I Have a Sword

Before the gates of the Genesis Daoist Temple, the guard stared at the resurrected Multiverse Emperor, his eyes wide with disbelief. His expression was akin to seeing a ghost.

He can come back from the dead? What kind of sorcery was that? Is this some kind of stage magic?

The Multiverse Emperor, now alive again, seemed equally bewildered. His gaze grew sharp as realization dawned. He dropped to his knees, trembling.

"Thank you, Your Excellency," he said with his voice shaking. His heart was pounding with terror. Moments ago, with a mere hand gesture, Plain-Skirt Destiny had obliterated him; his true body and avatars were completely erased from existence.

Past, present, and future… they were all gone. No trace of him had remained, and even his avatars strong enough to reverse time were obliterated.

With a single touch, she had brought him back to life, along with all his avatars.

This was a power that defied his understanding of the Great Dao.

Terrified and humbled, the Multiverse Emperor turned to the nearby armored guard. "Ruan Cang, farewell."

With those words, he vanished into the endless starry region.

His "god" had changed. He would now follow his godfather.

The guard, Ruan Cang, was left in utter confusion. What just happened?

Just then, he sensed something and looked up. Spacetime split open, and a lady descended. She was wearing an elegant black divine robe and was exuding a noble air. There was a disk in her hand. Her presence alone made the Genesis World flicker as if it were becoming illusory.

Ruan Cang's expression changed drastically, and he immediately bowed. "Greetings, Divine Attendant."

A Divine Attendant! The Creation God had four disciples, known as the Four Divine Attendants; each of them was a legendary figure with terrifying powers. They had long departed this universe for the mythical Tier Nine Civilization.

Ruan Cang had never expected that Divine Attendant Pei would descend on this universe.

"I have received orders from my master," said Divine Attendant Pei. "He sensed that someone in this universe is capable of defying the Life and Death Dao Laws. He intended for me to eliminate this individual, but I'm busy, so you will do it in my stead."

"What?" Ruan Cang's eyes widened in shock. "I'll… go?"

Divine Attendant Pei frowned. "Is there a problem?"

Ruan Cang hesitated. "I... I..."

Divine Attendant Pei extended her palm, and a leaf floated before Ruan Cang. "This is a leaf from the Great Dao Bodhi Tree, refined by my master. It carries Great Dao power and can destroy any Laws or Dao. Take it with you and eliminate the target."

After a moment, she added, "Also, I foresee that this universe will give rise to a new master of Order in the future. They haven't come to pay homage to my master, and they're not from the Genesis Daoist Temple, so eliminate them as well."

She waved her hand, producing two images. One depicted Ye Guan, while the other depicted a sword—the Path Sword.

Divine Attendant Pei then recalled something and added, "The Multiverse Emperor has openly betrayed my master. Eliminate him, too."

Ruan Cang opened his mouth to speak, but Divine Attendant Pei raised her head and frowned. She looked at him again and said coldly, "Go now."

With that, she transformed into a beam of divine light that disappeared into the starry skies.

Ruan Cang stared at the two images before him, speechless. His strength was comparable to the Multiverse Emperor's, yet the latter was instantly killed as if he were a mere fly before being resurrected as if nothing had happened.

They actually wanted him to deal with the owner of that sword?

Ruan Cang looked up at the sky and muttered, "If I could deal with that sword's master, why would I even need to serve you people..."

***

The Multiverse Emperor's true body now stood before Ye Guan and Plain-Skirt Destiny. He was filled with reverence and complex emotions. Moments ago, he had experienced death and rebirth.

Ye Guan handed the Supreme Law Seal to the Multiverse Emperor, and then he turned to the distant Fan Zhaodi.

Fan Zhaodi also gazed at Ye Guan.

Ye Guan approached her. "Lady Fan, please release Yi Nian and let Yian have her freedom."

Fan Zhaodi stared at him for a moment before the whirlpool in her eyes gradually faded. After a while, her gaze became clear.

"Fan Zhaodi" then jumped into Ye Guan's arms.

Ye Guan smiled. "Yian."

Yang Yian hugged him tightly, and her eyes were brimming with tears as she exclaimed, "I knew you'd come for me!"

Ye Guan laughed. "How could I ever leave you behind?"

Yang Yian raised her head to look at him, wiping away her tears. "I want to stay here."

