693: Chapter 693 Sworn Brothers!

Patriarch Xuanyuan Hai: "???"

Xuanyuan Ji: "???"

Everyone from the Ancient Tomb Sect: "???"

Good heavens!

Had they heard correctly?

Ye Chen actually had seven keys to the bronze gate in his hands?

Was this a joke?

It was incredibly difficult for others to get even one...

Yet this guy had already collected seven!

The most ridiculous part was...

...he actually said he was about to get the eighth one...

Wait!

Patriarch Xuanyuan Hai asked in astonishment, "What do you mean by the eighth one?"

"The reward for the competition champion—the jade sword—has one hidden inside it," Ye Chen explained calmly.

Everyone suddenly realized.

They never would have expected...

...that one was actually hidden there!

If Ye Chen hadn't said it, probably no one would have known.

Patriarch Xuanyuan Hai looked at Ye Chen with a strange expression. "You're telling me just like that? Aren't you afraid this old man will just snatch it?"

"You won't."

Ye Chen shook his head.

"I could tell just now that the Kunlun Ruins aren't as wonderful as people imagine."

"There are power struggles and factional disputes inside."

"You're helping me not just because of your legs, but likely because you want to win me over."

Exactly!

He had already seen through Patriarch Xuanyuan Hai's thoughts!

Otherwise...

...how could he have rashly revealed the matter of the seven keys?

Furthermore...

His favorable impression of that old fellow Xuanyuan Huo rose another notch.

He actually hadn't told Patriarch Xuanyuan Hai about the keys...

"Hahaha!"

Patriarch Xuanyuan Hai was stunned for a few seconds before throwing his head back and laughing.

"As expected of the most heaven-defying genius I've ever seen."

"You're right. I indeed want to win you over."

As soon as he said this...

Xuanyuan Ji's beautiful eyes widened.

Huh?

She had originally wanted to mock him, thinking her grandfather wouldn't care for his meager skills at all—why would he need to win him over?

But it turned out...

...Grandfather actually admitted it!

However, before she could speak...

Patriarch Xuanyuan Hai raised an eyebrow. "You must have other trump cards. With just this alone, even if you aren't afraid of a thief stealing, you should be afraid of a thief's lingering gaze."

"That's right."

Ye Chen admitted it openly. "Even if you open the bronze gate, you'll still need a method to deal with the curse, and I'm the only one who knows that method."

Patriarch Xuanyuan Hai was stunned for a moment, then burst into laughter.

Yan Qingcheng and the others looked shocked.

Well, well, well!

This was simply a showdown between an old fox and a young fox...

...each hiding their cards deeper than the other.

After laughing, Patriarch Xuanyuan Hai looked at Ye Chen. "So, are you willing to be won over by me?"

Hearing this, Yan Qingcheng's body tensed up instantly.

If Ye Chen agreed, the implications would be different.

That would be taking a side!

That would be choosing a camp!

The Yan Family also had people in the Kunlun Ruins. If Ye Chen really chose a side, the situation would become exceptionally complicated.

Fortunately...

Ye Chen smiled slightly. "Old man, the enemy of my enemy is my friend. We can be good friends."

He refused!

Xuanyuan Ji was even more shocked!

How many people would fight tooth and nail just to join their Xuanyuan Family?

That was the head of the Five Great Families in the Kunlun Ruins!

Someone actually refused to be won over by such a behemoth?

The most ridiculous thing was...

...he even said he wanted to be friends with her great-grandfather???

Heavens!

Who gave you the nerve!

How old was her great-grandfather? How could he possibly be friends with you?

You're dreaming!!!

But in the next second...

...her jaw nearly hit the floor.

"Good, a friend. I'm definitely making you my friend," Patriarch Xuanyuan Hai laughed heartily, appearing very happy. "To be able to make friends with a remarkable person like you in my later years makes this trip worthwhile."

Shocking!

Absolutely shocking!

Whether it was the people from the Ancient Tomb Sect or the Xuanyuan Family, everyone was stunned where they stood.

Damn!

They really became friends!!!

Ye Chen said with a smile, "Since you're older, I'll call you Big Brother."

"Second Brother, when you come to the Kunlun Ruins later, come straight to the Xuanyuan Family."

Patriarch Xuanyuan Hai said succinctly, "From now on, anyone who dares to touch your Ancient Tomb Sect is also crossing me!"

"Good!"

Ye Chen didn't stand on ceremony either. With a wave of his hand, the barrier blocking outside sound vanished.

Immediately after...

...he turned to look at Master Huineng and held out his hand. "Alright, give me the reward. Understand?"

Master Huineng snapped out of it.

He hadn't heard a single word of what Ye Chen and the others were saying, but seeing the way Ye Chen and Patriarch Xuanyuan Hai were acting, they seemed to be having a joyful conversation.

How could he dare to say no?

