The Frog at the Bottom of the Well

"I couldn't catch up to him!" Mr. Liu's face darkened.

Upon hearing this, Ye Dong felt his heart twist like a knife. He clenched his fists tightly and slammed them onto the ground. "It's all my fault for not protecting Xiang'er."

After a month of close interaction, Ye Dong had developed a special affection for Xiang'er. Therefore, her abduction was something he couldn't forgive himself for.

"No, it's not your fault. I should have returned earlier. It's just that he discovered my trail. I've been trying to shake him off, but I never expected him to find us here and take Xiang'er. It's my fault!"

Regret flashed across Mr. Liu's face momentarily. "Ye Xiaoge, I'll take you back immediately. Don't mention anything about encountering us to anyone. As for Xiang'er, don't worry. Although she's been kidnapped, her life should not be in danger. I will definitely find her."

"In addition, be careful yourself. I went to Qiuye Town and met the city lord you mentioned. I couldn't shake off the feeling that something was off about him, but I couldn't pinpoint it. I had intended to help you, but I never expected..."

At this moment, Mr. Liu noticed the intense determination in Ye Dong's eyes after hearing his words. He hesitated for a moment and said, "I know you want to save Xiang'er, and I can tell you about that middle-aged man's background. But you must promise me that you won't go after him until you've reached the Out of Dust Realm."

"The Out of Dust Realm?"

Ye Dong was puzzled. "Mr. Liu, are you mistaken? Isn't it called the Dust Realm?"

A faint smile appeared on Mr. Liu's face as he affectionately ruffled Ye Dong's hair. "Hehe, the Out of Dust Realm is beyond the Dust Realm. Ye Dong, you're still young, so you don't know. The world is vast, far beyond your imagination. The path of cultivation is endless. If the Dust Realm is just the beginning, then the Out of Dust Realm is merely a step up. Some things, you don't need to know now. Just remember, there are always people stronger than you, and there are always things beyond your expectations."

"The world is vast, far beyond your imagination!"

Ye Dong remembered these words. His grandfather had once said something similar to him. However, recent experiences, especially Mr. Liu's and that middle-aged man's unimaginable strength, made him realize the true meaning of these words.

"The man who abducted Xiang'er is called He Guqi. He's not terrifying, but what's terrifying is the sect behind him, the Ice Pole Hall."

"Mr. Liu, which is stronger, the Ice Pole Hall or the Tianxin Sect?"

Mr. Liu was slightly surprised. "You know about the Tianxin Sect? Although the Tianxin Sect is one of the top ten sects in the Vermillion Continent, it's almost incomparable to the Ice Pole Hall!"

Fearing Ye Dong might continue questioning, Mr. Liu continued, "Alright, I've told you everything I can. Child, we've met by chance, and that's fate. I don't have anything to give you as a parting gift, but I have a set of martial arts techniques for footwork. Learn them when you're free."

...

Ye Dong is back!

Ye Dong, the talented descendant of the Ye family, who disappeared for a month after entering the Tianjian Forest to kill a fourth-grade monster, has returned!

The news spread like wildfire throughout Autumn Leaf Town.

At this moment, the Ye family was bustling like it was New Year's. From the family head Ye Yuanjun to the gatekeeper, everyone crowded into the main hall of the Ye family.

With Mr. Liu's help, Ye Dong experienced the feeling of riding the clouds and fog. Before he could even come to his senses, he found himself standing in the mansion of the Ye family. However, Mr. Liu had disappeared without a trace, leaving only his words echoing in Ye Dong's ears.

"Ye Dong, take care of the token I gave you. Whatever happens, you can seek help from the Lingcao Hall in Fengxia City. Don't worry about Xiang'er. Remember what I told you, take care of yourself!"

Ye Dong's appearance was quickly discovered by his family, fearing he might disappear again. Dozens of people escorted him to the main hall, and Ye Yuanjun and others, who had received the news, rushed over.

Seeing Ye Dong, Ye Yuntian, who had been gloomy for a month, finally smiled. Ye Dong's disappearance had hit him the hardest because he vanished right in front of him. Now that Ye Dong had returned safely, his heart could finally relax.

Ye Yuanjun was also excited and could barely contain himself. "Dong'er, are you okay? Where have you been for the past month? But it's good that you're back, it's good that you're back!"

Although Ye Dong had just experienced the disappointment of Xiang'er being abducted, the concern of his family warmed his heart. He smiled and said, "Grandfather, Uncle, I'm fine. I'm just a bit tired and want to rest for a while."

Even a fool could see that Ye Dong had something on his mind, but since he didn't want to talk about it, no one dared to press him. Ye Yuanjun nodded after a moment of surprise. "Alright, go and rest. We'll talk about it later if there's anything."

Back in his room, Ye Dong closed the door tightly and sat down. Although his face was expressionless, his mind was racing.

The recent experiences, especially Mr. Liu's final words in the Tianjian Forest, had a profound impact on him. It was as if he hadn't completely settled down yet.

The Ye family was one of the three major families in Autumn Leaf Town, and the Yenluo Hall could easily destroy the entire town. Compared to the Tianxin Sect, the Yenluo Hall was like an ant. Now, there was the emergence of the Ice Pole Hall, which made the Tianxin Sect and the Yenluo Hall pale in comparison!

How powerful is the Ice Pole Hall?

How vast is the world?

Ye Dong couldn't imagine!

For a cultivator who hadn't even stepped into the realm of cultivation, revealing too much information prematurely might cause a psychological blow, leading to a sense of frustration or even a breakdown. This was why each family and sect only told their disciples about certain things after they reached a certain realm, requiring them to take one step at a time and focus on the present. They were afraid of them being unable to handle the blow or becoming too ambitious, thus affecting their cultivation path.

However, Ye Dong's mental resilience far exceeded that of his peers. The experiences of narrowly escaping death three times in a row and encountering Mr. Liu, the middle-aged man, and others who were far beyond his imagination not only did not shake his confidence but also gave him the desire to surpass them!

After a long time, a smile finally appeared on Ye Dong's face. "Although I'm just a frog at the bottom of the well for now, one day, I will leap out of this well and see how vast the world outside truly is!"