# Chapter 1982: Storm and Glazed Cloud
As Helian Lingzhu and Mo Cangying moved forward, the aura of the Xuan Path grew increasingly stronger.
Ahead lay a fairly large cultivation ground, spanning seven to eight hundred li in size. The elemental aura of this entire region was almost entirely gathered here, and even the sky above was covered in a gradually deepening withered yellow hue beneath the grayness.
The moment the two approached, a figure radiating a powerful aura rushed to greet them from afar. Before he even arrived, an aged voice had already traveled from a distance:
"This old man Ku Xian welcomes the arrival of the Eldest Princess."
The figure's form soon appeared within Yun Che's spiritual perception.
His aura was as profound as ten thousand mountains standing together—a peak-level Divine Lord Realm cultivation. In Yun Che's understanding, this was an existence at the God Emperor Realm level.
But his appearance was completely different from every God Emperor Yun Che had ever known.
At the Divine Lord Realm, one's lifespan became extremely long, and even in the final stages of life, one would not show the aging signs of mortal beings.
Take the Sword Lord, Jun Wuming, for example—at the end of his life, his eyes still shone like bright stars, his face was as sharp as a sword's carving, with not a single wrinkle. The only thing that revealed his dwindling lifespan was his white beard and hair.
But before him, this old man radiating peak Divine Lord Realm aura was thin and gaunt, his eyes cloudy and gray, his complexion withered and black. Under his loose robe, his exposed skin was as rough as sandpaper, covered with strange gray spots.
He looked like someone who had just been roasted over the fires of purgatory for days on end, bearing not a trace of the appearance or bearing of an aged God Emperor as Yun Che understood it. Instead, he resembled Yan Yi, Yan Er, and Yan San, who had been tormented in the Eternal Dark Bone Sea for eight hundred thousand years.
Yun Che thought silently: Living a lifetime immersed in Yuan Chen, even a being as powerful as a peak Divine Lord could be corroded to such a state.
It was easy to imagine that under the silent erosion of Yuan Chen, even at the same cultivation level, the lifespan of a being in the Abyss would be shorter than that of one from the world he came from.
Facing the old man's bow, Helian Lingzhu hastily stepped aside: "Master, you absolutely must not. Though Lingzhu has returned to the court, once a teacher, always a father. Lingzhu would never dare to accept Master's bow."
The old man shook his head and said warmly, "The Eldest Princess is of royal..."
"Master." Helian Lingzhu bowed again, then performed a respectful disciple's salute: "You are truly overwhelming your disciple with this. I beg you, as before, just call me 'Lingzhu.'"
"Hahaha." Mo Cangying laughed loudly and said, "Master, you know Lingzhu's nature best. This is not the court, so just go along with her."
It was clear that this old man named Ku Xian held great loyalty and reverence for the Helian Imperial Dynasty. Even though the woman before him was once his personal disciple, he was unwilling to neglect the proper etiquette toward the royal family.
After hesitating for a moment, he finally smiled slightly and said, "Very well. Lingzhu, I received a sound transmission from your Imperial Father saying that you ventured alone into the Mist Sea seeking an opportunity for breakthrough... Seeing you return safely now, I can finally rest easy."
Helian Lingzhu showed a hint of shame: "I troubled Imperial Father and Master with worry. This time, I was fortunate to have Ninth Senior Brother's assistance, but I also caused him to be injured."
"Just a minor wound." Mo Cangying casually lifted his bloodstained left arm, allowing the wound to stretch, his expression unchanging.
Ku Xian's wide sleeve rose, and a faint yellow light covered the wounds on Mo Cangying's arm and left ribs from a distance. In just a moment, no more gray aura leaked from the wounds. He advised, "Lingzhu, as the Eldest Princess of the royal family, your safety is paramount. You must never take such risks again."
Though Helian Lingzhu felt guilty, she showed no regret. Slowly and firmly, she said, "Precisely because I am the Eldest Princess, I must do this."
