After hearing Li Xuan's words, Xuan Ye and the other four looked at each other. The only one present who knew the truth, the Sword Maniac, remained silent. After all, Li Xuan's sister, Li Yao, was in the Ghost Realm. Moreover, based on the accounts of Xuan Ye and the others, the Sword Maniac had guessed about seventy to eighty percent of what was happening.
Li Xuan's sister, Li Yao, was about to wake up.
"Young friend, although your strength is not weak, the restrictions and barriers of the Ghost Realm are something that even the five of us working together can barely shake. As for you alone, I fear..." Ziru Lai did not finish his sentence, but the meaning was clear.
Li Xuan smiled faintly upon hearing this and said, "Five esteemed elders, why don't you all try to take one of my swords?"
Xuan Ye and the other four exchanged glances. Although confusion was evident in their eyes, they all nodded in unison and looked at Li Xuan, saying, "In that case, please, young friend, draw your sword."
Li Xuan nodded. The next moment, the Chong Feng appeared directly in his hand. Seeing the King Sword in Li Xuan's hand, the expressions of Xuan Ye and the other four became solemn. At this moment, not a shred of contempt remained in their hearts.
"Everyone, be ready." Li Xuan spoke, and with a thought, the third move of the Heaven Slaying Three Swords was unleashed.
Terrifying sword energy permeated the air. Even though the Sword Maniac and the other two had retreated a hundred meters, they still felt immense pressure. Xuan Ye and his companions were also solemn, with spiritual light rippling and circulating within their bodies.
In the next instant, the Chong Feng cut through the sky and shot forward. Almost in a flash, the Chong Feng returned to Li Xuan's hand.
*Chih!*
With a faint *chih* sound, Xuan Ye and the others looked down in shock. They saw a slit about five inches long on the chests of each of them. Although their skin was unharmed, their clothes were completely torn.
"This..." Ziru Lai looked at Li Xuan in shock. He had been defending with all his might, yet his clothes were still torn by Li Xuan's strike. What made Ziru Lai feel a chill was that Li Xuan was clearly capable of harming them. The absence of any wounds instead highlighted the terrifying control Li Xuan possessed over his strength.
"We are convinced of your strength, young friend." Xuan Ye and the others could only offer wry smiles. How could they not see that Li Xuan's power far surpassed theirs? Although they felt a sense of unreality, the torn cloth on their chests was irrefutable evidence.
"Esteemed elders, I will handle the matters of the Ghost Realm. You do not need to worry excessively about the spiritual energy issues on the Cang Mang Continent. Brother Xuan Ye, after everything is resolved, I will visit Wuyue City to seek your guidance on certain matters," Li Xuan said with a smile.
"Good." Xuan Ye understood Li Xuan's intention – that they were not to accompany him. Given Li Xuan's unfathomable strength, Xuan Ye readily agreed.
Although Xuan Ye and the other four were eager to witness how Li Xuan would break the restrictions and barriers of the Ghost Realm, since Li Xuan had stated he would handle it, there was no need for them to persist. After all, the purpose of their journey was to request help from the person behind Li Xuan.
"Be careful," Yue Fuyao said softly as Li Xuan looked in her direction.
Li Xuan nodded, and with a flicker of movement, he vanished.
"Everyone, let us return to Wuyue City and await young friend Li Xuan," Xuan Ye said to Nan Haotian and the other three after Li Xuan's departure.
Nan Haotian and the others nodded. Li Xuan's refusal to let them follow clearly indicated matters that they were not meant to witness. Therefore, it was best to accompany Xuan Ye to Wuyue City and await Li Xuan's return. With this thought, the five of them exchanged nods with Yue Caixuan and the other two before turning to leave.
"Sword Maniac, Li Xuan's strength has indeed grown immensely," Yue Caixuan murmured to herself after Xuan Ye and the others had departed.
The Sword Maniac offered a wry smile. Li Xuan had said before that he had no rivals on the Cang Mang Continent. While the Sword Maniac also found it somewhat unbelievable, the fact that even Xuan Ye and his group had been defeated by Li Xuan's single sword strike was a profound shock that was difficult to process.
"Alas, the wisest decision I ever made was to descend the mountain and follow Brother Li. Having such a goal allows me to constantly improve," the Sword Maniac sighed with emotion.
Yue Caixuan also felt a touch of sentiment, her gaze drifting towards Yue Fuyao. How had her junior sister's judgment been so impeccable?
Central Region, Ghost Sect.
Li Xuan appeared and looked at the restrictive barrier before him without making a move. He had not alerted any of the Ghost Sect's inhabitants upon his arrival. Perhaps due to Xuan Ye and his group's previous visit, there were no Ghost Sect personnel guarding the barrier, which saved Li Xuan considerable trouble.
"If I were to draw my sword, this restrictive barrier could be broken. However, that would also mean the Ghost Realm would likely reappear to the world," Li Xuan mused, then shook his head. Although he could clearly see spiritual energy from the heavens and earth pouring unceasingly into the Ghost Realm, any unforeseen consequences from his actions could be troublesome.
After all, his sister, Li Yao, was within the Ghost Realm.
"I cannot act rashly at this moment," Li Xuan frowned, but then his gaze shifted to the restrictive barrier. In the center of the barrier, a portal had opened.
"Qin Guang?" Li Xuan was momentarily stunned when he saw the figure appearing in the portal. This figure was Qin Guang, the Saint-level expert who had been present when they first entered the Ghost Realm.
"Young Master Li Xuan, the Empress has sensed your arrival and specifically arranged for me to greet you," Qin Guang said with a slight nod after bowing to Li Xuan.
Li Xuan's heart stirred, and he immediately asked, "Has Yao'er woken up?"
Qin Guang shook his head slightly. "Not yet fully awakened."
"If she hasn't fully awakened, then how did you come to receive me?" Li Xuan was puzzled.
"This..." Qin Guang paused, then said, "Young Master Li Xuan, it would be best for you to meet the Empress first."
"Alright." Li Xuan nodded and stepped into the portal. As Li Xuan and Qin Guang disappeared, the portal on the restrictive barrier slowly faded.
On the way to Ghost City, Li Xuan had inquired with Qin Guang about what had happened to Li Yao. However, Qin Guang could not offer a clear explanation, which made Li Xuan increasingly anxious. Had there been a problem with the fusion technique?
Soon, with Li Xuan and Qin Guang accelerating their pace, they reached Li Yao's stone coffin in just one minute.
Upon seeing Li Yao, Li Xuan's expression drastically changed.
In the stone coffin, Li Yao's face was half transformed into the likeness of someone else!