Chapter 805: Bloodstained Jasmine 1
"Xuanyuan Sword Master, in your opinion, how should this child be dealt with?" Huangji Wuyu said casually. Since Yun Che's identity had been exposed by Xuanyuan Wentian, it was only reasonable for him to handle the matter.
Xuanyuan Wentian pondered for a moment, then said, "Yun Che has a fierce temperament and considerable strength, completely unlike Xiao Yun. It's impossible to extract the Illusion Demon Realm's schemes here today. Let's take him into custody first, and I'll bring him back to the Sword Domain. Once there, I have countless methods to pry out all his secrets!"
Huangji Wuyu slowly nodded: "That works. What do you two think?"
Qu Fengyi also nodded without objection. Ye Meixie snorted coldly, saying, "This Illusion Demon scoundrel has not only repeatedly sabotaged my Divine Palace's plans but also killed our Divine Palace's Elder Ye Shi. I wish I could execute him myself! But since his secrets were uncovered and made public by Xuanyuan Sword Master, it's not improper for Tianwei Sword Domain to handle him."
Xuanyuan Wentian nodded with a smile, saying frankly, "Rest assured, once we find out the Illusion Demon Realm's current schemes, I will immediately inform everyone, and we'll respond together. When he becomes useless, if Brother Ye's anger remains unappeased, I will hand him over to Brother Ye for disposal."
"Yun Che, do you have anything to say now?" Xuanyuan Wentian glanced sideways at Yun Che, then suddenly spoke sternly.
"Heh," Yun Che laughed coldly, ridiculing, "Xuanyuan Sword Master, it seems over a hundred years ago, you planted quite a few informants in Illusion Demon City."
"Hahahaha," Xuanyuan Wentian laughed loudly, admitting openly: "Indeed! If not, how could I have uncovered your identity and ambitions as an Illusion Demon scoundrel! If not, before long, our Tian Xuan Continent would have fallen into the schemes laid by you, this demon's emperor!"
Yun Che remained full of cold sneers: "The only reason your informants left in Illusion Demon City could survive for over a hundred years is that they were under the protection of Huai Wang Mansion. Before I left the Illusion Demon Realm, the Huai Wang lineage was completely exterminated, and Xiao Yaohou took full control, purging Illusion Demon City anew... those informants you left there should all have died without a burial place by now."
"So what?" Xuanyuan Wentian showed no regret or anger: "A century of concealment not only gave us a thorough understanding of the Illusion Demon Realm's situation these years but also exposed you, a newly ascended demon emperor walking right into our trap. You could say it was a perfect achievement, glorious even in death! My Sword Domain will forever remember their merits!"
His tone shifted: "Yun Che, I gave you a chance to defend yourself, and all you have is this bunch of irrelevant nonsense?"
"You can capture me," Yun Che's expression darkened. "But release Xiao Yun!"
"Hehehe," Xuanyuan Wentian laughed disdainfully: "Yun Che, do you think you're in any position to bargain now?"
"Guyun, take him down!"
"Yes!" The Sword Domain's Second Elder, Xuanyuan Guyun, responded faintly, stepped forward, then leaped into the air, pouncing fiercely at Yun Che. At the same time, Xuanyuan Wentian glanced sideways at Xuanyuan Guxing. Xuanyuan Guxing quickly understood, sidestepping to the right to block directly in front of Xiao Yun, his palm already surging with profound energy... to prevent Yun Che from using his bizarre movement technique to snatch Xiao Yun away.
Xuanyuan Guyun, the Second Elder of Tianwei Sword Domain, was also one of only two Ninth-rank Emperor Lords in the entire Sword Domain.
A Ninth-rank Emperor Lord—Yun Che, even at his peak, could never be a match. Not to mention that he was currently severely injured and his profound strength greatly depleted.
Yun Che was heavily wounded, his profound energy weak. Anyone present at the Emperor Lord level could see it clearly. But Xuanyuan Guyun, to ensure no mistakes, actually used most of his profound energy. His oppressive, mountain-like aura and pressure locked onto Yun Che firmly, making it extremely difficult for him to even move a step.
"Get lost!!"
Just as Xuanyuan Guyun leaped into the air and before he drew near, a furious roar sounded from behind Yun Che.
Xia Yuanba!
Yun Che's words had made him endure and endure, until his scalp was nearly bursting. He also clearly knew that intervening would be extremely unwise and ultimately futile.
But, when he saw Xuanyuan Guyun attacking Yun Che, all his restraint exploded uncontrollably with his rage. He charged at Xuanyuan Guyun like a madman, his right arm swinging with full force, viciously aiming at Xuanyuan Guyun's face.
