Chapter 65: A Storm Approaches

As the sun set in the west, a silhouette stretched long across the mountain peak under its dying light. The young man, eyes drooping with fatigue, walked atop the heights of the Tongxuan Sect. Though his starry eyes appeared drowsy, flashes of light occasionally glimmered within them. Wherever he stopped, he bent down to scoop up a handful of earth, then buried it again, tamping it down with his foot.

This wandering youth was none other than Ye Jiuyao, who possessed both beauty and wisdom.

“So tired… Why does everything fall to me? The Grand Zhou Dynasty, Luo Zhou Wu dead, I must take over, all because of Qingyu, but…”

“But I miss her so much. It feels like it’s been ages since I last saw her…”

Suddenly, Ye Jiuyao remembered Luo Qingyu. His eyes brimmed with intense longing. After so many days of journeying, he had almost forgotten the beautiful figure buried deep in his heart. Now, thinking of her, Ye Jiuyao longed for her all the more.

“Once this matter is settled, I’ll go to Heavenly Jade Sect to find you, my little Qingyu…”

He muttered to himself, a helpless expression crossing his face as he continued his humble task, one that others might call a return to simplicity.

If Ye Jiuyao knew of the rumors circulating outside, who knows whether he would curse loudly or flash a smug look and declare, “I’ve hidden so deeply, yet your keen eyes still see through me.”

Ye Jiuyao’s footsteps traversed nearly every spot in Tongxuan Sect where one could stand. Amidst the confusion of onlookers, five days passed before he finally stopped.

After finishing his work as if threading stars and moon, Ye Jiuyao hurried into the Tongxuan Tower. Endless waves of blazing flames refined his body, prompting him to release a joyful cry.

After some time, snapping, crackling sounds burst from within Ye Jiuyao, like firecrackers exploding. Blood surged through his veins like a torrential river, his muscles and bones crouched like dragons lurking in the depths.

A crisp crack rang out from within him, and in an instant, currents of energy formed. Ye Jiuyao’s aura stirred, whirling up into a storm that soared to the heavens!

“Enlightenment Realm!”

Ye Jiuyao had long reached the peak of the Fusion Realm, and now his breakthrough came as naturally as breathing. Otherwise, how could he injure Ye Qing with a single sword strike?

Though Ye Qing had underestimated him, Ye Jiuyao’s cultivation and strength were the true reason. Without surpassing ordinary talent, how could one be called a prodigy among prodigies?

Thus, Ye Qing’s wound from a single sword was entirely reasonable.

Moreover, Ye Jiuyao’s mastery of sword techniques was worlds apart from Ye Qing and his peers. It was as if a child wielded a gun against adults brandishing knives—no matter how fiercely the adults charged, as soon as the child loaded and pulled the trigger, their fate was sealed!

The logic was just that simple!

“Sigh, another breakthrough. With talent like this, a bit more effort and everything will be sorted. I’m actually looking forward to the arrival of the Fallen Leaf Sect.”

Bored, Ye Jiuyao entered the Canglang Diagram once more and gave Sun Qi Gang a thorough “lesson,” emerging from the Tongxuan Tower feeling refreshed and invigorated.

Xuan San saw Ye Jiuyao come out, sidled up coyly, and asked, “Little junior brother, you’re out? Um…”

“Hm? Third senior brother, go ahead, do you have something to say?”

“Heh, you saw right through me, so I’ll say it.”

Ye Jiuyao rolled his eyes at Xuan San. Did he really need to look to know? Had he lived all these years in vain, missing such obvious expressions and gestures?

“Um… Star-Plucking Hand, how did you learn it?”

“You taught me!”

Xuan San was dumbfounded. He truly couldn’t recall ever teaching Ye Jiuyao his signature technique. Unless…

Unless during that sparring match, it was stolen by observation.

As soon as the thought arose, Xuan San dismissed it. He’d heard of reading ten lines at a glance, but learning a profound skill from a single look? Unbelievable.

“When did this happen?”

“Just last time. Don’t you remember, senior brother? Getting forgetful? You don’t look old, but perhaps… aging before your time?”

Suddenly, Ye Jiuyao stepped back from Xuan San, a worried expression on his face, as if warding off an infectious disease.

“Was it… that sparring match?!” Xuan San asked in horror.

“What else?”

“You really mastered it after seeing it once?”

“Was it hard?”

Ye Jiuyao raised his eyebrows, questioning, his eyes puzzled but his lips curled up, clearly prompting praise. Yet Xuan San was lost in shock.

“Um… would you teach me?” Suddenly, Xuan San looked up at Ye Jiuyao.

“Alright, but first tell me, who said I could use Star-Plucking Hand?”

“Second senior sister. She came to ask if I taught you…”

“Loose lips!”

Suddenly, a thunderous shout rang out from above. Petals burst from the sky, forming a giant hand that slapped down upon Xuan San.

Xuan San wore the look of utter despair.

“Second senior sister, I didn’t expect you to have such a side. Could it be…”

“If you say another word, I’ll let you taste my palm technique!”

Nangong Mingyue, like a furious lioness, her voice rolling like thunder across the sky, caused Ye Jiuyao to wisely shut his mouth.

“Third senior brother, let’s go.”

Ye Jiuyao led Xuan San to the highest peak of Tongxuan Sect, where the two stood side by side.

“Do you see the mountain across from us?”

“I see it!”

“Watch closely. Right now it is one among billions of stars. Behold, my hand plucks the stars!”

Ye Jiuyao’s energy surged like a rainbow, unleashing a force that shocked the world. Xuan San’s expression shifted, but his eyes remained fixed, unwavering.

In an instant, Ye Jiuyao’s aura unfurled. Stars swirled above, day turned to night, and the mountain opposite seemed to shine like a brilliant star.

Energy roared from Ye Jiuyao’s right hand, and a colossal hand descended from the heavens, like the hand of a celestial star, grasping toward the mountain.

Boom!

A deafening explosion echoed. The mountain shattered, its towering peak leveled in an instant, and in the sky, that great hand held the mountain aloft.

The massive mountain blocked the sun, casting a shadow so vast it seemed to blot out heaven and earth, making those of Tongxuan Sect feel as though a catastrophe was imminent.

“What terrifying power!”

“That’s… the little junior brother?!”

Suddenly, Forty-Five saw the youth standing proudly in midair and his eyes filled with fear. Not only him, but Nangong Mingyue, who had been observing all along, was equally stunned.

“Pay attention to technique, control your energy precisely, focus on that instant burst of power, just like… this!”

Abruptly, Ye Jiuyao clenched his right hand, and the gigantic hand followed, flawlessly crushing the boundless mountain.

As dust billowed, shock was etched on everyone’s faces.

“In a few days, the Fallen Leaf Sect will attack. If you don’t cultivate, are you just waiting for others to come kill you?!”

Ye Jiuyao’s gaze sharpened, sweeping over those beneath Tongxuan Tower. Only then did the crowd awaken as if from a dream, nodding in understanding before rushing into the tower.

…

Fallen Leaf Sect, Martial Arena.

Duan Tianlang stood upon the stage, while Ye Qing, head held high, looked down from above. At this moment, he was the hero of the Fallen Leaf Sect.

“The Emperor Weasel is dead, Nangong Mingyue is only at the Human-Heaven Realm. Regardless of her family background, she cannot intervene. Now is our time to devour Tongxuan Sect!”

Ye Qing spoke with conviction. A few followers showed surprise, but soon their faces relaxed.

“Then today, we point our swords at Tongxuan!”

With Duan Tianlang’s declaration, the ambitions harbored deep within the hearts of the Fallen Leaf Sect disciples blazed forth.