Ye Guan was taken aback. "Stay here? Why?"

Yang Yian lowered her head and remained silent.

Ye Guan's tone deepened as he asked, "Is it because of Fan Zhaodi?"

"I want to stay and help you."

"Help me?"

"Yes."

Ye Guan's face darkened. "Fan Zhaodi!"

A whirlpool reappeared in Yang Yian's eyes.

Fan Zhaodi had taken over again.

Fan Zhaodi smiled. "I persuaded her to stay."

Ye Guan stared at her quietly.

Fan Zhaodi met his gaze fearlessly. "Let me ask you—can you keep her by your side forever? If you can't, how will you arrange her life? Leave her in the Guanxuan Universe? If so, it's better for her to stay with me."

Ye Guan turned to Plain-Skirt Destiny. "Aunt, can you separate them?"

Plain-Skirt Destiny glanced at Fan Zhaodi and pointed at her.

Instantly, Yang Yian was forcibly separated from Fan Zhaodi.

However, she had no fleshly body.

Seeing that, Plain-Skirt Destiny tapped Yang Yian, and she instantly had a fleshly body.

Fan Zhaodi cast a deep, meaningful look at Plain-Skirt Destiny.

Ye Guan looked at Yang Yian. "Do you still want to stay here?"

Yang Yian glanced at the Fan Zhaodi nearby and nodded. "Yes."

Ye Guan fell silent.

Yang Yian, thinking that he was upset, hurriedly said, "If you don't like it, I-I can..."

"It's fine. I'm just curious—why do you want to stay here?"

"To cultivate."

Ye Guan glanced at Fan Zhaodi but said nothing.

Indeed, if Yang Yian could cultivate under her wing, it would be a good thing.

With that in mind, Ye Guan stopped objecting. He patted Yang Yian's head and said softly, "Then stay here and cultivate well under her guidance."

"Okay."

Ye Guan turned to Fan Zhaodi. "Where's Yi Nian?"

Fan Zhaodi shook her head. "She's not here."

Ye Guan frowned.

Fan Zhaodi added, "She's safe."

Ye Guan asked solemnly, "You two haven't fused?"

When he was in the Guanxuan Universe, he saw two Fan Zhaodis. He thought they had merged, but from her words, it was clear that they hadn't.

Fan Zhaodi smiled faintly. "We are one body with two souls, each with our own thoughts. We prefer to live separately."

Ye Guan asked, "Where is she now?"

"Somewhere far away."

Before Ye Guan could speak, Plain-Skirt Destiny suddenly chimed in, "She's fine."

Ye Guan turned to her.

"I'll make sure that she's protected," added Plain-Skirt Destiny.

"Alright, that puts my mind at ease."

With his aunt's assurance, he could rest easy.

Yi Nian was now the safest person in the universe.

Plain-Skirt Destiny then said, "Let's go."

Ye Guan nodded. He turned to the Multiverse Emperor, instructing, "Assist Yian."

The Multiverse Emperor quickly bowed. "Understood."

Ye Guan ruffled Yang Yian's hair. "I'll come visit you once I'm done, alright?"

Although reluctant, Yang Yian nodded. "Okay."

Just as Ye Guan was about to leave, Yang Yian suddenly grabbed his hand. "You must visit me."

"I will." Ye Guan flashed her a smile.

Yang Yian finally let go of him, albeit reluctantly.

Ye Guan turned to Plain-Skirt Destiny and said, "Aunt, I'm ready."

Plain-Skirt Destiny tapped his shoulder.

Boom!

Ye Guan's cultivation was sealed.

Then, she tapped him again and said, "Once a month, you will recover your cultivation base for two hours."

Ye Guan froze for a moment before breaking out into a grin.

Although it was limited to two hours each month, it was better than nothing.

Seeing his delighted fae, a rare smile tugged at Plain-Skirt Destiny's lips, but it disappeared quickly.

Ye Guan had no idea that he wouldn't be smiling at some point in the future.

Plain-Skirt Destiny pointed at his shoulder, and Ye Guan vanished into thin air.

Yang Yian turned to Plain-Skirt Destiny hesitantly. "Pretty sis, can you tell me where he went?"

Plain-Skirt Destiny looked at her and replied, "Somewhere very far away from here."

Yang Yian blinked and asked, "Can I call you Aunt, too?"

