Chapter 1443: A Terrible Omen
Yun Che also stopped and bowed respectfully to the old man with an immortal-like bearing: "Bing Huang disciple Yun Che greets Senior Sword Lord. And congratulations to Xilei the Fairy for attaining the great path."
"Hmph!" Jun Xilei's face was cold as ice, her gaze like a sword: "Don't need your false kindness! Yun Che, I haven't forgotten the debts from back then one bit!"
"Debts from back then? What debts?" Yun Che looked confused. "Counting our first meeting in Yin Xue Realm and that battle at Feng Shen Platform, we've only met about three times in total, right? What debts could there be?"
As he finished, his eyes suddenly brightened as if in sudden realization: "Are you talking about that snow robe I gave you back then?"
During their battle years ago, Jun Xilei, in her humiliation, had fought desperately, forcibly using her Wuming Sword. When she swung her third strike, Yun Che shattered her with his soul force. As her conviction crumbled, she had no strength left... Her already-tattered clothes, which had been held together solely by her profound energy, were about to completely disintegrate.
Fortunately, Yun Che had sensed it in time and quickly used his profound energy to seal her dress, then draped one of his own Ice Phoenix Snow Robes over her... and even gave her a pat on the head, coaxing (qi) her to sleep (hun) right then and there.
If you counted it, that was really the only account between him and Jun Xilei.
At the sudden mention of this, Jun Xilei's sword aura instantly became disordered. Her face darkened, and the cold light shooting from her eyes wished it could pierce Yun Che's body with a thousand holes... yet she couldn't say a word for a long time.
"Oh..." Yun Che put on an understanding expression. "As expected of the Xilei Fairy, a future Sword Lord. You truly distinguish between kindness and enmity, and don't want to owe anyone anything. Well then, if you dislike being in debt so much, just return that Ice Phoenix Snow Robe to me."
As he said this, Yun Che actually stretched out his hand.
That battle was four years ago for Yun Che.
But for Jun Xilei, it had been three thousand years!
If that Ice Phoenix Snow Robe was still around, that would be a miracle!
And given Jun Xilei's level of hatred toward Yun Che, she had probably destroyed that snow robe until not even a scrap remained the day after that battle.
But, logically speaking, that snow robe was indeed a kindness Yun Che had shown Jun Xilei. Because if not for him, when her profound energy completely collapsed during that battle four years ago, she would have been utterly naked on the Feng Shen Platform, seen clearly by all of Dong Shen Domain. Given her extreme pride and self-respect, she would have died of shame and fury.
Jun Xilei, suddenly seeing the still-alive Yun Che, felt a surge of anger rush to her head. But when Yun Che brought this up... Jun Xilei instantly transformed from the one demanding repayment into the one owing a debt.
"You!" Jun Xilei's jade-like countenance changed... Among the nineteen Zhou Tian Divine Sons who had achieved the Divine Lord realm, she, Jun Xilei, was naturally included. Moreover, she was now a Mid-stage Emperor Lord, far surpassing Jun Wuming at the same age.
Now Jun Xilei, whether in the realm of the sword path or in state of mind, was incomparable to her former self... yet she was gnashing her teeth in anger after just a few words from Yun Che.
She immediately noticed the change in her emotions that shouldn't have occurred. She instantly calmed herself, but that nameless fury in her chest simply couldn't be suppressed. She secretly gritted her teeth and reached out: "Fine! It's just a piece of ragged clothing... I'll return it to you!"
She swung her hand, and a ball of white flew straight toward Yun Che's face.
Yun Che instinctively reached out and caught it. When he saw what was in his hand, he was momentarily stunned.
In his hand was a man's outer robe, pure white and dustless, with a chilling aura flowing... It was indeed an Ice Phoenix Snow Robe, and moreover, it was the one he had draped over Jun Xilei back then.
Because he was Mu Xuanyin's personal disciple, the Ice Phoenix Snow Robe he wore was different from all other Bing Huang disciples, and couldn't be imitated.
Yun Che looked up at Jun Xilei, whose face was full of hatred as if she wanted to devour him alive. His eyes widened: "Hey hey... It's been three thousand years! You actually still kept it? Don't tell me you've been secretly in love with me all this time?"
"You're asking for death!!" Jun Xilei flew into a rage. Her snow-white hand reached out and actually grabbed the hilt of the Wuming Sword.
*Clang!*
The Wuming Sword was partially drawn. Even though only half a foot of the blade was revealed, it already caused space to condense and heaven and earth to tremble.
On the other side, Jun Wuming and Mu Xuanyin were calmly conversing, paying no attention to the conflict between the two juniors.
"Sword Lord Senior, you look well." Mu Xuanyin bowed.
