Chapter 632

Chapter 632: Xumi

The enraged Ancestor of the Sword Path.

Ye Yun raised an eyebrow. He had never witnessed the Ancestor of the Sword Path in such fury and wondered what had provoked this outburst.

“Ancestor, what happened?” Ye Yun whispered.

“What happened? You incompetent fool! You retrieved this soul fragment only for it to contain nothing—no cultivation techniques, no memories! Explain yourself! Did you tamper with it?” roared the Ancestor of the Sword Path.

Ye Yun frowned. Were it not for the familiar voice and the Ancestor’s presence within him, he’d have suspected an imposter.

_A soul error? Could another soul have seized the Ancestor? Impossible!_

“Ancestor, have you lost your mind? Or been possessed? Since when do you dare address me thus?” Ye Yun’s temper flared despite his usual composure.

“Possessed? None could overpower me! Watch your tongue, lest I claim your flesh! Find my remaining soul fragment immediately, or I’ll seize your body!” The Ancestor’s temper had grown unprecedentedly volatile.

Ye Yun froze momentarily before icy resolve hardened his features. “Old man, you forget your place. A parasitic soul threatening its host? Ridiculous. Perhaps you’ve outlived your usefulness.”

Soul’s Fire erupted from Ye Yun, engulfing the Ancestor’s spiritual form in searing flames.

“You reckless whelp!” bellowed the Ancestor. “I’ll show you true power!”

Ye Yun felt crushing pressure against his Soul’s Fire, yet his formidable spiritual strength easily overwhelmed the Ancestor’s soul—a disembodied entity lacking its own Soul’s Fire. Within moments, the Ancestor’s soul quivered beneath the scorching assault.

The trembling soul rippled, coalescing into a faint silhouette resembling both a sinister youth and an elderly figure—a hazy manifestation enabled by merging two soul fragments.

“Peace, peace! Mere jest to test your soul’s resilience! You’ve proven satisfactory,” the Ancestor backtracked hastily.

Ye Yun’s cold smile pierced the air. “Jests require consequences. Shall I permit future insubordination?”

The Ancestor chuckled nervously. “We share destiny, you and I! My past aid and future utility outweigh momentary theatrics. Besides, how could this soulless wraith possess a prodigy like you? Locate my third fragment for bodily restoration, and all benefits shall be yours.”

“One final warning,” Ye Yun growled. “Another transgression, and I’ll extinguish you without hesitation.”

“No transgressions forthcoming, I assure you!” The Ancestor’s laughter rang hollow.

As silence resumed, the Ancestor adopted a graver tone: “Mark this—the Xumi Treasure isn’t meant for solitary claimants. Xumi Daoist ranked among supreme saints, second only to realm sovereigns. His vault won’t activate solely for you. Expect rivals at the teleportation gate.”

Ye Yun nodded. The Ancestor’s knowledge of Xumi Daoist lent credence to this warning.

“Your priority is advancing through the heavenly tribulation to strengthen your cultivation.”

“Can this be achieved swiftly?” Ye Yun questioned.

The Ancestor smirked. “With my guidance and your Lightning Element Law affinity? The tribulation becomes cultivation fuel rather than trial. Your spatial law comprehension ensures safe navigation.”

A predatory gleam lit Ye Yun’s eyes. “More schemes, old fox? This second soul fragment altered you—which persona is genuine?”

The Ancestor waved dismissively. “Both are me! Merging this fragment revealed my core nature. Curiously, it held only temperamental traits—no techniques or vital memories. Those likely reside in the third fragment. Admirable soul-severing craftsmanship, I’ll concede.”

Ye Yun arched an eyebrow. “Your ‘true nature’? Very well. But remember—I tolerate no threats.”

“Arrogant pup! When I regain corporeal form through three united souls, you’ll witness true mastery!” the Ancestor retorted, though his bluster rang hollow against Ye Yun’s unyielding gaze.

Ye Yun laughed heartily, "Should I witness it now?"

The Ancestor of the Sword Path grumbled, "Let’s postpone that. We’ll discuss it later."

Ye Yun shook his head and straightened his expression. "Ancestor, you mentioned undergoing the heavenly tribulation immediately. Is it truly necessary now?"

"Correct. Overcoming it now will elevate your cultivation, ensuring greater safety when journeying to the Xumi Treasure," the Ancestor replied gravely, his voice echoing without materializing a form to conserve Soul Power.

Ye Yun nodded. "Very well. My cultivation has reached the threshold. This tribution will be effortless."

