"Let’s go back first and talk there," Yun Aoxue said, not answering directly.

Ye Xuan nodded to Xia Qixi, then returned to the Liuyun Kingdom’s area with Yun Aoxue under everyone’s gaze.

"Of all the women who entered the Floating Light Secret Realm this time, Xia Qixi from the Celestial Gold Kingdom and Yun Aoxue from the Liuyun Kingdom are the two most beautiful. To think they’re both connected to that Ye Xuan."

"Tsk tsk, this Ye Xuan is just too lucky. Why don’t I have such good luck with the ladies?"

"Hmph, he’s the champion of the Floating Light Assembly and he’s so powerful. It’s only normal that he’d attract the favor of beautiful women. If you had that kind of strength, beauties would definitely flock to you too."

"Sigh, it’s infuriating to compare yourself to others."

The male prodigies present all felt their hearts break, lamenting how unfair the heavens were.

After greeting the other disciples from the Liuyun Kingdom, Ye Xuan came before Yun Aoxue again and asked, "Teacher Yun Aoxue, can you tell me now why there are so many people here?"

"’Teacher Yun Aoxue’? Do I sound that old? You’re not allowed to call me ’teacher’ anymore," Yun Aoxue said suddenly, puffing her cheeks in a huff.

Ye Xuan broke out in a cold sweat, not knowing why Yun Aoxue’s expression had suddenly changed. Still, he asked, "If I don’t call you ’teacher,’ what should I call you?"

"Call me whatever you want, just not ’teacher’."

"Well, I can’t just call you Aoxue, can I?" Ye Xuan said with a half-smile.

"Why not? Hmm, Aoxue sounds nice," Yun Aoxue said with a nod.

"Then I’ll call you Aoxue from now on," Ye Xuan said with a smile.

"Hmph, that’s more like it." Yun Aoxue’s face immediately broke into a smile, looking pretty and charming.

’Women are truly hard to understand. A moment ago she looked furious, and now she’s all smiles.’

Seeing Yun Aoxue’s brilliant smile, Ye Xuan’s mind went blank for a moment.

"You idiot." Seeing Ye Xuan’s dull look, Yun Aoxue felt another wave of anger rise within her. She glanced at Xia Qixi in the distance and snorted coldly, "I didn’t see you at all for so long in the Floating Light Secret Realm. So you were with Xia Qixi from the Celestial Gold Kingdom the whole time. Judging by her attitude toward you, did something happen between you two?"

Ye Xuan was utterly speechless. ’Teacher Yun Aoxue is being way too nosy today.’

Fortunately, Yun Aoxue didn’t press the issue. Knowing what was on Ye Xuan’s mind, she finally explained, "The reason so many of us are gathered here is because a large ruin was discovered in the Floating Light Secret Realm."

’A ruin?’

Ye Xuan’s heart stirred. In a secret realm, the Spirit Medicines that grew there weren’t actually the most valuable treasures inside.

The reason various Spirit Medicines could be found in a secret realm was simply that it was hidden away in the void, completely untouched by human activity, allowing them to grow naturally.

But the true treasures were the ancient ruins left behind within the secret realm.

However, the ruins in any given secret realm were usually discovered and explored right away, making it difficult for latecomers to find anything good.

Before entering the Floating Light Secret Realm, Ye Xuan had searched for information about ruins within it but found no historical records. Therefore, after entering, he had been constantly searching for any trace of them.

Now, hearing that a ruin was nearby, Ye Xuan’s eyes immediately lit up.

"You’re saying the ruin is right here?" Ye Xuan asked at once, scanning his surroundings. The Nine Mystical World-Proud Art he cultivated had come from a powerful ruin. If he could find the ruin in this Floating Light Secret Realm, he might be able to obtain some kind of treasure.

Yun Aoxue shook her head. "Not exactly. It’s inside this valley. There’s a ruin’s teleportation array platform in the valley that can send people directly into the ruin. Right now, Chairman Dongfang Yanyu and the others are inside studying how to activate it, so we disciples can only wait out here."

’Inside the valley?’

Ye Xuan nodded, and without another word, headed straight into the valley.

Sure enough, around a bend inside the valley, there was a long, narrow passage. On both sides, steep stone cliffs enclosed the passage, making it obvious at a glance that it was not a natural formation.

Just as Ye Xuan was about to enter the passage, a disciple couldn’t help but remind him, "The Chairmen said that without their permission, we disciples aren’t allowed to go inside."

Ye Xuan paused for a moment, but then just gave a cold smile and walked in.

Yun Aoxue naturally followed close behind Ye Xuan.

At this time, Xia Qixi had also found out what was happening in the valley. Like Ye Xuan, she entered the passage with almost no hesitation.

Seeing both Ye Xuan and Xia Qixi enter the passage, the other disciples exchanged glances and followed them in out of curiosity.

They had only been waiting there because of the orders from the chairmen and elders. Now that someone had broken the rule, they immediately cast their reservations aside.

Ye Xuan, of course, paid no mind to what the others were doing. He walked on and soon reached the end of the passage.

What appeared before Ye Xuan was a massive canyon. In the center of the canyon was what looked like a giant altar. Around this altar, more than thirty elder-level experts had gathered, carefully studying something.

