The sky above the Ancient Thunder Palace had become a battlefield.
Clouds churned violently.
Sword lights crossed the heavens.
Thunder exploded across the mountains.
Dozens of powerful cultivators had arrived after sensing the Ancient Thunder Palace's awakening.
Among them were disciples from major sects, ancient clans, and mysterious organizations.
Everyone wanted the inheritance.
Yet Ye Xuan's attention was fixed on only one person.
Luo Qinghan.
She stood on a distant mountain peak, crimson robes fluttering in the wind.
Her beautiful face carried a faint smile.
"You've become stronger."
Ye Xuan smiled.
"So have you."
Luo Qinghan's eyes narrowed.
"Then let's see how much."
She disappeared.
BOOM!
A crimson sword beam crossed the distance.
Ye Xuan stepped sideways.
The sword beam passed beside his body and split a mountain behind him.
BOOM!
Ye Xuan looked at the destroyed mountain.
"...You missed."
Luo Qinghan appeared before him.
"I wasn't aiming at you."
"Then who?"
"The mountain."
Ye Xuan stared.
"Why?"
"I didn't like it."
"..."
Ye Xuan laughed.
"You're getting funnier."
Luo Qinghan's lips curved upward.
"Perhaps you bring it out of me."
Then her sword descended.
Crimson Moon Sword Art
CLANG!
Ye Xuan blocked the first strike with his arm.
The Thunder Spirit Bone immediately activated.
Purple lightning covered his forearm.
Luo Qinghan's sword slid across the lightning barrier.
She immediately changed direction.
Left.
Right.
Up.
Down.
Every strike was faster than the previous one.
Ye Xuan used Spatial Step repeatedly.
WHOOSH!
WHOOSH!
WHOOSH!
His figure appeared and disappeared around her.
Luo Qinghan's eyes followed every movement.
"You've improved."
Ye Xuan appeared behind her.
"Compliments during battle?"
His fist moved.
"You're distracting me."
BOOM!
Luo Qinghan blocked with her sword.
The impact forced her backward several meters.
She looked at her trembling hand.
Her eyes became serious.
"You really are only at the Spirit Gathering Realm?"
Ye Xuan smiled.
"First Layer."
Luo Qinghan's expression became strange.
"Then your body..."
"Complicated."
"Your bloodline?"
"Also complicated."
"Your technique?"
"Very complicated."
She stared at him.
"Do you ever answer seriously?"
Ye Xuan thought for a moment.
"No."
Luo Qinghan laughed.
"Good."
Her crimson spiritual energy exploded.
"Then I'll beat the answers out of you."
A Battle Above Their Realm
Luo Qinghan's cultivation was still at
Spirit Sea Ninth Layer
.
Ye Xuan was only at
Spirit Gathering First Layer
.
The difference between them was enormous.
But Ye Xuan's body was anything but ordinary.
His Primordial Chaos Physique constantly absorbed spiritual energy.
His Golden Azure Dragon Emperor Bloodline strengthened his physical strength.
The Nine-Tailed Moon Fox bloodline enhanced his perception.
The Thunder Spirit Bone allowed him to resist the lightning-filled environment.
And his newly acquired Thunder Dragon Combat Art gave him another powerful attack.
He wasn't stronger than Luo Qinghan in cultivation.
But—
he could fight her.
BOOM!
Their fists and sword collided.
The ground shattered.
Luo Qinghan was pushed backward.
Ye Xuan's feet dug into the ground.
Both stopped.
Luo Qinghan's breathing became slightly heavier.
Ye Xuan wiped blood from his lips.
Neither had gained a decisive advantage.
Then Luo Qinghan smiled.
"I understand now."
Ye Xuan raised an eyebrow.
"What?"
"You're not a normal genius."
She raised her sword.
"You're a monster."
Ye Xuan grinned.
"That's probably the nicest thing you've said to me."
The Third Party
Before Luo Qinghan could attack again—
A sword descended from the sky.
BOOM!
Both of them immediately separated.
A young man wearing white robes landed between them.
His long black hair was tied behind his head.
A golden sword hung from his waist.
Several cultivators stood behind him.
Luo Qinghan's expression became cold.
"Zhao Tian."
The man smiled.
"Senior Sister Luo."
He glanced toward Ye Xuan.
Then toward the Ancient Thunder Palace.
"Both of you have been fighting for quite some time."
His eyes became arrogant.
"The inheritance should belong to someone capable of protecting it."
