I Have a Sword

Absolute Strike!

Ye Guan still remembered what Plain-Skirt Aunt had said to him back when she taught him this sword technique. "When I draw this sword, if you are to live, you will live; if you are to die, you will die."

Life and death depended solely on a single sword strike!

The effectiveness of the Absolute Strike depends on the contempt of the sword bearer. However, Ye Guan couldn't embody such contempt. He was too weak that such attempts to embody that contempt could only be considered foolishness rather than contempt.

Hence, Ye Guan had decided to change it.

From now on, it's a sword to determine life and death! A Determining Strike!

When this sword is drawn, it ends with either your death or mine. I cannot determine anyone's fate, but I have the resolve to decide your fate for you.

Ye Guan had already modified this sword technique, but he was too naive at the time, so the sword technique ended up being a bit too flashy, preventing him from perfecting it.

Now that he had identified the root of his problem and refined his sword intent, he decided to cultivate it again.

The moment Ye Guan swung his sword, the sword energy's aura changed. The sword energy shattered the void as if it were a lightning bolt. Spacetime cracked open as if it were a mirror.

Sui Sui drew her sword as well.

As always, her sword appeared ordinary, lacking any discernible sword force or sword intent. The moment she moved, however, Ye Guan's sword intent was destroyed.

Shockingly, Ye Guan held his ground and didn't retreat.

Their swords clashed against each other.

Crack!

Ye Guan's sword made out of intent fractured, and the cracks covered the entire blade, but it did not shatter.

A smile blossomed on Sui Sui's face at the sight.

"Not bad," she remarked before sheathing her sword.

Ye Guan gazed at the sword intent in his hand and smiled.

He was still too weak to surpass Sui Sui, but he had clearly gotten much stronger than before. He had found his rhythm, and he understood that both mindset and resolve wouldn't develop overnight.

It required a slow but steady refinement.

Ever since he met Ye Xiuran, Ye Guan had been seeking change. Today, his strength and his swordsmanship had improved significantly.

Of course, his enemies had also grown stronger, and even more formidable ones had yet to come. It was imperative for Ye Guan to seize every opportunity that came his way to enhance and improve himself!

Ye Guan recollected his thoughts and looked at Sui Sui, giving a slight bow. "Senior, please give me more guidance."

Sui Sui, who had intended to form an amicable relationship with Ye Guan, was beyond pleased to see his politeness and humility in wanting to learn more from her. "Alright."

Just like that, Ye Guan engaged in daily sparring with Sui Sui.

***

The Tianxing Civilization.

The news of Ye Guan taking part in the Chief Enforcement Officer Trial couldn't be kept secret. The elites of the Tianxing Civilization were aware of it, and they gathered at the gates of the Chief Enforcement Officer Trial.

During that time, High Goddess Tianyun and High Goddess Tianxuan stood at the entrance as well. The elites of the Tianxing Civilization were displeased to see the two of them.

High Goddess Tianxuan looked at them and with her face expressionless, she asked, "Do you need any help?"

The crowd remained silent as they were too intimidated to speak up.

Then, an elder stepped forward slowly and offered a respectful bow to the two high goddesses. "High Goddess Tianyun and High Goddess Tianxuan, I heard that Ye Guan is undergoing the Chief Enforcement Officer Trial. Is that true?"

"Yes," High Goddess Tianyun replied with a nod.

The elder hesitated for a moment before asking again, "May I ask if that is your intention? If so, why?"

High Goddess Tianyun simply nodded.

Though the elder had anticipated this response, he could not help but feel dissatisfied when she confirmed it. "High Goddesses, the Chief Enforcement Trial is the core legacy of our Tianxing Civilization! How can we allow an outsider to participate and train in it?

"Those that are not of our kind must have different intentions! Furthermore, Ye Guan once mercilessly slaughtered countless powerful figures of our civilization. He… he is a monster!"

The elder sounded very sorrowful, and if not for the terrifying power of the two high goddesses before him, he'd have accused them of treachery.

The other elites of the Tianxing Civilization quickly nodded in agreement, expressing their support.

High Goddess Tianxuan looked at the elder and spoke, "Gu Qin, if I recall correctly, you and Prime Minister Mu have the same lineage, right?"

Gu Qin's expression shifted. "High Goddess Tianxuan, I am indeed of the same lineage as Prime Minister Mu. However, I am not here today for him but for our Tianxing Civilization. Only the most outstanding fruit from our Tianxing Civilization should be allowed to take part in the Chief Enforcement Officer Trial. Why should an outsider be allowed to participate? We refuse to accept this."

"You refuse?"

Gu Qin felt a chill going down his spine as High Goddess Tianxuan stared at him.

However, he had no way out of this, so he steeled himself and replied, "Yes."

