Chapter 1008: Mu Xuanyin's Request
The Golden Crow flames slowly subsided. Within the ice crystal barrier formed by the gathered Ice Phoenix Elders, the ice layer had sunk by nearly a thousand zhang in depth… And these vanished ice layers were not ordinary frost, but profound ice that had endured countless years of chill, hardened to the utmost extreme.
However, it seemed that no one had noticed these disappearing sheets of profound ice. Everyone's gaze was firmly locked onto Yun Che.
No one knew how much time passed before the Golden Crow Flame finally extinguished completely. Yun Che's outstretched arms dropped, and the ice crystal barrier around his body vanished as well. He waved his right hand; a blue light flashed, and a layer of ice instantly formed over the hollow melted below. His feet silently landed upon that ice layer.
"Ah… er…"
Huo Poyun's body was hunched over. From his face to his limbs, his entire form was flushed red—at a glance, as if he had been cooked. Sweat poured down from every part of his body. He stood there in a twisted posture, barely managing to remain upright, his aura weak and ragged. His eyes were stretched wide, pupils bulging, fixed unblinkingly on Yun Che standing there unharmed, radiating a chaotic indescribable expression.
Bang!
With a soft thud, Huo Poyun's body swayed and he collapsed heavily to his knees. But his wildly trembling eyes were still locked onto Yun Che, utterly unable to believe what he was seeing.
Huo Rulie, who stood right beside him, did not reach out to support him. He stood still as if struck by a petrifying curse, not moving an inch, his pupils trembling even more violently than Huo Poyun's… so violently they seemed ready to burst at any moment.
"This… this… actually… I…"
Yan Wancang's mouth opened and closed several times, but his words were incoherent. In extreme shock, even he himself didn't know what he wanted to say.
It wasn't just them. On the Ice Phoenix Divine Sect's side, there wasn't even a single cheer. Everyone seemed as if their souls had been drained away. Although Yun Che stood there unscathed… they still couldn't believe their eyes.
"…" Mu Huanzhi looked at Yun Che, then at Mu Xuanyin. His mouth opened repeatedly, but not a single word came out.
No one could have predicted this outcome, and no one could believe it. Even Mu Xuanyin had specifically sent him a sound transmission to confirm beforehand. For Yun Che alone, this was an inevitable result. Not to mention Huo Poyun—even if this "Nine Suns Heavenly Wrath" had been executed by Huo Rulie himself, it would never have harmed a single hair on his head.
Unhurriedly, Yun Che said, "Three moves have passed. Now, it's my turn to attack."
Earlier, he had thought that although pure Golden Crow flames could never hurt him, with his own power, he absolutely could not harm Huo Poyun, who was at the Divine Tribulation Realm. But after Huo Poyun forcibly unleashed "Nine Suns Heavenly Wrath," his profound energy was nearly exhausted. Now, he could barely muster even a little defensive power. Defeating him in this state… was not too difficult.
"…" Yun Che's words finally restored some focus to Huo Poyun's contracting pupils. Huo Poyun knelt there, unable to stand—seemingly also unable to rise. He slowly lowered his head, took a few heavy breaths, and said hoarsely, "No need… I admit defeat…"
"…" Huo Rulie said nothing. He raised his head, slowly closed his eyes, and took a long, deep breath. It was a long time before he finally exhaled with difficulty.
"Yun Che… wins!" Mu Huanzhi finally roared out.
This shout carried slightly uncontrolled profound energy, rattling the eardrums of all the Ice Phoenix disciples present, who had been as if in a trance. Seeing Yun Che standing proudly and Huo Poyun kneeling on the ground, they awoke as if from a dream and erupted into excited, exhilarated roars.
"We won! Senior Brother Yun Che won… Sect Master won!"
"So Senior Brother Yun Che is actually this powerful… No wonder the Sect Master chose Senior Brother Yun Che as her personal disciple."
"Of course! She's the Sect Master—how could her judgment be wrong? Senior Brother Yun Che is not just stronger than Senior Brother Han Yi… he's more than ten times stronger!"
