Inside the city, Ye Xuan slowly raised his head to look at the horizon. There, outside the city, stood a middle-aged man.
The man stood tall and straight, holding an ancient seal in his right hand, his aura blending seamlessly with the heavens and earth, unfathomably deep.
A Heavenly Knowledge Realm expert.
At that moment, the man was also looking at Ye Xuan.
Their gazes met, and the man sneered, “Do you know who I am? I am from the Upper Heaven Realm’s Upper…”
Before he could finish, his pupils suddenly contracted as if sensing something.
Swoosh!
Before anyone could react, the man’s throat split open, a spurt of blood gushing out. Moments later, a blood-soaked head slowly fell from the sky.
The city fell silent, everyone frozen in shock.
Ye Xuan glanced at the bloody head, shaking his head slightly, “I have no interest in knowing who you are.”
With that, he opened his palm, and the ancient seal and storage ring from the man’s hand flew to him. He examined them briefly before turning to leave.
Elsewhere, Li Ban Zhi stared in disbelief in Ye Xuan’s direction.
Not just her, countless powerhouses in the city were watching Ye Xuan as he walked away.
How did he kill him?
That was the question on everyone’s mind.
Li Ban Zhi whispered, “A single sword strike. He drew his sword. But it was too fast, and that sword is too extraordinary, so none of us saw it…”
She narrowed her eyes, “No wonder he didn’t care for our ancestor’s sword.”
Beside her, Li Lanlan said gravely, “Young Miss, his strength is far greater than we estimated.”
Li Ban Zhi was silent for a moment, then said, “We must plan carefully.”
With that, she turned and left.
Elsewhere, Taichu Zhen watched Ye Xuan’s departing figure, her brow furrowed, lost in thought.
Before a grand hall, Gu Chen of the Gu Clan stood with an ashen face.
A single sword strike had killed a Heavenly Knowledge Realm expert.
Something he could never achieve.
At that moment, he felt his face burning with shame. It turned out he was the clown.
After a long pause, Gu Chen sighed softly.
This humbling experience had taught him a lesson.
One must never be arrogant or prideful.
…
Ye Xuan didn’t return to the courtyard Li Ban Zhi had arranged for him. Instead, he went outside the city, found a quiet spot, and sat cross-legged.
Cultivation.
After over a century of reading in the small tower, he had grown to appreciate the feeling of tranquility.
Inner calm.
In the past, he had been somewhat impulsive.
That sword strike earlier had surprised even him. He hadn’t expected to kill a Heavenly Knowledge Realm expert with one blow.
He had underestimated himself and his Wujian sword.
When catching someone off guard, killing a Heavenly Knowledge Realm expert was no challenge at all.
Speed.
This time, he tasted the power of a swift sword and witnessed the terrifying speed of a flying blade.
And that strike wasn’t even his fastest.
His fastest was the Qingxuan Strike, with the Qingxuan Sword moving several times faster than Wujian. If he unleashed it, a Heavenly Knowledge Realm expert wouldn’t stand a chance. Even a Half-Step Heavenly Knowledge Saint would likely fall.
Whether a true Heavenly Knowledge Saint could withstand it, he didn’t know. That level was a qualitative leap from the Heavenly Knowledge Realm, so he wasn’t certain.
But he wasn’t intimidated either.
He wouldn’t overestimate himself, but he also wouldn’t underestimate his abilities.
After all, he could claim to be the best in the world.
At least when it came to having a powerful backer, he could crown himself the best, no exaggeration.
Just then, the sound of footsteps approached.
Ye Xuan turned to see Taichu Zhen.
Seeing her, Ye Xuan smiled, “Miss Zhen, something on your mind?”
Taichu Zhen walked up to him, smiling, “I underestimated you.”
Ye Xuan sighed softly, “Miss Zhen, in the past, I might have played mind games with you, engaged in a battle of wits. But now, I’m truly not interested. Know why?”
Taichu Zhen looked at him, “Why?”
Ye Xuan chuckled, “To be blunt, I don’t think I need to play these intellectual games with you.”
Taichu Zhen fell silent.
Ye Xuan shook his head, “I have no interest in you now. So, you’d better disappear from my sight, or else…”
He grinned, “You’re so clever. Care to guess if I’d dare to kill you?”
At those words, the air around them grew cold.
Dare he?
Taichu Zhen looked at Ye Xuan, feeling a bone-chilling dread.
At that moment, she was filled with regret.
Only now did she truly understand Ye Xuan’s character. He was usually amiable and approachable, but deep down, he was decisive and ruthless, tolerating no slight.
To friends and enemies, he was two extremes.
Taichu Zhen gave Ye Xuan a long look, then retreated.
She didn’t dare take the gamble.
Though she was confident Ye Xuan couldn’t kill her, if they fought, it would create irreconcilable enmity between him and the Taichu Clan. And if that happened, the clan might face annihilation.