"Hehe," Jun Wuming smiled faintly, a deep admiration in his eyes. "In just a few short years, Realm King Xuanyin's aura seems to have undergone yet another qualitative change. Truly, the younger generation is formidable, formidable indeed."
"Sword Lord Senior flatters me. Back then in Yin Xue Realm, this junior acted impulsively and offended you. I hope you will be magnanimous." Mu Xuanyin said calmly.
Jun Wuming shook his head: "If we're talking about offenses, it was this old man and his disciple who offended first back then."
He glanced sideways at Yun Che: "This old man has lived in vain for fifty thousand years. I thought my experience was vast and my eyesight sharp beyond compare. Who would have thought that back then I completely misjudged someone? Frankly speaking, after the Feng Shen Battle ended, my expectations for Yun Che were even higher than for my own inept disciple... But he failed to enter the Zhou Tian Divine Realm. That is truly a great regret."
As he finished, he let out a sigh.
"This is his fate. Moreover, when one loses an old horse, who knows if it might be a blessing." Mu Xuanyin said.
"Mm." Jun Wuming nodded, his heart filled with emotion. "Looking back on the Yin Xue matter, although I am extremely ashamed, now thinking about it, it turned out to be a good thing for my inept disciple instead. Especially since these two young people with limitless futures have formed a connection. In the future, it might even become a beautiful story, hehe."
Mu Xuanyin: "..."
Jun Xilei was in a violent rage, her Wuming Sword drawn, which finally made the two of them look over. Jun Wuming tapped his finger lightly, and with a soft sound, the Wuming Sword returned to its sheath. He looked at Yun Che with a hint of a smile that wasn't quite a smile: "Le'er, do not be disrespectful. Since your sword realm has achieved great success, how can you lose your composure like this?"
Jun Xilei lowered her head and stepped back two paces, saying with shame: "Yes, disciple admits fault."
In her six hundredth year within the Zhou Tian Divine Realm, she had already achieved the Divine Lord realm, and her state of mind had also sublimated, reaching the realm of "heart like sword light" in the sword path. The power of her "Heartsless Sword Domain" had undergone a qualitative change.
But before Yun Che, she had become angry so easily... Thinking back to just now, she felt a chill in her heart. She quickly calmed her heart and soon her sword heart was completely clear and empty.
Just then, Yun Che spoke: "Lord Sword Senior is right. Back then, she was still an immature little girl. It's normal for the proud and arrogant to get angry easily. But now that she's so old, she still wants to kill at the drop of a hat..."
"~!#￥%... Yun Che, I'll kill you!!!"
The sword heart that had just become clear and empty seemed to have a suddenly erupting volcano stuffed into it. With a *clang*, the Wuming Sword was fully drawn... If Jun Wuming hadn't quickly reached out to stop her, she might have turned Yun Che into fragments in the next instant.
"Sigh." Jun Wuming completely suppressed Jun Xilei's profound energy, his voice slightly stern: "Le'er!"
Jun Xilei's beautiful eyes blazed with fire, her jade teeth clenched tightly as she stared fixedly at Yun Che, who had already darted behind Mu Xuanyin with the speed of lightning. Finally, with the greatest willpower of her life, she suppressed her anger, sheathed the Wuming Sword, then snorted coldly and turned around, refusing to look at him again.
Jun Wuming shook his head in exasperation, gave a slight nod to Mu Xuanyin, turned around and said: "Alright, let's go."
"Ah, wait, wait, wait!" Yun Che spoke up again at this moment, raising the Ice Phoenix Snow Robe that Jun Xilei had returned to him: "I've grown a bit taller and stronger in these past few years, so this snow robe should be too small for me by now. More importantly, I never take back what I give away. So I'll just give it back to you."
As he finished, he pushed his palm forward, and the Ice Phoenix Snow Robe drifted lightly toward Jun Xilei.
Without turning around, Jun Xilei said coldly: "Who wants your ragged clothes!"
But Jun Wuming reached out, and a gentle wave of profound energy caught the snow robe. He said with a hearty laugh: "Thank you for the gift, young friend. This old man will accept it on behalf of my inept disciple."
Yun Che: "Uh..."
"We'll meet again at the Zhou Tian Assembly in three days." Jun Wuming smiled faintly and left with Jun Xilei.
Watching Jun Wuming's retreating figure, Yun Che's eyes blurred slightly.
He vaguely sensed that Jun Wuming's lifespan... seemed to be running out.
"Phew..." Yun Che exhaled lightly and muttered to himself: "So many years have passed, and she still hasn't changed at all. I'd better stay far away from her in the future."
Mu Xuanyin glanced at him and said in an extremely flat tone: "You dislike older women that much?"
Yun Che was stunned for a moment, then shook his head wildly: "No no no no no no no! Absolutely... absolutely not! Disciple simply... simply doesn't like that little Sword Lord with her terrible temper. That's all. There's absolutely no other meaning, and definitely definitely definitely not..."
