37: This time, I will take back everything that is rightfully mine!

Wang Ming stepped aside to let her in and closed the door behind her.

"What could possibly be wrong with me?" His tone was relaxed, even carrying a hint of a smile. "It's always been me making others suffer. They want to make me suffer? They're still a bit too green for that."

He looked at her with a half-smile. "But then again, my wife's charm really is quite something."

"I've only just arrived and haven't even clarified my identity yet, but someone is already so jealous of you that they're using such underhanded methods to cause trouble for me."

He shook his head and clicked his tongue. "If I were to directly clarify my relationship with you... tsk tsk, wouldn't they have to come and assassinate me with a sword in the middle of the night?"

When Ouyang Yaoxi heard the words 'my wife', her heart trembled inexplicably, and a strange sensation washed over her.

However, she maintained her cold exterior, taking a sip from her teacup to hide that hint of awkwardness.

"Don't talk nonsense."

She retorted in a low voice before turning serious. "Xiao Ce is narrow-minded and extremely vengeful."

"Yesterday, you made his people suffer such a loss and damaged his Face; he will definitely not let this go."

"The Grand Elder... my Revered Master, will likely dislike you even more because of this."

She paused and looked at Wang Ming with a serious gaze. "Keep a low profile for now. With your talent, once the Palace Master returns and sees you, she will surely take you as a Personal Disciple."

"At that time, your status will be different. Even if Xiao Ce wants to move against you, he'll have to weigh the consequences. The Grand Elder... will also need to consider the Palace Master's attitude."

This was the safest path she could think of for now.

Wang Ming smiled noncommittally upon hearing this.

He walked to the window, watching the swaying shadows of the bamboo outside, and said casually, "As long as he doesn't come to provoke me, I've always... never been one to start trouble."

Ouyang Yaoxi looked at his back and sighed in her heart, knowing that persuasion was futile.

Xiao Ce was narrow-minded and vengeful, but as for Wang Ming—putting aside whether he was narrow-minded—he was definitely even more vengeful than Xiao Ce!

She let out a soft sigh.

"In any case, be careful with everything. I... will head back first. If there's an emergency, you can send someone to find me at Yaoguang Peak."

She put down her teacup and rose to take her leave.

Wang Ming turned around and nodded to her. "Go ahead. If you miss me, I'll leave the window open for you tonight."

Ouyang Yaoxi rolled her eyes at him and turned to leave.

Wang Ming sat back down at the table, his fingertips unconsciously tapping the tabletop.

Low profile?

Wait for the Palace Master?

He didn't have that much patience.

If Xiao Ce was sensible and ceased his activities, he might let him live for a few more days.

If he wasn't sensible... a cold light flashed in Wang Ming's eyes.

Then he would use him to test his sword!

Coincidentally, he also wanted to test the power of Shattering Moon... Qingxin Palace Main Peak, Qingxin Hall.

Inside the hall, mist swirled and Spiritual Qi was abundant.

The Elders of each peak were gathered, seated in order of rank.

At the head seat sat a woman dressed in a water-blue flowing immortal dress. She looked to be in her early thirties, with a Face of peerless beauty and a gentle temperament.

She was the Palace Master of Qingxin Palace, Shen Lan Xin.

Having just returned to the palace, she immediately summoned all the Elders for a meeting.

As the Elders prepared to report on recent palace affairs, they all noticed a figure standing quietly beside the Palace Master, completely covered in a large black robe.

That person's stature was not particularly tall and their aura was restrained, but with the Elders' discernment, they could naturally see that the cultivation was around the Foundation Establishment Third Layer.

They shouldn't be very old.

But the strange thing was... that aura was actually somewhat... blurry.

Despite being only at the Foundation Establishment Third Layer, they gave off a bizarre feeling of both feminine and masculine traits existing simultaneously, making it difficult to accurately distinguish whether they were male or female.

