Chapter 968: Just a Sword Immortal In a Plain Skirt

While Mu Tong was charging toward the Great Zhou, an unsettling feeling suddenly rose within him. Remembering Ye Guan's terrifying strength, his unease grew even stronger.

For some reason, something compelled him to stop, but the thirty adjudicators behind him had already entered the Great Zhou imperial city. As soon as they stepped inside, a sword energy descended from the sky.

Boom!

All thirty adjudicators were dead; they were killed in less than a second.

Mu Tong's mind buzzed, and he stood frozen outside the Great Zhou's Imperial city.

They died just like that?

Mu Tong's mind went blank, and he quivered like an aspen tree.

Just then, a woman appeared atop the Great Zhou's city walls.

She was wearing a phoenix robe and was exuding unparalleled elegance.

The woman was none other than Zhou Fan.

Zhou Fan opened her palm, and thirty golden storage rings appeared in her hand.

She glanced at the rings and then looked down at Mu Tong outside the city walls.

"Thank you for the thirty storage rings, kind stranger."

Mu Tong was dumbfounded. He took one last look at the sky above the Great Zhou before disappearing from the spot.

On the city wall, Zhou Fan gazed into the distant sky, and her brows were furrowed deeply. She realized that Ye Guan had to have encountered a powerful force, and they decided to target her, as they couldn't deal with him.

At that, a tinge of worry suffused Zhou Fan's beautiful eyes. After a moment, she slowly closed her eyes. She knew that Ye Guan had to be fighting a force stronger than the Great Zhou, so all she could do was stay inside the Great Zhou Imperial City and ensure that she wouldn't be a burden to him.

***

Mu Tong was drenched in cold sweat. Thirty adjudicators were killed instantly! That was so terrifying! If he had barged into the city, he would have died instantly as well.

At this moment, Mu Tong felt more fortunate than anyone else. If he hadn't backed down earlier, he would have died without a shadow of a doubt.

Mu Tong glanced at the Great Zhou for one last time before leaving.

***

Meanwhile, Ye Guan was still fighting the blurry figure. After decades of fighting, he was still being suppressed by the blurry figure, but his sword intent could now withstand its attacks.

The decades of battle had brought an earth-shattering transformation to his sword intent. His entire aura underwent a massive change as well. His sword techniques had greatly improved under the relentless combat, especially his Phantom Edge.

His Phantom Edge was now a real threat to the blurry figure.

An unknown amount of time later, a myriad of sword lights appeared on the battlefield. In an instant, the blurry figure was forced to retreat. Before it could stop, Ye Guan charged forward and unleashed a powerful slash with his sword.

Heavenrend!

Boom!

A terrifying sword light erupted, and the blurry figure was blasted a thousand meters away. When it came to a stop, it became even more blurry and illusory.

Meanwhile, Ye Guan closed his eyes, and he was radiating an incredibly powerful sword intent.

Just then, the blurry figure disappeared.

In the distance, Ye Guan's eyes snapped open, and he thrust his sword forward.

A radiant sword light erupted.

Bang!

The sword light shattered, and Ye Guan was forced to retreat nearly ten thousand meters away, while the blurry figure had disappeared completely.

Ye Guan looked down at the sword in his hand. It had cracks, but it was still intact.

A smile appeared at the corner of Ye Guan's lips. The decades of bitter cultivation had paid off in spades. At this point, Ye Guan was confident of killing the Chief Divine Officer even without the Qingxuan Sword.

Ye Guan stepped out of the Spacetime Reincarnation Box.

Yi Nian appeared in front of him and squinted. "You've improved?"

Ye Guan nodded. "Mmhm."

Yi Nian smiled and took out a fruit—the Tianxing Fruit.

"Eat this," Yi Nian said, handing it over to Ye Guan.

Ye Guan frowned. "You haven't eaten it yet?"

"I want you to eat it."

Ye Guan shook his head. "You eat it. It's more beneficial to you than it is to me."

Yi Nian shook her head. "You eat it."

Ye Guan thought for a moment and said, "Eat it and become stronger. That way, you can help me in the fights."

Yi Nian split the fruit in half. "Let's share it, then."

"Alright." Ye Guan smiled.

Yi Nian smiled sweetly in response.

Upon consuming his half of the Tianxing Fruit, Ye Guan's face changed drastically. A myriad of green light spots surged from within him, and a wave of terrifying energy spread throughout his limbs and organs.

Boom!

Ye Guan's aura surged wildly.

Ye Guan was astonished.

The best natural treasure he had ever encountered so far was the Dao Fruit, but the Tianxing Fruit was drastically better than the Dao Fruit!

I should collect more of these fruits!

Little White and Erya would definitely love the Tianxing Fruit.

Ye Guan collected himself and closed his eyes. He concentrated on absorbing the Tianxing Fruit's energy.

Yi Nian sat down cross-legged next to him, and her aura surged dramatically.

Just then, Ye Guan opened his eyes and muttered, "If I were the Second Hall Master, where would I start looking for Ye Guan?"

Ye Guan pondered for a while until his gaze flickered in a strange light.

***

Prime Minister Mu sat up and stared at Mu Tong in shock.

"All thirty adjudicators were killed instantly?" he asked.

