"Hold on!"

Wu Xu suddenly spoke up.

"Is there something else, sir?" Ye Xuan sneered inwardly, but his expression remained impassive.

"Haha." Wu Xu laughed heartily, his eyes narrowing. "It’s nothing, really. I just wanted to make a deal with you, sir."

"What kind of deal?"

"A deal concerning the Blue Star Grass Martial Soul, of course." Wu Xu smiled. "The Blue Star Grass Martial Soul you displayed at the Floating Light Assembly was a real eye-opener for me, and I am deeply impressed. I must say, your Blue Star Grass Martial Soul is a huge innovation for our entire Thirteen Nations Alliance."

At this point, a sincere smile appeared on Wu Xu’s face. "Therefore, I would like to make a deal with you on behalf of the Earth Stone Kingdom."

"All you need to do is give me the formula and condensation method for the Blue Star Grass Martial Soul. I, Wu Xu, guarantee that ten percent of all future profits my Earth Stone Kingdom makes from the Blue Star Grass Martial Soul will be yours. What do you think?"

"You should know, this ten percent is pure profit. It’s by no means a small sum. I can guarantee that within a few years, you’ll be wealthy enough to rival a nation within the Thirteen Nations Alliance."

"Besides, as a disciple of the Liuyun Kingdom, I’m sure you wouldn’t receive such treatment if you handed the formula over to the Liuyun Kingdom’s Soul Master Tower."

Wu Xu wore a smile, and his words seemed courteous, but his tone carried an undeniable, commanding undertone.

"And if I say no?"

Ye Xuan asked, narrowing his eyes.

He really disliked Wu Xu’s tone.

Compared to the outright robbery attempted by the two disciples from the Dongsheng Kingdom earlier, Wu Xu’s attitude was slightly better, but not by much.

’Ten percent profit? That’s basically tossing scraps to a beggar. Besides, even if he says ten percent, will I really get ten percent? Once the formula is in their hands, they can give me whatever they please. What’s more, this whole thing is just him trying to get something for nothing.’

"No?" Wu Xu smiled faintly and said no more, but his eyes suddenly turned sharp. A thick killing intent emanated from his body, swirling around Ye Xuan. He said coolly, "I believe I’ve shown more than enough sincerity. You would never say such a word, sir. Besides, this Floating Light Secret Realm is vast and fraught with danger. With your talent, if some... accident were to befall you here, I’m sure your family would be heartbroken."

Having failed to get what he wanted by asking, Wu Xu was now resorting to naked threats.

Ye Xuan acted as if he didn’t understand the meaning behind the words and chuckled. "Then thank you for your concern, Senior. I, Ye Xuan, will be careful. Farewell."

With that, Ye Xuan turned and walked away.

Wu Xu’s face instantly darkened. He hadn’t expected Ye Xuan to be so ungrateful after he had been so accommodating.

In his eyes, no matter how much of a genius Ye Xuan was, he was merely a disciple of the Liuyun Kingdom. He, on the other hand, was the president of the Earth Stone Kingdom’s Soul Master Tower.

Whether in age or status, Ye Xuan was far beneath him.

If Ye Xuan had obediently handed over the Blue Star Grass Martial Soul, it would have been a happy outcome for everyone. But since Ye Xuan didn’t know what was good for him, he had thoroughly enraged Wu Xu.

"Since it has come to this, don’t blame me for being discourteous."

A sharp glint flashed in his eyes. The moment Ye Xuan turned, Wu Xu suddenly struck out with his palm, aiming for Ye Xuan’s shoulder. A powerful force, indicative of a Celestial Martial Artist, instantly bore down on Ye Xuan.

Ye Xuan had been on guard against Wu Xu from the start. He reacted the instant the other man attacked, sneering inwardly. ’This Wu Xu is such a hypocrite. After all that nonsense, it was still all about my Blue Star Grass Martial Soul.’

At that thought, Ye Xuan’s longsword instantly appeared in front of him, blocking Wu Xu’s attack. A terrifying force surged through the Dragon Pattern Sword and into Ye Xuan’s body, forcing him to take an involuntary step back.

’What powerful force.’ Ye Xuan was secretly shocked. ’This Wu Xu looks harmless, but his strength is nothing to scoff at. That last strike was at least at the level of a Celestial Martial Master Third Layer.’

Compared to Ye Xuan’s surprise, Wu Xu was utterly shocked. He had seen Ye Xuan’s performance when he killed the Dongsheng Kingdom disciples; at most, he seemed to be an Earth Martial Artist Third Layer. For a Third Heaven Celestial Martial Artist like himself, dealing with that should have been child’s play.

Coupled with the fact that Ye Xuan was so young—not even twenty—Wu Xu naturally felt a sense of disdain. He never imagined Ye Xuan would show no signs of defeat after taking his blow.

’Good kid. To become the champion of the Floating Light Assembly, he must have a few tricks up his sleeve.’ Wu Xu marveled inwardly. But he quickly composed himself, his palms instantly transforming into countless phantoms that enveloped Ye Xuan layer by layer.

He refused to believe that Ye Xuan could withstand his continuous assault.

Facing the sky full of palm phantoms, Ye Xuan’s gaze sharpened. The Profound Qi derived from the Nine Profound Prideful World Art circulated within him. The Dragon Pattern Sword let out a long cry, and a sky full of sword shadows stacked upon each other, like a great net blanketing all of Wu Xu’s palm phantoms.

Amid a series of violent explosions, the sky full of sword shadows Ye Xuan had unleashed vanished completely, while Wu Xu’s palm phantoms also dissipated into nothingness.

