In other words, Ye Xiaofan still has one year to catch up with those senior disciples.
Currently, he only needs to face the supreme prodigies among the new disciples. The newcomer protection period merely restricts senior disciples from challenging him; it does not restrict new disciples, so speaking of newcomers might be a stretch at this point.
Yet even so, Ye Xiaofan still feels overwhelming pressure. At this moment, those still standing in the Martial Arts Arena at Divine Sword Peak are virtually all this yearâs exceptional prodigies.
Among them, although there are a few tenacious prodigies like Ye Xiaotian who persevered, they are after all in the minority. Most of them are rare prodigies seen once in a thousand or even several thousand years, and even the weakest among them probably do not lose to someone like Jian Zhu.
As for the strongest group, even Ye Xiaofan, having broken through to the Profound Sea Realm, feels oppressed by their aura, let alone those senior disciples with years of accumulation. These people seem like a mountain of one hundred thousand pressing down on Ye Xiaofan, making it hard for him to breathe.
"Being a Sword Saint successor is not so easy. If you canât bear even this little pressure, you might as well quit the Cultivation Realm." Ye Xiaofan thought to himself.
If he were his former self, perhaps he wouldnât even qualify to compete with these divine prodigies of the Divine Sword Sect, but now, Ye Xiaofan is entirely different from before.
With a growth-type Martial Soul known to possess daunting awareness, along with a talent that can absorb thirty-six types of Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi, and a continuously improving terrifying comprehension as the Martial Soul elevates, any one of these makes him a contender with the prodigies.
If he still feels fear under such circumstances, it would be a waste to come to this world.
Seeing Ye Xiaofan not being daunted but rather invigorated, Nangong Jianchen also smiled knowingly. Both glanced at Shangguan WanâEr with tacit understanding.
"What are you looking at me for, have I become prettier?" The young girl giggled, but after speaking, she became uncharacteristically serious, with a burning light flashing in the eyes of all three of them.
Here would be the starting point of their soaring career, and also the beginning of their contest with the northern prodigies.
The three exchanged a knowing smile and then all looked towards Ye Xiaotian. Today, this peerless prodigy of the Ye Race indeed made Nangong Jianchen and Shangguan WanâEr see him in a new light.
However, the moment Ye Xiaotian made eye contact with Ye Xiaofan, he remained expressionless and turned to leave with a flick of his sleeve.
"Unexpectedly, he also persevered, and extraordinary perseverance often creates formidable enemies. Brother Ye, he seems to have a deep grudge against you. This person will surely achieve great things in the future, be wary of him." Nangong Jianchen reminded Ye Xiaofan.
Ye Xiaotianâs display today was quite astonishing. A Level Nine Martial Soul, Profound Spirit Eighth Layer Peak, he should have been eliminated during the âSect Entry Ceremonyâ, but he forcefully persevered.
Such people are sometimes far more daunting than those with heaven-defying Martial Souls.
Ye Xiaofan silently gazed at Ye Xiaotianâs retreating figure, his brows slightly furrowed. The resentment between them seemed impossible to resolve in this lifetime.
In Ye Xiaotianâs heart, it was Ye Xiaofanâs father who turned a blind eye, causing his father to fall in Death Valley. Coupled with the accumulated enmity over the years, the two have always been as incompatible as water and fire.
Now that Ye Xiaofan has become the Sword Saint successor, the conflict between them has deepened further.
And while this scene unfolded in the Martial Arts Arena.
Midway up Divine Sword Peak, behind some ancient buildings shrouded in celestial mist.
A towering figure stood silently on the mid-mountain viewing platform, quietly observing Ye Xiaofan in the Martial Arts Arena at Divine Sword Peak.
"Are you saying he can absorb twelve types of Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi?" The towering figure gazed down at the young man below, slightly astonished.
Standing respectfully behind him was Ning Canghai: "Elder, the twelve types of Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi were only what Mu Yan and I could sense. This kidâs talent definitely goes far beyond that; when he left Star Moon City, he was merely at the Ninth Layer of Profound Spirit. In just three months, he leaped into the Profound Sea Realm."
