Best Young Master

No one knew that beneath the Cold Pond behind the Xuanwu Sect, a hidden ancient cave actually existed.

The ancient cave was not large, only the size of a palace. Inside, there were no decorations; even the stone walls were very smooth, without any carvings left behind.

In the stone chamber where Tong Qianchen secluded herself for training, there was only a Cold Jade Bed, emitting a crystalline light that made her appear like a Fairy.

To be fair, Tong Qianchen was not unattractive. Although she lacked the stunning beauty of Princess Yue Bai or the captivating allure of Yaling, she had a charm akin to a delicate and refined woman.

Especially after so many days of seclusion, her entire physique and temperament seemed to have changed significantly. Her skin was snow-white, crystal clear, as if she were a Fairy untouched by earthly impurities.

"Brother Ye Fan, thank you for coming to see me!"

In the stone chamber, Tong Qianchen sat on the Cold Jade Bed, her beautiful eyes unable to hide a sorrow that occasionally surfaced.

"Xiao Qian, don’t be like this. Sadness can’t solve anything. You must pull yourself together and seek revenge for your father, for the Great Elder, for all the brothers and sisters who died."

Ye Fan stepped forward, gently stroking Tong Qianchen’s head, speaking sincerely.

From beginning to end, Ye Fan considered her as his sister, with no other intentions. He hoped she could find happiness.

"I will, Brother Ye Fan, don’t worry. I will never give up, even though my talent is mediocre!"

Feeling the warmth from Ye Fan’s large hand, Tong Qianchen said determinedly.

"That’s good. I’ve come to tell you something."

After much deliberation, Ye Fan decided to inform her of his decision to embark on the Xing Kong Gu Road.

"What is it?"

"I’m leaving, to step onto the Xing Kong Gu Road, the road of the strongest trial, to follow in the footsteps of the Great Emperor!" Ye Fan’s eyes revealed a yearning look.

In every era, the Great Emperors have tread this path of the strongest trial, reigning over the entire Xing Kong Gu Road, silencing all opponents collectively.

Naturally, he must walk this path, known as the strongest trial road—what the young Great Emperors could accomplish, he believed he could achieve too!

"Go ahead, I will silently pray for you here!"

Tong Qianchen’s eyes flashed with a hint of loss. She knew Ye Fan was no ordinary person and would eventually walk this path filled with danger and slaughter, paved with blood and life.

The day had finally arrived!

The life of cultivation is austere, and secluding oneself for training is even lonelier. Without great determination to cut off worldly affairs, one can’t achieve significant accomplishments.

Ye Fan looked around, finding no Spirit Stone in the entire stone chamber. Although the Heaven and Earth Primordial Qi was very dense, nearly liquefied, it might still be inadequate for Tong Qianchen, who was in seclusion for hard cultivation.

With this thought, Ye Fan took out a White Jade Bottle, handed it to Tong Qianchen, and said, "Inside is some Divine Liquid that nourishes Essence Qi. Keep it for use!"

After speaking, without waiting for her to agree, he placed it on the Cold Jade Bed. Then he took out some Heaven Grade Spirit Stones and several Treasure Medicines, piling them up on the Cold Jade Bed until it was nearly full. The Heaven Grade Spirit Stones hovered in midair, not falling into the dust, emitting brilliant light, illuminating the entire stone chamber.

"I don’t need so much..." Tong Qianchen muttered softly.

"You are in seclusion for hard cultivation, these will be useful to you. Don’t worry about me, I have the Dragon Seeking Formulas, Spirit Stones are of no concern to me." Ignoring her, Ye Fan added more Spirit Stones before stopping.

"Remember, you are the future hope of the Xuanwu Sect. Whether the Xuanwu Sect can restore its former glory, or even become stronger, depends on you. Don’t let down everyone’s expectations of you." Ye Fan advised like an elder brother to a younger sister.

"Brother Ye Fan, rest assured, the Xuanwu Sect will never lose its legacy because in our Xuanwu Sect, there’s a great secret. Apart from the Sect Leader, not even the Supreme Elder knows it. It took me pestering my father for a long time before he told me, unfortunately... he is no longer here!"

Upon speaking the last sentence, Tong Qianchen’s eyes turned red, and her voice choked with emotion.

"What great secret?"

Ye Fan’s curiosity was piqued. Although the Xuanwu Sect was regarded as a major sect within the entire Xuanwu State, it was a far cry compared to the Di Clan, or even to those ancient families with an age-old legacy, so what kind of secret would ensure an unbroken legacy?

"Do you know why our Xuanwu Sect is called the Xuanwu Sect?" Tong Qianchen didn’t answer immediately but posed a question instead.

"Because our Xuanwu Sect is built on the Xuanwu Mountain, isn’t it? What secret is there in that?" Ye Fan said, puzzled.

"Then do you know why the Xuanwu Mountain is called the Xuanwu Mountain?"

This question stumped Ye Fan. There were countless mountains under the heavens, could they all have some significant origin?

Just like Mount Kunlun, Taihang Mountain, Mount Huangshan, Mount Song on Earth, do they all have special meanings?

"Our Xuanwu Sect is established on the Xuanwu Mountain, and the Xuanwu Mountain is on the back of an ancient Divine Beast Xuanwu. If the Xuanwu Sect were really to lose its legacy, Xuanwu would protect the entire Xuanwu Sect, ensuring its legacy is never broken. This is a great secret, known to no one except the Great Emperor!" Tong Qianchen said proudly.

"Uh..."

Ye Fan was greatly astonished. The entire Xuanwu Mountain lay on the back of an old tortoise—just how enormous must this old tortoise be?

