It didn’t take Ye Guan that long to write down the cultivation manual that Little Pagoda had shared with him. He immediately rushed over to Nalan Jia’s room. 

Little Pagoda’s voice sounded solemn as it said, “He’s not the same as his father.”

The mysterious voice spoke, “They are indeed not the same.”

Little Pagoda replied, “His talent is too great, and he’s improving by leaps and bounds. I don’t think his growth rate is a good thing. I feel like we have to suppress his growth.”

“I think you’re being a worrywart. I think he’s aware of the things that you’re worried about as well. We should just focus on the big picture,” said the mysterious voice.

Little Pagoda replied, “I agree.”

…

Ye Guan soon arrived at Nalan Jia’s room.

Nalan Jia was surprised to see him. However, Ye Guan handed a piece of paper over to Nalan Jia before the latter could even speak. 

“What is that?” asked Nalan Jia. She was confused as she stared at the piece of paper.

Ye Guan grinned. “Read it.”

Nalan Jia received the piece of paper and read it. 

Her expression turned serious. ”Goodness…”

Ye Guan smiled and explained, “A senior gave me a cultivation manual, and I wrote it down because I think it’ll be helpful to you as well.”

Nalan Jia skimmed the piece of paper and muttered in shock, “This is terrifying.”

The piece of paper contained phrases that overturned what she knew about the Spacetime Realm.

“Cultivate well,” said Ye Guan before turning around to leave. 

Nalan Jia’s expression was complicated as she looked at him leave.

“What a mysterious man,” she muttered. Indeed, the more she got to know Ye Guan, the more mysterious he appeared. Nalan Jia seemed to have thought of something, but she quickly shook her head and smiled. Her heart felt warm. The piece of paper in her hand was precious, but his intentions were priceless.

…

Ye Guan had fallen in love with the feeling of moving his sword through space. It couldn’t be helped because attacks using space as a medium of travel were unpredictable. Ordinary cultivators could only hope to dodge them.

If he knew how to use space as a medium of travel for his sword move, he wouldn’t have had to sneak attack Wei Tong. 

Ye Guan was now practicing Instant Death Strike, and it was harder to execute than he initially thought. Instant Death Strike was a fully concentrated strike. Needless to say, it would kill his target in an instant.

In other words, mastering Instant Death Strike meant that Ye Guan could easily reap anyone’s life whenever he wanted to do so with his sword.

It was late at night, and Ye Guan was on a hill within the Siao Estate.

Ye Guan’s eyes were closed, and absolute silence surrounded him. All of a sudden, his eyes shot wide open, and a sword nailed a falling leaf into a tree trunk about a hundred meters away from him.

Ye Guan shook his head lightly. “It’s still not fast enough!”

He had just performed the so-called Instant Death Strike. He had gathered all of his divine soul energy to move his sword through a rift in space so that it would instantly appear in front of his target and deliver a fully concentrated strike.

However, Ye Guan felt that it was still not fast enough. I can be faster than that!

Ye Guan trained extremely hard late into the night. 

He would rest whenever he got tired, and he would continue once he had slightly recovered. Ye Guan was working hard because he neither had powerful parents nor a powerful family as his backer. He knew that he could only count on himself.

The world was like a boundless ocean with incredibly powerful currents. It was extremely hard to find stability amidst the waves, and riding those waves to shine even brighter than the rest was more difficult than ascending the heavens.

However, Ye Guan remained undeterred, and he worked hard. He worked ten—no, a thousand times harder than anyone else. He was well aware that he could only shine brighter than anyone else through hard work.

Time passed, and the day of the welcome banquet finally arrived. 

It was already afternoon, so Ye Guan went back to his room and got ready before heading toward Nalan Jia’s room.

“Give me a moment,” said Nalan Jia from her room. 

Ye Guan stepped aside and waited next to the door. 

He was wearing a white robe, and his tall figure made him look like a javelin. His complexion was fair and smooth, and his features were sharp and distinct. He was smiling faintly, which made him look cool and elegant.

A scented sachet was hanging from his waist. 

The door finally opened, and Nalan Jia emerged. Ye Guan fell into a daze upon seeing her.

Nalan Jia was wearing a snow-white dress. Her eyebrows were delicate yet sharp, while her features were exquisite and flawless. Nalan Jia resembled a fairy as she walked over to Ye Guan.

Ye Guan was rendered speechless by her beauty, but he still noticed that she was wearing a butterfly hairpin. 

Nalan Jia walked up to Ye Guan and smiled at him. “Let’s go.”

Ye Guan smiled and complimented her. “You look really beautiful today.”

