The Imperial Capital, Ye Manor.
Qiuyue knew how serious the situation was. If she were discovered in the Imperial Capital, Ye Jing might be implicated.
But as she was about to leave, she still couldn't help worrying. "Young master, the Lord of Great Li is incompetent and cruel."
"If he flies into a rage and takes it out on you, wouldn't you be in grave danger, young master?"
Qiuyue shook her head and clung to Ye Jing's sleeve. "Young master, you should come with me to the Sword Sect!"
"If you won't go, then Qiuyue won't go either. If we have to die, we'll die together."
Seeing that Qiuyue still refused to leave, Jian Xuzi could only say helplessly, "Little girl, I'll stake the Sword Sect's three-hundred-year reputation on this: your young master will be perfectly safe."
"With your young master's meager abilities, unless he barges into the imperial Forbidden Land, there's hardly anyone in all of Great Li who can do anything to him."
Taking up where Jian Xuzi had left off, Ye Jing reassured her. "Jian Xuzi is a master of the Sword Dao. He has no reason to stake the Sword Sect's reputation on this."
"Go with Senior Jian Xuzi to the Sword Sect without worry. You don't need to be concerned about my safety."
Ye Jing wasn't being arrogant. With his current strength, he was already invincible among Great Grandmasters. Even an ordinary Peak of Humanity might not be his match.
How many Peaks of Humanity could there be in all of Great Li?
Besides, even if there really were an expert at the Peak of Humanity he couldn't defeat, he could always run!
Only those two peerless figures from a month ago could subdue him in an instant.
After their contest in the Sword Dao, he had asked Jian Xuzi about them and learned that they were truly among the top three experts in Great Li.
Qiuyue wasn't foolish. She knew a senior expert like Jian Xuzi had no reason to lie to her, but she still looked reluctant.
"Then, young master, if Qiuyue goes to the Sword Sect, when will I see you again?"
Qiuyue had depended on Ye Jing since childhood, and the two were deeply attached. In all those years, they had never been apart.
Seeing the reluctance in Qiuyue's eyes, Ye Jing felt a pang of emotion. He pondered for a moment, then teased her.
"Qiuyue, with your talent, you'll be invincible in Great Li after a few years of diligent cultivation at the Sword Sect. Then you can protect me."
Qiuyue didn't catch the teasing in his words. Instead, she declared with utmost conviction, "Don't worry, young master. Once I reach the Sword Sect, I'll devote myself completely to cultivation."
"Three years, young master. Wait for Qiuyue in the Imperial Capital for three years. In three years, I'll be invincible under heaven."
With that, she followed Jian Xuzi and disappeared into the night.
After Jian Xuzi left, Ye Jing didn't immediately head to the Heavenly Prison to rescue Yao Qingyin.
He hadn't been a Great Grandmaster for long, and there was still plenty of room for his cultivation to improve.
The Heavenly Prison was, after all, one of the most important places in the Imperial Capital, with extremely strict security. Grandmasters were as numerous as clouds inside, especially the Peak of Humanity whom Jian Xuzi had mentioned.
It would be a lie to say he wasn't wary. The best thing to do now was improve his cultivation; that way, his strength could make a tremendous leap in a short time.
The Perfect Spirit Gathering Array was brimming with spiritual energy. With Qiuyue around, Ye Jing hadn't dared to absorb too much, afraid it would affect her cultivation.
Now that Qiuyue had left, the vast amount of spiritual energy nurtured by the Perfect Spirit Gathering Array would be enough to bring his cultivation to the Great Grandmaster pinnacle.
Closing his eyes and steadying his mind, Ye Jing began to cultivate. The spiritual energy around him surged into his body like a whale swallowing a river, and his aura grew ever stronger.
For seven days straight, aside from reporting for duty at the Hanlin Academy, Ye Jing spent all his remaining time improving his cultivation.
The vast spiritual energy within the Perfect Spirit Gathering Array grew increasingly thin. The manor's once lush, vibrant springtime gradually withered into the desolate scene of a bleak autumn.
Yet the aura Ye Jing gave off grew more and more terrifying, unfathomable, as if he had merged with heaven and earth.
He sat cross-legged, but unless they saw him with their own eyes, ordinary people would find it difficult to sense his presence.
Waking from his meditative state once more, Ye Jing's eyes showed a trace of regret. "What a pity. The spiritual energy in the Perfect Spirit Gathering Array has run dry. It can no longer support his breakthrough to the Great Grandmaster pinnacle."
Ye Jing's face was full of disappointment. After seven days of frenzied absorption, the spiritual energy accumulated in his body was nearly at its limit. His cultivation was now only a hair's breadth from the Great Grandmaster pinnacle.
But the spiritual energy in the Perfect Spirit Gathering Array had run dry, bringing him out of his self-forgetting cultivation.
The regret in his eyes lasted only an instant. Ye Jing quickly collected himself.
By his original estimate, he would have reached the Great Grandmaster pinnacle today. Since the Perfect Spirit Gathering Array had run dry, he could simply wait for the Spirit Gathering Array to draw more spiritual energy from the Heavenly Ruins over the next few days.
Late at night, above the Great Li Imperial Palace.
A figure as imposing as a God or Devil descended above the Great Li Imperial Palace. Behind him were dozens more figures radiating terrifying auras.
The Thirteenth Elder unleashed his terrifying aura, and in an instant, it enveloped the vast Great Li Imperial Palace.
Sensing the terrifying aura above the palace, another dreadful aura erupted from the depths of the Great Li Imperial Palace. Its strength was nearly a match for the Thirteenth Elder's.
Li Lianying shot into the air like a streak of light and soon reached the sky above the Great Li Imperial Palace.
Seeing dozens of unfamiliar powerhouses radiating terrifying auras—especially the leader, whose aura was no weaker than his own—Li Lianying frowned.
"Who are you, and what business do you have at the Great Li Imperial Palace?"
"The Grand Void Li Clan. I am the Thirteenth Elder. I have come to investigate Yiting's death and the disappearance of the Innate Dao Body. If you dare conceal anything from me, I will raze the Great Li Imperial Palace to the ground."
The Thirteenth Elder's voice rang with imperial authority. His gaze burned as he fixed his eyes on Li Lianying.
Li Lianying stared in shock. "Y-you said what? Young Master Li is dead!"
The news struck like a thunderbolt, leaving Li Lianying's scalp tingling.
"Who would dare be so brazen as to commit such a heinous crime?"
"Thirteenth Elder, do you know who did it? Tell me, and I'll hack that scoundrel to pieces, then burn him every day in endless flames so he suffers in the fire forever."
Once his shock passed, Li Lianying's face turned grim, and he flew into a rage, hating the culprit who had ruined his plans to the bone.
He had assumed the Great Li Imperial Family would know at least some clues. But from the Thirteenth Elder's expression as he studied the man before him, it was clear he was hearing of this for the first time as well.
He had been born with a mind of extraordinary acuity and considered himself a keen judge of people, well-versed in human nature. Even the most smooth and tactful person couldn't fool his discerning eye.
Someone in Great Li had actually managed to hide this from the imperial family! Their methods were truly unfathomable.
A grave look flashed across the Thirteenth Elder's eyes. He sensed trouble.
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