,
"Speak! How did this Soul Lamp go out?"
Li Tianchen flew into a thunderous rage, stripped of every trace of his former composure. His eyes brimmed with murderous fury as he glared down from the jade steps and roared at the guardian.
"Clan Leader, the Third Young Master's Soul Lamp was burning brightly at first, but then it suddenly dimmed dramatically. Before long, it was completely extinguished."
It had dimmed so dramatically, so suddenly. Could a Peerless Powerhouse in the mortal world have made a move?
A Soul Lamp communicated with a person's life soul. Normally, the more tenacious a person's vitality, the brighter their Soul Lamp burned within the clan.
For a Soul Lamp to dim so dramatically in an instant, Yiting must have suffered a devastating injury in an extremely short time, leaving him on the brink of death.
Li Yiting was a prodigy of the clan. Though he was a Great Grandmaster, his combat strength far surpassed that of other Great Grandmasters. The only explanation Li Tianchen could think of for him to suffer such a devastating injury in so short a time was that a Peerless Powerhouse from the mortal world had done it.
After a brief moment of thought, Li Tianchen immediately ordered the people outside the hall, "Someone! Have the Mystic Bird Guard hurry to the Great Li Dynasty to investigate this matter and search for the Innate Dao Body's whereabouts."
Once he had given the order, Li Tianchen turned to the Thirteenth Elder. "Thirteenth Elder, the matter of the Innate Dao Body has taken an unexpected turn. We can't afford to delay."
"I ask that you immediately sever your cultivation and recuperate for a few days. Then, go to the Great Li Dynasty in the mortal world at once. You must bring the Innate Dao Body back to the Taixu Profound Realm."
The Thirteenth Elder also understood how troublesome this matter was. Though Yiting was only a prodigy of the younger generation of the Li Clan Ancient Clan, his Mystic Art was profound and mysterious, and he was a Great Grandmaster whose combat strength far exceeded that of others at the same level.
Such a person would be nigh unmatched throughout the Great Li Dynasty—not invincible, perhaps, but few could stand against him. Only a Peerless Powerhouse from the mortal world could have done this.
This was the Age of Dharma's End, when the laws of Heaven and Earth lay hidden. How difficult it was to attain the Dao in the mortal world!
The true Peerless Powerhouses of the mortal world who managed to "Enter the Dao" in such an environment were all extraordinary cultivators, each with combat strength far beyond what ordinary people could imagine.
The Mystic Bird Guard could never handle someone like that. Only someone like him, who had severed his own Divine Realm cultivation, could completely suppress such a person.
To ensure nothing went wrong, the Thirteenth Elder immediately agreed. "Rest assured, Clan Leader. I will bring this Innate Dao Body back from the Great Li Dynasty."
Ye Jing returned to Ye Manor, laid Qiuyue back on the bed, tucked her in, then closed the door and quietly left.
Back in his room, he reflected on how he had rescued Qiuyue from those two members of the Ancient Clan and erased every trace, making sure no one could suspect him.
He had handled everything perfectly, yet a thread of worry still lingered in Ye Jing's eyes.
Though he had slain the two young men with a single sword strike, he hadn't underestimated them for a moment. It was only because he possessed several supreme techniques that his combat strength was so terrifying.
Otherwise, with those two youths' abilities, they could have swept through the entire Great Li. Unless a Peak of Humanity appeared, hardly anyone could have stopped them.
How powerful must the Li Clan Ancient Clan be to nurture prodigies so formidable? And what kind of godlike strength must its elders and Ancestors possess?
The matter of Qiuyue had caused a great commotion within the Great Li Royal Family. There was no way to cover it up. If the elders of the Li Clan Ancient Clan investigated, they would eventually find their way to him.
Although they had no proof that he was responsible, the matter would still bring him needless trouble.
And to be safe, Qiuyue couldn't stay in Ye Manor any longer. He had to find somewhere to settle her properly.
Ye Jing fell into thought. Suddenly, his eyes lit up, and he exclaimed, "That's right! How could I have forgotten Senior Jian Xuzi?"
"These past few days, Senior has been staying at the Drunken Immortal Pavilion. If Qiuyue could become his disciple and stay at the Sword Sect, it would be much better than keeping her here at Ye Manor."
"With Qiuyue's talent, she would surely be valued at the Sword Sect."
Dusk fell. Seeing the bright moon already hanging high in the sky, Ye Jing leaped up and vanished into the night.
He flew through the air all the way to the entrance of the Drunken Immortal Pavilion.
The Drunken Immortal Pavilion stood midway between the Hanlin Academy and Ye Manor. Jian Xuzi had been staying there for over a month.
Whenever Ye Jing passed the pavilion, he would see Ling Xuzi sitting by the window, drinking.
With a single sword-step, Ye Jing had just arrived at the second-floor window when a carefree voice, touched with a hint of drunkenness, came from inside the pavilion.
"At this hour of the night, barging in like this is rather presumptuous, wouldn't you say?"
Ye Jing looked toward the voice. At a square table sat an elegant, free-spirited swordsman, swigging from a jade flask.
A hint of drunkenness clouded his face, but his sword-bright eyes remained clear.
Since Ling Xuzi had already spotted him, Ye Jing saw no reason to be secretive. He went to Jian Xuzi, bowed respectfully, then sat down as casually as if they were old friends.
"I'm Ye Jing. Greetings, Senior Jian Xuzi."
"Youngster, you do have a temperament that suits me."
Watching Ye Jing sit down and help himself to food and drink as if they were old friends, with not the slightest regard for worldly etiquette, Jian Xuzi's eyes flickered with curiosity.
Jian Xuzi picked up the flask on the table and filled the cup before Ye Jing, then asked, "Youngster, you've come at this hour of the night. What important matter brings you to me?"
Ye Jing drained the wine in front of him in one gulp, then said, "Senior Jian Xuzi, you're a renowned Sword Dao prodigy throughout the Great Li. It would be a real pity if no one inherited your legacy."
"I have a maid at home with a fair gift for the Sword Dao. She could inherit your legacy, Senior."
A flicker of surprise crossed Jian Xuzi's eyes. He hadn't expected Ye Jing to come here in the dead of night for this. He couldn't help teasing him.
"If you know I'm renowned throughout the Great Li, then you should know that not just any Sword Dao prodigy can catch my eye."
Ye Jing had no doubts whatsoever about Qiuyue's talent. Since the founding of the Great Li, no one had matched her.
Only he, with his system and his frequent awakenings of Heaven-Defying Comprehension, could surpass her by a few strides.
"Senior Jian Xuzi, if even an Innate Dao Body can't catch your eye, then I can only accept defeat."
"What did you say? An Innate Dao Body!"
At Ye Jing's words, Jian Xuzi's heart jolted. The wine in his hand nearly spilled from the cup.
He looked Ye Jing over carefully, then feigned calm. "Youngster, you know about the Innate Dao Body? You can't just say things like that."
Ye Jing knew that even someone as free-spirited as Jian Xuzi would find this hard to believe at first. To dispel Jian Xuzi's doubts, a wisp of Innate Sword Qi, solid as if it were real, appeared at the tip of Ye Jing's finger.
"Senior Jian Xuzi, after seeing this, do you still think I was speaking carelessly?"
"Innate Sword Qi! And refined to such a degree! Where did you learn the Thirteen Swords of Heavenly Annihilation?"
Jian Xuzi's composure vanished. His expression changed dramatically as he sprang to his feet, staring at Ye Jing in utter disbelief.
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