"Yuan Ba, stop!!"
At the same time, several shouts rang out—one from Yun Che, the others from the Huangji Sacred Domain—but it was already too late to stop him.
Boom!!
Two surges of energy collided in midair, creating a massive vortex of profound energy that rolled and churned before violently exploding. The Sea God Platform below instantly cracked, the fissures spreading straight to the edges, almost splitting the entire platform in half.
Though he had long known Xia Yuanba was extraordinary, Xuanyuan Guyun had used at least half his strength, yet Xia Yuanba had forcibly blocked him. Shocked and enraged, Xuanyuan Guyun flipped his hands, his profound energy instantly skyrocketing. With a dull thud, Xia Yuanba flew backward like a kite with its string cut.
"Hmph!" Xuanyuan Guyun snorted coldly and was about to grab Yun Che again. But Xia Yuanba's body twisted sharply in midair, and with another roar, his eyes blazing with murderous intent, his arms smashed toward Xuanyuan Guyun's head like thunder.
"Seeking death!!"
Xuanyuan Guyun's face darkened. His surrounding profound energy transformed into hundreds of sharp sword auras, instantly shredding the airwaves Xia Yuanba had sent at him. Then, changing his hand gesture, a flash of malice flickered in his eyes. Over a dozen formless sword energies materialized in the void, shooting straight at Xia Yuanba.
Earlier, he had only knocked Xia Yuanba back, but this move from Xuanyuan Guyun concealed a venomous intent... Having personally witnessed Xia Yuanba's power, he understood even more clearly that if the youth were allowed to grow, no one in Tianwei Sword Domain would ever be able to contend with him! Even Xuanyuan Wentian had mentioned this more than once.
Normally, they had no opportunity or reason to strike at Xia Yuanba.
But now was a rare and "justifiable" chance!
Though those sword energies were formed quickly, they were infused with Xuanyuan Guyun's full murderous intent—far beyond what Xia Yuanba could withstand! At that moment, even if Xia Yuanba didn't die, he would be severely injured, and there was a high chance his talent would be crippled.
"You... dare!!"
A low growl erupted the moment the sword energies formed, sending a chill through Xuanyuan Guyun. Then, his vision blurred, and a pale figure appeared before him. With his Ninth-rank Emperor Lord power—enough to look down on the world—he had no idea how this figure had appeared, as if it had suddenly emerged from the void.
The figure was gaunt-faced—none other than Saint Emperor Huangji Wuyu. But this time, the usually expressionless man wore a grim, heavy look. His sickly pale hand swept through the air.
Instantly, Xuanyuan Guyun's fully concentrated sword energies dissipated into nothingness. A gentle breeze brushed past Xuanyuan Guyun's body... and that mere breeze struck him like a hundred-thousand-pound hammer, sending him plummeting from the air. He staggered back more than ten steps, each step leaving a crater in the Sea God Platform, shaking the entire platform precariously.
Xuanyuan Wentian reached out, his hand lightly pressing against Xuanyuan Guyun's back, silently dissipating the residual force. Xuanyuan Guyun finally stopped, his face somewhat pale—clearly suffering from internal injuries.
Xuanyuan Guyun was at Lord Xuan Realm Level 9; Huangji Wuyu was at the peak of Lord Xuan Realm Level 10. There was only one minor realm gap between them in profound strength. But from this single exchange, it was clear their actual power was worlds apart.
"Brother Huangji, what is the meaning of this?" Xuanyuan Wentian's face darkened slightly. "Is your Huangji Sacred Domain planning to shield this Illusion Demon scoundrel?"
"Shield? Hmph!" Huangji Wuyu said coldly, "How you deal with Yun Che has nothing to do with me! I am shielding my Sacred Domain's disciple! I want to ask your Sword Domain's Second Elder—he clearly knew Xia Yuanba is a disciple of my Sacred Domain, yet he intended to deliver a vicious, lethal blow—what was his scheme!"
Xuanyuan Wentian pushed Xuanyuan Guyun behind him and said indifferently, "You saw it yourself. Xia Yuanba was the one who intervened first. As a Sacred Domain disciple, he actually risked his life to protect an Illusion Demon scoundrel—utterly outrageous! Elder Guyun was repeatedly obstructed and angrily taught a mistake-ridden junior a lesson—what's wrong with that?"
Huangji Wuyu's voice grew even lower: "Yuanba protecting an Illusion Demon demon is indeed wrong, but they have a kinship by marriage, and Yun Che once saved Yuanba's life. So while his action was wrong, his loyalty was not—and there are extenuating circumstances! Furthermore, Xia Yuanba is a disciple of my Sacred Domain. Even if he committed the gravest sin, it should be handled by my Sacred Domain, not by some elder from your Sword Domain!
