Chapter 64: Though Absent from the Rivers and Lakes, His Legend Remains

Jian Yunzi regained his composure and looked at Hua Mingfeng, the terror in his eyes still lingering. Their gazes met, and each saw in the other a deep apprehension rooted in their hearts.

At last, Jian Yunzi sighed and spoke, “This young man is truly remarkable. His swordsmanship is beyond what we can learn, but even so, I have gained much from witnessing it. Perhaps after I return and meditate in seclusion, I might break through the boundary of the Human-Heaven Realm and reach the Noble Sovereign Realm.”

Hua Mingfeng and Nangong Mingyue were even more astonished upon hearing this. The Noble Sovereign Realm is far more difficult than the Human-Heaven Realm, and breaking through is an arduous task. Yet Jian Yunzi, just by witnessing a single sword from Ye Jiuyao, had such an opportunity. The two gained a deeper understanding of Ye Jiuyao’s recent sword.

As the saying goes, insiders see the essence, outsiders see the spectacle. But when the insiders explain the truth, and the outsiders finally understand, the shock only deepens.

“Farewell,” Jian Yunzi bid them goodbye. The two nodded in understanding, yet the shock in their eyes had not faded. Ye Jiuyao had given them too many surprises today. From taking charge of the Profound Sect, to boldly opening its gates, to wounding Ye Qing with a single sword, then opening the Profound Tower, and now revealing a sword technique that could give even a Human-Heaven Realm expert a chance at breaking through.

It could be said that Ye Jiuyao’s talent was beyond words; they already grasped how terrifying it was. Outstanding people, no matter how humble, inevitably emit dazzling light—Ye Jiuyao was just such a person. Though he was not humble, his strength did not allow him to be.

With mixed feelings, Hua Mingfeng took her leave from Nangong Mingyue, while Nangong Mingyue, still amazed, walked toward the Profound Tower.

...

“Sun Qigang, you called me in here again. If you don’t give me an explanation, I’ll suppress your demonic thoughts!”

“Hey, hey, hey... Lord Yao, Lord Yao, don’t be angry, don’t be angry! Anger is the devil. Let’s talk calmly...”

Upon hearing Ye Jiuyao’s words, Sun Qigang immediately adopted a fawning expression, groveling like a lapdog and pleading with Ye Jiuyao. He truly feared Ye Jiuyao would actually suppress his demonic thoughts; after all, the man before him was unpredictable, changing moods at a whim.

Sun Qigang really dared not provoke him.

“Hmm, that’s better. Speak.”

“It’s just that I’ve encountered some problems in my cultivation...”

“zzz...”

In an instant, Ye Jiuyao’s snores sounded—he had already leaned against the wall and fallen asleep. Sun Qigang was speechless, knowing in his heart he’d have to pay dearly once again.

“How about exchanging a secret?”

“You’re on track.”

Ye Jiuyao agreed without a second thought, leaving Sun Qigang exasperated.

“Ask away.”

“It’s about a cultivation technique...” Sun Qigang said awkwardly.

“Oh, I thought it was something important. Such a simple technique and you still haven’t comprehended it? Useless.” Ye Jiuyao looked at Sun Qigang with disdain, his face full of contempt.

“Lord Yao, our... our talents... are different...”

“Oh.”

Ye Jiuyao replied indifferently, then began to explain things to Sun Qigang. The latter felt as if a spring breeze had blown through him; matters of cultivation he hadn’t understood before suddenly became clear, as if enlightened.

After half an incense stick’s time—

“All right, speak.”

“The Seal Master might be connected to you. That’s how it feels in my fragmented memory.”

Ye Jiuyao fell silent in an instant. He had considered this before, but hearing it from Sun Qigang matched his own suspicions exactly.

“Enough, I’m leaving...” Ye Jiuyao said dispiritedly. Though he had a clue now, he also knew well the torment of being unable to piece together the whole truth, a feeling most unbearable.

Sun Qigang was secretly delighted. The random story he’d fabricated had earned him a chance for Ye Jiuyao to explain a cultivation technique, exceeding his expectations.

Ye Jiuyao returned to reality, weighed down by his thoughts. All the mighty beings within the Canglang Diagram had vanished—even the weakest, a self-proclaimed Earthling from a blue-water planet, was gone. The most interesting part of his childhood had been learning from that one. But now, only Sun Qigang remained in the Canglang Diagram, and even then, just as a demonic thought.

Ye Jiuyao felt a void within. Time and again he’d learned bits of information, but they never fit together, yielding nothing useful—leaving him frustrated.

“Newcomer, don’t sleep! Big news!” Suddenly, Nangong Mingyue’s voice burst forth—the woman whose face was usually frosty now showed a trace of panic.

“Second Senior Sister, I’m exhausted. I just want to sleep for a while...”

“The Falling Leaf Sect is about to attack, and you still want to sleep?!”

“So soon? Can the formation withstand someone at the Human-Heaven Realm?”

“No...”

“Weren’t you the madwoman who, according to Third Senior Brother, could crush sixth-rank sects?!”

Nangong Mingyue glared fiercely at Ye Jiuyao.

“Your family opposed Senior Sister joining the Profound Sect. If I’m not mistaken, you ran away from marriage, didn’t you? Let me guess further...”

“The one you ran from was the young sect master of a fourth-rank sect. Second Senior Sister’s family was declining and wanted to strengthen their ties through marriage, but you refused. You met Senior Brother, but his strength wasn’t enough, so he left for distant lands. You threatened your family with death... Finally, Emperor Hen’s old mink intervened...”

Ye Jiuyao rattled off a long string of words. At first, Nangong Mingyue dismissed it, but as he spoke more, her expression began to change.

“It’s settled then. Leave it all to me—such is my fate...” With those words, Ye Jiuyao dragged his weary body away.

Though doubts lingered in her heart, Nangong Mingyue, having witnessed Ye Jiuyao’s mysterious swordsmanship, chose to remain silent.

Ye Jiuyao wandered through the Profound Sect, occasionally digging at the ground, then stomping with his foot.

For three days straight, Ye Jiuyao continued in this manner.

Those who had entered the Profound Tower to cultivate emerged reluctantly, and upon seeing the sword-bearing youth, they saluted him with utmost respect.

Despite their puzzled looks, Ye Jiuyao paid them no mind, still absorbed in his own affairs.

Yet word spread among those descending the mountain—stories of Ye Jiuyao circulated rapidly, especially his defeat of Ye Qi. His reputation soared.

Within Xuantian Town, if anyone was the most renowned at the Xuantian Inn, it was undoubtedly Ye Jiuyao—particularly his digging and stomping, which had been exaggerated and widely reported.

“A true master! Only a true master could meld something as simple as digging into the flow of nature...”

“And then, by stomping, he feels the solidity of the earth, as if immersed in heaven and earth itself—returning to simplicity!”

“Hearing you say that, I really did sense the flow of energy around Ye Jiuyao at the time. I thought it was just my imagination...”

“...”

Soon, tales of Ye Jiuyao’s many mysteries were widely spread, and his origins became a favorite topic among many.

Ye Jiuyao himself knew nothing of this, continuing to walk the grounds of the Profound Sect. After several days, he had gained a thorough understanding of every blade of grass and tree within.

The forty or fifty people of the Profound Sect watched him in confusion, but none approached to ask—because Nangong Mingyue blocked their way.