I can’t beat him.
The moment Ye Xuan struck a second time, the black-robed elder realized he was no match for this young man.
But clearly, the Left Chancellor’s eldest son couldn’t see this.
The elder knew well that if he didn’t pursue the sword cultivator youth, this eldest son would hold a grudge against him. This young master was no saint, and back in the clan, the elder’s days would be miserable.
Yet chasing the sword cultivator youth was tantamount to seeking death.
So, he decisively chose to flee.
Following such a spoiled dandy would only lead to ruin.
Seeing the elder leave, the eldest son was stunned on the spot.
The next moment, his face twisted with rage.
…
After leaving, Ye Xuan went straight to the palace gates. The palace was truly magnificent, with tens of thousands of halls.
He naturally wouldn’t act recklessly.
Even Boundless Lord hadn’t acted rashly, so the Ancient Empire must have something special. It was better to stay rational.
Otherwise, if he couldn’t win and had to call for help, that would be too dull.
At that moment, a powerful divine sense spread from within the palace, enveloping him.
Ye Xuan frowned slightly.
Suddenly, the palace hall’s gates opened, and a woman slowly walked out.
It was Princess Yue.
Her eyes were still blind.
Princess Yue approached Ye Xuan. “Young Master Ye, my master requests your presence.”
Ye Xuan smiled. “Your master?”
Princess Yue nodded. “Yes. The Ancient Empire’s divine astrologer, also the current state advisor.”
Ye Xuan nodded slightly. “Alright.”
Princess Yue looked at him. “You really dare to go in?”
Ye Xuan was puzzled. “Why wouldn’t I?”
Princess Yue said gravely, “Aren’t you afraid of death?”
Ye Xuan thought for a moment and said, “Let’s not talk about that.”
Princess Yue was confused. “Why?”
Ye Xuan laughed. “It might sound like I’m showing off.”
With that, he walked toward the palace.
Princess Yue stood there, bewildered.
Moments later, led by Princess Yue, Ye Xuan reached the depths of the palace. Upon entering, at least a hundred divine senses swept over him.
Their auras were extremely strong.
Princess Yue glanced at Ye Xuan. “You’re not nervous at all.”
Ye Xuan smiled. “I’m the Chosen One, after all. Can you stop underestimating me?”
Princess Yue said calmly, “The Dao Sect was destroyed by us. The Master of the Great Dao Pen still hasn’t shown himself, and as for his Chosen One, frankly, the Ancient Empire doesn’t take him seriously.”
Ye Xuan added, “I’m the Chosen One.”
Princess Yue frowned. “Is there a difference?”
Ye Xuan smiled without responding.
Princess Yue glanced at him but said nothing more.
As they passed a hall, Ye Xuan suddenly sensed something and turned to look at the entrance, where a black-robed old eunuch leaned against a pillar, eyes half-closed.
At that moment, the eunuch opened his eyes and looked at Ye Xuan. That glance made Ye Xuan’s eyes narrow.
Danger.
It felt like a venomous snake had locked onto him, sending chills through his body.
He quickly activated the Cosmic Heart Technique, clearing the uneasy feeling.
The old eunuch’s brows furrowed slightly.
Princess Yue suddenly tugged at Ye Xuan’s sleeve. Ye Xuan looked at her. “What’s wrong?”
Princess Yue said gravely, “Do you know who he is?”
Ye Xuan shook his head. “No.”
Princess Yue looked at him. “Eunuch Chen, His Majesty’s personal chief eunuch. Extremely formidable.”
Ye Xuan nodded. “I can feel it.”
Princess Yue asked, “Aren’t you afraid?”
Ye Xuan looked at her. “Please stop underestimating me. Can you?”
Princess Yue pursed her lips.
Ye Xuan was puzzled. “Didn’t you say I could threaten the Ancient Empire? Why are you underestimating me now?”
Princess Yue said calmly, “My master said you can’t threaten the Ancient Empire. It’s the special karma on you that could. It doesn’t have much to do with you.”
Ye Xuan was silent for a moment, then said, “Your master is quite clever.”
Princess Yue smiled. “Of course. She’s the Ancient Empire’s only divine astrologer.”
Ye Xuan grew curious. “In the Ancient Empire, the emperor holds the highest power, right?”
Princess Yue nodded. “Yes.”
Ye Xuan continued, “Besides the emperor, who has the most power?”
Princess Yue was silent for a moment, then said, “It’s hard to say.”
Ye Xuan was confused. “Why?”
Princess Yue explained, “Apart from the emperor, power is quite dispersed. For instance, the Left and Right Chancellors lead the cabinet and handle civil affairs, wielding significant authority there. For military matters, there’s the Military Office, led by Marshal Lü, who commands nearly seventy percent of the empire’s forces. His power is also immense, but he can’t touch internal affairs. Beyond that, three others hold great influence in the capital: Lord Zhao, the Ancient Divine Governor, who oversees all security in the capital, including the imperial guards, who follow his orders.”
