Chapter 173: Chapter 173: Inexplicable
Being targeted by the most formidable assassin organization in the Liuyun Kingdom, Ye Xuan was not afraid, but he couldn’t help feeling a bit uneasy.
This black-robed man was a top assassin from the Shadow Killing Sect, someone who was typically fearless in the face of death. But Ye Xuan’s smile held a terror that chilled him to the bone.
"Hahaha, trying to get information out of me? You’re dreaming! Since you already know how terrifying the Shadow Killing Sect is, why bother asking? Let me go right now, or the Shadow Killing Sect will make you wish you were dead."
Ye Xuan hadn’t expected the black-robed man to still be so arrogant at a time like this.
His flying dagger stirred, instantly slicing off one of the black-robed man’s ears. "My patience is limited. I’ll give you three seconds. If you don’t start talking, don’t even think about leaving here alive."
The black-robed man’s heart trembled. ’What an arrogant brat!’ His eyes filled with venomous hatred. "Kid, let me remind you, the Shadow Killing Sect is not as simple as you think. If you see us as some ordinary assassin organization, you’re gravely mistaken. I’ll give you one last chance. Let me go. Don’t be so obstinate. Otherwise, the Shadow Killing Sect will..."
SHLINK!
Before the man could finish, Ye Xuan suddenly activated his flying dagger, sending it straight through his neck.
"All that chattering. So much nonsense."
Three seconds had passed. Ye Xuan couldn’t be bothered to ask any more questions and killed the black-robed man with a single strike.
"You..."
The black-robed man’s eyes flew wide as blood gushed from his throat. He never would have imagined that Ye Xuan would kill him just as he said he would, without the slightest hesitation. Ye Xuan’s gaze didn’t even flicker, as if all he had killed was a chicken.
A deep regret swelled within him. If he had known how decisive Ye Xuan was, he never would have spouted all that nonsense, no matter how audacious he felt.
It was laughable that he had tried to continue threatening Ye Xuan.
With a THUD, the black-robed man collapsed to the ground, dying with his eyes wide open in grievance.
"A minor assassin organization thinks it can threaten me, Ye Xuan? Courting death."
Ye Xuan gave a cold smirk and unleashed his Devouring Martial Soul, instantly consuming the black-robed man’s Ghoul-Faced Martial Soul completely.
As his strength gradually returned, Ye Xuan’s confidence grew. He might not be able to openly kill a Celestial Martial Artist with ease just yet. However, when combining his skills as a Soul Refiner, Alchemist, and Array Master, any ordinary First Heaven Celestial Martial Artist who dared to move against him would just be serving themselves up on a platter.
No matter how formidable the Shadow Killing Sect was, it was still just an assassin organization within the Liuyun Kingdom. So what if its leader was powerful?
’A Tier Four, Third Heaven Celestial Martial Artist? Or a Tier Five, First Layer Martial Sect?’
At his cultivation speed, by the time his enemies learned of this and sent more people to hunt him down, he might have already recovered to the level of an Earth Martial Artist. With even more techniques at his disposal by then, why would he be afraid?
Taking the man’s Storage Ring, Ye Xuan left without a backward glance.
An hour later, Ye Xuan returned safely to Profound Spirit Academy.
Ye Xuan had gained much from this trip to Cyan Profound Mountain. After returning, he immediately shut himself in his room to slowly process his insights.
He also needed to properly consolidate his cultivation at the Martial Master Third Layer.
「Three days later.」
Ye Xuan finally emerged from his room.
His entire demeanor was completely refreshed.
"You little rascal, you’re never around! I finally caught you this time."
He had just stepped out of his room when a delicate but slightly angry shout rang in his ear. At the same time, a figure appeared before him in a flash, as swift as lightning.
"Teacher Yun Aoxue, good morning," Ye Xuan greeted. The figure that had suddenly appeared was indeed Yun Aoxue.
"Morning, my foot!" Yun Aoxue gave Ye Xuan a sharp rap on the head. "Where have you been all these days, you brat? Do you have any idea how many times I’ve looked for you?"
Although Yun Aoxue’s tone was harsh and accusatory, her expression revealed a deep-seated concern that couldn’t help but move Ye Xuan.
Apparently, while he was away at Cyan Profound Mountain, Teacher Yun had looked for him many times. Finding him gone, she had been worried sick, afraid that the Crown Prince Alliance might have retaliated against him after his challenge with Tong Hong.
So even though he’d received a rap on the head, Ye Xuan felt a warmth spread through his heart.
"Thank you for your concern, Teacher Yun." He glanced at Yun Aoxue, his eyes suddenly lighting up as he smiled. "Teacher Yun, congratulations on your breakthrough!"
Yun Aoxue’s aura was significantly stronger than the last time he’d seen her. Ye Xuan could tell at a glance that Teacher Yun had advanced to the Earth Martial Artist Second Layer.
Yun Aoxue waved her hand. "It’s just an increase of one layer. Nothing to make a fuss about..."
Suddenly, she trailed off. She hadn’t told anyone about her breakthrough to the Earth Martial Artist Second Layer a few days ago. How did Ye Xuan know?
She didn’t believe for a second that Ye Xuan had figured it out on his own.
Staring at Ye Xuan, she was about to demand an explanation when she suddenly noticed something unusual. She stared at him in astonishment and said, "You... you’ve advanced to the Martial Master Third Layer?"
Ye Xuan chuckled. "Teacher, you’re an Earth Martial Artist in the Earth Martial Realm. Your breakthroughs are ten times more difficult than mine. Since you’ve broken through, what’s so surprising about a mere Martial Artist like me advancing a little?"
