Hearing the black-skirted woman’s words, Ye Xuan was immediately somewhat surprised. He looked at the black-skirted woman, “Miss, you want to take a shortcut?”
The black-skirted woman glanced at Ye Xuan, then said calmly, “Do you know how many years I have worked hard here?”
Ye Xuan shook his head.
The black-skirted woman was silent for a long time, then said softly, “All in all, over two hundred years!”
Ye Xuan was speechless!
The black-skirted woman looked at Ye Xuan, “Though there has been improvement, to cross this wasteland, I still see no hope! What is true despair? It is after you have worked hard, yet still see no hope!”
Ye Xuan fell silent.
The black-skirted woman continued, “Some say life has no shortcuts. Actually, I do not think so. Many times, life has many shortcuts; it is just that many people do not have them.”
As she spoke, she looked at Ye Qingqing, “Big shot, I know for you, taking me along is effortless, but for me, it is a rebirth grace!”
Ye Qingqing said calmly, “Are you sure you want to give up?”
The black-skirted woman shook her head, “Not giving up, just changing the way!”
Ye Qingqing extended her right hand to the black-skirted woman. Without hesitation, the black-skirted woman grabbed Ye Qingqing’s hand. The next moment, the spacetime before her eyes suddenly changed. In an instant, a bluestone staircase appeared before her, and at the same time, the terrifying cosmic resistance around the black-skirted woman completely vanished.
The black-skirted woman was stunned!
Ye Qingqing said indifferently, “Actually, the path to success has always been under your feet! This test examines your will: in desperation, do you give up or persist!”
As her voice fell, phantoms suddenly appeared around them.
These phantoms were those who had come to take the test before. Like the black-skirted woman, these phantoms had all persisted to their limits, and at this critical moment, each made different choices!
Those who chose to persist would see this bluestone staircase appear. Those who chose to give up would not die, but would stop there and retreat.
Notably, all who chose to persist to the end achieved a massive breakthrough!
Ye Qingqing suddenly said, “You were not wrong. Sometimes, handling things differently yields better results! But unfortunately, the rules here are set by others. On their turf, you must follow their rules. Clearly, you are not the one they want! Even if I take you across, they may not accept you in the end.”
The black-skirted woman’s face turned ashen!
At this moment, Ye Qingqing suddenly said, “Actually, I hate this kind of method! So, I can help you once!”
With that, she pointed with her finger, and a wisp of sword light suddenly entered the black-skirted woman’s brow.
Boom!
The black-skirted woman’s body trembled violently!
Ye Qingqing looked at the black-skirted woman, “Go back and cultivate. Next time you come, I think you can directly kill through! By then, you won’t need to follow others’ rules; you can create your own!”
The black-skirted woman suddenly knelt on one knee before Ye Qingqing, trembling, “Big shot, how should I repay you?”
Ye Qingqing said calmly, “To be blunt, you cannot help me with anything!”
She paused, then said, “The one beside me is my brother. If there is a chance in the future, you can help him!”
The black-skirted woman looked at Ye Xuan, then said, “Greetings, young master. I am Xi Yue. This grace, I will repay in the future!”
With that, she bowed deeply to Ye Xuan and Ye Qingqing, then turned and left!
Ye Xuan glanced at Ye Qingqing, then smiled, “I did not expect you to help her!”
Ye Qingqing said softly, “I hate those who set rules. Not that setting rules is bad, but I just hate it!”
Ye Xuan hesitated, then said, “I am also someone who sets rules!”
Ye Qingqing looked at Ye Xuan and smiled, “I hate those who set rules, but you are the exception!”
Ye Xuan laughed heartily!
Ye Qingqing continued munching her apple, casually saying, “Brother, will you persist or give up?”
Ye Xuan said seriously, “Of course I persist! I am not one who likes to give up!”
With that, he continued forward!
The corners of Ye Qingqing’s mouth curved up slightly!
Inside Ye Xuan’s body, the small pagoda sighed lowly, “This is blatant cheating, isn’t it?”
The small brush suddenly said, “If you are unhappy, say it out loud, don’t mutter inside!”
The small pagoda angrily said, “None of your business!”
Compared to the plain-skirted woman, it actually feared the black girl more!
The plain-skirted woman was cold, but this black girl was utterly wild—she beat you without needing a reason!
Ye Xuan continued forward. The spacetime resistance grew more terrifying, but Ye Xuan had no thought of giving up!
Finally, not long after, the cosmic resistance on Ye Xuan vanished completely. Immediately after, a bluestone staircase appeared before him.
Ye Xuan collapsed to the ground, sweat pouring!
Ye Qingqing sat beside Ye Xuan. She placed her sword aside, took out a handkerchief, and gently wiped the sweat from Ye Xuan’s face.
Ye Xuan suddenly felt very tired. At this moment, he wanted to sleep. Without thinking much, his eyes slowly closed!