Nalan Jia blinked and asked, “Really?”

Ye Guan nodded. 

Nalan Jia’s lips curled up. “Let’s see if that will hold true once you’ve seen Lady Luo Zhaoqi,” she teased.

Ye Guan froze. 

Nalan Jia grinned at the sight and chuckled before exclaiming, “Let’s go!”

The pair walked over to the main gate of the Siao Residence. Sun Xiong and Siao Ge were already waiting for them, along with Fei Banqing and Song Fu.

“Be careful,” said Fei Banqing.

Ye Guan nodded. “Okay.”

Ye Guan, Nalan Jia, Sun Xiong, and Siao Ge got into a carriage and headed to the Guanxuan Hall of Ceremonies.

Fei Banqing stared at the departing carriage and muttered, “I’m slightly worried.”

“Are you worried about Ye Guan?” asked Song Fu with a smile.

Fei Banqing nodded. 

Song Fu smiled gently. “Don’t worry. He’s a reasonable individual, and I don’t think he’s going to be at a disadvantage compared to the geniuses there.”

Fei Banqing shook her head and smiled. “You’re right.”

…

Soon, the four talents of Nanzhou arrived at the Guanxuan Hall of Ceremonies. 

It was an understatement to say that the hall was grand and luxurious because the front facade alone was decorated with all sorts of expensive decorations. 

There were many people heading into the hall, but it seemed that only a hundred people were invited this time as well. 

Those who had been invited could be considered the cream of the crop among the talented individuals throughout the three hundred and sixty states.

The four talents of Nanzhou presented their invitations and entered the hall. 

The hall was spacious and could easily accommodate a few thousand people. There was a massive stone stage in the middle of the hall, and it seemed to be at least thirty meters in length and wide. There were round tables below the stone stage.

Siao Ge chuckled. “I think I still haven’t told you guys, but the tables of each invitee have been carefully decided and arranged.”

Ye Guan, Nalan Jia, and Sun Xiong looked at Siao Ge. 

Siao Ge smiled and explained, “The farther you are from the stage, the lower your status is in the eyes of the Guanxuan Academy. By default, Qingzhou’s table has always been the closest to the stage along with Yunzhou.”

Sun Xiong shook his head and remarked, “We truly are living in a pragmatic world...”

Siao Ge glanced at Sun Xiong and smiled. “Indeed, we’re living in a pragmatic world. The more benefits or value you bring, the more highly regarded you are. That is just how the world works...”

Sun Xiong nodded. “Yeah.”

Siao Ge turned to look at the others and said, “Let’s find our table.”

The group looked around, but they couldn’t find their table. 

Nalan Jia pointed at the table near the stage. “Look over there!”

Siao Ge turned to look at where Nalan Jia was pointing, and his expression abruptly froze over. It turned out that they were assigned a table on the same row as Yunzhou.

The group was shocked, and they looked at each other in confusion. 

Siao Ge asked, “Why are we assigned that table?”

Ye Guan shook his head and said, “I don’t know.”

Siao Ge’s expression turned solemn as he said, “They have basically pushed us down into a pit of tigers. Who arranged the tables? Are they mad at us?”

Sun Xiong’s voice was somber as he asked, “Are we going to go there?”

Siao Ge glanced hesitantly at Ye Guan. 

Ye Guan was calm as he said, “Of course, we’re going there. They gave us that table, so it’s our right to sit in front of that table?”

“I’m afraid of creating enemies…” Siao Ge muttered.

Ye Guan smiled at him and said, “If a table is enough to frighten us, should we really aim for first place?”

With that, Ye Guan walked toward their table, seemingly unafraid. Ye Guan was well aware that against those arrogant but talented, one had to remain steadfast and unafraid. If I show them that I’m a pushover, they’re definitely going to bully me. They’re going to gang up on me!

Nalan Jia smiled and followed behind Ye Guan. Siao Ge chuckled before chasing after them. Sun Xiong couldn’t sit on the floor, so he followed after the three. 

All eyes were on Ye Guan and his group as they walked over to their table, and those eyes widened in shock upon seeing the plaque on the table.

Nanzhou Guanxuan Academy? Nanzhou?!

The faces of every invitee in the hall turned strange.

Nanzhou has always been at the bottom of the rankings, right? Qingzhou is on the first row, and it’s not strange that Yunzhou is on the second row, but why is Nanzhou on the same row as Yunzhou? What’s going on?

The invitees showed many different expressions—some were confused, some were curious, and there were many who were unhappy.

Siao Ge looked around and smiled. “They’re looking at us.”

Ye Guan sipped on his cup. “Let them.”

