I Have a Sword

When the two ladies disappeared, Ye Guan's expression darkened. He had long suspected that the mysterious woman inside Yi Nian was the First Hall Master, but what he hadn't expected was that the First Hall Master was inside Yang Yian, too.

He truly hadn't expected that both were two souls in one body.

Swoosh!

The Great Daoist Brush Master appeared before Ye Guan, accompanied by the Boundless Master.

Ye Guan asked, "Senior, how long has this scheme of hers been running?"

He knew that both Yi Nian and Yian were part of a scheme aimed at him. However, he also understood that Yi Nian and Yian weren't the First Hall Master themselves; they were merely pawns.

The Great Daoist Brush Master shook his head. "I don't know."

Ye Guan looked at him.

The Great Daoist Brush Master shook his head again. "If it were related to anyone else, I'd know. But anything related to you? I can't see it, as you're outside the Dao. Except for your aunt and her people, no one can see the causality around you."

"However, one thing is clear," the Great Daoist Brush Master said, "The First Hall Master laid this scheme a long time ago."

Ye Guan asked gravely, "What is her goal?"

"She likely wants you to go to the Divine Ruins."

Ye Guan frowned, confused. "The Divine Ruins?"

"Yes."

"What kind of place is that?"

The Great Daoist Brush Master's expression grew complicated as he replied, "Once, it was home to an extraordinarily brilliant civilization. Later, that civilization descended into civil war, shattering into several regions.

"Then, with the invasion of foreign gods, the place became extremely chaotic. Now, it's known as the Boundary Land. I'm really surprised to learn that the First Hall Master is from that place!"

Ye Guan's voice deepened as he asked, "She's been scheming for so long just to get me to that place?"

"I don't think so." The Great Daoist Brush Master shook his head. "There must be a deeper goal behind it. Don't look at me—I can't possibly know her intentions."

Ye Guan smiled faintly. "In any case, thank you for your assistance, Senior."

With that, he bowed slightly to the Great Daoist Brush Master.

The Great Daoist Brush Master chuckled. "Honestly, you really surprised me. I thought you'd become the King of Relying on Others. I didn't expect you to break through the fog and see your true self. Congratulations."

Ye Guan nodded. "Senior, how about we visit the Divine Ruins together?"

"No, no, no." The Great Daoist Brush Master immediately shook his head. "Go there if you want. I'm not going."

Ye Guan had no idea what to say.

"I have my own matters to attend to, so I won't be tagging along. But I must warn you—that place is more complicated than you think. The powers there aren't so simple, either. For example, what do you think of the First Hall Master? 𐍂αꞐОΒƐ§

"Is she strong?"

Ye Guan nodded. "Naturally."

The Great Daoist Brush Master gave him a meaningful look. "But even she couldn't unify the Divine Ruins."

Ye Guan was stunned and stared deeply at the Great Daoist Brush Master. His instincts were telling him that the Great Daoist Brush Master knew far more than he let on.

The Great Daoist Brush Master continued, "Moreover, the so-called Divine Ruins isn't just the Boundary Land of this era—it's highly unique. It serves as the crossroads for civilizations from different eras.

"To give you an example, remember the Multiverse Emperor? His main body could invade the timelines of universe regions. Top experts and forces from different eras can enter that place as well."

Ye Guan asked gravely, "Senior, doesn't that violate the laws? Invading the timelines of other universe regions, I mean?"

The Great Daoist Brush Master laughed heartily. "That's an interesting question. Technically, it does violate the laws—especially in that place. Only the most powerful forces and beings can pull it off. But here? Even a second-rate figure like the Multiverse Emperor can do it."

The Multiverse Emperor. "..."

Ye Guan said, "Please elaborate, Senior."

"It's simple." The Great Daoist Brush Master smiled. "This universe region is relatively remote, and the Universe Law can't fully enforce itself here.

"Moreover, it has its own troubles to deal with, so it doesn't really care about this place. Don't ask me what the Universe Law is—it'd take three days and nights to explain.

"You'll encounter it sooner or later. All I can tell you is that the Universe Law is among the most powerful laws we know. In the Divine Ruins, there's also a Supreme Law created by the Divine Civilization's founder.

"Of course, you'll understand when you get there."

