I have a sword

Chapter 5Hidden Realm!
The courtyard was so quiet that even a falling needle could be heard.

Challenge!

Ye Xuan challenged the Great Elder!

Almost everyone in the Ye Mansion was shocked.

In the Ye Mansion, the strongest was naturally the closed-door Cultivation Clan Leader, followed by the Protecting Ancestral Elder, Ye Qing, who was currently away from the mansion. Next in line was the Great Elder.

Now, Ye Xuan was daring to challenge the Great Elder!

Was he overestimating his abilities?

Some thought so, but others believed Ye Xuan might not be without a chance in a fight.

Ye Xuan was once the Ye Mansion's top protege, unlike the Great Elder who lived a comfortable life within the mansion's walls. Every day for Ye Xuan was spent teetering on the edge of danger, fostering a ferocity and spirit that the Great Elder lacked.

In the eyes of the Ye Mansion's residents, although Ye Xuan was only at the Fifth Grade Unyielding Realm, if he were to fight desperately, he might have a slim chance of winning!

The Great Elder stared daggers at Ye Xuan, unable to believe that Ye Xuan would challenge him.

Should he accept or decline?

If he declined, word of this would severely damage his reputation, greatly reducing his authority within the Ye Mansion. Someone might defy him in the future.

If he accepted?

Thinking of Ye Xuan's combat strength, he hesitated. Although he was higher in cultivation than Ye Xuan, he had not fought a life-or-death battle in many years, only sparingly practicing with mansion members without ever going all out. On the contrary, every encounter for Ye Xuan was a deadly confrontation.

He knew full well what this meant!

Even if he won against Ye Xuan, outsiders would say he bullied the weaker. But if he lost, his disgrace would be monumental, possibly costing him his position as an elder!

The Great Elder's face turned grim with dread.

Initially, it was supposed to be a dead-end situation for Ye Xuan, but now, Ye Xuan had cornered him instead!

Just then, a voice rang out amidst the silence, "Didn't we have a month-long agreement?"

People turned to see Ye Lang walking towards them from a short distance away.

Ye Lang, the current heir of the Ye Mansion!

Before the Great Elder could respond, his eyes widened in disbelief, "Ye Lang, you've reached the Qi Transformation Realm?"

Qi Transformation Realm!

Everyone in the courtyard froze.

In the midst of everyone's astonished gazes, Ye Lang nodded slightly, "Unimpressive, it took me ten-some days to achieve the Qi Transformation Realm. A bit slow, I must admit."

Hearing Ye Lang's words, everyone gasped in shock.

Slow?

Before Ye Lang awakened, he was merely a Fourth Grade Dual Cultivation Realm cultivator. However, within just over ten days, he had achieved the Qi Transformation Realm! At this rate of cultivation, he was unprecedented in the Ye Family's history!

Upon hearing Ye Lang's words, the Great Elder suddenly burst into laughter, "Heaven favors our Ye Family, ha-ha..."

Inside the Ye Mansion, everyone was overjoyed. With Ye Lang's incredible cultivation speed, the Ye Family was destined to become a prominent power in the world!

Ye Lang's gaze shifted to Ye Xuan, smiling, "What qualifications do you have to challenge the Great Elder? Beat me first, and then you can challenge him. Our one-month life-and-death agreement has less than twenty days left, correct?"

Ye Xuan glanced at Ye Lang and laughed, "Ah, I almost forgot."

He then looked at the Great Elder, "Great Elder, forgive my disrespect earlier. Well, after I spar with your grandson, I'll come back to learn from you. For now, farewell!"

With that, he pulled Ye Ling and turned to leave.

"Hold on!"

At that moment, the Great Elder bellowed in anger, "You killed an elder, and you think this matter can just...?"

Ye Xuan suddenly turned to stare directly at the Great Elder, "Great Elder, shall we duel now? Or perhaps your grandson can fight me in a life-and-death match immediately. Or is it that both of you are afraid, so you sent Ye Ku to deliberately provoke me and find an excuse to eliminate me? If that's the case, you don't need to go through all this trouble. Both of you can come at me together; I, Ye Xuan, surely wouldn't stand a chance!"

"You!" The Great Elder's face flushed with rage.