Plain-Skirt Destiny studied Yang Yian. "Why?"

"Because I've never seen anyone more beautiful than you."

Plain-Skirt Destiny walked over and patted Yang Yian's head. "Alright."

Yang Yian broke out into a wide grin and hugged her. "Aunt!"

The Multiverse Emperor and the experts nearby twitched.

Who would dare mess with that little girl now?

She was now untouchable!

Truth be told, they wanted to call Plain-Skirt Destiny "aunt" as well.

However, if they dared, their heads would surely fly away.

Just then, Plain-Skirt Destiny pointed at Fan Zhaodi.

Fan Zhaodi's face changed drastically. She stepped forward, and countless Great Dao laws materialized around her. Her aura surged, instantly surpassing the Multiverse Emperor's aura by more than ten times.

Everyone was stunned.

She had actually been hiding her strength?!

Plain-Skirt Destiny lightly tapped the air.

Boom!

The Great Dao Laws around Fan Zhaodi shattered, and she was forced to kneel.

Fan Zhaodi raised her bloodshot eyes.

"You did all this just to use me to destroy that whatever temple?"

Fan Zhaodi sneered. "Can you destroy it? The Genesis Daoist Temple is the strongest force below Tier Nine Civilizations, second only to the Heavenly Tomb Civilization. You—"

Plain-Skirt Destiny raised her hand.

Smack!

Fan Zhaodi's cheek turned red, and there was a clear handprint on it.

Everyone was at a loss for words.

Fan Zhaodi's expression twisted with rage.

Plain-Skirt Destiny stepped closer and looked down at her. "Unconvinced?"

Fan Zhaodi growled, "Unconvinced!"

Plain-Skirt Destiny waved her sleeve again.

Smack!

A handprint appeared on Fan Zhaodi's other cheek.

"Stay here and kneel until he returns," said Plain-Skirt Destiny before turning around and vanishing into thin air.

Fan Zhaodi clenched her fists. "Give me ten thousand years, and I will definitely surpass you!"

The Multiverse Emperor hesitated before exclaiming, "You can't surpass my aunt, Fan Zhaodi!"

Your aunt? Fan Zhaodi turned to him sharply. "Since when?"

The Multiverse Emperor solemnly said, "My godfather's aunt is my aunt."

***

When Ye Guan woke up, he felt like he was on fire.

He sat up quickly and was stunned to find himself sitting on a massive rock surrounded by many people. There were men and women around him, and they were all holding hoes while digging furiously.

The blazing sun hung like a fireball above them.

Ye Guan was already drenched in sweat.

Where am I? Ye Guan looked around, confused. He stood up quickly and noticed that the ground was scalding hot. Scanning his surroundings, he realized that they were in a deep pit, evidently dug by hand.

People were digging away at the pit walls.

He also noticed something strange—no one here had any cultivation base.

They are all ordinary people? Ye Guan's confusion deepened.

Just then, a muscular, tanned man in his forties walked up to Ye Guan. He was shirtless, and a filthy towel was wrapped around his neck.

The man scanned Ye Guan and smiled. "Are you new?"

Ye Guan was relieved that he could understand him.

Things would be disastrous if he couldn't understand them. His cultivation was sealed, after all.

Smiling, Ye Guan replied, "Yes."

The man frowned. "You didn't bring a hoe?"

"Um…" Ye Guan hesitated. "Big brother, what are you all digging for?"

“We're mining for crystals, of course. You don't know?"

Ye Guan shook his head. "No."

The man's confusion deepened.

Eventually, Ye Guan finally understood what was going on.

They were in the so-called Abandoned Continent. The planet's spiritual energy had been depleted long ago, prompting cultivators and the elites to leave, leaving behind the ordinary people.

The continent had also become a wasteland—a dumping ground for the other planets, accelerating its demise. The deteriorating environment meant no one here lived past a hundred.

Rumble!

Rumbling noises echoed up above.

Ye Guan looked up to see a colossal ship.

The crowd dropped their hoes and rushed toward the ship as if they were crazy.

The man beside Ye Guan grabbed his arm and ran toward the ship.

"What's going on?" asked Ye Guan.

The man was excited as he replied, "You don't know, little brother? That's trash from the Celestial realm—it often contains food. Run faster, or we won't get anything by the time we get there!"

Ye Guan was dumbfounded. This was indeed a hellish beginning.