Ye Xuezhang had left the area quickly after sensing someone approaching.
However, he didn't leave Zhongzhou Prefecture altogether. Instead, he hid nearby.
The reason was simple—Zhang Xiaoyu still owed him the second fifth-tier elixir.
Who those people were and what their identities might be were of no concern to him, as long as he remained unexposed.
In a secluded valley, Ye Xuezhang pondered silently.
Would Zhang Xiaoyu honor their agreement?
Would she blurt out everything to her family the moment she saw them?
He spent the night cultivating in the wild.
The next morning, Ye Xuezhang opened his system interface.
Host: Ye Xuezhang
Cultivation Level: Star River Realm, Fifth Tier
Martial Skills: Ghost Valley Mind Technique, Ghost Valley Sword Art, Fading Radiance, The World is My Path
Weapon: Yuanhong Sword
Remaining Exposure Time: 1 year and 320 days
Current Known Witnesses: 1
Note: If more than three individuals are aware of the host's strength, they must be eliminated within 24 hours.
Seeing this, Ye Xuezhang's lips curved into a faint smile.
"This girl actually kept her word..."
With that, he picked up Yuanhong Sword and set off toward Zhongzhou Prefecture.
As he passed the site of yesterday's battle, he was surprised to find over a hundred young people standing there.
They stood silently with their eyes closed, saying nothing, their intentions unclear.
All of them were strong—most were in the Vast Sea Realm, with a few even at the Sun and Moon Realm.
Though intrigued, Ye Xuezhang didn't stop.
When he reached Zhongzhou Prefecture, he was surprised to find Zhang Xiaoyu sitting at the city gate, waiting for him.
Seeing Ye Xuezhang, the little girl laughed aloud, "Ye Xuezhang, I've been waiting for you all morning."
"Oh? You knew I'd come?"
"Of course! Here, this is for you." Zhang Xiaoyu handed over an elixir with a cheeky grin.
What a sharp little girl.
Ye Xuezhang accepted the elixir and asked, "You didn't reveal anything about me, did you?"
Zhang Xiaoyu raised her hand. "I swear on the heavens, absolutely not!"
"By the way, Ye Xuezhang, are we friends now?" the little girl suddenly asked.
Ye Xuezhang nodded. "We are."
"By the way, why were there so many people at the site of yesterday's battle? What were they doing?"
"They were comprehending swordsmanship," Zhang Xiaoyu explained.
"All those people are members of my Zhang family. My Sixth Uncle ordered them to go there and experience the sword aura you left behind, to gain insights into swordsmanship."
When a top-tier swordsman makes a move, their sword aura often lingers at the scene.
The stronger the swordsman, the more profound the sword aura and the longer it lasts.
By immersing oneself in such an aura, one can often gain insights into the swordsman's techniques.
Ye Xuezhang was well aware of this.
What he hadn't expected was that the sword aura he left behind would be treated so seriously by the Zhang family, to the extent that they sent their members to study it.
Zhang Xiaoyu continued, "That strike of yours yesterday shook the heavens and the earth. It's all anyone in the Zhang family can talk about now."
"Everyone's speculating about who this unparalleled swordsman might be."
"My Sixth Uncle and the others interrogated me for ages before they let me go."
"Not just the Zhang family—even Qilin Pavilion Master Li Qilin has ranked you seventh on the Mysterious List."
"It won't be long before the entire martial world knows that a terrifying swordsman has emerged."
Ye Xuezhang: "..."
This was not good news.
Staying in Zhongzhou Prefecture was no longer an option.
The longer he remained, the greater the risk of exposure.
"Xiaoyu, I have matters to attend to. This is where we part ways. Remember, don't reveal anything about me."
Zhang Xiaoyu nodded quickly. "Don't worry, I won't say a word."
"By the way, where do you live? I might visit you in the future."
Ye Xuezhang was reluctant to let Zhang Xiaoyu know too much about him.
But on second thought, if he didn't tell her, this girl might start asking around about him, which could arouse suspicion among her elders.
"Cangxi City," he replied.
With that, Ye Xuezhang rose and departed, heading toward Dongning City in Zhongzhou.
"Ye Xuezhang, I'll come to Cangxi to visit you someday!" Zhang Xiaoyu shouted from behind.
Without turning back, Ye Xuezhang waved his hand and strode off into the distance.
Not long after, Ye Xuezhang completed a check-in and received five years of Pure True Qi, a fifth-tier spiritual herb, and successfully negotiated a jade mine deal with the Wang family in Dongning City.
This book is provided by FunNovel Novel Book | Fan Fiction Novel [Beautiful Free Novel Book]