"Patriarch, it seems like there are sword holes on the Earth Snow Bear's body."
"What?"
The clan elders quickly stepped forward upon hearing this, all of them shocked, and saw that both the paws and the brow of the Earth Snow Bear had smooth, aligned, and deadly sword holes.
It was clear that this was the key reason for the Earth Snow Bear's demise.
"Such a neat sword hole, this lingering aura, could it be...?" An elder looked incredulous, then suddenly realizing, with eyes full of disbelief said, "Sword Intent?!"
He sensed an incomparably sharp Sword Intent emanating from the smooth sword wounds on the Earth Snow Bear, slowly dissipating.
These words left everyone glancing at each other in shock, as those who could release Sword Intent were all masters with profound accomplishments in the Sword Dao.
Ye Wuyuan also pondered, "It seems there was a Sword Dao expert just now who decapitated this sixth-rank Soul Beast. However, merely a sixth-rank Soul Core probably wouldn't catch an expert's eye, hence it wasn't taken."
Ye Xiaojiang and a few others then belatedly realized, "Fortunately, we arrived in time, otherwise the Soul Core would really have been taken by that useless waste."
Everyone nodded in agreement upon hearing this.
Yet this scene, as observed by the mysterious young man standing in the shadows, appeared extremely peculiar.
"What's going on? The Ye Race has an unparalleled genius and yet doesn't favor him, even driving him out of the race?"
The mysterious young man mumbled to himself, having seen everything that happened in the forest just now, completely contrary to what he initially expected, "Could it be... this old guy really thinks the unparalleled genius is a waste?"
The mysterious young man speculated as if he suddenly understood the crux of the matter. This wasn't Ye Wuyuan's Blinding Technique at all; the old guy genuinely thought Ye Xiaofan was waste.
"Ye Wuyuan, oh Ye Wuyuan, being a clan leader, how blind you are. I wonder, if you ever realize this person's terrifying nature in the future, would you regret your present ignorance and foolishness to the point of breaking your own heart?"
The mysterious young man slowly shook his head, a look of schadenfreude on his face, and after pondering the direction in which Ye Xiaofan disappeared, he swiftly followed.
In the unfathomable Soul Beast Forest, the roars of Soul Beasts were occasionally heard.
Ye Xiaofan took advantage of the sparse, bright moonlight to distance himself from Ye Wuyuan and the others, heading east all the way.
However, when he reached another dense forest, he slowly halted his steps.
"You've been following all the way, come out." Ye Xiaofan spoke lightly without turning back.
Ever since his Martial Soul awakened, not only had his ability to sense Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi terrifyingly improved, but his senses had also become extremely sharp. While walking, he sensed someone tailing him.
After Ye Xiaofan spoke, a tall figure slowly emerged from the darkness, a slight smile on his lips, "No wonder you can comprehend Sword Intent. Even with my hiding methods, even old man Ye Wuyuan wouldn't notice, yet you can sense it."
With his figure revealed, the mysterious young man no longer hid, swaggering out of the shadows.
Ye Xiaofan turned upon hearing the voice, staring cautiously at the newcomer, a flash of surprise in his eyes at the words.
According to the other, even Ye Wuyuan couldn't sense his hiding methods, yet he could discover the other?
Ye Xiaofan was half-believing, not knowing if the other was speaking the truth or not, but he kept a certain distance with the newcomer, even slightly raising Sword Peak, his intuition telling him this person was extremely dangerous.
As if sensing Ye Xiaofan's hostility, the mysterious young man approached, while explaining, "Brother Ye, there's no need to be so tense, I mean no harm."
Upon hearing the way the newcomer addressed him, Ye Xiaofan couldn't help but frown, "Does the honorable know someone like me?"
The mysterious young man laughed as his eyes showed intense amusement, "Brother Ye became famous at the Star Moon City's Awakening Ceremony, and was publicly rejected by Ning Xianyi of the Divine Sword Sect. Your fame is widespread, it's hard not to know."
Ye Xiaofan followed with a wry smile, yet furrowed his brows even more, growing cautious, and instinctively raised Sword Peak higher to keep the other at bay, "Who are you? Why follow me here, what's your purpose?"
The mysterious young man paused outside Ye Xiaofan's Sword Peak, thought for a moment, and slightly bowed, "I am Nangong Jianchen of the Nangong Lineage from Star Moon City. I followed to make friends with Brother Ye."
"Nangong Jianchen?" Ye Xiaofan was stunned, his eyes bright, and tentatively asked, "The first genius of Star Moon City? The one who awakened a Celestial Tier Martial Soul?"
"Hehe, that's me. But the title 'First Genius of Star Moon City'—Nangong dares not claim it; Star Moon City births geniuses, how could I call myself the first?"
Nangong Jianchen finished and, as if with intention, looked at Ye Xiaofan, "At least before me, there's an unparalleled Demon Fiend. Brother Ye's talent probably surpasses Nangong, but unfortunately, the people of the Ye Race are blind, cherishing little more than that worthless jade, Ye Xiaotian. It's surprising."
Seeing the other admit his identity, Ye Xiaofan was quite astonished.
From the moment this person appeared, he felt they were extraordinary. Aside from the unfathomable aura around them, their demeanor and actions radiated an invisible confidence that looked down upon the world.
This confidence was unlike the kind from Ye Xiaotian and instilled trepidation.
Ye Xiaofan had considered that the other might be a genius from Star Moon City but had not imagined it to be the one lauded as the "First Genius of Star Moon City."
The legend of Nangong Jianchen was well-known in Star Moon City.
Nangong Jianchen, a peerless genius in the Sword Dao, sensed Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi at two, reached the Peak of Spiritual Absorption in four months, and specialized in the Sword Dao, condensing Sword Qi by six;
And without awakening a Martial Soul, he achieved the First Layer of Profound Spirit, breaking the myth 'No Breaking Spiritual Absorption Without Martial Soul,' becoming the first in Star Moon City history.
Moreover, it's said that this Nangong Jianchen awakened a mysterious Celestial Tier Martial Soul a dozen days ago, deemed Star Moon City's most likely candidate to become the next Sword Saint Dugu Nan in centuries, making him renowned.
"So, it's Brother Nangong." Realizing the person was the "First Genius of Star Moon City," Ye Xiaofan couldn't help being alert, though outwardly pretending to smile, saying, "You didn't follow just to stand up for me and say a few flattering words, did you?"
"As I said, I mean no harm, just to make friends with Brother Ye, that's all." Nangong Jianchen finished, extending a finger, intending to gently move aside the Sword Peak directed at himself from Ye Xiaofan's hand.
But Ye Xiaofan remained stiff, his sword as immovable as a mountain.
Nangong Jianchen internally smiled wryly seeing this, meeting Ye Xiaofan's eyes, trying to genuinely convey his sincerity, "Brother Ye, no need to guard against me so much. I bear no grudge or enmity with you, nor is there any interest conflict between us. I have no reason to be your enemy."
Ye Xiaofan pondered briefly upon hearing this and then slowly lowered his sword.
Nangong Jianchen sighed with relief, then looked at Ye Xiaofan, a calm smile on his face, and said:
"Since that's the case, I'll be straightforward, Brother Ye, you are right, my following was not strictly to stand up for you, but there's something more important to discuss with you."
"Oh?"
Ye Xiaofan responded with a scrutinizing expression; he and Nangong Jianchen had no previous interactions, so what important matter could there be to discuss?
Nangong Jianchen's words piqued Ye Xiaofan's interest.