He sat cross-legged, focusing inward. Within moments, lightning crackled above as a pitch-black storm cloud coalesced, filling the cave with rolling thunder and serpentine bolts.

"Come at me!" Ye Yun roared cheerfully, welcoming the tempest like an old friend.

BOOM!

Thunderclaps shook the cavern. Lightning of all sizes – hair-thin strands, arm-thick lances, even pillar-like monstrosities – hammered his body. Yet his robes remained undisturbed, the energy vanishing into him like stones sinking in ocean depths.

One hour. Two. Three…

After four hours, the storm abruptly ceased. Ye Yun opened eyes crackling with residual power. A lightning flash from his gaze obliterated the cave entrance, reducing it to fine dust.

Sixth-level Golden Core stage achieved.

Elder Seven and Murong Wuhen rushed forward as Ye Yun emerged. "Are you unharmed?" the elder demanded.

"You’ve advanced again," Murong observed, admiration coloring his tone.

"Merely a breakthrough," Ye Yun shrugged. "The seventh-level Golden Core stage is within reach."

The two exchanged stunned glances.

"Master Seven," Ye Yun continued, "I leave you this." Icy light revealed the Ice Energy War Soul Dagger. "A growth-type Immortal artifact. Nurture it with your Ice Spirit Qi – it severs souls."

Elder Seven accepted the blade eagerly. After blood-binding and imprinting his spirit perception, he stored the weapon within him.

"Farewell. Reach the Nascent Soul stage, and seek me at Lingxiao City." Ye Yun tossed remaining ice crystals into his palm’s teleportation gate. Icy radiance engulfed him before he vanished.

"He’s gone," Murong murmured.

"Gone," Elder Seven echoed.

The icy light carried Ye Yun through temporal currents until he materialized in a void – no ground, no sky, only endless emptiness.

“What a strange place,” Ye Yun murmured.

“What’s strange? This is Xumi Daoist’s doing—everything is hidden within space itself,” the Ancestor of the Sword Path chuckled.

As Ye Yun scanned his surroundings, finding no visible paths, flickers of light and shadow suddenly appeared ahead. Thousands of figures materialized in the void around him.

Yet despite the crowd, the space remained eerily empty.

“Remarkable. It’s as though these thousands never truly entered,” Ye Yun noted, his sharp cultivation senses immediately grasping the anomaly.

“Look closely, Ye Yun,” the Ancestor’s voice echoed in his mind. “Nearly all here are Nascent Soul stage experts—perhaps even hidden saints. Golden Core cultivators like you? You might be the only one.”

While Ye Yun observed the crowd, they studied him in return.

“A Golden Core brat? How’d he even get here? Pathetic.”

“Seeking death, coming to Xumi Treasure at Golden Core?”

“Even Nascent Souls form alliances for safety. This fool came alone—he’ll die before he blinks.”

“Well said, Brother Qi! Shall we ally?”

“Too late, Brother Zhang—I’ve already partnered with Brother Li.”

The clamoring crowd quickly forgot Ye Yun, forming alliances ranging from small groups to hundred-strong factions. Some even established formal codes—all organized with startling speed.

Ye Yun watched coldly, amused. Having explored many Secret Vaults, he knew such alliances shattered faster than glass when treasures appeared, often accompanied by betrayal.

He never allied with anyone.

As the crowd buzzed, space suddenly warped—expanding thousands of miles in moments, then collapsing just as swiftly. The thousands vanished, swallowed by the void.

They’d entered Xumi Treasure.

Ye Yun felt his body compressed, stretched, twisted—time lost meaning. When his vision cleared, endless plains stretched before him.

A sharp inhale. Though he’d known Xumi Treasure held heavenly materials, supreme pills, and Immortal artifacts, the sheer scale still stunned him. The grassy expanse seemed infinite, its spiritual energy the only proof this wasn’t an ordinary field but the legendary treasure vault that shook continents.

“Xumi Daoist survived the Battle of Immortals and Demons for good reason,” Ye Yun muttered, pressing a finger to the earth. Thunder Spirit Qi seeped from his fingertip. “This space-creation skill… far beyond my current reach.”

The soil in his hand blackened and crumbled. “Forced earth energy stabilization. To wield spiritual power like this… terrifying.”

His brief probe revealed the truth: every cultivator here ranked below Earth Immortal realm, including royal experts. None were weak—though few could match him. This wasn’t arrogance, but hard-earned confidence from countless trials.

“A sandstorm in mud,” Ye Yun mused, walking steadily without using Illusory Thunderlight Escape. “The real fight begins when they finish grouping.”

