Chapter 239: Battle of Husband and Wife (1)
Both matches of the four-man battles ended with results that no one had anticipated. The showdown between Yun Che and Ling Jie gave the audience a visual feast, while the duel between Xia Qingyue and Ling Yun completely shattered everyone's understanding. After the battle ended, those who had witnessed the entire process found their hearts unable to calm for a long time.
In the ranking battles, a confrontation between youths under twenty had actually produced a Domain!
"Sigh, truly, the waves behind drive on those before. We're old; the era of the young has arrived ahead of schedule. A single Ling Yun already makes us old fogies feel ashamed, and as for Xia Qingyue... heh, before this little girl, I actually feel somewhat unable to lift my head," an elder from a flourishing sect remarked with emotion.
(ps: Don't ask me what's going on with the "Long River"! I have no idea at all!)
"This is also a good thing, at least proving that the future of the Profound Realms of our Cang Feng Empire can reach even higher levels."
"Ice Cloud Fairy Palace really doesn't know where they found this disciple. After this ranking battle ends, the name 'Xia Qingyue' will shake the entire Cang Feng Empire, and the title of the number one among the younger generation will change hands."
"Making Tian Jian Villa a supporting role, this little girl is undoubtedly the first in history. I believe Tian Jian Villa must not be feeling too good right now."
All the discussions were focused on Xia Qingyue, with few mentioning Yun Che, the other protagonist of tomorrow's battle. This was understandable—although the duel between Yun Che and Ling Jie was spectacular, it was at least several levels inferior to the match between Ling Yun and Xia Qingyue. Yun Che's victory over Ling Jie had not come easily, and he had even lost his weapon. No matter how one looked at it, he could not be a match for Xia Qingyue, who had defeated even Ling Yun and could manifest a Domain.
With Xia Qingyue's Domain making an appearance, perhaps no one within the entire Earth Xuan Realm range could be her opponent. This ability that transcended the rules of realm and profound force was like a golden finger bestowed by the heavens.
The people of Tian Jian Villa were indeed not feeling good right now.
Having his body and meridians frozen by the Domain, and then wounded by Xia Qingyue's strike, coupled with the aftereffects of using the Sword Spirit Clone, Ling Yun had been unconscious for a full three hours and still hadn't woken up. His face was pale, and from time to time, pained expressions flickered across his brows... whether from physical pain or because he, who had never known defeat among the younger generation, could not bear the public humiliation that also brought shame to Tian Jian Villa.
"Yun'er hasn't woken up yet?" Ling Yuefeng walked over, his face expressionless, showing neither joy nor sorrow.
"Not yet. The Sword Spirit Clone didn't dissipate on its own but was shattered; Big Brother's soul should have suffered considerable damage too. But he should wake up in another hour or two," Ling Jie said worriedly.
"Sigh..." Ling Yuefeng let out a long sigh and closed his eyes. "In these two battles, both you and your big brother unleashed your full strength. We have nothing to say in defeat. It seems I have been too arrogant and frog-in-a-well these past years... Has the era of our Tian Jian Villa's supremacy come to an end..."
The night fell, and a crescent moon hung high in the sky, silently spilling its pure moonlight. Beneath the moonlight, Xia Qingyue sat quietly by the lotus pond, her hand supporting her fragrant cheek, gazing silently at the incomplete bright moon in the sky. Her eyes were as still as water, without a single ripple, as if lost in thought.
A cold wind gently blew, and a snow-white figure silently arrived by her side. Xia Qingyue lowered her gaze, stood up, and gave a slight bow: "Senior Uncle."
Chu Yuechan nodded slightly, then extended her jade hand. In her palm lay a pill as white as snow and radiating moonlight: "You used a Domain today, which slightly damaged your vitality. Tomorrow, you'll recover at most sixty percent. Take this, and you'll be restored to full."
"Ice Soul Heaven-Returning Pill..." Xia Qingyue's beautiful eyes showed surprise, but she did not take it. "The Ice Soul Heaven-Returning Pill is extremely precious, and shouldn't be wasted on Qingyue."
"You are the future pillar and hope of the Ice Cloud Fairy Palace. The position of Palace Master will eventually be yours. No matter how rare the item used on you, it is not a waste. Take it."
Chu Yuechan's prestige and authority in the Ice Cloud Fairy Palace were second only to the Palace Master. Xia Qingyue no longer resisted, reached out to take it, and directly swallowed it.
"Thank you, Senior Uncle."
As the Ice Soul Heaven-Returning Pill entered her body, the surrounding night wind suddenly turned cold and fierce, stirring the heavens' vitality to rapidly surge into Xia Qingyue's body, allowing her depleted vitality and profound force to recover at an extremely fast pace.
Chu Yuechan watched Xia Qingyue for a while, a complex flicker in her eyes, then said softly: "Qingyue, do not underestimate your opponent in tomorrow's battle, and never think victory is assured. In terms of strength, though he has held back, even if he unleashes everything, he is far inferior to you. Within your Domain, it is true that no one below the Heavenly Xuan Realm can match you. But he possesses two things that you are far from matching."
Xia Qingyue lifted her eyes, a slight surprise appearing in her moon-like gaze: "Please enlighten me, Senior Uncle."