She turned her gaze toward the endless sandstorm in the distance: "I have been stuck at the Divine Sovereign Realm for too many years. Whether it's danger or certain death, if I cannot force myself to break through this bottleneck... if the Helian clan continues to decline... perhaps one day, the four words 'Helian Imperial Dynasty' will be forever buried in the eternal sandstorm of this Linyuan Realm."
The Helian Imperial Dynasty was once the sovereign of this realm—every corner of Linyuan Realm depended on their favor to survive.
But now, the word "Imperial Dynasty" had become a joke in Linyuan Realm.
"..." Mo Cangying opened his mouth, wanting to speak but stopping.
Ku Xian sighed inwardly and did not continue to dissuade her. His gaze fell on Yun Che: "Who is this person?"
Mo Cangying said, "This is someone we rescued nine hundred li from the border of the Mist Sea. Junior Sister Lingzhu, being kind-hearted, could not bear to let him die in the sandstorm, so she brought him back."
He tilted his gaze: "He was severely injured, but unexpectedly tough—he's still alive."
Ku Xian frowned, about to warn Helian Lingzhu how dangerous and foolish it was to recklessly save a stranger—and obviously an outsider—but Helian Lingzhu quickly explained, "Your disciple would never forget Master's teachings and would never act on foolish kindness."
"It's just that I observed that even under such severe injuries, he still carries an extraordinary bearing. His background must be exceptional. Though his life aura is extremely dangerous, I can still discern that he is quite young, yet his cultivation is close to mine, which confirms this."
"Perhaps he is from one of the Divine Kingdoms. A life-saving grace might bring some... opportunity for the Helian clan."
Helian Lingzhu's voice gradually weakened. She herself knew how pale her explanation was.
Ku Xian sighed again in his heart. Helian Lingzhu was too anxious about the future of the Helian Imperial Dynasty, to the point of desperation.
She was too eager for a chance to reverse the fate of the Helian bloodline... because, just a hundred years ago, a great opportunity had been squandered by their own hands.
That person... named "Mo Beichen."
Without saying more, Ku Xian's aura swept over Yun Che: "Since that's the case, we'll keep him for now. With injuries this severe, whether he lives or dies depends on his own fate."
Passing through layers of barriers, the presence of Yuan Chen gradually weakened. Finally, Yun Che was placed in a quiet side chamber.
He did not "wake up" immediately, completely concealing his aura as he silently perceived everything around him.
An encounter in a sandstorm had made this place the starting point of his journey in the Abyss.
This world truly existed, and he had fallen into it alive.
Though this was only his first day in this world, his purpose—no, his mission—had already crashed against his soul sea countless times.
All beings in this world were his enemies.
He could not retreat a single step, could not hesitate for a moment, could not show a shred of compassion.
Because if this world did not fall, the world he came from would fall!
Alone, facing an entire vast world.
He must... use everything available, employing any means necessary.
Even if they were vicious, brutal, despicable, filthy...
And the most important thing, what Chi Wuyue had demanded he must achieve...
To be heartless!
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The wild sand howled, blotting out the sun and sky. As far as the eye could see, it was like the Nine Nether Purgatory.
Within the sandstorm, a young girl's shadow gradually emerged.
Dressed in snow-white gauze, with eyes like stars and the moon, and skin like gleaming jade. The white gauze covered her face, revealing only half her features, but it was enough to astonish the wild sand and stir the storm.
Her presence seemed utterly incompatible with this land of calamity.
Behind her floated a slender jade sword. Its blade shimmered with a light, ethereal white radiance like clouds, and within that radiance, a subtle glow like flowing glass could be seen.
The sword light was gentle and serene, yet it pierced through layer upon layer of sand, as clear as if reflected directly on the soul.
Its name: Glazed Cloud Sword.
The young girl halted in the sandstorm, turning to look around. Her spiritual perception extended to its limits, yet she could not see the end of the storm.
"Auntie, where is this place?" Her voice was as elegant as flowing water, as melodious as a warbler, softening even the raging sandstorm. "Did I... get lost?"
No one answered her.
