The clouds gathering in the sky rolled in, and even the sword gate hidden in the void trembled slightly.
The slightly damp air seemed to possess an extra, mysterious, and sharp quality.
A mighty, cold wind swept in from the horizon, passing over the layers of blue stone steps and the vast Sword Dao Plaza. It caused the robes of the eight hundred core disciples, dressed in white, to flutter wildly. From the High Platform, it resembled a dynamic Sea of Clouds, a truly magnificent sight.
"Sword Qi filled the air, and the Heavenly Gate trembled."
Cao Ming tapped the edge of the stone chair lightly with his fingers, a hint of something unreadable in his eyes, and said softly:
"It's about to start, why don't you take this opportunity to wander around the neighborhood?"
"What's gotten better?" Ye Li asked indifferently without even looking up.
After learning that the trip was really just for a visit, it was really hard for him to have any desire to talk to these unfamiliar faces who didn't even recognize the files.
"That's too much."
Hearing the boy's slightly resentful question, Cao Ming couldn't help but laugh out loud. He then gestured to the other groups of people on the same High Platform and said:
"Just look at those people standing over there. They're either powerful forces with Venerables backing them, or near-first-rate forces with several peak Domain Lords overseeing them. Getting to know them beforehand won't hurt your future development."
"I'm going upstairs later to sit with that Old Ancestor from the Sword Sect. You're just idling here anyway, why don't you go and broaden your horizons?"
After saying that, it seemed as if he was trying to prove what he had said.
An elder from the Sword Sect swept over from a short distance and bowed to Cao Ming was sitting there, saying:
"Prefect, you have been waiting long. The Old Ancestor has finished his business and now invites you to come upstairs for a chat."
Behind him, directly in front of the Plaza, was a specially raised High Platform, clearly a viewing spot prepared for the most distinguished person.
At this moment, an Old Man in Hemp Clothes sat there calmly, his aura as deep and profound as the ocean.
It was none other than the Sword Sect Old Ancestor, who was also a Venerable of the Cosmic Birth Realm.
It is also the true pillar of stability for the Xuanming Sword Sect.
Behind him, several figures from different forces could be seen, all exuding considerable aura. This showed that the Xuanming Sword Sect had indeed invited quite a few forces this time.
Seeing Ye Li look up, the Sword Sect Old Ancestor seemed to sense something.
He immediately turned his gaze toward this place, his eyes lingering briefly on the boy before calmly looking away, seemingly unconcerned.
Tell him I'll be there in a bit.
Cao Ming casually waved his hand, dismissing the Sword Sect elder who had come to deliver the message, and then smiled at Ye Li again:
"So, you still don't want to go?"
In fact, whether it's the Archaic War Hall, which specializes in physical cultivation and regards other forms of cultivation as unorthodox, or the Heavenly Crafts Mansion, which excels in crafting Treasured Artifacts... they are all excellent future allies for a subordinate general from a local area.
As time goes by, regime changes will inevitably occur within its ranks, and this is when the importance of establishing good relationships in advance becomes apparent.
But the young man before him was no ordinary person; Cao Ming believed that the other party had his own plans.
While the purpose of this trip was indeed to help him restrain his temper, if Ye Li and Zhou Qingyan were both at the first level of the Dao Evolution Realm, he didn't actually think the former had any chance of being defeated.
"..."
Ye Li did not answer his question, but instead turned his gaze to the distance.
A young man in a gray robe spoke a few words to his companion before breaking away from the crowd and walking over. Upon approaching, he cupped his hands in greeting to the two men and said:
"Zhang Yan, Special Envoy of the Heavenly Crafts Mansion, greets the two lords."
He glanced sideways at Ye Li, who was nodding casually, a hint of a smile appearing in his voice as he tentatively asked:
"To accompany the Prefect to the ceremony, could you perhaps be Lord Ye, the one who triumphed in the Jade Mountain Refinement?"
When Ye Li nodded, his eyes lit up slightly, and he immediately stated his purpose:
"My friends and I over there have heard about your deeds. I wonder if we could get to know you a little?"
