Chapter 450: The Curtain Falls
“Imperial Father, Grand Elder, Imperial Brother... perhaps I, Xue'er, am too naive and childish to understand your world. In the world that Xue'er knows, you truly are in the wrong. The Shenhuang Kingdom is the overlord of the seven kingdoms. In Xue'er's understanding, the bearing of an overlord should inspire awe, not merely fear. As for the glory and dignity you seek, Xue'er does not understand them either. The glory and dignity I understand are not the strength that makes others look up in reverence, but the magnanimity to embrace all things, the boundless love that showers grace upon the world, and the forgiveness and kindness that can accommodate a hundred rivers.”
“Therefore, if Imperial Father wishes Xue'er to defeat Yun Che...” Feng Xue'er turned to face Yun Che, and said softly, “Xue'er... concedes defeat.”
Everyone from the Fenghuang God Sect stared wide-eyed and exchanged glances. If these words had been spoken by any other Phoenix disciple, even if it were Feng Xiluo, they would have been deemed treasonous, and even Feng Hengkong would have been furious enough to lose control on the spot. But the one who spoke was the Snow Princess. Not only did no one show anger, there wasn't even a single person who dared to refute her.
However, although her words seemed to question the Fenghuang God Sect, weren't they also, in her own way, truly upholding the dignity that the Fenghuang God Sect had lost today, which Yun Che had completely trampled upon? The burst of profound power she had released moments ago had overwhelmingly proven to the world the peak strength of the younger generation of the Fenghuang God Sect. Her questioning words were also an effort, as a princess of the Shenhuang Kingdom, to maintain the fairness and magnanimity of a hegemon nation, so that after this ranking battle, Tian Xuan would have fewer reasons to mock and sneer at the Fenghuang God Sect.
The entire venue fell silent. Then, sporadic applause began, spreading like wildfire until it reached every corner of the arena. The clapping and cheers were as thunderous and deafening as a lightning storm—more intense than any before.
And among these cheers were almost all the Shenhuang profound practitioners. Although they were citizens of the Shenhuang Kingdom, and the Snow Princess had defied the will of the Shenhuang Emperor, using her gentle words to question the actions of the Shenhuang Empire, and voluntarily conceded to Yun Che of Cang Feng before the entire world... not a single one of them felt anger or shame. Instead, they felt a sense of admiration that pierced their very souls—even pride!
Everyone present had, today, reacquainted themselves with the legendary Snow Princess. They were not fortunate enough to see her true face, but they had witnessed her unparalleled talent and a heart as pure and flawless as ice and crystal.
“Truly worthy of admiration,” Gu Cang sighed. “The only divine body in all of Tian Xuan, yet possessing a heart like crystalline ice. I wonder if this will be her fortune... or her misfortune.”
The shouts around them continued unabated, the waves of sound almost piercing the sky. Yun Che and Feng Xue'er faced each other. Finally, it was Yun Che who spoke: “Xue'er... I'm sorry. I deceived you so much. You must be... very disappointed in me.”
Feng Xue'er gently shook her head. “How could I blame Brother Yun? Actually... there is something I have also deceived you about.”
“You... deceived me?” Yun Che was startled.
“Hmm...” Feng Xue'er nodded lightly. “Actually, I knew from very early on that Brother Yun was not a member of the Fenghuang God Sect, and I also knew that your name was not real. The reason you fell off the Phoenix Cliff was not what you said it was.”
Yun Che's eyes wavered. “When... did you know?”
“When I taught Brother Yun the general formula,” Feng Xue'er answered. “At that time, when Brother Yun was cultivating the formula, a golden phoenix mark appeared on your brow. I knew then. Because a golden phoenix mark can only appear through the bestowal of the purest Phoenix blood. Moreover, what even Imperial Father doesn't know is that for the golden phoenix mark to appear, pure Phoenix blood is only one necessary factor. It also requires being granted the Phoenix source force and the Phoenix soul.”
Yun Che: “...”
“So, from that moment, I knew that Brother Yun was not from the Fenghuang God Sect, but rather another inheritor of Lord Phoenix God. And what was bestowed upon you was the Phoenix soul and source force inheritance that Lord Phoenix God can only grant once in a lifetime... just like what I have. Perhaps one reason I was so willing to trust and feel close to Brother Yun was the attraction of the Phoenix soul and source force.”
“Then why did you still let me stay there to heal, and... continue to teach me the Phoenix Ode Scripture?” Yun Che's emotions became chaotic. He had always felt guilty for deceiving Feng Xue'er, but he never imagined she had known everything all along and never exposed him.
“Because I knew that Brother Yun's concealment and deception towards me were not intentional. I could also feel that Brother Yun's kindness towards me was genuine. The fact that Lord Phoenix God granted you His only inheritance proved that Brother Yun could not be a bad person. So, if Brother Yun wanted to learn the Phoenix Ode Scripture, of course I was willing, and I was happy to teach Brother Yun. As an inheritor of the Phoenix bloodline, the Phoenix Ode Scripture is something Brother Yun should rightfully possess.”
