Ye Xuan was speechless. Why would his father instruct Qin Guan to keep an eye on him like that?
Without dwelling on it, Ye Xuan led Zhantai Ling’er to follow Qin Guan. He couldn’t let Zhantai Ling’er leave now; she was his main source of cultivation funds.
Soon, Qin Guan brought Ye Xuan to a secret base she had built specifically for crafting weapons. Ye Xuan was quite curious about it. Upon entering, he found the base far from secretive, bustling with activity. Zhantai Ling’er looked around curiously, occasionally asking questions.
Qin Guan led Ye Xuan deep underground. As they arrived, a grey-robed elder greeted them, bowing respectfully to Qin Guan. “Greetings, Leader.” He turned to Ye Xuan. “Greetings, Young Master Ye.”
Qin Guan asked, “How’s the progress?”
The elder smiled. “Almost done.”
Qin Guan nodded. “Take us to see it.”
The elder led the way. They reached a valley shaped like a basin, where a massive pillar, a thousand feet tall, stood at the centre, adorned with countless mysterious black runes, exuding an air of enigma.
Ye Xuan looked at Qin Guan, who grinned. “This is my latest super bomb.”
Ye Xuan examined it and asked, “What’s it called?”
Qin Guan blinked. “Defiance Tamer.”
Ye Xuan’s expression froze.
Qin Guan chuckled. “Who are we bombing? Give me the coordinates.”
Ye Xuan said, “Illusory Crystal Realm.” He pointed at Qin Guan’s forehead, transmitting the realm’s location to her mind.
Qin Guan smiled. “Consider it done.” She clapped, and a woman appeared, Xiao Ai, her trusted aide. Xiao Ai glanced at Ye Xuan and gave a slight bow.
Ye Xuan smiled. “Xiao Ai, long time no see.”
Xiao Ai nodded, saying little. Qin Guan pointed at her forehead. “Here are the coordinates.”
Xiao Ai left to make arrangements.
Qin Guan grinned at Ye Xuan. “She’s handling it.”
Ye Xuan was curious. “Is this thing powerful?”
Qin Guan replied, “Extremely. You’ll see soon.”
Ye Xuan nodded, then asked, “By the way, do you know where Qingqiu went?”
Qin Guan smiled. “Weren’t we planning a secret force? She handpicked a hundred people and took them to train.”
Ye Xuan asked eagerly, “Where?”
Qin Guan shook her head. “She didn’t say.”
Ye Xuan pressed, “Did she mention when she’d be back?”
Qin Guan shook her head again. “No, but she said she’s preparing a surprise for you.”
A surprise. Ye Xuan grinned. His sister was the best, unlike his father, who only startled him.
Suddenly, the Defiance Tamer trembled violently. The trio turned to look. The pillar slowly rose, and a massive black hole appeared above it. A burst of flame shot from its base, propelling it into the black hole.
A large screen appeared before them, showing the Defiance Tamer speeding through space at a pace rivaling the Qingxuan Sword.
Ye Xuan was stunned. Qin Guan chuckled. “I modelled it after the Qingxuan Sword’s principles.”
Ye Xuan murmured, “Impressive.” The Qingxuan Sword was Qing’er’s creation, and Qin Guan’s replication of its principles was remarkable.
Soon, the Defiance Tamer entered the Illusory Crystal Realm. A furious roar echoed, “How dare you!”
A deafening explosion followed, and a mushroom cloud millions of miles wide rose, shaking the realm. Smoke and flames engulfed it, turning it into a sea of fire and ash.
Ye Xuan and Zhantai Ling’er were dumbfounded. Zhantai Ling’er blinked. “What is this thing? It’s ferocious.”
Ye Xuan was equally shocked. Its power matched his space-compression technique, and its remote launch capability meant victims wouldn’t even know who hit them. Utterly absurd.
Several powerful forces swept through the realm, dissipating the smoke and flames, but the Illusory Crystal Realm was left in ruins.
