Hearing Ye Qingxuan’s question, Ye Qingxiao snapped back to attention and replied with his usual carefree demeanor:
“I’m definitely going!
“It’s a shame you’ve become a Blessing Cultivator now and can’t come with me. But don’t worry, Qingxuan, I’ll bring some good stuff back for you when I return. Heh heh heh!”
Upon hearing this, Ye Qingxuan wasn’t surprised by Ye Qingxiao’s choice.
Although Ye Qingxiao’s talent was better than his, it was still only a Five-Element Spiritual Root aptitude. Breaking through to the Nascent Soul realm wouldn’t be a problem, and there was a sliver of hope for advancing to the Deity Transformation realm, but that was pretty much his upper limit.
If he didn’t go to the Outer Domain Battlefield, Ye Qingxiao would have no possibility of progressing further.
Ye Qingxiao had his own path to walk. As his sworn brother, Ye Qingxuan naturally wouldn’t stop him.
After a moment of silence, Ye Qingxuan took out a jade talisman and handed it to Ye Qingxiao:
“This jade talisman can unleash a full-power strike equivalent to the early Nascent Soul stage. Take it for protection!”
This talisman was actually bestowed upon him by Manager Bai from the Blessing Cultivator Court before his last trip home. He had never had a chance to use it.
Now that his Grotto-Heaven Blessed Land was initially formed, and his main body wouldn’t be leaving the Profound Heaven Sect, this jade talisman would be practically useless in his possession. It was better to give it to Ye Qingxiao for protection.
Knowing the value of the jade talisman, Ye Qingxiao was somewhat surprised that Ye Qingxuan possessed such a treasure, but he wasn’t planning to accept it.
Just as he was about to open his mouth to refuse, Ye Qingxuan spoke first, cutting him off:
“Take it. After becoming a Blessing Cultivator, I won’t have the chance to leave the Profound Heaven Sect anymore. This talisman is better off with you for protection. Between us brothers, don’t place too much importance on these external objects.”
Since arriving in the Di Xuan Realm, due to his preference for solitude, he hadn’t made many true brothers or friends. He naturally held Ye Qingxiao in high regard.
Hearing Ye Qingxuan’s words, Ye Qingxiao hesitated for a moment, a flicker of emotion in his eyes. Then he reached out and took the jade talisman. Without any formal words of thanks, he just joked:
“Don’t worry, I have great fortune and a tough life. I’ll come back alive!”
Seeing Ye Qingxiao accept the talisman and hearing his words, Ye Qingxuan merely nodded silently in response.
The Outer Domain Battlefield was different from the Di Xuan Realm; it could be said to be fraught with danger. Otherwise, various types of spiritual recovery, healing, and purification elixirs wouldn’t have become so sought-after.
Noticing the somewhat heavy atmosphere, Ye Qingxiao looked around and suddenly sensed Ye Qingxuan’s cultivation level. He exclaimed in surprise:
“Qingxuan, how did you break through to the mid Foundation Establishment stage?”
After all, he himself had a Five-Element Spiritual Root and had only just recently broken through to the late Foundation Establishment stage.
Seeing that Ye Qingxiao had noticed his external cultivation level, Ye Qingxuan casually explained:
“Got lucky. I contracted a late first-rank Blessed Land. After it formed, the feedback of origin essence was quite substantial, so I naturally advanced to mid Foundation Establishment.”
His true cultivation was early Purple Mansion stage. But to avoid exposing his abnormality, during his seclusion, Ye Qingxuan had specifically sought out a technique called “Turtle Breathing Art” from the Earth Immortal inheritance to use as a transitional cover.
The Turtle Breathing Art, cultivated to its Perfection level, was sufficient to prevent cultivators below the Deity Transformation realm from seeing through Ye Qingxuan’s true cultivation.
In the early stages, the people he would encounter would at most be at the Nascent Soul realm, so the Turtle Breathing Art would be enough.
By the time he broke through to the Golden Core stage and could cultivate the Divine Ability Seed for the Divine Ability “Deceiving Heaven,” the concealing effect would be even better. At that point, at least those below the Void Enlightenment realm would be unable to see through his cultivation.
Hearing about Ye Qingxuan’s fortunate encounter, Ye Qingxiao felt genuinely happy for him:
“That’s great! This way, your future path will be much smoother!”
He knew about the many burdens a Blessing Cultivator like Ye Qingxuan had to bear, but he believed that Ye Qingxuan would definitely persevere and carve out a path of his own.