Especially since...

...the people backing him had already fled!

Instantly...

Master Huineng immediately had someone bring the items up.

Very quickly...

...the items were delivered.

A long wooden box and a golden medallion.

The word "Kunlun" was written on the medallion, with a relief of the Kunlun Mountains below it.

As the disciple who brought it opened the box, an almost transparent long sword was revealed.

It was entirely green, like translucent ice, and over three feet long. This was the jade sword!

Master Huineng pressed his palms together and chanted a Buddhist name, forcing down the mixed emotions in his heart.

"Benefactor Ye, this medallion is called the Kunlun Token. It is a token for entering the Kunlun Ruins."

"The holder of this token can enter the Kunlun Ruins at will without being blocked by any sect."

"If you wish to come out, you must follow the relevant regulations of the Dragon Kingdom. Unless it is a special period, you are not allowed to enter the Dragon Kingdom."

"Even during special periods, you cannot display your cultivation level in the Secular World at will, nor can you disrupt the secular order."

Ye Chen took the token and glanced over it in his hand.

"Fine, I understand the rules."

He casually tossed the token to Yan Qingwu, his gaze landing on the jade sword.

Hehe!

This thing was his real goal.

The key inside...

...he wanted it!

But it was quite impressive—a sword that clearly looked transparent could actually hide something without it being visible...

Master Huineng continued.

"This sword is named the jade sword. It is a supreme treasure of the Kunlun Ruins."

"It cuts through iron like clay and slices hair with a breath. It can resonate with a Cultivator's true qi, doubling its power."

"Today, I bestow it upon Benefactor Ye."

Ye Chen reached out and grasped the hilt.

In an instant...

...the blade emitted a crisp hum, and a brilliant green light flared up, reflecting a sea of emerald over several yards around.

Furthermore...

...the light grew brighter and more intense, dyeing the entire valley a shade of emerald green.

Everyone's eyes widened as they stared fixedly at the sword in Ye Chen's hand.

"What powerful spiritual energy!"

"This jade sword truly is a Kunlun Ruins treasure. Just this surge of spiritual energy is several levels higher than an ordinary spiritual sword!"

"Instructor Ye really hit the jackpot this time..."

Before the words could finish...

...a terrifying scene occurred.

"Crack—"

A faint cracking sound came from the blade.

Ye Chen's brow twitched slightly.

Immediately after...

"Crack!"

"Crack!"

"Crack!"

...

The cracking sounds became more frequent and crisp.

The emerald light suddenly became unstable, flickering intermittently.

Master Huineng's face changed drastically. "This... what is happening?"

Perfected Person Qingxuan's pupils shrank suddenly.

"The jade sword... is going to shatter?"

Abbess Juechen stood up abruptly, her eyes full of shock.

Wang Tianlong and Daoist Priest Qingfeng were also dazed.

The gazes of tens of thousands in the audience all fell upon the sword.

"Crack—"

The final crack rang out.

Then...

"Clatter!"

The entire sword shattered in Ye Chen's hand, falling into pieces.

Everyone was stunned.

"It... it shattered?"

"How is that possible? That's a Kunlun Ruins treasure! How could it shatter?"

"What did Instructor Ye just do? He didn't do anything!"

"Could it be that the jade sword couldn't withstand Instructor Ye's true qi?"

...

The chatter came to a sudden halt.

They saw a bronze object appear amidst the fragments.

Everyone's eyes were glued to that object.

A few seconds later, someone cried out in surprise.

"That... that is... it's a key to the Kunlun Ruins' bronze gate!!!"

Whoosh!

The entire valley completely erupted into a frenzy.

"A bronze key was actually hidden inside the jade sword?"

"Holy crap! Who could have thought? It was transparent, yet something was hidden inside!"

"How did Instructor Ye know? Did he discover it the moment he held the sword?"

"No wonder the jade sword shattered! It wasn't that it couldn't withstand Instructor Ye's true qi, but that the mechanism inside was triggered!"

"A bronze key... the legendary key to the Kunlun Ruins' bronze gate! One of the nine keys! It was actually hidden in the jade sword!"

"Heavens! This trip was so worth it! First, one man took on a peak Golden Core, and then the jade sword shattered to reveal a bronze key. I can brag about this for a year when I get back!"

...

The discussions swept through the entire valley like a tsunami.

Seeing this...

...Master Huineng's face could no longer be described as merely unsightly.

He had kept the jade sword for so long and actually didn't know a bronze key was hidden inside.

The most ridiculous part was that the people from the Kunlun Ruins hadn't discovered this huge secret either.

If he had known earlier...

But it was too late for that now.

The bronze key had fallen out of the jade sword in front of tens of thousands of people. Everyone had seen it; he didn't even have a chance to pocket it.

Moreover, Ye Chen was standing right there.

Who would dare to snatch something from his hands?