In the air, Gu Yao Wang and the Illusory Demon King were stunned, as were the realm’s other powerhouses. What had happened?
Gu Yao Wang’s face darkened. “It must be the God Knowledge Civilization.”
They had only one rival: the God Knowledge Civilization.
The Illusory Demon King roared, “Damn them! We’re sworn enemies now.”
Gu Yao Wang added, “No, that weapon didn’t seem like theirs. If they attacked, we’d have known.” His eyes narrowed. “Could it be that kid?”
The Illusory Demon King raged, “Damn human civilisation! We’re sworn enemies.”
Gu Yao Wang said gravely, “If he’s recognised by the God Knowledge Civilization, he must be exceptional.”
The Illusory Demon King snapped, “It’s just a sword. He’s so petty, no class.”
The other demons were speechless.
Gu Yao Wang’s face was grim. They had met a tough opponent. He looked at the Illusory Demon King, who said, “We can’t return it now. I’d lose all face. I have a reputation to uphold.”
Gu Yao Wang said, “We can’t return it yet.” Their research showed the sword held knowledge from a new civilisation, too valuable to give up.
After a pause, he said, “We need to negotiate with him.”
The Illusory Demon King grumbled, “That’s humiliating. If we’re playing the villain, we should go all in. Negotiating now? I can’t afford that shame.”
Gu Yao Wang glared at him. “Negotiating is just a stalling tactic.”
The Illusory Demon King shook his head. “That human isn’t a fool. It won’t work. I say we lure him here and kill him. Problem solved.”
Gu Yao Wang sighed. “He won’t come now.”
The Illusory Demon King said, “Figure out a way.”
Gu Yao Wang was speechless.
Suddenly, a terrifying aura appeared above them, and another massive pillar descended. The demons’ faces darkened.
Gu Yao Wang shouted, “Trap it.”
He rushed forward, but the Illusory Demon King punched the pillar, causing it to explode.
Gu Yao Wang roared, “Idiot! I said trap it, not destroy it.”
Before he could finish, a powerful force spread, cracking the realm like a spiderweb. Most demons fled, unable to withstand it. Only Gu Yao Wang and the Illusory Demon King stood their ground.
Half an hour later, Gu Yao Wang stared at the fractured realm, his face ashen. The Illusory Demon King shouted, “Human! Come fight me one-on-one! Sneak attacks? Show yourself!”
No response.
Gu Yao Wang looked up, his face grim. “Human, come out. Let’s talk.”
Still no response. His expression grew darker.
At the secret base, Ye Xuan watched the ravaged Illusory Crystal Realm, excited. “Keep bombing. Blast them to bits.”
Qin Guan shook her head. “We only made two. They’re used up.”
Ye Xuan blinked. “Make more.”
Qin Guan grinned. “Got money?”
Ye Xuan fell silent. He was broke.
Zhantai Ling’er said, “The Illusory Crystal Realm is full of wealth. Conquer it, and you’ll have endless God Knowledge Crystals.”
Qin Guan said seriously, “That’s banditry. Xiao Xuanzi and I aren’t like that.”
Zhantai Ling’er was speechless.
Qin Guan asked Ye Xuan, “Where’s your small pagoda?”
Ye Xuan opened his palm, and the pagoda floated to Qin Guan.
She smiled. “Let me borrow it for a while.”
Ye Xuan frowned. “Borrow? What’s mine is yours. Don’t say such distant things.”
Qin Guan’s heart warmed. She smiled. “Alright.” She turned to leave, clearly off to make more bombs.
After she left, Zhantai Ling’er asked, “Young Master Ye, is she your wife?”
Ye Xuan looked at her. “Why ask?”
She smiled. “Just curious.”
Ye Xuan smiled, saying nothing.
Zhantai Ling’er asked, “Can humans have multiple wives?”
Ye Xuan said, “Yes.”
She shook her head. “In the God Knowledge Civilization, it’s one spouse for life.”
Ye Xuan blurted, “That’s not good. You could change…” He trailed off, realising something, and fell silent.