Ye Guan nodded. Then he remembered something and asked, "Senior, how much do you know about my Order Sword Intent?"

"Far more than you do."

Ye Guan was speechless.

The Great Daoist Brush Master explained, "To strengthen your Order Sword Intent, there are two prerequisites. First of all, your Order must be good—something everyone believes in and reveres. Secondly, your domain must be vast. If you can make top experts respect your Order, it will become even stronger!"

"I understand."

The Great Daoist Brush Master hesitated before saying, "Given your strength, you won't be the weakest in the Divine Ruins, but it's an extremely complicated place. That lady has plotted to get you there, so it won't be simple. Be careful."

"Do you know her status there?"

The Great Daoist Brush Master shook his head. "I don't. But with her strength, she'll likely sense you the moment you get there."

Yi Nian and Yang Yian. Ye Guan fell silent, and His expression grew somber.

The Great Daoist Brush Master chuckled. "Oh, and be wary of the Multiverse Emperor. While he's not a match for the First Hall Master or Clan Leader Jing, his main body can easily overpower you. His background is no joke, and the same goes for the Temporal Dao Hall..."

The Great Daoist Brush Master suddenly shook his head with a laugh. "Why am I even worried about you? Anyway, I'm leaving soon."

"This is a map to the Divine Ruins; remember to return it in the future," said the Great Daoist Brush Master before disappearing into thin air.

The Boundless Master approached Ye Guan and handed him a dark-gold card. "Next time you're in the Milky Way, you should visit the Boundless Club! I will treat you to a footbath there, haha..."

With that, he turned around and disappeared without a trace.

Ye Guan looked at the card in his hand, shook his head, and smiled. He put it away, and then he turned to look at Clan Leader Jing, who had been silent the entire time.

Ye Guan walked up to Clan Leader Jing and said solemnly, "Clan Leader Jing, I want to work with you, and this has nothing to do with other universe civilizations."

Clan Leader Jing looked at him without speaking.

Ye Guan understood her personality; her silence meant that she was waiting for him to elaborate, so he explained, "The order I have established in Guanxuan Universe requires a supervisor. This supervisor cannot be someone from my own forces.

"Therefore, I hope you can establish a department—an invisible one; they must operate in the shadows. Your people will oversee everything covertly. If one day, my forces in Guanxuan Universe become irredeemably corrupt, I hope you will overthrow my order."

It was a demand for supervision!

Ye Guan took a deep breath. He knew that the order he was building would inevitably become problematic if left unsupervised. Without carrots and sticks, issues would grow over time.

Therefore, someone needed to monitor the Guanxuan Academy.

However, the supervisor couldn't belong to his forces.

It wasn't just the Guanxuan Academy; he needed supervision as well! He needed someone to hold him accountable; he needed someone to remind him of his original intentions.

Clan Leader Jing was the best candidate as a supervisor.

Ye Guan believed that both power and the law had to be supervised, which was why he made such a suggestion in the first place.

Clan Leader Jing stared at him in silence.

Ye Guan waited patiently.

After a long time, Clan Leader Jing asked, "Are you sure?"

Ye Guan nodded.

Clan Leader Jing gazed at him for a while before finally saying, "Alright."

Ye Guan smiled. "Great."

In truth, he had an ulterior motive. If Clan Leader Jing were to agree, she would likely stay in the Guanxuan Universe. With her help and supervision, the Guanxuan Universe would surely become a much better place.

It was killing multiple birds with one stone!

Clan Leader Jing glanced at Ye Guan before leaving.

Watching her disappear in the distance, Ye Guan stood in silence for a moment before vanishing. When he reappeared, he was already at the Sword Sect.

By the time he returned to the Sword Sect, the Main Academy staffers of the Guanxuan Academy had already been dispersed by Li Banzhi, and Qingzhou was slowly returning to normal.

Cirou and Cishu immediately came to Ye Guan's side.

Cirou asked softly, "Is everything alright now?"

Ye Guan nodded.

Smack!

Cirou suddenly punched Ye Guan in the stomach.

Bang!

Ye Guan bent over in pain, shocked. "You…!"

Cirou reached out to rub his abdomen and said, "I didn't mean anything by it. I was just worried about you!"

Ye Guan was speechless.

