Chapter 516: Aunt!
Under the watchful eyes of the Heavenly Yuan Sovereign and the others, Ye Guan and the woman vanished into the Time River.
The expressions of the Time Reversers turned exceedingly grim. Those from the Ancient Clan looked like they had lost their souls. After all, the Ancient Clan had dispatched them in the hopes of capturing Ye Guan. However, in addition to failing their mission, Ye Guan had also snatched their dragons away.
The Ancient Clan's reputation was sure to suffer a heavy blow!
Meanwhile, the Heavenly Yuan Sovereign and the Time Reversers cast uneasy glances at the Ancient Clan's supreme elites. Just then, a troubling thought crossed their minds: What if Ye Guan somehow managed to tame those Dark Dragons?
The atmosphere grim at the possibility.
Was the Ancient Clan a traitor working for Ye Guan?
The Commander of the Dark Dragon Guards sensed everyone's strange gazes and spoke, "Don’t worry, those Dark Dragons were meticulously nurtured by our clan. They'd rather die than submit to others."
The Heavenly Yuan Sovereign sounded solemn as he asked, "Commander Gu You, what are your plans?"
Commander Gu You replied, "I've informed the clan leader, and he's en route with reinforcements."
The Clan Leader of the Ancient Clan?
The Heavenly Yuan Sovereign's expression changed.
Commander Gu You inquired, "Heavenly Yuan Sovereign, who was that woman just now? Are you familiar with her?"
"Yes," the Heavenly Yuan Sovereign said, sounding grave. "And she's a formidable woman...”
...
Meanwhile, Ye Guan finally came to a halt.
A woman dressed in a black dress stood not too far away from Ye Guan, and she was none other than Ye Qingqing; she had on her signature calm and composed visage.
Ye Guan looked at Ye Qingqing in surprise. He didn't expect that Ye Qingqing would show up to rescue him.
Ye Qingqing met Ye Guan's gaze but remained silent.
The atmosphere between them was a bit awkward compared to their first meeting.
Ye Guan shattered the ice, saying, "Thank you."
Regardless of the circumstances, Ye Qingqing had saved him more than once.
Even though Ye Qingqing had only saved him because of his father, Ye Guan knew that repaying benefactors with gratitude was the norm.
Ye Qingqing stared wordlessly at Ye Guan.
Ye Guan pondered briefly before saying, "Aunt Qingqing, thank you for coming to my aid multiple times. If it hadn't been for you, I would have fallen into the hands of the Time Reversers long ago. Regardless of the reason behind your help, I still truly appreciate it. I want to repay you, but I have nothing to offer and—"
"You don't want me to intervene again, do you?" Ye Qingqing interrupted.
Ye Guan stared at Ye Qingqing and nodded.
Ye Qingqing was annoyed. "If it weren't for your—"
Ye Qingqing realized something and stopped mid-sentence.
"If it weren't for my father, you would spare me even a glance, right?" Ye Guan continued Ye Qingqing's words.
Ye Qingqing snorted coldly, but she didn't say anything in response.
Silence descended upon the two once more until Ye Guan shattered it.
"Aunt Qingqing, I've grown up."
"What do you mean?"
Ye Guan smiled, "I mean, I can take on many responsibilities now. I can carve my own path. You really don't have to do things you don't like just because of my father. I believe my father wouldn't want you to do that as well.
"Moreover, if I were to meet my end in the Time River, it would be my own business... So, go ahead and look for my father or my sister. I'm going to be fine, really!"
Was Ye Guan hoping that someone would help him? Of course! He wanted help, after all. He'd be overjoyed if someone were willing to assist him. After all, even the tiniest of help would be helpful for him, as he had too many enemies at the moment.
However, Ye Guan didn’t want others to help him out of pity.
He wanted to live with dignity!
Ye Guan looked at Ye Qingqing and said, "Aunt Qingqing, I bear no ill will toward you, not now or ever. I respect you, and I'm grateful for your assistance along the way. Thank you so much."
With that, Ye Guan bowed deeply and walked away.
Ye Qingqing gripped her sword tightly as she stared at Ye Guan walking into the distance.
Little Pagoda suddenly said, "If you're not going to accept any help—"
"Then, I'll die," Ye Guan interrupted. He looked up and stared at the infinite Time River. "Wherever death awaits, that's where I'll rest."
Ye Guan transformed into a streak of sword light, vanishing into the distance.
For some reason, Little Pagoda felt an unprecedented sense of unease. He sensed that Ye Guan had genuinely resolved himself to embrace death at any given moment. Ye Guan had truly let go of his burdens and had convinced himself that he was nothing but Ye Guan—an ordinary human being.
Death? He was ready for it.
Staring at the fading streak of sword light in the distance, Ye Qingqing suddenly found herself overcome with a wave of irritation. She became especially annoyed when she was reminded of the day Ye Guan had chosen to sacrifice himself for her.
At the time, Ye Guan had truly considered her to be a part of the family.
What about her?
Ye Qingqing pondered over it, and she became even more irritated. Just then, Jing Xue appeared next to Ye Qingqing. Jing Xue glanced at the distant Time River and frowned.
Ye Qingqing turned around to depart when Jing Xue suddenly said, "Lady Qingqing, I just received news about the mobilization of the Ancient Clan's Clan Leader. He has decided to lead his clansmen to kill Ye Guan."
Ye Qingqing remained indifferent. "How does that concern me? Did you not hear what he said? He doesn't want my help."
