Chapter 999: Uninvited Guests
The three figures walked abreast ahead, their footsteps utterly silent, yet every step they took felt like it was stomping heavily on the hearts of everyone present, causing their internal organs to tremble violently. Their oppressive aura was so heavy that even the elders and palace masters—whose strength was only below that of Realm Kings—felt their hearts tighten and their spirits instinctively tense up.
Their arrival instantly changed the atmosphere of the Holy Temple Square. Not only because they came from the highly unfriendly Yan Shen Realm, with which there was a long-standing grudge—but the three leading figures were none other than the three Sect Masters who dominated the Yan Shen Realm and were known throughout the Yin Xue Realm!
The moment they arrived, Yun Che's gaze locked onto the three of them… because two of them exuded auras that were extremely familiar to him.
The man in the middle was the tallest, with a clean-shaven, fair face that looked unusually young, and he gave off the calmest and most composed impression. His position at the center indicated that his status was slightly higher than the other two.
The Sect Master of the Zhuque Sect of the Yan Shen Realm—Yan Wancang!!
The man on the right had a calm expression, an unremarkable appearance, and was utterly inconspicuous. However, the aura he emitted was a flame aura that Yun Che knew all too well.
The aura of Phoenix Flame!
The Sect Master of the Fenghuang Sect of the Yan Shen Realm—Yan Juehai!
As for the man on the left… he was the complete opposite of Yan Wancang and Yan Juehai's calmness. His hair was like fire, standing on end, and flames were visibly swirling around his body. Wherever he passed, even the air and space itself twisted. His eyes blazed with a fiery light like a blazing sun, and he resembled a walking volcano on the verge of eruption. Everyone whose gaze swept over him would instantly feel a terrifying burning sensation in their souls.
And the scorching aura he released was also extremely familiar to Yun Che.
The Sect Master of the Jinwu Sect of the Yan Shen Realm—Huo Rulie!
The Yan Shen Realm had no Great Realm King, and these three men were not only the current strongest in the Yan Shen Realm but also led its three most powerful sects.
Thus, their status in the Yan Shen Realm was completely equivalent to that of three Realm Kings!
And now, they had come uninvited, personally arriving in the Yin Xue Realm—and all three Sect Masters had come! Even the lowest-ranking disciples present could sense that something highly unusual was afoot.
Behind each of the three Sect Masters followed a young man. Based on the auras they emitted, they were from the Zhuque Sect, the Fenghuang Sect, and the Jinwu Sect respectively. They followed closely behind their Sect Masters, looking straight ahead with calm yet proud expressions.
However, that pride was gradually suppressed into nothingness as they approached Mu Xuanyin. Although they still maintained the bearing befitting top disciples of the Yan Shen Realm, under Mu Xuanyin's pressure, they were already completely tense.
When they stopped before Mu Xuanyin's seat, Yan Wancang stepped forward, cupped his fists, and said solemnly, "Yan Wancang, Yan Juehai, and Huo Rulie of the Yan Shen Realm pay our respects to the Yin Xue Realm King. It is our great fortune to once again behold the Yin Xue Realm King's presence. This visit is extremely presumptuous, and we humbly beg your forgiveness."
Yan Juehai and Huo Rulie also cupped their fists in greeting… During this process, Yun Che's gaze fell on Huo Rulie. Yan Wancang and Yan Juehai both wore solemn expressions, showing no hostility whatsoever—rather, they seemed to be seeking something. Only Huo Rulie, though he also performed the greeting, had eyes that clearly exuded a murderous aura.
And Huo Rulie was precisely the one who had ambushed Mu Bingyun a thousand years ago!
The three great Sect Masters of the Yan Shen Realm had personally come, yet Mu Xuanyin sat motionless, her peerlessly beautiful ice countenance covered with a cold majesty that made others feel as if they had fallen into an icy hell: "Presumptuous? Hmph! You still know the word presumptuous?! Not only do you come uninvited, but you dare to barge directly into the Holy Temple. And your informants have become far more skillful than before… The Yan Shen Realm is truly becoming more and more impressive!"
The three young men behind the Sect Masters all froze as if encased in ice, not daring to move. This was their first time visiting the Yin Xue Realm and their first time seeing the legendary Yin Xue Realm King. Since they could accompany the three Sect Masters, they were naturally far from ordinary. Yet they never imagined that the Yin Xue Realm King's pressure could be so terrifying.
