Seeing the Avenue Pen in Ye Xuan’s hand, Grand Preceptor Pan’s expression grew increasingly grave.
The Avenue Pen.
This pen was once a key figure by the Avenue Pen Master’s side, controlling the fate of all beings across countless universes. With a single stroke, it could determine life, death, and reincarnation.
She hadn’t expected it to be in Ye Xuan’s possession.
Undoubtedly, he was the Avenue Pen Master’s person.
What puzzled her was that Ye Xuan didn’t follow the Avenue Pen Master’s path but walked the Outer Order.
A true rebel.
At that moment, Ye Xuan suddenly said, “Miss Grand Preceptor, you mentioned earlier that Pan clan Saint Realm powerhouses tried to breach this Heavenly Wall?”
Grand Preceptor Pan nodded slightly, “Yes.”
Ye Xuan asked, “All failed?”
Grand Preceptor Pan nodded again, her expression dim.
For that Heavenly Wall, the Pan clan had sacrificed many Saint Realm powerhouses. One after another, they died beneath it, all in pursuit of leading the clan out of this unknown cage built by someone.
Those ancestors died heroically.
Ye Xuan looked at the distant wall. If Saint Realm powerhouses couldn’t break it, the civilisation on the other side must far surpass this one. After all, here, Saint Realm was the pinnacle.
At that moment, Ye Xuan’s mood was complex.
Throughout his journey, he’d seen the vastness of the universe. Compared to it, an individual was utterly insignificant.
Saint Realm.
Not long ago, he was proud of being able to fight Saint Realm powerhouses.
Now, it seemed laughable.
What he thought was the end might just be someone else’s starting point.
Without Qing’er, he might never have left the fifth-dimensional universe in his lifetime.
That was reality.
Before, he’d been avoiding this truth, wanting to work hard, to shed the title of King of Backers.
But the harsh reality told him that without his backers, he was nothing.
There were countless others more talented than him.
An Lansiu.
Sister Nian.
Even Wubian.
Yet none of them had gone as far as he had, roaming the universe fearlessly, slaying gods as he went.
Was it because of himself?
No.
It was because he had an invincible sister, Qing’er.
Without her, no matter how hard he tried, he wouldn’t be where he was now. Bluntly put, Qing’er had forcibly carried him here.
Effort?
Without backers, even if he worked tirelessly, he’d likely just be a great sword immortal in Qingzhou.
That’s how it often was. The poor’s efforts, in the eyes of the rich, merely made them a qualified worker.
Nothing more.
Without Qing’er, no matter how hard he tried, he wouldn’t be here. His grave might already be overgrown with grass a hundred feet tall.
At this moment, Ye Xuan finally saw himself clearly.
He understood the vastness of the heavens, the immensity of the universe, and his own insignificance.
One should always remain humble.
With this realisation, Ye Xuan’s body relaxed, his mind clear, his Dao heart flawless.
Noticing his change, Grand Preceptor Pan looked at him, her eyes full of astonishment.
Ye Xuan suddenly smiled, “Miss Grand Preceptor, back to our earlier topic. What do you think about me opening an academy in the Pan clan?”
Grand Preceptor Pan shook her head, “Young Master Ye, your conditions are tempting, but I can’t agree. First, I don’t have the authority. Second, even if I did, I couldn’t allow it.”
Ye Xuan asked, “Are you worried my academy would affect the Pan clan?”
Grand Preceptor Pan nodded, candidly, “Yes. Your academy could undermine our foundation.”
Ye Xuan nodded slightly, “Then let’s discuss this later.”
Grand Preceptor Pan glanced at him, then said, “Alright.”
She didn’t close the door entirely, as she didn’t want to break with Ye Xuan now.
There was still room for cooperation.
As if recalling something, Grand Preceptor Pan suddenly said, “Young Master Ye, aren’t you curious about the Heavenly Wall?”
Ye Xuan glanced at it, then smiled, “With my weak strength, I’d rather not go over and play the fool.”
With that, he turned and left.
He’d figured it out.
If you’re weak, don’t try to show off.
Otherwise, he might end up unable to win and have to call Qing’er for help.
Do what matches your ability.
After Ye Xuan left, a middle-aged man appeared beside Grand Preceptor Pan.
It was Pan Jiang, the current Pan clan leader.
Grand Preceptor Pan said, “He’s likely chosen by the Avenue Pen Master.”
Pan Jiang shook his head, “He follows the Outer Order, aiming to overturn the Avenue Pen Master’s path, not follow it. He can’t be the Avenue Pen Master’s person.”
Grand Preceptor Pan frowned, “He has the Avenue Pen and the Avenue Divine Scripture.”
Pan Jiang was silent for a moment, then said, “That doesn’t mean he’s with the Avenue Pen Master.”
