Chapter 259: Stirring Undercurrents
"Overseer Yun!" a swordsman in green hurried into the Exile Palace, his face pale as he reported the tumultuous events from the Heavenly Land.
"Beichen dared to speak rudely to the War Princess and was slain?" Yun Xinghe, clad in a robe of stars and clouds, listened, his eyes suddenly brimming with an endless sea of swords.
"They didn't just kill Beichen, they wiped out Peak Master Bai and the others, leaving only a lone Sword Judge to escape with his life," the green-clad swordsman reported, kneeling, his eyes burning with unquenchable fury. "But we didn't suffer in vain; we killed two devil prodigies!"
Feng Buhui and Shuang Jiang, two other Overseers, stood by, absorbing this news.
"From what I know of Beichen, he isn't the type to blabber foolishly," Shuang Jiang coldly observed.
"It must be the Endless Netherworld playing dirty, seizing on trivial matters to make a case for taking over Heaven," Feng Buhui speculated.
"To offer peace with one hand and strike with the other, devils will be devils, ever so despicable!" Yun Xinghe gritted his teeth, his face twisted in anger. "We must consult the other Overseers and demand justice from the Endless Netherworld."
At that moment, the grand gates of the Exile Palace opened, and a young man in a violet-black robe emerged. It was Ling Chen. "If the masks are off, there's no use pretending. Let's see the truth in action," he said coldly.
"They say the War Princess has unlocked her Nine-Tiered Bloodline, a talent on par with a Heavenly Sun Child. It's impossible to force the Endless Netherworld to punish her. Against such brutality, the only way is to be more brutal," Feng Buhui declared.
"They have the upper hand in the Heavenly Land now, and might blockade our passageway. We either send no one or enough strong Sword Cultivators in one go, or else we risk losing them one by one," Shuang Jiang added, her tone ice-cold.
"In that case, after the Immortal Sword Rankings, I shall personally confront her," Ling Chen said, an eyebrow raised, a hint of mockery in his eyes.
"Aren't you afraid they'll gain ground in this time?" Yun Xinghe asked.
Ling Chen shook his head, "In these Nine Hells, no one but me can capture the core of Heavenly Land."
"That puts our minds at ease," Feng Buhui said. They all knew that while Ling Chen's talent was extraordinary, he still needed time to mature in his cultivation.
"Currently, that portal is limited by cultivation. When the time comes, we'll gather a group of Sword Cultivator prodigies, just like the Endless Netherworld, with Ling Chen as the anchor. Even ten Nine-Tiered Bloodline talents won't stand a chance," Shuang Jiang flattered.
"That War Princess, they say she's just unlocked her talent. She's wasting precious time in that desolate land instead of training in the Endless Netherworld. Soon, she'll be left in the dust by Ling Chen," Feng Buhui added.
"Ling Chen," Yun Xinghe addressed him solemnly, "these deceitful devils have shown their true colors. I trust you to make them pay a hefty price for what they did to Beichen. I'll leave his revenge to you, and I expect you to make the Endless Netherworld pay back a hundredfold."
Only then did Yun Xinghe feel some solace at the death of his grandson.
"Let those jesters strut around for a few days. When Ling Chen makes his move, those lowly devils won't even have a chance to cry," Yun Xinghe said respectfully.
"Heh." Ling Chen looked toward the rolling mountains ahead, his gaze as deep and mysterious as that of a devil himself.
"My race, the human race, is the convergence of all daos. All other races, like demons, devils, ghosts, monsters, and spirits are inherently flawed. Born in the Nine Hells, my destiny is to exterminate all that is sinister and elevate our race to the pinnacle of the Heavenly Dao!" His lips curved slightly, his gaze domineering, "Devils? They're fit only to be slaves! They dare to contend with me for the Heavenly Land?"
"We are willing to follow you to death, Exile Ling!" Overseers Feng, Yun, and Shuang exclaimed, their eyes ablaze with a murderous fervor as they knelt.
"Heh." Ling Chen raised an eyebrow in amusement, then spoke softly, "I hear that the War Princess is quite the beauty and has a fiery figure?"
"Indeed! The War Princess is famously stunning in the Nine Hells. Such an exotic breed, tall and imposing, surely has its own allure," Feng Buhui knew exactly what Ling Chen wanted to hear.
"Tall and imposing you say?" Ling Chen leaned in, feigning curiosity.
Feng Buhui and Yun Xinghe, the two seasoned old-timers, found themselves a tad embarrassed. They could only chuckle awkwardly, thinking to themselves Indeed, a child of destiny like this one, his desires were boundless, far from the upright and noble sort.
Ling Chen burst into laughter suddenly, musing, "What do you think if I make that War Princess my servant? How would the lowly devils of the Endless Netherworld react?"
"They'd be frustrated and angry, but they'd have no choice but to kneel," Yun Xinghe said, his eyes blazing as he looked at Ling Chen. "Because this part of the Nine Hells will eventually belong to Exile Ling alone! Not just the War Princess, but the entire Endless Netherworld will be your servants!"