At this moment, the elder Ye Lan gave Ye Xuan a cold glance and said, "Go on, we'll meet again on the Life-and-Death Platform in twenty days."

Ye Xuan shrugged, saying, "Elder, your grandson is more sensible than you; you're getting more muddled as you grow older!"

After speaking, he pulled Ye Ling and walked away.

The Elder's face turned purple with rage, seemingly thinking of something. He suddenly turned to Li Mu and others, furious: "You bunch of good-for-nothings! Seeing an elder being attacked yet not stepping in to help? Guards, seize them and execute them on the spot with the rod!"

Upon hearing this, Li Mu and his group paled instantly.

Just then, Ye Xuan, who was not far away, stopped walking. He turned back towards the Elder, "Elder, just a friendly reminder, these people including Li Mu are the personal guards of the Clan Chief. Although you're the Elder, the Clan Chief isn't dead yet. If you harm his personal guards now, it seems like... Are you planning to make a move against the Clan Chief?"

Before he could finish, he acted surprised, "Are you, Elder, really plotting against the Clan Chief... You..."

"Insolent!"

The Elder roared, "Ye Xuan, say one more word, and I swear I'll kill you today even if it costs me my life!"

Ye Xuan smiled, "Calm down, Elder. I'm just reminding you not to anger yourself and ruin your health; otherwise, I'd be too happy—or should I say, too heartbroken."

With that, he led Ye Ling and walked away.

Li Mu and the rest looked at Ye Xuan with gratitude, realizing that without his words, they might have met their demise today.

Back where they stood, the Elder trembled with rage, and no one dared to speak around him.

Suddenly recalling something, the Elder turned to Ye Lan, "Why didn't you challenge him to a life-and-death duel earlier? Why wait until twenty days later?"

Ye Lan glanced at the Elder indifferently, "Because I am about to break through to the Qi Mastery Realm!"

Hearing this, the Elder was stunned for a moment before becoming excited, "Really?"

Ye Lan nodded slightly, "I'm on the verge of breakthrough; otherwise, I would've killed him already. It's not suitable to act now lest a trivial existence ruins my major breakthrough."

The Elder nodded hastily, "Indeed, let Ye Xuan live for a few more days; after all, he's just a useless waste now."

Ye Lan nodded slightly, "He's now desperate and barking up the wrong tree. For the next period, do not provoke him to avoid giving others the impression that I, Ye Lan, fear him and deliberately send people to harass him as an excuse to kill him!"

The Elder solemnly said, "It was my oversight. Rest assured, I won't let anyone bother him in these twenty days."

Ye Lan nodded, "By the way, I will need a large amount of spirit stones for my cultivation during this time."

The Elder felt troubled; spirit stones were precious crystals containing spiritual energy, and even the Ye Family had limited stock. Moreover, spirit stones were usually reserved for the Clan Chief and the heir apparent. However, Ye Xuan had never used spirit stones due to their deliberate withholding.

"Is there a problem?" Ye Lan asked.

The Elder shook his head, "No problem, but we may not have many spirit stones."

Ye Lan smiled, "Don't worry; breaking through to the Qi Mastery Realm won't require too many spirit stones."

Relieved, the Elder said, "That's good!"

Looking up at the sky, Ye Lan's lips curled into a mocking smile, muttering inwardly, "A poor and backward place... But it can be temporarily utilized..."

...

Ye Xuan brought Ye Ling back to their courtyard. As soon as they returned, Li Mu and his group came rushing over.

Ye Xuan glanced at Li Mu and the others, "This isn't a good time for you to come here."

Since Ye Xuan was stripped of his status as the heir, most of his former comrades who had fought alongside him had disappeared. They knew well that the future master of the Ye Family wouldn't be Ye Xuan, but Ye Lan instead.

Li Mu respectfully saluted Ye Xuan, "Brother Ye, thank you for what happened earlier."

Ye Xuan nodded, "It's me who should thank you for not intervening. Go back now; if you're seen by Elder's men, you'll get into big trouble."

Li Mu hesitated before saying, "Brother Ye, if you ever need anything, just give us a command. We brothers will not hesitate to assist."

Afterward, he led several guards and left.

Ye Xuan shook his head lightly. Seeing this, Ye Ling held onto Ye Xuan's arm and softly asked, "Brother, don't you trust them?"

