Sovereign's Fury to Protect His Own, Sword Seal Startles the Immortals

The Sovereign of the Heavens let out a light chuckle, his tone casual, yet it boomed like thunder through the chaotic void of Zixiao Palace. Especially the last sentence, "Do not disturb the enlightenment and tranquility of fellow Daoists," carried an undeniable sword intent that, though not fully unleashed, made all the powerful beings present inwardly tremble.

Guangchengzi's face immediately turned extremely ugly, shifting from pale to flushed. As the foremost disciple of the Chan Sect and the most trusted disciple of the Primal Heavenly Lord, when had he ever been reprimanded so directly? Moreover, it was for a Human Race cultivator he utterly disdained, one with such low cultivation! A surge of shame and anger rushed to his head, making him almost lose control.

He subconsciously looked towards his Master, the Primal Heavenly Lord, hoping for some support or signal. However, the Primal Heavenly Lord's eyes were cast down, his expression as placid as an ancient well, as if the minor conflict had never happened, or as if he tacitly approved of the Sovereign of the Heavens' actions. Yet, the increasingly profound Dao Charm emanating from him, emphasizing order and rules, subtly indicated his displeasure. He simply found it inconvenient to personally argue with his junior brother given his status and the occasion.

Guangchengzi received silent approval, and also silent restraint. He understood that his Master would not completely fall out with his Uncle-Master, the Sovereign of the Heavens, at this moment. He could only swallow this insult for now. Forcing down his anger, he bowed again in the direction of the Sovereign of the Heavens, almost grinding out the words through clenched teeth, "Disciple... respectfully obeys Uncle-Master's teachings." With that, he sat down heavily, no longer looking towards the Jie Sect's area, but his clenched fists and slightly heaving chest revealed his extreme inner turmoil.

Within the Chan Sect's ranks, Chijingzi, Jade Cauldron True Person, and others also wore displeased expressions, their gazes towards the Jie Sect members growing colder. Meanwhile, figures like Cihang Daoren and Manjushri Guangfa Tianzun had more complex expressions, showing a mix of pity and helplessness.

On the other side, Di Jun and Tai Yi of the Demon Tribe exchanged a meaningful glance, both sporting faint, playful smiles. Among the Witch Tribe, the Ancestral Witches mostly grinned broadly, openly enjoying the spectacle. Zhu Rong, in particular, let out a low scoff, clearly relishing the Chan Sect's embarrassment. The Western duo, Jieyin and Zhunti, maintained their usual expressions of mingled sorrow and shrewdness, their thoughts unknown.

Empress Nuwa's gaze flickered, pausing briefly on Lin Xuan and the Sovereign of the Heavens, a hint of unnoticeable contemplation flashing in her eyes.

The Sovereign of the Heavens paid no mind to the reactions of the various parties; having spoken, his words were final. He swept his gaze over his disciples, his eyes lingering on Lin Xuan for a moment with a slight nod, conveying approval and reassurance. Then, he closed his eyes again, his sword intent receding, merging once more with the vast Dao Charm, as if everything that had just happened was merely a trivial interlude.

However, the instant he closed his eyes, perhaps to thoroughly intimidate the lesser beings, or perhaps moved by a thought, deep within Lin Xuan's sea of consciousness, the [Divine Ability Imprint·Azure Pine Sword Seal (Imitation)] obtained from the Jin'ao Island sign-in suddenly grew hot!

Hum!

A barely audible sword hum resonated from Lin Xuan's sea of consciousness, between his brows! An extremely faint, yet maximally condensed, azure radiance imbued with supreme Severing Heaven sword intent flashed and vanished from his brow. Though not truly activated, the supreme sharpness and the decisive Dao Charm of seizing life, originating from the Qingping Sword itself, that emanated in that instant quietly spread like ripples!

This wisp of Dao Charm was extremely weak; had it not been for the top-tier Great Sages of the Primordial Era present, it would have been almost imperceptible. But its location (on Lin Xuan), its utterly pure Jie Sect origin aura, and the trace of coexistence between destruction and new life that even they found heart-pounding, all proclaimed its origin—the manifestation of the will of the Sovereign of the Heavens' Saint-making treasure, the Qingping Sword!

What did this mean?

It meant that the Sovereign of the Heavens' regard for this individual far exceeded ordinary imagination! He had actually left such a precious protective sword seal on him! This was no longer simple appreciation; it was practically a declaration: this child is under my protection, the Sovereign of the Heavens. To touch him, one must consider whether they can withstand the edge of the Qingping Sword!

Guangchengzi, who had just suppressed his anger, felt that fleeting wisp of sword intent Dao Charm and his body stiffened abruptly. For the first time, true terror appeared in the depths of his eyes! He had initially thought Lin Xuan was merely a pawn the Sovereign of the Heavens had taken in on a whim, a clever but ultimately insignificant piece. He never expected him to be granted the Azure Pine Sword Seal! Although it was only the Dao Charm of an imitation, its symbolic meaning was immensely significant! This made him realize that his judgment of Lin Xuan might have been severely flawed; this child's position within the Jie Sect was likely extremely special and central!

Di Jun and Tai Yi's gazes sharpened, their playful expressions replaced by a hint of solemnity. They too felt the extraordinary nature of the sword seal and began to re-evaluate Lin Xuan's value and the internal dynamics of the Jie Sect. Among the Twelve Ancestral Witches, several with keen senses, like Di Jiang and Zhu Jiuyin, subtly turned their heads, paying more attention to Lin Xuan. Even the usually composed Laozi slightly raised an eyelid.

A wisp of sword seal Dao Charm, silent yet more potent than any sound.

It lacked earth-shattering momentum but was more deterrent than any words. It clearly told all those with ulterior motives: this Human Race cultivator named Xuanyuanzi is a red line drawn by the Sovereign of the Heavens. Any difficulty or malice directed at him could be seen as a provocation against the Jie Sect, and against the Sovereign of the Heavens himself!

Within Zixiao Palace, undercurrents still surged, but the undercurrent of doubt and disdain directed at Lin Xuan personally was forcefully smoothed over by this sudden sword intent. At least for now, no one dared to openly make a move.

Lin Xuan himself felt the anomaly of the Azure Pine Sword Seal in his sea of consciousness and the subtle shift in the atmosphere outside. A warmth welled up in his heart; the Sovereign of the Heavens' action undoubtedly provided him with the greatest possible protection and confidence. He took a deep breath, burying his gratitude in his heart, and his resolve to follow the Sovereign of the Heavens and pursue his own Dao path became even firmer.

He sat down cross-legged again, gazing at his nose, breathing through his nose, and focusing his mind. Utilizing the power of the "Enlightenment Cushion," he strove to re-immerse his consciousness into the vast ocean of Dao Charm. The previous crisis had, instead, made his state of mind more clear, dispelling all distracting thoughts.

The Sovereign's wrath, the sword seal startled the immortals. This storm, which had arisen because of him, was temporarily quelled by the Sovereign of the Heavens' strong protection of his disciple. Lin Xuan knew this was not the end, but he was no longer just an "auditing student" who could be looked down upon. With the Azure Pine Sword Seal on him, he possessed the qualification to continue forward on this highest stage of the Primordial Era, pursuing the Great Dao.

The Dao Ancestor Hongjun's indifferent and peaceful voice sounded again, continuing to expound the infinite and profound principles of the Great Dao. Within Zixiao Palace, silence returned, leaving only the eternal sound of the Dao.