The Legend of Futian

Ye Futian returned to train in the Golden Hall of the Lotus to train after recuperating from his injuries, spending days inside without taking a single step out.

As the days passed, Year 10021 of Divine Prefecture Calendar neared its end.

Ye Futian finally emerged from the Golden Hall of the Lotus that day and came to the princess’ residence.

Xia Qingyuan eyed Ye Futian. She never stepped into the Golden Hall of the Lotus all those days. In fact, she had never seen Ye Futian after she destroyed Ye Futian’s Guqin Spirit.

At that moment, she found Ye Futian’s bearing took an 180 degree change after seeing him for the first time in many, many days.

Ye Futian of the past exuded exceptional bearing and there was an unbridled, carefree feel to his handsome face. One could have also felt a sense of gentleness and well-mannered bearing from him—something resulting from having been playing his guqin for years.

Ye Futian, at that moment, while still could have been described as handsome and dashing—even more so when looks alone was concerned—his handsomeness had a tinge of demonic grace to it. Those deep eyes looked enchanting, making it seemed as if one were to fall for him just by looking at those eyes.

Xia Qingyuan felt Ye Futian’s eyes looking increasingly demonic and enchanting at the moment. It seemed as if there were only those eyes occupying his mind, as if she was going to fall anytime.

“What are you doing?” Xia Qingyuan snapped out of it and felt a chill running through her spine, turning her eyes away from that pair of eyes of his.

“Just want to try it out for a bit. Forgive me, princess,” Ye Futian replied. His expression returned to normal, but nonetheless looked very handsome still.

However, the bearing on Ye Futian began to change. His features changed gradually and his silver hair turned black again.

Ye Futian seemed to have became someone else altogether. While he was still exceptionally handsome, but his looks and bearing were no longer what it had been in the past.

“Seems like you have mastered the Art of Thousand Phantasms then.” Xia Qingyuan kept her eyes at Ye Futian. She had to admit that if it had not been for her witnessing Ye Futian’s transformations personally, there would have been no way she would have recognized him.

Even if a cultivator were to change their appearances, there was no way they could have changed their bearing and aura. Regardless of how powerful a cultivator would have became, one could have still told who they were with just one look.

However, not only did Ye Futian change his appearances, his aura and even his entire bearing, bore no resemblance to what they had been before. It was a complete transformation from head to toe.

“Princess, would you mind if I let his majesty take a look at me?” Ye Futian said to Xia Qingyuan.

Xia Qingyuan stared at him, knowing what he meant.

“Wait here.” Xia Qingyuan left where she stood after saying that. Xia Qingyuan returned after a while and said, “You can rest easy now.”

“Thank you, princess.” Ye Futian nodded. What Xia Qingyuan said meant that Emperor Xia saw all of that.

Despite the Art of Thousand Phantasms being extremely mystical, he nonetheless still had his worries, being concerned that extremely formidable beings could have still saw through his disguise. However, he no longer needed to be concerned about that anymore.

“I’ve taken your time long enough, princess.” Ye Futian said, “It’s time that I head back and get ready. I’d still need your help in the future, princess. If I were to not be around, I’d send word through my stead. You would be able to know of my whereabouts at all times.”

Xia Qingyuan gave him one cold look. Ye Futian cupped his hands and returned to his original form, concealing his aura somewhat and left the place.

A figure came to Xia Qingyuan’s side after Ye Futian left, chuckled in a low voice and quipped, “Interesting little fellow indeed.”

“Do you like being a voyeur so much, father?” Xia Qingyuan glared at the figure that just appeared.

“This world belongs to your father to begin with. Would I really need to peek at anything?” Emperor Xia chuckled and said. Xia Qingyuan was rather exasperated and had no words to retort.

“Are you telling me that you have fallen for the kid?” Emperor Xia asked.

Xia Qingyuan glared at him and said, “I’d fall for anyone but him.”

“Makes sense. The kid sure knows how to piss people off. I feel like giving him a good beating myself.” Emperor Xia nodded with a smile. “If he wants to venture on a pilgrimage outside on his own, let him be. There is no need to maintain contact with him. The world would be a more quiet place with him dead somewhere out there. No one else would come to bother you in the future.”

“…” Xia Qingyuan looked at her father with a dumbfounded expression.

“Why are you looking at me like that for?” Emperor Xia smiled and said.

“While he is one hell of a jerk, he is nonetheless very exceptionally talented. He might yield unexpected results from his journey. Just have one of your shadow guards keep an eye on him,” Xia Qingyuan said to the emperor.

“If he wants to die so badly, why bother? Just leave him to his own devices then,” Emperor Xia said.

Xia Qingyuan glared at Emperor Xia and said, “Have it your way.”

She then turned around and left.

“Someone is not speaking their mind here,” Emperor Xia said with a smile, seeing Xia Qingyuan leaving in an exasperated manner. She was in no mood to be bothered with him and just kept walking.

There were definitely less than three people who dared behaved in such a manner in front of Emperor Xia throughout Emperor Xia’s Realm.

Xia Qingyuan, whom the emperor had doted on since a very young age, was no doubt one of those three.

Emperor Xia smiled and turned his gaze faraway. This kid sure is interesting.

…

At the end of Year 10021 of Divine Prefecture Calendar, Ye Futian was seen training at the mountain behind the villa.

Sword will coursed about Ye Futian’s body, emanating sharpness throughout his entire being.

Countless sword will coalesced and terrifying fires emanated from his body. The fires were of raging might as it merged with the sword will. The sword will of flames condensed in a frenzy, being gradually compressed at a single point, which eventually took the form of a sword. The sword pulsed with scorching light throughout its entire form.

