Invincible Soul Emperor

Chapter 598: Return to the Eternal City

"What? The Headmaster wants you to go alone?"

Zi Xing looked at Ye Qingchen in astonishment, her eyes filled with disbelief, yet there was a hint of secret delight in her heart.

So Junior Brother Ye didn’t reject teaming up with me because he was afraid I’d hold him back.

Ye Qingchen nodded and said to Zi Xing, "The Headmaster must have his own arrangements. He specifically called me over this morning and asked me to set off right now."

Zi Xing nodded thoughtfully, understanding that the Headmaster’s intentions were not something a mere student like her could guess.

Hearing that Ye Qingchen was about to leave immediately, Zi Xing couldn’t help but express her concern. "Then Junior Brother Ye, please be cautious on your journey. I’ve heard from my uncle that the experts sent by the Demon Clan have evolved and are even more formidable than before. They’re much stronger than the ones we encountered during the Sect’s newcomer competition."

Despite knowing Ye Qingchen’s strength was no longer what it used to be, Zi Xing still worried for him in the face of the fearsome Demon Clan.

Ye Qingchen nodded and replied, "I’ll be careful. I’ll be heading out now. Senior Sister Zi Xing, I’ll see you on the Demon Clan battlefield."

Although Zi Xing was reluctant to see him go, she still nodded and watched as Ye Qingchen departed.

Ye Qingchen had been to Eternal City once before, and although he had returned on a Flying Boat, he was still very familiar with the journey. After leaving Central Celestial Academy, Ye Qingchen sped on his way and soon arrived in Eternal City.

The current Eternal City had been rebuilt. Compared to the original, it lacked some of its former historical weight but had gained a lot of vitality. After all, the first descent of the Demon Clan had occurred right in the heart of the old Eternal City, which became the main battlefield for the clashes between the humans and the Demon Clan.

Later, the human powerhouses divided the battlefield into nine layers, with the outer layers set aside for disciples to train and gain experience. Thus, with the support of these powerhouses, a new Eternal City was erected a hundred miles from the original site. With the increasing number of people coming to the Demon Clan battlefield to train, the new Eternal City also became an important hub for humans.

Eventually, the human powerhouses made another move, constructing Teleportation Arrays within Eternal City that led to each layer of the Demon Clan battlefield, which brought even more bustle to the city.

Upon entering Eternal City, Ye Qingchen’s first thought was to find a place to gather information about the Demon Clan battlefield and learn how to redeem a spot to enter the Ten Ancient Clans. Following his usual method, Ye Qingchen chose the most luxurious inn in the city. Such places had the largest flow of people in Eternal City, and only those with outstanding strength or the powerful and influential could afford to stay there. Therefore, it was the perfect place to seek information.

Guided by a passerby’s directions, Ye Qingchen entered the inn, only to see a familiar figure as soon as he walked in. He didn’t expect to encounter Xiao Xiao right after arriving in Eternal City.

Since their last farewell, Xiao Xiao had grown even more mature and beautiful. Judging by the aura fluctuating from her, she had likely already advanced to the Martial Emperor Realm. However, due to the unique nature of her Cultivation Method, Ye Qingchen couldn’t determine her exact strength at that moment.

At that time, Xiao Xiao was sitting at a table with her cheeks propped in her hands, looking somewhat unhappy. Around her was a group of Wuji Immortal Palace’s disciples, eagerly vying for her attention.

Ye Qingchen saw Xiao Xiao, but since she was facing away from him, she did not notice his presence. He smiled knowingly and walked towards her, speaking as he went, "Xiao Xiao, what a coincidence! I didn’t expect to run into you just as I arrived in Eternal City."

At the familiar voice, Xiao Xiao’s heart skipped a beat. At first, she thought it was an auditory hallucination brought on by how much she missed her Young Master. But when she turned her head, she was astonished to find that the Young Master she longed for day and night had actually come.

Instantly shaking off her gloom, Xiao Xiao leaped from her seat and ran to Ye Qingchen. She grabbed his arm tightly, shaking it as she said playfully, "Young Master, you really came!"

Ye Qingchen fondly tousled Xiao Xiao’s hair, smiling as he replied, "With so many people around, aren’t you afraid of being laughed at?"

Xiao Xiao’s face flushed red, but she quickly recovered and huffed, "I don’t care what others think."

The intimate exchange between Ye Qingchen and Xiao Xiao attracted the attention of many in the hall. Seeing Xiao Xiao’s stunning appearance and ethereal demeanor, they couldn’t help but cast envious or hostile glances at the man she was clinging to. This hostility was particularly evident among the disciples from the Wuji Immortal Palace. After all, while they had been fawning over her just moments ago, she had remained aloof and indifferent. But now, their goddess was throwing herself into another man’s arms. Aside from jealousy, resentment brewed in their hearts.

Upon hearing Xiao Xiao address Ye Qingchen as ’Young Master’, one handsome young man instantly understood his identity. With a stern face, he approached and asked, "Are you Ye Qingchen?"

Ye Qingchen noticed the young man’s hostility but still responded with a smile and a nod. With Xiao Xiao by his side, he was all too familiar with this kind of animosity.

Hearing the unfriendly tone, Xiao Xiao’s face turned cold as she said, "Senior Brother Zhang Guangling, what do you mean by that?"

Zhang Guangling sneered coldly and replied, "It means nothing. The fact that he is Ye Qingchen is all that matters."

After saying this, Zhang Guangling turned and went back to his seat.

As Zhang Guangling spoke, however, Ye Qingchen felt something was amiss. He had already activated his Dual Pupil Martial Soul and heard Zhang Guangling’s inner voice loud and clear:

This guy is the Ye Qingchen the Saint Heir instructed us to find. Perfect. If it weren’t for the human powerhouses presiding over Eternal City and forbidding combat, I would end this kid’s life right now. I’ll let the Saint Heir see how much stronger I, Zhang Guangling, am compared to the trash from those three major academies! Once we’re on the Demon Clan battlefield, it won’t be too late to kill this kid. And maybe then, I can even blackmail the goddess Xiao Xiao into letting me claim a kiss...

Ye Qingchen could tell that the Saint Heir Zhang Guangling referred to was certainly not the one from Wuji Immortal Palace. It had to be the Saint Heir of the Ten Ancient Clans who had kidnapped Qin Yue; otherwise, it would make no sense to compare himself to the three major academies.

Ye Qingchen hadn’t expected the Saint Heir to have already extended his reach into the Demon Clan battlefield just to deal with him. But more than the Saint Heir’s plans against him, what concerned Ye Qingchen most right now was Zhang Guangling’s intention to take liberties with Xiao Xiao!

In an instant, Ye Qingchen’s face turned grim.