A fragment appeared in Ye Xuan’s line of sight. It was about the size of a palm, and judging from the patterns on it, it seemed to be a turtle shell.
"A turtle shell fragment?" Ye Xuan was utterly astonished. He was certain that the Dragon Capturing Cauldron was trembling because of this very fragment.
When he picked it up, the Dragon Capturing Cauldron trembled even more violently. Even the patterns on the cauldron itself began to glow autonomously. This was enough to prove that this turtle shell fragment was no ordinary object.
"I’ll take this one," Ye Xuan spoke up immediately.
Beside him, the Golden Armor Guard had a very peculiar expression. He wondered why the items this lord chose were so unconventional. It was one thing to pick the Ice Heart Fruit for his first opportunity, but for his second, he actually chose a fragment! Was there something wrong with this lord’s head? Even if the item had been a treasure, it was already shattered into pieces. What use was a mere fragment?
"Ye Xuan, why are you choosing this? Do you think the patterns on it are a Treasure Map?" Beside him, Gongsun Yan couldn’t help but speak up.
"It’s possible," Ye Xuan said calmly.
Gongsun Yan didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. "Even if it is a Treasure Map, the world is so vast. How would you know where the remaining fragments are? Wasting a choice on a fragment is definitely a huge loss. It’s not worth it."
"It’s fine. I’m choosing this," Ye Xuan replied. He knew that collecting the remaining fragments would be exceedingly difficult, but there were absolutely very few treasures that could make the Dragon Capturing Cauldron this excited. What if he could actually collect them all?
As soon as Ye Xuan finished speaking, the fragment vanished. However, it wasn’t stored in his Storage Ring. Instead, it entered his Sea of Consciousness. Anything that could enter the Sea of Consciousness was undoubtedly a peerless treasure! At this moment, Ye Xuan truly wanted to collect all the fragments. He wanted to know what exactly this thing was.
After securing the fragment, Ye Xuan continued to stroll around. There were indeed quite a few exotic items in the vault, but most of them just looked novel, serving only to elicit a gasp of admiration. Ye Xuan browsed for another half an hour. Once he was certain there were no other good items, he turned to leave.
"Aunt Thirteen, take your time choosing. I’m leaving." With that said, Ye Xuan returned to the corridor.
Ultimately, he returned to the Library Pavilion and selected a high-tier Ghost-rank Body Technique Martial Technique.
"This is the one. Jingyun Body Technique."
"Sir, are you certain?"
"I’m certain."
"Understood, sir. I will register it now," the guard said. "Additionally, please allow me to boldly remind you that the Gongsun family’s Martial Techniques can only be learned by yourself. They cannot be taught to outsiders, not even your own relatives, unless you have obtained the Patriarch’s permission. Otherwise, it is a capital offense."
"There are such requirements?" Ye Xuan was a bit surprised, but after thinking it over carefully, it seemed quite normal. Martial Techniques were precious. If they weren’t strictly managed, someone secretly passing them on would inevitably lead to them spreading to ten, then a hundred others. Even among clansmen or relatives, secret transmission was forbidden.
"Yes. You can borrow the Martial Technique and return it once you’ve memorized it. Remember, copying it by hand is strictly prohibited."
"No need. I’ll memorize it right now." Ye Xuan placed his hand on the manual and released his Divine Sense, enveloping the entire book. In no time, the contents of the Martial Technique were etched into his mind. Opening his eyes, Ye Xuan left the resource vault and returned to the Lingxuan Courtyard.
After his departure, the Golden Armor Guard went over to the old man fishing. Without turning around, the old man asked indifferently, "What did he choose?"
The Golden Armor Guard respectfully replied, "He chose an Ice Heart Fruit, a fragment, and a high-tier Ghost-rank Body Technique Martial Technique."
