Profound Heaven Soul Sovereign

Ye Xuan’s expression was placid. He didn’t answer directly. Instead, he sent a telepathic message, "So what if I know of the Soul-Slaying Blade Skill? Since you’ve learned this Cultivation Technique, you must be one of Gongyang Yu’s Direct Disciples. However, as far as I know, Gongyang Yu has only ever taken two disciples: Yelü Bo and Bai Yuzhe. Are you his new, third disciple?"

"You know my Second Senior Brother?"

Zuo Yuan’s expression changed drastically. He snapped his head up, his pupils instantly contracting to the size of pinpricks.

He had been surprised when Ye Xuan mentioned Gongyang Yu’s name, but that was all. After all, many people knew he came from the Divine Capital. With a little digging, powerful families like the Yuchi family and the Xiao family could easily discover his background.

Ye Xuan naming the Soul-Slaying Blade Skill wasn’t that significant either, as it was one of his master Gongyang Yu’s ultimate techniques, renowned throughout the Divine Capital.

But it was Ye Xuan mentioning his Second Senior Brother’s name just now that truly shook him.

Bai Yuzhe was indeed his Second Senior Brother. However, due to certain special circumstances, his master had never publicly announced the name. As a result, very few people knew of his Second Senior Brother’s existence.

Even within the Divine Capital, very few people knew about this. The world assumed that he, Zuo Yuan, was Gongyang Yu’s second disciple. Only a select few who were close to his master had heard whispers of the truth.

’This is a secret that even people in the Divine Capital don’t know. How could this young man possibly know?’

Only now did he begin to take Ye Xuan seriously. His expression grew grave, and his voice was tight as he sent another telepathic message, "Who are you? How do you know my Second Senior Brother’s name?"

Ye Xuan was taken aback. He muttered telepathically, "Your master still hasn’t acknowledged Bai Yuzhe? Sigh... why must he be this way? What happened back then wasn’t something anyone could have controlled. I can’t believe your master is still so fixated on it after all these years."

A tremor ran through Zuo Yuan. A sharp glint flashed in his eyes. "Who on earth are you?"

Ye Xuan gave a faint smile and replied telepathically, "I can’t tell you who I am just yet, but I’m an old acquaintance of your master. You should have a communication array to contact Gongyang Yu, don’t you? Just send him a message. Tell him that someone has never forgotten about the three jugs of Forget-Sorrow Wine he owes them. Your master will understand."

Zuo Yuan’s expression changed again. He exclaimed in shock, "Could you be the descendant of that old friend of Master’s?"

He was immensely shaken.

He had only been accepted as a disciple a few decades ago, so he didn’t know much about his master’s past. But he did know his master possessed a fine wine, renowned throughout the Divine Capital, called Forget-Sorrow Wine.

The Forget-Sorrow Wine was said to have been acquired when his master ventured into an ancient, perilous realm. He had nearly perished in that secret realm just to obtain those ten jugs of fine wine.

Everyone in the Divine Capital knew of these ten jugs of Forget-Sorrow Wine. Its effects were extraordinary and its taste, astonishing. Nearly everyone longed for a single cup. Yet, his master rarely brought it out for guests. Even for the top powerhouses of the Divine Capital, his master would, at most, offer them a single cup.

Over the years, the jugs were gradually emptied. Zuo Yuan himself had been fortunate enough to taste a cup once, an experience he would never forget.

However, for over thirty years, only the final three jugs remained. His master had never unsealed them; they simply sat on display in his room.

Zuo Yuan had always been curious how his master, who loved wine more than life itself, could resist opening those last three jugs for three decades. He only learned the reason later from his Eldest Senior Brother, Yelü Bo. His master had promised those three jugs to a dear friend. But that friend left and never returned. In memory of him, his master had decided to keep the last three jugs sealed forever.

Zuo Yuan had been intensely curious about this friend of his master’s, but his Eldest Senior Brother never told him the name. Now, hearing Ye Xuan’s words, Zuo Yuan was utterly stunned.

’Only someone extremely close to my master could possibly know this story,’ he thought. ’But in all the decades I’ve followed him, I’ve never seen Ye Xuan before. So it’s only natural to assume he must be the descendant of that old friend.’

Ye Xuan rubbed his nose. "I suppose you could see it that way."

Zuo Yuan was speechless. From the way his master treated those three jugs of Forget-Sorrow Wine, he knew the place that old friend held in his master’s heart. ’If Master finds out I killed the descendant of his old friend, he’ll probably smack me dead with a single palm strike in a fit of rage.’

At this thought, Zuo Yuan’s attitude toward Ye Xuan softened. "If you are the descendant of my master’s old friend, what brings you here?"

"It’s a long story." Ye Xuan shook his head. "If you can, please contact your master. There’s a lot I’d like to say to him as well."

"I do have a communication array to contact my master, but he went to the Netherworld Lake several years ago. I can’t reach him at the moment," Zuo Yuan said with a wry smile.

Ye Xuan froze, his brow furrowing. "Your master went to the Netherworld Lake? What for?"

Suddenly, a gleam flashed in Ye Xuan’s eyes. He asked in shock, "Has he already cultivated his Undying Soul Body to the Eighth Layer? Is he trying to use the death qi in the Netherworld Lake to break through to the Ninth Layer?"

