Ye Xuan suddenly laughed, “I’m just joking!”
Joking!
With that, Ye Xuan downed the tea in his cup.
At that moment, Taichu Zhen suddenly laughed, “Young Master Ye, you sure know how to jest. But I still want to ask, why would you think I’d team up with Ban Zhi to scheme against you?”
She looked at Ye Xuan, smiling without speaking.
Ye Xuan smiled, then said, “One reason.”
Taichu Zhen laughed, “Do tell.”
Ye Xuan said, “You and your sister will inevitably clash in the future. But you’re worried I’ll side with her, or rather, you already believe I will. So, you’re laying the groundwork for what might happen.”
Taichu Zhen nodded slightly, “That’s a reasonable assumption.”
Ye Xuan smiled faintly, “Is that not the reason?”
Taichu Zhen laughed, “Young Master Ye, when the Zhen Clan was wiped out, I was there. I saw your sister’s sword strike.”
Ye Xuan frowned slightly.
Taichu Zhen continued, “That strike from your sister, I’ve assessed it. Even a Heavenly Knowledge Saint Realm couldn’t withstand it.”
Ye Xuan glanced at Taichu Zhen, “If it’s not a covert scheme, then it’s an open one.”
At that, Taichu Zhen paused, then burst into laughter, “Well played, Young Master Ye. I must admit, I’ve been underestimating you.”
An open scheme.
She was indeed using an open strategy with Ye Xuan.
With someone like Ye Xuan, force wouldn’t work, nor would recklessness. His personality was such that he responded to soft approaches, not hard ones. If she schemed covertly, it would only earn his disdain. So, she could only use an open approach.
Ye Xuan was about to speak when Taichu Zhen added, “Young Master Ye, you don’t need to be wary of me. I can tell you, initially, I was indeed working with Ban Zhi to scheme against you. But later, I changed my mind on my own.”
Ye Xuan smiled, “What made you change your mind?”
Taichu Zhen looked at Ye Xuan, “Your intelligence.”
Ye Xuan frowned slightly.
Taichu Zhen laughed, “If you were less clever, I could have sold you out, and you’d still be counting the money for me. But unfortunately, you’re not dim, so I had no choice but to change my approach.”
Ye Xuan glanced at Taichu Zhen, saying nothing.
Taichu Zhen blinked, “Angry?”
Ye Xuan stood, smiling, “Miss Zhen, I can tell you this: if you ever compete with your sister in the future, I will definitely stand by her side.”
With that, he turned to leave.
Taichu Zhen suddenly asked, “Why?”
Ye Xuan turned back to glance at her, “I despise self-righteous, overly clever women. If I want to play games of intrigue, I’ll play. If I don’t, no one can force me into it. Understand?”
With that, he walked toward the courtyard’s exit. At the gate, he added, “Miss Zhen, you think you’ve mastered human nature, that you can manipulate others at will. You don’t realise how foolish that notion is. And, as I said, I’m making it clear: if you compete with your sister, I’ll stand with Qianqian. If you’re unhappy, feel free to keep scheming against me, or even try to kill me.”
He turned to look at her, “But a friendly reminder: before you do, find a nice, spacious burial ground for yourself and the entire Taichu Clan. You’ll need it, or it might not be enough.”
With that, he walked out.
Taichu Zhen stood in silence.
She knew this man was angry.
This time, she had miscalculated.
After a long pause, Taichu Zhen shook her head slightly and left.
…
After leaving the courtyard, Ye Xuan headed straight into the city. He had to admit, the Li family managed things well. Changsheng City was thriving, with many powerful auras present.
Ye Xuan wandered around and eventually arrived at the Changsheng Chamber of Commerce.
This chamber, run by the Li family, spanned all known universes, except the Guanxuan Universe.
At the chamber’s entrance, a curvaceous woman approached. She wore a tight purple dress, her figure alluring, with a pair of captivating peach-blossom eyes that sparkled with charm.
She walked up to Ye Xuan, smiling, “Young Master Ye, hello. I’m Li Lanlan, the manager of this chamber. You can call me Lanlan.”
Ye Xuan smiled, “Miss Lanlan, may I take a look inside?”
Li Lanlan’s smile was radiant, “Of course.”
She led Ye Xuan into the chamber. As they entered, the scene shifted, and they found themselves in an unknown starry expanse, surrounded by hundreds of large and small star gates.
Ye Xuan turned to Li Lanlan, who smiled, “Our Li family chamber has everything. Whatever you want, you can likely find here. If we don’t have it, you probably won’t find it anywhere else.”
Ye Xuan thought for a moment, then asked, “What’s the most expensive item?”
Li Lanlan blinked, “A half-volume of a holy martial technique, the True Saint Blade.”
Ye Xuan frowned slightly, “You have a holy martial technique?”
