Chapter 541: My Dear Nephew!
After departing from the Dark Emperor World, Ye Guan and a group of Dark Emperor Guards flew across the starry skies along with Cirou, Erya, and Little White.
Ye Guan was well aware that the enemies' goal was to lure him out of the Dark Emperor World by besieging Cijing.
The Dark Emperor World had a formidable array of defenses, so a direct attack would most likely end in catastrophe for them.
Thus, coaxing Ye Guan out seemed the most prudent strategy.
Despite the obvious ploy, Ye Guan decided to walk into the obvious trap, as it concerned Cijing!
What surprised Ye Guan was that the Gui Clan had left a way out for him.
Instead of obstructing his path, they intentionally created an opening, allowing him passage outside the Dark Emperor World.
Ye Guan glanced at Gui Yi as he left and saw that the latter was staring at him as well. Ye Guan then looked away, disappearing into the distant Time River along with his group.
Gui Yi shifted his attention toward the Dark Emperor World in the distance.
His mission was to stop Qin Guan from intervening.
...
Ye Guan stood at the helm of the group as they navigated swiftly toward the Lingxu World.
Suddenly, Ye Guan inquired, "Little Rou, what's going on with the True Universe?"
Cirou responded, "You are their target, which is why they haven't launched a full-scale assault on the True Universe."
Ye Guan nodded thoughtfully and gazed toward the end of the distant Time River.
His grip on his sword tightened unconsciously.
Cirou noticed Ye Guan's pensive look and pointed out. "They allowed us to pass, so most likely—"
"I know," interrupted Ye Guan with a nod.
Cirou went silent. She understood Ye Guan's resolve.
Even if there was a trap, he would willingly step into it because it involved Cijing!
Just then, Erya said, "Little Guan, those assassins are coming."
Ye Guan surveyed his surroundings but remained silent.
The assassins didn't instill fear in him now that he was armed to the teeth.
Meanwhile, the Dark Emperor Guards beside Ye Guan revealed serious expressions. They were Time Reversers, so they knew the power of the Past Clan, which meant none of them would dare to underestimate their enemies.
Rumble!
The spacetime before them was abruptly torn open, and a terrifying aura swept toward them like a tidal wave.
The assassins were here!
Ye Guan maintained his composure, and he placed his hand on the pommel of his sword, ready to unsheathe it at any moment.
Erya lunged forward just then, swinging her fist toward the distant threat.
Boom!
The spacetime in the distance collapsed.
Ye Guan glanced at Erya and saw a middle-aged man clad in a magnificent robe standing a few hundred meters away from her.
The middle-aged man was holding a golden ruler in his right hand.
He was Ge Qing, the Clan Leader of the Divine Time Hall!
Ge Qing's eyes were fixed on Erya. Obviously, Erya was his target.
Ye Guan saw through Ge Qing's plan, which was to stop Erya here.
Erya licked her candied hawthorn and placed Little White on Ye Guan's shoulder.
"Protect our grandson!" Erya exclaimed.
Ye Guan: "..."
Little White blinked and nodded.
Erya stared at Ye Guan and urged, "Go!"
Their relationship had always been complicated and ambiguous. Even Cirou herself couldn't understand her feelings for Ye Guan. No, it was more like she didn't want to understand her own feelings.
While Ye Guan and Cirou were approaching the Lingxu World, the spacetime before them abruptly quivered, forcing them to stop.
They're here! Ye Guan gazed into the distance, where the fabric of spacetime had torn open. A middle-aged man in black battle armor emerged slowly from the rift.
Dozens of spacetime rifts manifested around the group, and elites clad in armor rushed out of the rifts. Overall, they easily totaled more than a hundred!
Ye Guan fell silent, taken aback by the Past Clan's might.
He didn't expect that they still had so many cultivators.
The middle-aged man in black battle armor stared at Ye Guan and asked, "Young Master Ye, do you have any more people standing behind you as your backers?"
Ye Guan shook his head. "No."
Little White patted Ye Guan's head just then and pointed at herself.
"You're not human," said Ye Guan in a matter-of-factly manner.
Little White blinked in momentary confusion, seemingly questioning her own existence.
Ye Guan turned to Cirou and said, "Go inside the pagoda."
Cirou was about to protest, but Ye Guan spoke earnestly, "Just listen to me this once, okay?"
"Not listening,” Cirou turned away defiantly.
"I know you're strong, but I'm fully equipped. I can definitely take their attacks, so..." Ye Guan trailed off, sighing.
Cirou shook her head.
"Why does it always have to be like this whenever we're together...” Ye Guan sighed once more. He wasn't looking down on Cirou.
Ye Guan truly believed that he had nothing to fear in front of these enemies because of his equipment. On the other hand, Cirou had no divine artifacts at all. In other words, the upcoming battle was going to be extremely dangerous to her.
Hearing Ye Guan's words, Cirou's hand trembled slightly, and she turned to him with a questioning gaze, asking, "Am I always stirring up trouble whenever we're together?
"You're trying to say that you can't stand me, right? In your eyes, I've always been the troublemaker, haven't I?"
Ye Guan pulled Cirou into a gentle embrace just then.
Cirou resisted, but Ye Guan held her waist firmly and planted a soft kiss on her forehead. Then, Ye Guan said softly, "Let's put our personal matters aside for now. Our top priority is rescuing Cijing. Trust me, go into the pagoda. Be a good girl, okay!"
"What am I a child?" Cirou asked, shooting him an exasperated look.
"If I ever find myself in a tough spot, rescue me, okay?"
Cirou fell into a contemplative silence.
"I know you've never really trusted me, but this time, I want you to give me a chance. Can you do that for me?"
"You spiteful, petty man!" Cirou chided. It seemed that Ye Guan still harbored resentment toward her because of her lack of trust in him long ago. In the end, Cirou went silent and entered the world inside the tiny pagoda.
Ye Guan turned to his foes in the distance and smiled. "All of you! Come at me!"
BOOM!
A deafening explosion echoed as an energy that resembled blood burst out of Ye Guan, transforming the battlefield into a sea of blood.
The Mad Demon Bloodline!
Another defeaning explosion echoed as the Phoenix Emperor Bloodline came to life as well. As for the Mortal Bloodline, Ye Guan couldn't activate it himself, but it would always come to life during battles.
Ye Guan's goal was to unleash the power of his three unique bloodlines. He wanted to know the true height of his power under the influence of three unique bloodlines at once.
The middle-aged man stared calmly at Ye Guan and roared, "Kill him!"
The nearby supreme elites charged decisively at Ye Guan.
Ye Guan uttered, "Qianqian."
Boom!
A powerful aura erupted from Ye Guan. Then, he transformed into a streak of sword light, charging at the nearby supreme elites.
Unbeknownst to Ye Guan, the middle-aged man in black battle armor revealed a sinister smile upon seeing Ye Guan's charge.
Meanwhile, a woman in white was observing everything with a cold gaze somewhere in the depths of the starry skies. A black-clothed elder standing next to her asked, "Clan Leader, shall we make a move?"
The woman in white gazed at the blood-stained Ye Guan in the distance and revealed a faint smile. "Let's wait and see for now. I also want to see the abilities of my dear nephew..."