They weren't just standing there—they felt as if a horrifying, indescribable cold had nailed them in place from body to soul, not daring to move an inch.
Even the combined pressure of the three Sect Masters was far from matching it.
In that moment, they fully understood why, despite the Yin Xue Realm being far weaker than the Yan Shen Realm, the three Sect Masters were so deeply wary of the Yin Xue Realm King…
For the three great Yan Shen Sect Masters—figures who could overshadow the entire Yan Shen Realm and were practically sovereigns—to be met with sarcasm and reprimand upon arriving as "guests" would be a grave offense against imperial dignity in the Yan Shen Realm. Yet Yan Wancang showed no anger at all; instead, he chuckled lightly, cupped his fists, and said, "We three are well aware that this visit is indeed presumptuous, but it is out of necessity. After being rejected by the Yin Xue Realm King a few months ago, I, Yan, was unwilling to give up and could only try my best to find an opportunity to meet with the Yin Xue Realm King. Finally, a few days ago, I learned of your sect's grand assembly, so I had no choice but to resort to this extreme measure."
"Today, we three have come in person, bringing only three juniors, solely to convey our sincerity to the Yin Xue Realm King. We beg the Yin Xue Realm King to consider our sincerity and effort and to hear what I have to say."
"Zhuo'er, Mingxuan, Poyun, step forward and pay your respects to the Yin Xue Realm King," commanded Yan Juehai, the Fenghuang Sect Master.
Yan Wancang's words made Yun Che instantly understand their purpose.
On his first day in the Yin Xue Realm, after leaving the Cold Snow Main Hall, a voice transmission had shaken the entire Bing Huang Realm. At that time, Mu Bingyun had said that the voice transmission came from Yan Wancang, the Zhuque Sect Master. His goal was to meet the Yin Xue Realm King and ask for her help in hunting the Ancient Qiu Dragon in the Burial God Fire Prison.
From Yan Wancang's words just now… Mu Xuanyin had completely ignored him back then.
And the Ancient Qiu Dragon's shedding period occurred once every thousand years. If missed, one would have to wait another millennium. As the shedding period of the Ancient Qiu Dragon approached, the three great Sect Masters of the Yan Shen Realm naturally grew more anxious… because without Mu Xuanyin's power, they would absolutely be unable to deal with the Ancient Qiu Dragon.
Thus, upon learning that the Bing Huang God Sect was holding a full sect assembly today, they had "forcefully entered." Since it was a full assembly, Mu Xuanyin was sure to appear.
The fact that they had only brought six people was also a gesture of sincerity, meant to appease the Yin Xue Realm King's anger at their "forced entry."
They had already experienced Mu Xuanyin's terrifying rage more than once.
"Disciple of the Zhuque Sect, Yan Zhuo, pays respects to the Yin Xue Realm King."
"Disciple of the Fenghuang Sect, Yan Mingxuan, pays respects to the Yin Xue Realm King."
"Disciple of the Jinwu Sect, Huo Poyun, pays respects to the Yin Xue Realm King."
The three young disciples knelt on one knee. When the elders and palace masters on both sides turned their attention to these three young men, their expressions all changed slightly.
Those who accompanied the three Sect Masters were certainly no ordinary juniors. None of the Bing Huang God Sect members recognized these three individuals, because they were too young—their life auras indicated that none exceeded thirty years of age. Yet their cultivation levels and the flame auras they emitted were astonishingly powerful.
Especially the one named Yan Zhuo, who exuded the aura of Vermilion Bird Flame. His life aura was definitely less than thirty years old, yet his cultivation had already reached the late stage of the Divine Tribulation Realm!
The Yan Shen Realm was still the Yan Shen Realm after all… all the elders and palace masters sighed inwardly.
Although both the Yan Shen Realm and the Yin Xue Realm were mid-level star realms, there was a vast difference in their overall strength.
Setting aside the Yin Xue Realm King and Bing Huang Sect Master Mu Xuanyin, any one of the Zhuque Sect, Fenghuang Sect, or Jinwu Sect far surpassed the Bing Huang God Sect in the strength of their disciples, mid-level personnel, and high-level personnel.
