Chapter 571: No malice, just because the benefits weren't tempting enough

Fearing that he would dampen everyone's spirits, Ye Qingxiao ultimately did not offer much explanation.

"Senior Brother Ye, I will return to the sect with you!"

In the end, only Facing Xiao Yixian prepared to return to the sect with Ye Qingxiao to enter seclusion and take that final step.

As for Bai Qingxia, Leng Qingjian, Gu Fangqin, and the others, they chose to remain in the lower realm for the time being.

Although the origin rules of heaven and earth in the Di Xuan Realm were more active.

They had, after all, just assisted the heaven and earth rules of the Xuanli Realm in devouring the Blood Moon Realm, and thus had merit with heaven and earth.

Furthermore, the heaven and earth rules of the Xuanli Realm had just devoured those of the Blood Moon Realm and were still in a phase of consumption, not having settled down yet.

Therefore, continuing to stay in the lower realm to comprehend the rules was, relatively speaking, slightly faster at this stage than being in the Di Xuan Realm.

As for Facing Xiao Yixian, his accumulated comprehension of the rules was already sufficient; all he lacked was that final push.

This final step could only rely on him integrating it during seclusion and letting it slowly take shape; the activity level of the origin rules of the outside world no longer had much influence on him.

Therefore, rather than staying in the lower realm, he might as well return to the safer Profound Yi Tianzong to enter seclusion.

In any case, when breaking through to the Void Penetration Realm, he would still need to return to the sect to utilize the dense spiritual energy within it to increase his success rate.

As for why they had wanted to experience the lower realm previously, seeking an opportunity for a breakthrough?

It was simply because they wanted to experience different worlds, seeking the inspiration brought by the differences between them to increase their success rate of epiphany.

And now, after experiencing the lower realm for so long, the Xuanli Realm could no longer provide them with much stimulation.

If it weren't for the fact that it was more suitable for Bai Qingxia, Leng Qingjian, Gu Fangqin, and the others to stay in the Xuanli Realm to comprehend the rules at this stage, they would also have liked to follow Ye Qingxiao back to the Di Xuan Realm.

"Alright, let's go!"

After making their choice, Ye Qingxiao and Facing Xiao Yixian activated the cross-boundary formation disks they carried with them to communicate with the cross-boundary passage opened by the Profound Yi Tianzong, transforming into two streams of light and disappearing.

Di Xuan Realm.

Inside the teleportation plaza of a city not far from the Profound Yi Tianzong.

The figures of Ye Qingxiao and Facing Xiao Yixian flew out from a massive suspended spatial passage in the center of the plaza.

"Finally back. It's still more comfortable staying in the Di Xuan Realm."

Just after returning to the Di Xuan Realm, Facing Xiao Yixian spread his arms with a look of relief, as if he were embracing the dense spiritual energy of the Di Xuan Realm.

Ye Qingxiao, standing to the side, saw this and, suppressing the excitement in his heart, spoke:

"Junior Brother Xiao, let's go! Back to the sect!"

Having said that, Ye Qingxiao couldn't wait to fly toward the direction of the Profound Yi Tianzong.

This time, having stayed in the lower realm for over two hundred years, he also had some irrepressible emotions; he wanted to go home and see his wife, as well as his good brother Ye Qingxuan.

"Senior Brother Ye, wait for me!"

Watching Ye Qingxiao's retreating figure, Facing Xiao Yixian hurriedly shouted, then quickly followed behind Ye Qingxiao, fleeing toward the direction of the Profound Yi Tianzong.

Not long after, when Ye Qingxiao and Facing Xiao Yixian returned to the Profound Yi Tianzong, the two temporarily parted ways.

Ye Qingxiao first returned to the cave dwelling he shared with Yu Xueqing, staying there for three days to properly soothe the angry Yu Xueqing.

After soothing his wife, Ye Qingxiao then carried a heart full of confusion and flew toward the Qingxuan Dongxuan Fudi where Ye Qingxuan resided.

