Chapter 360

Chapter 360: Yang Jia!

Qin Guan!

Ye Tianming had naturally heard this name before — it was legendary.

The founder of Xianbao Pavilion!

Ye Tianming was genuinely surprised. He never expected to run into this legendary figure here.

Qin Guan looked Ye Tianming over and smiled, “Quite the impressive young man. Very outstanding.”

As she spoke, she pulled out a card and placed it directly in Ye Tianming’s hand, “A little something for you.”

At the sight of that card, the woman standing nearby felt her heart leap.

Ye Tianming moved to refuse, but before he could speak, Qin Guan said, “The Yang family is the Yang family, and Xianbao Pavilion is Xianbao Pavilion. I represent Xianbao Pavilion, not the Yang family.”

Ye Tianming still shook his head, “I shouldn’t accept something I haven’t earned.”

He didn’t know what kind of card it was, but from the expression on the woman beside him, he had already guessed roughly what it meant.

It had to be incredibly precious!

And precisely because of that, he didn’t dare accept it so easily.

Qin Guan smiled, “Keep it. You might need it someday.”

With that, she walked toward the exit.

Once she stepped out the door, Qin Guan was gone.

After a brief silence, Ye Tianming looked down at the card in his hand. It was white, with only a single character on it: Guan.

He was a little puzzled.

Nearby, the woman had quietly made her way to the doorway at some point. She bowed deeply toward the horizon, and only after a long moment did she straighten up.

Ye Tianming looked at her, “Miss…….”

The woman quickly said, “Young Master Ye, my name is Guan Nan. You can just call me Xiao Nan.”

Ye Tianming said, “Miss Xiao Nan, this card of mine……. what level is it?”

The woman glanced at the card in Ye Tianming’s hand, her expression filled with the utmost reverence, “To present this card is to stand in the presence of the Pavilion Master herself.”

To present this card is to stand in the presence of the Pavilion Master?

Ye Tianming froze.

Of course, at this moment Ye Tianming had not yet truly grasped the value of this card.

But Guan Nan understood perfectly.

With this card, the young master before her could mobilize every single resource Xianbao Pavilion had.

Every single one.

Just then, an elderly man suddenly descended from upstairs. He wore a wide, flowing divine robe and was slightly hunched, with a kind and gentle appearance.

The old man’s gaze landed on Ye Tianming, “Young Master Ye, what a coincidence.”

Ye Tianming smiled, “Palace Master Gu, quite the coincidence indeed.”

Palace Master Gu!

This was none other than the Palace Master of the Ancient Divine Hall.

Ye Tianming hadn’t expected to run into him here either.

Palace Master Gu said, “Young Master Ye must have come looking for this old one, yes?”

Ye Tianming nodded, “I wonder if Palace Master Gu would be willing to have a chat?”

Palace Master Gu nodded, “That much, I can certainly do.”

Ye Tianming said, “Thank you.”

Palace Master Gu said, “Shall we take a walk outside?”

Ye Tianming nodded, “Sure.”

The two of them headed outside.

Guan Nan followed, though she kept a considerable distance behind.

From the moment Qin Guan had given Ye Tianming that card, his standing in Guan Nan’s eyes had become something else entirely.

Out on the street.

Palace Master Gu and Ye Tianming walked at an unhurried pace. Palace Master Gu suddenly said, “I have read Young Master Ye’s Law of All Beings. It is truly a remarkable law.”

Ye Tianming said, “Thank you.”

Palace Master Gu turned to look at Ye Tianming, “Young Master Ye, have you looked into our Ancient Star System?”

Ye Tianming nodded, “A little.”

Palace Master Gu smiled, “In truth, this old one also owes you thanks.”

Ye Tianming asked, “Thanks for what?”

Palace Master Gu said, “For not launching a war outright and forcing our Ancient Star System into submission.”

Ye Tianming glanced around, then said, “That Ancient God was a truly remarkable deity.”

Palace Master Gu grew curious, “How so?”

Ye Tianming said, “He gave all living beings a choice. He never forced anyone to believe in him.”

Palace Master Gu smiled, “The Ancient God once said that if a god does well, all living beings will naturally come to believe in him from the heart.”

Ye Tianming nodded, “That makes sense.”

Palace Master Gu said, “Would Young Master Ye launch a war?”

Ye Tianming said, “I’m still weighing it.”

Palace Master Gu said, “Then there is room to talk.”

Ye Tianming smiled, “The reason I came here today was precisely to have this conversation with Palace Master Gu.”

Palace Master Gu nodded, “Young Master Ye is a straightforward person, so this old one will be straightforward as well. The people of the Ancient Star System live well and have no desire for rebellion. We simply want to live in peace. The Ancient Star System wants no part of any war.”

Ye Tianming glanced around and gave a slight nod, “That’s understandable.”

Palace Master Gu said, “But Young Master Ye surely has a ‘however’ coming……. am I right?”

Ye Tianming said, “The Ancient God gave the people of the Ancient Star System the right to choose freely, but he did not extend that same right to the people of the official residence universes under the Ancient Star System’s control. So I want to give those people a chance to choose.”

Palace Master Gu’s brow furrowed, “Young Master Ye, that is unreasonable.”

Ye Tianming turned to look at Palace Master Gu and smiled, “How is it unreasonable?”

Palace Master Gu said, “Those people of the official residence universes have always been under the control of the Ancient Star System. They are our Ancient Star System’s……”

Ye Tianming said, “Then can Palace Master Gu bring them into the Ancient Star System and grant them the same rights and benefits that your own people enjoy?”