Cishu approached him and said softly, "Don't do that kind of thing again."

Ye Guan nodded. "Alright."

Cirou asked, "What are you going to do next?

Ye Guan replied, "I need to visit Divine Ruins to take a look…"

Regardless of that woman's intentions, he had to bring Yang Yian and Yi Nian back.

After chatting briefly with Cirou and Cishu, he went to the starry skies, where Li Banzhi stood.

Ye Guan asked softly, "Aunt Li, Qianqian, she..."

"She's gone," replied Li Banzhi.

Ye Guan remained silent.

Li Banzhi sighed softly. "I should have told you about the Heavenly Dragon Clan earlier... Actually, it's not just the Heavenly Dragon Clan. Many factions have already formed within the Academy."

Ye Guan nodded. "I'll handle it."

He wouldn't leave those problems for his child to resolve.

Li Banzhi nodded. "We don't need to eliminate them completely, but we must improve the Guanxuan Laws and perfect our Order. Whether sects or clans, they must follow to it."

Although she had initially pleaded for the Heavenly Dragon Clan's case, she had already decided that if Ye Guan were to spare them, she would resign. Letting the Heavenly Dragon Clan go would undermine the Guanxuan Laws and the Order that Ye Guan had worked so hard to establish.

The Heavenly Dragon Clan had committed such heinous crimes. If they were pardoned because of their connection to Ye Guan, the surface might remain calm, but internally?

Other clans and sects would inevitably follow suit. After all, as long as one had the right connections, one could even escape punishment for basically a rebellion. Once a precedent was set, it would be over.

No one would believe in Ye Guan's Order anymore.

Li Banzhi stared at Ye Guan with her eyes filled with both approval and relief. After hesitating for a moment, she asked, "Should I investigate her whereabouts?"

"No need. I know where she is," said Ye Guan. He glanced to the right and smiled.

A faint golden light flickered between his brows.

***

Ye Guan soon arrived at a small grass hut.

A young man was on the bed of the small grass hut. He was none other than Fu Ji.

Aunt Jiao sat next to him, and her expression was blank, looking like a lifeless statue.

Yu Ning was also present. She had stayed by Aunt Jiao's side in Yang Yian's stead, as she could tell that Aunt Jiao no longer had the will to live.

When Yu Ning saw Ye Guan, Yu Ning hesitated. "Academy Master..."

Ye Guan nodded. "Thank you."

Yu Ning glanced at him but said nothing before stepping out.

Ye Guan walked to the bedside.

Aunt Jiao saw him and smiled. "Academy Master..."

Ye Guan said softly, "Aunt Jiao."

Aunt Jiao suddenly stood up and smiled. "Academy Master, let me make steamed buns for you one last time!"

"Alright."

Aunt Jiao smiled, got up, and started kneading dough. Her movements were practiced and skilled. Soon, a basket of steaming buns was ready. She brought them to Ye Guan with a grin. "Try them."

Ye Guan picked up a bun, tasted it, and smiled. "It's great."

Aunt Jiao sat down, smiling. She looked at Fu Ji in the distance and said softly, "In the past, no matter how hard life was, there was always hope. However, life has been tough for this child. His father died early, so he's never had a father. He's endured too much scorn from a young age, but he's always been sensible. Since he was five, he's been helping me with work. He even said that one day, he'll open the biggest steamed bun shop in Qingzhou for me."

Tears streamed down her face, but Aunt Jiao was still smiling. "That silly boy actually wants to open the biggest steamed bun shop for his mother. Did he want to work me to death?"

Ye Guan silently ate the steamed buns.

Aunt Jiao wiped her face clean and said, "Over the years, I've never done anything regretful despite being poor. The only person I've let down is the butcher. That foolish man… every time I went to buy meat, he'd always give me the best cuts for the lowest price.

"I would refuse, but he would just smile at me. I'd always tease him, saying, 'you're so silly; you're the silliest guy in the world.'"

Aunt Jiao laughed, but her tears wouldn't stop falling. Just then, she pulled out a sharp kitchen knife from behind the table. Holding it with both hands, she thrust it toward her own stomach, but an invisible barrier stopped the knife.

Aunt Jiao slowly raised her head to look at Ye Guan, who sat across from her.

"Academy Master, I have nothing left to live for..."

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