Meanwhile, inside the Qingxuan Dongxuan Fudi.

At this moment, Ye Qingxuan was meditating and cultivating, inhaling and exhaling the eighth-order spiritual energy on the eighth-order spiritual vein that was almost dense enough to liquefy.

Over these hundred-plus years, the minor divine arts he had previously selected—Minor Divine Art: Immobilization, Minor Divine Art: Sword World, and Minor Divine Art: Ice and Snow—had all been comprehended to the limit his cultivation base could reach.

In the process of comprehending these three minor divine arts, Ye Qingxuan had once again grasped four major profound rule principles, which were:

The profound rule of Time, the profound rule of Sword, the profound rule of Ice, and the profound rule of Snow.

Added to the eighteen rules he had previously grasped—Gold, Wood, Water, Fire, Earth, Wind, Rain, Thunder, Electricity, Illusion, Light, Five Elements, Life, Causality, Space, World-Suppressing, Stars, and Death.

Ye Qingxuan had now comprehended a total of twenty-two types of rule power, and all of them had been elevated to the level of the seventh layer.

In an introspective state, one could clearly see that within Ye Qingxuan's sea of consciousness, twenty-two sources of rules were currently revolving around his immortal soul and primordial spirit.

Besides this, there were thirteen Dao texts representing the thirteen minor divine arts, woven from rules, suspended in front of Ye Qingxuan's primordial spirit, emitting bursts of Dao rhyme radiance that merged with his primordial spirit.

"Hum!"

Just as Ye Qingxuan was cultivating.

The disciple token hanging at his waist suddenly vibrated slightly.

"Hmm?"

Ye Qingxuan, who had been in an ethereal state, suddenly woke up after sensing the vibration of the disciple token at his waist.

Because Ye Qingxuan was not in seclusion to comprehend rules this time, but simply meditating and cultivating, he had not sealed his disciple token.

After waking up, Ye Qingxuan's heart stirred, and he invoked a wisp of spiritual sense to probe into the token at his waist.

After checking the information received in the token, Ye Qingxuan's gaze instantly tightened, and he said in surprise: "Qingxiao? Finally returned from the lower realm?"

Ever since Ye Qingxiao parted ways with Ye Qingxuan before going to the lower realm last time, the two of them had not seen each other for over two hundred years.

Thinking of the wisp of spiritual sense he had left in the World-Suppressing Tower that had awakened a hundred years ago, and the shock it brought to Qingxiao after he revived the World-Suppressing Tower to resolve the invasion of the Green Demon Clan in the lower realm, Ye Qingxuan's gaze flickered slightly.

After pondering for a moment, Ye Qingxuan shook his head gently, a smile appearing on his face, and he said softly: "Forget it, let's go out and see Qingxiao first. I don't know if Qingxiao has the confidence to break through to the Void Penetration Realm now that he has returned after experiencing the lower realm for over two hundred years?"

Having said that, Ye Qingxuan took a step and left the Qingxuan Cave Heaven.

Upon arriving at the stone pavilion outside the Qingxuan Cave Heaven, Ye Qingxuan's first sight was Ye Qingxiao waiting for him in the stone pavilion.

Seeing Ye Qingxuan appear, before Ye Qingxuan could even speak, Ye Qingxiao excitedly spoke first:

"Qingxuan, it's been so long, how have you been?"

Hearing Ye Qingxiao's greeting, Ye Qingxuan nodded and walked up with a smile on his face.

While signaling for Ye Qingxiao to sit down, he waved his hand to take out a tea set, and while brewing tea, he spoke:

"Still the same old way. For these past thousand years, I have been staying in the Qingxuan Dongxuan Fudi, and there hasn't been much change."

As he spoke, Ye Qingxuan changed the subject:

"How about you? You've experienced the lower realm for over two hundred years on this trip; do you have the confidence to break through to the Void Penetration Realm now?"