Luo Qinghan's expression darkened.
"You're saying you are?"
Zhao Tian smiled.
"I am the direct disciple of the Heavenly Sword Palace's Third Sword Elder."
The surrounding cultivators became quiet.
Several people whispered.
"He's Zhao Tian."
"One of the strongest young cultivators in the Lower Realm."
"He's already reached Spirit Sea Ninth Layer."
"He comprehended Sword Intent before the age of twenty."
Ye Xuan looked at him.
Another Spirit Sea Ninth Layer.
The Lower Realm really did have many monsters.
Zhao Tian's gaze fell on Ye Xuan.
"You."
"Hm?"
"You obtained the Ancient Thunder Palace inheritance."
Ye Xuan smiled.
"Maybe."
Zhao Tian's eyes became cold.
"Hand it over."
Ye Xuan laughed.
"Why?"
"Because you're weak."
Ye Xuan looked at himself.
Then at Zhao Tian.
"That's rude."
Zhao Tian frowned.
"You don't understand."
"I understand perfectly."
Ye Xuan smiled.
"You think you're stronger."
"Correct."
"And you want my inheritance."
"Correct."
"Then..."
Ye Xuan raised his fist.
"Come take it."
Zhao Tian's expression became cold.
"So be it."
Sword Intent
Zhao Tian drew his sword.
SHING!
The instant the sword left its sheath—
the atmosphere changed.
A sharp pressure swept through the battlefield.
Grass was cut.
Trees split.
Even the surrounding spiritual energy seemed to tremble.
Ye Xuan's eyes narrowed.
"Sword Intent."
Zhao Tian smiled.
"You recognize it."
"Of course."
Ye Xuan had never cultivated the sword.
But his comprehension was high enough to understand what stood before him.
Zhao Tian pointed his sword at him.
"One strike."
Ye Xuan raised an eyebrow.
"Only one?"
"One strike is enough."
Ye Xuan laughed.
"You really are arrogant."
Zhao Tian's expression remained calm.
"So are you."
The two stood facing each other.
The surrounding cultivators slowly backed away.
Luo Qinghan watched with interest.
She wanted to know something.
How far can this strange man really go?
The First Strike
Zhao Tian moved.
There was no unnecessary motion.
No roar.
No flashy technique.
Just one sword.
SHING!
A terrifying sword beam shot toward Ye Xuan.
The mountain behind him split in half.
Ye Xuan's expression became serious.
He activated Spatial Step.
The sword beam followed.
He changed direction.
It followed again.
Ye Xuan frowned.
It locks onto spiritual fluctuations.
He suddenly stopped using spiritual energy.
The sword beam passed beside him.
Zhao Tian's eyes narrowed.
Ye Xuan smiled.
"You made a mistake."
He appeared beside Zhao Tian.
"You're too dependent on your sword."
His fist struck.
BOOM!
Zhao Tian blocked with his sword.
The impact forced him backward.
But he didn't fall.
Instead—
he smiled.
"Interesting."
His Sword Intent suddenly intensified.
BOOM!
Ye Xuan was forced backward.
Zhao Tian's sword intent entered the surrounding air.
Countless invisible sword blades formed.
Ye Xuan's expression changed.
"Domain?"
"Not yet."
Zhao Tian raised his sword.
"Only the beginning."
The Hidden Limit
Ye Xuan's eyes became sharp.
His golden pupils flashed.
The Heavenly Alchemy Eye activated.
He could see the flow of spiritual energy.
The weakness in Zhao Tian's technique became visible.
There.
Ye Xuan's body disappeared.
Spatial Step!
He appeared directly inside the sword formation.
Zhao Tian's eyes widened.
"Impossible!"
Ye Xuan's fist gathered golden-blue energy.
At the same time—
purple lightning wrapped around his arm.
Then a silver illusion appeared behind him.
Three powers merged.
Dragon Emperor Fist!
Thunder Dragon Combat Art!
Moon Fox Illusion!
"Break!"
BOOOOOOM!!!
The sword formation shattered.
Zhao Tian was thrown backward.
He crashed into the ground.
The battlefield became silent.
Everyone stared.
A Spirit Gathering First Layer cultivator—
had just defeated the sword technique of a Spirit Sea Ninth Layer genius.
Zhao Tian slowly stood.
Blood flowed from the corner of his mouth.
His expression was no longer arrogant.
It was serious.
"Who..."
He looked at Ye Xuan.