However, if this were the case, then why didn’t the Divine Beast Xuanwu come forward to protect the Xuanwu Sect during the previous Demon Clan invasion?

This question Ye Fan did not ask aloud, because he already had the answer in his heart. Xuanwu, although a Divine Beast, is ultimately not truly human. In the war between the Human Race and the Demon Clan, it can remain neutral and not stand up for the Demon Clan, which is already quite good. Can we really expect it to help humans fight against the Demon Clan?

"Xiao Qian, you’re cultivating here, what are you eating?" After the shock, Ye Fan thought of a very practical problem.

There weren’t even any Haozi in this cave mansion, and Tong Qianchen couldn’t possibly go without food for a long time while cultivating here.

Although cultivators, as long as there is sufficient Heaven and Earth Primordial Qi, can survive without eating, living on air and dew, some necessary intake of food is still needed.

"There is a kind of fish in the Cold Pond, which tastes delicious even if eaten raw. You only need to eat one to survive for six months without needing food. During this time, I have only eaten one." Tong Qianchen said.

"So that’s how it is!"

Ye Fan suddenly realized. Since these fish can survive in the extremely low temperatures of the Cold Pond below freezing, they are naturally not ordinary fish. It is normal for them to have such effects.

The two chatted a bit more, and under Tong Qianchen’s reluctant gaze, Ye Fan left the cave mansion and floated up from the Cold Pond.

Sitting cross-legged on a stone by the Cold Pond, Ye Fan operated his technique to dry his clothes, and without lingering, he flew directly into the sky and used the Earth Observation Technique to survey the shape and trend of the entire Xuanwu Mountain.

The Xuanwu Mountain occupies an area of tens of thousands of miles, with a mountain range stretching hundreds of miles, winding and undulating like a giant dragon lying on the ground.

Ye Fan kept flying higher and only at ten thousand feet did he use the Earth Observation Technique within the Dragon Seeking Formulas to discern some clues.

The entire Xuanwu Mountain is indeed very much like a Xuanwu lying on the ground, only it is incomplete, as if it had been shattered by someone.

At this moment, Ye Fan was completely shocked. Having lived here for years, he never realized that the entire Xuanwu Mountain was a huge Xuanwu.

However, this is not surprising. The Xuanwu Mountain’s damage is severe. It’s not just him; even top-tier Earth Masters might not notice anything.

It was only under the ten-thousand-foot altitude and using the Earth Observation Technique from the Dragon Seeking Formula with a preconceived notion that he managed to barely perceive some hints.

If not for preconceived notions, even if the ancestor of the Earth Master Family from the Liang clan personally came, he might not discover anything.

Such a gigantic Xuanwu must have incredible power, possibly comparable to the Quasi-Emperor Ninth Layer Heaven. Who shattered it?

The Great Emperor!

The words immediately emerged in Ye Fan’s mind. Under heaven, who else besides a Great Emperor would have such power and skill?

The time is too ancient, from before the Desolate Ages. Now it is completely buried under the dust of history; no one can uncover the truth anymore.

"The Great Emperor’s means are truly extraordinary!"

Ye Fan exclaimed, convinced that this Xuanwu must have been shattered by the Great Emperor. Otherwise, no one could break the defenses of a Xuanwu that is akin to the Quasi-Emperor Ninth Layer Heaven.

The Xuanwu itself emphasizes defense, with a shell hard as can be, surely able to withstand attacks from opponents even a realm higher.

However, he also felt completely assured that with such a Divine Beast guarding it, the Xuanwu Sect will definitely not really be extinguished. Even if the heritage is temporarily severed, it will surely reemerge gloriously in the future.

As Ye Fan was about to leave, he suddenly thought: The Xuanwu Sect has a secret technique, the Xuanwu Armor Technique, which is also incredibly defensive. Could it have some connection with this Xuanwu?

The more he thought, the more certain he was that his intuition was correct. The Xuanwu Armor Technique must have some intrinsic relationship with the Xuanwu under the Xuanwu Mountain.

"Buzz!"

Ye Fan directly displayed the Xuanwu Armor Technique. A flash of light shimmered on him, and a set of armor formed from Divine Power appeared on his body, adorned with ancient patterns.

He stood in the sky, thinking deeply and feeling inspiration, and then left the Xuanwu Sect after half a day.

After leaving the Xuanwu Sect, Ye Fan went straight to Xuanwu City, using the Transmission Array Platform there to traverse the Void to the Eastern Domain, and then turned back to the Immortal Academy.

After the battle with the Heavenly Prince, Ye Fan truly became a hero of the Human Race. No matter which city’s Transmission Array Platform he used, he no longer needed to pay with Spirit Stones himself.

Moreover, in every city he arrived, he was warmly welcomed, with numerous cultivators scrambling to get close to him, which annoyed him immensely.

Eventually, he had no choice but to avoid cities with large populations and many cultivators, and instead draw array patterns himself to traverse the Void.

However, his proficiency in array patterns was even less reliable than the Bai Yan wolf. He didn’t know how many times he went wrong before he got close to the Immortal Academy.

Close was actually a considerable error, being tens of thousands of miles.

Ye Fan dared not draw array patterns himself to traverse anymore and had to walk it.

But this also had its advantages, at least allowing him to use this opportunity to hone the Chasing Star Step. The Chasing Star Step is a step technique of supreme speed on Earth, which he hasn’t fully comprehended yet.

Once fully comprehended, with a single step, space becomes chaotic, time reverses, and wherever the mind reaches, it connects with everything!

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