They seemed like a man, yet also like a woman—or perhaps, neither?

Grand Elder Zhang Wanyi sat in the first seat on the left. Her gaze immediately fell upon the black-robed person, and her brow furrowed almost imperceptibly.

With her Core Formation Stage Divine Sense, even she was temporarily unable to fully see through the strangeness of this aura.

Where did the Palace Master bring such a person from?

"Palace Master," Zhang Wanyi spoke first, her voice calm. "This person is...?"

Hearing this, Shen Lan Xin smiled slightly. She turned her head toward the black-robed person beside her and said in a gentle tone, "There is no need to hide anymore. Everyone here is an Elder of my palace; there is no need to worry about safety."

The black-robed person seemed to hesitate for a moment before slowly raising a hand to grab the hood and pulling it back.

As the hood slid down, a delicate Face was revealed.

Fair skin and delicate features.

But... this delicate Face held an enchanting quality that fused femininity and masculinity!

It wasn't exactly handsome, nor was it exactly beautiful.

It was a strange temperament somewhere between male and female.

If Wang Ming or Ouyang Yaoxi were here, they would certainly recognize him at a glance.

Although the temperament had changed drastically, the contours of the features had not been completely erased.

This person was none other than Ye Chen!

However, the current Ye Chen was completely different from before.

Having washed away the filth and donned a black robe, he had restrained most of his emotions, exuding a bone-deep indifference as if he had been reborn.

"This child is named Ye Chen," Shen Lan Xin's voice rang out, carrying a hint of appreciation.

"I encountered him by chance at the edge of a forbidden land during my travels. At that time, he was fighting several Foundation Establishment Middle Stage Yao Beasts. Although his cultivation was inferior, he managed to maneuver with his tenacious Heart-Nature and exquisite movement techniques, eventually winning a narrow victory. His steady and resilient Heart-Nature is truly rare."

Her gaze swept over the Elders present, lingering for a moment particularly on Zhang Wanyi's Face.

"I observed that his skeletal structure is excellent. Although he is twenty-two years old and at the Foundation Establishment Third Layer, his foundation is extremely solid, and his spiritual power is far purer than those of the same rank. What's more precious is his firm will and pure... Dao Heart."

She paused and continued, "Furthermore, his background seems somewhat tragic, yet he has not blamed others or heaven for it; instead, he possesses an even greater heart for the Dao."

"I intend to take him as a... Personal Disciple."

A Personal Disciple!

Surprise appeared on the Faces of several Elders in the hall.

The Palace Master had not taken a Personal Disciple in many years!

The last one was Gu Qingyi, who possessed the Exquisite Heart.

This Ye Chen could actually gain such favor from the Palace Master?

Zhang Wanyi looked at Ye Chen, her brow furrowing slightly.

A twenty-two-year-old at the Foundation Establishment Third Layer with a solid foundation and firm will... it sounded decent enough.

But he was by no means a world-shaking genius who would warrant the Palace Master making an exception to take him as a Personal Disciple!

What exactly did the Palace Master see in him?

And then there was that eerie aura... but since the Palace Master had already spoken and her attitude was clear, as the Grand Elder, she naturally wouldn't question it in public.

A perfect smile appeared on her Face as she took the lead in expressing her stance, "The Palace Master has a Wisdom Eye for talent. It is a great fortune for this child to receive your favor. Congratulations, Palace Master, on gaining another fine Disciple."

The other Elders followed suit and offered their congratulations.

Shen Lan Xin nodded with a smile and said warmly to Ye Chen, "Ye Chen, why don't you greet the Elders?"

Ye Chen took a step forward and bowed, his voice calm and without ripples. "Disciple Ye Chen greets the Elders."

No one saw the glimmer of dark light that flashed deep within his lowered eyes.

Qingxin Palace... Wang Ming... Ouyang Yaoxi... I've come.

This time, I will take back everything that belongs to me!

And I will... crush you all!