Qiuyue Joins the Sword Sect

Qiuyue looked as if she had been abandoned by a heartless lover, her words filled with sorrow, tears glistening in her eyes as she gazed pitifully at Ye Jing.

Ye Jing couldn't bear that look, as if he had committed some unforgivable, heinous crime.

"Qiuyue, don't talk nonsense. We've relied on each other since childhood—how could I ever abandon you?"

Ye Jing gently wiped the tears from the corner of Qiuyue's eye with his finger, explaining helplessly, "The Sword Sect is a great sect. You possess the Innate Dao Body, a peerless constitution—it must not be wasted."

"I, your Young Master, am merely at the Qi Refining Realm. Keeping you by my side would only hold you back."

Qiuyue didn't believe a word of Ye Jing's explanation. "Young Master, you're lying. You're not at the Qi Refining Realm at all."

"It was you who acted today to save me from those two Ancient Clan Prodigies. That so-called Sword Talisman from the Three Sword Sect Masters? You forged it yourself."

Seeing that Qiuyue had seen through him on the spot, Ye Jing had no choice but to tell the truth. "Qiuyue, your origins are no ordinary matter. The Grand Void Li Clan Ancient Clan is immensely powerful."

"I took the risk to act today and wipe them out completely, all to keep your trail hidden."

"But your situation is known to the entire Great Li Imperial Family. It's not certain that the Li Clan members don't know either."

"The Li Clan will follow the clues and eventually find me. If you're still in the Imperial Capital, I'll face mortal danger."

Qiuyue was no fool. After everything that had happened today, she realized her own origins were unusual.

Worry filled her eyes. "Young Master, if that's the case, then Qiuyue can't leave you even more."

"If those Ancient Clan members can't find me, they'll come after you. How could Qiuyue abandon you?"

Jian Xuzi, watching Qiuyue sob, couldn't stand it any longer and scolded, "You little brat, I thought a pie had fallen from the sky! Turns out you've got quite the scheme."

"You just wanted to borrow the Sword Sect's strength to keep this girl safe."

Hearing the teasing in Jian Xuzi's tone, with no hint of blame, Ye Jing assured him, "Senior Jian Xuzi, rest assured. Those two Ancient Clan Prodigies have already been dealt with by me."

"With my methods, no matter how extraordinary the Ancient Clan's abilities, they won't find a single clue."

"My only concern is that the Great Li Imperial Family knows Qiuyue is my maidservant. The Ancient Clan will surely come for me."

"But please rest assured, Senior Jian Xuzi. I won't utter a single word, and I won't drag the Sword Sect into this matter of Qiuyue."

A glint of approval flashed in Jian Xuzi's eyes. "You've got some nerve, kid."

"But don't worry. Even if they find out Qiuyue is in my Sword Sect, so what? Those Ancient Clans are nothing but rats—what threat could they pose?"

From Jian Xuzi's tone, he seemed to hold the Li Clan Ancient Clan in contempt.

Could it be that the Li Clan wasn't as powerful as he had imagined? Ye Jing looked puzzled and quickly asked, "Senior Jian Xuzi, the Li Clan Ancient Clan is so formidable—why do you dismiss them so?"

Jian Xuzi smiled faintly, a hint of pride in his eyes. "Kid, it seems you know nothing about these so-called Ancient Clans."

"The Ancient Clans have their own Profound Realms, with long-standing heritage and unfathomable foundations. Naturally, they are powerful."

"But their strength is also their weakness. Within their Profound Realm, even ten Sword Sects might not match the Grand Void Li Clan. But outside the Profound Realm, they can't do much to my Sword Sect."

Seeing the confusion still lingering in Ye Jing's eyes, Jian Xuzi continued, "Kid, do you know that to become the Peak of Humanity, one must comprehend the Dao principles?"

"That's common knowledge, even a three-year-old knows it."

"The Taixu Profound Realm is a world unto itself. Within it, comprehending Dao principles is easier. But the Taixu Profound Realm differs from our great world."

"Once outside the Taixu Profound Realm, those from the Profound Realm are suppressed by the world's laws. The stronger their cultivation, the greater the suppression."

"Moreover, with the Judgment Divine Envoy in place, the Gods of Heaven and Earth from the Ancient Clans are forbidden from appearing on the Eastern Continent."

So that was it. Though Ye Jing didn't fully grasp every word Jian Xuzi said, he understood that powerful Ancient Clans like this were bound by rules he didn't know.

In other words, even if the Ancient Clans were immensely strong, they couldn't fully exert their power in this world.

Thinking this, Ye Jing felt the weight on his shoulders lighten considerably. But Jian Xuzi's next words made his newly relaxed mind tense up again.

"Don't get too cocky, kid. The Sixth Heaven and Earth Cataclysm will soon arrive. If it deepens, the Ancient Clans' Profound Realms will reappear in this world."

"At that point, the world's laws will invade the Profound Realms. Once they assimilate the Dao principles within, those from the Profound Realms will completely break free from the world's suppression."

"Only then will the Ancient Clans' true power be fully revealed."

Still, this was good news. Though not as ideal as he had hoped, the cataclysm deepening would take time.

That time would give him a sufficient buffer. He had to seize this window, study hard in the Hanlin Academy, and strive to improve his strength.

"Thank you, Senior Jian Xuzi, for enlightening me."

Ye Jing bowed respectfully to Jian Xuzi, then urged him, "Senior Jian Xuzi, there's no time to lose. Delays breed trouble. Please take Qiuyue back to the Sword Sect quickly."

"Well..."

Jian Xuzi hesitated, not immediately agreeing.

"Senior Jian Xuzi, why the hesitation?"

Jian Xuzi's eyes were full of apology as he explained to Ye Jing, "Young friend, I have important matters and cannot leave the Imperial Capital. I truly can't take this girl back to the Sword Sect in a short time."

"How about you take a token and bring her to the Sword Sect? When my Sect Master brother sees it, he will surely keep her there."

The Sword Sect was tens of thousands of miles from the Imperial Capital. Even as a Great Grandmaster flying day and night, it would take half a month—a full month round trip.

His current situation was sensitive. If he vanished from the Imperial Capital for an entire month, it would inevitably arouse suspicion from the Great Li Imperial Family.

Besides, the Hanlin Academy had many precious Ancient Texts. If he studied them carefully and activated his extraordinary insight, he could rapidly boost his strength. A month was enough to make significant progress.

Jian Xuzi's proposal didn't align with Ye Jing's original plan.

"May I ask what important matter you have, Senior Jian Xuzi? Perhaps I could handle it for you."