Chapter 366: A Treasured Sword is Sharpened on the Grindstone!
The youth with golden eyes was without a doubt the strongest of the bunch!
Yun Xiao's gaze, with a flicker of peripheral vision, swept over the two beside him.
To the golden-eyed youth's left floated a boy in a silvery white robe, his demeanor clear and handsome, radiating the air of a noble son, pure and refined. Furthermore, his silver pupils added a touch of magnificent elegance.
What caught Yun Xiao's attention most was the silver moon sigil etched at the brow, signaling the youth as an Inscription Cultivator!
On the right stood another, merely a boy of twelve or thirteen, in a black and white sword robe. Despite his youth, his presence was piercing, with dark eyes hiding a sword's edge and a face of arrogance. His very being screamed Sword Cultivator!
"Brothers, each an Inscription Cultivator, a Sword Cultivator, and a Martial Cultivator?"
Such a trio was a novelty to Yun Xiao.
The brothers, clad in gold, silver, and black, bore on their chests a circular return character.
BUZZ! The moment they appeared, many eyes were drawn to the symbols on their chests.
A collective shudder ran through the crowd!
Led by the Sword Warden and the Netherworld Emperor, all present, as if struck by a sudden faith, knelt to the trio, chanting reverently, "We greet the Primordial Envoys!"
"Primordial Envoys?" Yun Xiao came to a realization. So, the folks from the Primordial Ruins had arrived. That was unexpected!
"Could it be they sensed the upheaval of the Nian from afar?" Yun Xiao pondered.
The Primordial Ruins, a mythical vessel sailing through countless worlds, was revered in the legends of the Nine Hells, with the Immortal Asylum under its dominion.
"Exile Yun"
As Yun Xiao mulled over these revelations, the Sword Warden gently nudged his robe, a question in his gaze.
He was uncertain, in a meeting of an Exiled Sword Immortal and Primordial Envoys, who held the higher esteem?
"Don't worry." Yun Xiao smiled lightly.
Clearly, the trio took note of Yun Xiao's refusal to kneel.
"Esteemed Primordial Envoys," Yun Xiao preempted their inquiry, "I am Yun Xiao, recently crowned champion of the Nine Hells Conquest Clash, and now the ruler of this realm."
"You're quite young," the golden-eyed youth remarked, his voice deep and resonant, like a bell that commanded attention.
The golden-eyed youth seemed to carry no airs about him, waving off the others with a gesture that suggested they needn't kneel.
"Did the trio of you catch wind of the Nian's stirrings?" Yun Xiao cut straight to the chase.
"Indeed. The Primordial Bell tolled, and we were summoned," the golden-eyed youth replied, turning to survey the Immortal Asylum with a calm gaze. "What's happened here?"
The crowd exchanged uneasy glances, none daring to speak up.
Yun Xiao ventured, "My guess? The Immortal Asylum's been neglected over the years, allowing the Nian to slip parts of itself out of its cage. It's been devouring cultivators here, masquerading as the asylum's master, and even kicked off the Nine Hells Conquest Clash early, pitting us against each other, all to make its escape easier... Luckily, we caught on and made our exit. But I reckon it's broken the Asylum's gates by now, and it might just set its sights on the mortal realm next, bringing calamity to the common folk."
He wisely omitted any mention of his own hand in vanquishing the Talisman Emperor and the like.
Before these beings, who tread even higher on the celestial ladder, making a show of his own prowess seemed rather pointless.
If he could direct these Primordial Envoys to handle the Nian, leaving each to their own, all the better.
"The mortal realm..." The golden-eyed youth's brow furrowed.
"Yun Xiao, can you vouch for the truth of your words?" the silver-eyed youth inquired in a melodious tone.
"They all can bear witness," Yun Xiao gestured towards Mu Tianjian and the others.
"We all can vouch," the Sword Warden chimed in, noticing Yun Xiao hadn't flaunted his status as an Exiled Sword Immortal, and so he followed suit, echoing Yun Xiao's sentiments.
With everyone's confirmation, the golden-eyed youth turned to his silver-eyed brother. "Second Brother, return to the Primordial Ruins at once and report this. This beast is cunning, with clones at play. We'll need our elders to step in."
"Understood." The silver-eyed youth nodded.
"And what shall we do, Big Brother?" The youngest, clad in black, looked around before approaching to ask.
