"Ye Xiaofan?"

At the moment the voice rang out, both Ye Xiaofan and Nangong Jianchen paused slightly.

They were not unfamiliar with this voice, but Ye Xiaofan was more familiar with it.

The three followed the sound and looked towards its source.

As the three looked in that direction, many True Self Realm experts from the Divine Sword Sect also gazed over, their expressions subtly changing.

These True Self Realm experts were naturally moved not by the figure emitting the voice, but by hearing a name that made them slightly surprised—Ye Xiaofan!

No one expected that among the three Spiritual Essence Realm junior brothers who shamelessly stayed behind, one was actually the Sword Saint’s disciple, a Double Talent peerless monster who had caused some ripples recently in the entire ’Hundred Sects Battle Domain’.

Of course, here the number of experts who had seen Ye Xiaofan in person was very few, and even if someone recognized Ye Xiaofan among them, they couldn’t distinguish who the person actually was.

When Ye Xiaofan and Nangong Jianchen looked towards the figure who spoke, both frowned slightly in secret.

"It’s him?" Nangong Jianchen squinted slightly, seemingly having seen someone who shouldn’t be here.

Obviously, neither of the two had much goodwill towards this person.

However, the other person wore an unfriendly expression, a cold smile appearing at the corner of his mouth. Sitting cross-legged among the True Self Realm experts, he stared closely at the two with hidden malice and said, "Ye Xiaofan, Nangong Jianchen, I never thought we’d meet again. Over this past year and more, I thought you two were dead."

As he spoke, a glint of coldness flashed in his eyes.

This person was none other than the former master on the seventy-first Small Peak of the Divine Sword Sect, the peerless demon fiend from Heavy Sword Peak, Nalan Linyun.

To speak of Nalan Linyun, he indeed had some tragic past. First, he was challenged by Ye Xiaofan and lost his title as master of the seventy-first Small Peak, falling to become master of the seventy-second Small Peak. Then, he was challenged by Nangong Jianchen the next day, directly losing his title as master of the Small Peak, falling to second place among the One Hundred and Eight Grotto Heaven Blessed Lands.

The events of the past undoubtedly caused this peerless demon fiend to lose face, and the boastful words he once threw at the original Master of the Seventy-second Small Peak were ground underfoot by himself.

Clearly, the events of the past were something Nalan Linyun, known for holding grudges, had not gotten over, remaining a thorn in his side.

Coupled with the grudge between Heavy Sword Peak and Dugu Nan, Nalan Linyun’s attitude towards Ye Xiaofan now was certainly one of seeing him as an eyesore and thorn in his side.

Upon hearing Nalan Linyun’s words, Ye Xiaofan and Nangong Jianchen both frowned slightly in secret, yet didn’t wear their emotions on their faces like Nalan Linyun.

"Haha, thanks to Brother Nalan’s blessings, the two of us are doing fine, which must let Brother down," Nangong Jianchen said with a forced smile, though his eyes flashed with unexpected surprise.

Indeed, not only Nangong Jianchen was surprised, even Ye Xiaofan felt a sense of astonishment within.

Their surprise was at the fluctuation of Nalan Linyun’s aura. In less than a year and a half in the ’Hundred Sects Battle Domain’, his cultivation fluctuation had reached True Self Realm Second Stage.

That’s right, it was indeed True Self Realm Second Stage, and at the Middle Stage at that, which surprised Ye Xiaofan and Nangong Jianchen greatly. It seems the ’Hundred Sects Battle Domain’ indeed is a place of extraordinary opportunities, where truly fortunate individuals can soar to great heights.

The opportunities Nalan Linyun received within were indeed astonishing. However, even so, the fluctuation of his True Self Realm aura remained unstable, suggesting he hadn’t cultivated step by step to reach this point, but rather acquired some opportunity to quickly elevate his cultivation.

Such opportunities, though not as terrifying as the breakthrough Ye Xiaofan achieved step by step, if the cultivator is willing to spend time consolidating and removing hidden concerns, and even stabilize their foundation, it can even out over time.

No matter how, Nalan Linyun now undeniably is a True Self Realm expert. When a person becomes powerful, a sense of confidence naturally arises.

At this moment, Nalan Linyun looked towards Ye Xiaofan and Nangong Jianchen with a gaze containing faint pride and disdain, as if a strong person looking down upon weaker ones. He quietly watched the familiar figure and asked, "Ye Xiaofan, after all this time, seeing you again, is there nothing you wish to say to Brother?"

Nalan Linyun deliberately emphasized the word ’Brother’, and even his tone of speech embodied the demeanor of a senior brother.

Logically speaking, he was indeed their senior brother when they first entered the Divine Sword Sect together. The difficulty lay in the fact that in a world where true strength reigns supreme, after being defeated by those two figures, his brilliance once dimmed into dust.

Yet times have changed; now Nalan Linyun’s power surpasses them. Regardless of his breakthrough method, a strong person always possesses the right to look down on the weak.

Prior to this scene unfolding.

At the peak of a Spirit Peak, another scene was also taking place simultaneously.

At this Spirit Peak’s summit, amidst the swirling spiritual mist in certain areas, countless terrifying figures sat cross-legged, meditating with eyes closed, with ominous True Self Realm aura faintly appearing around their bodies. With each exhalation and inhalation, formidable Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi gathered towards them.

Evidently, the seniors and juniors at this Spirit Peak’s summit were all pinnacle battle forces of the Self-Slaying Realm. Don’t be fooled by the mere name difference between Self-Slaying Realm and True Self Realm, for the gap between them was as vast as a chasm, like the difference between heaven and earth.