Siao Ge smiled. “My instincts are telling me that there’s going to be trouble.”

Ye Guan remained calm as he said, “Don’t create trouble but don’t be scared of trouble.”

Siao Ge laughed. “Indeed.”

A man with his hair tied back into a ponytail walked into the hall. He was clad in a simple cotton shirt and pants, and he was wearing a pair of straw sandals. 

He looked very shabby for the occasion that several people in the hall even ridiculed him as he entered. 

However, the mocking smiles of those people soon froze over, and it was all because the man in a ponytail walked over to the table next to Ye Guan and his group.

It was clear that the man in a ponytail was Zuo Fu from Yunzhou, sobering everyone up. 

The reigning second place—that was how everyone evaluated Yunzhou. However, they weren’t mocking Yunzhou for being the reigning second place. After all, it was incredibly difficult to maintain one’s ranking every time the martial contest was held.

Zuo Fu sat and turned to a maidservant. 

“A cup of water, please,” he said.

The maidservant hurriedly poured him a cup of water. 

Zuo Fu retrieved a biscuit and started eating it, seemingly treating everyone else as air.

Ye Guan’s expression was solemn as he looked at Zuo Fu. He couldn’t feel Zuo Fu’s aura at all. 

However, Ye Guan wasn’t alone. Everyone else was also trying to assess Zuo Fu. 

Yunzhou had always sent three representatives, but they only sent one representative for this decade’s martial contest, which was abnormal.

Meanwhile, a woman and a man entered the hall. The man was tall and burly. The muscles on his chest and arms were bulging, and he looked impressive overall. 

The woman was wearing a simple cyan dress, and her long hair was draped over her shoulders. She was holding a long saber in her slender hand. Her gaze was cold as the snowfields of winter, and they were completely devoid of emotions.

The woman walked over to the first table with the man. Qingzhou!

The entire hall was so silent that one could hear a pin drop.

Ao Han and Mu Yunhan!

Ao Han glanced at Zuo Fu before making a sidelong glance at Ye Guan’s group. However, Mu Yunhan was only looking at Nalan Jia. 

Siao Ge turned to Ye Guan and muttered, “One of them is still missing…”

Ye Guan was about to say something when a woman slowly sauntered into the hall. 

Everyone’s eyes lit up upon seeing the woman. The woman was wearing a red top with a purple shawl, and her chest was so bountiful that it seemed like it would burst out of her clothes anytime soon. 

The woman was wearing a light green skirt that accentuated her figure, and the way she walked was aesthetically pleasing. Her eyes were as clear as a placid lake, and her gaze was determined and steady. She was also giving off a noble and elegant aura.

Overall, she had the figure of a devil but the visage of an angel.

No other woman in the hall aside from Nalan Jia could compare to her beauty. She was none other than Luo Zhaoqi, the Chief Student Representative of the Upper Realm’s Guanxuan Academy. 

Nalan Jia suddenly asked, “Am I more beautiful or is she more beautiful?”

“Well—” Ye Guan started.

However, Nalan Jia interrupted. “Be honest!”

Ye Guan pondered over it seriously before responding, “She’s very beautiful. Her looks are comparable to yours, but her beauty has nothing to do with me?”

“How about my beauty? Does it have anything to do with you?” asked Nalan Jia.

Ye Guan nodded. “Of course, you’re my lover, after all!”

Nalan Jia stared blankly at the response, but she soon revealed a bright smile. She was so happy that she couldn’t help but let out an angelic chuckle. The moment she chuckled, the hall seemed to have been dyed in her colors.

Under everyone’s gaze, Luo Zhaoqi slowly walked onto the stage. She swept her gaze across everyone and smiled. “On behalf of the Guanxuan Academy, I would like to welcome all of you to the Upper Realm.”

A man suddenly stood up and bowed slightly toward Luo Zhaoqi. He smiled and said, “Student Representative Luo, my name is Lu Ke, and I’m from the Profound Sky Clan. I have something to say.”

Luo Zhaoqi looked at Lu Ke and smiled. “Please speak.”

“Qingzhou’s table is on the first row, and it’s fine. Yunzhou’s table is on the second row, and it’s fine as well.” Lu Ke’s smile deepened, and he pointed at Ye Guan’s group before continuing. “However, I cannot accept seeing Nanzhou on the second row along with Yunzhou!”

Luo Zhaoqi’s eyes narrowed. Meanwhile, Ye Guan placed his cup on the table and looked at Lu Ke. 

“Don’t like it? Let’s fight,” said Ye Guan.

How straightforward and direct!

Everyone was stunned.