"Let's confront the Nian, see what it's made of," the golden-eyed youth said with a determined look towards the Immortal Asylum.
"I'm in!" the young boy exclaimed eagerly.
"Yuan Jian, don't be reckless," the golden-eyed youth cautioned sternly.
"It's not recklessness," Yuan Jian replied with a serious glint in his eye. "Big Brother, you've always said the sword is honed on the grinding stone. I may be young, but without trials, how can I ever fulfill my ambitions or make a name in the way of the sword?"
"Let Yuan Jian have his way, Big Brother." The silver-eyed youth smiled indulgently at his youngest sibling.
The golden-eyed youth remained silent, turning to Yun Xiao instead. "I need a guide. You're it."
"Sure thing," Yun Xiao nodded, sensing the golden-eyed youth was the decisive, no-nonsense type. With his help, things might just go smoother.
"Big Brother," Yuan Jian glanced at Yun Xiao and made a face.
"What is it?" the golden-eyed youth inquired.
"Let's get a female guide. This'll bore us to death," Yuan Jian quipped with a mischievous grin.
"Who'd you fancy as a switch?" The silver-eyed youth lingered, not in a rush to leave, but asking with a chuckle instead.
Yuan Jian's gaze meandered through the crowd, eventually settling on the Phoenix Empress, his expression a mix of amusement and curiosity, "I'll take this bird."
"A phoenix lineage?" The golden-eyed youth was momentarily taken aback, but soon shook his head, advising Yuan Jian. "She's a tad old for you, not quite fitting."
"Big Brother, she's perfect," Yuan Jian wheedled, tugging at his sleeve in a playful plea.
"Alright then," the golden-eyed youth, unable to resist his persistence, conceded and turned to the silver-eyed lad. "Second brother, would you mind mending the phoenix?"
"With pleasure." The silver-eyed youth approached the Phoenix Empress, his smile warm as he gently lifted her arm, softly saying, "This might sting a bit, bear with me."
"Okay" The Phoenix Empress, taken aback by his amiable disposition, murmured in confusion, "My wounds are severe... healing won't be quick..."
No sooner had she finished speaking than the silver-eyed youth conjured a Life Sigil, shimmering with silver light, from his forehead.
"Over 50,000 Runes!"
A collective gasp rose from the many Inscription Cultivators present, their awe unmistakable.
The reverence in the eyes of the thousands present deepened at the sight of the young lad, who appeared even younger than Yun Xiao, likely around fifteen.
"Truly a being from the Primordial Ruins"
The sight of the silver Life Sigil left the crowd in awe.
"Is this all it takes to amaze them?" Yuan Jian muffled a laugh behind his hand.
"The celestial ladder has its highs and lows; born halfway up the mountain, what right do you have to mock those at its base?" the golden-eyed youth scolded with a glance.
"Got it!" Yuan Jian nodded, a trace of defiance flickering in his eyes.
As they were speaking, the silver-eyed youth's Life Sigil affixed itself to the Phoenix Empress's arm. He took her delicate hand gently, lifting it as silver light cascaded down her limb, enveloping it completely.
At first, the pain whitened her complexion, beads of sweat forming on her forehead. But soon, her expression morphed into one of astonished relief, murmuring, "It's truly healed!"
"All better?" The silver-eyed youth let go, his smile asking the question.
"A miracle! My thanks to the Primordial Envoy..." the Phoenix Empress was still a bit dazed.
"Such are the feats of Immortals!"
The crowd of humans, devils, and demons around them couldn't help but marvel.
Their gaze towards the trio of Primordial Envoys warmed even further.
Among them, some Inscription Cultivators and Yang Devils shot Yun Xiao peculiar looks, clearly itching to spill the beans.
With these three around, it seemed Yun Xiao's heroics might no longer be required in the Nine Hells.
"This scoundrel fleeced us of over 100 million Immortal Jades!"
The more some thought about it, the angrier they got.
Then, after bidding farewell to his brothers, the silver-eyed youth ascended, stepping into a moonbeam that whisked him into the sky, disappearing from sight.
"Birdie, you're coming with us!" Yuan Jian, chuckling, tugged the Phoenix Empress along.
"I..."
The youngest brother's gaze sent a shiver down the Phoenix Empress' spine.
She glanced at Yun Xiao.
Yun Xiao, with a smile, said nothing.
"Primordial Envoys, please." In a huff, the Phoenix Empress led the two remaining envoys into the Immortal Asylum...
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