Chen Xuan felt a chill run down his spine, as if someone was watching him. It must have been an illusion. When he looked around, he saw only ordinary ants. Ants were beneath his notice.

...

"What sharp instincts," Dongfang Yunxing thought as he suppressed his killing intent. He wanted nothing more than to kill Chen Xuan right then and there, but he held back. He was still not strong enough to be his opponent.

As the Ghost Clan ruins opened, Dongfang Yunxing entered along with the main group. His current goal was simple: hunt beasts, gather resources, and raise his strength.

He was lucky. Following the principle of taking whatever he found and collecting protection fees when he found nothing, he quickly accumulated a large amount of cultivation resources.

Dongfang Yunxing found a hidden corner and began refining all the resources he had obtained.

On the other side, Chen Xuan's luck was not nearly as good.

He had offended too many scions of great clans. First, someone came looking for trouble. Chen Xuan killed him, only for that person's powerful backer to appear. He killed them too. This drew the third-ranked genius of the Great Wind Dynasty into the fray. After a fierce battle, Chen Xuan killed him as well.

"Chen Xuan, the Third Prince will never let you go!"

[Ding! New system mission: kill Third Prince.]

It seemed the problem had solved itself.

Chen Xuan recalled that the Third Prince was interested in Tao Wan. Anyone who provoked him had already chosen death.

...

Inside the Ghost Clan ruins, Dongfang Yunxing finally finished refining the resources he had gathered.

His cultivation reached the sixth layer of Spirit Sea. Even so, he was still no match for a Spirit Soul realm expert—especially not someone like Chen Xuan.

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Dongfang Yunxing did not act rashly. He had learned patience. He continued searching for resources, collecting protection fees, hunting beasts to level up, and quietly looking for an opportunity.

His persistence paid off. Deep within the ruins lay the corpse of a powerful Ghost Clan expert. The body had transformed into a vast mountain of treasures, containing precious artifacts and even legacies left behind by the Ghost Clan.

The appearance of this great legacy attracted countless prodigies.

Dongfang Yunxing had no intention of missing it.

Neither did Chen Xuan.

When Dongfang Yunxing saw Chen Xuan again, he hid his presence perfectly and left no trace for Chen Xuan to notice.

Battles erupted one after another around them. Chen Xuan slaughtered his enemies with overwhelming dominance.

Dongfang Yunxing continued to endure and wait.

Meanwhile, Chen Xuan had fallen in love at first sight once more. Amid the crowd stood a woman in white, as pure and untouchable as a celestial maiden from the ninth heaven. Her beauty reached 99 points—the highest Chen Xuan had ever seen.

The white-robed woman ventured deep into the Ghost Clan territory. Chen Xuan followed closely behind her.

Neither of them noticed the ordinary-looking figure trailing silently after them both.

Inside the Heaven's Mandate Pearl, Su Chen had intended to let Dongfang Yunxing face the child of destiny alone for this trial. Even so, he kept a close watch on the situation outside.

He was pleased to see that Dongfang Yunxing remained cautious. Instead of rushing into conflict, his disciple focused on developing himself in secret and searching for a chance to turn the tables.

Dongfang Yunxing broke through several minor realms in succession while continuing to follow Chen Xuan from the shadows.

He soon discovered that Chen Xuan harbored ill intentions toward the white-robed woman.

"Who's there?" Chen Xuan shouted in a low voice as he trailed behind her.

The woman seemed to be searching for something. When she entered a hidden chamber, she accidentally triggered a trap inside. A seductive ghost brand appeared on her body, and she struggled fiercely to resist it.

Chen Xuan thought he should play the part of a good person and lend a helping hand.

Just as he prepared to take advantage of the situation, he was shocked to sense an unfamiliar presence behind him. The sudden interruption disrupted his plan and even allowed the white-robed woman, who had lost her senses, to regain clarity for a brief moment. She struck out with a palm toward Chen Xuan.

She was a Profound Connection realm expert!

Chen Xuan flew backward like a broken kite. The single palm strike heavily wounded him, but it was not enough to kill him.

Dongfang Yunxing stepped out from the shadows.

Chen Xuan's killing intent surged as he stared at the ordinary-looking figure. This person had ruined his plans!

"Chen Xuan!"

When enemies met, their eyes burned with hatred. Dongfang Yunxing decided to act. Taking advantage of Chen Xuan's heavy injuries, he would end his life and finally avenge the ninety-nine members of the Dongfang.

Chen Xuan never expected that an ordinary Spirit Sea realm cultivator would dare raise a hand against him.