Li Lanlan smiled, “Of course. But only half. Mastering it is equivalent to reaching the Half-Step Heavenly Knowledge Saint Realm.”
Ye Xuan was curious, “How is it sold?”
Li Lanlan said, “Not for money, only for favours.”
Ye Xuan was taken aback, “Favours?”
Li Lanlan nodded, “Our ancestors set a rule: this half-volume isn’t sold for wealth, only for favours.”
Ye Xuan smiled, “What kind of person’s favour is enough to buy it?”
Li Lanlan shook her head with a smile, “I don’t know. I only know that if someone offers a favour for it, the family holds a meeting to analyse and discuss, then votes. If they deem the favour worthy, they’ll grant it, and the person owes the Li family a favour.”
Ye Xuan nodded slightly, “That’s a unique way to sell.”
Li Lanlan smiled, “I heard you have a chamber too, Xianbao Pavilion, right?”
Ye Xuan nodded.
Li Lanlan was curious, “Is it big?”
Ye Xuan smiled, “Compared to your chamber, it’s not big yet. But it will grow larger in time.”
Li Lanlan glanced at Ye Xuan, nodded, and said no more.
Ye Xuan looked around, then said, “Miss Lanlan, do you have any good swords?”
Li Lanlan thought for a moment, then said, “There’s one, the sword of our Li Clan ancestor.”
She turned to one of the gates, spreading her palm.
Swoosh!
A sword flew out from the gate.
Ye Xuan looked at the sword: three feet long, slightly over two fingers wide, its body a crystalline blue, radiating a sharp aura.
Li Lanlan smiled, “This sword, named Blue Nether, was our ancestor’s. It has slain sixteen Heavenly Knowledge Realm experts and one Half-Step Heavenly Knowledge Saint.”
Her words carried pride and honour.
Ye Xuan examined the sword, nodding slightly, “It’s indeed impressive.”
Li Lanlan smiled, “This sword isn’t for sale.”
With that, she put it away.
Ye Xuan shook his head with a smile. He wasn’t interested in the sword. Though fine, it paled in comparison to his Qingxuan Sword or Wujian.
Li Lanlan smiled, “Young Master Ye, anything else you’d like to see?”
Ye Xuan glanced around, then smiled, “No need. Thank you for your hospitality, Miss Lanlan.”
Li Lanlan smiled, “You’re too kind, Young Master.”
Ye Xuan nodded, “Miss Lanlan, farewell.”
With that, he vanished from the spot.
After Ye Xuan left, Li Lanlan’s smile faded. At that moment, a woman stepped out from one of the star gates.
It was Li Ban Zhi.
Seeing her, Li Lanlan quickly bowed respectfully, “Young Miss.”
Li Ban Zhi smiled faintly, “Interesting. He showed no interest in the half-volume of the holy martial scripture.”
Li Lanlan nodded, “Not only that, he seemed completely uninterested in our ancestor’s sword.”
Li Ban Zhi was silent for a moment, then said, “How’s the investigation into Xianbao Pavilion going?”
Li Lanlan’s expression grew serious, “That Miss Qin Guan is remarkable. Given time, Xianbao Pavilion will surely become our Changsheng Chamber’s greatest rival.”
Li Ban Zhi looked at Li Lanlan, “You think so?”
Li Lanlan nodded.
Li Ban Zhi shook her head slightly, “Troublesome.”
Li Lanlan said gravely, “My suggestion is to either destroy it or acquire it outright.”
Li Ban Zhi shook her head, “Destroying it won’t do. The person behind Young Master Ye is extraordinary. Not only can she instantly kill a Half-Step Heavenly Knowledge Saint, but she also evades accountability from the Dao Sect. That’s terrifying. And the Zhen Clan wasn’t some third-rate force, yet she annihilated it entirely.”
She paused, then added, “Until we fully understand her background, we must not act against Young Master Ye.”
Li Lanlan said quietly, “Then acquire it?”
Li Ban Zhi smiled, “Do you think that’s feasible?”
Li Lanlan sighed, shaking her head, “Probably not.”
Li Ban Zhi gazed into the distance, lost in thought.
Li Lanlan added, “Young Miss, if we can’t act directly, why not use others to do it?”
Li Ban Zhi slowly closed her eyes, “That’s possible, but it mustn’t implicate us. I need to plan carefully.”
After a moment, she opened her eyes, looking to the sky, “The Upper Clan from the Upper Heaven Realm should be arriving soon.”
…
After leaving the Changsheng Chamber, Ye Xuan shook his head with a smile, “Looks like Xiao Guan’s path ahead is still long.”
With that, he turned to leave, planning to find a place to cultivate quietly.
Just then, he stopped in his tracks, turning to look outside the city. From the horizon, a furious shout thundered, “Ye Xuan, come out and face your death!”
The voice boomed like thunder, resonating across the entire Changsheng Realm.
Inside the city, countless powerhouses looked up toward the outskirts.
…
