Little Tower thought for a moment, then said, “Little Master, next time, let the Little Pen handle this kind of thing!”
The Great Dao Pen said gravely, “Little Tower, you’re something else! When you can’t resolve a conflict, you shift it. How did I not see how ‘outstanding’ you are before?”
The Little Tower said calmly, “Little Pen, I’ve been through hardships with Little Master! Once, I nearly died for him. What about you?”
The Great Dao Pen fell silent.
The Little Tower continued, “No matter how Little Master treats me, he’s my Little Master. Once my master, always my master. I, Little Tower, would climb mountains of blades or dive into seas of fire for him. Even if he uses me, I’m willing, with no regrets!”
Ye Xuan glanced at the Little Tower. This guy was getting good at subtle jabs!
The Great Dao Pen was about to speak when the Little Tower said, “Little Pen, let me ask you: if one day Little Master and your master fought to the death, who would you help?”
Stirring trouble!
Ye Xuan shook his head with a smile. The Little Tower was getting naughtier!
Still, he looked at the Great Dao Pen.
The Great Dao Pen didn’t speak.
The Little Tower suddenly said, “Heh…”
Ye Xuan laughed, “Little Pen, tell me, is there a peerless expert in the city? A woman, especially beautiful?”
The Little Pen was silent for a moment, then said, “How did you know?”
Ye Xuan laughed heartily, “This plot, I know it by heart! Haha…”
Little Pen: “…”
…Ye Xuan walked toward the desolate city. As he entered, he felt a terrifyingly cold aura!
He looked at the end of the street, where a woman in a cloth skirt stood, her long hair loose, her gaze cold, exuding an eerie presence.
On both sides of the street were nearly decayed buildings.
Suddenly, the woman at the street’s end opened her right hand and clenched it tightly.
Boom!
Instantly, the scene before Ye Xuan shifted. In a blink, he was in a starry sky!
Ye Xuan glanced around, slowly closing his eyes. He was still in the city.
Rip!
The space-time before him split, and a white light surged toward him!
Ye Xuan lightly pressed his left thumb.
Buzz!
A sword hum rang out, and a flying sword shot upward.
Rip!
The entire starry sky was torn apart like paper!
The illusion shattered completely!
On the street, Ye Xuan looked at the cloth-skirted woman, who stared back coldly. “Want to talk?”
Ye Xuan was speechless.
Fight if you can win, talk if you can’t?
The cloth-skirted woman turned and walked away.
Ye Xuan hesitated, then followed. As he walked beside her, she didn’t attack again!
His earlier sword strike had proven his strength.
She wasn’t confident she could win!
Ye Xuan asked, “What’s your name, miss?”
The cloth-skirted woman remained expressionless, silent.
Ye Xuan glanced at her and smiled, “I’m Ye Xuan!”
She still didn’t speak.
Ye Xuan stopped, looked around, and said inwardly, “Little Pen, can you sense any treasures here?”
The Little Pen said gravely, “I don’t have a treasure-hunting function!”
Ye Xuan was speechless. Useless thing!
The Little Tower suddenly said, “Little Master, what do you think of this woman?”
Ye Xuan glanced at the cloth-skirted woman, sizing her up, and smiled, “Nice figure!”
The Little Tower was silent for a moment, then said, “Is that what I meant?”
Ye Xuan’s face darkened, “Then what did you mean?”
The Little Tower said, “I meant her strength!”
Ye Xuan rolled his eyes, “You didn’t make that clear!”
The Little Tower said gravely, “How was I supposed to know your mind’s full of that?”
Ye Xuan: “…”
The Little Tower added, “Little Master, if you want to know if there are treasures here, just ask that woman!”
Ye Xuan glanced at the cloth-skirted woman, “I think she’s not interested in men!”
The Little Tower was puzzled, “Why do you say that?”
Ye Xuan said seriously, “There’s only one explanation for staying so calm in front of me: she’s not interested in men!”
The Little Tower was silent for a moment, then said, “Whatever makes you happy!”
Ye Xuan: “…”
Suddenly, the cloth-skirted woman stopped and turned to Ye Xuan, “You cultivate the Great Dao Scripture!”
Ye Xuan remained calm, silent.
The woman frowned, “Why aren’t you speaking?”
Ye Xuan looked at her, still silent!
She stared at him, “What’s that supposed to mean?”
Ye Xuan smiled, “I’m just copying you!”
With that, he turned and walked to the side!
Damn it!
Who do you think you are? You think I’ll indulge you?
He always believed respect was mutual. If you respect me, I’ll be humble. If you don’t, I’ll be a hundred times prouder than you!
Seeing Ye Xuan leave, the woman’s face turned cold!
But she didn’t act!
Ye Xuan ignored her, wandering around until he reached an ancient temple. The surroundings were desolate, but inside, he heard ancient chanting.
Someone was there!
Ye Xuan walked toward the temple. Inside, a monk sat before a Buddha statue, back to him, chanting!
The cloth-skirted woman appeared in the scene.
She looked at Ye Xuan and ordered, “Leave!”
Ye Xuan glanced at her, “Don’t talk to me like that, or you’ll regret it!”
Her eyes narrowed, a glint of killing intent flashing. Ye Xuan suddenly said, “Friendly warning: if you dare make a move, even a god can’t save you!”
