The Great Ruler: Starting from the Lower Plane

"It's rare for him to be so well-behaved..."

Ye Feng gently brushed aside Su Qingxue's hair, placed a kiss on her smooth, white forehead, carefully withdrew his arm from under her neck, and slowly stood up.

However, despite Ye Feng's gentle movements, Su Qingxue still woke up.

"Um…"

Su Qingxue opened her hazy eyes and saw Ye Feng get up. She subconsciously reached out and grabbed the hem of his clothes.

"Are you leaving?"

Su Qingxue's voice was soft and sweet, like a spring breeze caressing the ear, gentle and moving, carrying the languor of just waking up and a hint of reluctance.

Ye Feng turned around and looked at Su Qingxue's slightly tired but still stunningly beautiful snow-white face. A feeling of pity welled up in his heart, and he leaned down to give her a gentle kiss on the lips.

"Why are you leaving? I'm going to see your grandfather and the others. You should get some rest."

Su Qingxue forced herself to sit up, her voice soft and gentle.

"Would you like me to go with you?"

Ye Feng pressed down on Su Qingxue's fragrant shoulder and smiled gently.

"No need, you should get some rest. You worked very hard last night, don't think others can't tell."

Hearing Ye Feng's words, Su Qingxue blushed and glared at him, but she didn't insist on anything. She lay back down, but her clear, cold eyes were still looking at Ye Feng with undisguised admiration and tenderness.

"I told you yesterday that I wouldn't be leaving the Sword Continent for the time being. Just wait for me to come back."

Ye Feng smiled slightly, then turned and left.

Although he has now broken through to the Sword Emperor realm and has the means to leave this world, it is not safe to rush into the Great Thousand World. He still needs some time to prepare in this world.

He hasn't yet studied the Supreme Sword Manual within the Sword Pendant Space since his breakthrough. Once he gains some understanding of it, even if he can't break through to the next level, he'll have more techniques, and his overall strength will inevitably improve further.

The materials needed for cultivating a supreme Dharma body like the Blazing Fire Sword Body still need to be collected. This world may not necessarily have them, but we still need to try our best to search for them.

In addition, there are many trivial matters to deal with, such as arrangements for the people I care about.

Stepping out of the room, the morning sunlight streamed in, bringing a touch of warmth.

Ye Feng took a deep breath of fresh air and looked toward the room of Jiang Zhenyue and Chen tide.

Some things shouldn't be treated too favoritistically. Before leaving the Sword Continent, he would spend some quality time with the two women.

After all, we've parted ways in this world, and who knows when we'll meet again.

The world is vast and boundless, teeming with myriad races and countless powerful beings, and further plagued by the scourge of extraterrestrial evil races. Leaving this world now may be easy, but returning...

Ye Feng didn't think any further and turned his gaze towards the Burning Heaven Palace on Thousand Burning Peak.

Upon his return after breaking through to the Sword Emperor realm, he had not yet paid his respects to Su Zhen and the other elders. However, given the extraordinary phenomena that occurred during his breakthrough, these elders likely already had their answers and were impatient to see him.

"Let's decide according to their wishes..."

……

Thousand Burning Peak, Burning Heaven Palace.

Under Ye Feng's divine sense transmission, Su Zhen, Jiang Qingcang, Chen Yuan, and Zhou Qian, the four top experts of the Burning Heaven Sword Sect, gathered in the main hall, waiting for Ye Feng's arrival.

The palace doors swung open, and the moment Ye Feng stepped into the hall, all four people's eyes fell on him simultaneously, their expressions filled with complex emotions.

There was a mix of relief, excitement, awe, and even a touch of unspeakable trepidation.

In the Sword Continent, strength reigns supreme. Things are different now. Ye Feng is no longer the same person he once was; he stands at a level they can only look up to.

"I have met four elders."

Ye Feng bowed respectfully, his attitude as humble and peaceful as ever.

Su Zhen stepped forward, carefully examining Ye Feng. He couldn't help but crack a smile, his aged yet shrewd face full of joy.

"Good lad, you really broke through..."

"The realm of Sword Emperor has been uncharted territory in our world for tens of thousands of years. Your breakthrough at such a young age is truly astonishing..."

Jiang Qingcang was also deeply moved and burst into laughter.

"When I changed the sect rules to allow you to cultivate the energy within the two holy lands, I was still a little uneasy, fearing that this move was too risky and would prematurely sever the Burning Heaven Sword Sect's lineage."

"Now it seems that I was too short-sighted. Junior brother's vision is far superior. With your talent and potential, even without the full support of the Burning Heaven Sword Sect, it's only a matter of time before you reach the Sword Emperor realm."

Chen Yuan and Zhou Qian nodded repeatedly, their eyes filled with admiration and relief.