Ye Futian exuded a totally different aura throughout his being after the sword was conjured; it was an aura of coldness. His surroundings seemed to have been invaded by the sword will of coldness, which was coalesced into yet another sword, hovering before Ye Futain.

The third sword after that was that of storms.

The fourth, a heavy blade of the stars which suppressed the heavens and the earth.

The fifth, a blade that was conjured by countless particles, which could have been separated into thousands of swords at any given moment.

The sixth, a sword of lightning infused with explosive powers.

The seventh, a blade which flickered in and out of tangibility, looking unreal.

The eighth, pulsed with the light of space.

All eight swords pulsed and emanated different sword wills. Stifling pressure was felt throughout his immediate vicinity. Ye Futian’s eyes seemed to be shining with the light of the swords. The eight swords then circled about him.

Other than the Taixuan Sword Sutra, he learned many other types of sword arts while training with the Golden Hall of the Lotus during the time spent there. Every single art corresponded to one type of elemental powers, which he melded with his own training.

His way of training would have been different from that of other swordsmen, making him unique.

Yaya continued to stare at him from behind.

She had never seen any cultivator like Ye Futian. It seemed as if he would have been able to master any art quickly, so long as he had the will to do it.

At present, no one would have doubted Ye Futian’s authenticity as a swordsman.

Furthermore, even if he were to claim that he had been practicing arts of the sword right from the beginning when he began training, no one would have doubted him after seeing what he was capable of.

Ye Futian was indeed a swordsman.

Furthermore, he was a swordsman that was considerably more powerful than conventional ones of his current plane.

Ye Futian waved his hand. Sword wills shot out and leveled a hill far away right there and then.

The sword wills about him dissipated and he set his sight far away, thinking that since he had came to yield some results with his sword training, he would have grown more powerful if he were to merge the Footwork of Xuanyuan and Huangting Fist Will with his way of the sword. Even if he were to lay off using his previous powers, he would have still been invincible under Saint Plane, not one bit weaker than he had been before.

“You have changed your bearing and took to studying the art of the sword. What are you up to?” Yaya asked Ye Futian. Very few cultivators did what Ye Futian did. There were definitely reasons for him to be doing what he was doing.

“Yaya, I might be leaving for some time. Take care of the villa for me,” Ye Futian said.

“Where would you be going to?” Yaya asked again.

“Somewhere far away.” Ye Futian said, “I have hit the bottleneck with my training. If I were to break into Saint Plane, I’d need to go on a pilgrimage. I intend to do this on my own, without bringing anyone with me. No idea when I’d be departing, but I’d leave the bird behind. I’d know if anything would have happened to any of you.”

“You are going into Emperor Li’s Realm, aren’t you?” Yaya’s eyes seemed to be saying that she knew what Ye Futian was thinking.

If you’re only embarking on a pilgrimage, why would you choose to go alone?

Even if the pilgrimage were to be one pitting your life on the line and you don’t intend to bring saints with you, why not take Yu Sheng and the others with you?

Furthermore, having changed his bearing and trained in the art of the sword, all of that seemed to have suggested that he was in disguise.

She speculated that the faraway pilgrimage that Ye Futian talked about was one to be carried out in Emperor Li’s Realm.

“Don’t think too much about it, girl.” Ye Futian extended his hand, but Yaya anticipated it and dodged, glaring at him.

Girl?

Ye Futian put his slightly shaking hand down, shaking his head with a bitter smile. Yaya walked up to him seeing how he acted.

Ye Futian flashed a warm smile seeing her move. He extended his hand and stroked her hair, saying, “No need to worry about me.”

“Have you learned the Art of Disguise?” Yaya looked at Ye Futian and asked. It was inadequate to just change his bearing and the arts he trained with.

“Indeed.” Ye Futian nodded. His features began to change as Yaya eyed him. It did not seem as if he was in disguise at all. Instead, the man that stood before her had been someone else altogether.

“What do you think?” Ye Futian returned to his original looks.

“Even if you are able to change even the world around you, but if you were to kill Li Yao in Emperor Li’s Realm and assuming if you succeed, how are you going to make it out alive?” Yaya continued to ask.

“Who says that I’m going to kill Li Yao?” Ye Futian smiled and said, “I’m just going to Emperor Li’s Realm to train. I wouldn’t be stupid enough to go and kill him. Relax.”

Yaya’s eyes continued to be filled with distrust. Going to Emperor Li’s Realm just to train?

What kind of an excuse is this?

There were plenty of places to train in the Three Thousand Realms of the Great Path, and there were definitely many places stronger than Emperor Li’s Realm, yet he insisted to train Emperor Li’s Realm instead.

But since Ye Futian put it that way, she saw no need to argue further.

“If you were to run into any danger, remember to keep me posted.” Yaya continued to stare at him, but she was unable to say anything to stop him. If he had made his decision, than it was possibly something that she had no way of changing.

“Let’s talk about something else. Tomorrow would be the first day of the new year, let’s celebrate together,” Ye Futian smiled and said, taking her to the villa.

The Black Wind Condor ran in Ye Futian’s direction not far away and said, “What are we going to eat for the new year’s feast? Roasted meat?”

“Indeed, roasted condor.” Ye Futian turned around and said to the bird, “Hey bird, seems like you have grown quite a bit of meat from eating too much. Could you actually still fly? How about we take some of those extras off?”

The bird shuddered and whimpered in an instant, looking at Ye Futian feeling wronged.

Alright, alright. Lay off the jokes. I’d just go on a diet!