"Senior Brother Yun Che is really only at the Divine Origin Realm? Hoo… how terrifying! A Divine Origin Realm actually defeated a Divine Tribulation Realm!"
"It's not a defeat. In a real fight, Senior Brother Yun Che definitely wouldn't be a match. He won through the laws of the elements… The rumor that Senior Brother Yun Che submerged a thousand zhang into the Heavenly Lake is definitely true! At Divine Origin Realm, he's already this frightening. In the future, it's unimaginable. Maybe someday he could become as powerful as the Sect Master."
"…Then he might very well become the next Great Realm King of our Yinxue Realm!"
"Very possible!"
………………
………………
The cheers were overwhelming and unending. When this sect gathering began, the looks Yun Che received were full of envy, jealousy, confusion, and defiance—nothing but reverence. Now, every gaze was burning with fervor as if about to ignite.
This was not only Yun Che's personal victory. Under the confrontation and wager between Mu Xuanyin and Huo Rulie, it had long become a contest of honor between two realms.
Huo Poyun's talent was terrifyingly high. When Mu Hanyi was crushed by his hands, the Ice Phoenix disciples were filled with fear and despair… But in the blink of an eye, he had fallen to Yun Che.
And he directly collapsed and admitted defeat.
Amid the deafening cheers, Yun Che walked toward Huo Poyun.
Huo Poyun's head hung low, his body trembling slightly, wrapped in a thick layer of dejection and gloom.
There was no doubt that he was a true prodigy. His talent was not only unmatched in the current Flame God Realm, but perhaps in the entire history of the Flame God Realm—all three sect masters had personally acknowledged this.
He was proud, but not arrogant. And he had more reason to be proud than anyone.
Yet such a man, using his ultimate power… had been defeated by someone whose cultivation was far inferior to his.
This was a devastating blow… Perhaps it would become a shadow over him, a nightmare on his path of the profound way, thus hindering his future breakthroughs—possibly a great hindrance.
Yun Che did not want to dim the light of a true genius because of himself.
"Brother Poyun," Yun Che walked up to Huo Poyun and extended his hand. "In terms of elemental laws, I won. But in terms of profound strength, I am far inferior to you. This match was already unfair to you. I am ashamed of winning."
"We are the same age, yet you have far surpassed me in profound cultivation. I am extremely envious and admire you deeply. In the future, I will definitely take you as my goal. You must work hard, so that I don't surpass you on the path of the profound way. And I will certainly not let you surpass me in elemental laws!"
Huo Poyun raised his head, staring fixedly at Yun Che. After a moment, his gaze gradually calmed. He reached out, grasped Yun Che's hand, and slowly stood up.
"I, Huo Poyun, have never admitted defeat before." Dejection and gloom dissipated like morning mist. A confident smile bloomed on his lips, tinged with gratitude. "Although I lost today… one day, I will win back. Brother Yun Che, you'd better watch out."
From Yun Che's words, he heard not the pity of a victor toward a loser, but sincerity without any impurity.
"You too." Yun Che also smiled.
The two men's hands tightened simultaneously, a mutual admiration flowing between them.
Yan Wancang and Yan Juehai exchanged glances. Yan Juehai sighed deeply. "The Yinxue Realm has produced an extraordinarily remarkable figure in this generation."
"The strength of elemental laws determines the upper limit one can reach. This young man named Yun Che… perhaps in the future, he might surpass Mu Xuanyin. It's both frightening and expectant."
This evaluation was the highest Yan Wancang had ever given in his life. Yet Yan Juehai was not surprised; he nodded slowly without hesitation.
"Not arrogant, not proud—what an exemplary bearing!" Yun Che's actions made Mu Huanzhi's eyes shine with great approval.
The elders and palace masters all nodded deeply, their faces showing approval… In front of the three sect masters of the Flame God Realm, this really gave face to our Ice Phoenix Divine Sect!
Previously, not only the disciples but even these elders and palace masters had harbored second thoughts about Mu Xuanyin abandoning Mu Hanyi and choosing Yun Che. Now, they finally realized how correct and wise her choice was, and felt deeply ashamed of their earlier doubts.