Ye Xuan smiled, "If I were strong, what they said would be true. If I were weak with no chance of turning things around, everything would be false."

Ye Ling looked at Ye Xuan with utmost sincerity, "I am genuine. I will always stand by your side!"

Ye Xuan laughed heartily, pulling Ye Ling into their courtyard. As soon as they entered, Ye Ling's body began to shudder violently, emitting a chill.

Panicked, Ye Xuan quickly took Ye Ling to bed and administered a white pill from a jade bottle. After taking the medicine, Ye Ling's complexion improved slightly.

As Ye Ling slowly opened her eyes, she tightly gripped Ye Xuan's hand, whispering, "Brother, I feel like I may not live much longer. If, if I die, please keep my ashes with you. I want to stay with you forever..."

"Stop talking nonsense!"

Ye Xuan interrupted sternly, staring at Ye Ling, "You won't die. I swear I won't let you die. Trust me; I will definitely cure you. Once I reach the Qi Mastery Realm, I'll take you to the Imperial Capital, okay?"

His voice softened, "I only have you as family. So, for my sake, promise me you'll live well, alright?"

Tears welled up in Ye Ling's eyes as she watched Ye Xuan. Ye Xuan gently wiped away her tears, "Don't cry anymore; you'll look less pretty. Besides, you still have to marry someday!"

Ye Ling shook her head, "I won't marry. I only like Brother!"

Ye Xuan chuckled, "Silly girl. Let me tell you a story... Once upon a time, there was a mountain with a temple on top..."

After a quarter of an hour, Ye Ling fell asleep.

Watching Ye Ling on the bed, Ye Xuan's expression darkened like water, as he noticed that Ye Ling's sleeping periods were growing longer, and he only had three pills left in the jade bottle!

A moment later, Ye Xuan put away the jade bottle, carefully covered Ye Ling with the blanket, and then entered the Boundless Prison Tower to cultivate.

His goal now was to frantically boost his strength, quickly reaching the Qi Mastery Realm, and then taking Ye Ling to the Imperial Capital. Moreover, the Ye Family had developed a killing intent toward him. In the life-and-death duel twenty days later, if he lost, both he and his sister Ye Ling would perish.

As Ye Xuan prepared to practice with the shadow figure, the mysterious woman's voice suddenly echoed, "You can now cultivate the Concealed Realm."

Ye Xuan was taken aback, "Concealed Realm? What Concealed Realm?"

The mysterious woman explained, "The Physical Body Realm consists of six grades, but many people are unaware that after the sixth grade—Qi Transformation—one more realm exists, the Golden Body Realm, followed by the Innate Qi Mastery Realm."

Ye Xuan furrowed his brows, "Golden Body Realm? Senior, why haven't I heard of this?"

The mysterious woman replied calmly, "It's a hidden realm, known only to a select few. If you reach the Golden Body Realm, your overall strength will at least double. Want to cultivate it? If not, you can bypass this realm by acquiring a spiritual sword and directly enter the Innate Qi Mastery Realm later."

Ye Xuan exclaimed excitedly, "Strength doubled? Really?"

The mysterious woman affirmed, "Indeed!"

Ye Xuan promptly agreed, "I'll cultivate it! A little pain is nothing!"

The mysterious woman instructed, "You already have sword qi within you. Although you can't project it outward, you can use it to stimulate your meridians and internal organs. Previously, you trained your physical body externally; now, you'll train it internally, achieving balance between inner and outer cultivation. However, there will be some discomfort."

Ye Xuan declared resolutely, "A bit of pain is nothing! Let's begin!"

As soon as he started, Ye Xuan's eyes widened, and he cried out, "Ah..."

In that instant, Ye Xuan felt as if thousands of needles were piercing his body, nearly causing him to faint.

"Senior, this isn't just a 'little' pain!"

"I thought it was just a little...?"

"Senior, please don't tell me no one has ever cultivated this so-called hidden realm!"

"A long, long time ago, someone did try cultivating it, but unfortunately, they died immediately. I assumed it was due to other reasons..."

"I..."

"Watching you suffer so much, and unable to offer any real assistance, I can only express my guilt through a smile. Hehehe..."

Xuanye: "......."