Myriad Realms Gatekeeper

On the other side.

Shen Ye opened the door to Venue No. 9 and saw Xiao Mengyu practicing her sword moves.

Each swing of her long sword erupted with a violent buzzing sound that shook the entire corridor.

"Close the door."

Xiao Mengyu commanded without turning her head.

Shen Ye immediately closed the door.

Indeed, the sound of the sword was too terrifying, it might affect the cultivation of others.

Suddenly.

Xiao Mengyu turned back and swept her sword horizontally.

The intense sword wind passed through the hall, grazing Shen Ye's sleeve.

If that strike had truly been aimed at him—

He would probably be dead by now.

Shen Ye wiped the cold sweat from his forehead.

Looking at Xiao Mengyu again, she had already moved two steps forward, swinging her long sword toward the other side.

The sword in her hands cast shadows several meters long, as if they weighed a thousand catties, yet she moved her body with extremely nimble steps, driving the sword technique, manipulating the massive shadow of the sword with clever strength as she executed each move in the venue.

As Shen Ye watched, he frowned.

Indeed, her swordsmanship was immensely powerful, but the momentum of her sword was too heavy, and she exerted herself too much to wield the techniques, which imparted a sense of struggling with great effort.

Strange...

How come I can detect this feeling?

Shen Ye glanced subconsciously at his own attribute points and realized he still had all his points added to "Comprehension."

Having used attribute points frequently, he had formed a habit.

When making a move, he would subconsciously allocate them to Strength, when dodging he would pile them onto Agility, and when watching others perform moves, he would throw them all into Comprehension.

At this moment.

His "Comprehension" had reached an astonishing 14 points.

That must be why he had such a sensation.

A moment later.

Xiao Mengyu sheathed her sword and took out a handkerchief to wipe the sweat from her forehead.

"Sorry to keep you waiting," she said to Shen Ye.

"It's fine."

Shen Ye looked up at the top of her head.

He could still see the blurry row of text floating above Xiao Mengyu's head, which had not revealed any new terms.

Now, with the Pupil Skill "Moonlight Divine Illumination," Shen Ye could see an additional prompt:

"As a swordsman who has already broken through the fixed boundaries of swordsmanship, she still harbors confusion about her own path."

"Only when she finds her path will she obtain a term acknowledged by the Dharma Realm."

Dharma Realm acknowledgment?

Wait...

Does that mean the power of the terms comes from the Dharma Realm?

What the heck is the Dharma Realm?

Shen Ye fell into a new confusion.

"I've found out something," said Xiao Mengyu.

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"What is it?" Shen Ye, coming to his senses, asked.

"'The Skinner' used to be a high-ranking official of the Archaeological Association. He retired after causing an accident during a very important archaeological event," Xiao Mengyu explained.

"An accident?"

"Yes, it was a seal altar. According to many historical records, something extraterrestrial was supposed to be sealed there. Unfortunately, the seal was inadvertently broken during the excavation, causing substantial casualties. The entire operation was then abandoned."

"I see... so he became a hitman afterward?"

"He was often away from home. His wife divorced him, leaving him only a daughter who was bullied... He avenged her using strange powers, then disappeared. When he reappeared, he was already a professional killer."

"Only this much could be found out; most of his past is a blank, extremely difficult to trace."

Shen Ye pondered:

"The only thing we can check is what exactly that sealed object was."

Xiao Mengyu nodded, "Exactly. But the matter is highly classified and very dangerous. With our status, we can't access the archives."

"Then there's nothing we can do..."

"We can only wait for now. Let's practice your fist technique. I'll see how much progress you've made."

"Right, I learned a set of Northeast Fist. I'll show it to you for your advice."

Shen Ye began to demonstrate his fist technique.

Xiao Mengyu watched and offered him some pertinent advice.

Time slowly passed by.

Dinglingling!

Xiao Mengyu's phone suddenly rang.

She answered the call and walked aside, speaking in a low voice, "Auntie..."

After a brief conversation, she hung up.

Xiao Mengyu's mood suddenly dropped.

"What's wrong?" Shen Ye asked.

"My family's calling me back home. They say the uncles from that family are coming to bring the betrothal gifts," Xiao Mengyu sighed.

"What about your parents?"

"After my brother died, my father had a stroke from his rage, and he's been in a coma at the hospital ever since—I lost my mother early, and my father probably feels like he's let her down," Xiao Mengyu said calmly.

"Didn't you plan to drag it out for a while?" Shen Ye asked.

"I've run out of reasons to delay. If I put it off any longer, I'll be targeted by those people in the family," Xiao Mengyu replied.

"You're seeking vengeance for your brother... It was those Clan Young Masters who were wrong, yet they still insist that you marry into their family to pacify them?" Shen Ye sighed.

"Everyone in the family fears the wrath of the great clans. And with my father being unconscious, they need me out of the picture to feel secure," Xiao Mengyu said.

Shen Ye showed a hesitant expression.

"What's wrong?" Xiao Mengyu asked.

Shen Ye didn't reply.

Such a beautiful girl, would he dare to ask her out?

What would she think?

Would she reject him?

—We've already been through life and death together, what's there to fear?

Shen Ye bit his lip, took out his phone, and dialed a number.

"Hello?"

"What's the matter? I'm busy preparing for tonight's event," Qian Rushan's voice came over the line.

There was a lot of noise on his end, with many people moving about and talking.

"Can I bring a female companion?" Shen Ye asked.

"You need to ask about something so simple? If you want to bring someone, just bring them," Qian Rushan seemed to laugh a bit, speaking very naturally.