"Che'er, come back." Mu Xuanyin commanded.
Yun Che obediently returned to Mu Xuanyin's side. Mu Xuanyin's icy gaze had already fallen on Huo Rulie. "Huo Rulie, now that the outcome has been decided, you haven't forgotten what you said earlier, have you?"
Huo Rulie jerked his head up. He gritted his teeth slightly and said hoarsely, "Defeat is defeat! Mu Xuanyin, rest assured. I, Huo Rulie, never go back on my word, even if heaven and earth collapse! Right now, even if you want my life, I will die cleanly in front of you… and swear that the Golden Crow Sect will never pursue it! Are you satisfied!?"
"Master!" Huo Poyun shouted in alarm.
"Your life?" Mu Xuanyin sneered. "In the years that Bingyun suffered from the flame poison, I indeed dreamed of taking your life. But now that Bingyun is healed, I am not so selfish as to let two realms suffer for personal grudges. Your life holds no value for me. Even if you offered your life, I would be too lazy to take it."
Huo Rulie was momentarily stunned, then said darkly, "Then what do you want me to do!"
"I want one thing from you!" As Mu Xuanyin spoke, a snowstorm suddenly descended. In an instant, it swallowed up all the heat left by "Nine Suns Heavenly Wrath," returning the world to icy cold:
"I want the complete Golden Crow World-Incinerating Record of your Golden Crow Sect!"
"…" Yun Che's expression shifted slightly.
"What?" Huo Rulie was startled, never expecting such a demand from Mu Xuanyin.
"This… Realm King of Yinxue, allow Yan to say a word." Yan Wancang said solemnly, "The Golden Crow World-Incinerating Record is the core profound art of the Golden Crow Sect, not to be transmitted outside. Moreover… only those with the Golden Crow bloodline or Golden Crow soul can cultivate the Golden Crow World-Incinerating Record. Even if someone outside the sect obtained it, they could never practice it. And it directly conflicts and repels with the ice profound arts of your sect. I truly don't understand why the Yinxue Realm King wishes to consult the Golden Crow World-Incinerating Record."
"What purpose I have, I have no obligation to explain to you." Mu Xuanyin said mercilessly. "Huo Rulie, will you give it or not!"
Not only Yan Wancang and the others, but even the Ice Phoenix Divine Sect was deeply puzzled. No one understood why, when facing Huo Rulie who had said "I will not break my word" and "you can make any demand," she would ask for the Golden Crow World-Incinerating Record.
As an ancient divine art, any profound practitioner would naturally want to consult it… but merely consult. Without a Golden Crow bloodline or soul, cultivation was impossible. And the Ice Phoenix Divine Sect cultivated ice-based profound arts, making it even more impossible.
Yan Juehai furrowed his brows and simultaneously sent a sound transmission to Yan Wancang and Huo Rulie: "For someone like Mu Xuanyin who has reached the Divine Lord Realm, even a small step forward is extremely difficult. She wants the Golden Crow World-Incinerating Record probably to glean some insights from it. Although she cannot cultivate it, it is an ancient divine art containing the laws and principles of true gods."
Yan Wancang pondered silently and nodded slightly. That was indeed the only explanation.
Huo Rulie's forehead veins bulged. After a few heavy breaths, he said in a low voice, "I, Huo Rulie… keep my word!"
As the words fell, a flame suddenly burst from his hand. With a flip of his palm, it flew toward Mu Xuanyin.
Mu Xuanyin caught it with one hand. The flame extinguished, and a jade slip shimmering with red-gold light appeared in her hand. She did not open it to inspect but put it away directly, saying indifferently, "Sect Master Huo is indeed true to his word. I'll graciously regard you a bit more highly."
"Hmph!" Huo Rulie snorted heavily, and every pore on his body nearly burst into flames.
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[I urge everyone to make sure to eat breakfast on time. Right now, I'm suffering the bitter consequences from my college days of sleeping until noon and the late-night writing sessions from years past… When it flares up, it's truly unbearable.]