Chapter 797: Can You Speak Properly

In the eyes of the many prodigies in the great hall, once the Ten Great Celestial Pride reached the Sword Tribulation Fifth Refining Realm, any one of them would be on par with Ye Tianling.

Although they found it strange, no one said anything.

After all, even though Ye Tianling was impossibly powerful, it had little to do with them.

Now that they knew Ye Tianling was backed by the Emperor’s Path Thunder Inference King, they could wholeheartedly accept their defeat.

However, feelings of goodwill or hatred were completely out of the question.

...

Qianyu arrived at the Imperial View Pavilion.

She hadn’t come to issue a challenge, but to yield.

It was, admittedly, a humiliating thing to do, but she had no other choice.

’Challenge Ye Tianling?’

’It would be a miracle if she wasn’t beaten to death or molested.’

’It hadn’t been easy to get this far!’

Although Qianyu wasn’t afraid of death, she didn’t want to be killed for no reason or lose her chastity!

Besides, Ye Tianling had indeed spared her several times—even if he was the one who had actively invaded her territory in the first place.

"What, here for a challenge?"

Seeing Qianyu lingering outside the entrance to the Imperial View Pavilion, her expression heavy with worry, Ye Tianling decided to speak first.

Ye Tianyun and the other two were still in a state of enlightenment, so he couldn’t leave just yet.

"This was the Elder’s idea, but I have no intention of challenging you. You know I’m no match for you."

Qianyu gave a bitter smile and bowed. "I never imagined you were an Emperor’s Son."

"There’s a lot you didn’t expect. What, not regretting that I touched you now, are you?"

Ye Tianling chuckled slyly.

"Tch—Ye Tianling, can you speak properly for once!"

Qianyu cursed under her breath and shot Ye Tianling a glare. Though her heart fluttered, she forced herself to remain calm.

However, the blush creeping up her lovely cheeks betrayed her composure.

"Alright, I’ll behave."

Ye Tianling gave a charming smile, no longer teasing her.

’The proud and pure Qianyu Fairy has been teased into a young maiden experiencing her first crush.’

’Too bad he didn’t have any real feelings for her. Otherwise, Ye Tianling wouldn’t have minded a session of Yin Yang Harmony.’

"You... with your level of talent, why didn’t you let the Elders—you hid your true abilities on purpose, didn’t you?"

After a moment of thought, Qianyu mostly understood why Ye Tianling wanted to leave.

In the end, it was because the War Dragon Academy had no worthy opponents for him. The loneliness of being unrivaled made Ye Tianling feel that this place was stifling his growth.

Ye Tianling shook his head. "You can’t force things. It’s like... if you really didn’t like me, I wouldn’t tease you anymore."

Ye Tianling’s words were so direct that Qianyu flushed deeply, her heart skipping a beat once more.

’But she let it slide. After all, when he went by the name ’Tianshu,’ he was a complete Demon. It would be stranger if a Demon acted normal.’

’At least he wasn’t getting handsy right now, was he?’

As the thought crossed her mind, Qianyu felt a fresh wave of embarrassment at her own shamelessness.

"Emperor Tianling, we are indeed too weak to be your opponents right now. But after the Taiyin Ancient Tomb, everything will change. If you leave, you’ll lose your eligibility for it, which would be a real shame. I assume you already know about the Taiyin Ancient Tomb?"

Qianyu said seriously after a moment of thought.

Ye Tianling could sense the sincerity in her words.

The Taiyin Ancient Tomb was a highly confidential matter. If Elder Feng Cailuo hadn’t already mentioned it, Qianyu bringing it up now would be a significant favor.

"Elder Feng Cailuo already told me about the Taiyin Ancient Tomb, and I refused her offer. Of course, I can get into that place on my own. I also don’t think you’re unqualified to be my opponents. Our levels are different for now, but that will change soon enough."

"By then, I might not be much stronger than you all. I might even fall behind you in the future."

"But my mind is made up. You don’t need to try and convince me otherwise."

"As for the Imperial View Pavilion, I’ll leave it to you. But if my sister and her friends are still here at the War Dragon Academy in the future, I’d appreciate it if you’d look after them."

Ye Tianling’s tone was just as sincere.

He didn’t try to get a rise out of her again; there was no need.

"Alright... In that case... when are you planning to leave? I’ll see you off."

Qianyu considered this, her spiritual eyes dimming slightly.

"In two or three days. It’s not like we’ll never see each other again, so don’t be so glum. We’ve sort of become friends through fighting, haven’t we? Thanks for the heads-up."

Ye Tianling smiled, a sign that he now considered Qianyu a friend.

"Okay. By the way, when you leave, be on guard. Some powerful experts might use a ’vessel’ of some kind to assassinate you. Your identity is very sensitive right now. Given the situation with the Dragon Race, I’m afraid many people don’t want to see you rise to power. That might even include... the Dragon Race itself."

Qianyu gave Ye Tianling a profound look and lowered her voice.

She didn’t bother to add that she wasn’t trying to sow discord, because she knew Ye Tianling could discern the truth for himself.

"Mm, I know. Qianyu, you’re a good person. As for everything that happened between us before, let’s wipe the slate clean."

Ye Tianling also gave Qianyu a profound look, his voice soft.

Qianyu smiled, genuinely happy.

...

After Qianyu left, Ye Tianling was lost in thought.

Every Divine Son and Divine Lady was more than met the eye.

Although Qianyu had indeed conceded, it was clear that the battle hadn’t left any lasting trauma on her.

During their conversation, Ye Tianling had sensed her open-heartedness and noble spirit.

Strength is strength.

Weakness is weakness.

There is no shame in being weak, nor any inherent nobility in being strong.

For no one is born weak, and no one is born strong.

Every powerful person started out weak.

Ye Tianling had done it, and Qianyu naturally believed that she could too.

Ye Tianling walked into the courtyard. Watching Ye Tianyun, Liu Xu’Er, and Yuan Haoning achieve enlightenment, transform, and progress, he was filled with emotion.

’Grow up quickly,’ he thought. ’You must seize the opportunity within the Taiyin Ancient Tomb. After that, a golden age will dawn. Heaven and earth will clash, geniuses will roam unchecked, and all of creation will vie for supremacy... When that time comes, I may no longer be able to help you.’

Ye Tianling murmured to himself, his eyes full of expectation.

...

「One day later.」

Ye Tianling was gathering Origin Energy and channeling it into the area of enlightenment to further advance the transformations of Ye Tianyun and the other two.

Just then, a terrifying, destructive aura began to emanate from the distance.

The ancient Dragon Soul Aura, the tyrannical yet primordial Bloodline Power, a sound like the roar of an Unparalleled Dragon Soul—it all suddenly resounded within Ye Tianling’s very veins.

’A member of the Divine Descendant Ye Clan!’

In that instant, Ye Tianling’s eyes lit up. He knew at once that the one sent to receive him from the Divine Descendant Ye Clan had arrived.