Chapter 892: You're So Filial

The white-robed lady's face flushed slightly as she spoke, "If we work together, we can kill him, but he has strong allies like the Weapon Master..."

The white-robed man's expression darkened.

"Brother, anyone with such powerful Path Creation Realm experts as their followers must be extraordinary. We can't afford to take such an unnecessary risk."

"But the reward from the Evil Dao Alliance is too tempting. Both of us could grow even stronger with that reward, and Mother will survive..."

A bounty notice from the Evil Dao Alliance reached the Ascension World, offering two hundred Eternal Crystals for killing Ye Guan. There was also a portrait of him was also attached to the notice.

"We only know that his name is Ye Guan. We don't know who supports him or what powers he commands. If we act recklessly, even if we kill him, we might attract significant karma. By then, we might not survive to use those Eternal Crystals. We'll also end up dragging our entire family into that mess."

The white-robed man fell silent as the white-robed lady added, "I don't think the Evil Dao Alliance expects others to actually kill him."

"What do you mean?"

"Anyone who has made it to the Ascension World is no ordinary person. The Evil Dao Alliance has issued that bounty, knowing many would be tempted. If they provoke Ye Guan and he kills them, he'll accumulate karma.

"If my guess is right, they're trying to make Ye Guan the public's enemy. Then, they can rally everyone against him. The more negative karma he collects here, the stronger the suppression he'll receive from the Great Dao."

"The Evil Dao Alliance wants to make Ye Guan the public's enemy?" the white-robed man asked with narrowed eyes.

The white-robed lady nodded and added, "He likely has a terrifying power behind him, one that even the Evil Dao Alliance fears."

The white-robed man was about to reply when the spacetime in front of him trembled, and his expression changed dramatically.

"What is it?" asked the white-robed lady.

The white-robed man responded, "The bounty for Ye Guan has just increased from two hundred Eternal Crystals to five hundred, and they are Pure-grade Eternal Crystals."

The white-robed lady frowned and remarked, "The Evil Dao Alliance is setting up a trap."

"Should we back out?"

"No."

The white-robed man was surprised.

The white-robed lady revealed a serious look as she said, "We won't step into the trap, but we can use this opportunity to build some goodwill and then withdraw safely."

The white-robed man was puzzled. "What do you mean, 'build some goodwill'?"

"Let's go and warn Ye Guan that the Evil Dao Alliance is targeting him. That way, we can earn his favor and leave unscathed," replied the white-robed lady. With that, she grabbed the white-robed man and flew into the sky.

***

After entering the first stone gate, Ye Guan found himself in an unknown world. An endless wasteland stretched out for millions of miles, and he remained vigilant as he scanned his surroundings.

Rumble!

The ground in the distance shook violently.

Ye Guan looked up and saw a massive fissure in the earth.

A middle-aged man wielding a massive axe emerged from the fissure.

The man wore a set of tattered armor, and his giant axe was also in poor condition, but his aura was incredibly terrifying.

A fight right from the start?

Ye Guan was a bit surprised, but he smiled.

This suits me just fine.

He swapped his Qingxuan Sword for a sword made out of sword intent.

The middle-aged man leaped into the air, swinging his axe downward with tremendous force.

The sky seemed to explode as the axe descended, and a massive shockwave spread outward.

Ye Guan stomped and charged up to meet the attack head-on.

Bang!

Ye Guan's sword light shattered, and he was sent flying. His arms went numb from the impact. His sword intent wasn’t destroyed, but it had fractured. Ye Guan was pushed back hundreds of meters before he could stop himself.

Ye Guan was astonished. He was just in the First Heaven, but he already had such a powerful opponent.

There was no time to think.

The middle-aged man leaped again, swinging his axe with enough power to shatter the spacetime around him.

Ye Guan grinned and left a streak of sword light as he charged forward. He didn’t use the Qingxuan Sword nor his bloodlines. He swung his sword relying only on his fleshly body and swordsmanship.

This swing was empowered by his martial will, and there was only one word echoing in his mind—Fight!

Soon, Ye Guan and the man were locked in a fierce battle. Ye Guan was being suppressed, but the man couldn’t crush him completely. In fact, Ye Guan’s Invincible Sword Intent was making him grow even stronger as the battle raged on.

His sword intent had the trait of becoming even stronger mid-battle.