Gu Qin's resolve wavered, but he still added, "It's not just me; the rest of us refuse to accept this, too."

High Goddess Tianxuan took a glance at Gu Qin and the others. "The lady in a plain skirt is still here."

They had all been pinned to the ground by her sword strike once, and it was the closest they had ever been to death!

She was still around?

Gu Qin and the others scanned their surroundings nervously and trembled.

That lady in a plain skirt was terrifying! Their encounter with her had left them traumatized.

High Goddess Tianxuan then added, "If you all are dissatisfied, why not fight it out with her?"

With that said, her gaze landed on Gu Qin.

"High Goddess Tianxuan, you're joking. I-I don't think I'm her match…" Gu Qin replied nervously with a forced smile.

High Goddess Tianxuan stared at him without saying a word.

Just then, something clicked inside Gu Qin. High Goddess Tianyun and High Goddess Tianxuan were determined to support Ye Guan! If he were to oppose their move, it'd be difficult for him to survive in the Tianxing Civilization. With that in mind, Gu Qin exclaimed, "This is a wonderful opportunity! A tremendously wonderful opportunity!"

The others were puzzled by Gu Qin's sudden outburst. Even High Goddess Tianyun and High Goddess Tianxuan were taken aback.

Gu Qin turned to those behind him and spoke earnestly, "Everyone, think about it! The lady in a plain skirt was able to effortlessly break through all of our arrays with a single sword strike, and she almost destroyed the Tianxing Divine World!

"Her power is nothing short of terrifying. A powerhouse like her cannot possibly come from an ordinary civilization. She's probably from a Tier Six Civilization!"

A Tier Six Civilization?!

The crowd immediately erupted into a buzz of chatter.

Gu Qin pressed on, saying, "And she is backing Ye Guan… Do you all understand what I mean?"

Everyone shook their heads, utterly confused by his train of thought.

"Ye Guan is now engaged to Yi Nian, which makes him half of a fruit of the Tianxing Civilization. And if he passes the Chief Enforcement Officer Trial, he will be one of us. And since that lady in a plain skirt is backing him, it just means that she would essentially be one of us as well. It's a huge advantage for us!"

The crowd was silent and taken aback. Even High Goddess Tianyun and High Goddess Tianxuan were stunned.

"But… but our Tianxing Civilization has laws against marrying outsiders, and Ye Guan is an outsider—" one of the figures spoke up hesitantly.

Gu Qin immediately cut him off, and his voice was deep and firm as he said, "Do not spread information that may cause internal strife."

That person blinked in confusion.

"Regardless of whether we admit it or not, the truth is we cannot beat them. The Tianxing Ruler is trapped, while the Chief Enforcement Officer and our top elites are in the Wujian Universe. If we provoke an unparalleled powerhouse, we will cause destruction to ourselves.

The group fell into silence.

"We do have a choice. We can choose to be friendly. If we choose friendliness, we gain one less enemy and gain one more ally. But if we choose to be hostile, who among us can take her on?"

Everyone remained silent, and they finally understood what Gu Qin was trying to say. Even High Goddess Tianyun and High Goddess Tianxuan could not defeat her. Who could take her on?

"If we cannot defeat them, then let's join them!" Gu Qin exclaimed. Then, he turned to High Goddess Tianyun and High Goddess Tianxuan and bowed respectfully. "High Goddesses, I was short-sighted before and failed to understand your deeper intentions. I apologize for any offense caused, and I hope you can forgive me."

He then bowed again and turned to the others, calling out to them, "Let's go!"

With that, they all withdrew under Gu Qin's lead.

Watching them take their leave, High Goddess Tianxuan said, "They seem more clear-headed now."

"They are only this clear-headed because they were defeated. Many times, it takes suffering for people to awaken and reflect," High Goddess Tianyun shared. "Actually, this experience is not necessarily bad for our Tianxing Civilization."

"What do you mean?"

"I see respect in their eyes, which was something that I had never observed. A civilization without a sense of respect is bound to perish eventually."

High Goddess Tianxuan nodded without saying a word.

"Isn't the Cabinet lacking a minister? What do you think of Gu Qin?" High Goddess Tianyun asked.

"I have no problem with that?"

"Then it's settled."

With both the Tianxing Ruler and the Chief Enforcement Officer absent, the decisions of the Tianxing Civilization rested on them.

***

When Gu Qin learned that High Goddess Tianyun and High Goddess Tianxuan had recommended him as the minister of the Cabinet, he was stupefied.

Happiness came out of nowhere for him!

Since they were in a hurry, he immediately took office. With the backing of both High Goddesses, no one in the Tianxing Civilization opposed this decision.

Once in office, Gu Qin restricted the Cabinet, forming an entirely new team. His first order was that from now on, no one in the Tianxing Civilization would spread information that could cause internal strife.