"Ah! Master, wait for me!"
Before Yun Che could finish speaking, Mu Xuanyin's figure had already gone far into the distance. He quickly chased after her.
Within the Zhou Tian God Realm, another location.
Xia Qingyue sat quietly behind a desk, flipping through a Zhou Tian scripture. Her gaze was focused, her jade face without any makeup, yet it was as beautiful as morning clouds reflecting off snow. As if separated by a barrier, the room was extremely quiet, and she herself was as serene as a perfect painting.
She turned a page, adjusting her sitting posture slightly. The purple robe on her body inadvertently outlined an exceptionally round and full curve on her chest... Though it was only a fleeting moment, it was truly more perfect than the bright moon in the sky.
At that moment, the door was gently pushed open. A young girl with snow-white skin, a jade-like face, and a slender, delicate figure walked in. She knelt before Xia Qingyue: "Master, Realm King Xuanyin and Yun Che have arrived in Zhou Tian Realm."
"Mm." Putting down the scripture, Xia Qingyue lifted her gaze. A faint purple light flashed deep within her eyes. "It's about the time I expected. Lian Yue, for the next few days, stay by the side yourself. If anything happens, immediately send me a sound transmission."
"Yes." The girl accepted the order, then took a small step forward and held out a small purple crystal in both hands: "Master, this is the intelligence from recent days."
Xia Qingyue lightly tapped her finger, taking the purple crystal in hand. As a purple light flashed, the information within had already entered the depths of her heart. "You may go."
"Lian Yue takes her leave."
The girl took two steps back, about to turn and leave, when she heard Xia Qingyue's soft voice behind her: "Wait!"
The girl stopped and looked up: "Master, do you have further instructions?"
"..." Xia Qingyue stood up, her moon-like brows slightly furrowed. She slowly walked to Lian Yue's side, her slender figure a full head taller than the petite girl. "Send word down. Have them focus their investigation on the recent spate of massacres of entire clans in the Long Shen Realm. Especially the time and location of the very first one... And try with all effort to search for traces of the power left behind at every crime scene! The more detailed, the better!"
"Eh?" The girl was stunned. It took a good while for her to realize what "massacres of entire clans" Xia Qingyue was referring to. She asked in confusion: "Master, the Long Shen Realm has very few informants, and placing them is not easy. Investigations of this level will greatly affect the collection of other intelligence. Moreover... in Lian Yue's opinion, these massacres are all trivial matters."
Among all the intelligence coming from the Long Shen Realm, this was the smallest, the most inconspicuous, mentioned only in passing.
"Just do as I say. Focus all efforts on investigating this matter in the near future. Everything else can be temporarily set aside!"
Both her expression and tone carried a rare heaviness. The girl felt a shiver in her heart. Although full of doubt, she dared not ask further: "Yes."
Lian Yue turned to leave. Just as she was about to step out of the room, she was called back again by Xia Qingyue.
"Lian Yue," she asked, "A year ago, both the Fan Di and Zhou Tian realms sent people to the Long Shen Realm, seeking the Dragon Queen's help to dispel the Evil Infant demonic aura. But they were both refused by the Dragon Emperor... Are you certain it was the Dragon Emperor who refused them, and not the Dragon Queen herself?"
"Yes." Lian Yue thought for a moment, then said: "Word has it that the Dragon Queen was in seclusion and could not be seen by anyone, so the Dragon Emperor handled all refusals in person."
"And is it certain that the new barrier over the Reincarnation Forbidden Land was personally erected by the Dragon Emperor?" Xia Qingyue asked again.
"Yes." Lian Yue nodded slightly, this time without even a moment's hesitation. "Because the Dragon Queen suddenly went into seclusion, the Dragon Emperor personally ordered that no living being approach within three thousand li of the Reincarnation Forbidden Land. To demonstrate his authority, he personally constructed a vast new barrier. This matter is known to all living beings in the Long Shen Realm. It is no secret."
"...You may go."
Lian Yue left. Xia Qingyue stood still in place, her brows tightly locked...
In the past year, dozens of massacres of entire clans had occurred consecutively in the Long Shen Realm. In every case, the entire clan was wiped out overnight, leaving no corpses behind... This included many prominent and powerful families.
The largest clan had three hundred thousand people. After one night, it became a clan of the dead.
Yet no trace whatsoever was left behind. No one knew who had done it.
Among these massacres, there were small clans and large sects. The times and locations of their occurrence were scattered everywhere, with no pattern to be found. Nor did they share any common or related enemies.
But they all had one commonality...
Their clan surname was all "Yun"!
After a long silence, Xia Qingyue finally moved. She sat back down behind the desk, but she had no more heart to flip through the scriptures. She touched her brow and let out a soft sigh: "I hope I'm just overthinking things."