"Oh? Three months? Profound Sea Realm?" A trace of amazement flashed in the eyes of the towering figure, though it quickly vanished: "In that case, he is indeed one of the outstanding talents among prodigies. Dugu Nanâs chosen successor would naturally not be mediocre."
The towering figure soon returned to calm, as if this outcome was long expected.
Hearing this, Ning Canghai appeared anxious: "Elder, this young man broke through the Profound Sea Shackles without any Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures, nor even a Spirit Stone. More importantly, he didnât take any Profound Sea Pill either."
"No Profound Sea Pill?" The towering figure was finally moved, eyes filled with shock, reassessing the figure below.
Seeing this, Ning Canghai immediately took advantage: "Elder, this Ye Xiaofanâs talent might not be inferior to Ye Tiannan of that year. A tiger father breeds no dog sons. Should we reconsider his marriage with YiâEr?"
The towering figure, frowning slightly, turned to gaze at Ning Canghai and came to a late realization: "You came rushing to the Divine Sword Sect just for YiâErâs marriage?"
"Elder, I...." Ning Canghai, breathing rapidly, persisted despite the circumstances: "As YiâErâs biological grandfather, I hoped she would make the right choice. Elder, this young manâs talent is astounding, and now he has apprenticed under the Sword Saint. He and YiâEr...."
"Enough, despite his monstrous talent, heâs ultimately just a prodigy, and you neednât meddle with YiâErâs marriage anymore. There are plenty in this world worthy of YiâEr, but it certainly wonât be some common wastrel like him."
After speaking, the towering figure turned and left.
"Elder." Ning Canghai was anxious, urgently stopping the Ning elder: "Ye Xiaofan managed to break through the Profound Sea under such stark conditions and succeeded. That shows his Martial Soul is exceedingly terrifying, but only...."
"Enough!"
The towering figure promptly interrupted Ning Canghai, narrowing his eyes: "Even if heâs of the Celestial Tier Martial Soul, even with a Full-Level Celestial Tier Martial Soul, he doesnât deserve YiâEr." After finishing, the towering figure shook his head slowly.
Ning Canghai froze momentarily, inwardly understanding the implication: even a Full-Level Celestial Tier Martial Soul is unworthy of YiâEr?
Seeing Ning Canghaiâs bewilderment, the towering figure sighed: "Very well. Since youâre YiâErâs grandfather, Iâll share a secret with you."
Looked at by Ning Canghai, the towering figure whispered: "YiâErâs talent is unimaginably terrifying, not as publicly claimed to be a Celestial Tier Martial Soul. Youâre smart, you should understand what this implies."
Ning Canghai trembled, looking up abruptly, clearly realizing that even he, as a grandfather, was not privy to some matters.
Ning Canghai finally comprehended, his breathing was labored, and at length, he asked with a quivering voice, "Then YiâEr... where is she?"
The towering figure, hearing this, slowly looked towards the highest point of Divine Sword Peak, unspokenly indicating that Ning Xianyi resided within the most sacred forbidden grounds of the Divine Sword Sect, at the peak of Divine Sword Peak.
Equally, Ning Canghai raised his head, gazing upon the towering peak, his old eyes full of astonishment.
"In the future, you neednât trouble yourself with YiâErâs marriage. This matter now, even for someone like myself, holds no sway."
The towering figure murmured, casting one more disdainful glance at Ye Xiaofan below, sneering coldly: "Hmph, in his lifetime, heâll never catch up with YiâErâs pace. Even ten Sword Saint successors tied together wouldnât match my YiâEr."
With those words, the towering figure dissipated into wisps of green smoke, leaving Ning Canghai alone in the swirling breeze.
He too overlooked the Martial Arts Arena below, muttering to himself suggestively: "I hope your decision is the right one."
Clearly, Ning Canghai still inwardly favored that young man. But the towering figureâs words left him with an overwhelming shock, rendering him unable to argue.
In Ning Canghaiâs heart, waves surged as he contemplated his granddaughterâs talent, questioning just how terrifying it must be to warrant this secret residence in the sectâs forbidden grounds.
As it seems, this marriageâindeed, the young man might be overreaching.