"Ah, okay then," Shen Ye replied mechanically and hung up the phone, turning his gaze to Xiao Mengyu.

Xiao Mengyu's eyes widened as she looked at him.

She had earlier thought he was afraid, and now it seemed he truly was.

Only, his fear was not as she had assumed.

"Xiao, Xiao Mengyu, if you don't mind, I invite you to have dinner together," Shen Ye stuttered somewhat.

"Aren't you afraid of offending that big family that wants to marry me?" Xiao Mengyu asked calmly.

"Afraid my ass," Shen Ye bravely retorted when the topic of the noble family came up.

"Not just that big family, but the uncles and aunts in my family would hate you too. They would find ways to deal with you," Xiao Mengyu continued, staring at him.

"Those who encourage others to jump into a pit of fire should go die," Shen Ye declared.

Xiao Mengyu smiled brightly and looked up at him.

It was only now that she noticed how tall this guy was, with a well-proportioned physique. Although somewhat handsome, he didn't even seem to know how to comb his hair, with too many errant strands sticking up—

—it gave off a sense of being unconstrained by minor details.

He had attractive double eyelids, but his gaze was too sharp, like the edge of a blade, lacking a bit of warmth and giving off an unapproachable vibe.

Yet, when he spoke, his words were warm.

Xiao Mengyu looked at him with her eyes sparkling and asked with pursed lips:

"Where to? What's for dinner?"

In matters of being invited out to eat, she seemed even more experienced than in sword fighting—

—and all the more composed and poised.

Shen Ye scratched his head, suddenly feeling his mind go blank:

"Old Qian didn't mention the place—that is, let's just go together."

Xiao Mengyu glared at him: "You don't even know the place, and you dare to invite a girl?

"I'm very sincere," Shen Ye shrugged. "Staying with your family isn't much fun anyway. It would be better to join me in the Human Martial Arts Group—I'll have Old Qian personally introduce you and invite you to join."

This was the real issue at hand.

Once she joined the Human Martial Arts Group, she would no longer be associated with her family, and would no longer be controlled by those people at home.

But that would also mean cutting off her ties with her family, severing all her paths of retreat.

"Allow me to think about it," Xiao Mengyu said with pursed lips.

Her phone rang again.

Xiao Mengyu's brow furrowed, and a shade of pain flashed in her eyes.

"Ignore the phone."

Shen Ye said softly.

Xiao Mengyu shook her head, took out her phone, and saw a message.

Her expression became grave as she gently tapped the screen.

The message opened.

It was just a few words:

"Walk eastward."

Xiao Mengyu was taken aback, then suddenly, she seemed to come to life.

"Don't wander off, I'll be back in a moment," she told Shen Ye.

Shen Ye raised an eyebrow.

What?

Do you want me to act like a child?

"What is it? I'll go with you," he said.

"No need, someone from my family came to see me—someone who cares about me. I'll go see them and come back," Xiao Mengyu explained.

"Okay then," Shen Ye said helplessly.

Xiao Mengyu left the venue and headed to the east entrance.

She saw no one around.

Without saying much or looking around, she just stood firmly on the steps outside the door.

A hundred miles away.

On the airship.

The old man was lounging in his recliner, legs crossed, his beverage placed on a table beside him, shaking his head as he said:

"From afar, splendid as the dawn sun rising amidst the morning clouds; upon closer inspection, dazzling as lotus blossoms breaking the water's surface."

"Granddaughter, I've thought it over, and I have to support you," he declared.

"Otherwise, what if somebody looks down on you."

He stretched out his hand and formed a technique gesture with his fingers.

Whooosh—

A streak of flame erupted beside him and soared heavenward, crashing through the sky.

The flame pierced the sky and plummeted down to Yunshan Port, to the steps at the east entrance of the stadium, stopping just before Xiao Mengyu's forehead.

Xiao Mengyu took on a solemn expression and closed her eyes slightly.

In an instant.

Endless sword techniques and secret techniques surfaced in her mind.

"Grandfather Xie sends me the Luo Shen Sword Technique," she whispered.

The flame took the shape of a sword before her and gleamed for a flash, then soared through the sky again in the next moment.

The shadow in Xiao Mengyu's expression was swept clean.

She turned and walked back into the venue, looking at Shen Ye who was practicing his punches, and called out to him.

Shen Ye stopped, turning his head to look at her.

"Hey kid, you're inviting me to join the dinner, right?" Xiao Mengyu appraised him up and down.

"Yeah, yeah, something like a dinner party, let's go together, okay?" Shen Ye got tongue-tied beneath her gaze but stood his ground.

Xiao Mengyu suddenly started laughing.

She covered her mouth, unable to stop chuckling, her shoulders trembling slightly, her eyes fixed on Shen Ye as if she were looking at a big mahi-mahi.

"What's up?" Shen Ye scratched his head, asking puzzled: "Is there something wrong with me?"

"You really are a fool, Shen Ye."

"Huh? Why do you say I'm foolish?"

"Everyone taking the exam is expected to attend that dinner, and the evaluation of the cards will be delivered to the examination venue afterward—I'm also taking the high school entrance exam this year, you should know that," Xiao Mengyu explained.

Shen Ye was stunned.

Ah.

Indeed.

She would have attended the dinner regardless of his invitation.

All students taking the examination had to attend.

How could he be so silly!

He wanted to help her, but he was too nervous—

—never in his two lives had he asked out such a stunning and splendid girl; it made him a bit stage-fright.

Tsk.

It wasn't like him at all.

"Let's go," Xiao Mengyu smiled at him. "We'll go together."