The girl blinked her beautiful eyes, her voice taking on a hint of playfulness: "Come out, Auntie. I know you've been there all along."
Between heaven and earth, there was only the howling of the sandstorm.
After a while, a soft, mist-like sigh finally sounded.
In an instant, the sandstorm stopped abruptly, and all was silent between heaven and earth.
For thousands of miles, not a single gust of wind howled, not a grain of sand shifted. It was as if a hand from the heavens had descended, sealing the entire world in stillness.
This terrifying, extraordinary phenomenon would make any living being tremble in fear.
In the still world, an immortal shadow slowly materialized.
A green robe fluttered lightly, her eyes as cold as frost, like a proud, solitary lotus from an ancient painting, like the Cold Moon Immortal Consort in a fantasy celestial palace.
Her clear eyes, sword intent, and aura all repelled people from ten thousand miles away, not daring to approach or defile her. Yet the young girl's delicate brows curved like a joyful butterfly as she rushed over: "Auntie!"
However, her shadow was immediately repelled by an invisible force.
"Caili," she spoke lightly, her voice like jade falling into an icy pool, almost devoid of any human emotion, "This is your trial. You must use your own body and soul to perceive and comprehend, to overcome difficulties and dangers with your own strength."
"Whether in power or in mind, you must never rely on anything!"
She should not even have revealed her presence.
Her cold voice pierced the soul, but the young girl showed not a trace of fear. She nodded repeatedly and said cheerfully, "I know, I know. I promise, no matter what danger I face, I will not rely on Auntie's power."
"I'm just curious about this place. After all, Auntie is so powerful, there must be nothing in the world that Auntie doesn't know. If I want to broaden my knowledge and horizons, asking Auntie directly is the best way, isn't it?"
This time, she had strongly suppressed her father's objections and insisted on having Hua Caili undergo this trial. Not only to let her witness the true world of the Abyss and experience genuine good and evil in human nature, but also to find an opportunity for breakthrough.
If she could overcome danger and death with her own strength, it would undoubtedly be greatly beneficial to her breakthrough.
Therefore, this trial could not involve any reliance. Especially psychological reliance... Otherwise, when faced with danger, she would always think that someone was secretly protecting her, that there was no real threat to her life, and thus she would never be able to break through her limits under the pressure of absolute desperation.
But whether it was Hua Qingying or Hua Fuchen, how could they truly let Hua Caili venture alone into the filthy world she had never set foot in?
Similarly, Hua Caili could not believe that her father and aunt would truly let her go alone.
They all understood each other's hearts, until today, when Hua Caili could no longer hold back and exposed it.
Helplessly, Hua Qingying gazed into the distance and said, "This place is called Linyuan Realm, the area with the most active sandstone force in this world. At its core is the 'Lin Divine Realm,' which I have mentioned to you before."
"Linyuan Realm... Lin Divine Realm..." Hua Caili murmured, memories stirring. "The eternal sandstorm and rock calamity, the dwelling place of the last Qilin!"
"Yes."
The young girl's eyes sparkled with intense curiosity for the unknown phenomenon: "Then I must go see it."
But Hua Qingying's words doused her rising enthusiasm: "The Lin Divine Realm is not accessible to just anyone. The restrictions there were personally set by Yuan Huang."
"Huh?" The young girl's lips parted slightly, clearly very surprised.
Because this was only a territory outside the Divine Realm, yet it involved the supreme Yuan Huang.
Hua Qingying explained, "Yuan Huang and that Qilin likely share some unknown bond. He named its dwelling place 'Lin Divine Realm' and set up restrictions, allowing entry only once every ten Jiazi, and only to those from Linyuan Realm."
"The existence of Lin Divine Realm is both a protection for the last Qilin and a blessing for this Linyuan Realm."
The restrictions set by Yuan Huang—even if they were fragile as paper, who would dare to trespass?
As for the bond between Yuan Huang and that Qilin, no one knew.
The light in the young girl's eyes dimmed with disappointment: "So even if I reach the Lin Divine Realm, I can't enter... I really wanted to see what a real Qilin looks like."
