I Have A Sword

Xiu Wu stared at Shi Chun's corpse and sighed, saying, "One shouldn't be afraid of supreme elites as enemies but pigs as comrades. You couldn't see what's amiss, so you could have brought disaster upon us."

The lady in white spoke sternly, "He was blinded by greed."

"We've had it too easy these past few years, and he became arrogant, underestimating the strength of others. He thought that as long as we worked together, we would succeed..." Xiu Wu muttered, shaking his head. Then, his eyes flickered in a complex light as he added, "He's like a gambler who can only see the big win, ignoring the fact that he'll most likely lose all his money before getting that big win."

The lady in white remained silent.

Xiu Wu added, "He used to be more obedient and capable, so I decided to keep him close. Unfortunately, he became dumb before a great temptation. If we hadn't killed him, he would have dragged us down. The consequences of some actions are too much for us to bear."

“You don’t need to explain, Big Brother. I understand."

Xiu Wu smiled and went silent. He picked up Shi Chun's storage ring and divided what was inside with her.

The lady in white didn't refuse.

Xiu Wu then looked at the distant Tianxing Flame. "There are at least five powerful auras hidden out there, two of which are familiar. They should be the Heavenly Ruler Demon and the Weapon Master."

"We're talking about a Tier Five civilization's inheritance here; how could they not be interested in that?"

The lady in white's expression was grave. "What do we do?"

"We wait. Personally, I want to see Ye Guan."

"And then?"

Xiu Wu remained silent, staring at the distant starry sky.

***

Dao Jun approached Zhou Fan and said solemnly, "Your Highness, five inscrutable auras are still nearby."

Zhou Fan nodded slightly. "They’re probably watching. Ignore them for now."

Dao Jun nodded and was about to speak when a series of terrifying thunderclaps erupted from the pool of lightning.

Everyone looked over and saw beams of golden light shooting into the sky. The beams were so strong that they shattered some of the pillars supporting the pool of lightning.

Ci Tian whispered, "He's almost done."

Boom!

A golden beam of light shot straight into the deepest part of the starry sky, and an overwhelming aura spread across the heavens and earth. The aura was both oppressive and terrifying.

Under everyone’s gaze, Ye Guan emerged from the pool of lightning. His fleshly body seemed to have been carved out of gold ores, and it was exuding a terrifying aura.

"It's the true Diamond Body!" Ci Tian exclaimed. It was the best Buddhist technique and the best physique cultivation method in the Great Zhou. Ci Tian's excitement stemmed from the fact that only the founder of the Burning Heaven Temple had successfully cultivated the true Diamond Body. The others had failed, as it was too expensive to cultivate.

Physique cultivation was a luxury for the wealthy. If it hadn't been for the help of Eternal Crystals, Ye Guan couldn’t have done it so quickly.

Ye Guan closed his eyes and clenched his fists.

Boom!

The starry sky trembled and cracked, terrifying everyone.

Ye Guan was thrilled, feeling infinite raw power inside of him.

Just then, a familiar fragrance wafted over to him, and Zhou Fan appeared before Ye Guan with a white robe in hand.

"Put this on," Zhou Fan said gently.

Ye Guan then realized that his clothes had been reduced to ashes long ago, and he was standing stark naked. Embarrassed, he put on the white robe with a flick of his sleeve.

Zhou Fan sized him up with a smile and chuckled. "You're so handsome."

Ye Guan laughed and hugged Zhou Fan. He then kissed her passionately.

Ci Tian put his hands together at the sight. "See no evil, hear no evil. A monk like me cannot watch this. Let’s go."

Ci Tian turned around and left, followed by Dao Jun and Prime Minister Yuan.

After a while, the two finally separated, and Zhou Fan’s face was flushed red.

Ye Guan felt a surge of lust but suppressed it. He glanced at the distant starry sky and remarked, "I can feel so many strong people out there."

Zhou Fan nodded and recounted the events over the past few days to Ye Guan.

Ye Guan frowned, "The Evil Dao Alliance..."

"Three people from the Ascension World have visited us, saying that they want to see you."

Ye Guan was surprised. "The Ascension World?"

"Yes, shall we meet them?"

"Sure," Ye Guan replied.

With that, they disappeared on the spot.

