One leaf heralds the autumn, and I am Ye Zhiqiu

"Ninth level of the Void Comprehension Realm?"

"Interesting."

Facing the Heavenly Sword Sect disciple before him, Chen Yunxuan showed not a trace of nervousness.

"What?"

"You look down on me?"

Chen Yunxuan's calm demeanor darkened the expression of the Heavenly Sword Sect disciple. A mere Divine Transformation Realm cultivator, yet so arrogant?

Did he really think being first on the Human Ranking made him invincible?

Just a Divine Transformation Realm cultivator—he was still far from worthy!

"You want to stop me?"

"Then let’s see if you can!"

Without wasting more words, Chen Yunxuan’s figure blurred as he charged forward.

"So fast!"

The opponent hadn’t expected Chen Yunxuan’s speed to be this overwhelming. In the blink of an eye, he was already in front of him.

Boom!

A deafening crash echoed as Chen Yunxuan’s punch sent the man flying.

"How is this possible?"

"Chen Yunxuan’s cultivation speed is monstrous, but he’s only at the seventh level of the Divine Transformation Realm. How could he send a peak ninth-level Void Comprehension Realm expert flying with one punch?"

"Cheap shot! He ambushed him!"

"Hmph, if he hadn’t struck suddenly, Senior Brother Zhou would never have been knocked back."

"Exactly. Chen Yunxuan is all reputation, but in truth, he’s just a sneaky coward who relies on surprise attacks."

To the onlookers, Chen Yunxuan had merely caught Senior Brother Zhou off guard. In a fair fight, he wouldn’t stand a chance.

But the Heavenly Sword Sect’s elders saw things differently. This wasn’t a sparring match—who would wait for their opponent to prepare?

Besides, Chen Yunxuan’s strength was undeniably formidable.

"You bastard!"

"I’ll kill you!"

Senior Brother Zhou, humiliated by being sent flying in front of so many, burned with fury.

A razor-sharp sword aura shot toward Chen Yunxuan, who frowned slightly. This man did have some skill—the sword aura’s power was immense. With a flicker of movement, Chen Yunxuan dodged the attack.

"Are you only good at running away?"

"Fight me head-on if you have the guts!"

"Is this the so-called Human Ranking’s number one?"

"What a joke!"

Senior Brother Zhou’s words made many frown. A Void Comprehension Realm expert taunting a Divine Transformation Realm opponent—where did this arrogance come from?

After failing to land a single hit on Chen Yunxuan, he still had the nerve to call him a joke?

"Alas, his temperament is still lacking," sighed the Heavenly Sword Sect’s sect master.

Compared to Chen Yunxuan, Senior Brother Zhou’s impatience and lack of composure were glaring flaws. For a swordsman, a restless mind was fatal—yet in such a crucial battle, he couldn’t steady himself.

Chen Yunxuan’s evasiveness wasn’t cowardice.

He was waiting—for the perfect moment to strike.

As Senior Brother Zhou grew increasingly frustrated, his attacks became sloppy, his movements erratic.

"Now!"

Chen Yunxuan’s aura erupted. Seizing an opening in Senior Brother Zhou’s assault, he closed the distance instantly.

Boom!

Another thunderous impact—but this time, Chen Yunxuan held nothing back.

A single, lethal strike.

"He’s…"

"Dead?"

"Chen Yunxuan, you killed him?"

"Ridiculous. He tried to kill me—was I supposed to spare him?" Chen Yunxuan replied coldly.

"Fine, fine!"

"It seems you’ve no intention of leaving the Heavenly Sword Sect alive."

"Chen Yunxuan, we gave you a chance. Since you threw it away, don’t blame us for what comes next."

"Men, execute—"

"Yunxuan… Yunxuan, is that you?"

Just as the sect master was about to order Chen Yunxuan’s execution, a voice cut through the tension, stunning everyone.

Xie Yuyan?

How had she gotten here?

The sect master and elders turned to Xie Yunfei, whose face mirrored their shock.

He had locked Xie Yuyan away—how had she escaped?

"Damn it!"

"How did she break free?"

Xie Yunfei paled as Xie Yuyan sprinted straight toward Chen Yunxuan.

"Yunxuan, you came for me, didn’t you?"

"I knew you still cared about me."

"Take me away. Everyone here blames me, scolds me—only you treat me well, right?"

Xie Yuyan felt she had suffered endless grievances these past days. When had she ever endured such harsh treatment in the Heavenly Sword Sect?

This wasn’t the sect she knew. These people were cruel, heartless.

All she could think of now was Chen Yunxuan. She wanted him to whisk her away from this wretched place.

At the sight of Xie Yuyan, Chen Yunxuan’s eyes turned icy.

She came to him willingly?

"Xie Yuyan!"

"I’m here to take you."

Xie Yuyan missed the murderous glint in Chen Yunxuan’s gaze—and the cold smirk curling his lips.

Hearing his words, she beamed with joy.

He really had come for her.

"Not good!"

Xie Yunfei's expression changed abruptly. His figure flickered as he instantly flew toward Chen Yunxuan's position.

Yet, in the next second, a streak of sword light shot straight toward him.

"Outrageous!"

"Who dares block me?"

Though the sword light was fierce, it was still incapable of harming Xie Yunfei in the slightest. With just a casual wave of his hand, he dispersed the attack.

However, in that brief moment, the situation had already shifted.

Xie Yuyan's eyes were now locked onto Chen Yunxuan, filled with shock and disbelief.

She couldn’t believe it—why would the man she loved most kill her?

"W-why…?"

"I loved you so much… Why would you kill me?" Xie Yuyan could feel the life draining from her body as she asked in sorrow.

"You only loved yourself."

"My purpose here was simple—to kill you."

"You shouldn’t have targeted them."

No!

This can’t be!

The ending couldn’t possibly be like this!

He’s lying to me, right?

It must be. He must still love me.

How could I only love myself? The one I loved most was always him.

Lost in her delusions, Xie Yuyan slowly closed her eyes. Even in the moment of death, she refused to believe that Chen Yunxuan truly meant to kill her.

A faint smile even lingered on her lips—perhaps the last image in her mind was of her and Chen Yunxuan flying side by side, united in love…

Chen Yunxuan gazed at Xie Yuyan’s lifeless body, his eyes devoid of emotion.

This was a woman consumed by obsession, driven to madness. If he hadn’t killed her, any woman who so much as spoke a word to him in the future would have become her prey.

"Yuyan!"

"My daughter!"

"Who?!"

"Who was it that blocked me just now?!"

"Was it you?"

"Or you?!"

"WHO WAS IT?!"

Xie Yuyan’s death had filled Xie Yunfei with fury. Though her recent actions and behavior had greatly disappointed him, she was still his daughter.

He had prepared for every possibility—except for Xie Yuyan dying right before his eyes.

At this moment, the members of the Heavenly Sword Sect were equally stunned. None had expected Chen Yunxuan to kill Xie Yuyan so effortlessly.

Even more curious—who had unleashed that sword light earlier?

Had a traitor emerged within the Heavenly Sword Sect?

"It’s him!"

"Who is he?"

"He’s not one of our Heavenly Sword Sect disciples!"

Just then, someone noticed that an unfamiliar figure had appeared on the sword platform without anyone realizing.

Chen Yunxuan, along with everyone else, turned their gazes toward this young man.

"You!"

"Why did you block me?"

"Are you with Chen Yunxuan?" Xie Yunfei demanded furiously.

"Me?"

"I am Ye Zhiqiu."

"Just someone who enjoys… lending a helping hand."

Ye Zhiqiu?

The second-ranked on the Human Rankings?

What was he doing here?