Bang!

Ye Guan was sent flying again, and the middle-aged man spun in place, hurling his giant axe at Ye Guan.

Swoosh!

The axe cut through the air, shattering the spacetime.

Ye Guan’s expression turned grave and he unleashed a kaleidoscope of sword lights, forming a barrier around him. Of course, Ye Guan didn't remain passive. He stepped forward and slashed out—Lifespan Severance!

Boom!

The world turned illusory beneath the sword slash, and the giant axe decayed at a rate visible to the naked eye. By the time it reached Ye Guan, it had disintegrated into dust and was blown away by the wind.

"

Hmm?

" the middle-aged man was stunned.

Ye Guan was stunned. "You’re real?"

The man stared at Ye Guan. "What sword technique was that?"

Interesting!

Ye Guan was shocked.

I thought he was just a projection; turns out he is real.

Ye Guan quickly composed himself and replied, "Lifespan Severance."

The middle-aged man frowned. "That sword contains the profundities of the Dao of Time. You haven't even created your own path; how did you do that?"

"Well," Ye Guan responded, "I guess you can say that I'm a genius."

The man looked at Ye Guan with a deep frown. "Swordsmen really are all the same—cunning and deceptive. There’s no way someone at your level can withstand the power of Time without any help."

"Yes, I had help."

The man sized him up and said, "You have talent, but you're a bit too cunning."

Ye Guan was speechless.

The man opened his palm, and a new giant axe materialized. "Come, let’s fight again."

Ye Guan suddenly said, "Wait a moment."

"What is it?"

"I heard that each of the Nine Heavens represents an era. Were you a great power in the era of this world?"

"I wouldn't say that," the man said, shaking his head slightly. Then, he frowned as he added, "But are you here to chat?"

"I'm—"

Swoosh!

Ye Guan stopped midsentence because the man before him had disappeared into thin air. The next moment, Ye Guan saw the man charging at him like a bolt of lightning with an aura that resembled an immovable mountain.

Ye Guan dared not be careless in the face of the man's charge. He unleashed his Invincible Sword Intent and braced for impact.

The two fought for several hours, and Ye Guan’s Invincible Sword Intent grew increasingly powerful as they exchanged more moves. At this point, Ye Guan was still being suppressed, but he was no longer fighting as doggedly as hours ago.

The middle-aged man suddenly stopped and frowned. "Your sword intent..."

In the distance, Ye Guan grinned.

There was no denying it—this kind of intense battle is really fun.

The man stared at Ye Guan and said, "I can’t do anything to you here. You may proceed to the Second Heaven."

With that, the man turned around to leave. Ye Guan suddenly called out. "Wait."

"What now?"

"Senior, are you unable to leave this place?"

The man’s expression darkened immediately. "What do you think?"

"Senior, I might be able to help you escape."

“Young man, I'm sure you have incredible backing based on your talent and overall strength, but do you not have any idea where we are? We're in the First Heaven of the Nine Heavens, and we're prisoners of the Great Dao here. The Great Dao has marked us with its seal.

"I'm talking about the Great Dao; do you understand what I'm saying?"

"Please enlighten me, Senior."

The man shook his head and started walking away. Clearly, he was not willing to explain common knowledge to Ye Guan.

"Senior!" Ye Guan exclaimed, "Why not give yourself a chance?"

The man paused and turned around to face Ye Guan. "Even if you can somehow free me, the karma from the Great Dao isn’t something you can withstand. You’re young and inexperienced; you don’t understand the dangers of the Great Dao’s karma. I understand it, which is why I can’t join you in seeking death."

With that, the man turned around to leave.

This time, Ye Guan didn’t stop him. However, the man suddenly paused and thought, he

doesn’t seem reckless. If he’s daring enough to suggest that, maybe he really has a way. Why don't I talk to him first? I have nothing to lose, anyway.

“How are you planning to free me?”

Ignoring the question, Ye Guan asked, “What did you mean by karma, senior?”

“It's the karma of the existing Great Dao. It has trapped us, and if you attempt to save us, that immense karma will be transferred onto you.”

“Can this karma be transferred onto someone else aside from me?”

Frowning, the man asked back, “Transferred?”

“I'd like to transfer that karma to someone else... Like onto my father,” replied Ye Guan.

“Wow, you're so filial,” the man replied in

awe

.