Looking at Taichu Zhen in front of him, Ye Xuan smiled slightly. He had to admit, this woman was quite intriguing.
If he could recruit her to the academy, it would greatly benefit its development.
The academy desperately needed talent.
Unfortunately, for now, Taichu Zhen would definitely not join Guanxuan Academy, as her loyalty lay with the Taichu Clan above all else.
At that moment, Taichu Zhen suddenly smiled, “Young Master Ye, may I ask a question?”
Ye Xuan looked at her, “What question?”
Taichu Zhen smiled, looking at Ye Xuan, “What is your true strength now?”
Strength.
This was what she was most curious about. Ye Xuan was currently at the Order Realm, but an External Order. She didn’t know the extent of his combat power.
Ye Xuan thought for a moment, then said, “I don’t know.”
He wasn’t lying.
He truly didn’t know his full combat strength, as he hadn’t fought a true powerhouse since his recent improvement.
However, he felt that killing someone at the Heavenly Knowledge Realm shouldn’t be too difficult for him now.
Each day, he nurtured his Qingxuan Sword with Human Sword Intent. The moment the sword was unsheathed, slaying a Heavenly Knowledge Realm opponent should be no issue.
Hearing Ye Xuan’s words, Taichu Zhen thought for a moment, then said, “Your strength must have improved significantly. Have you not had any real combat during this time?”
Ye Xuan nodded.
Taichu Zhen blinked, “Shall I find you an opponent?”
Before Ye Xuan could respond, Taichu Zhen shook her head, “No need, probably. If my earlier guess is correct, you might soon be in trouble.”
Ye Xuan smiled, “Isn’t my sister enough to intimidate these top forces?”
Taichu Zhen laughed, “She is. But…”
She changed the subject, “Do you think we know exactly how strong your sister is?”
Ye Xuan frowned slightly.
Taichu Zhen smiled, “Your sister once slew the Cosmic Starry Sky God with a single sword strike. That god was at the Half-Step Heavenly Knowledge Saint Realm. So, in our eyes, your sister’s strength is at least at the Heavenly Knowledge Saint Realm.”
Ye Xuan said softly, “Why not think higher?”
Taichu Zhen looked at Ye Xuan, “Above the Heavenly Knowledge Saint Realm lies the unknown realm. Or rather, that level is beyond our comprehension. Would you dwell on something beyond your understanding?”
Ye Xuan fell silent.
Taichu Zhen continued, “The Heavenly Knowledge Saint Realm isn’t enough to scare off these top forces. Every major force has produced Heavenly Knowledge Saint Realm experts in the past. And…”
She smiled, then added, “Everyone knows a cut from a knife hurts, but those who’ve never been cut can’t truly grasp the pain. Similarly, the forces that haven’t faced your sister know she’s strong, but they can’t comprehend just how strong she is. Understand?”
Ye Xuan smiled, “Miss Zhen, what do you think my sister’s strength is?”
Taichu Zhen laughed, “That’s not my concern, so I don’t bother with it.”
Ye Xuan glanced at her, saying nothing.
Taichu Zhen smiled, “Young Master Ye, I’m just letting you know that those top forces may be wary of you, but they’re not afraid of you. Of course, they won’t easily make an enemy of you unless there’s a conflict of interest.”
Ye Xuan thought for a moment, then said, “The ones in conflict with me are probably the Li family right now. The Li family has wide connections, and Miss Ban Zhi is very clever. So, under her influence, many forces might turn against me, right?”
Taichu Zhen nodded, “Exactly.”
Ye Xuan smiled, “Alright then.”
Taichu Zhen glanced at Ye Xuan, then took a sip from her teacup.
At that moment, Li Ban Zhi walked in, accompanied by a middle-aged man.
Seeing the newcomer, Taichu Zhen smiled slightly, “So it’s Brother Qin Qiu. No wonder Ban Zhi went to greet you personally.”
The man named Qin Qiu smiled, “Miss Zhen, it’s been centuries. I trust you’ve been well.”
Taichu Zhen smiled, then said, “Brother Qin Qiu, I heard you discovered a newly revived universe. Congratulations.”
Qin Qiu laughed heartily, “Just luck…”
He shifted the topic, looking at Ye Xuan, “This must be Young Master Ye Xuan.”
Ye Xuan smiled, “Indeed.”
Qin Qiu sized up Ye Xuan, then smiled, “The top figure of the younger generation today.”
Hearing Qin Qiu’s words, Taichu Zhen glanced at him, smiling but saying nothing.
Ye Xuan laughed, “Hardly. The universe is vast, filled with countless geniuses and prodigies. How could I claim to be the top of my generation?”
“Self-aware, I see.”
At that moment, a voice suddenly came from the sky.
As the voice echoed, a man in white descended straight from the heavens.
Seeing the man in white, Taichu Zhen glanced at Li Ban Zhi beside her, smiled slightly, and said nothing.
Ye Xuan looked at the man in white, remaining silent.
