"Your disciple..." Bai Yunlan gasped, tightening his grip on Ye Jingyu's neck, seemingly having guessed the relationship between Ye Jingyu and the person before him...

This tightening startled the comatose Ye Jingyu awake. He groggily opened his eyes and saw what seemed like a towering blade in the distance, a knife capable of cleaving heaven and earth. But as he focused, he realized it was a person—a gaunt, withered man...

"Master..." A loud cry burst from Ye Jingyu's lips, and two clear tears sprang from the corners of his eyes, gushing out like the plumes of the Baotu Spring...

He wept with such deep sorrow, such profound distress, as if he had suffered the greatest injustice under the heavens...

The way he looked at the man was filled with reverence, adoration, and expectation, much like a kindergarten child, suddenly seeing their parent after being bullied. That look made everyone around believe the depth of their bond...

But who could know that, including this encounter, Ye Jingyu and the withered man had only met twice, the first time without exchanging a single word...

If not for encountering that mysterious little figure in the Tiangang Mountain Range, Ye Jingyu would have assumed the man was long dead...

This person was none other than Dugu Ba-chen, the Blade God who was the only one to injure Xuanyuan Jue three hundred years ago. He was also the one who taught Ye Jingyu the Thunderous Blade Art in the cave—that supremely formidable figure who existed three centuries prior...

Dugu Ba-chen was also stunned for a moment, clearly not expecting such warmth from his nominal disciple. Yet, in an instant, he discerned that all of the young man's sorrow and pitiable display was feigned...

"What are you crying for, useless thing? After cultivating for so long, you're still stuck in the Xiantian Realm, unable to even defeat a few youngsters. How dare you call me Master..." Seeing through Ye Jingyu's pretense, Dugu Ba-chen let out a cold snort...

"Uh..." Ye Jingyu was momentarily speechless, but the look of aggrieved resentment on his face deepened. How long had he truly been practicing the Thunderous Blade Art? At most, a little over a year. To progress from knowing nothing to the Xiantian Realm—was that slow? Even peerless figures like Huangfu Buyue or Dugu Qian couldn't match his pace... As for the 'youngsters' he mentioned, Ye Jingyu felt even more wronged. He was a great figure from three hundred years ago, capable of treating their ancestors like punching bags, but how old was Ye Jingyu? Barely eighteen, not yet nineteen, and his strength was only at the Xiantian Realm, while they were all figures like Martial Saints. How could he possibly fight them?

However, he was currently held captive, facing the only person capable of rescuing him. Ye Jingyu dared not offend. Besides feigning grievance on his face, he absolutely dared not utter another word...

But his silence did not mean others would also remain quiet. At least Bai Yunlan, who held him, had the audacity to speak, even though he knew the man before him possessed strength superior to his own...

"Don't think that just because you are overwhelmingly powerful you can do as you please. My Bai Family is not afraid of you..." Looking at Dugu Ba-chen's emaciated frame, Bai Yunlan spoke coldly. He was deeply displeased by the man calling them mere youngsters...

"Not afraid? Then why are you holding onto my disciple?" Dugu Ba-chen's lips curved into a mocking smile...

"He killed my grandson, so naturally, I must seek justice for my grandson..." Bai Yunlan retorted coldly, his hand never loosening its grip around Ye Jingyu's neck...

"You have so many grandsons; what does losing one or two matter?" Dugu Ba-chen said dismissively...

"You..." Bai Yunlan was furious. What kind of statement was that—saying losing one or two grandsons was insignificant because he had so many...

"I'll give you one chance: release my disciple, then apologize to him, and I will spare everyone present a death," Before Bai Yunlan could finish, Dugu Ba-chen interrupted directly, his tone arrogantly unparalleled...

But for some unknown reason, everyone in the hall abruptly retreated dozens of steps, as if distancing themselves from the man meant greater safety. Their relationship with Bai Yunlan wasn't the same as that of Bai Ziyun or Bai Jingfei; they certainly didn't wish to become sacrifices in a duel between two grandmasters...

"Good, good, good! In my entire life, I, Bai Yunlan, have never seen such an arrogant person! Today, this old man will see how you stop me from killing this brat..." Before the words even settled, Bai Yunlan tightened his grip on Ye Jingyu's neck, sending a terrifying surge of Zhenyuan power rushing toward the youth...

Feeling the potent force, Ye Jingyu’s face turned ashen. Yet, from an unknown source, he mustered the courage not to utter a sound. He had to trust him, trust that he was the absolute master who dominated the continent three centuries ago...

Seeing Ye Jingyu's demeanor, a faint smile touched Dugu Ba-chen's face. Yes, at this critical juncture, he still had the presence of mind to observe Ye Jingyu's expression, curious to gauge his courage...

The result was naturally satisfying. For Bai Yunlan, killing Ye Jingyu would have been as easy as crushing an ant, but Ye Jingyu’s composure under such pressure resonated deeply with his own nature. His disciple should be this confident...

His body remained still, but a sharp gleam flashed in his eyes. The Heavenly Venerate Blade, which Bai Yunlan had set aside, suddenly shot out like a meteor, slicing across Bai Yunlan’s wrist before the destructive energy in his palm could even reach Ye Jingyu, severing his hand completely...

This all happened too fast, in less time than it takes to blink...

Everything was unimaginably swift; Bai Yunlan hadn't even processed what occurred before his hand separated from his wrist...

Dugu Ba-chen moved for the first time, simply reaching out with one hand. Ye Jingyu’s body was swiftly pulled to his side. As for the obsidian-black Heavenly Venerate Blade, it circled once in the air before stabbing into the floor right at Dugu Ba-chen's feet...

Half the blade sank into the incredibly sturdy floor—made of some material capable of withstanding the collapse of heaven and earth, as Bai Tianyu had demonstrated—emitting a low hum...

It was only then that Bai Yunlan noticed his severed hand falling, and only then did he feel the stabbing, heart-wrenching pain...

The others in the hall turned pale once more, their faces completely devoid of color. As for Ye Jingyu, upon realizing he was suddenly beside Dugu Ba-chen, he felt as though he had just been on a roller coaster—so thrilling, so perilous...