Three strikes!


    The surroundings became so silent that one could hear a pin drop.


    The arriving members of the Primordial Spirit n looked at the scene in disbelief. One of the three great talents, Qing Ling, was defeated just like that? How was that possible?


    Ye Guan looked at Qing Ling before him and said, "Thank you for letting me win."


    With that, he opened his palm, and the sword intent behind Qing Ling''s head returned to his hand.


    Qing Ling was silent for a moment before shaking his head with a smile. "Young Master Ye''s sword technique is truly astonishing. I couldn''t even react."


    Ye Guan calmly asked, "Want to go again?"


    He could tell that Qing Ling felt somewhat unwilling to ept his defeat.


    Qing Ling initially wanted to agree, but soon, he furrowed his brow and said, "A loss is a loss. I ept it."Although he wanted to fight again, he knew that doing so would make him appear as if he couldn''t ept his defeat. He couldn''t afford to lose face, especially since he was representing the entire Primordial Spirit n at this moment.


    Seeing Qing Ling concede, Ye Guan nodded slightly and then asked, "When does your n''s internalpetition start?"


    Qing Ling replied, "In a month."


    <em>A month.</em> Ye Guan nodded slightly. "Then I''lle back in a month."


    With that, Ye Guan turned around to leave.


    "Wait!" Qing Ling eximed.


    Ye Guan turned to look at Qing Ling.


    Qing Ling smiled and exined, "Young Master Ye, wherever you go now, you''re bound to be harassed by Primordial Spirit n members. Why note to my residence? It''s very quiet there, and no one will disturb you."


    Ye Guan thought for a moment before saying, "All right."


    He had a good impression of Qing Ling, who didn''t seem to be as arrogant as the other Primordial Spirit n members. Plus, Ye Guan really didn''t want to be disturbed. Fighting one person today and another tomorrow was tiring.


    Qing Ling nodded slightly and said, "Young Master Ye, please follow me."


    With that, he led Ye Guan away from the sparring ground.


    The Primordial Spirit n members around looked at each other with indescribable expressions. They hadn''t expected Qing Ling to lose, and so easily at that. It was clear now that the sessor of the First God was no simple character. This realization made many reconsider their desire to challenge Ye Guan. Qing Ling''s defeat meant that only those stronger than Qing Ling could fight him.


    Among the younger generation of the Primordial Spirit n, only a few were stronger than Qing Ling. Some of the Primordial Spirit n members were worried. Was history about to repeat itself?


    If the First God''s descendant wiped the floor with the Primordial Spirit n, their reputation would be greatly tarnished.


    Unbeknownst to everyone, two elders had been observing everything from the shadows. One of them was the Wise Master, while the other was the Primordial Spirit n''s enforcer, Spirit Lord Sifa.


    The Wise Master turned to Spirit Lord Sifa beside him and asked, "What do you think?"


    Spirit Lord Sifa calmly replied, "Not bad."


    The Wise Masterughed heartily and said, "You''re being quite reserved. Isn''t this Young Master Ye more than just ''not bad''?"


    Spirit Lord Sifa looked at Zhi Shi, "What are you nning?"


    The Wise Master remained calm as he replied, "My daughter has acknowledged him, and he wants to save Ruo Ming."


    Spirit Lord Sifa shook his head and pointed out. "Your goal surely isn''t just <em>that</em>."


    The Wise Master nodded.


    Spirit Lord Sifa''s brows furrowed, "Old Wise, what are you really trying to do here?"


    The Wise Master said softly, "I think this young man can change our Primordial Spirit n."


    Spirit Lord Sifa''s expression turned serious, "What do you mean?"


    The Wise Master looked up at the starry sky and remarked, "Over the years, our Primordial Spirit n has be increasingly arrogant and conceited. At this rate, we will meet the same fate as the Chu Pce, which is to grapple with annihtion. We need an outsider to wake us up."


    The Wise Master turned to Spirit Lord Sifa and asked, "Do you still remember what happened after the First God defeated our generation of geniuses?"


    Spirit Lord Sifa remained silent.


    Back then, the n sobered up when the First God made quick work of the n''s younger generation. The young geniuses and prodigies of the Primordial Spirit n became more diligent and hardworking since their defeat. Actually, it wasn''t just the younger generation, but the older generation made many changes to their attitude as well. The emergence of the First God instilled a sense of crisis in them and showed them that there were indeed terrifying figures outside their n.


    As a result, the overall strength of the Primordial Spirit n improved significantly.


    It could be said that despite the Primordial Spirit n''s defeat at the hands of an outsider, they still ended up profiting a ton from it.


    Spirit Lord Sifa said in a deep voice, "But if he ends up defeating our prodigies... our Primordial Spirit n would be..."


    "A disgrace?" the Wise Master asked with a smile.


    Spirit Lord Sifa fell silent.


    The Wise Master softly added, "Old Fa, there''s a mindset in our Primordial Spirit n that needs to change, which is the fact that we can''t stand others being better than us."


    Spirit Lord Sifa calmly replied, "Over the years, there has only been one First God. I don''t resent him. I admit he was better than any of us at the time."


    Zhi Shi smiled, "You think that way, sure, but what about others?"