Li Ban Zhi suddenly smiled, “So it’s Young Master Gu Chen of the Gu Clan.”
The man named Gu Chen walked down, clasping his fists toward the three, “Miss Ban Zhi, Miss Zhen, Senior Qin Qiu.”
Li Ban Zhi smiled, “I didn’t expect Young Master Gu Chen to arrive so early. Apologies for not greeting you sooner.”
Gu Chen laughed, “Miss Ban Zhi, you’re too polite.”
He turned to Ye Xuan, smiling, “This must be the renowned Young Master Ye.”
Ye Xuan smiled, “And you must be Young Master Gu Chen?”
Gu Chen was taken aback, then said, “You know me?”
Ye Xuan said earnestly, “Who in the world doesn’t know you?”
Gu Chen looked at Ye Xuan, “How do you know me?”
Ye Xuan smiled, “Among the younger generation today, who doesn’t know Brother Gu? You’re said to be the greatest prodigy in the Gu Clan’s history. To be honest, I’ve admired you for a long time. I never expected to meet you here today. What a delightful surprise.”
Gu Chen hesitated, then said, “A pleasure, truly.”
Ye Xuan smiled slightly, “Brother Gu, if there’s a chance in the future, I’d love to spar with you. Would you be willing?”
Gu Chen glanced at Ye Xuan, then said, “Sparring is too grand a term. We could exchange pointers sometime.”
Ye Xuan laughed, “Great.”
Gu Chen nodded slightly, then turned to Li Ban Zhi, smiling, “Miss Ban Zhi, the rest of my Gu Clan will arrive soon. I’ll head down now.”
Li Ban Zhi smiled, “Alright.”
Gu Chen clasped his fists to everyone, glanced at Ye Xuan, then turned and left.
At that moment, Li Ban Zhi suddenly laughed, “Young Master Ye, I didn’t expect you to be so humble.”
Ye Xuan smiled, “Miss Ban Zhi, I’m just a humble sword cultivator. I can’t bear the title of the top of my generation.”
Li Ban Zhi laughed, “Young Master Ye, Miss Zhen, why don’t you both stay at my courtyard this year?”
Taichu Zhen blinked, “Ban Zhi, are you sure?”
Li Ban Zhi gave Taichu Zhen a look, “It’s just a courtyard.”
She smiled, “I have more guests to attend to. You three, make yourselves at home.”
With that, she turned and left.
Qin Qiu glanced at Ye Xuan, then smiled, “Young Master Ye, my earlier words held no ill intent, but they may have caused you trouble. My apologies.”
Ye Xuan smiled, “No matter.”
Qin Qiu nodded, then said, “My Qin family bears only goodwill toward you, no malice.”
Ye Xuan smiled, “I enjoy making friends.”
Qin Qiu smiled, “Understood. Young Master Ye, we’ll talk later.”
With that, he turned and left.
Only Ye Xuan and Taichu Zhen remained in the courtyard.
Ye Xuan glanced around, then said, “What’s special about this courtyard?”
Taichu Zhen smiled, “At every gathering, Li Ban Zhi invites one distinguished guest to stay here. Those invited are either peerless prodigies or of extremely high status. She’s never invited me to stay here before.”
She looked at Ye Xuan, “Thanks to you.”
Ye Xuan smiled, “She’s inviting us to stay here to set us up, to draw attention and make us targets, right?”
Taichu Zhen looked at Ye Xuan, “And?”
Ye Xuan smiled, “We’re enemies, but she won’t confront me directly because she’s not fully confident. Or rather, she prefers subtle schemes to outmanoeuvre me. She invited you and me to stay here because she thinks we’re allies, correct?”
Taichu Zhen smiled, then said, “And?”
Ye Xuan nodded slightly, “She’s as clever as you, Miss Zhen. But unlike you, she has a conflict of interest with me, while you don’t. You’ve given me multiple warnings before, so she knows you’re siding with me. That makes you her enemy too. But she’s too clever. Like you, she’s cautious, wary, wondering just how strong my sister is. Is she merely at the Heavenly Knowledge Saint Realm, or beyond? She must be torn, debating whether to suppress me now. If she doesn’t, my academy will grow stronger, making it harder for the Li family to act. But if she does, she fears my sister’s strength might exceed her expectations. So…”
He took a sip from his teacup, then smiled, “Miss Ban Zhi is in a rather conflicted state. Whether to suppress or win me over, it’s all up to her decision.”
Taichu Zhen was silent for a moment, then said, “Do you think she’ll suppress you or win you over?”
Ye Xuan smiled, “Miss Zhen, what do you think?”
Taichu Zhen laughed, “That’s your business.”
Ye Xuan suddenly smiled, “Miss Zhen, is there a chance that you and she are actually working together? One in the open, one in the shadows, playing a double act to scheme against me. Is that possible?”
At his words, Taichu Zhen’s hand, holding the teacup, trembled slightly.