The former was somewhat better off, while the latter felt a growing sense of disappointment that his descendants were not up to par.

"It's a pity that there are no outstanding female descendants in my lineage, otherwise I could have made her your concubine."

Compared to Su Zhen, Jiang Qingcang, and Chen Yuan, he ultimately lacked a connection with Ye Feng.

Even if such a marriage were possible now, Ye Feng might not be interested in it. With his current strength, he doesn't need such a marriage to maintain the relationship.

"You four elders are too kind. Without your trust and guidance, Ye Feng would never have been able to reach this level in just a few years. I will remember this kindness and never forget it."

Ye Feng shook his head and smiled, responding very sincerely.

When Su Zhen took him away from the Great Li Dynasty and into the Burning Heaven Sword Sect, Jiang Qingcang and the other two had no objections. They were willing to change the rules of the Burning Heaven Sword Sect that had been in place for tens of thousands of years and to marry the three holy maidens of the Burning Heaven Sword Sect to him. This was a kind of support that went to great lengths.

However, this was also a high-stakes gamble for Su Zhen and the other four Sword Emperors of the Burning Heaven Sword Sect.

At that time, although he had revealed the supreme physique of the Innate Sword Body, which was expected to reach the Sword Emperor realm, he was ultimately just an insignificant Sword Soul Realm person. Whether he could grow to the point where he could break through the shackles of heaven and earth was completely unknown.

However, these four powerful figures standing at the pinnacle of the Sword Continent were willing to stake the future of the entire Burning Heaven Sword Sect, and even their own hopes, on him.

Such courage and trust in him are not something ordinary people possess, and he was truly grateful for it.

For a long time, he was the one who benefited, and his success today is inseparable from the support of several people.

Upon hearing this, all four were slightly moved and inexplicably breathed a sigh of relief.

In the Sword Continent, it's not uncommon to see people who betray their benefactors after using them; everything depends on strength. Although these people are Ye Feng's elders, they can hardly help him now.

"Why are you saying all this, kid?"

Su Zhen waved his hand, his cloudy eyes filled with relief.

He could sense that Ye Feng's words came from the bottom of his heart and were not just empty words or polite formalities.

With his current strength, Ye Feng has no need to be so humble in front of them, yet he remains so. This kind of character is far more precious than his terrifying talent.

All of this proves that he did not misjudge the person.

"Alright, we're all family, no need for such formalities."

Jiang Qingcang smiled and tried to smooth things over, his gaze fixed on Ye Feng.

"Now that you have broken through to the Sword Emperor realm, you must have a deeper understanding of this world. What are your plans next? Do you intend to travel to the Great Thousand Worlds?"

Upon hearing this, Su Zhen and the other two all straightened up and stared intently at Ye Feng.

This is the issue they care about most.

Ye Feng nodded slightly, his expression becoming serious.

"Going to the Great Thousand World is a natural thing, but before that, some preparations are needed. We will stay on the Sword Continent for some time. In addition, there are some things that need to be explained to the four elders."

Upon hearing this, Su Zhen and the other three exchanged glances and listened intently.

"This world is located on the edge of the Great Thousand World and the extraterrestrial evil race. I can break the seal of this world and give my elders the opportunity to go to the Great Thousand World."

"However, my own strength is limited, making it difficult to protect my elders. The spatial turbulence beyond the heavens and earth is extremely dangerous, not to mention the danger of encountering those extraterrestrial evil races."

"The extraterrestrial evil race is the enemy of all living beings in the Great Thousand Worlds, and is also the main reason why our world is sealed and isolated."

"For these elders, with their Sword Emperor level strength, venturing into the Great Thousand World would be a near-certain death."

"Of course, if the elders trust me, they can come to guide me when I have achieved some strength in the Great Thousand World. I cannot possibly abandon Qingxue and the others."

"The final decision rests with the elders."

Ye Feng took a deep breath and told Su Zhen and the others some of the secrets of the world that he knew.

Ye Feng didn't say much about the secrets of the Xuan Tian Sword and the Primal Dharma Body, or about the senior who sealed this world.

Some secrets are best kept to yourself.

As soon as Ye Feng finished speaking, the hall fell into silence.

Su Zhen, Jiang Qingcang, and the other three looked at each other in shock.

Spatial turbulence, extraterrestrial evil race!

They had never heard of these threats from outside the Sword Continent.

"You...you mean, this world of ours was sealed and isolated by ancient powerful beings to avoid the slaughter by the evil race from beyond the realm?"

Jiang Qingcang's voice trembled slightly, his cloudy eyes filled with astonishment.

It is common knowledge that in ancient times, the Sword Continent was connected to the Great Thousand World. After that, the dimensional passage was closed, and this world was completely isolated. This is an ancient legend. However, what Ye Feng said today is secretive and is very different from such rumors.

