Ye Guan's voice trembled slightly with disbelief. "That senior... is he really..." Tian He nodded solemnly. "Don't overthink it. This was my fault. I failed to fully heed You Lian's warning. If I had taken her seriously from the beginning, we wouldn't have been caught off guard ." Ye Guan fell silent, and a complex mix of emotions weighed on him. Tian He gave Ye Guan's shoulder a firm, comforting pat. "Focus on healing for now." With that, he turned and disappeared into the distance. Ye Guan let out a long sigh. Elsewhere, Tian He found the woman in white from earlier. She stood atop a mountain peak, her face cold and distant, like a statue carved from ice. Tian He sighed softly. "Little one... this was my fault." The woman looked at him. "Why did you go all out to save him?" "It was You Lian's wish," Tian He replied. The woman in white's brows drew together ever so slightly. Tian He continued, "She was sent to the empire by the former clan leader. She's one of us. She sent word, asking us to protect that young man at all costs. I was initially confused, just like you. After meeting him, I understood why she said that. He's... no ordinary youth. More importantly, that Great Daoist Brush Master is extraordinary, too." "That Great Daoist Brush Master is the new Grand Preceptor of the empire. He doesn't come from our universe. His insight runs deeper than we can comprehend. "You know how it is between us and the empire. We're in a deadlock with neither side able to truly crush the other. A new force from a different civilization could tip that balance. And Ye Guan... is the Great Daoist Brush Master's mortal enemy..." The woman in white remained silent. Tian He added, "I don't fully know either of their backgrounds, but it's clear. They're both dangerous. If we let Ye Guan die, and the empire has the Great Daoist Brush Master on their side, then our Celestial Clan will eventually fall." The woman in white nodded. "Uncle, I understand. You weren't thinking of yourself... you were thinking of the Celestial Clan. My brother and I don't blame you at all." Tian He sighed deeply. "Don't worry, Uncle. My brother and I won't seek revenge. Nothing is more important than the Celestial Clan." Tian He's eyes darkened, and a complex range of emotions etched on his face. Just then, a phantom appeared behind him and whispered, "You Lian has returned." Tian He heaved a sigh of relief. He turned to the woman in white. "Rest for a few days. I'll handle your father's affairs." She nodded silently, and Tian He turned around to leave. Soon after, Tian He met with You Lian. "Where is Young Master Ye?" You Lian asked. These were the first words to come out of her mouth as soon as she arrived here. "He's recovering from his injuries." You Lian felt relieved upon hearing that. "Who exactly is he?" Tian He enquired. You Lian shook her head. "I don't know." Tian He looked skeptical. "I haven't interacted with him much, so what I know is limited," she said, looking up at him. "But I want to speak with him." "He's still healing his fleshly body," Tian He said. "Once he's done, you can go see him." You Lian nodded. "Alright." "And what about the Great Daoist Brush Master? What's his background?" Again, she shook her head. "No idea. But... the Celestial Clan must be extremely cautious around him." Tian He was silent for a long time. "It seems we all need a serious talk with Young Master Ye." The two figures who had suddenly appeared were extremely mysterious. In a quiet room, Ye Guan's fleshly body had nearly recovered. Looking at his newly restored form, he let out a small laugh. His fleshly body was shattered multiple times in just a single day. Clearly, his so-called "Invincible" Sword Intent wasn't powerful enough nor invincible. However, the sword intent's strength was limited by the fleshly body's power. Sprawled out on the bed, Ye Guan slowly closed his eyes and replayed the battles in his mind of his confrontations with Di Chen and Ji Zhan. He reviewed every detail. He was overwhelmed in both fights—no, he was being dominated. His strength wasn't enough; it was not even close. He had to grow even stronger! Soon, he entered the Boundary of Truth and Illusion. As soon as he arrived, a mysterious force closed in on him. He had no idea what this being was, but it helped him make a breakthrough. It could manipulate the power of this boundary and use it to strengthen him. "Senior?" Ye Guan called out. "So... it was a favor I did you, wasn't it?" the phantom responded. "It was a favor, right?" Ye Guan nodded. "That's right." The figure nodded in satisfaction and opened its palm. Instantly, endless power from the Boundary of Truth and Illusion spacetime surged toward Ye Guan and flooded him. To his amazement, his fleshly body began to transform. "Big brother, you've got this," the phantom added warmly, leaving both Ye Guan and the tiny pagoda speechless. Under