Zuo Yuan jumped, his shock now immeasurable. Staring at Ye Xuan as if he’d seen a ghost, he shrieked, "How do you know my master cultivates the Undying Soul Body? And that he went to the Netherworld Lake to break through to its Ninth Layer?"

’So it’s true...’ Ye Xuan suppressed the tremor in his heart, a look of relief appearing on his face. "In that case, your master must have already broken through to become a Ninth Grade Soul Refiner."

"That’s right. He broke through decades ago."

"Haha, excellent! That’s wonderful news! In that case, the injuries your master suffered all those years ago must have fully healed," Ye Xuan said, filled with emotion. A genuine, heartfelt smile spread across his face.

’Gongyang Yu was no small figure. He had been an elder in the Divine Capital, the holy land of Soul Refiners, and also an old friend from Ye Xuan’s past life.’

’Back then, they both had fiery tempers and couldn’t stand the sight of each other. But after they interacted, they were both won over by the other’s attainments in Soul Refining, and a mutual admiration developed between them.’

’There was a reason they became such good friends. In his past life, Ye Xuan’s cultivation had stagnated at the Peak of Eighth Grade Soul King due to his crippled martial soul, leaving him unable to break through to become a Ninth Grade Soul Emperor.’

’Gongyang Yu was in a similar situation. He suffered from a latent injury from his youth and was also stuck at the Peak of Eighth Grade Soul King. When Ye Xuan first met him, he was exploring various secret realms, searching for a cure.’

’Later, the two of them helped each other out. They joined forces and got into all sorts of mischief, throwing the entire Celestial Profound Continent into an uproar.’

Now, hearing that Gongyang Yu had broken through to become a Ninth Grade Soul Emperor, Ye Xuan felt a sincere and profound joy.

By now, Zuo Yuan was completely stunned by Ye Xuan. From their exchange, he could clearly sense that this young man was truly familiar with his master—in some ways, he seemed to know even more than a Direct Disciple like himself.

’But,’ Zuo Yuan thought with certainty, ’this young man is only twenty years old at most. If that’s the case, he almost certainly has to be the descendant of my master’s old friend.’

Recalling the look on his master’s face and the tone in his voice whenever he mentioned that old friend, a thrill of excitement went through Zuo Yuan.

’If I can bring the descendant of Master’s old friend to him, I can only imagine how overjoyed he’ll be.’

’But the most crucial question is, is what this young man saying actually true?’

’If this is all just some big misunderstanding, a punishment from my master would be the least of my worries. But if I were to break his heart... I could die a thousand deaths and it still wouldn’t be enough to atone.’

But with his master in the Netherworld Lake, one of the continent’s forbidden zones, he was completely unreachable. Zuo Yuan’s expression flickered, and an idea suddenly struck him.

"Since you are the descendant of my master’s old friend, do you happen to know... what my master’s nickname is?"

His gaze was tense, his tone becoming reserved and respectful. He sent the telepathic question carefully, watching Ye Xuan with anticipation.

Ye Xuan laughed, his eyes filled with nostalgia. "Your master’s nickname? Isn’t it ’Little Lamb’?"

Zuo Yuan sucked in a sharp breath.

His pupils contracted, and his face filled with elation. He exclaimed in delight, "You really are the descendant of my master’s old friend! This is wonderful, truly wonderful! I am Zuo Yuan, my master’s third disciple. It is an honor to meet you, Young Master."

He strode up to Ye Xuan in an instant, his tone becoming both hearty and respectful as he let out a booming laugh.

This abrupt change in behavior left everyone present dumbfounded. Yu Chi Bugong and the others, who had been eagerly awaiting Ye Xuan’s execution, looked as if their eyes were about to pop out of their sockets.

Ye Xuan and Zuo Yuan’s entire conversation had been conducted telepathically. The onlookers had only seen their expressions shifting, with no clue as to what was being said.

Zuo Yuan’s sudden switch from brimming with killing intent to being so cordial was a shock that Yu Chi Bugong and his followers could barely process.

"I never would have guessed you were Gongyang Yu’s disciple. This is truly..."

Ye Xuan was also overcome with emotion. It was a classic case of allies unknowingly fighting one another.

"To think you came to the Celestial Capital Prefecture without letting me know! If my master finds out I tried to attack you, he’ll scold me half to death. I am sincerely sorry for my actions just now. I hope you won’t hold it against me, Young Master Ye."

Zuo Yuan said, a hint of lingering fear in his voice, and gave Ye Xuan a deep bow. He was incredibly relieved that he hadn’t killed Ye Xuan. The consequences would have been dire.

"No, I was the one who killed the Vice Tower Master of your Soul Master Tower. If we’re being honest, I was the one at fault."

Zuo Yuan snorted. "Nonsense, Young Master Ye. That man Rongyang dared to offend you. He used his position as Vice Tower Master of the Soul Master Tower to throw his weight around and run roughshod over the Celestial Capital Prefecture. You teaching him a lesson was a service. His death was well-deserved. Even if you hadn’t killed him, I would have struck down scum like that myself to make an example of him."