Jing Xue looked at Ye Qingqing and calmly retorted, "Everyone would love a helping hand in times of distress, and he needs it the most right now. After all, a myriad of Time Reversers are chasing after him."
Ye Qingqing shook her head and turned away. She frowned as her gaze landed on the distant Time River. What was the reason she had decided to help Ye Guan? At first, it was undoubtedly because of Ye Xuan!
Ye Qingqing suddenly understood everything.
Ye Guan's reason behind his refusal to accept Ye Qingqing's help was that sentence she had dropped not too long ago. It was that statement that led Ye Guan to believe that she had never regarded him as a family member.
Ye Guan needed assistance, not charity. Of course, Ye Guan still knew how to be grateful to his benefactors. However, he still had some self-respect, which meant he'd never accept help from a stranger.
Ye Qingqing had become a stranger in Ye Guan's eyes!
Ye Qingqing could still remember how Ye Guan seemed afraid of him whenever she frowned even in the slightest. Then, he'd go and console her to assuage her irritation. However, everything had changed; Ye Guan was no longer afraid of her.
He was still respectful to her, but there was a sense of estrangement between them.
Unfortunately, it seemed that their relationship could no longer go back to what it was before she dropped that sentence. Ye Qingqing sighed and turned around. Then, she disappeared into the distance. Jing Xue followed closely behind Ye Qingqing but said nothing.
...
Ye Guan was still flying against the flow of the Time River; Ao Qianqian's help and his own prowess allowed Ye Guan to glide effortlessly against the current of time. Ye Guan stared into the distance with a determined gaze.
I have to become stronger! Ye Guan had no other thought in mind except for that.
Ye Guan asked, "Master Pagoda, how long do I need to become invincible?"
Little Pagoda chuckled and teased, “Getting impatient?”
"Yes," replied Ye Guan with a light smile.
Little Pagoda replied, "Actually, your Aunt Qingqing isn't all that bad. She has a carefree and straightforward nature, so she speaks her mind without any reservation. I really think that you don't have to worry; her help to you is not charity at all."
Ye Guan shook his head. "Master Pagoda, I'm not being petty here. I've just realized one thing: it's better to have your own umbrella than stay beneath someone else's roof for shelter. That is why I want to become even stronger..."
Ye Guan's gaze became resolute. His burning desire to grow even stronger reached unprecedented levels, and he had become truly interested in becoming invincible.
Ye Guan laughed just then. It was a strangely liberating feeling. He had been working hard for a long time, but his determination had just reached even greater heights. Now, there was no turning back!
I'd rather embrace death than fail to become invincible! Ye Guan roared inwardly. Then, he turned around and carved open a spacetime rift. He wasted no time and transformed into a ray of sword light to enter the spacetime rift.
Soon, Ye Guan found himself in a star field. He looked around briefly before entering the tiny pagoda.
Over a hundred trembling Dark Dragons were on the ground, trembling in fear.
Ao Qianqian appeared next to Ye Guan, and the latter held her hand.
Ao Qianqian smiled sweetly at Ye Guan.
"Can we tame these dragons?" Ye Guan asked.
Ao Qianqian glanced at the dragons and said, "They fear me, but I can sense lingering hostility in their gazes."
Hostility? Ye Guan's brows furrowed. Moments later, he asked, "Which one among these dragons is the strongest?"
Ao Qianqian pointed at a Dark Dragon with golden scales. "That one."
Ye Guan directed his gaze to the Dark Dragon with golden scales, noting its imposing size compared to the others. Ye Guan decisively walked up to the dragon with Ao Qianqian's hand in his hand.
The Dark Dragon with golden scales cowered and dared not to look up.
Ye Guan extended his palm, and a drop of his blood trickled from his fingertip to hover in front of the dragon. The dragon's eyes revealed unmistakable greed, but it refrained from touching Ye Guan's fresh blood.
Ao Qianqian was next to Ye Guan, after all.
Ye Guan stared deeply at the Dark Dragon with golden scales and remarked, "Submit, and I will give you a ton of benefits.”
Submit?! The Dark Dragon with golden scales lifted its head, and a fierce light shimmered in its eyes.
"Kill it!" Ye Guan shouted.
Ao Qianqian raised her hand, and a powerful aura burst out of her.
Boom!
Bloodline suppression! The Dark Dragon with golden scales cowered immediately with fear evident in its eyes. Afraid of getting executed by Ao Qianqian, the Dark Dragon with golden scales hastily declared, "I willingly submit."
Ye Guan turned to Ao Qianqian.
Ao Qianqian suggested, "I will bind it in a master-servant contract. Once done, I'll have control over its soul, and I can decide its fate with a mere thought."
"All right!" Ye Guan said, nodding.
The contract between Ao Qianqian and the Dark Dragon with golden scales was soon made. Ye Guan instructed the Dark Dragon with golden scales to bring the remaining dragon under its control. Ye Guan had no intentions of forcing each dragon to submit, as conquering the mightiest one would be enough.
Ao Qianqian suddenly squeezed Ye Guan's hand and asked, "Do you know how we can increase our synchronization rate?"
Ye Guan cast a perplexed gaze at Ao Qianqian. "We still haven't reached the maximum synchronization rate?"
Ao Qianqian nodded, blushing slightly.
Ye Guan froze upon realizing what Ao Qianqian was trying to say. In the next moment, he grinned and looked behind him, exclaiming, "Master Pagoda, go and have some fun outside for a while!"
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