Chapter 1216: How to Resolve Grievances
Jun Xilei's action not only startled Yun Che, but undoubtedly shocked everyone as well. Whether they were juniors or elders, some showed shocked expressions, some furrowed their brows, and most were filled with utter incomprehension.
"Jun Xilei, do you... truly intend to do this?"
The person who spoke these words was none other than Quhui Zunzhe. He, who would never interfere in the Feng Shen Battle in the slightest, couldn't help but voice his dissuasion.
"Lei'er," Jun Wuming sighed and said, "The vital energy and essence blood you lost from your two strikes earlier, I still have ways to help you recover, but... if this sword falls, there will be no turning back."
Jun Wuming closed his eyes, his tone calm, but everyone seemed to hear every word he spoke dripping with blood: "If you kill him, you will also bury your own future, and bury all of my hopes... Is it really worth it for a moment of anger?"
Jun Xilei's arm trembled violently, her face so pale it showed not a trace of blood, her white robes completely stained red... Yet the might of the coalescing sword did not pause for an instant, locking onto and suppressing every wisp of Yun Che's aura.
Her life force was continuously weakening, and her gaze was approaching complete dilation... But within it still lay hatred reaching its utmost depth.
Yun Che's profound force was extremely depleted, and he had no strength left to break free from the suppression of the sword's might. He knelt slumped on the ground, almost unable to move at all. At this point, even if he wanted to retreat from the Feng Shen Platform, he could not do so.
His breathing was heavy, his teeth clenched, and his gaze fixed on Jun Xilei... He knew very well that in his current state, he absolutely could not withstand another strike. If Jun Xilei swung that sword again, unless he used "Moon-Waning Star-Return" or someone forcibly intervened, he would surely die.
But this was the Feng Shen Battle. Even if a Divine Son was about to fall before their eyes, no interference would ever be permitted.
And Moon-Waning Star-Return was a trump card that could never be used unless at the absolute crisis of life and death... Even more so, it could never be used before the eyes of the entire Dong Shen Domain!
Looking at Jun Xilei's state, while killing him, she might very well also die on the spot... Even if she was lucky enough to survive, she would surely be crippled.
At this moment, Yun Che suddenly felt a slight regret for humiliating Jun Xilei.
Because she was clearly a madwoman!
A madwoman just like himself!
If he wanted to preserve his life, his only choice seemed to be to admit defeat immediately... Then, Mu Bingyun, Jun Xilei, and others could directly intervene.
But...
"Brother Yun, she has gone mad. Quickly admit defeat, or you will truly lose your life!" Huo Poyun shouted urgently.
"..." Yun Che's breathing grew heavier, but his concentrated gaze remained unchanged.
"Yun Che!" Mu Bingyun rose and soared into the air, shouting across the void: "In this Feng Shen Battle, you are already the greatest victor. If you stubbornly hold on to your pride and lose your life, everything will vanish like smoke... Admit defeat immediately!"
Yun Che: "..."
"I order you... to admit defeat immediately!" Mu Bingyun's lips spoke the strictest words she could manage.
"Yun Che gege..." Shui Meiyin's face turned pale with nervousness, her entire body curling up. At that moment, she suddenly noticed that Yun Che had been staring straight into Jun Xilei's eyes. She was briefly puzzled, then her starry eyes suddenly brightened.
All eyes were fixed on Yun Che. In their view, admitting defeat was the most correct and only choice for Yun Che. Jun Xilei appeared to have completely lost her mind, but he had not. If he did not admit defeat, it would likely end with both Divine Sons falling. If he admitted defeat, he could preserve himself, and Jun Xilei would not be forced into a dead end. No one would despise him for losing; no one would even think he had truly lost.
On the contrary, if he forcibly held on and died beneath Jun Xilei's sword, he would be ridiculed.
But, amidst countless exhortations and even Mu Bingyun's stern command, Yun Che remained unmoved.
"The Sword Lord's successor has gone mad. Has Yun Che also gone mad?!"
"What kind of deep enmity is between these two to have reached such a point?"
"Will the Zhou Tian Realm truly not intervene? Yun Che and Jun Xilei... the two Divine Sons of the Dong Shen Domain! If they truly fall here, it would be an enormous loss for our generation in the Dong Shen Domain!"
"The dignity of the Feng Shen Battle surpasses everything. This battle is watched by the entire Dong Shen Domain. Under any circumstances, the Zhou Tian Realm will adhere to the rules... Alas."
Seeing that Yun Che was unmoved, Mu Bingyun grew even more anxious: "Yun Che!"
And at that moment, Yun Che, who had not moved for a long time, suddenly flashed a light in his eyes. He raised his left arm, and the Arcane Firmament shot out carrying the Ice Phoenix Divine Soul. However, it did not transform into an Ice Phoenix divine shadow, but flew straight at Jun Xilei like a meteor, instantly striking the center of her brows.
The might of the Nameless Sword suppressed Yun Che's body and power, but it could not entirely suppress his soul.
For the final sword, Jun Xilei had concentrated all her power, energy, and spirit on the Nameless Sword, nearly draining herself into a hollow shell. How could she have any soul defense left? The Ice Phoenix Divine Soul, using the Arcane Firmament as its vessel, crashed into her almost without any hindrance.
Boom!
Jun Xilei's mind roared, and all her consciousness was overwhelmed by a dreamlike blue light. The might of the Nameless Sword wildly collapsed, the Nameless Sword fell from her hand, and Jun Xilei, like a puppet that had lost its soul, fell straight backward.