Palace Master Gu’s expression darkened, “Young Master Ye, every one of those official residence universes was won by our own hands. They are resources belonging to our Ancient Star System. From our perspective, we……”

Ye Tianming raised a hand to stop Palace Master Gu, “Palace Master Gu, weren’t we talking about reason? How did it shift to talking about positions? If we’re talking about positions, then I have no choice but to stand on my own.”

Palace Master Gu’s expression grew visibly unpleasant.

Ye Tianming smiled, “Palace Master Gu has been calling me Young Master Ye rather than Upper God, which clearly means you know my identity. I just wonder whether you know my true identity.”

Palace Master Gu fell silent.

Ye Tianming nodded, “From your expression, it seems you do. So if we’re not talking reason but positions, then from my position — why should we be locked up and left at the mercy of others?”

Palace Master Gu said in a low voice, “Young Master Ye, those official residence universes are the very foundation of cultivation for our Ancient Star System. Without them, how are the people of our Ancient Star System supposed to cultivate? You are essentially stripping us of our right to cultivate. Not just me — no one in the Ancient Star System would ever agree to that.”

Ye Tianming stopped walking. He turned to face Palace Master Gu, “Palace Master Gu is no longer talking reason or position now. We’ve moved on to talking about strength.”

Palace Master Gu said in a low voice, “Young Master Ye, to be honest with you, we have been in contact with the Divine Descendants. They hope the Ancient Divine Hall will assist them, but I chose not to agree. As long as Young Master Ye does not push us, the Ancient Star System can remain neutral and support neither side. But if Young Master Ye insists on forcing our hand, then the Ancient Star System will have no choice but to fight with everything we have to protect our own interests.”

Ye Tianming smiled, “Palace Master Gu, what if we set aside reason, position, and strength entirely, and approach this from a different angle?”

Palace Master Gu was somewhat curious, “What angle?”

Ye Tianming smiled, “Ourselves.”

Palace Master Gu’s brow furrowed, “Ourselves?”

Ye Tianming nodded, “Let’s think about what we each want for ourselves. Palace Master Gu is at the peak of the False God realm — the strongest among the few Palace Masters I have met. But don’t you want to go further?”

Palace Master Gu looked at Ye Tianming, “Everyone wants to go further. But Young Master Ye, what you are doing is no ordinary matter. You are rebelling — against nearly every god in existence. I don’t want a moment of personal ambition to bring ruin upon the entire Ancient Star System.”

Ye Tianming smiled, “Palace Master Gu, I respect the Ancient Star System’s choice.”

With that, he turned and walked away.

Palace Master Gu looked on with a puzzled expression.

Just like that……. the Ancient Star System was let off the hook?

He couldn’t make sense of it no matter how hard he thought.

But whatever the reason, it was good news for him. The Ancient Star System could be spared from war.

Though they had never interacted before, he could sense that this Young Master Ye was a man of his word. Since the other party wouldn’t force the issue, the Ancient Star System would surely be fine.

Yet his instincts told him this matter might not be so simple after all.

On the other side, Guan Nan had been following Ye Tianming the whole time.

Guan Nan was also a little puzzled, “Young Master Ye, are you truly going to let the Ancient Star System go? You should know that the Ancient Star System is the largest star system in the Divine Spirit Universe, with the greatest strength and resources of all.”

Ye Tianming stopped walking and said softly, “Miss Xiao Nan, what do you think of the Law of All Beings?”

Guan Nan said, “It is exceptional.”

Ye Tianming shook his head, “There is no perfect law in this world, nor will there ever be. Whether it is law, order, or the Great Dao — none of it will ever be truly perfect……. I cannot pursue perfection. I must learn to tolerate flaws and imperfection……”

As he spoke, he raised his head and gazed into the depths of the starry river, saying softly, “The Great Dao cannot be perfect. It never will be. And it absolutely must not be……”

After hearing Ye Tianming’s words, Guan Nan fell into quiet contemplation.

Somewhere on a distant continent.

Two men suddenly descended.

The one in the lead was none other than Shen Qi, and beside him stood that alluring man dressed in red robes.

Above this continent, countless bizarre creatures howled and circled. They seemed like demons torn free from the abyss, each one different in form — some armored in scales with blade-like wings, grotesque and terrifying; others were nearly formless, like condensed smoke, letting out bone-chilling shrieks.

These creatures wove together in the sky into a tapestry of chaos, blotting out the sun, moon, and stars. The roars they unleashed shook the entire cosmic starry river — utterly terrifying.

The man in red robes narrowed his eyes as he looked at those horrifying creatures, “Heavenly Demons.”

Shen Qi nodded, “These are not their true forms. They use a kind of demonic art to project themselves across the myriad heavens and universes, devouring the hearts of living beings — consuming their malice, greed, and sin……. Had the Ancestral God not sealed and suppressed them back then, the myriad heavens and universes would likely have long since fallen under their dominion.”

He paused, then continued, “Over the years, they have grown increasingly restless. They actually pooled the full strength of their entire clan to send a young man into the mortal world…….”

The young man in red said in a low voice, “Is that the one Elder Brother mentioned — the one who abandoned the Dao?”

Shen Qi nodded, “However, because of this Young Master Ye, I have no time to deal with him for now.”

As he spoke, he raised his head toward the far end of the horizon. There, terrifying flashes of sword light flickered at the edge of the sky. A young man holding a long sword was locked in battle against those Outer-Dao Heavenly Demons. His sword light was fierce and sharp — with every swing, the Heavenly Demons dared not meet him head-on and were driven back one after another. It was an awe-inspiring sight.

The young man in red also fixed his gaze on that figure, “Who is he?”

Shen Qi said softly, “Yang Jia……. If the Yang family lends their aid, that would be very good indeed.”

The young man in red said, “Will he agree to join us?”

Shen Qi nodded, “He will. He wants Ye Tianming dead even more than we do.”