Chapter 764: The Approaching Demon Sword Gathering
"Brother Fen, the medicine is ready... Let me state first! This time, you absolutely cannot be stubborn and knock it over again, or else I will really get angry!"
Xiao Lingxi pushed the door open. The medicinal soup in her hands was still somewhat scalding. She first placed it on the small table by the entrance, and when she looked at Fen Juechen, she saw that he had already changed his clothes and was standing there... Although his aura was weak and his face pale, he stood very straight.
Xiao Lingxi's eyes brightened, and she said in pleasant surprise, "Brother Fen, so you can already stand up. That's wonderful."
During the time Xiao Lingxi had been away, no one could have imagined the earth-shattering upheaval that had occurred within Fen Juechen's sea of heart. As Xiao Lingxi's figure appeared in his sight once more, Fen Juechen's calm face revealed a slight fluster that he would never show to any other person: "Xiao Lingxi, I..."
"Don't call me that!" Xiao Lingxi said with a stern face. "Don't forget, you are now my elder brother. You should call me 'little sister' or simply 'Lingxi.' Calling me 'Xiao Lingxi' is far too distant."
"Mmm... This set of clothes really fits you perfectly, as if it were custom-made." Xiao Lingxi looked Fen Juechen up and down and said with a smile, "That's right, your build is very similar to Xiao Che's. Speaking of which, aside from your build, there are many other similarities between the two of you."
"I... am similar to Yun Che?" Fen Juechen was stunned.
Xiao Lingxi lifted her gaze, her eyes filled with surprise. Because when "Yun Che" was mentioned, he did not reveal that bone-piercing cold murderous intent for once. She nodded gently and said, "Yes, similar in many ways. For instance, Xiao Che is usually a very gentle person, but when faced with someone who harms those important to him, he becomes very extreme, much like Brother Fen who is set on revenge. Also, he has an extremely strong sense of pride, a deep obsession with things he wants to accomplish, and always bears everything on his own... These are all very similar to Brother Fen."
Fen Juechen: "..."
"Actually, Xiao Che told me a while ago that he has no regrets about what happened four years ago, but he has always felt a sense of guilt toward you. He said that given your personality, not killing you back then was actually crueler than killing you. And now, even if he could kill you, he can no longer bring himself to do so. If there is any way to make it up to you, he will spare no effort."
"... ..." Fen Juechen's arms began to tremble.
"Brother Fen, I know asking you to let go of your hatred is very selfish, after all, that was your entire clan. But... but you are clearly such a good person, and Xiao Che is a very, very good person too. What happened in the past can no longer be changed. Must it really end with one of you dying before it stops? Is there really... no other possibility at all?"
Fen Juechen raised his arm, his gaze seemingly piercing through his skin to see the cold, pitch-black blood that was much darker than ordinary people's: "To be able to kill Yun Che, I bore an enormous price and obtained the power I have today. If I give up... what would all the power I sacrificed everything for amount to?"
"That's simple," Xiao Lingxi said softly. "Powerful strength doesn't have to be used solely for revenge. It can also be used to protect those you want to protect."
"Pro... tect..."
"Yes!" Xiao Lingxi smiled. "Like Brother Fen, Xiao Che has also been tirelessly pursuing power, but the purpose of his pursuit is not to defeat others, but to protect those he wants to protect and keep them from harm. That includes his choice of a heavy sword as his weapon—it's for 'protection.' Brother Fen can also use his strength to protect those he wants to protect... And with Brother Fen being so formidable, those protected by him will surely feel very safe and happy."
Xiao Lingxi slowly lifted her gaze, her starry eyes curving into two slender crescents: "I wonder if I can be honored to become someone protected by Brother Fen? Hehe... If possible, I would not only have Xiao Che to protect me, but also Brother Fen. Just thinking about it makes me feel like the happiest person in the world."
Protect...
My power can be used not only for revenge and killing, but also... to protect her...
Fen Juechen placed his hand on his chest. Within his body, that sinful, cold power that he himself feared and detested suddenly felt somewhat warm at this moment...
"If... after I kill Yun Che, would you still be willing to let me protect you?" Fen Juechen murmured.