"Waaah!"
"What... what happened?"
With the sword's might gone, Yun Che's body burst forth, lunging at Jun Xilei with the fastest speed possible.
Jun Xilei's figure rapidly drew closer. Her pale cheeks and colorless pupils came into his sight, with bloody streaks hanging at the corners of her tightly bitten lips... as well as the humiliation and resentment that had not dissipated even as she lost consciousness.
Something deep inside Yun Che seemed to be heavily stirred.
Is the hatred between us truly so great that we must trade life for life...
In the Yin Xue Realm, she, as the Sword Lord's successor, was forced to kneel and apologize to him, a disciple of a mid-rank star realm, before the eyes of the public...
In the Feng Shen Battle, under the gaze of the entire Dong Shen Domain, to vent his anger on behalf of Huo Poyun and himself, he schemed against her, causing her to lose in the ugliest and most disgraceful manner. Afterwards, without a shred of pity, he looked down on her and mocked her, utterly shattering the dignity of her status as the Sword Lord's successor.
What had catalyzed everything to this point... was it her...
Or was it me...
Was Jun Xilei an evil person? No, she was merely too proud. At the very least, she was definitely not a person with a vile heart like Luo Chang'an. Otherwise, how could she have become the Sword Lord's successor?
Because of the resentment in her heart, she struck down Huo Poyun with one sword, causing him to lose all face, and even his conviction nearly crumbled. And I, also because of the resentment in my heart, did to her what was more than ten times worse than what she did to Huo Poyun.
It was only a hair's breadth away from completely destroying her... destroying this Sword Lord's successor who originally had a brilliant future.
Did it really have to come to this?
If I were Jun Xilei...
......
Yun Che's eyes wavered slightly. The profound energy he had painstakingly gathered within him unknowingly dissipated. The arm that had been about to send Jun Xilei crashing off the Feng Shen Platform instead extended as she drew near, catching the falling Jun Xilei.
Her limp, soft body fell into Yun Che's arms, and blood quickly stained his sleeves red. Yun Che withdrew the Ice Phoenix Divine Soul, his eyes flickering with complex emotions.
Jun Xilei's pupils gradually regained focus. Realizing that she was lying in Yun Che's arms, she trembled all over and punched at Yun Che's face.
But her vital energy was severely damaged, her profound energy scattered, and this punch was utterly weak and feeble. Yun Che reached out and gently blocked it, speaking slowly: "Jun Xilei, between us, there are only small grievances, never any great enmity."
"Today, I went too far. I could have defeated you honorably, but instead I publicly humiliated and trampled on your dignity... I apologize to you."
He looked straight into Jun Xilei's eyes, every word sincere. Moreover, although his voice was not loud, it carried profound energy, and every person in the spectator seats heard him clearly amidst their astonishment.
Jun Wuming's eyes shook violently, his white beard trembling slightly... He knew better than anyone what Yun Che's "apology" meant to Jun Xilei...
In the Yin Xue Realm, she had offended him... and then, before the entire Yin Xue and Yan Shen realms, she knelt and apologized to Yun Che.
Now on the Feng Shen Platform, he had heavily trampled on her dignity... and then, he chose to offer her a sincere apology before the entire Dong Shen Domain.
It was like a subtle cycle.
"..." Jun Xilei's lips parted, her eyes as if covered in a layer of mist. But beneath the mist, there was still an indelible hatred: "Yun Che... do you think... like this... I will... forgive... you..."
At that moment, her body trembled, and a look of terror suddenly appeared on her face... In her fight with Yun Che, her robes were not only covered in blood, but also badly torn. They had only been held together by her profound energy. Now that her profound energy had completely dissipated and depleted... the consequence would be her jade-like body completely bared before the eyes of the public.
Yun Che's brows twitched, and he quickly realized what was happening. His hand swiftly brushed over her body, using his meager remaining profound energy to re-seal her torn robes. Then, uneasy, he grabbed a snow-white garment of his own from the Heavenly Poison Pearl and draped it over her.
"..." Jun Xilei's lips quivered, her breathing weak. Her hazy eyes showed no gratitude, only the same piercing hatred that seemed impossible to ever thaw: "I... will... definitely... kill... you..."
"Alright, I'll be waiting anytime." Yun Che nodded, then he suddenly smiled: "But before that, you'd better take care of your body first."
He reached out and gently stroked Jun Xilei's hair: "Now, just get a good sleep. Don't always be so stubborn... Be good."
His gaze was warm, his voice gentle, as if soothing a willful kitten.
"You..." Jun Xilei's lips parted wide, her hazy gaze instantly becoming chaotic. Her entire body trembled violently, as if she wanted to struggle.
But her struggle did not last long before she softened, her delicate head tilting to rest on Yun Che's chest, completely falling asleep.
Whether it was because her injuries were so severe, or because she could not bear what Yun Che had said and done.
"Huff..." Yun Che let out a long breath. *What a terrifying and troublesome woman.*
*I hope this can at least somewhat ease the enmity between us... Otherwise, after she comes out of the Zhou Tian Divine Realm, she will be a huge problem.*
The profound practitioners in the spectator seats were all dumbfounded. A few breaths ago, the entire venue had been oppressive, filled with shock and horror... Jun Xilei's third sword never fell, and no one had expected this tumultuous Divine Son duel to end in such a manner.
"Jun Xilei has fallen unconscious... Yun Che wins! He enters the final round of the loser's bracket in three days!"
Quhui Zunzhe announced, instantly stirring up a storm of noise.