Carefree Within the Sword

Xue Xiao Ran followed Cang Xue outside and found two people standing there: one was a breathtakingly beautiful woman, while the other was a burly man with a protruding belly.

"Greetings, Young Master."

The two spoke respectfully upon seeing Xue Xiao Ran.

"That woman is named Xiao Xue. You may call her Aunt Xue. That burly man is named Dong Yuan. You may call him Uncle Dong."

Cang Xue introduced them in a stiff, formal manner.

Xue Xiao Ran nodded, then bowed deeply, greeting the several Hundred-Thousand-Year soul beasts who had followed his father.

"Uncle Cang Xue, where is the Carefree Sword Sect? Do the Heaven Dou Empire and Star Luo Empire still exist on Douluo Continent?"

At Xue Xiao Ran's question, a trace of desolation appeared on Cang Xue's face. Xiao Xue and Dong Yuan, who stood nearby, also sighed.

"Let's talk as we walk."

Cang Xue forced a smile and raised his hand. "The Carefree Sword Sect is now within the Sun Moon Empire. It is about half a month's journey from the Clear Sky Sect. After that, we'll need to find suitable soul rings for Young Master."

"Uncle Cang Xue, Aunt Xue, Uncle Dong, it truly embarrasses me for you to keep calling me Young Master. Just call me Xiao Ran. That's what Father and Mother called me." Xue Xiao Ran smiled calmly, but the determination in his tone left all three silent.

"Young Master's temperament is exactly the same as my lord's." Aunt Xue murmured, making Dong Yuan grin honestly.

"No." Cang Xue frowned in objection. "Young Master is Young Master. That cannot be changed."

"Enough, we can discuss how to address him later. Let's head to the Carefree Sword Sect first." Dong Yuan stepped in to smooth things over.

"Young Master, let us go."

Douluo Continent had changed.

At least, compared to the version Xue Xiao Ran had heard about from his parents, it had changed by far more than a little.

The former Heaven Dou Empire had split into the Heaven Dou Empire and Dou Ling Empire, while the throne of the Star Luo Empire had changed hands due to turmoil.

The Sun Moon Empire from the Sun Moon Continent possessed formidable strength and deep foundations, as well as highly advanced Soul Tools. Together with the other three empires, it formed a four-way balance of power.

Heaven Dou United Academy had vanished into history along with the destruction of the Heaven Dou Empire.

The Shrek Academy that had escaped from Heaven Dou United Academy had established itself independently, becoming the renowned Shrek Academy of the continent. Although it remained neutral, its strength in soul masters could not be underestimated.

The Carefree Sword Sect stood alongside the Clear Sky Sect as the foremost sect on the continent. However, the latter often concealed itself behind the scenes, leaving the world's stage to the Carefree Sword Sect.

Although the Carefree Sword Sect was located within the Sun Moon Empire, it had no intention of pledging loyalty to the Sun Moon Empire's royal family.

The Xu Family Royal Family had invited them many times, making repeated earnest visits, yet every invitation had been refused by the current sect master, Sun Yingxue.

He had no intention of attaching himself to any faction or empire.

Half a month later, Xue Xiao Ran and his group successfully arrived at the Carefree Sword Sect.

The Carefree Sword Sect was located in the north of the Sun Moon Empire, very close to the Extreme North. Its stated purpose was to let Sword Sect disciples endure hardship amid wind and snow, tempering unyielding resolve. As for its true purpose, only a few elders knew.

"Elder."

"Elder."

The moment Cang Xue stepped into the sect, the disciples standing rigidly at the entrance greeted him respectfully.

Cang Xue did not respond. He led Xue Xiao Ran into the sect, followed by Xiao Xue and Dong Yuan.

The two disciples exchanged glances. It seemed this disciple being brought into the sect was highly favored by the elder. After only one meeting, Xue Xiao Ran's blue hair and jade eyes had already been deeply etched into their minds.

Xue Xiao Ran sensed the Soul Power fluctuations all around him, as well as countless streams of sword qi crisscrossing the area. As expected of the Sword Sect.

Boom!