Ye Xuan’s proficiency in Arrays was terrifyingly high. The moment he arrived in the canyon, he realized that the entire place must have once been under a massive Restriction. However, the Restriction had now been broken, revealing the altar inside. Furthermore, based on the traces of the broken Restriction, it must have happened a long time ago.

"You lot! Weren’t you told to wait outside? Who let you in?"

The moment Ye Xuan and the others appeared in the canyon, the elders present noticed the disciples who had entered and immediately barked at them coldly.

The crowd’s gazes all turned toward Ye Xuan and Xia Qixi.

"Ye Xuan."

"Qixi."

But before that elder could shout again, several surprised and delighted voices rang out. A few figures suddenly flew out from the center of the altar, landing in front of Ye Xuan and Xia Qixi. They were none other than Chairman Dongfang Yanyu and Vice-Chairman Kuchen from the Liuyun Kingdom, along with Chairman Zhu Tianlan from the Celestial Gold Kingdom and others.

"Haha, Young Master Xuan, I knew you’d be fine!" Kuchen walked forward with a broad smile and patted Ye Xuan on the shoulder.

After entering the Floating Light Secret Realm, Kuchen hadn’t found any trace of Ye Xuan. It would be a lie to say he wasn’t worried, but he also had great faith in Ye Xuan, believing he wouldn’t fall so easily. And now, it seemed he was right.

"It’s good that you’re here," Dongfang Yanyu also said with a smile.

Meanwhile, Chairman Zhu Tianlan was asking Xia Qixi something with concern. After hearing about her ordeal in the Floating Light Secret Realm, he was both shocked and furious. When he heard that Ye Xuan had saved her, Zhu Tianlan immediately came before Ye Xuan, cupped his hands, and said, "Ye Xuan, I just heard you saved Qixi. Thank you."

"Chairman Zhu Tianlan, you’re too kind," Ye Xuan said with a smile.

"I’m not being kind. If it weren’t for you, and something had happened to Qixi, you have no idea how much I would have blamed myself. Say no more—from now on, Ye Xuan, you are a friend of my Celestial Gold Kingdom. If you ever need anything, you can come to me. As long as it’s something I, Zhu Tianlan, can handle, I will not refuse," Zhu Tianlan said magnanimously.

"Zhu Tianlan, you’re the one who said it. Don’t go back on your word later," Chairman Dongfang Yanyu said with a laugh.

He and Kuchen exchanged a look, both feeling puzzled. ’Even though Ye Xuan saved Xia Qixi, Zhu Tianlan is still the number one Soul Refiner of the Celestial Gold Kingdom. Is there a need to act like this?’

A promise like that from him wasn’t something just anyone could get.

Zhu Tianlan’s eyes widened. "Dongfang Yanyu, am I that kind of person?"

What no one else knew, apart from Zhu Tianlan himself, was that the only reason he had become the number one Soul Refiner in the Thirteen Nations Alliance was entirely due to the teachings of a reclusive expert from the Xia family. Not only that, but the reason Qi Xian, the top master of the Celestial Gold Kingdom, was able to break through to the Tier Six Martial Venerable Realm was also inextricably linked to the guidance of that same expert from the Xia family.

Therefore, those who were unaware all believed the Celestial Gold Kingdom had become the number one kingdom in the Thirteen Nations Alliance entirely because of Zhu Tianlan and Qi Xian. Only they themselves knew that it was actually because of the Xia family.

The elder who was about to scold them swallowed his angry words immediately after seeing the way Chairman Zhu Tianlan and Chairman Dongfang Yanyu were acting.

However, just because he didn’t speak didn’t mean no one else dared to. A cold voice drifted over from the altar at that moment. "Chairman Zhu Tianlan, we’re at a critical moment in deciphering the teleportation array platform. It seems rather inappropriate for all these disciples to come flooding in."

"You disciples, weren’t you told to wait outside? Who let you in? Get out of here, now!"

Two voices, one after the other, rang out in the valley.

Ye Xuan and the others looked up. The two who had spoken were Chairman Zuo Yi Alliance of the Dongsheng Kingdom and Chairman Xuu Xin Hua of the Fire Crow Kingdom.

They had failed to obtain anything during the fight for the Seven-Colored Lotus earlier, so they were naturally seething with anger.

Dongfang Yanyu frowned. "You two are going a bit too far. These disciples are the future of our Thirteen Nations Alliance. Letting them stay and observe will be quite beneficial for their future growth."

Kuchen had an even fouler temper. He sneered and said, "If anyone’s leaving, it should be the disciples from your Dongsheng Kingdom and Fire Crow Kingdom. Our Liuyun Kingdom disciples are staying."

Now that Ye Xuan had arrived, Kuchen would certainly not drive him out again.

Zhu Tianlan wasn’t about to let Xia Qixi out of his sight either. He nodded and said, "Since the disciples have all come in, let them stay."

The chairmen of several other kingdoms also chimed in with their agreement.

Seeing this, Zuo Yi Alliance and Xuu Xin Hua couldn’t help but snort, their faces turning livid.

Soon, Zhu Tianlan and the others walked back to the array platform in the center of the altar to continue their research.

While they were studying it, Ye Xuan also carefully examined the entire canyon.