# Chapter 603: Awakening in the Sea of Fire
"Trust and righteousness?" Ling Yuefeng gave a self-deprecating smile. "In the eyes of everyone in the Cang Feng Empire now, my Tian Jian Villa no longer has any trust or righteousness to speak of. Especially the Cangfeng Imperial Clan... they already hate us to the bone, regard us as mortal enemies... so what trust and righteousness is there to talk about?"
*Hatred born of faithlessness, enmity born of indifference—this Emperor shall remember! If the Cang Feng Empire does not fall this time, then from now on, Cang Feng and Tian Jian shall have no more past kindness, but will be eternal enemies!*
These were the words written on a silk cloth that Empress Cangyue had personally penned and had discarded before the mountain gate of Tian Jian Villa, after they had ignored the Cangfeng Imperial Clan's nine pleas for help nine times.
Princess Cang Yue had twice visited Tian Jian Villa in person due to the Cang Feng Ranking Battle. The impression she left on everyone was gentle as water, soft as the wind... And now, these dozens of words from her were filled with bitterness and absolute finality in every single character.
Clearly, their nine consecutive acts of indifference had not just disappointed her, but had turned into deep-seated hatred.
Tian Jian Villa Master Ling Yuefeng had experienced countless storms in his life. When he personally took that silk cloth, his face flushed red and his heart was filled with bitterness... Tian Jian Villa and the Cangfeng Imperial Clan had a mutual vow from their ancestors: if one side encountered great disaster, the other would spare no effort to help. In the face of the Cangfeng Imperial Clan's calamity, Tian Jian Villa had chosen to stand by and watch nine times...
"Forget it, forget it..." Ling Yuefeng let out a long sigh. The exhaustion and bitterness in his voice had already drowned out any thought of family loyalty. "Since I have chosen the path of the Heavenly Sword, then from now on, I will walk this path alone. The grudges and grievances of the world, let them all go..."
"Father..." Ling Yun's eyes reddened slightly. He had never seen his father so weary and defeated.
"Yun'er, this time I called you back. Although I said I would let you handle your own matters, this matter is truly too important. I can no longer let you make your own decisions." Ling Yuefeng's eyes gradually sharpened. "The matter of the Four Divine Sons of the Eastern Domain selection for the Divine Son Assembly... how have you been preparing recently?"
"..." Ling Yun was silent for a moment, then nodded: "Father, rest assured. I will definitely not let down your expectations."
"Good." Ling Yuefeng nodded, a hint of relief flashing in his eyes. "You are the pride of our Tian Jian Villa. In this Divine Son Assembly, you must shine and earn a place for our Tian Jian Villa!"
"Yes, Father!"
...
In the remote and desolate northern border of the Cang Feng Empire, beneath a snow-covered mountain peak.
"Master, now that we have left Yin Xue Realm, when do we plan to return?" A blue-clad girl stood beside a white-clad woman, looking down at the ice and snow below, her tone curious.
"It shouldn't be long now." The white-clad woman's voice was ethereal and cool. "I have left the Ice God Divine Art at Bing Yun Fairy Palace. This trip has fulfilled its purpose."
"Then Master, why are we still watching here?" The blue-clad girl looked down. In the distance, Bing Yun Fairy Palace was in chaos, fires raging, and the sounds of slaughter faintly audible.
The white-clad woman was silent for a moment, then said softly: "After all, it started because of me... Witnessing its end can be considered completely cutting off this thought and worldly attachment."
"Master, I'm very curious. Back then, when you recovered your profound strength and memories, why did you stay at Bing Yun Fairy Palace before leaving?" the blue-clad girl asked curiously.
"... Back then, my profound strength was completely crippled and my memories were lost. The Eternal Night Royal Clan of this world saved my life from under the claws of a profound beast. Not long after, the Eternal Night Royal Clan was destroyed by treacherous people. Although I later recovered my memories and profound strength and wanted to avenge them, I do not like slaughter, and I ultimately do not belong to this world. By leaving Bing Yun Fairy Palace behind, it counts as a small repayment to this world..."
As she spoke, the white-clad woman's voice suddenly paused. The blue-clad girl was startled, then tentatively asked: "Has the Realm King discovered that we left Yin Xue Realm?"
"Mm." The white-clad woman cast one last glance below, then turned around without any lingering attachment: "We should go back. Don't tell Elder Sister we came here. She has always had reservations about me leaving the Ice God Divine Art here."
"Yes, Master." The blue-clad girl immediately nodded: "If the Realm King asks, I'll say we went to play in the Han Xing Realm... Um, Master, are we really leaving right now? You could just move a finger slightly, and all these bad people would disappear."
The white-clad woman tilted her head up slightly, then still gently shook her head: "This is their fate. Even if I help them escape this calamity now, only a greater calamity will follow. Whether they survive or perish depends on their own fortune... Now, the Xing Shen Realm and Yue Shen Realm are locked in fierce battle, the Fan Di Realm's movements are suspicious, the Yan Shen Realm is eyeing my Yin Xue Realm covetously... Great chaos is about to descend. Even if I have the heart, I cannot stir up more trouble."
"Let us return."
"Oh." The blue-clad girl responded, following behind the white-clad woman. Dreamlike mist drifted past them like a fairyland.
"Master, I heard yesterday that Princess Mo Li of Xing Shen Realm didn't actually die... It seems some Devouring Kun Beast saw her in a spatial rift... Is that true? The Xing Shen Realm King's 'ritual' is just missing Princess Mo Li. If Princess Mo Li really is still alive, then the Xing Shen Realm King could..."
"... Do not believe or spread false rumors. Matters at the level of Xing Shen Realm are not our concern," the white-clad woman said coldly.
"Oh, I understand. Then Master, the teleportation array you left at Bing Yun Fairy Palace—where does it actually lead?" the blue-clad girl asked again.
"..." The white-clad woman's voice paused slightly, then she said softly: "Perhaps this teleportation array will be used very soon... As for where it will teleport to, that depends on her fate... I cannot decide either."
......
Huan Yao Realm, Sea of Death.
The warm currents flowing into Yun Che's body were endless, growing more and more vast and surging. They traveled throughout Yun Che's entire body, then finally converged into his profound veins... After a full one hundred cycles, Yun Che could hardly feel the presence of the surrounding sea of fire anymore. It was as if his entire being had transformed into a pure fire spirit, completely and wholly merged into this world of flames.
And the profound energy in his profound veins, after these one hundred cycles, had become three times denser than before! Moreover, this explosively increased profound strength contained no unstable elements. Throughout the entire process, he had not exerted any effort at all—he had merely focused on guiding the flame breath that spontaneously surged into his body.
Now, as long as he wished, he could break through at any time and directly step into the King Xuan Realm.
Even Yun Che himself felt as if he were dreaming with this method of cultivation.
After one hundred cycles, Yun Che withdrew his consciousness. He felt that roughly three or four hours had passed since he fell into the Sea of Death... By now, Ming Wang and Huai Wang would have confirmed his and Xiao Yaohou's deaths and should have left the edge of the Sea of Death. It was time to leave this place.
Just as he withdrew his consciousness, Mo Li's voice rang out simultaneously: "Hmph, you've finally woken up. I thought you were so immersed that you didn't want to come out anymore."
"Uh... has it been a few hours? Are the auras of Ming Wang and Huai Wang still nearby?" Yun Che asked with his mind.
"A few hours?" Mo Li sneered. "You've been in this Sea of Death for an entire month."
"..."
"..."
"What?!?!" Yun Che's eyes snapped wide open, his entire body instantly on edge. "A month?!?"