As he spoke, Zhang Yan slightly turned his body, revealing several figures not far away.
Cao Ming raised an eyebrow upon hearing this. Good heavens, no wonder they didn't want to move; they were waiting for someone to come and invite them.
This kid knows how to put on airs and doesn't give these Mountain Gate too much face, so he probably doesn't need me to say anything more.
He immediately looked at Ye Li, waiting for his reply.
"That's the Trouble about attending these kinds of events..." Ye Li sighed almost imperceptibly, then decisively refused:
"No need, I will visit you in person when I have the chance."
Gathering intelligence requires consideration of the situation, and given his current mood was far from pleasant, he had no intention of engaging in idle chatter with this group.
What if feelings develop during the conversation? Will we still fight in the future?
"Okay... okay."
Zhang Yan's face showed a moment of surprise, but he quickly recovered. He had seen many restrained reactions, but he had rarely seen Yao Xuan Envoy who could take the initiative like this.
I couldn't help but sigh inwardly.
He truly is a prodigy who won the championship in the Jade Mountain Refinement; he certainly has a high ego.
Thinking of this, he cupped his hands to Ye Li again and said, "I'm sorry to have bothered you. If you change your mind, you can come and find me. I'm over there."
"... You seem to know this very well, but there's no harm in getting a little exposure to it."
Watching the young man's departing figure, Cao Ming smiled and commented.
Without waiting for Ye Li's reply, he gave a couple more instructions and then disappeared from the spot.
"Prefect Cao, you've arrived far too late."
On the stone platform, the Sword Sect's Old Ancestor looked at the middle-aged man in blue robes who had appeared there and spoke in a nonchalant tone:
"When it comes to nurturing the younger generation, one should let go when it's time to let go. Could it be that the Yao Xuan Envoy who won the championship at Jade Mountain is a clueless greenhorn who doesn't understand human relationships?"
"You don't need to trouble yourself with that."
Cao Ming smiled slightly and said, "Anyway, it's much better than that Sword Dao prodigy who doesn't even know what respecting one's teacher means, isn't it?"
Upon hearing this, the Sword Sect Old Ancestor immediately snorted coldly.
He could easily tell that the other person was mocking Zhou Qingyan's unconventional behavior.
Not only did he refuse to call the former Sword Master "Master," but he also never bowed or greeted the Sword Sect's Old Ancestor, addressing all the elders in the sect by their given names... and so on—all these are his famous deeds.
However, none of this could affect Zhou Qingyan's status as a prodigy in the Xianjing Continent, nor could it shake her prestige within the sect.
With a single sword strike, she froze three thousand miles of the Void Abyss Sea; alone, she ventured deep into the Burial Sword Mountains to slay demons and obtain their cores... All of these actions reflect her extraordinary, heaven-defying talent in Sword Dao.
Ordinary disciples all regarded him as a legend in action, the embodiment of Sword Dao!
Even the elders within the sect trembled with fear before her, as if walking on thin ice... Thinking of this.
The Sword Sect Old Ancestor immediately lost the will to argue with the other party and said calmly:
"Prefect Cao, after today's Sword Master Ceremony concludes, I hope you can still smile from the bottom of your heart."
After speaking, he glanced casually at the listless Boy in Black below, a slight smile unconsciously playing on his lips.
This prefect of the Xianjing Continent is far too confident.
He thought he could intimidate the heroes by Jade Mountain Refinement, completely unaware that the subordinate general he valued was about to become the stepping stone for his Sword Sect's prodigy to achieve fame.
Once Zhou Qingyan was freed from her restraints, she fully revealed her brilliance.
The entire Nine Luminaries Division of the Xianjing Continent will be thrown into turmoil!
"..."
Sitting in the chair, Cao Ming frowned slightly, unsure of the other party's true strength.
Fortunately, they were confident in their own abilities.
He was absolutely confident that he could protect Ye Li within the Sword Sect, so there was no need to worry about his safety; he only needed to observe the situation.