Even without considering Ye Xuan’s backer, just Ye Xuan and her sister Taichu Jing together would be a massive headache for the clan.
Seeing Taichu Zhen retreat, Ye Xuan slowly closed his eyes.
He despised these self-proclaimed clever types.
Always acting superior, thinking they’ve mastered human nature and can manipulate others at will.
To him, a true sage was like Master Wubian.
Fight if you can.
Back off if you can’t.
Not like these people, who, despite knowing the gap in strength, still tried to show off their intellect.
What nonsense.
At that moment, the small tower suddenly spoke, “Little Master, I think this Taichu Zhen is pretty good.”
Ye Xuan said calmly, “How so?”
The tower said, “Take her into your harem.”
Ye Xuan’s face darkened, “What do you mean?”
The tower said earnestly, “This woman’s quite sharp. If you take her into your harem, she’d be a great asset to Guanxuan Academy.”
Ye Xuan said flatly, “Do you take me for a stud horse? I, Ye Xuan, am a man of principles. The idea of loving every woman I meet? I scoff at that, got it?”
The tower said gravely, “Haven’t you flirted with plenty of women already?”
Ye Xuan frowned, “Have I?”
The tower said, “You don’t think so?”
Ye Xuan said seriously, “Not that many, right?”
The tower said, “Let me count: An Lanxiu, Jiang Jiu, Ji Anzhi, Tuoba Yan, Tuoba Xiaoyao, Lian Wanli, Yue Qi, Jian Zizai, Painter, Weiyang Tian, Xiao Qi, Zhang Wenxiu, Xiao Dao, Dao Yi, Qian Mo, Priestess Amu, Mu Xiaodao, Xiao E, A Dao Ling, Tian Yan, Qin Guan, the Laws of the Boundary Prison Tower…”
“Stop!”
Ye Xuan suddenly interrupted, “Little Tower, are you sure these are all my women?”
The tower said calmly, “Aren’t they, in your heart?”
Ye Xuan thought for a moment, then said, “Are they?”
The tower sighed softly, “You’re such a player. Never taking the initiative, never refusing, never taking responsibility…”
Ye Xuan: “…”
The tower continued, “Little Master, this behaviour isn’t great. Loving every woman you meet is definitely not good. But if you don’t like them, don’t lead them on. You flirt but don’t commit. That’s not exactly moral.”
Ye Xuan was about to speak when the tower added, “I think, as a man, if you hate, you should love boldly. This isn’t the Milky Way Galaxy. If you like a girl, take her. As a cultivator, you don’t need to worry about things like exhaustion. Everyone sleeping together, how nice, hehe…”
Little Pen suddenly said, “Little Tower, you’re getting a bit crude.”
The tower said calmly, “Little Pen, you’ve never been in love, have you?”
Little Pen: “???”
The tower continued, “I’m not human, but I think humanity’s primary duty is survival and reproduction. Love between men and women is just that. Don’t treat it like some monster. Humans should face it head-on. If you like someone, sleep together. How is that crude? Your old-fashioned thinking is problematic.”
Little Pen said gravely, “Love is sacred.”
The tower said, “Does sacred mean you don’t sleep together?”
Little Pen: “…”
The tower went on, “Throughout history, love has been sacred, but human nature isn’t always so. Little Pen, you’ve been in the Milky Way Galaxy. You know that place. Some men and women sleep together after knowing each other for less than a day. Not everyone, but it’s not uncommon, right? Is that love?”
Little Pen said seriously, “As you said, that’s a minority. You can’t generalise. Not everyone’s like that.”
The tower said, “I’m not saying it’s bad. I’m saying it’s normal. Little Master flirts but doesn’t sleep with them. That’s not good. Little Master, you need to change your mindset. Don’t think sleeping with a girl means she’s losing out. It’s not like that. Books say some girls are even more lustful than guys.”
Ye Xuan frowned, “What kind of nonsense books are you reading?”
Little Pen said, “It’s probably reading dirty books.”
Ye Xuan’s face darkened. He realised this little tower was a bit off.
It must be reading some questionable material.
The tower continued, “Little Master, look at yourself. Decent looks, a sword cultivator, dean of Guanxuan Academy, with a powerful backer. In the Milky Way Galaxy, you’d be a proper rich heir, tall, rich, and handsome. Plus, you’ve got good values and are generous. You’re cultured and martial. In the Milky Way, you’d be a hot commodity. Trust me, if you went there, plenty of girls would chase you.”
Ye Xuan thought for a moment, then said, “While I don’t agree with some of your views, I must admit, Little Tower, you’re quite honest. Everyone just sees me as the king of backers. They don’t see my real strengths. Such shallow people. Only you, Little Tower, have depth and insight.”
Little Pen: “???”