"...are you?"
Ye Xuan smiled.
"Ye Xuan."
Zhao Tian remembered the name.
"Fine."
His hand tightened around his sword.
"Ye Xuan."
"I'll remember you."
He turned toward his disciples.
"Withdraw."
The Heavenly Sword Palace disciples immediately followed him.
But before leaving, Zhao Tian looked back.
"We'll meet again."
Ye Xuan waved.
"Looking forward to it."
Luo Qinghan's Choice
Luo Qinghan approached.
Ye Xuan looked at her.
"You're not leaving?"
"No."
She looked toward the Ancient Thunder Palace.
"Someone stronger is coming."
Ye Xuan's smile disappeared.
"What?"
She looked toward the distant horizon.
"There."
Everyone turned.
The sky had become black.
A massive spiritual pressure descended.
Even Luo Qinghan's expression became serious.
Ye Xuan's Battle Instinct screamed.
Something dangerous was approaching.
Then—
a black-robed man appeared above the mountains.
His face was hidden beneath a mask.
Behind him stood dozens of cultivators.
Luo Qinghan's pupils contracted.
"Black Heaven Organization."
The surrounding disciples immediately became nervous.
Ye Xuan looked at her.
"Who are they?"
Luo Qinghan's voice became low.
"One of the most dangerous secret organizations in the Lower Realm."
She tightened her grip on her sword.
"They don't care about sects."
"They don't care about clans."
"They only care about obtaining ancient inheritances."
The masked man looked toward the Ancient Thunder Palace.
Then his eyes fell on Ye Xuan.
For some reason—
he stared at Ye Xuan longer than necessary.
Ye Xuan's instincts immediately warned him.
He knows something.
The masked man raised his hand.
"Capture him."
Ye Xuan's expression changed.
"Me?"
Luo Qinghan immediately stepped in front of him.
"Why him?"
The masked man answered calmly.
"Because the palace recognized him."
Ye Xuan's eyes narrowed.
The man continued:
"And anything recognized by that palace..."
"...must not be allowed to leave."
The entire battlefield erupted.
A Temporary Alliance
Luo Qinghan looked at Ye Xuan.
"Looks like we have a problem."
Ye Xuan smiled.
"Apparently."
She raised her sword.
"Temporary alliance?"
Ye Xuan looked at her.
"You're asking me to fight beside you?"
"Yes."
"Will you listen to me?"
"No."
"Will you steal my treasure?"
"Maybe."
"Will you stab me afterward?"
Luo Qinghan smiled.
"If you annoy me."
Ye Xuan laughed.
"Deal."
Su Lian immediately shouted from behind:
"Ye Xuan!"
He turned.
"What?"
She looked furious.
"You just agreed to fight alongside the woman who tried to kill you!"
Ye Xuan blinked.
"Temporary alliance."
"That's not the point!"
Luo Qinghan glanced at Su Lian.
Then at Ye Xuan.
A strange smile appeared on her face.
"She's jealous."
Su Lian froze.
"I am not!"
Ye Xuan looked between them.
"...This is going to be troublesome."
Bai Yue covered her mouth, trying not to laugh.
Gu Yuexin's eyes curved slightly.
"This is getting interesting."
Little Snow raised one paw.
"Carrot?"
Xiao Jin nodded.
"Carrot."
Ye Xuan sighed.
"Fine. After the battle."
The Black Heaven Organization descended.
Hundreds of spiritual energies erupted.
Ye Xuan's golden eyes became cold.
He stepped forward.
"Everyone."
The joking expression disappeared.
"Stay together."
Su Lian nodded.
Luo Qinghan raised her sword.
Gu Yuexin summoned her spiritual energy.
Bai Yue stood beside Su Lian.
And Ye Xuan—
stood at the front.
His white hair fluttered beneath the dark sky.
Golden eyes shone with terrifying confidence.
Purple lightning wrapped around his body.
Behind him, the faint image of a golden-blue dragon appeared.
Nine silver tails flickered briefly in the air.
The masked man stared at him.
For the first time—
his calm expression changed.
"Those bloodlines..."
He whispered.
Then—
"Impossible."
Ye Xuan heard him.
His eyes narrowed.
He knows something.
The masked man raised his hand.
"Kill them."
Hundreds of cultivators charged.
Ye Xuan smiled.
"Now..."
His fist slowly tightened.
"...this is getting interesting."
BOOM!
The battle for the Ancient Thunder Palace—
began.