"Oh?" The old man fishing had been calm and breezy the whole time, but upon hearing this, a hint of fluctuation finally appeared in his eyes. Choosing a Ghost-rank Body Technique Martial Technique was within his expectations. But what on earth were the Ice Heart Fruit and the fragment? "What kind of fragment did he choose?"
"A fragment that looks like a turtle shell, but it’s incredibly tough."
"This Ye Xuan is rather interesting."
By the time Ye Xuan returned to the Lingxuan Courtyard, the sun had already set, and the sky had turned pitch black.
"Xuan’Er, you’re finally back. Come, let’s eat." In the courtyard, a table was fully laden with dishes. These were all prepared by the estate’s head chef, and they were perfect in color, aroma, and taste.
"Mother, you’re really celebrating for me! But do the three of us need this much food?"
"Mother is just happy! Come, have a drink with me. Ruoxi, Hua, sit down too. Let’s all have a little something to drink."
They drank together until midnight. It was obvious that Gongsun Yanran was genuinely overjoyed. What mother wouldn’t want her child to be a dragon or phoenix among mortals? Although Gongsun Yanran had no strict expectations for Ye Xuan, the better he performed, the happier she was. Perhaps this was what it meant to hope for one’s son to become a dragon.
Late into the night, Gongsun Yanran and the other two returned to their respective rooms one after another. Ye Xuan, however, did not go back inside. Instead, he stayed in the courtyard to practice his Martial Technique. Since he had obtained a high-tier Ghost-rank Body Technique Martial Technique, he might as well practice it early.
Learning a Martial Technique across major cultivation realms might be difficult for others, but for him, it was a breeze. He could even rapidly master Divine Secret Techniques, let alone standard Martial Techniques. If Ye Xuan claimed his talent in the Martial Dao was second, probably no one would dare claim to be first.
"Young Master..." At this moment, in Hua’s room, she had not gone to sleep. She opened her window and leaned against the frame, seemingly intending to watch him like this for the entire night. Ye Xuan’s diligence made even Hua feel ashamed of her own inferiority. Despite drinking so much alcohol, he actually didn’t go to sleep and was still cultivating hard.
Hua had no idea that Ye Xuan was working this hard not just because he felt he was weak. It was also because he had wasted ten years in the Profound Cloud Sect! Ten years was far too long. He had to work much harder than others; he needed to make up for the ten years he had squandered.
When he was young and ignorant, he could give up everything for love. Only upon looking back did he realize that the most important thing in this world was one’s own strength. Only with strength could you obtain everything you desired.
Including love.
Meanwhile, in Ye Xuan’s room, Liu Ruoxi sat nervously on the edge of the bed. Seeing that the door remained closed for a long time, she finally breathed a sigh of relief. She knew that Ye Xuan wouldn’t be coming in. She had felt deeply melancholy throughout this drinking session, genuinely afraid that Ye Xuan would drink too much and force himself on her.
But fortunately, he didn’t enter.
Yet, for some unknown reason, she felt a bit indignant in her heart. Was Ye Xuan really not interested in her, even when he was drunk? Was she really that awful? Didn’t all men in the world like beautiful women and want to sleep with them? Could it be that she wasn’t beautiful? Or perhaps, Ye Xuan actually liked men? Yes, that was very likely the case.
Harboring these complicated feelings, Liu Ruoxi drifted into a deep sleep.
In her dream, she tied Ye Xuan up securely and threw him onto the ground. Holding a long whip in her hand, she repeatedly lashed him.
"Ye Xuan, do you submit?"
"I submit! I submit!"
"Then what should you say?"
"My Queen! Please spare your slave."
"That’s more like it. Oh, my shoes seem to be dirty."
"Don’t worry, My Queen. I will lick them clean for you."
In the dream, Ye Xuan wriggled under her skirt like a maggot, licking the filth off her shoes until they were sparkling clean.
"Hehehe..."
Liu Ruoxi laughed. Her laughter filled the entire room. She almost woke herself up with her own laughter.