Chapter 784 - 785: Extreme Joy Begets Sorrow

Ye Xuan smiled and said, "There’s no need to be nervous, everyone. I just overheard you talking about Infinite Mountain putting out a wanted notice and got a little curious, so I hope you don’t mind me coming over to ask about it."

"Oh, so that’s it." The men relaxed, their wary gazes softening.

One of them immediately smiled and said, "Friend, haven’t you heard the news?"

"I just entered the city, so I haven’t heard anything," Ye Xuan said, his interest piqued. "I happened to overhear you say that if you capture the person Infinite Mountain is looking for, you can become an elder of Infinite Mountain. Is that really true?"

"Haha, so you’re also here for the position of Infinite Mountain elder." The leader, a tall and thin man, laughed and tossed a jade slip to Ye Xuan. "Of course what we said is true. This is the wanted slip. Take a look. If you’ve seen those two, you might really have a chance to become an elder of Infinite Mountain."

Ye Xuan sent his Profound Sense into the jade slip, and his gaze instantly turned cold.

Inside, he saw clear images of himself and Zhan Shang. It noted that they had previously appeared in a mysterious location within Celestial Yin Valley. Anyone in the Profound Domain who passed on information about them to Infinite Mountain would receive a huge reward once the information was confirmed. If one could capture either of them, they would not only get the massive reward but could also directly become an elder of Infinite Mountain.

"I never would have thought the great Infinite Mountain would issue a warrant for two young men. I wonder what they did," Ye Xuan said with feigned amazement as he returned the jade slip.

The tall, thin, middle-aged man shook his head. "Who knows? One of them is even a disciple of Infinite Mountain. From the looks of it, that Xuan Ye probably colluded with the disciple, Qi Cheng, to do something that harmed Infinite Mountain."

After exchanging a few more words, Ye Xuan quickly took his leave.

The moment he turned away, Ye Xuan’s expression turned grim.

’I can’t believe Infinite Mountain put a warrant out for my arrest. It seems someone from Infinite Mountain must have seen me back in the Ancient Fiend Lands.’

Ye Xuan’s gaze grew colder. He had learned from the previous conversation that, besides Purple Beauty City, the other cities and factions in the Profound Realm Third Heaven had also received the wanted notice from Infinite Mountain.

’It seems Infinite Mountain doesn’t know I’m in Purple Beauty City yet. They’re just paying close attention to it because I once appeared in Celestial Yin Valley.’

’Thankfully, I used a Secret Technique to alter my appearance before heading out to gather information from the Heaven Listening Pavilion. Otherwise, I would have already been exposed.’

The mere thought of his identity being exposed in Purple Beauty City made Ye Xuan’s blood run cold.

Purple Beauty City was a significant power in the Profound Realm Third Heaven, and it was certainly filled with powerful experts. Coupled with the recent opening of the Ancient Fiend Lands, Ye Xuan was certain there were quite a few Nine Heavens Martial Emperors in the city.

And as one of the continent’s Seven Great Sects and a top-tier power, Infinite Mountain’s wanted notice would undoubtedly attract the attention of many experts.

Those Nine Heavens Martial Emperors might not care about the status of an Infinite Mountain elder, but they would be more than willing to seize an opportunity to build a good relationship with a top-tier power like Infinite Mountain.

’I can’t stay in Purple Beauty City. I have to leave here as soon as possible.’

Soon, Ye Xuan made his decision.

Half an hour later, Ye Xuan had checked out of his room and arrived at the gates of Purple Beauty City.

The city gates looked almost identical to when he had entered, yet Ye Xuan sensed something was different.

"Step forward and state your identity."

A black-armored guard yelled coldly at Ye Xuan. Several other men stood beside the guard, their sharp gazes sweeping over everyone entering or leaving the city.

"A disciple of Wukong Mountain Villa."

Ye Xuan presented his Wukong Mountain Villa Token without any unnecessary words.

"Wukong Mountain Villa?" The two black-armored guards scrutinized Ye Xuan, while the several Martial Kings with extraordinary auras also stared at him intently.

At the same time.

Several rather powerful forces swept out from both sides of the city gate, passing over Ye Xuan’s body.

’One Tier Eight Second Layer Martial Emperor and two First Layer Martial Emperors, stationed on either side of the gate, secretly observing everyone. They must be the experts from Infinite Mountain who arrived first.’

Ye Xuan sneered inwardly, understanding everything. He calmly allowed them to scan him, his expression placid.

However, Ye Xuan’s disguise Secret Technique was so profound that not even an inspector from the Heaven Listening Pavilion could see through it. How could a few mere Martial Emperors possibly discern his true face?

They probably couldn’t even tell that he was wearing a disguise at all.

"You may go."

After scanning him for a few seconds, the two black-armored guards waved him on.

Ye Xuan departed quickly. After flying for several hundred *li*, he finally turned to look back at the magnificent, sprawling city in the distance.

"Infinite Mountain, is it?"

Ye Xuan’s fists gradually tightened, a cold light glinting in his eyes.

Although he had already discovered Huangfu Xiuming’s whereabouts, Ye Xuan was still unwilling to leave the Profound Domain just like that.