the phantom's guidance, Ye Guan's fleshly body began to evolve. There was a brand-new energy joining the Invincible Sword Intent. It was the power of Truth and Illusion! During void breaking, one could forge the Dao Void Divine Physique. However, upon reaching the Transcendent Realm, it was possible to create the "True Void Divine Body." To form a True Void Divine Body, one needed the help of a "True Void Spirit," a mysterious lifeform that resided within the Boundary of Truth and Illusion. They were creatures that existed in every region but despised outsiders. Gaining their help was considered near impossible, but Ye Guan was an exception. Soon, under the True Void Spirit's help, a faint starlight emanated from Ye Guan's skin as his aura skyrocketed. Now, he could absorb the power of the Boundary of Truth and Illusion. Just then, he turned to the True Void Spirit and asked, "Can you help me with something else?" The True Void Spirit looked at him without replying. Ye Guan leaned in and whispered something into it. The True Void Spirit was silent for a moment, and then it nodded and disappeared. "I hope it works..." Ye Guan murmured. Time flew by. Ye Guan returned from the Boundary of Truth and Illusion, completely healed and even strengthened. Even elites from the Transcendent Realm would struggle to harm him now. Just then, Tian He's voice rang out from beyond the hall. "Young Friend Ye, You Lian and I have come to visit you. " Ye Guan cleared his thoughts, stood up, and walked outside. Seeing Tian He, he smiled warmly. "Senior." He then turned to You Lian. "Miss You Lian, we meet again." Tian He examined him closely. "You've had a breakthrough?" Ye Guan nodded. "Indeed." Tian He cast a strange gaze at him. Is this guy even human? You Lian spoke. "Young Master Ye, we've come to ask about the Great Daoist Brush Master. Who exactly is he?" Ye Guan's tone turned serious. "I don't know." Hearing that, both Tian He and You Lian were visibly surprised. "He's shrouded in mystery," Ye Guan explained. "Only a very few people in this world know where he's from." "So why did the two of you come here?" Tian He asked. "We are in the middle of a Great Dao Contest." "A Great Dao Contest?" Tian He echoed, confused. Ye Guan nodded. "Due to certain circumstances, we were both sent here. He had his Dao techniques sealed, while I had my Order Sword Intent and my sword sealed..." Tian He's eyes widened. "His strength is sealed?" "And yours, too?" Tian He asked sharply. Ye Guan nodded again. Tian He fell silent, deeply shocked. So his current strength isn't even his full power? Even You Lian was shaken. Ye Guan was already capable of fighting Transcendent Realm elites, but his power was actually sealed? Tian He asked, "Young Friend Ye, could you tell us more about this Great Dao Contest?" "It's complicated. To simplify things, we each want to follow our own Dao, but our paths conflict. Hence, we were sent here to resolve it fairly. The loser must help the winner complete their Dao." Tian He eyed Ye Guan as he nodded thoughtfully. However, he didn't press any further. He knew there had to be far more to it than Ye Guan was letting on. They must be from a hidden, terrifying civilization that is stronger than either the Celestial Clan or the empire. Why? It was all because both of them were sent here, yet no one here knew anything about them. Ye Guan suddenly asked, "Is the Celestial Clan fighting over a Transcendent Divine Mine with the empire?" Tian He nodded. "Yes." "What exactly is it?" "It's a newly discovered mine. The highest level crystal at the moment is a Star Spiritual Crystal. However, that mine contains something even more potent. Resources are everything in cultivation. Those crystals could break the delicate balance, so none of us can back down." Tian He paused, hesitating to continue. "What is it?" Ye Guan probed. Tian He's voice dropped. "There's something strange deep within the mine—an extraordinary elite. I encountered them once—never mind. We'll deal with the empire first." "Do we stand a chance?" asked Ye Guan. "About fifty-fifty," Tian He replied. "However, the Great Daoist Brush Master is now on the empire's side..." Ye Guan sternly said, "If he weren't sealed, the Celestial Clan wouldn't stand a chance, but he's sealed, so let me handle him." He looked Tian He in the eye. "Senior, I need everything you know about the Celestial Clan, the empire, and every other top-tier force." Tian He nodded. "Easily done." With a wave of his hand, a scroll appeared and floated toward Ye Guan. Ye Guan opened it, and a golden light pierced his sea of consciousness. After a moment, Ye Guan asked, "The Celestial Clan's recent victories are thanks to the help of the Taigu Clan?" "Can they be trusted?" Ye Guan looked at him in silence. Tian He lowered his voice. "Young Friend Ye, you..." Ye Guan said, "We're going to the Taigu Clan. Right now."