"First, his combat experience and senses that are sharp to the extreme—his combat experience and his reactions, judgments, and decisions in dangerous situations are far beyond yours, not to mention mine... Second, his willpower and explosive power. Even if he is suppressed into a desperate situation with no room to fight back, never assume he is defeated. On the contrary, in such desperation, he may become even more terrifying. An ordinary person's will can squeeze out the last bit of strength from their body, but he, in desperation, can squeeze out power from his soul... Tomorrow's battle will not be easy for you; on the contrary, you may find yourself in a bitter struggle. This is not empty talk, but a word of advice from me as your Senior Uncle."
"Even if you were to lose, I wouldn't be too surprised."
Chu Yuechan's words filled Xia Qingyue's eyes with deep astonishment.
Chu Yuechan's heart was like ice, her temperament cold, and she rarely spoke, each word as precious as gold. This was the first time Xia Qingyue had heard this revered Senior Uncle speak so many words at once. And every word she said gave a man an exceedingly high evaluation... so high it bordered on unreal.
If it hadn't been spoken by Chu Yuechan herself, Xia Qingyue would have found it impossible to believe.
"Yes, Qingyue will keep Senior Uncle's words in mind," Xia Qingyue said softly. Then, after a slight hesitation, she asked: "Qingyue has an impertinent question to ask Senior Uncle..."
"You want to ask why I know him so well?" Chu Yuechan closed her eyes slightly.
"Yes..."
Chu Yuechan turned around. Just as Xia Qingyue thought she was about to leave, she suddenly said faintly: "Back then, to refine the 'Ice Heart Jade Liquid' for you, I left the palace to seek three Ice-type Heavenly Xuan Beasts' profound pills. When I obtained the third pill, I was unfortunately poisoned with a severe toxin, and then I encountered him. He helped me remove the poison, which made me owe him a favor."
Xia Qingyue's pink lips parted, and her gaze trembled.
"Two months after returning to the palace, I left again. Then I disappeared for five months. During those five months, I was with him. I was protecting him to repay the favor, but in the end, he also saved my life. The reason I was able to break through to the King Xuan Realm was also because of him."
"... " Xia Qingyue was silent for a long time, unable to believe what she was hearing.
Even Chu Yuechan herself didn't know why she had told Xia Qingyue these secrets she had decided to bury in her heart for a lifetime. Perhaps deep inside, she felt an inexplicable sense of indebtedness... After all, Xia Qingyue was his publicly acknowledged wife, while she, as Xia Qingyue's Senior Uncle, had...
"Don't tell anyone about this, including your master."
"Yes," Xia Qingyue nodded subconsciously, her mind hazy.
"In exchange, can you answer one of my doubts?"
Today's Chu Yuechan had spoken so much to her, giving Xia Qingyue an unreal feeling. She nodded: "Senior Uncle, please ask."
Chu Yuechan turned back, her voice cold yet soft: "When I taught you the Ice Heart Art, I once probed your consciousness and found that you don't truly enjoy cultivating the profound way, yet you have an extremely high desire for profound strength. Can you tell me your reason?"
Xia Qingyue was startled. A faint, nearly imperceptible trace of sorrow flashed in her eyes. Her gaze quietly became misty, and even the ice spirits around her body grew still.
"Because... of my mother..." Faced with Chu Yuechan's candor, she chose not to remain silent or conceal, answering in a voice as light as a cloud: "My father and mother's meeting was very legendary... When Father met Mother outside the city, she was covered in blood and unconscious. After waking up, she had no memory and was very weak... Later, Mother married Father, but due to her weak constitution, giving birth to me was very difficult, and I was almost not saved..."
"When I was four years old, Mother suddenly regained her memory... She left, flying away like a fairy. When she left, she held me and my little brother, crying heartbrokenly. She said if she didn't leave, she would bring disaster to our whole family. She said the place she was going to was called the 'Realm of the Gods,' a place we could never reach... After that, though Father remained strong, I often saw him secretly shedding tears when alone. Over a decade passed, and he never remarried... My brother was too young to understand then, and when he grew up, his greatest envy was that others could have mothers..."
"Realm of the Gods?" Chu Yuechan's brows furrowed slightly. Even with her experience, she had never heard this name before. "Do you know what kind of place that is?"
Xia Qingyue shook her head in a daze: "I've checked many records, but I've never found that name."
"So, by pursuing supreme profound strength, you hope to reach a high enough level that you might one day learn that name, correct?"
"Hmm..." Xia Qingyue nodded slightly, lifting her snow-white face, staring blankly at the broken moon in the sky: "I only want my family to be reunited. Though this goal may be distant, I believe that as I climb higher and higher, I will one day see my mother's figure..."
At that moment, a deliberately lightened footstep approached from outside the courtyard. Then, a clear voice came from the entrance of the courtyard: "I am Xiao Kuangyu of the Xiao Sect, and I seek an audience with the 'Ice Moon Fairy' Xia Qingyue of your esteemed palace... I have no other intention, but I happen to have an Ice Jade Qionghua Hairpin that is just right for the Ice Moon Fairy, and only when worn by her will it not be a waste of a treasure. Please..."
Before Xiao Kuangyu could finish, Chu Yuechan suddenly pushed with her hand. A blast of condensed cold air surged violently, forming a thick ice wall a full zhang high at the courtyard entrance. The biting cold that hit his face made Xiao Kuangyu startle and quickly retreat. His face twitched a few times, but he dared not show anger. He could only grit his teeth, flick his sleeve, and walk away in chagrin.
In the entire Cang Feng Empire, only the Ice Cloud Fairy Palace could make the second young master of the Xiao Sect suffer such a setback.