I Have A Sword

"Hahaha." The Great Daoist Brush Master chuckled. "What a Starry Rulebreaker, to single-handedly shake the vast expanse of countless starry regions, arranging them into a grand array and transforming them into a true Dao...

"That is indeed the greatest technique beneath the Boundary of Truth and Illusion."

He waved his hand, and a Dao light appeared, sweeping away the lingering stellar energy around him.

The Great Daoist Brush Master fixed his gaze on Gu Pan. "I have to admit that I underestimated you. You really do have some skill."

Gu Pan smirked. "I have to say, I'm eager to meet your true body."

The Great Daoist Brush Master laughed. "You're not qualified. No insult intended, it's just a fact."

Gu Pan was unfazed. "If the day comes when I die in battle, it won't be a bad thing. If I get killed instantly, even better."

The Great Daoist Brush Master stared at Gu Pan. "In that case, I'll grant your wish."

With that, he slowly clenched his right hand, and a brand-new power gathered in his palm. At that moment, a sudden wave of battle intent surged forward at lightning speed, reaching Ye Guan's feet in an instant.

Ye Guan was still dazed. His fleshly body and soul were weak from the earlier sword strike. Seeing the battle intent before him, confusion filled his face.

Far away, the Great Daoist Brush Master's expression darkened.

Gu Pan suddenly laughed. "Brother Ye, the Ancient God Soldiers' commander must have acknowledged you. Hurry up and leave!"

Ye Guan glanced back at the Great Daoist Brush Master, who was staring intently at him.

Gu Pan said, "I'll hold him back."

Ye Guan nodded. "Thank you."

Without hesitation, he followed the battle intent upward.

The Great Daoist Brush Master clenched his right hand, and the power in his palm grew stronger.

He knew exactly what Ye Guan's advance meant!

The invitation was extended to Ye Guan alone!

Just then, the mysterious soul within the Great Daoist Brush Master said, "The Ancient God Nation has chosen him..."

The Great Daoist Brush Master released his grip, turned, and quickly disappeared into the night.

Soon, Ye Guan arrived atop the plateau. He looked up and saw a head suspended in midair just a few hundred meters away from him. Two hands and two feet were around the head, and they seemed to be being restrained by some mysterious force.

Ye Guan's gaze was fixed on the head; it was clearly the commander of the Ancient God Soldiers. The thick battle intent was emanating from that head.

The head said, "Outsider..."

Ye Guan nodded.

"What brings you here?"

"I'm here to find a treasure."

"This is a place of conflict... To seek treasure here is to gain fortune, but also to invite trouble. Are you not afraid?"

Ye Guan firmly replied, "No."

He understood perfectly that this was a negotiation.

There was no such thing as a free lunch. If he wanted to gain something, he had to be ready to pay the price. Taking something from someone meant owing them a favor in return.

After a while, the head said, "Very well, young swordsman. Go meet our king!"

A token floated down in front of Ye Guan.

Ye Guan looked at it, puzzled.

The head explained, "This is my command token. Activate it, and all Ancient God Soldiers here will obey your orders."

Ye Guan's expression shifted with deep respect as he bowed. "Thank you."

The head simply said, "Go."

Ye Guan stored the token and turned to leave.

When he reached the foot of the plateau, he raised the token, and the Ancient God Soldiers present knelt down in unison.

Ye Guan looked at Gu Pan.

Gu Pan remarked, "He left as soon as you went up."

Ye Guan nodded. "Let's head to the Ancient God Nation immediately."

"You've made your choice?"

"Yes."

Gu Pan was silent.

Ye Guan added, "Now it depends on whether the Ancient God Nation will accept me or not."

Here, Ye Guan had to pick a side because he knew the Great Daoist Brush Master would do the same. Moreover, the Great Daoist Brush Master would surely choose the Ancient God Nation first, as they had that supreme divine artifact.

Now that Ye Guan had this chance, he couldn't afford to miss it. He also guessed the Great Daoist Brush Master had already chosen the Boundary of Truth and Illusion.

He had to hurry to the Ancient God Capital.

"Let's go!" Ye Guan said.

Escorted by the Ancient God Soldiers, Ye Guan and Gu Pan headed straight for the Ancient God Capital. Along the way, nothing dared to disturb them. More Ancient God Soldiers even joined their escort as they traveled.

About an hour later, the group reached a dark, dense forest.

The Ancient God Soldier at the helm stopped and stared at the woods.

Ye Guan was puzzled and looked at the forest. His expression darkened when he saw two bodies hanging from a tree at the forest's edge, a man and a woman.

A bad feeling rose in Ye Guan's chest. He flicked his sleeves, sending two sword lights flying out. As soon as the sword lights neared the shadowy forest, they silently vanished.

Ye Guan narrowed his eyes.

Gu Pan stared at the forest. "There's probably a god here."

Ye Guan nodded.