She paused, then added, “There’s also the commander of the Ancient Spirit Cavalry, a mysterious figure whose true identity only His Majesty knows. They lead the empire’s most elite force, the Ancient Spirit Cavalry.”
Ye Xuan asked, “And the third?”
Princess Yue said gravely, “Princess Xin.”
Ye Xuan frowned. “Princess Xin?”
Princess Yue nodded slightly. “She’s the heir to the Ancient Empire.”
Ye Xuan was surprised. “A female heir?”
Princess Yue glanced at him, displeased. “What, you look down on women?”
Ye Xuan quickly said, “No, I didn’t mean that.”
Princess Yue said softly, “Princess Xin is truly prodigious. Do you know how prodigious? She’s already reached the legendary Wayfarer realm.”
Ye Xuan frowned. “Wayfarer?”
Princess Yue looked at him. “You don’t know?”
Ye Xuan shook his head. “No.”
Princess Yue sized him up. “How are you even a Chosen One?”
Ye Xuan was speechless.
Princess Yue said calmly, “The Wayfarer realm refers to Time Wayfarers, those who can enter the Time Dimension. Have you heard of the Time Dimension?”
Ye Xuan shook his head. “No.”
Princess Yue sighed softly. “You’re such a bumpkin.”
Ye Xuan’s expression froze.
Princess Yue continued calmly, “Above the Void Dimension is the legendary Time Dimension. Those who can control its power are called Time Wayfarers. In the entire empire, there are no more than three, and Princess Xin is one. Impressive, right?”
Ye Xuan said softly, “Oh.”
Princess Yue frowned. “Don’t you think that’s impressive?”
Ye Xuan said, “Impressive.”
Princess Yue glared at him. “Can you not be so perfunctory?”
Ye Xuan was speechless.
In his view, no matter how great a genius was, they couldn’t survive a new map. A genius in one world became a nobody in the next.
So far, except for Boundless Lord.
Of course, Ye Xuan felt Boundless Lord must have some cheat, or he wouldn’t have lasted so long.
With this thought, Ye Xuan nodded, increasingly convinced Boundless Lord was also a cheater.
Princess Yue suddenly asked, “What are you thinking?”
Ye Xuan snapped back and said, “Is your Princess Xin beautiful?”
Princess Yue said earnestly, “Quite beautiful.”
Ye Xuan asked, “More beautiful than you?”
Princess Yue blinked, then smiled. “Much prettier than me.”
Ye Xuan shook his head. “I don’t quite believe it.”
Princess Yue gave a half-smile. “You’re not very proper, are you?”
Ye Xuan was speechless.
At that moment, Princess Yue stopped. They were atop a towering structure, ten thousand feet high, where the surroundings felt like a starry sky, evoking the vast mystery of the universe.
Not far away stood a woman.
She wore a star-colored gown that shimmered with faint starlight, as if crafted from the cosmos itself.
Her hair was long, reaching her hips, and silky smooth.
The woman slowly turned, and when Ye Xuan saw her face, his brows furrowed.
Her eyes were covered by a black cloth.
This didn’t detract from her beauty; she was stunning, with a unique charm.
Facing Ye Xuan, she smiled slightly. “Greetings, Young Master Ye.”
Ye Xuan nodded. “Miss, do you have business with me?”
The woman walked to a seat and smiled. “Please sit, Young Master Ye.”
Ye Xuan sat opposite her without hesitation, noting her refined, gentle demeanor that gave an impression of fragility.
The woman suddenly said, “Young Master Ye, I wish to meet the person behind you.”
Ye Xuan frowned. “The person behind me?”
The woman nodded. “I sense an unknown karma on you, originating from someone behind you. I’d like to meet them. Could you introduce us?”
Ye Xuan looked at her. “How should I address you, miss?”
She smiled. “You can call me Astrologer.”
Ye Xuan smiled. “Astrologer, if I may be blunt, is there something wrong with your eyes?”
Princess Yue frowned, displeased.
The woman laughed. “Yes. In our line of work, we often probe the mysteries of heaven. Probe too much, and you face divine retribution from the Heavenly Dao.”
Ye Xuan nodded slightly, then said, “Miss Astrologer, it seems you haven’t suffered enough.”
The woman’s brows furrowed slightly.
Ye Xuan continued, “Your eyes are gone, yet you keep probing. Frankly, isn’t living good enough? Why court death?”
Princess Yue was furious and about to speak, but the woman stopped her.
The woman smiled. “Young Master Ye, are you saying that meeting the person behind you might kill me?”
Ye Xuan said calmly, “It might not be that simple.”
The woman was puzzled. “What do you mean?”
Ye Xuan said softly, “I might have to move to the next map.”