Grand Preceptor Pan shook her head, “It doesn’t add up.”
Pan Jiang smiled, “If it doesn’t, it means there’s something we don’t know.”
Grand Preceptor Pan fell silent. This Young Master Ye was indeed mysterious.
Pan Jiang looked at the distant Heavenly Wall, saying softly, “Let him open an academy.”
Grand Preceptor Pan looked at him, stunned.
After a long silence, Pan Jiang’s eyes grew grave with worry, “There’s been frequent activity beyond the Heavenly Wall lately. Something’s happening. I fear a change. Letting him open an academy is a backup plan for our clan.”
Grand Preceptor Pan’s face changed drastically, “Something big?”
Pan Jiang nodded, “Yes.”
Grand Preceptor Pan said gravely, “Do we know what it is?”
Pan Jiang gave a self-mocking smile, somewhat helpless, “We can’t even cross the wall. How could we know what’s happening?”
Grand Preceptor Pan sighed softly, “If something happens, we could retreat…”
Pan Jiang shook his head, “Retreating means abandoning this special land. Our clan’s many Saint Realm powerhouses exist because of this place’s avenue spiritual energy. Without it, we lose our foundation.”
He looked at the Heavenly Wall, “Of course, if the other side’s strength far exceeds ours, we’d have to abandon this place.”
He wasn’t stubborn. If the enemy was too strong, the Pan clan would retreat.
But if their strength wasn’t overwhelming, the clan would defend this treasure land.
Grand Preceptor Pan said, “This academy… I’ve looked into it. If we let him establish it, his system might disrupt our clan.”
Pan Jiang smiled, “No matter. It’s just a backup. If nothing happens beyond the wall, we’ll suppress the academy and take its benefits. If something does, we’ll align with it, securing a retreat for our clan.”
Grand Preceptor Pan nodded slightly, “Alright. I’ll discuss it with him.”
Pan Jiang nodded, “Go.”
Grand Preceptor Pan nodded and left.
Pan Jiang looked at the Heavenly Wall, his eyes full of worry.
…
Ye Xuan had just left the Pan clan when Grand Preceptor Pan caught up.
He turned to her, “Grand Preceptor, what’s this?”
She smiled, “Young Master Ye, the Pan clan is willing to let you open an academy.”
Ye Xuan was stunned, then smiled, “Miss Grand Preceptor, I’ve thought it through. I won’t open an academy here for now.”
Grand Preceptor Pan froze, “Young Master Ye, you…”
Ye Xuan smiled, “I was hasty before, my ideas weren’t mature. Proposing an academy here was abrupt. Miss Grand Preceptor, farewell.”
He turned and left.
Grand Preceptor Pan stood dumbfounded.
She couldn’t understand. Earlier, Ye Xuan was eager to establish an academy, yet now he refused.
Why?
In the distance, Ye Xuan sneered.
When things deviate from the norm, there’s always a catch.
The Pan clan had firmly refused before but now agreed. Clearly, something was up.
He didn’t know what, but knowing there was a catch was enough.
He wasn’t in a rush.
Take it slow.
Ye Xuan arrived at the Taichu clan, now fully under Taichu Jing’s control.
Everything proceeded as normal, with no major changes.
Seeing Ye Xuan, Taichu Jing was visibly delighted, setting aside her tasks to chat with him.
In the garden, they walked side by side.
Ye Xuan smiled, “Is managing the Taichu clan going smoothly?”
Taichu Jing nodded slightly, “Very smoothly.”
She looked at him, “I heard you went to the Forbidden Land.”
Ye Xuan was surprised, “You know about the Forbidden Land?”
Taichu Jing nodded, “I know a bit, but not much.”
Ye Xuan said gravely, “Beyond the Forbidden Land, there’s a wall called the Heavenly Wall. According to the Pan clan, beyond it lies another martial civilisation.”
He paused, then added, “We might all be living in a giant cage.”
Taichu Jing was silent for a moment, then said, “That’s normal. The universe is just a series of circles. You jump out of one, into another, endlessly.”
Ye Xuan smiled, “Apt metaphor.”
Taichu Jing glanced at him, “Any movements from the Past Sect recently?”
Ye Xuan shook his head, “None.”
He’d almost forgotten about that faction.
They were mysterious, their depths unknown.
Taichu Jing said gravely, “The Past Sect isn’t simple. They might know something about what’s beyond the Heavenly Wall.”
Ye Xuan suddenly said, “An You.”
An You appeared before him.
Ye Xuan looked at him, “Where’s Wubian now?”
An You glanced at him, then said, “He…”
Ye Xuan frowned, “Why the hesitation?”
An You said gravely, “Master Wubian is drinking and carousing… calling for several girls a day… he… seems to have fallen into decadence.”
Ye Xuan’s expression froze.