Gu Pan turned to Ye Guan. "Detour?"

"No need."

He looked at the lead Ancient God Soldier, sensing battle intent in his eyes.

Suddenly, the soldier raised his spear high, and the group charged into the forest.

Hundreds of golden lights pierced the dark woods, illuminating the surroundings as bright as daylight.

In an instant, hundreds of golden rays rushed deep into the forest.

Boom!

Roars echoed from within the woods. Ye Guan opened his palm, and two sword lights shot out, dragging the hanging man and woman to him.

He approached the pair, and his expression darkened when he recognized them. Just as he suspected, they were Yuan Zhen and Qin Lian, the son and the daughter-in-law of Yuan Fan.

How did they end up here?Ye Guan was deeply puzzled.

Gu Pan suddenly said, "They're still alive."

Ye Guan turned to Gu Pan.

Gu Pan said, "Their souls are sealed and imprisoned, but they remain inside their bodies..."

Ye Guan looked closely at the two and sensed faint spiritual energy deep within them.

Gu Pan added, "They are cultivators as well."

"I can tell." Ye Guan nodded. "Brother Gu, do you have any way to break the seal inside their bodies?"

"I'll try."

He stepped forward and opened his palm, gathering stars. Soon, countless starlight flowed into the two bodies.

After some time, a dark mist burst out from the two.

"Cough! Cough!" The two coughed violently.

The man opened his eyes first, and he was stunned when he saw Ye Guan and Gu Pan. Then, he quickly turned to the woman beside him. "Lian'er..."

The woman opened her eyes, looking dazed. She seemed unaware that she was still alive.

Hearing the man's words, her eyes cleared up. Seeing that, Yuan Zhen breathed a sigh of relief.

Ye Guan suddenly asked, "How did you end up here?"

Yuan Zhen turned to Ye Guan. He helped Qin Lian up and bowed respectfully. "Thank you for saving our lives, Young Master."

"My wife and I got lost coming here..."

Ye Guan's brow furrowed as he caught their lie. "You're from the Boundary of Truth and Illusion!"

Their faces changed simultaneously.

Ye Guan was surprised; he had only meant to test them, but their reactions told him that they were indeed from the Boundary of Truth and Illusion.

Seeing Ye Guan's expression, Yuan Zhen immediately realized that the youth was probing them and regretted falling into his trap.

"Since you're from that place, why are you so weak?"

They smiled bitterly.

"I saved you because of Yuan Village's chief and Miss Yue'er."

"Yue'er!" Qin Lian anxiously asked, "Is she alright, Young Master?"

Ye Guan nodded. "She's fine."

Yuan Zhen sighed quietly. "To be honest, my wife and I truly come from the Boundary of Truth and Illusion. I'm from the Sacred Region, and my wife is from the Blood Region...

"We are enemies, but deeply in love. To stay together, we answered the gods' call and came here to destroy the Ancient God Nation. After arriving here, we decided to hide, but we didn't expect the Ancient God Nation's Emperor to be so powerful.

"He defeated the gods and sealed this world. Our strength was weak to start with, and with his seal, our cultivation was wiped out..."

Ye Guan asked, "Why did you come out?"

Yuan Zhen gravely remarked, "I want to find the elders of the Sacred Region... They died here long ago, but because we got lost, we accidentally came to this Weeping Soul Forest, and a god sealed our souls..."

Ye Guan asked, "Do you want to go back?"

Yuan Zhen hesitated. "Yes..."

Ye Guan said, "You're too weak right now. It's too dangerous here. Go back to the Yuan Village."

Yuan Zhen nodded. "Young Master, thank you for saving our lives. My wife and I have no way to repay you..."

He opened his palm and produced a jade pendant. Handing it to Ye Guan, he said, "If you ever manage to enter the Boundary of Truth and Illusion, give this to the Sacred Lord of the Sacred Region. It may help you."

Ye Guan wanted to refuse, but Yuan Zhen pleaded, "Please don't decline, I beg you."

Ye Guan thought for a moment and nodded. "Alright."

He then accepted the jade pendant.

Yuan Zhen added, "If that Sacred Lord asks about me, please tell them that I died here..."

He bowed deeply to Ye Guan and left with his wife.

They hadn't gone far before they met a man in Daoist robes.

It was the Great Daoist Brush Master.

Both Yuan Zhen and Qin Lian became wary.

The Great Daoist Brush Master smiled and said, "Don't be nervous, I mean no harm. I just want to discuss something with you."

Yuan Zhen replied in a deep voice, "What is it you wish to discuss?"

"It's like this... I've been lazy my whole life and have only ever taken in one disciple... Now, I'd like to take in another one..."

The couple looked puzzled.

Yuan Zhen asked, "You're interested in me?"

The Great Daoist Brush Master quickly waved his hands, "No, no, not at all... I'm interested in your daughter, Miss Yue'er."

Their faces instantly darkened.