After a brief silence, Hua Qingying said, "Not entirely."
Her spiritual perception spread, piercing through the sandstorm thousands of miles away: "If the power structure of this Linyuan Realm hasn't drastically changed, it should be dominated by one dynasty and three sects."
"When the Lin Divine Realm opens, if an outsider can obtain permission from one of the one dynasty or three sects, they may also enter. But it holds no meaning for you."
"As the place with the most active sandstone force in this world, the Lin Divine Realm is a supreme sacred land for cultivators who primarily practice earth and rock powers. Even if you enter, it would be of no help to your current trial."
The young girl thought for a moment, then nodded, "Alright. But after we leave here, Auntie must describe the appearance of that Qilin senior to me in detail, okay?"
She had only a vague outline in her mind, but Hua Qingying, who was usually devoid of emotion and desire, could never refuse the young girl's request.
She did not directly agree, her clear eyes looking at the girl's cheek: "Have you adapted to the Yuan Chen?"
"Mm!" Hua Caili nodded without hesitation. "It doesn't seem as frightening as I imagined."
"That's because you were born into a Divine Kingdom and did not grow up in Yuan Chen. More importantly, you have not yet set foot in the Mist Sea."
This was not Hua Caili's first time stepping out of the Zhe Tian Divine Kingdom, but previously, whether she went to the Pure Land or other Divine Kingdoms, she had her father's protection by her side.
This time, she entered the mundane world filled with Yuan Chen for the first time. With her current cultivation, she naturally could not feel the dread of Yuan Chen; it was merely a brief adaptation process.
"Where you go next is up to you. But the Mist Sea is a place you must enter during this trial. Because that is the true body of this world."
"I know, I know." The girl responded, her delicate hand flicking, and the Glazed Cloud Sword drew a dazzling arc of light, instantly cutting through the still sand curtain ahead. "Auntie, then I'll go..."
Rumble!
The terrifying sandstorm, like a suddenly awakened demon, roared back to devour heaven and earth.
But the immortal green shadow was already gone.
The young girl stuck out her tongue, then used her sword light to slice through layers of sandstorm, flying rapidly toward the unknown ahead.
She was like a colorful sparrow released from its cage, her entire being brimming with joy, excitement, and curiosity for the new world, without any anxiety or fear, and... without even a trace of the majestic authority befitting a Divine Maiden, nor the determination to bear the future fate of a Divine Kingdom.
She had been too well protected, too deeply loved.
The Divine Venerable, her father, regarded her as more precious than life itself. Her aunt, whose beauty surpassed the world, was willing to guard her with the rest of her life.
Far above the sky, a beam of clear, moon-like sight followed her figure.
After a moment, she looked up at the gray-yellow sky.
In recent years, the sky seemed to be subtly changing color, but few could detect it.
"The cycle of the Time Black Tide grows shorter. The collapse of spacetime may be imminent."
She murmured the fate this world was enduring.
"Divine Successors possessing sufficient Divine Rank were once rare even in ten thousand years. Yet in this era, they emerge one after another."
"Sen Luo Dian Jiuzhi, unrivaled under heaven."
"The Star and Moon that gave birth to miraculous twins now gains miraculous twins again."
"The Dreamweaving Divine Son, though only ten Jiazi old, has already fully awakened his Divine Rank."
"Even the Xiaodie Divine Kingdom, where Divine Successors are hardest to appear, has had an unprecedented 'discarded son' due to a better option emerging in a short time."
"The Eternal Night Divine Kingdom's former Divine Maiden, Shen Wuqing, was directly deposed and killed, showing how exceptional the new Divine Maiden, Shen Wuyi, is."
"And Caili... you are the first Divine Successor in the history of the Zhe Tian Divine Kingdom to possess a Perfect Divine Rank."
"No matter how reluctant I am, you must grow."
"The eternal gray sky suddenly shines with stars—does it herald the curtain of a divine miracle, or the omen of disaster..."
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