Xiao Lingxi neither shook nor nodded her head. Her voice was light but resolute: "If Xiao Che is gone, I will not remain in this world either."
Fen Juechen: "...!!"
Xiao Lingxi closed her eyes and said softly, "Xiao Che is the one who grew up with me and the one who has been best to me. Almost all the happiness in my life has been because of him. To me, Xiao Che is half of my life, and the more important half at that. If he is no longer here... I will never be able to be happy again."
"Three years ago, when news of his death came, I wanted to follow him... But I still had my father, and I couldn't bear to leave him alone. But now, Xiao Yun is back to accompany him. If something truly happens to Xiao Che one day, I can peaceably go to be with him."
"..." Fen Juechen's breathing grew heavy. He clenched his hand tightly, almost tearing the flesh from his chest. He remembered the time he had stayed in Liu Yun City. Back then, he had seen Xiao Lingxi every day but had never seen her smile. Her face had borne a sorrow and desolation that seemed forever unmelting.
But after Yun Che returned alive, the few times Fen Juechen secretly went back to Liu Yun City, he no longer saw that past grief on her face. Her expression was calm, with a warm, gentle smile, as if her life was complete, with no regrets left.
"Alright... I promise you. From now on... I will not kill him anymore."
The voice by his ear struck his heart like it came from the highest heavens. Xiao Lingxi abruptly raised her head, her gaze trembling violently: "Brother Fen, you... what did you just say? What you just said... is it... is it true?"
He had thought that speaking those words would cause excruciating pain, but after saying them, his heart experienced an inexplicable lightness. Seeing Xiao Lingxi's shock, joy, and disbelief, his soul felt an even greater sense of deep satisfaction.
What is going on...
Why is it like this...
The lives of tens of thousands of his clan... the irreconcilable hatred... the hell he had endured all these years...
Was it all... inferior to her smile?
Why don't I even feel any reluctance or pain...
Why is this...
"I will not kill Yun Che anymore. Even if he stands before me, I will not make a move against him... Never again, from now on." This time, Fen Juechen's voice had no tremor, and even carried sincerity and determination.
"I... I..." Every word was like celestial music from beyond the heavens. Xiao Lingxi's vision blurred instantly, and tears streamed uncontrollably from her eyes like a breached dam.
"Brother Fen... thank you... tha... thank you..." She pressed her lips tightly with her hands, tears of joy flowing wildly, unable to stop. She was already sobbing uncontrollably.
The corners of Fen Juechen's mouth twitched slightly... If there were a mirror opposite him, he would see a faint smile on his face—a smile he thought he would never be able to make again.
Lingxi... From now on, as long as I live, no one will dare to harm even a hair on your head... No one!
Above the courtyard, Tianxia Diyi floated in the air, his face completely dumbfounded. After a long while, he slowly turned around.
"In terms of appearance, profound strength, and status, she is far inferior to Xiao Yaohou. Yet Brother Yun was always deeply worried about her even when he was in Yao Huang City. No wonder... no wonder..."
"Not only is she exceptionally intelligent, her heart is like a precious gem." Tianxia Diyi marveled to himself.
——————————————————————
Time passed, and two months flew by in an instant. Finally, the day of the Demon Sword Gathering drew near.
"Hoo!!"
Returning to the Ice Pavilion, Yun Che let out a long breath, then leaped backward and lay down on the ice bed... Because today, his "grand plan" was finally fully completed. Except for a few young disciples who had just joined the Immortal Palace and could not withstand the medicinal power, all the other Bing Yun disciples had had their profound strength elevated by him using Overlord Pills... And each one had risen by at least one major realm.
In less than half a year, forcibly elevating an entire sect by a whole level—equivalent to thousands of years of other sects' accumulation and development—was an absolutely unprecedented, heaven-defying feat in the history of Tian Xuan Continent.
Even more terrifying was that while enhancing the Bing Yun disciples' profound strength, Yun Che also unblocked all their profound apertures, making their future cultivation speed several times faster than before... Every Bing Yun disciple had obtained a Celestial Spirit Divine Meridian that other sects would struggle to produce even one in thousands of years... Yun Che's actions were practically worthy of being struck by heavenly thunder!
