Possessed by my father, I was reborn and became the supreme ruler.

Ye Yunjian deliberately walked into a secluded secret passage of the Xuanhuo Sect and whispered, "Come out, I know you've been following me."

The dim light and silent atmosphere in the secret passage made it seem as if even the air had frozen.

Ye Yunjian's heart was racing, but his expression remained unusually calm.

He moved forward with light, careful steps, trying not to make a sound with each step.

On the stone walls on both sides of the secret passage, faint torches occasionally flickered, casting long shadows in the dim light, giving one an ominous feeling.

Suddenly, a dark figure emerged from the shadows and blocked his way.

Ye Yunjian's heart tightened, but he remained expressionless.

He calmly sized up the stranger in front of him, who was completely shrouded in a black cloak, revealing only a pair of cold eyes that exuded a murderous aura.

"You've finally shown yourself." Ye Yunjian's voice was calm and firm. "I thought you wouldn't dare to show yourself."

The Shadow Assassin gave a cold laugh, his voice low and sinister: "Ye Yunjian, you've courted death, don't blame me."

Ye Yunjian's lips curled up slightly, revealing a cold smile: "Is that so? It seems that your master did not teach you how to deal with real enemies."

The Shadow Assassin clearly hadn't expected Ye Yunjian to be so calm. He said coldly, "You do have guts, but unfortunately, it won't save your life."

Ye Yunjian was not intimidated by the other party's threat; on the contrary, it made him even more determined in his mind.

He knew that every moment of calm he maintained could be his chance to escape.

He secretly pondered how to break the deadlock before the other party could make a move.

"You're not my master's subordinate?" Ye Yunjian deliberately feigned a hint of doubt, attempting to distract the other party.

The Shadow Assassin sneered, "Just accept your fate and let others guess."

Ye Yunjian felt a chill run down his spine, but remained calm on the surface.

He suddenly waved his hand, and a flame shot into the air, illuminating the entire secret passage.

In the firelight, he saw a flicker of panic on the Shadow Assassin's face.

"You're not the first person to want to kill me, and you won't be the last," Ye Yunjian's voice was low and firm. "But you will definitely not be the last person to leave here alive."

Just then, the floor of the secret passage suddenly began to shake, as if some mechanism was about to be activated.

Ye Yunjian's eyes narrowed, and he quickly made a decision.

As the earth shook, rubble fell from the top of the secret passage, filling the air with dust that made Ye Yunjian's throat tighten.

Beneath their feet, the bluestone slabs were displaced and overturned, revealing a dark, deep pit.

Ye Yunjian's eyes narrowed, and with a light touch of his toes, he nimbly dodged the falling rocks and traps.

Seeing this, the Shadow Assassin sneered and approached like a ghost. With a flash of cold light in his hand, he thrust his dagger straight at Ye Yunjian's heart.

Ye Yunjian dodged to the side, the dagger grazing his clothes and leaving a shallow cut.

A chill ran through him, and he felt a sharp pain. Looking down, he saw that his left arm had been cut, and blood was dripping down his arm, which was particularly conspicuous in the dimly lit secret passage.

He gritted his teeth, enduring the pain, and struck the Shadow Assassin with a backhand.

The palm strike whistled through the air, and the Shadow Assassin dared not take it head-on, dodging instead.

Just then, the sound of the mechanism activating rang out again, and sharp spikes shot out from the wall, blocking Ye Yunjian's retreat.

He was trapped in the cramped space, caught between a rock and a hard place.

"Ye Yunjian!" An anxious shout broke the silence of the secret passage.

Lan Xuan pushed aside the swirling dust and stumbled over.

Seeing Ye Yunjian injured, her eyes were filled with heartache. She hurriedly took out a handkerchief from her bosom and carefully bandaged his wound.

"Why are you here? It's dangerous here!" Ye Yunjian looked at Lan Xuan, feeling both touched and worried.

“I’m worried about you…” Lan Xuan’s voice choked up. She raised her head and looked at Ye Yunjian with a firm gaze. “No matter what, I will stay with you.”

Feeling Lan Xuan's concern, Ye Yunjian felt a warm current surge in his heart. He took Lan Xuan's hand.

"Don't worry, I'll be fine."

The Shadow Assassin watched this scene unfold.

"Since you're so eager to die, I'll grant your wish!" The Shadow Assassin said upon seeing Lan Xuan appear.

"Lan Xuan, watch out!" Ye Yunjian roared, leaping to block Lan Xuan's path, brandishing his longsword and engaging in fierce combat with the Shadow Assassin.

The blades clashed, sparks flying, and the metallic clang echoed through the narrow passage.

The assassin's moves were ruthless, each strike aimed directly at a vital point.

Although Ye Yunjian tried his best to resist, the injury on his arm affected his movements, and he gradually fell into a disadvantageous position.

He could feel the chilling aura emanating from the assassin's dagger, as if it were about to devour him.

The secret passage was filled with a strong stench of blood. Ye Yunjian's breathing became rapid, and his clothes were soaked with sweat, clinging to his body and creating a sticky sensation.

Lan Xuan was extremely anxious. She could hear Ye Yunjian's heavy breathing and see the increasing wounds on his body. Her heart was breaking.

She gripped the handkerchief tightly in her hand, her knuckles turning white, the handkerchief almost crushed in her hand.

The air around seemed to freeze, making it hard to breathe.

The assassin's attacks became increasingly fierce, and Ye Yunjian felt his strength rapidly draining away, while the wound on his arm became more and more painful.

He gritted his teeth and struggled on, his heart filled with despair.

Am I destined to die here today?

Just at this critical moment, a loud shout broke the silence of the secret passage: "Stop!" Meng Chuxi and Elder Lin appeared at the entrance of the secret passage.

Elder Lin's eyes were sharp, and his hand gestures changed. A golden light flashed, transforming into a huge golden net that enveloped the Shadow Assassins.

Upon seeing this, Meng Chuxi rushed forward without hesitation, her long sword piercing towards the trapped assassin like a venomous snake.

Seizing this fleeting opportunity, Ye Yunjian endured the pain, mobilized his internal energy, and unleashed his newly comprehended technique – "Blazing Flames Burning the Sky".

A scorching heat emanated from him, and the temperature in the secret passage suddenly rose, as if one were in a furnace.

A fiery red sword aura roared out and struck the Shadow Assassin.

The assassin let out a scream as his body was engulfed in flames, and the golden net shattered in the process.

He clutched his chest.

"Trying to run? Not so easy!" Ye Yunjian roared, about to give chase, but was stopped by Elder Lin.

"Don't pursue a desperate enemy," Elder Lin said in a deep voice. "We shouldn't stay here any longer."

The group left the secret passage and returned to the surface, where the sunlight shone on them, bringing a touch of warmth.

Looking at Lan Xuan's worried eyes, Ye Yunjian felt a surge of gratitude.

However, Elder Lin's expression was unusually solemn. He looked in the direction the Shadow Assassin had fled and slowly said, "This person... is probably not an ordinary assassin."

Elder Lin's expression was solemn, his sharp gaze falling on Ye Yunjian: "Speak, what exactly happened? Why were you being chased by assassins?"

Ye Yunjian took a deep breath and recounted in detail how he discovered his master Situ Jiuxiao's unusual behavior, how he secretly investigated, and how he was followed and hunted down.

His tone was calm, yet carried an undeniable firmness.