Hearing this, a proud smile appeared on Ye Qingxiao's face, and he beamed: "Although I encountered some trouble in the lower realm this time, after the trouble came many opportunities. Now, I am only one step away from the Void Penetration Realm."

"After I return from your place, I will immediately enter seclusion to start opening up the spiritual power void realm and break through to the Void Penetration Realm."

After returning to the Di Xuan Realm, in front of Yu Xueqing and Ye Qingxuan, Ye Qingxiao seemed to have let go of the steadiness he had in the outside world and returned to his previous temperament.

Watching the proud smile on Ye Qingxiao's face, the corners of Ye Qingxuan's mouth curled up slightly, and he didn't say anything.

Just as Ye Qingxiao was getting restless from not receiving a response.

Ye Qingxuan finished brewing the tea, poured a cup for Ye Qingxiao, and then spoke with a smile:

"Then I must congratulate you. In that case, you have successfully condensed the source of rules?"

Hearing Ye Qingxuan's inquiry, Ye Qingxiao did not hide it and chuckled:

"Hehe, that's right. I have already condensed the source of rules, and now I'm just waiting to enter seclusion to open up the spiritual power void realm and complete the final transformation."

Hearing this, Ye Qingxuan pondered for a moment, took a bag of tea leaves from his storage ring, and handed it to Ye Qingxiao: "This is seventh-order Enlightenment Tea. When you go back to enter seclusion, it can help you. I hope you break through successfully!"

Previously, he didn't give Ye Qingxiao the seventh-order Enlightenment Tea directly, simply because he was afraid that Ye Qingxiao's life essence could not withstand the massive increase in comprehension brought by the seventh-order Enlightenment Tea.

But now Ye Qingxiao had already condensed the source of rules, and his body and primordial spirit had gradually transformed under the erosion of the source of rules.

Now, taking the seventh-order Enlightenment Tea would no longer carry the previous danger.

"Seventh-order Enlightenment Tea?"

Staring at the bag of tea leaves Ye Qingxuan handed him, and hearing Ye Qingxuan's explanation, Ye Qingxiao was instantly shocked.

"Qingxuan, you even have Enlightenment Tea at the seventh-order level?"

Looking at Ye Qingxuan, who was still calm and composed opposite him, Ye Qingxiao's gaze suddenly became bright and piercing.

He had originally thought that Ye Qingxuan being able to take out sixth-order Enlightenment Tea before was already the limit, but he didn't expect that Ye Qingxuan now even had seventh-order Enlightenment Tea.

Thinking of the World-Suppressing Tower still being nurtured in his dantian.

Ye Qingxiao's heart stirred, he took out the World-Suppressing Tower, and then looked steadily at Ye Qingxuan, finally asking the doubt in his heart:

"Qingxuan, the small tower you gave me is a three-star lower-grade spirit treasure, the World-Suppressing Tower. Did you know that before you gave it to me?"

"Also, where exactly did you get this World-Suppressing Tower?"

At this moment, Ye Qingxiao had too many unanswered questions in his heart.

From Ye Qingxiao's perspective: Ye Qingxuan had clearly been staying in the Qingxuan Dongxuan Fudi without going out ever since he opened it a thousand years ago.

But Ye Qingxuan was always able to take out things that exceeded his expectations.

From the initial Nuclear Explosion Pill, to the later mid- and high-grade talismans, and a series of Enlightenment Teas, all revealed Ye Qingxuan's extraordinariness.

Previously, Ye Qingxuan pushed all these things onto the "Tianfu Shop," and although Ye Qingxiao felt something was wrong, he didn't suspect anything.

But now, the appearance of the three-star lower-grade spirit treasure, the World-Suppressing Tower, and the seventh-order Enlightenment Tea.

Made Ye Qingxiao suddenly discover that this brother he had known since childhood had a mysterious and unfathomable feeling, making him unable to see through him.

