Chapter 1987: The End of the Helian Clan (Part 2)
On the way to the imperial city, under Yun Che's subtle guidance, Helian Lingzhu briefly described to him the current structure of the Linyuan Realm.
For a long stretch of history, the Linyuan Realm had been ruled by the Helian bloodline. The name "Helian Imperial Dynasty" had dominated this region of the world without ever changing.
But starting from about twenty thousand years ago, several sects that had originally submitted to Helian's rule quietly grew in power.
By the time the Helian imperial clan, complacent in their peace and oblivious to danger, finally became vigilant, the three strongest among these sects had already grown to a level they dared not touch.
Furthermore, these three sects supported and allied with each other, even making the Helian imperial clan perceive a clear threat. They could no longer suppress them openly, and their covert attempts at suppression repeatedly failed.
As time passed and eras changed, geniuses emerged in abundance, but the heavenly stars that blessed the Linyuan Realm rarely favored the Helian imperial clan. The three great sects, however, grew stronger with each passing era, gradually becoming able to contend with the Helian imperial clan on equal footing.
Gradually, even outsiders came to know that the Linyuan Realm no longer belonged solely to the Helian imperial clan but was governed by "one dynasty and three sects."
The Lin Divine Realm, which opened once every ten jiazi, no longer determined its entry qualifications solely through the Helian imperial clan, but through the "one dynasty and three sects."
Starting from several eras ago, the three great sects had even become giants that the Helian imperial clan had to look up to... In other words, any one of the three great sects had a comprehensive strength that surpassed that of the Helian imperial clan.
The matter of Mo Beichen only added insult to injury.
Helian Lingzhu, as the imperial eldest princess, had been inwardly anxious for years, struggling to find opportunities and a way out.
...
The Rock Mystery Sect, the Ten Thousand Ren Sect, and the Blazing Sand Sect.
Among them, the Rock Mystery Sect was the leader of the three great sects.
Zhai Liancheng's manner of charging straight into the imperial hall vividly demonstrated just how far the Helian imperial clan had declined.
Facing Helian Jue's gaze, Zhai Liancheng walked with an unhurried air, not a trace of reverence for the emperor on his face. He smiled amiably and said, "Your nephew has been devoted to cultivation in recent years and has indeed been somewhat lacking in etiquette. But this Brother Cangying here, who thinks of becoming the imperial consort every day, must have thoroughly memorized the imperial courtesies."
"Crack!" Mo Cangying snapped one of his own finger bones.
Everyone knew of his admiration for Helian Lingzhu. Helian Jue had also intended to betroth Helian Lingzhu to him. But coming from Zhai Liancheng's mouth, every word was extremely harsh.
"Hmph!" Helian Jue's voice turned several degrees colder. "Young Sect Master, what business do you have here? Speak directly."
Zhai Liancheng's gaze swept over the only unfamiliar face here, but it was just a brief glance without any pause. "King Helian, don't you want to ask who this person by my side is?"
"I am not interested," Helian Jue said, unwilling to be put on the defensive.
"Then so much the better." Zhai Liancheng's smile became even more teasing. "Well then, when the dynasty changes, don't blame your nephew for not having warned you."
The words "dynasty changes" were like a thunderclap in a clear sky, shocking Helian Jue, Helian Lingzhu, and Mo Cangying into simultaneous pale-faced changes.
In the past, no matter how rampant the three great sects were, they never openly uttered these four words.
"What do you mean by that?!" This time, Helian Jue's voice was thoroughly cold.
"Hehehe." The man beside Zhai Liancheng let out a low, deep laugh. He slanted his eyes and spoke blandly, "I am Ximen Qi, here on behalf of my father to convey greetings to King Helian."
"Ximen..." Helian Jue's eyes narrowed like needles. "You are Ximen Borong's son?"
"That's right." Ximen Qi smiled slightly, with no trace of humility, only arrogance.
