Not only Luo Xiaoyuan felt bewildered, but Ye Jingyu was equally lost. Although he had fortunately dodged that sharp burst of sword energy, Dugu Qian had a clear opportunity to kill him then, yet she didn't. Instead, she deliberately allowed herself to be knocked back by his blade—what was going on?

And what did her telepathic message, telling him to wait at the Bodhi Temple, even mean?

Could it be that this young master was truly too handsome? Had she fallen for him at first sight?

Of course, no matter how narcissistic Ye Jingyu was, he didn't believe that was possible...

But regardless of the reason, he was the only one left standing on the platform (Read the full novel at .1.(1.m.wenxue.net). Only he remained, and according to the competition rules, he had secured victory in the first match, smoothly advancing to the next round...

When Luo Xiaoyuan announced the decision, many faces were etched with confusion. Many of them hadn't even clearly understood what had transpired in the duel before it ended, with Dugu Qian falling outside the ring...

All of this was puzzling. After the confusion subsided, everyone could only marvel at Ye Jingyu's incredible luck in advancing to the final four while still only being at the Martial Master realm...

The other three matches concluded quickly. Those who advanced to the next round were Huangfu Buyue, Qin Yunxiao, and Mu Zhan...

This meant that three of the people arranged by the four Young Masters had made it to the final four. This alone demonstrated how talent-rich the entourage of the four Young Masters was—though Ye Jingyu was the exception; that brat was just plain lucky...

At least, that's what most people believed...

In reality, the contestant sent by the Seventh Young Master was also a top-tier expert, but unfortunately, he ran into the anomaly that was Huangfu Buyue and didn't even get a chance to strike back...

The next round of matches would take place in three days: Ye Jingyu against Qin Yunxiao, and Huangfu Buyue against Mu Zhan...

Upon hearing this news, Ye Jingyu was naturally overjoyed. He was finally going to face Qin Yunxiao and could seize this chance to avenge his family, even though those hundreds of deceased relatives had no actual connection to him...

As for Qin Yunxiao, he was equally satisfied upon receiving the pairings. His entire purpose in participating in this martial examination was to use the opportunity to kill Ye Jingyu; then, even the Third Young Master wouldn't have much to say...

After receiving the news about the next round, Ye Jingyu left with only Little Taotao. Although he didn't truly believe Dugu Qian had fallen head over heels for him or intended to pledge herself to him, he still needed to go to the Bodhi Temple—if only because she recognized the Thunderous Blade Art...

And when coupled with what the Third Young Master had mentioned about the blade master from the Dugu family who injured Xuanyuan Jue three hundred years ago...

Ye Jingyu vaguely guessed the identity of that senior figure he had encountered in the cave...

He chose not to bring anyone else along because he didn't want others to know about his meeting with someone from the Dugu family. As for his safety, with Little Taotao—a creature that even a sixth-level Soul Master found troublesome—there was no need to worry, right?

Of course, if a master at the Martial Saint realm decided to strike him down, what good would bringing more people do anyway?

The moonlight was invariably soft. The city gates of Yun Jing had long been shut, and the tenant farmers outside the city had retired early. The sky above was peaceful, and Ye Jingyu walked quietly along the road towards the Bodhi Temple...

Little Taotao followed behind him, its pair of vivid green eyes emitting a glow that seemed strikingly eerie in the deep darkness of the night...

"Awooo... Yip... Yip," came Little Taotao's voice...

"I say, big brother, you just devoured three mutton legs, and you’re hungry again?" Without needing mental communication, Ye Jingyu already knew what the Taotie wanted to say...

"But I'm just hungry..." Little Taotao's slightly spoiled voice echoed directly in Ye Jingyu's mind...

"Damn it, Ou [a slang term for 'I/me'], who taught you to use that word?" Ye Jingyu rolled his eyes. How did this creature even know internet slang?

"Didn't you often say, 'Ou is here,' when you were dreaming?" Little Taotao replied with an air of complete nonchalance...

"Uh..." A few wisps of black lines began to appear on Ye Jingyu's forehead...

It was fine if the creature knew, but why bring it up?

But then again, come to think of it, were all my dreams just about things like that?

"Little Yezi, are we there yet?" Little Taotao’s voice sounded again in Ye Jingyu's mind...

Little Yezi...

The wisps of black lines on Ye Jingyu’s forehead multiplied from one to two. Was this thing tired of living? How dare it call him Little Yezi...