Or rather, this feeling had always been there with Ye Qingxuan, but he had subconsciously ignored it before.

Sensing Ye Qingxiao's piercing gaze, Ye Qingxuan put down his teacup and was silent for a moment, finally speaking:

"I knew the World-Suppressing Tower I gave you was a three-star lower-grade spirit treasure."

"The Enlightenment Tea you have in your hand now is indeed a seventh-order heaven-and-earth treasure, and it is unique to me."

"As for everything you want to know, I cannot tell you for the time being."

"However, when the time comes in the future, I will tell you personally."

This time, Ye Qingxuan did not choose to find an excuse to fob Ye Qingxiao off.

Because after the three-star lower-grade spirit treasure, the World-Suppressing Tower, revived in front of Ye Qingxiao, Ye Qingxuan knew that any excuse would be pale and powerless in front of the three-star lower-grade spirit treasure, the World-Suppressing Tower.

But Ye Qingxuan did not confess everything to Ye Qingxiao directly either.

Although with his current strength and status, even if he confessed all his secrets to Ye Qingxiao, it might not bring about too much negative impact.

However, having hibernated in the Profound Yi Tianzong for over a thousand years, Ye Qingxuan, who was accustomed to being cautious, did not want to take any unnecessary risks.

After all, his current strength was still far from reaching the peak of the Di Xuan Realm.

As the Di Xuan Realm was a great world of cultivation, Ye Qingxuan would never underestimate the means of other Mahayana realm powerhouses in the Di Xuan Realm.

Without the constraints of a Dao oath, he would not easily reveal his secrets to anyone at this stage.

This had nothing to do with trust! It was simply because, in the Di Xuan Realm, only a Dao oath could withstand the prying of Mahayana realm cultivators.

This was also why Ye Qingxuan had to take precautions.

From the very beginning, he stipulated in the Eastern Xuan City that only cultivators who took a Dao oath could become core members under his command.

Likewise, this was the reason why, up to now, only subordinates under Ye Qingxuan who had successfully taken a Dao oath could know his secrets.

Before one had grown up, having one's trump cards exposed and not exposed were two different things.

Before the trump cards were exposed, even if outsiders saw his extraordinariness and guessed that he had obtained some kind of opportunity, it would ultimately just be various guesses.

In this situation, relying on the Profound Yi Tianzong and being a direct disciple of the Sect Master of the Profound Yi Tianzong, he could fearlessly face the guesses and prying of outsiders.

But if all his secrets were exposed, he didn't even need to expose other secrets, just exposing the complementary effects of the Qingxuan Cave Heaven and the Qingxuan Dongxuan Fudi would be enough.

Then, even if he relied on the Profound Yi Tianzong, he might not necessarily be able to withstand the greed of outsiders.

After all, although the Profound Yi Tianzong was strong, it could not withstand all the hegemon-level forces in the Di Xuan Realm.

Even, at that time, even the many powerhouses within the Profound Yi Tianzong would covet his opportunity.

Even if they wouldn't do anything to him, they would very likely force him to hand over all his secrets.

Having lived two lives, Ye Qingxuan would rather speculate on others' malice to the maximum extent than easily believe in others' kindness.

For most people, especially cultivators fighting on the cruel immortal path: there is no malice, only because the benefits are not tempting enough.

One should not have a petty heart, but one must have a heart of defense; this was true even for Ye Qingxiao, who was of the same clan and as close as a brother.

From another perspective.

Confessing to Ye Qingxiao now, letting Ye Qingxiao face the temptation of the opportunity he had obtained, would do Ye Qingxiao more harm than good.

If Ye Qingxiao couldn't hold back for a moment and developed greed for his opportunity.

At that time, it would not only hurt the friendship between Ye Qingxiao and him, but also harm Ye Qingxiao.

Therefore, from any perspective, a well-intentioned concealment was good for everyone.

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 572 =====