An explosion suddenly sounded ahead.

Xue Xiao Ran raised an eyebrow, but the other disciples, including the three seniors walking beside him, showed no surprise whatsoever, as though this were perfectly normal.

Only Xiao Xue sighed before walking forward.

"Creating another Self-Created Soul Skill? Didn't I tell you that you still lack the ability to create a Self-Created Soul Skill?"

Elder Xue looked down at the raggedly dressed female disciple sitting to one side with her sword in her arms and scolded her irritably.

"Teacher, I was wrong..." The female disciple clutching the sword mumbled softly, pouting. It seemed this was not her first offense.

Elder Xue removed her outer robe and draped it over the female disciple. "What kind of appearance is this? Hurry and change your clothes."

The female disciple nodded. Then, through Elder Xue's figure, she spotted Xue Xiao Ran standing behind her with a calm yet curious expression. She gave a startled cry and swiftly fled using her footwork.

"Honestly... Young Master, please forgive the embarrassment."

Xiao Xue wiped away some sweat and returned to the group.

Cang Xue and Dong Yuan said nothing, as though this were an everyday occurrence.

"Young Master, I will take you to rest now. In a few days, I will bring you to the Extreme North to hunt for soul rings."

Cang Xue spoke quietly. Xue Xiao Ran did not object. In the God Realm, one could not obtain soul rings; the only way to acquire soul rings or power was to cultivate in the lower realm.

Cang Xue brought Xue Xiao Ran to a large house with an excellent view. The windows were spotless and bright, clearly having been prepared long ago. After showing Xue Xiao Ran around, he excused himself and hurried away.

"Why is Uncle Cang Xue in such a hurry? Did something happen?"

"He went to notify the sect master, so the sect master can come greet Young Master."

Xue Xiao Ran gave an awkward sound. I really do have quite the status. I entered the sect without even meeting the sect master, and now he's being summoned to see me...

Before long, Cang Xue entered the house with a middle-aged man and a young girl.

Before this, Cang Xue had said one thing to the middle-aged man: "His surname is Xue. Do you understand?"

The meaningful look in that one eye left the middle-aged man, Sect Master Sun Yingxue, briefly confused before he suddenly shuddered.

The Xue surname was exclusive to the royal family, but merely having the surname Xue would not make Elder Cang Xue treat the matter so seriously.

He thought of a possibility, one so fantastical that it was almost absurd.

"Xiaolu, come with Father to meet someone."

"What kind of person needs Father himself to meet them? Is it the sect master of some sect?"

"Ah, just come quickly."

When Sun Yingxue entered the reception hall with his daughter Sun Xiaolu, the former's eyes erupted with a bright gleam. The latter immediately puffed out her cheeks when she saw Xue Xiao Ran. He was the one who had seen her make a fool of herself earlier.

Xue Xiao Ran was cultivating at that moment. The cool, icy aura around him gave the two who had just entered a refreshing sensation.

"Greetings, Sect Master." Sensing someone entering, he quickly rose to his feet. Seeing Cang Xue standing beside the middle-aged man, he immediately spoke and clasped his hands in greeting.

"You're too polite, truly too polite."

Sun Yingxue felt that he had never been so shocked and excited in his life.

It seemed that his ancestor had once cultivated alongside that legendary person for a period of time. The ice-blue hair described between the lines of the records, along with the jade-green eyes of the legendary person's wife, were perfectly displayed on the young man before him.

Yet when he noticed the strange looks from Cang Xue and the others beside him, he realized that he had lost his composure and could not help coughing.

"My name is Sun Yingxue. I am the current sect master of the Carefree Sword Sect. Welcome, Xue—"

"Xue Xiao Ran." Xue Xiao Ran supplied with a smile.

"Welcome, Xue Xiao Ran, to the Carefree Sword Sect. This is the greatest honor for our sect."

Cang Xue's face darkened slightly, while Dong Yuan covered his face with one hand.

The sect master candidate selected by the elders was good in every way—except that whenever he got excited, his words became excited as well.

For the middle-aged Sun Yingxue, this truly was the most exciting thing that had ever happened in his life.