Her right hand clenched tightly. The monk stopped and said, “Yan’er!”
She looked at the monk, who stood, turned to Ye Xuan, and smiled, “How may I address you, benefactor?”
Ye Xuan smiled, “Ye Xuan!”
The monk clasped his hands, “Young Master Ye, quite remarkable!”
Ye Xuan glanced at him, “Master, what is this place?”
The monk smiled, “Gupu Temple!”
Ye Xuan frowned, “Gupu Temple?”
The monk nodded, “Young Master Ye likely doesn’t know. Millions of years ago, this place was prosperous, but it gradually declined!”
Ye Xuan hesitated, then asked, “Master, are there any treasures here?”
The monk was taken aback, then smiled, “So, Young Master Ye came for Gupu Temple’s treasures!”
Ye Xuan grinned, “To be honest, I’m very poor right now!”
The monk hesitated, then said, “Young Master Ye, strictly speaking, I’m not from Gupu Temple, so I can’t give you its treasures!”
Ye Xuan smiled, “No problem, just tell me where they are, I’ll take them myself!”
The monk was speechless.
The cloth-skirted woman glanced at Ye Xuan, “Can’t you understand human speech?”
Ye Xuan turned, drew his sword, and slashed.
A cascade of sword light surged down!
The woman’s pupils shrank. She raised her arm, and a black light surged from it!
Boom!
The black light shattered, and she was flung out of the temple, retreating thousands of feet in a blink!
When she stopped, her right arm was shattered, blood spurting!
She looked up at Ye Xuan, eyes full of shock, “You’re an Outer Order!”
She hadn’t realized Ye Xuan was an Outer Order, as he concealed his aura and realm, undetectable to most!
Ye Xuan glanced coldly at her, “Speak to me politely next time! This is my final warning!”
Her face turned ugly, but she didn’t dare retort.
Ye Xuan turned to the monk, “Master, I came for the treasures. If you’re from Gupu Temple, they’re yours, and I, Ye Xuan, won’t take a cent. After all, taking by force isn’t my style. But you said you’re not from Gupu Temple, so…”
He bowed slightly, “Please tell me!”
The monk glanced at Ye Xuan’s sword, then said, “Benefactor, you’ve gone too far!”
Ye Xuan smiled, “Master, are you going to teach me how to behave?”
The monk shook his head, “Benefactor, your hostility is too strong, harmful to yourself!”
Ye Xuan smiled, “Master, when that woman spoke rudely, why didn’t you intervene?”
The monk was silent.
Ye Xuan smiled slightly, “Master means well, I know. But you forgot something: cause and effect. Why did I act? You only saw my actions, my hostility, but not why I acted! No, you saw it but chose to ignore it!”
He shook his head with a smile, “Master, is this how you practice Buddhism? Or do you practice for double standards?”
The monk remained silent.
Ye Xuan smiled, “Master, do you know what mercy is? What kindness is? If not, let me tell you! First, when she showed killing intent, I could’ve killed her. Her intent meant, if she had the strength, she’d definitely kill me! In that case, would killing her be excessive? I don’t think so. But I didn’t kill her, only broke her arm. I think that’s merciful enough! Honestly, if she met someone like my dad, even you might’ve been taken out.”
The man in the green shirt: “???”
Ye Xuan smiled, “Master, I’ll say it again. If you’re from Gupu Temple, I’ll leave now. I, Ye Xuan, love money, but I take it honorably. Robbing isn’t my style! But you said you’re not from Gupu Temple, so taking its treasures has nothing to do with you!”
He scanned the surroundings, opened his palm, and called, “Little Soul!”
The Qingxuan Sword, still sheathed, flew to the center!
Moments later, Little Soul pointed at the Buddha statue, “Little Master, there’s a hidden soul inside!”
Ye Xuan looked at the statue, clasped his hands, “Would you come out to meet me?”
The statue’s eyes opened, and a monk in a kasaya slowly emerged!
Seeing him, the first monk’s face changed, and he quickly clasped his hands, “Greetings, Abbot Liaokong!”
Liaokong nodded slightly, then looked at Ye Xuan and smiled, “Young Master Ye, have you practiced Buddhism before?”
Ye Xuan nodded, “For a while!”
Liaokong smiled, “Why did you stop?”
Ye Xuan thought, then said, “No benefits, who’d keep at it?”
The first monk was stunned!
Liaokong was also taken aback, then shook his head with a smile, “Young Master Ye, practicing Buddhism is about cultivating oneself, that’s the greatest benefit!”
Ye Xuan thought, then said, “Abbot, let’s talk about something else!”
Liaokong smiled, “Young Master Ye, if you join our Buddhist sect, everything in Gupu Temple will be yours!”
Ye Xuan looked at Liaokong, “Really?”
Liaokong nodded, “Monks don’t lie! If you accept Gupu Temple’s inheritance, everything here is yours, you…”
Ye Xuan suddenly said, “I’m willing!”
Liaokong froze!
Ye Xuan said earnestly, “I’m really willing!”
Liaokong hesitated, then said, “Don’t you want to think it over?”
Ye Xuan shook his head, “No need! I’m ready to join Gupu Temple now!”
Liaokong was silent for a moment, then said, “Young Master Ye, be honest, are you trying to trick me into giving you the inheritance?”
Ye Xuan: “…”