Unlike the Yin Xue Realm, where the Bing Huang God Sect stood alone, the Yan Shen Realm had numerous sects. Besides these three leading sects, there were the Fire Li Sect, the Sun Scorch Island, the Nine-Tailed Fox Clan… and nearly ten other sects whose overall strength was by no means inferior to the Bing Huang God Sect.
Historically, the Yan Shen Realm had always been among the upper echelons of mid-level star realms, while the Yin Xue Realm was at the lower end. The one who completely changed this history was the current Yin Xue Realm King, Mu Xuanyin.
The emergence of a supreme powerhouse like the Divine Lord Realm caused the Yin Xue Realm's status to soar instantly, leaping to become an upper-level mid-level star realm, even slightly above the Yan Shen Realm. In the past, people from the Yin Xue Realm were treated indifferently when they went to other mid-level star realms. Now, at the mere mention of the Yin Xue Realm's name, others would be filled with awe and respect.
Mu Xuanyin was feared by all living beings in the Yin Xue Realm, but the depth of respect for her was also unprecedented. Because she alone had completely changed the status of the entire Yin Xue Realm in the God Realm. In the Yin Xue Realm, she was truly a supreme existence, like a deity.
If it weren't for Mu Xuanyin's existence, would the three great Sect Masters of the Yan Shen Realm have personally come together, enduring a cold reception while remaining polite and daring not to show any offense?
Mu Xuanyin swept her gaze over the three young disciples of the Yan Shen Realm and said indifferently, "Hmph, Yan Wancang, Yan Juehai, the two juniors over here should be your sons and grandsons, right?"
Hearing that Mu Xuanyin's tone seemed to have slightly tempered its anger, Yan Wancang felt a bit more at ease and smiled. "Indeed. Zhuo'er is my youngest son, born twenty-three years ago. Mingxuan is Sect Master Yan's grandson, and Poyun is Sect Master Huo's recently accepted personal disciple. We brought them along on this visit to the Yin Xue Realm to broaden their horizons."
Twenty-three years ago… All the Bing Huang elders took a sharp breath.
That is to say… this junior named Yan Zhuo, whose cultivation was at the eighth level of the Divine Tribulation Realm…
Was only twenty-three years old!!
Yun Che's gaze also fell upon the person named Yan Zhuo, feeling quite shocked… and envious. But then, as if sensing something, he looked toward Huo Rulie.
Mu Xuanyin had only asked about Yan Zhuo and Yan Mingxuan, deliberately omitting Huo Poyun brought by Huo Rulie, as if she was very certain that he could not possibly be Huo Rulie's son or grandson… And indeed, Yan Zhuo and Yan Mingxuan were Yan Wancang's and Yan Juehai's descendants, while Huo Poyun was a personal disciple.
At this moment, Huo Rulie's hands were not only clenched tightly but were also visibly trembling.
Yun Che frowned, recalling some words Mu Bingyun had said back then, and seemed lost in thought.
"Hmph, no wonder he is your son, Yan Wancang. With such talent, he is probably unparalleled in the entire Yan Shen Realm. It seems the position of young sect master of your Zhuque Sect is about to change hands," Mu Xuanyin said expressionlessly.
"Hahaha, many thanks to the Yin Xue Realm King for praising my son." Yan Wancang laughed heartily and said, "Zhuo'er, quickly step forward and present the congratulatory gift."
"Yes, Father." Yan Zhuo responded and stepped forward, holding what appeared to be a wooden box, but it was entirely crimson red and faintly emitted a flame aura.
Yan Wancang said, "Although our visit today was out of necessity, we were presumptuous first. Moreover, we heard that the Yin Xue Realm King recently accepted a personal disciple a few days ago…" He glanced sideways at Yun Che. "This humble gift is both to express our apologies and to congratulate the Yin Xue Realm King on obtaining a personal disciple. Please do accept it."
"Oh?" Mu Xuanyin raised a slight, slanted eyebrow and said indifferently, "Che'er, take it."
"…Yes."
Yun Che stepped forward, took the red box from Yan Zhuo's hands, and presented it before Mu Xuanyin.
Mu Xuanyin did not take it, nor did she even look at what was inside. She said coldly, "I gift it to you."
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(End of this chapter)