"Heh!" Helian Jue sneered. "The Worship Qilin Alliance, which claims to believe in the Lin God and never submits to the will of others, has actually begun to curry favor with the Rock Mystery Sect. What a huge joke."
The Worship Qilin Alliance was the fourth major force that had quietly risen after the three great sects. Taking the qilin that resided in the Lin Divine Realm as their faith, they united and gathered numerous medium and small sects and powerful profound practitioners. With the heavenly duty of protecting the qilin and protecting the Linyuan Realm, they gradually gained a high reputation and considerable prestige in the Linyuan Realm, developing with astonishing speed.
However, their existence was still short. In the Helian imperial clan's understanding, their comprehensive strength was far from comparable to the three great sects.
At the same time, the Helian imperial clan's attention had always been focused on the three great sects, and they indeed had little energy to spare for an alliance focused on faith without overt ambition.
"No, no, no, no," Zhai Liancheng laughed and wagged his finger. "King Helian, you are completely mistaken. It's true that we depend on their favor, but..."
He turned sideways and, under the astonished gazes of the three, made a respectful bow to Ximen Qi. "From now on, our Rock Mystery Sect will rely heavily on the Worship Qilin Alliance's care and support."
"Young Sect Master is too kind." Ximen Qi gave a carefree smile. "When our Worship Qilin establishes a state and changes the dynasty, the Rock Mystery, Ten Thousand Ren, and Blazing Sand sects will all be our trusted supporters, sharing progress and honor and disgrace together. There's no need for such formal words."
Es...tablish...a state...change...the dynasty...
Helian Jue's body visibly swayed. It took several breaths before he slowly spoke, "Young man of the Worship Qilin Alliance, do you know what you are saying?"
Ximen Qi lifted his head, his gaze carrying pity as he swept over the imperial hall brimming with imperial might before him. "Tsk! The Helian imperial clan of the past—how powerful and awe-inspiring they were! With a single word, no one in the Linyuan Realm dared to disobey. Even looking at every brick and tile here, one can feel their lingering prestige."
"But now, all that's left is a bunch of useless gluttons! Judging by this appearance, I'm afraid you don't even know that a second Abyss Knight has already appeared in our Linyuan Realm."
The first half of his words made Helian Jue no longer want to hold back his fury, but before his anger could erupt, it was fiercely jolted back by the second half.
"What did you say...?" As a monarch of a nation, Helian Jue was so shocked that his pupils instantly dilated several times. "A second... Abyss Knight!?"
"Ah...?" A trembling murmur also escaped Helian Lingzhu's lips.
An immense unease, accompanied by fear, enveloped their hearts.
"Ximen Boyun." Zhai Liancheng savored Helian Jue's expression at this moment. "I wonder if His Highness the lofty King Helian still remembers this name?"
"Ximen Boyun..." Who in the Linyuan Realm didn't know that name? Mo Cangying growled, "Wasn't he long dead in the Mist Sea a hundred years ago?"
"No, my uncle crawled out of the Mist Sea alive." Ximen Qi said slowly. "He also completed his breakthrough to the Divine Annihilation Realm, becoming a demigod! Furthermore, he later completed the trial of the Pure Land and is now ranked as an Abyss Knight."
"And the one who brought my uncle to the Pure Land was Mo Beichen, who hates you to the bone!"
Helian Jue's body swayed again.
Ximen Qi's lips curled, and he smiled even more wantonly and arrogantly. "Mo Beichen has willingly become a pioneer in the search for the 'Eternal Pure Land.' This journey is almost certain death. But what he leaves behind is the praise of the Abyss Emperor and boundless glory. Unfortunately, none of this belongs to your Helian imperial clan."
"And my uncle, having received Mo Beichen's great kindness, is eternally grateful to him. If Mo Beichen cannot return, my uncle will certainly go all out to fulfill his last wishes... But unfortunately, my uncle says that Mo Beichen went on this journey without regret and left no unfinished wishes, only lingering hatred that is hard to dispel!"
"King Helian, guess who Senior Mo Beichen hates the most?"