Yun Aoxue felt that line was quite familiar. She suddenly remembered hearing something similar back at the City Lord’s Mansion.
And the one who had said it was also Ye Xuan.
Back then, she had just broken through to the Earth Martial Artist First Layer, while Ye Xuan had reached the Third Layer of Warrior. They had had a conversation about it.
She never expected that now, more than half a year later, she had successfully broken through to the Earth Martial Artist Second Layer, while Ye Xuan had jumped an entire tier, advancing from the Third Layer of Warrior to the Martial Master Third Layer. Comparing the two—her one-layer advancement versus his one-tier jump—left Yun Aoxue too shocked for words.
’Isn’t Ye Xuan’s advancement speed a bit too astonishing? Or did he take some kind of Pill and force a breakthrough?’
The more Yun Aoxue thought about it, the more uneasy she became. Her expression turned serious, and she warned him in a solemn tone, "Ye Xuan, I know you have astonishing talent and a certain aptitude for Alchemy. But a Martial Artist’s cultivation must be done step by step. You can’t take Pills with side effects just for the sake of rapid progress. If you do, even though your breakthroughs will be fast, it will severely limit your future achievements. Do you understand?"
Ye Xuan knew Yun Aoxue was concerned for him, so he nodded.
"Don’t worry, Teacher Yun. The reason I broke through so quickly wasn’t because I took any Pills with side effects. I recently went to the royal forbidden grounds with the Eighth Prince and the others, accidentally ate a Soul Nourishing Fruit, and was lucky enough to break through to the Martial Master Third Layer."
"What? You went to the royal forbidden grounds? And you ate a Soul Nourishing Fruit?" Yun Aoxue’s eyes widened, and she stared intently at Ye Xuan. As a Soul Refiner herself, she naturally knew of the Soul Nourishing Fruit’s incredible effects.
Ye Xuan nodded. Although his trip to Cyan Profound Mountain with Zhao Wei and the others was a secret, it would be easy enough for a determined person to investigate.
He had brought it up deliberately, first to ease Yun Aoxue’s worries, and second to lay the groundwork for the future. If he were to display a heaven-defying level of Soul Power, he would have an explanation.
Yun Aoxue’s expression finally softened. A natural treasure like the Soul Nourishing Fruit was different from a Pill; it basically had no side effects.
At the same time, she realized that being around this kid, Ye Xuan, would sooner or later give her a heart attack.
"By the way, Teacher Yun, did you need me for something?"
"Of course!" Yun Aoxue’s eyes bulged as she snapped, "Do you think I’d look for you so many times if it was for nothing? And I was met with a locked door every single time!"
Dark lines appeared on Ye Xuan’s forehead. ’Looks like Teacher Yun is still holding a grudge.’
Fortunately, Yun Aoxue knew there were more important matters at hand. She quickly said, "Didn’t I tell you last time that I wanted to introduce you to someone? That person is at the academy right now. I’ll take you to him immediately."
"Who is it?" Ye Xuan asked doubtfully.
Yun Aoxue was being secretive. Although he knew she wouldn’t harm him, Ye Xuan was still a bit puzzled.
"What are you worried about? Relax, your teacher won’t harm you. Remember, this person holds a lofty position in the Liuyun Kingdom. As long as you can win his favor, I guarantee that the Crown Prince, Zhao Feng, will absolutely not dare to harm you. Of course, it would be best if you could become his disciple. If that happens, the Crown Prince will be even less likely to touch you."
"Become his disciple?" Ye Xuan pursed his lips. "Forget it. My talent is terrible; I can’t go around ruining someone’s reputation."
This was just an excuse. In Ye Xuan’s eyes, there wasn’t a single person in the entire Liuyun Kingdom worthy of being his master.
Yun Aoxue had no idea what Ye Xuan was thinking and assumed he was just posturing. She said coldly, "Hmph, don’t think you’re so incredible just because you broke through to the Martial Master Third Layer. This man is a master of both strategy and statecraft, a pillar of the kingdom. If you could learn even a fraction of what he knows, it would benefit you for a lifetime."
’Who is this person? He sounds so badass.’ Hearing Yun Aoxue’s description, Ye Xuan’s curiosity was piqued.
"You’ll know when you get there," Yun Aoxue said coldly. "I guarantee you’ll recognize him the moment you see him. He gives lectures at our Profound Spirit Academy twice a year for five days each time. Today is the last day of this session. You really made me work to find you, kid."
Without another word, Yun Aoxue grabbed Ye Xuan’s arm and started walking deeper into the academy.
Pulled along by Teacher Yun, Ye Xuan soon arrived at a quiet area deep within the academy. A quaint, ancient-looking building stood before them, guarded by two Martial Artists exuding formidable auras.
They were actually two Celestial Martial Artists.
Ye Xuan rubbed his nose. ’What’s going on lately? Every Tom, Dick, and Harry is a Tier Four Celestial Martial Artist now. That Mosen and the assassin from the Shadow Killing Sect were one thing, but for even these two guards to be Celestial Martial Artists... isn’t that a bit of an exaggeration?’
Moreover, these two didn’t seem like teachers from the academy.
Seeing that Ye Xuan and Yun Aoxue seemed to want to enter, the two Martial Artists blocked their path. The murderous aura emanating from them was so tangible it seemed to congeal in the air around them.
"The master’s lecture is over. Please go back. If you wish to attend his lecture, please come earlier next time."
"What? It’s over?" Yun Aoxue’s face fell. The very thing she had been afraid of had finally happened.