However, what he said was reasonable, making it easy for people to believe him without any reason.

If it weren't for this reason, how could those powerful predecessors have disregarded their own world and cut off the path of cultivation for future generations?

A serious expression appeared on Ye Feng's handsome, angular face as he continued to speak.

"Indeed, the extraterrestrial evil race is terrifying beyond ordinary people's imagination. In the ancient Great Thousand War, countless beings of the Great Thousand World were annihilated by this foreign race."

"And to this day, the war between the powerful beings of the vast world and the evil races from beyond the realms has not yet ceased..."

Upon hearing this, Su Zhen and the other three looked even more solemn.

Although they were the strongest in the Sword Continent, their understanding of the vast world was limited to those ancient legends.

In their minds, the Great Thousand World was a vast and boundless realm full of opportunities. As for the terrifying races like the Extraterrestrial Evil Race, the enemies of all living beings in the Great Thousand World, they had never heard of them.

"As you say, it would be very inappropriate for a few of us to travel to the vast world now."

Chen Yuan, standing beside Jiang Qingcang, spoke in a deep voice, his brows furrowed.

It's true that they wanted to find an opportunity in the Great Thousand World to break through their existing cultivation bottlenecks and pursue a realm above Sword Emperor, but such a great risk was really unnecessary to try.

What Ye Feng said earlier was probably quite subtle; the real danger is likely far more terrifying than he described.

If Ye Feng didn't exist, they would have tried to go to the Great Thousand World even if it meant risking their lives, but now they have a second option.

Waiting for the person in front of them to become stronger before heading to the Great Thousand World would be a prudent move, but in that case, they would have to place all their hopes on Ye Feng.

"In my humble opinion, venturing into the vast world rashly is not the best course of action..."

Ye Feng hesitated for a moment, then said very tactfully.

With his current strength, he has little confidence in venturing into the Great Thousand World; it is fraught with many unknowns.

Therefore, the choice depends on the elders in front of him, not him. All he can do is break the seal on this world and protect them as much as possible.

Whether it was Su Zhen, Jiang Qingcang, or Chen Yuan and Zhou Qian, their strength had not improved for many years, and they all had a strong desire to leave this world.

Therefore, he didn't need to directly cut off their hopes. Waiting for him to come back and guide them was certainly a safe method, but it was ultimately full of uncertainty, and the people might not be willing to accept it.

"You little rascal, you're giving us a hard time again..."

Su Zhen gave Ye Feng a deep look, a complex expression appearing on his aged face.

Each of the four of them had lived for hundreds of years, or even longer. The meaning of Ye Feng's words was crystal clear to them, so how could they not understand?

It would be safer to wait for Ye Feng to come and guide them when he has achieved sufficient strength in the Great Thousand World, but this safety requires their absolute trust in Ye Feng.

Putting aside everything else, whether Ye Feng can cultivate to the point where he can return and guide and protect them after going to the Great Thousand World is a torment for them, just the long wait itself.

The lifespan of a Sword Emperor is eight hundred years. Although the four of them are far from the time of their passing, their lifespans are ultimately limited.

If Ye Feng can truly establish himself in the Great Thousand World and return to guide them, that would naturally be the best outcome.

But if Ye Feng never returns, or if there is no news of him after many years, then they will only be able to wait for his death on the Sword Continent, with no further opportunities.

This is still a gamble, a gamble on Ye Feng's character and potential, a gamble on their own future, no different from when he brought him from the Great Li Dynasty to the Burning Heaven Sword Sect.

"Having waited for so many years, it's no big deal to wait a few more. If someone else had said these words today, I would have taken this opportunity to go to the Great Thousand World."

"I trust you, my grandson-in-law, but I wonder when you will be able to return after leaving this place."

Su Zhen stared intently at Ye Feng, his voice slightly low, as he expressed his thoughts.

Now, there is no need for him to take a desperate risk and go to that vast world to seek a breakthrough.

Just as Ye Feng said, once he has achieved some strength, he will eventually have to come back. Xue Yatou and the other two will not ignore this. Besides, since he has promised them, he will never go back on his word.

"Yes, the three of us naturally trust you too."

Jiang Qingcang, Chen Yuan, and Zhou Qian exchanged glances and nodded thoughtfully.

Ye Feng's character is trustworthy. Rather than taking such a great risk to go to the Great Thousand World, it is better to wait for his return on the Sword Continent.

If he was able to break through to the Sword Emperor realm in less than ten years, then he will likely not remain silent for long in the Great Thousand Worlds and will surely create miracles again.

"It may take a hundred years or a few decades, but the younger generation will surely return to guide the elders to the vast world."