"And to do it right before my eyes as Saint Emperor... do you think I am blind?!"
Huangji Wuyu was a man who rarely showed emotional fluctuations, but his current state clearly indicated genuine fury.
If it had been another Sacred Domain disciple, he might have been displeased but not this angry. But Xia Yuanba was different. To the Huangji Sacred Domain, Xia Yuanba was a completely unique existence!
The atmosphere on the Sea God Platform turned icy. This was a confrontation between two sacred masters; their oppressive pressure was no trivial matter. And except for the other two sacred masters, no one had the qualification or courage to intervene.
This tension didn't last long. Xuanyuan Wentian's momentum suddenly weakened.
He glanced at Xia Yuanba, pulled Xuanyuan Guyun aside, and said, "Guyun, you were indeed a bit reckless in this matter. Apologize to the Saint Emperor."
Xuanyuan Guyun was stunned, extremely puzzled: "Sword Master, I..."
But as soon as he met Xuanyuan Wentian's eyes, his whole body stiffened. He swallowed the rest of his words, stepped forward, and bowed slightly: "Saint Emperor, this old man just now..."
"No need for an apology." Huangji Wuyu raised a hand to stop Xuanyuan Guyun's words, but his gaze lingered deeply on Xuanyuan Wentian... It didn't surprise him that Xuanyuan Wentian would yield. Because that was the kind of person he was.
The most terrifying kind.
"Yuanba, your intervention just now has already fulfilled your duty of loyalty." Huangji Wuyu frowned. "From now on, no matter what, you must not intervene again. Yun Che's identity is too dangerous; no one on the Tian Xuan Continent can tolerate him! Even if you risk your life now, you can't protect him—you'll only ruin your own reputation and future!"
"I... no!" Xia Yuanba shook his head stubbornly—even in front of Saint Emperor Huangji Wuyu: "I know better than anyone whether my brother-in-law is evil. And whether the Illusion Demon Realm you speak of is a sinful place... you all should know better than I do!!"
"Today, if you want to hurt my brother-in-law... you'll have to step over my corpse first!"
Matters having come this far, Xia Yuanba decided to hold back no longer. He roared like a wild beast, and his hand slowly moved to his left chest.
This movement caused both Huangji Wuyu and Old Man Gu Cang's expressions to change drastically. Huangji Wuyu roared on the spot: "Seal him!"
From the Huangji Sacred Domain, Kutong Zhenren and Juexin Zhenren—two Tenth-rank Emperor Lords—shot like lightning to behind Xia Yuanba. Two vast, boundless streams of profound energy simultaneously enveloped Xia Yuanba, then surged into his body, firmly sealing all his profound power.
Meanwhile, Xuanyuan Wentian had already ordered again: "Guyun, quickly take down this Illusion Demon scoundrel!"
Xuanyuan Guyun, stifling a belly full of anger, burst forth furiously, charging straight at Yun Che: "Scoundrel! Let's see who dares to stop me this time!!"
Before his roar faded, he suddenly felt the surrounding air become scorching hot. A clear, resonant phoenix cry also pierced the sky, its boundless majesty causing even his profound energy to stagnate for an instant.
Boom!!
A ball of crimson flames exploded before him, sending up a towering curtain of fire. The heat of the flames made his face change drastically. He was forced to halt his advance, then transformed his profound energy into a sword, trying to tear through the fire curtain. But the fire curtain suddenly shattered on its own, splitting into dozens of phoenix-shaped flames that, with piercing cries, all blasted toward him.
Boom boom boom boom boom...
Amid the series of explosions, Xuanyuan Guyun waved his hands rapidly, retreating quickly. After dozens of steps, he barely managed to extinguish all the flames. The power in his sword energy was nearly exhausted, and both hands suffered a piercing burning pain. The cuffs of his sword robe were now charred black.
Though only the cuffs were singed, for him—the dignified Second Elder of the Sword Domain—this was a humiliation and defeat rarely seen in centuries!
On the Tian Xuan Continent, the only flame with such power was the Phoenix Flame. And in the Fenghuang God Sect, the one who could make him, caught off guard, suffer so embarrassingly, was only one person...
Feng Zukui!!
Xuanyuan Guyun's eyes bulged, rage surging. He was about to curse loudly when he saw, as the flames subsided, standing before him was a young girl dressed in white, her face veiled with white gauze, her aura transcendent and otherworldly!