The process of enhancing the Bing Yun disciples' strength was also a high-intensity cultivation for him, so over these two months, his own profound strength had made slight progress. Ten days ago, he had just broken through to King Xuan Realm, Level 6.
"Brother Yun, may I come in?"
Outside the door, Feng Xue'er's soft and gentle voice sounded. Just hearing her voice instantly swept away all of Yun Che's exhaustion. He shot up and said, "Xue'er, come in quickly."
Feng Xue'er was still dressed in pure white today, as beautiful as a divine maiden, with an elegant, fairy-like posture. The moment she stepped in, Yun Che pulled her into his arms. With a soft whimper, she docilely rested against his chest... After five months together, she had almost become accustomed to his teasing.
"Brother Yun, my father just sent a sound transmission saying that there are only four days left until the official start of the Demon Sword Gathering. He has already arrived at the Supreme Sea Palace ahead of time, and nearly half of the major powers have already reached the Sea Palace. When do you plan to go?" She whispered softly in his arms.
"Huh? Only four days left?" Yun Che was slightly startled, looked up, and silently counted the time. Then he nodded and said, "It's not surprising that they would arrive early. After all, this invitation includes all the top figures and powers of Tian Xuan Continent, and all Four Sacred Masters will be present. Such an occasion has probably occurred only a few times in the entire history of Tian Xuan Continent. Plus, the hype this time is quite significant—the secret of Divine Profound... heh."
"Then when should we set off?" Feng Xue'er asked. If they flew from here to the Supreme Sea Palace, even at their speed, it would take at least ten days. But with the Primordial Mystic Ark, that wasn't an issue.
"Hmm..." Yun Che thought for a moment. "Let's depart tomorrow morning. I have some other things to do over there, so it's better to go a bit earlier."
"Let's go greet the senior masters and elders first."
Yun Che and Feng Xue'er arrived at the Ice God Hall. All six of Murong Qianxue and the others were inside the hall, each surrounded by a layer of hazy ice crystal mist. When they saw Yun Che's arrival, the ice crystal mist dissipated, and they all stood up to greet him respectfully.
"We welcome the Palace Master."
Yun Che quickly probed the auras of the six, frowned slightly, and said in surprise, "Still, not a single one has entered the gate? Strange. You all have excellent talent, and now with your profound apertures fully opened and your profound strength reaching the Overlord Xuan Realm, you should be able to touch higher-level principles... Why is it that after so long, you still cannot comprehend the Ice God Divine Art? Truly strange."
When he had first cultivated the Ice God Divine Art, he had achieved sudden enlightenment in just a few dozen breaths and had made some progress in a single day and night. But Murong Qianxue and the other six, who had the Ice Cloud Art and Ice Heart Art as foundations and now possessed Celestial Spirit Divine Meridians, still could not comprehend it... None of the six could even enter the gate, let alone cultivate it.
"Palace Master, although we have barely grasped the profound technique, our profound energy simply cannot circulate according to the technique. Moreover, the principles contained within are intermittent and elusive... Many years ago, we tried to cultivate the Ice God Divine Art and encountered the same issue. Now, despite making great breakthroughs, it remains the same," Mu Lanyi said with a furrowed brow.
"It seems we are fated to have no affinity with the Ice God Divine Art," Murong Qianxue sighed softly. "But it is not due to our dullness. In the thousand years since Bing Yun Fairy Palace was founded, only three have successfully cultivated the Ice God Divine Art: the founder of Bing Yun, and then the Palace Master and Xia Qingyue."
Yun Che touched his chin, about to ponder, when Mo Li's voice came through his sea of consciousness: "Stop wasting your efforts. Even if you give them ten thousand years, they will never be able to master the Ice God Divine Art."
"Huh? Why?" Yun Che asked in surprise.
[Tonight at 8 PM (the 21st), there will be a Zongheng anniversary (maybe) live stream in Douyu room 1589414. I am a special guest (I don't know why either! I've been confused the whole time!). Those interested can come join the fun... but it's highly not recommended, because I've become a middle-aged uncle and am too afraid to show my face!!]