Mu Tong nodded with a grave expression. "Yes."

That was truly a terrifying sword energy...

Prime Minister Mu turned to look at Qiu Baiyi beside him.

Qiu Baiyi calmly said, "It seems we've underestimated Ye Guan's backers."

Prime Minister Mu glared in fury at the calm Qiu Baiyi.

Originally, Ye Guan and his supporters were enemies of the Evil Dao Alliance, and the Tianxing Civilization could have just watched them fight. However, the Tianxing Civilization had already become Ye Guan's mortal enemies, effectively siding with the Evil Dao Alliance!

Foolish!

Prime Minister Mu closed his eyes. He was so furious that his sides hurt. The Tianxing Civilization had truly made a foolish mistake. However, there was no way out of this. If Ye Guan was allowed to live and Yi Nian wasn't punished, the Tianxing Civilization would become a laughingstock.

Ye Guan had to die no matter what. He had eloped with a woman from the Tianxing Civilization, murdered the Tianxing Civilization's people, and stole a Tianxing Fruit.

When had the Tianxing Civilization suffered such humiliation?

There was no retreating here.

Prime Minister Mu composed himself and looked at Qiu Baiyi, "Second Hall Master, how much do you know about the people behind Ye Guan?"

Qiu Baiyi replied, "There are three people behind him. The swordsman in a plain skirt, Ye Guan's father, and a man in a blue robe, who is his grandfather. The sword energy in the Great Zhou was left by the swordsman in a plain skirt."

"What civilization are they from? And what is the tier?"

Qiu Baiyi pondered for a moment before replying, "I don't know."

Prime Minister Mu frowned.

Qiu Baiyi added, "I've never fought them, so I can't make a judgement. But I can say for sure that they are formidable. As for their limits, I'm not sure. We'll only know by fighting them."

Prime Minister Mu's expression darkened.

Qiu Baiyi glanced at Prime Minister Mu and smiled. "Prime Minister Mu, don't worry. The Tianxing Civilization has been undefeated across the vast expanse. What have you guys not seen? A mere swordsman in a plain skirt can't stir up any major waves. I have faith in the Tianxing Civilization's might."

"Second Hall Master, the Evil Dao in the True Universe is the reincarnated Evil Dao of your alliance, right?" Prime Minister Mu suddenly asked.

Qiu Baiyi nodded. "Yes."

Prime Minister Mu looked at Qiu Baiyi but said nothing.

"Prime Minister Mu, you're smart, so I'll be straightforward. The enmity between us and Ye Guan is like the one between Tianxing Civilization and him—irreconcilable. It's a battle to the death.

"As for Tianxing Civilization, I swear on the First Hall Master's name that I haven't plotted against you. If I've done any of that, may the First Hall Master die without a burial."

Prime Minister Mu was unmoved as he stared at Qiu Baiyi. "Second Hall Master, why not swear on your own name?"

Qiu Baiyi smiled. "Prime Minister Mu, I know you and some of the experts in Tianxing Civilization are dissatisfied with me.

"You must be thinking that I've been manipulating you. But think about it—Yi Nian following Ye Guan has nothing to do with me, right?"

Prime Minister Mu remained silent.

"I did not urge them to elope, did I?"

Prime Minister Mu shook his head. "Second Hall Master, whether or not you've been scheming, you and I both know the truth. In this world, many things don't require evidence or reason, do they?"

Qiu Baiyi fell silent.

"Of course, these matters are meaningless now. What we need to do is join forces to eliminate Ye Guan and those behind him."

Qiu Baiyi smiled. "Exactly."

Prime Minister Mu sat down and said, "We have two options—first, send more people to Great Zhou to capture Ye Guan's woman. Second, find Ye Guan."

"Second Hall Master, which would you choose?" asked Prime Minister Mu.

Qiu Baiyi smiled bitterly. "I'm weak, so I won't go to the Great Zhou. I'll help you find Ye Guan instead."

Prime Minister Mu stared at Qiu Baiyi, "You're weak? Aren't you hiding your true strength?"

Qiu Baiyi said, "I'm barely surviving. I'm too weak compared to the experts of the Tianxing Civilization."

Prime Minister Mu said nothing, but his gaze showed disbelief. The more he interacted with Qiu Baiyi, the more he was convinced of the Second Hall Master's formidable strength. Qiu Baiyi could kill without using a weapon.

Qiu Baiyi didn't explain. He simply stood up and walked to the door of the Cabinet Hall. "I've been thinking about where Ye Guan could be. At first, I thought it'd be the Tianxing Sea.

"After all, the most dangerous place is often the safest. But in recent days, I've been pondering—is the Tianxing Sea really the most dangerous place for him?"

Prime Minister Mu sat up straight and stared at Qiu Baiyi. "The Tianxing Life World!"

Qiu Baiyi shook his head.

Prime Minister Mu frowned.

Qiu Baiyi narrowed his eyes. "He

was

in the Tianxing Life World, but now, he definitely isn't there anymore, so what's the safest place for him now? It has to be a place that the Tianxing Civilization has already searched."

Prime Minister Mu was stunned. "The Tianxing Sea?"

Qiu Baiyi stared into the distance, and his gaze was firm as he said, "He must be in the Tianxing Sea, then."