"You are remarkably punctual..." Just as Ye Jingyu was about to discipline Little Taotao, a clear, crisp female voice drifted from ahead...

Ye Jingyu looked up. Aided by the silvery moonlight, he could see a dilapidated temple nestled about a hundred meters away. A figure stood before the temple entrance...

Even in the night, even from a hundred meters away, Ye Jingyu's current eyesight was incredibly sharp. He saw the person clad in black, their long hair tied back, with a refined face—handsome and spirited. Who else could it be but Dugu Qian?

Although her attire was little changed from that morning, Ye Jingyu perceived a distinct feminine aura about her now, even though... that aura was incredibly cold...

"Well, it's a date with a beauty; how could I not be on time?" Ye Jingyu quipped casually, not treating her status with any seriousness. If others knew someone dared to tease someone from the Dugu family, they would surely be too astonished to close their mouths...

"I only want to know how you know the Thunderous Blade Art?" Dugu Qian ignored Ye Jingyu's teasing and asked directly...

"That's a question I should be asking you—how do you know I used the Thunderous Blade Art?" Ye Jingyu replied as he walked forward...

Little Taotao trotted beside him, its vivid green eyes darting around restlessly, lost in its own thoughts...

"How could I not know? This is the world-shaking blade art created by one of our Dugu family's ancestors three hundred years ago. It was with this technique that they injured Xuanyuan Jue and secured a small measure of justice for our Dugu family head," Dugu Qian stated calmly, a flicker of reverie crossing her face, as if recalling ancient tales...

"Are you referring to Senior Dugu Ba-chen?" Hearing Dugu Qian mention this name, Ye Jingyu became even more certain that the corpse in that stone cave was likely Dugu Ba-chen...

"Did he truly teach you your blade art?" Upon hearing Ye Jingyu utter Dugu Ba-chen's name, Dugu Qian's expression shifted drastically...

"I don't know. I found it in a stone cave..." Following this, Ye Jingyu recounted the events of that day in the cave...

Since she recognized his technique and was part of the Dugu family, what harm was there in telling her?

"Impossible, absolutely impossible. His cultivation had already reached the peak. How could he have passed away? Absolutely impossible..." But after listening to Ye Jingyu's account, Dugu Qian’s usually placid face was filled with disbelief...

"Come on, that senior lived three hundred years ago! Even if he cultivated to the Martial God or even Martial Venerable realm, what of it? He wasn't a Soul Master; how could he live three hundred years?" Ye Jingyu rolled his eyes. He had heard that Soul Masters could achieve immortality at the final stage, but he had never witnessed it, let alone a mere martial artist...

"What do you know? At their level of attainment, it's beyond your comprehension. Tell me where that cave is; I must go find him," Dugu Qian ignored Ye Jingyu's sarcasm and spoke again...

"Southern Savage Forest. I don't know the precise location," Ye Jingyu shook his head. He had stumbled upon that place by chance, and later, while back in the Southern Savage Forest, he had tried to find his way back but could never locate the path again...

"You..." Hearing Ye Jingyu say this, Dugu Qian’s beautiful eyes widened... Just as she was about to erupt in anger, Ye Jingyu cut her off...

"Me what? I told you everything I know. What else do you want?"

"You... You actually subdued the Taotie?" Dugu Qian’s attention suddenly shifted to the Taotie beside Ye Jingyu, and her expression changed drastically...

"What? Is that not allowed?" Ye Jingyu looked completely unconcerned...

What was the Taotie to him? Even a Saint would bow when faced with the temptation of sweet words and flattery...

"It seems our ancestor had his reasons for passing the Thunderous Blade Art to you. I hope you do not dishonor the ancestor's name..." Dugu Qian quickly calmed her emotions, glanced at Ye Jingyu one last time, turned, and walked toward the side. Before Ye Jingyu could speak, her figure had vanished into the dark night...

"Damn, why leave so quickly? Is she afraid I might bully her or something?" Seeing Dugu Qian disappear so suddenly, Ye Jingyu muttered under his breath, though he knew his trip hadn't been in vain...

The Thunderous Blade Art was actually created by Dugu Ba-chen! Three hundred years ago, he could injure the foremost figure in the world, Xuanyuan Jue, with this technique. Doesn't that mean that once he completely masters this set of arts, he could become invincible under heaven?

At that thought, Qin Yunxiao, Qin Yan—they would all have to stand aside! Thinking of this, Ye Jingyu's heart surged with excitement...