***

Xiu Wu who had been meditating in the starry sky above the Great Zhou opened his eyes and saw a young man and a young woman in the distance.

The young man was handsome, and the young woman was beautiful. They were Ye Guan and Zhou Fan.

The lady in white glanced at Ye Guan and surreptitiously gripped the hilt of her sword.

Ye Guan led Zhou Fan to the two individuals and asked, "I heard that you were looking for me. Is it true?"

Sizing up Ye Guan, Xiu Wu nodded and said, "That's correct, Young Master Ye. My name is Xiu Wu, and this is my second sister, Jian Baiyi."

Zhou Fan asked, "Where's your other companion?"

"He had some matters to attend to and decided to leave earlier."

Zhou Fan nodded and said no more.

Turning his attention back to Ye Guan, Xiu Wu politely asked, "Young Master Ye, may I ask you a few questions?"

"May I also ask you a few questions?"

"Of course," said Xiu Wu.

"You first."

Xiu Wu glanced at the distant Tianxing Flame and asked, “Young Master Ye, is this flame being suppressed by someone?"

"Yes."

"Who is suppressing it?"

"A senior from my family."

Xiu Wu fell silent for a moment, pondering to himself. A senior from his family... he has a strong backing, then.

"Young Master Ye, do you have the inheritance of a Tier Five civilization?"

"I guess you can say that."

Both the Tianxing Flame and the Immortal Dao Tree could be said to be items that could only be found in a Tier Five civilization.

"Understood."

"Did you come here because of the bounty issued by the Evil Dao Alliance?"

"Yes," replied Xiu Wu honestly.

"Is that so? Why does it feel like you've changed your mind, senior?"

Just then, Xiu Wu raised his hand, isolating the space around them, making it impossible for anyone to eavesdrop on them.

Ye Guan stared wordlessly at Xiu Wu.

"Honestly, my sister and I have been wandering the vast expanse for so many years without a home. Now, we really want a place to call home. If you don't mind, my sister and I are willing to follow you and become part of your family."

Zhou Fan was astonished.

The lady in white was also surprised. She didn't expect Xiu Wu to make such a proposal. Was he pledging his alliance to Ye Guan?

Ye Guan was also shocked, but their expressions were too sincere for them to be lying.

"I know this is all too sudden, Young Master Ye," Xiu Wu added, "But please believe me, I'm serious."

"Senior, don't joke around. I'm weaker than you, but you want to pledge allegiance to me? If you were me, would you believe that?"

“Young Master Ye, you're smart, so I won't beat around the bush. Frankly, my sister and I want to take a gamble by following you."

Ye Guan asked, "A gamble on what?"

Xiu Wu stared deeply at Ye Guan and said, "A gamble on a chance to change our fates."

"Are you aware of my enemies?"

"The Evil Dao Alliance and some powerful elites from the Ascension World."

"And you still want to pledge allegiance to me?"

"Yes."

"All right."

Xiu Wu bowed deeply to Ye Guan. "From now on, Young Master Ye, I will follow all of your commands."

Ye Guan glanced at the lady in white and saw the sword in her hand. Is she going to submit?But a swordsman would rather break than bend.

All of a sudden, Ye Guan opened his palm and sent an Eternal Crystal toward Xiu Wu. "Since you've decided to follow me, you're one of my people now, and I do not mistreat my people. That is a welcome gift and a token of my appreciation as well."

Xiu Wu's face changed, and his heart became filled with immense joy upon seeing the Eternal Crystal. Yes! The gamble paid off! He definitely doesn't have the inheritance of a Tier Five civilization. How can obtaining the inheritance of a Tier Five civilization be that easy? People who have gotten used to sitting on pedestals will look at the world down below with arrogance. Ye Guan is no more than an ant, but these people still decided to stand on his side. No way that is normal! I knew there was something strange, and I was right!

Xiu Wu could truly feel that there was something fishy with Young Master Ye, which was why he decided to take a gamble with his life on the line.

Xiu Wu calmed himself down and respectfully accepted the Eternal Crystal. "Thank you, Young Master Ye."

Ye Guan nodded.

"As he said," Jian Baiyi chimed in, "I want to have a home, too."

A swordsman would rather break than bend, but if the offer was too good to refuse, then it would be a different story.