At this point, Helian Jue could no longer maintain the calm and certainty of a monarch. His ten fingers had unknowingly curled tightly, and his eyes, which should have been filled with imperial authority, were clearly trembling continuously.
"Impossible..." Mo Cangying murmured. "This can't be happening..."
Helian Lingzhu's psychological endurance was undoubtedly much weaker. In panic and confusion, her fingers instinctively sought something to comfort her, and she unintentionally grabbed at Yun Che's sleeve.
Yun Che subtly bent his arm, letting Helian Lingzhu grab empty air. But she didn't even notice.
"So what?" Helian Jue clenched his teeth on every word. "Since he is an Abyss Knight, he should uphold a noble soul, weaken his selfish desires, and set aside personal grudges. Back then, even Mo Beichen couldn't do anything to me. Is Ximen Boyun... going to use his status as an Abyss Knight to continue being the fangs of your Worship Qilin Alliance!"
"Couldn't do anything to you? Hahahaha!" Zhai Liancheng let out a loud laugh, his gaze filled with mockery. "May I ask King Helian, how long has it been since you last made a move? Have these past years been good? You're alive, but... isn't it a fate worse than death? Hahahaha!"
Zhai Liancheng's wild laughter deeply struck Helian Jue's pain. The briefly quiet demigod power in his heart meridian was stirred again by his emotions, and an indescribable agony instantly radiated through his entire body.
But the pain of the body was nothing compared to the agony of the soul.
In just a hundred years, this small Linyuan Realm had produced two Abyss Knights in succession.
This was a true miracle they had never dared to imagine before.
But such a miracle brought not a single ray of light to the Helian imperial clan, but instead a series of nightmares.
"However, King Helian said something quite correct." Zhai Liancheng continued. "Now that Senior Ximen is honored as an Abyss Knight, he certainly no longer belongs to the Worship Qilin Alliance, and he would not deign to personally make a move against you. And with his current status, if he wants to settle old scores for Mo Beichen, why would he need to do it himself?"
Helian Jue fiercely suppressed the restless energy in his heart meridian, doing his utmost to maintain the dignity that the Helian imperial clan could not abandon. "What exactly do the two of you want by coming here today?"
He had confirmed multiple times that only these two juniors had come this time, with no attendants or hidden protectors.
Wasn't this another form of contempt?
"Oh~~ I was so busy chatting that I almost forgot the real business." Ximen Qi looked as if he had just remembered. His gaze also lost some of its frivolity at this moment, replaced by a formidable edge. "Our Worship Qilin Alliance will, after the Lin God Assembly, establish a state in the Southern Domain, with my father as the new monarch, changing the dynasty to 'Worship Qilin'!"
Before Helian Jue could recover from his anger, Zhai Liancheng immediately followed up, "Our Rock Mystery, Ten Thousand Ren, and Blazing Sand sects, favored by the new king, are willing to become the guardian clans of 'Worship Qilin,' with absolutely no second thoughts!"
"You... you..."
Helian Jue raised his arm, his fingers trembling, his face losing color at an alarming rate, and his body swayed repeatedly, on the verge of collapse.
"Father!" Helian Lingzhu was greatly alarmed and rushed forward to support him.
"The Linyuan Realm is neither too big nor too small, but it certainly cannot accommodate two rival nations. King Helian should make plans early, so as not to find yourself with no retreat when the time comes."
Pfft!
A stream of blood shot from Helian Jue's mouth, splattering ten zhang away.
"Father!!" Helian Lingzhu cried out in sorrow. Mo Cangying gritted his teeth, flashed forward, and caught Helian Jue's backward-falling body.
The demigod power in his heart meridian had now completely run amok, rampaging like an awakened evil spirit, causing Helian Jue to convulse in agony throughout his body.
Yun Che, standing quietly in the rear, gave a faint twitch of his lips.
He had just arrived in the Abyss and was already watching a low-grade farce.
Utterly boring.