Sleep!
How long had it been since he had rested properly?
It was not that cultivators did not need rest, but once on the path of martial arts, how many could sleep soundly?
Competing with others!
Competing with all things!
Competing with heaven and earth!
From Qing City to now, he was indeed tired. Before, for his sister; later, for the academy; now, for himself.
Fighting and killing his whole life!
Time to rest!
Ye Xuan truly fell asleep just like that!
Ye Qingqing gently held Ye Xuan in her arms, wiping the sweat from his face bit by bit. Looking at the sleeping Ye Xuan, a smile appeared on her face.
At this moment, the bluestone staircase suddenly became illusory. Immediately after, a black-clothed man suddenly appeared not far from the two!
Ye Qingqing gently swept her right hand over Ye Xuan’s brow. In an instant, the spacetime around Ye Xuan was isolated!
Ye Qingqing looked at the black-clothed man. The black-clothed man said gravely, “Are you going in or not? If not, I am closing the door!”
As his voice fell, a sword suddenly pressed against his brow!
The black-clothed man’s expression froze. As the sword began piercing his skin, he hurriedly said, “I was wrong! I won’t close the door! Wait… I will wait…”
Ye Qingqing withdrew her gaze but not the sword!
Cold sweat poured down the black-clothed old man’s face!
Was this coming to take the test?
Damn it!
This was coming to bully people!
He was so awesome, yet could not even take one sword!
The black-clothed old man was completely baffled!
After who knows how long, Ye Xuan in Ye Qingqing’s arms slowly opened his eyes.
Ye Qingqing smiled, “Awake?”
Ye Xuan nodded slightly, “How long did I sleep?”
Ye Qingqing shook her head, “Not long!”
Ye Xuan smiled, then stood up. When he saw the black-clothed man, he was stunned.
Ye Qingqing unobtrusively withdrew her sword. The black-clothed man then breathed a sigh of relief!
Ye Xuan said, “Who are you?”
The black-clothed man hesitated, then said, “I am the guide here!”
Ye Xuan said, “The guide for Years Spacetime?”
The black-clothed man shook his head, “No, the guide for Years City!”
Ye Xuan frowned slightly, “Years City?”
The black-clothed man glanced at Ye Xuan, then said, “Years City is the border city between virtual spacetime and Years Spacetime. Once there, people from Years Spacetime will come. Whether you are selected depends on yourself!”
Ye Xuan said softly, “I see…”
The black-clothed man hesitated, then asked, “Going?”
Ye Xuan smiled, “Of course!”
The black-clothed man nodded, then turned to leave. As if thinking of something, he hurriedly said, “Please, you two!”
Ye Xuan glanced at the black-clothed old man and smiled, “You are truly polite!”
The black-clothed old man smiled awkwardly and said nothing.
The three walked towards the stone staircase. Soon, they passed through a stone gate and arrived before an ancient city. The city before them was not large—rather dilapidated, with ragged walls!
Under the black-clothed old man’s lead, Ye Xuan and Ye Qingqing entered the city. After entering, Ye Xuan found no buildings in the city. In the center was a massive bluestone plaza.
The black-clothed old man explained, “Every period, people from Years Spacetime come to select. Only those selected can enter Years Spacetime to cultivate Years Power!”
Ye Xuan glanced around and indeed sensed many auras in hiding!
Clearly, they were not the only ones who reached here!
The black-clothed old man glanced at Ye Qingqing, then said, “You two wait here?”
Ye Qingqing suddenly said, “Brother, do you want to wait?”
Ye Xuan was about to speak when Ye Qingqing said, “If not waiting, let’s go directly!”
Ye Xuan also thought it fine and was about to speak when suddenly, a powerful aura appeared above their heads. Immediately after, the spacetime there cracked open, and a hunched old man slowly walked out.
Seeing this, the black-clothed old man was stunned, then said, “What a coincidence!”
Ye Xuan said, “He is from Years Spacetime?”
The black-clothed old man nodded, “Yes!”
At this moment, people suddenly appeared around—about thirty or so!
All with very powerful auras!
The crowd surrounded them, excitedly looking at the hunched old man!
After landing, the hunched old man glanced around, expressionless, saying nothing!
The crowd looked at the hunched old man expectantly!
At this time, the hunched old man began scrutinizing the crowd. Soon, his gaze fell on Ye Qingqing. Upon seeing her, his eyes narrowed instantly.
Seeing the hunched old man’s gaze, the crowd’s expressions turned strange!
The hunched old man walked before Ye Qingqing. He looked at her, “Want to go to Years Spacetime? If so, do you know what to do?”
As he spoke, he began unfastening his belt.
In an instant, Ye Xuan’s eyes turned blood-red.
The small pagoda suddenly trembled, “Done for!”
…….