’Ye Xuan sighed inwardly. A Tier Four Celestial Martial Artist was a Tier Four Celestial Martial Artist, after all. The Profound Qi in their body had already converted into Profound Power, which was fundamentally far superior to Profound Qi. If he weren’t cultivating the heaven-defying Nine Profound Prideful World Art, any ordinary Third Layer Earth Martial Artist would have long since died under Wu Xu’s attacks.’

’But while he sighed inwardly, Ye Xuan’s face showed no fear. With his experience from his past life, it was absolutely impossible for a mere Third Heaven Celestial Martial Artist to think they could keep him here.’

At this thought, Ye Xuan’s hands didn’t pause. His mind became clear and empty as a vast Sword Intent erupted from his body. The Dragon Pattern Sword let out a CLANG, bursting with brilliant light, and transformed into a roaring long dragon that lunged toward Wu Xu.

Wu Xu was greatly alarmed, his expression turning extremely ugly. Ye Xuan’s strength far exceeded his expectations, to a degree he found hard to believe.

At this point, it was too late for words. A palm-sized black grinding disc suddenly appeared in his hand. Amidst dense Soul Power fluctuations, the black disc rapidly expanded to the size of a round table and smashed down toward the Dragon Pattern Sword that Ye Xuan had brandished.

DANG! A crisp sound of clashing metal rang out. Ye Xuan’s Dragon Pattern Sword let out a trembling dragon’s cry, clearly having taken a heavy hit.

Ye Xuan understood immediately. To be able to smash his unsealed Tier Four Profound Soldier, the Dragon Pattern Sword, like that, the black grinding disc Wu Xu had taken out had to be a Profound Treasure.

As expected, anyone who could become the president of a nation’s Soul Master Tower was not to be underestimated. For people like him, in high positions with a nation’s resources at their disposal, Ye Xuan felt it would have been more unrealistic if they *didn’t* have some treasures.

Ye Xuan hadn’t expected to injure or repel Wu Xu with a single strike anyway, so he quickly retreated.

Seeing he had the upper hand, how could Wu Xu let Ye Xuan escape? He controlled the massive black grinding disc, repeatedly smashing it down toward Ye Xuan as he gave chase.

But he hadn’t taken more than two steps when several SWOOSHING sounds of something cutting through the air came from below his feet. All the hairs on his body stood on end. A sense of threat enveloped his heart, as if he were being watched by Death itself.

Startled, he hurriedly retreated. He saw three brilliant streams of light shoot up from the ground in front of him. One missed, but the other two viciously struck his protective Profound Power. His protective Profound Power instantly shattered like a plastic film, and the two streams of light drew a spray of bright red blood from his body.

Only then did Wu Xu clearly see that what had attacked him were three flying daggers pulsating with Soul Power.

’This is impossible.’ He almost cried out in his heart. ’He was a Tier Four Third Layer Celestial Martial Artist! The protective Profound Power around his body was incredibly tough. Even a full-powered palm strike from a First Heaven Celestial Martial Artist wouldn’t easily break through it.

’Ye Xuan is just a teenager. Even if his talent in Soul Refining is a bit astonishing, how could he casually control a flying dagger and break through my protective Profound Power? When a Soul Refiner controls a Soul Soldier or Profound Treasure, the most crucial factor is their Soul Power cultivation level. For a young man not yet twenty like Ye Xuan, reaching Second Grade was already heaven-defying. Reaching Third Grade would be absolutely astounding. But even a Third Grade Soul Refiner couldn’t dream of breaking my protective Profound Power by controlling a Soul Soldier!’

But the facts before his eyes left no room for disbelief.

Amid his shock, the Xuan-Annihilating Flying Daggers controlled by Ye Xuan carved a graceful arc through the air and shot toward him again. Wu Xu had no time to think, subconsciously urging the black grinding disc back to defend, blocking the attack of Ye Xuan’s Xuan-Annihilating Flying Daggers.

BANG! BANG! BANG!

In the void, the three flying daggers and the massive black grinding disc repeatedly clashed, sending sparks flying and striking fear into Wu Xu’s heart.

He had thought that dealing with a young genius like Ye Xuan would be a simple matter of getting serious. He never expected that after several exchanges, he wouldn’t have gained the slightest advantage.

His Profound Treasure, the black grinding disc, was locked in a stalemate with those three flying daggers.

’Just how high is this kid’s Soul Power level?’

Wu Xu’s pride was wounded. A martial soul fluctuation emanated from his body. Immediately after, a fire leopard wreathed in a crimson halo appeared above his head. Three halos of light swirled around it, one of which was a silver star ring, representing his personal limit.

The moment the giant fire leopard martial soul appeared, it let out two roars and then charged madly at Ye Xuan, its presence majestic and imposing.

Ye Xuan hurriedly activated his Two-Stars Earth Martial Soul. With a BOOM, the giant fire leopard’s sharp claws slammed viciously onto the earthy-yellow halo around Ye Xuan’s body, making his Earth Martial Soul tremble.

After all, Ye Xuan’s Earth Martial Soul was only a Two-Stars martial soul, and it still fell short of Wu Xu’s Three-Stars fire leopard martial soul.

Seeing that his fire leopard martial soul’s attack was effective, Wu Xu was overjoyed. BAM! BAM! BAM! The giant fire leopard martial soul struck down relentlessly. Its crimson, flaming claws battered the earthy-yellow light on Ye Xuan’s body until it flickered, on the verge of collapse.