“Brother Yun deceived me, and I have been hiding something from Brother Yun... so between us, it's even, isn't it?”
The Fengyu Liuli swayed gently. Although Yun Che could not see her face, he could feel her soft smile.
The cheers in the arena finally began to subside. Feng Xue'er's pure eyes gazed into Yun Che's, and she said softly but firmly: “I will always remember the kindness Brother Yun has shown me. I will always remember the promises Brother Yun made to me, and even more so, I will remember what I said to Brother Yun... I, Feng Xue'er, will never do anything to harm Brother Yun.”
The shouting completely died down. Feng Xue'er turned around and, under the gazes of Yun Che and everyone else, returned to Feng Hengkong's side.
“Imperial Father, I'm sorry. Xue'er has disappointed you.” Feng Xue'er stood before Feng Hengkong and spoke softly.
Feng Hengkong shook his head, sighed with melancholy, and showed no sign of blame on his face—only a look of deep affection. “How could that be? Many things today were indeed my mistakes. It should be that I have disappointed Xue'er... Some of Xue'er's words have truly enlightened me, as if poured from on high...”
Feng Hengkong turned his gaze to the stage, looking at Yun Che. His chest rose and fell slightly, then he furrowed his brow and personally announced: “Yun Che, in this final battle of the ranking competition, our Shenhuang Empire has truly lost to your Cang Feng Kingdom—and we are completely convinced! As for the matter of the Phoenix bloodline, it was indeed our misunderstanding. I swear on the status of the Shenhuang Empire that from today onward, we will no longer target you over the bloodline issue. Since we both belong to the same Phoenix lineage, if you are willing to join the Fenghuang God Sect, I would be most welcome!”
“Now, let Me announce the final victor of the 39th Seven Nation Ranking Battle... the Cang Feng Kingdom! According to the promise, the Cang Feng Kingdom, which ranks first in this competition, and the Heisha Nation, which ranks third, may each select three people tomorrow to accompany our Fenghuang God Sect in exploring the Primordial Mystic Ark!”
Whaa—
The entire arena erupted in cheers. This was not just from the Cang Feng Kingdom, but from all six nations.
Because of the matter of the Primordial Mystic Ark, this ranking battle had been compressed to an unprecedented single day. The ups and downs, twists, shocks, and results of this competition were also unprecedented! The weakest Cang Feng Kingdom had defeated the strongest Shenhuang Empire, and it had been accomplished by a single person, completely defeating ten opponents!
Another inheritor of the Phoenix... the myth of an Earth Xuan defeating a King Xuan... an eighteen-year-old Overlord Emperor... a sixteen-year-old Half-step Emperor Lord... everything about this ranking battle was destined to shake Tian Xuan and be recorded in history.
Especially the name Yun Che—a name destined to be the future protagonist of the Tian Xuan Continent. From today onward, it would spread throughout the world.
With Feng Hengkong personally announcing the final result, this ranking battle had now come to a complete end. Xia Yuanba rushed up quickly, pulled Yun Che over to True Person Gu Cang, and was so excited he babbled incoherently. In the audience, profound practitioners from various nations began to leave in an orderly manner under the guidance of the Phoenix disciples.
Ling Jie's heart was still pounding violently, unable to calm down. He clenched his fists, his face flushed, and said with utmost excitement: “My decision was absolutely, incredibly, supremely brilliant! Ahhhh... My big brother not coming with me is simply the greatest loss of his entire life!”
“Hmm, I completely agree with that,” Hua Minghai nodded. As his step was about to leave the arena, his gaze suddenly turned back and fixed straight on another direction... on Ye Xinghan. In that instant, a bone-deep flash of hatred passed through the depths of his eyes.
“The grudge of my parents, the hatred of a fallen clan... even if I have to be ground to dust... I will one day... make your Sun Moon Divine Palace pay blood for blood.”
Hua Minghai gritted his teeth and silently recited the blood oath that had long been etched into his soul.
Earlier, his wife Ru Xiaoya had been afflicted with a cold poison from the Sun Moon Divine Palace, and all his energy had been focused on desperately prolonging her life. Now, Ru Xiaoya's cold poison had been cured, and her body was recovering quickly... Today, having seen the people of the Sun Moon Divine Palace with his own eyes, the hatred that had been suppressed within him erupted like a long-dormant volcano.
Ye Xinghan was lazily rising to his feet when suddenly, an unusual chill swept over him from behind. He turned his head instantly, his icy gaze sweeping backward, but found nothing. He withdrew his gaze, squinted, and looked toward the seating area of the Fenghuang God Sect. After a brief exchange of glances with someone, a meaningful, faint smile appeared on both their faces.
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