Looking up at the sky, Ye Qingxiao said his goodbyes:
“Now that you’ve successfully left seclusion, I’m at ease. I plan to set off for the Outer Domain Battlefield tomorrow. I’ll come see you again when I return!”
If he hadn’t been waiting for Ye Qingxuan to leave seclusion to confirm his safety, he would have gone to the Outer Domain Battlefield long ago.
Ye Qingxuan nodded and patted Ye Qingxiao’s shoulder:
“Go ahead. The Outer Domain Battlefield is no ordinary place. Be careful, don’t trust others easily, and watch out for your safety!”
Ye Qingxiao gave a firm nod, then reached out and hooked his arm around Ye Qingxuan’s neck just like when they were kids, saying breezily:
“Relax! I’m not a child anymore. Besides, I’ve always had good luck since I was little. Nothing bad will happen to me!
“I’m off. I’ll come find you when I get back!”
With that, Ye Qingxiao released his hold, mounted his flying sword, and soared into the distance.
Ye Qingxuan watched Ye Qingxiao’s departing figure for a long time before finally murmuring softly:
“Qingxiao, take care. Come back alive.”
——-
Meanwhile.
Within the Profound Heaven Sect, at the peak of the Profound Heaven Peak, in a simple pavilion.
The Sect Master of the Profound Heaven Sect, Cen Zhe, stood with his hands behind his back, frowning slightly as he gazed towards the sky beyond. The subtle principles of the Dao flowed continuously within his eyes.
Before long, Cen Zhe suddenly spoke:
“How are things?”
As soon as Cen Zhe’s words fell, a figure gradually materialized beside him, standing shoulder to shoulder with him, and said in a deep voice:
“That old guy Lao Yao still couldn’t deduce the specific whereabouts of the vanished Green Demon Clan powerhouses. He could only deduce that those missing Green Demon Clan experts haven’t strayed far from the Green Demon Realm.
“My main body is still at the Outer Domain Battlefield, working with the others to blockade the Green Demon Realm’s World Gate. For now, nothing unusual has been detected.”
Hearing this, Cen Zhe’s frown deepened.
He always felt that the Green Demon Clan’s powerhouses disappearing without a trace meant they were definitely plotting some scheme. But none of the experts in the Di Xuan Realm skilled in deduction could calculate the Green Demon Clan’s specific movements.
Currently, the Profound Heaven Sect’s two Grand Supreme Elders at the Great Ascension stage were thus occupied: Grand Supreme Elder Yao Qiudao was exhaustively deducing the Green Demon Clan’s movements, while the other Grand Supreme Elder, Tong Yanye, had his main body at the Outer Domain Battlefield participating in the blockade of the Green Demon Realm’s World Gate while also investigating the battlefield.
However, a not-insignificant amount of time had already passed with no gains whatsoever.
“Enough. If it can’t be deduced, then so be it. We’ll just cut them down when those rats show their heads again!”
As he finished speaking, a sharp glint flashed in Cen Zhe’s eyes. A clear sword hum resonated from within his body, its vibrations causing the surrounding space to crackle and fracture.
But Cen Zhe tightly suppressed it, preventing the fluctuations from spreading throughout the entire Profound Heaven Sect!
Hearing Cen Zhe’s words, Grand Supreme Elder Tong Yanye nodded in agreement, then asked:
“The once-in-a-century Recruitment Grand Ceremony is approaching. Should we recall a portion of the disciples to manage the sect’s ceremony?”
After pondering for a moment upon hearing Tong Yanye’s words, Cen Zhe stated decisively:
“Recall half of the Core Disciples. This Recruitment Grand Ceremony will be entrusted to the Head of the Law Enforcement Hall, Yan Lü, to preside over.
“Also, none of the elders below can slack off this time. All elder-level members must recruit and mentor at least one disciple.”
Tong Yanye nodded in agreement:
“That works. It’s good to have you arranging and planning the sect’s affairs. Leave the Outer Domain Battlefield to Lao Yao and me.”
Hearing this, Cen Zhe still expressed some concern:
“Sect affairs are a minor issue, no need to pay them excessive attention. We can leave them for Yan Lü to handle. It’s you I’m worried about. At the Outer Domain Battlefield, you must act carefully, stay vigilant, and don’t let your guard down!
“I always feel that the Green Demon Clan giving up the Outer Domain Battlefield so easily means they definitely have a more shocking scheme in the shadows.”
