Footsteps!
Both Ye Xuan and Qin Guan were stunned. There was actually someone else here!
Ye Xuan frowned.
He had not sensed the slightest trace of any aura!
Ye Xuan and Qin Guan turned towards the staircase. Soon, the footsteps reached the landing, yet no one appeared.
Ye Xuan narrowed his eyes. Playing hide-and-seek, are we?
At that moment, a young woman stepped out. She looked about eighteen, dressed in a simple cyan skirt with no adornments whatsoever. She held an ancient scroll in her hands and appeared fragile, as though a gentle breeze could blow her away. She seemed timid and shy.
When they saw her, both Ye Xuan and Qin Guan frowned, then turned to the little elf.
The little elf shook her head. “I don’t know her!”
Ye Xuan looked at the woman. “How may I address you, young lady?”
The woman glanced at Ye Xuan, then said softly, “Shu Rou.”
Shu Rou!
Ye Xuan looked around before asking, “Have you been here all along?”
Shu Rou nodded.
Ye Xuan asked again, “For how long?”
Shu Rou answered quietly, “A very, very long time!”
Ye Xuan glanced at Qin Guan with a smile. “You ask her!”
Qin Guan nodded, walked up to Shu Rou, and smiled. “Miss Shu Rou, are you imprisoned here?”
Shu Rou shook her head. “No.”
Qin Guan continued, “So you originally belonged here?”
Shu Rou nodded.
Qin Guan frowned.
At that moment, Shu Rou suddenly asked, “How were you able to enter?”
The little elf immediately pointed at Ye Xuan and laughed. “My Brother Ye brought us in! He’s super amazing, heehee!”
Shu Rou looked at Ye Xuan, then her gaze fell on the Azure Profound Sword in his hand. The moment she saw it, she froze, then said, “May I take a look at your sword?”
Ye Xuan was slightly surprised, but he did not refuse. He opened his palm, and the Azure Profound Sword flew to her. Shu Rou took the sword, examined it for a while, and exclaimed in shock, “Young Master, this sword is extraordinarily special!”
Ye Xuan smiled. “In what way?”
Shu Rou’s expression grew solemn. “It contains a powerful, unknown rule. Anything that goes against this rule is governed by it!”
After a pause, she added, “This rule surpasses every rule I know, including the rules of this universe!”
Ye Xuan’s own expression turned grave.
This woman was no ordinary person!
After studying the Azure Profound Sword a little longer, Shu Rou looked at Ye Xuan with a complicated expression. “No wonder you were able to enter this place. It seems there is a great expert behind you!”
Beside them, the little elf hurriedly nodded. “A great expert! We have a great expert backing us!”
Ye Xuan glanced at the little elf and shook his head with a smile.
Shu Rou returned the Azure Profound Sword to Ye Xuan, then asked, “Young Master, did the person who forged this sword come with you?”
Ye Xuan shook his head. “No.”
A flash of disappointment crossed Shu Rou’s eyes.
At that moment, Qin Guan suddenly smiled. “Miss Shu Rou, would you like to leave with us?”
Shu Rou hesitated, then asked, “Leave?”
Qin Guan nodded. “You must be very bored staying here, right?”
Shu Rou said softly, “It’s alright. There are many books, so I can read forever. Still, if I could go out, that would naturally be wonderful!”
Hearing this, the corners of Qin Guan’s mouth lifted slightly. “Then come with us!”
Shu Rou nodded. “Alright!”
Qin Guan glanced around, then said, “We’re going to take all the books here. You don’t mind, do you?”
Shu Rou shook her head. “Do as you wish.”
Qin Guan suddenly grew curious. “Miss Shu Rou, forgive my rudeness, but since you said you’ve always been here, were you born in this place?”
Shu Rou hesitated.
Qin Guan smiled. “If it’s inconvenient, you don’t have to answer.”
Shu Rou shook her head. “It’s not that. Actually… I am a book spirit!”
Both Ye Xuan and Qin Guan were stunned.
A book spirit!
Shu Rou explained softly, “All the books here are extraordinary. They have existed for billions of years. Over that immense span of time, they gradually developed consciousness. Once conscious, they began devouring one another. And I… was the one who survived until the end!”
Ye Xuan’s expression instantly turned strange.
Little sister, you’re ruthless!
Qin Guan was also rather taken aback.
Devouring each other until only one remained!
This was definitely someone ruthless!
Yet the girl before them looked so soft and weak, as if raising one’s voice might frighten her!
And she was the final survivor!
Shu Rou seemed a little embarrassed and whispered, “Um… can we leave now?”
Ye Xuan laughed. “Of course!”
He opened his palm, and the small pagoda appeared in his hand. Soon, a golden light enveloped the entire tower, collecting the whole structure into the pagoda.
Ye Xuan named it the Book Tower!
After storing the entire Book Tower, he was about to put the small pagoda away when Shu Rou suddenly asked, “May I take a look at this little tower?”
Ye Xuan looked at her with a smile. “Sure!”
He opened his palm again, and the small pagoda flew to her.
Shu Rou caught it, examined it for a moment, then exclaimed in admiration, “The flow of time inside this tower is different from the outside world. To be able to reverse time to such an extent…”
She looked at Ye Xuan seriously. “Young Master Ye, the expert behind you is truly remarkable! She could probably beat you several times over, right?”
Ye Xuan blinked. “If I hit her, she wouldn’t hit back!”
Qin Guan immediately covered her mouth and laughed. He really wasn’t bragging!
In this world, the only person who could strike Destiny and not be struck back was probably Ye Xuan alone.
Hearing his words, Shu Rou smiled faintly. “Young Master, your own sword dao is self-contained and equally impressive!”
Ye Xuan laughed heartily. “Thank you for the compliment. You know, in all this time, you might be the first person to praise me!”
Shu Rou smiled but said nothing.
Ye Xuan turned towards another nearby tower. “Let’s head to that one next!”
Qin Guan nodded. “Let’s go!”
The group started walking towards the tower in the distance.
Shu Rou suddenly asked, “Young Master, could I borrow your sword for some research?”
Ye Xuan smiled. “Of course!”
He opened his palm, and the Azure Profound Sword flew to her once more.
Shu Rou held the sword, studied it for a while, then sighed in wonder. “The rule created by the expert behind you is truly incredible. It is the strongest rule dao I have ever encountered!”
Ye Xuan smiled. “You’re pretty amazing yourself!”
Shu Rou’s eyes instantly lit up. “Really?”
Ye Xuan nodded.
To be able to comprehend Qing’er’s rule at all was already extremely impressive!
Shu Rou broke into a radiant smile. “Actually, I think I’m pretty amazing too!”
Ye Xuan fell silent.
Something felt off!
Shu Rou suddenly asked, “Young Master, could you give me this sword?”
Ye Xuan hesitated, then said, “I’m afraid I can’t!”
Shu Rou blinked, hugged the sword tightly, and said nothing.
Ye Xuan was speechless.
Little girl, you’re not thinking of snatching it, are you?
…