’From the looks of it, Infinite Mountain’s top experts haven’t arrived yet. In that case...’

A chilling glint flashed through Ye Xuan’s eyes.

In this life or his last, when had Ye Xuan ever suffered such a loss? The idea of him just leaving the Profound Domain like this was a joke.

’So you want to hunt me down? Let’s see if you have what it takes. I’m afraid you’ll come and never return.’

With a cold smile, an idea quickly formed in Ye Xuan’s mind.

SWOOSH!

He flew forward.

Not long after.

A group of three flew over from the direction of Purple Beauty City.

The leader of the trio was a Tier Eight First Layer Martial Emperor, and the other two were Tier Seven Third Layer Martial Kings. A trace of Evil Qi lingered between their brows, a clear sign that they were ruthless individuals.

"Tsk tsk, Big Brother, I wonder how those two offended Infinite Mountain to make them issue such a high-profile wanted notice. This is a warrant from one of the continent’s top powers. I’m afraid even an ordinary Nine Heavens Martial Emperor would be doomed."

One of the three, a man with sharp, simian features, sneered.

The other Martial King laughed and said, "Yeah, those two kids are so young, their cultivation probably isn’t that high. It would be great if we three brothers ran into them. If we capture them and take them to Infinite Mountain, it’ll be a shortcut to the heavens."

The Martial Emperor in the lead snorted coldly and shot the two a look. "How could we be so lucky? With so many people looking for those two, it would be a miracle if we got the chance."

"B-Big Brother!"

Just then, the monkey-cheeked Martial King suddenly cried out in pleasant surprise, his voice trembling slightly, "Quick, look at that person..."

"Look at what person? What are you panicking about?" the lead Martial Emperor snorted, quite displeased.

"No, just look at that person..." The monkey-cheeked man’s eyes lit up, his voice so full of excitement he could barely speak properly.

The Martial Emperor looked in the direction the man was pointing, his face full of doubt. Then, he froze.

In the mountain forest ahead, a young man in a blue martial robe was flying cautiously through the dense woods with his back to them. He moved with great vigilance, and his face... it was identical to the image on the jade slip issued by Infinite Mountain.

"It’s that kid named Xuan Ye."

"The fugitive wanted by Infinite Mountain."

"Big Brother, we’ve struck it rich."

All three Martial Artists became excited, unable to contain themselves.

"Shh, be careful! Don’t alert the prey. We’ll flank him. Remember, we absolutely cannot let him escape," the lead Martial Emperor said, his face full of pleasant surprise and his eyes shining.

To them, the Ye Xuan before them wasn’t a person, but their future—a ticket to becoming an elder of Infinite Mountain.

The three immediately began to cautiously surround Ye Xuan.

"Big Brother, when you become an elder of Infinite Mountain, don’t forget about us," the monkey-cheeked man said excitedly as they closed in.

The lead Martial Emperor was also all smiles, as if he had already become an Infinite Mountain elder. He excitedly sent a voice transmission, "Don’t worry. If I become an elder, I’ll have you two transferred over as deacons or stewards."

"Hehe, thanks, Big Brother."

The trio chatted as they rapidly closed in on Ye Xuan. When they were just a few *li* away, they finally revealed themselves.

"Go!"

In an instant, three streaks of light converged on Ye Xuan from three different directions. The trio brandished their Profound Soldiers, and the First Layer Martial Emperor even released his Domain Realm barrier, enveloping Ye Xuan within it.

The three of them struck ruthlessly, clearly intending to give Ye Xuan no chance to resist.

As if sensing something, Ye Xuan suddenly turned his head.

"You’re only noticing us now? Too late! Just surrender obediently, haha," the lead Martial Emperor laughed loudly.

The ambushed young man’s face showed a flicker of "panic." His expression changed drastically as he said in feigned shock and anger, "I don’t seem to have any grievance with you. Who are you?"

"Who are we? You offended Infinite Mountain and you dare ask that?" the lead Martial Emperor sneered, striking down at Ye Xuan with his palm.

"So you’re Infinite Mountain’s lapdogs. You think the likes of you can capture me? You’re courting death."

Unexpectedly, the panic on the young man’s face vanished, replaced by a ferocious look. BOOM! An incredibly terrifying power erupted from his body. This power contained a trace of spatial energy and, with a series of CRACKS, it directly shattered the Martial Emperor’s Domain Realm barrier.

At the same time, the longsword on the young man’s back flew from its sheath. Gritting his teeth, he swung it down with a cold, fierce gaze.

VSSSH!

Several bolts of lightning, condensed and sharp as blades, tore through the void. Accompanied by the strange rumbling of thunder, they annihilated everything in their path.

"Careful! This person is a Tier Eight First Layer Martial Emperor!"

The lead Martial Emperor’s expression changed drastically.

However, Ye Xuan struck too quickly. The three were still immersed in the joy of their impending reward from Infinite Mountain and couldn’t react in time.

"ARGH!"

Two agonizing screams rang out as the two Tier Seven Third Layer Martial Kings were instantly sliced in half. The cross-sections of their bodies were scorched black, as if seared by fire.