"That's a bit much." Ling Chen coughed, "Gentlemen, I was just joking, merely musing. Let's not get overly confident." With that, he took a deep breath. "One must eat their food one bite at a time. I need to finish the white rice before moving on to the larger, black and red rice, right?"
Hearing this, Feng Buhui and Yun Xinghe gave Ling Chen a thumbs-up, admiringly saying, "Well said, Exile Ling!"
Amidst an endless immortal road, clouds and mists swirled. Yun Xiao traversed the lofty clouds and mountains of the Sword Ruins, his clothes fluttering and long hair dancing in the wind.
Gazing into the distance, the vast landscape unfolded before himmajestic mountains, boundless sky clouds, countless sword mountains and seas stirring the soul, broadening ones horizon!
"It feels like my first step into Azure Spirit," Yun Xiao reflected. Both Azure Spirit and the Sword Ruins were nestled among towering peaks and deep valleys, magnificent and grand!
While the Sea of Swords and the Heavenly Realm were bustling with crowds, like a market of the immortal path, they lacked the freedom of the Sword Ruins, where one could soar freely through the skies, unchained and unrestrained!
In comparison, Yun Xiao found more joy in such vast and boundless realms.
As he weaved through the 999 sword peaks, a vast and boundless spirit arose in his heart. Even though his body double and the War Princess were busy in the Demon Continent, it didn't affect his grand state of mind at that moment. It was a will that could swallow the heavens!
"Exile Yun..." Suddenly, a soft, honeyed voice whispered near his ear.
Yun Xiao then opened his eyes and looked beside him, where a slender woman in a shimmering golden dress swirled around him like a golden fish, swimming through the heavens and earth, accompanying him.
Of course, this was no ordinary fish but one of grace and fullness.
"What is it?" Yun Xiao asked, his gaze fixed ahead, his heart as still as an ancient well.
"I've cultivated for decades, and among all I've encountered, Exile Yun stands unparalleled in stature, appearance, and demeanor. Gliding through the wind, you possess an ethereal air that even celestial beings in paintings can't match," Mu Dalong said earnestly, then slightly lowered her head. "These are just my thoughts. If they're too forward, I beg your pardon."
"Your praise is too generous, Senior. Physical appearance is but a superficial matter, unworthy of concern. For a Sword Cultivator, the sword is the true beauty," Yun Xiao replied.
"That's also true," Mu Dalong nodded slowly, secretly disagreeing with him. Beauty was beauty, and ugliness was ugliness. Most of the time, it didn't matter, but a man as dreamlike as a celestial being would naturally draw extra glances.
"Moreover, Senior Mu's beauty is like a blooming flower on the path of immortality. For me to behold such a sight is a fortune of three lifetimes," Yun Xiao complimented politely.
"You have a way with words!" Mu Dalong thought to herself, then slightly bowed her head. "I am already a wife and mother, my youth has passed, and my beauty faded... But to receive praise from Exile Yun still brings me joy."
Yun Xiao smiled slightly and said no more.
"We've arrived at the valley." Mu Dalong pointed ahead, and there, deep in the Sword Ruins, appeared a valley enveloped in a mist of Immortal energy. It was like a paradise, with swirling clouds, seas of flowers, forests of jade treesa haven hidden from the world.
"Where is this?" Yun Xiao inquired.
"This is the Valley of Ruins, a sacred site of the Sword Ruins. Its the blessed land where the Sword Warden cultivates and resides, where the spirit energy is richest. But now, my father is often busy elsewhere, leaving only myself and my daughter here. It's quiet with few people, ideal for Exile Yun's cultivation... Until the new Exile Palace is built, and you move there with some attendants, this place will become a bit livelier," Mu Dalong explained softly.
"No need to build a new Exile Palace. I like it here; I prefer the quiet," Red Moon, in Yun Xiao's arms, spoke up.
"Exile Yun knows ventriloquism?" Mu Dalong was a bit surprised.
"Yes, I like your big..." Red Moon began excitedly but was cut off midway as Yun Xiao plucked it out, slightly embarrassed, "Just idle chatter from a pet, please dont mind it, Senior."
"I see." Mu Dalong had only heard half of it, an odd expression on her face. She could tell that this Exiled Sword Immortal had a divine countenance, clearly a man of high taste, starkly different from Ling Chen in demeanor. How could his tastes be vulgar?
As the two chatted, they landed in the Valley of Ruins. Ahead appeared a secluded and elegant courtyard shrouded in mist, bearing a signboard named 'Mu-Mu Hut'.
"I'll familiarize myself with the place first. Then, I'd like it if you could be so kind as to guide me to the Ancestral Sword Tomb," Yun Xiao politely said.
"Alright." Mu Dalong nodded gracefully, then waved towards the direction of the Mu-Mu Hut, calling out softly.
"Xiaolong, stop sleeping, come out and meet Exile Yun."
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