    Spirit Lord Sifa remained silent. Indeed, even though the First God had defeated everyone back then, many in the Primordial Spirit n were still unconvinced of their defeat.


    With a deep sigh, Spirit Lord Sifa said, "Old Wise, what you''re trying to do is easier said than done."


    "I know it will be difficult, but it must be done. I can''t just watch as our Primordial Spirit n dies from arrogance."


    "Have you seen something?" Spirit Lord Sifa asked in a stern voice.


    The Wise Master nodded. "A crisis."


    Spirit Lord Sifa frowned and asked, "A crisis?"


    The Wise Master nodded slightly. He spread his palm, making a peculiar hand gesture with his fingers. Soon, the stars hovering over the Primordial Spirit Ancient City rotated slowly, and mysterious energies appeared in the Wise Master''s palm.


    Looking at the mysterious energies in his palm, the Wise Master softly said, "It''s a crisis of unknown origin. I tried many methods, but I haven''t been able to pinpoint the origin of this crisis..."


    Spirit Lord Sifa''s expression turned serious. "Are you certain?"


    The Wise Master was somewhat displeased as he responded, "Do you really think that I''d joke about something like this?"


    "Have you informed the n leader?" Spirit Lord Sifa asked.


    The Wise Master shook his head and said, "The n leader is still in the Shenxu Forest and is unreachable."


    "Are you sure that you can''t pinpoint its origin?" Spirit Lord Sifa asked, sounding baffled.


    "An unknown crisis," the Wise Master nodded. Deep concern tinged his eyes as he muttered, "An unknown existence..."


    The Wise Master then stared into the distance and said, "Regardless, we must treat this matter with utmost caution. As for the young man before us, he might be the wake-up call that our people desperately need. Moreover, his participation in the internalpetition is all gain and no loss for us. If he wins, it will sober up our n members. If he loses, it will boost their morale and confidence... we''re going to profit either way."


    Spirit Lord Sifa nodded slightly. "Then let him participate in the internalpetition."


    The Wise Master said, "I''ll make the arrangements."


    Spirit Lord Sifa turned to leave, but then he recalled something and asked, "The First God… Has he truly perished?"


    The Wise Master nodded. "I thought he had some contingency n, but it seems that I had underestimated him. He had truly chosen to disappear from this world."


    Aplex expression shed across the Wise Master''s face. It was a pity that such a powerful individual had chosen to end his own life.


    "The Saintess seemed to have seen him onest time..." the Wise Master muttered.


    The Saintess!


    Spirit Lord Sifa''s brows furrowed. After a long pause, aplicated light shed in his eyes as he said, "We''re better off staying ignorant about their matters."


    With that, Spirit Lord Sifa turned around and left.


    The Wise Master sighed and shook his head.


    ***


    Ye Guan followed Qing Ling into the Primordial Spirit Land, and finally, under Qing Ling''s guidance, he arrived at a mountain peak with a luxurious pce.


    Qing Ling smiled and exined, "Young Master Ye, I usually cultivate in this pce. Normally, it''s just me and my younger sister here. Rest assured, no one will disturb you here; you can cultivate in peace here."


    Ye Guan smiled. "Thank you."


    "You''re wee," Qing Ling replied.


    Ye Guan suddenly became curious. "Qing Ling, you seem different from other members of the Primordial Spirit n."


    Qing Ling was slightly stunned, thenughed, "It''s true that members of our Primordial Spirit n are very proud and unfriendly to outsiders."


    "I''ve noticed."


    "I think only a handful of the Primordial Spirit n''s younger generation is qualified to be arrogant in front of you, Young Master Ye."


    "Arrogance is bad regardless of whether you''re facing a strong or weak opponent."


    "I agree. To be honest, my sister and I are illegitimate children, and we''ve been the subject of ridicule and scorn within the n. That is why I dislike conceited and arrogant people."


    <em>Illegitimate children.</em> Ye Guan nodded in understanding.


    Qing Ling brought Ye Guan to a courtyard and said, "Young Master Ye, you can stay here. Rest assured, no one will disturb you in this ce."


    Ye Guan opened his palm, and thirty strands of Ancestral Origins appeared in his hand. He handed them over to the confused Qing Ling, who eventually smiled and shook his head. "No need."


    With that, Qing Ling turned around and left.


    Ye Guan suddenly said, "Brother Ling, does the Primordial Spirit n have a library or something simr?"


    Qing Ling nodded, "Yes, is Young Master Ye interested in learning about the history of our Primordial Spirit n?"


    Ye Guan smiled. "Yes."


    Qing Ling shook his head and smiled. "What a coincidence."


    Ye Guan was puzzled, "What do you mean?"


    Qing Ling smiled, "My sister loves reading and writing the most, so she manages the library of our Primordial Spirit n. The library is located on this mountain peak, too..."


    He then pointed to the right and added, "It''s in thatrge hall there. You can go there anytime you wish."


    "Thank you," Ye Guan replied with a smile.


    Qing Ling nodded and turned around to leave.


    <em>Reading and writing? </em>Ye Guan was suddenly reminded of a certain someone. Sister Zhen...


    Cizhen truly loved writing, and she was actually the author of a particrly popr book among the female demographic, <em>Seduced in the Sea of Desires.</em>