“Still searching?” The Ancestor’s mocking voice interrupted as Ye Yun attempted spatial teleportation. “Think you’ll stumble upon treasures by luck? At least those alliance-makers have a plan.”

Ye Yun smiled, spirit perception sweeping the area. His robes settled as the brief spatial distortion faded.

“Waste of time. You should’ve formed a faction. Unless a supreme Immortal artifact erupts with heaven-shaking power—which you’d sense instantly—you’ll never find anything alone here.”

The Ancestor of the Sword Path understood Ye Yun better than anyone else and had long anticipated his reactions. When he saw Ye Yun ignoring him, the Ancestor simply lectured his disciple in his usual self-assured manner before falling silent. He knew with Ye Yun’s pride, the youth would’ve formed alliances long ago if truly interested.

A true alliance leader needed charisma beyond mere strength. Most here were Nascent Soul stage cultivators, while Ye Yun had barely survived the heavenly tribulation at sixth level Golden Core stage. Any sane person would consider such weak cultivators either suicidal or delusional fortune-seekers. Even as hired muscle, his low cultivation and combat power made him worthless in their eyes.

Though Ye Yun despised alliance-building himself – seeing through their greed behind claims of mutual benefit – the cultivation gap served his purposes. Staying unnoticed granted more opportunities.

None would suspect a sixth-level Golden Core cultivator could kill Nascent Soul experts. Such feats belonged only to heaven-defying talents from major sects. Those prodigies were either sect elites or famous figures people avoided provoking needlessly.

But overwhelming greed could drive anyone to ambush others for heavenly materials and earthly treasures.

Ye Yun always hated factionalism but kept silent due to his circumstances. His rule was simple: leave him alone, and he’d reciprocate. Provoke him, and he’d destroy them completely.

"Real treasures won’t be in this wasteland. Keep moving – the next spot might surprise you." The bored Ancestor urged while marveling at Ye Yun’s endless stamina for wandering. Having regained part of his soul, he’d forgotten Ye Yun always relied on personal comprehension of heaven-earth laws rather than others.

Though appreciating the Ancestor’s concern, Ye Yun sensed something calling him from these plains. Otherwise, he’d have left immediately using Illusory Thunderlight Escape or spatial laws.

"Striking first matters! Keep dawdling and others will seize everything." The Ancestor frowned at Ye Yun’s calmness. "Do you actually plan to wander the first layer aimlessly?"

Narrowing his eyes, Ye Yun stopped random searching and focused on a shrub grove ahead. Smiling inwardly, he told the Ancestor: "After all this time, do you think I’d act without purpose? Notice anything strange about those shrubs?"

"Nothing earlier!" Rubbing his eyes, the Ancestor gaped. "Wait – why didn’t I see that grove before? Did it grow instantly?"

Without explaining, Ye Yun unleashed Thunder Spirit Qi. Lightning enveloped him as he transformed into a thunderbolt charging the grove.

Sensing danger, the shrubbery quivered and fled. From afar, it resembled green sphere chased by lightning.

"Ice Spirit Divine Palm!"

Icy light erupted from Ye Yun’s right hand near the grove. Warm air parted as freezing cold engulfed the area. A giant ice palm materialized, Ice Spirit Qi rapidly spreading across the shrubs.

Frost winds howled. The fleeing shrubbery slowed, lightly touched by the ice palm… and froze into green ice.

"Why bother trapping this Golden Core pest instead of killing it?" The Ancestor questioned while Ye Yun chased the frozen mass. Had it been him, he’d have dismembered the creature and soul-searched its memories – impossible for Ye Yun, but feasible for a soul entity like himself. Devouring more souls would strengthen him anyway.

CRACK!

The Ancestor’s musing broke as Ye Yun shattered the ice with Purple Shadow Divine Sword.

"Answer truthfully or lose your cultivation." Ye Yun pressed the blade against the thawing green monster’s neck.

"Mercy, master!" The creature trembled. "I’m just a first-layer Xumi Treasure demon absorbing sun-moon essence! I barely formed my Golden Core without causing trouble!"

Seeing its terror, Ye Yun interrogated without torture, getting thorough answers about the Xumi Treasure.

"Go. Flee next time you meet my kind." Ye Yun dismissed the groveling creature after learning enough.

The green monster kowtowed gratefully before scrambling away.

"Clever trick." The Ancestor mused. "The real treasures here aren’t just people, but ancient artifacts and pills gaining intelligence over time. Those won’t be as easy as this weakling."

"Perfect." Ye Yun grinned. "If weeds can grow Golden Cores, this place won’t disappoint."