The Sovereign of the Heavens gave a soft chuckle. His tone was calm, yet the sound rang through the chaotic void of Zixiao Palace like a thunderclap. His final words in particular—"Do not disturb the other fellow Daoists' tranquil cultivation"—carried a stern, unquestionable sword intent. Though he had yet to reveal its full force, every mighty figure present felt their hearts tighten.
Guangchengzi's face instantly turned ghastly, flushing green, then white. As the Chan Sect's senior disciple and the most trusted disciple of the Primal Heavenly Lord, when had he ever been reprimanded to his face like this? And all for the sake of a lowly Human Race cultivator whom he looked down on! Humiliation and fury surged through him, nearly beyond his control.
He instinctively looked to his master, the Primal Heavenly Lord, hoping for some support or signal. Yet the Primal Heavenly Lord's eyes were lowered, his expression as still as an ancient well. It was as if the minor clash had never happened—or as if he tacitly approved of the Sovereign of the Heavens' handling of it. Only the increasingly weighty Dao Charm around him, emphasizing order and rules, hinted at his displeasure. Given his status and the setting, however, he could hardly step in and argue with his junior brother himself.
Guangchengzi received silent approval, and silent restraint. He understood that his master would not fall out completely with his uncle at this moment. He could only swallow his anger for now. Forcing down his fury, he bowed once more toward the Sovereign of the Heavens and gritted out, "This disciple... will heed your teachings, Uncle." Then he sat down heavily and looked no more toward the Interception Sect. But his clenched fists and heaving chest betrayed the turmoil within him.
Chijingzi, Jade Cauldron True Person, and the others in the Chan Sect camp all wore sour expressions, their gazes toward the Interception Sect disciples growing colder. Cihang Daoren, Manjushri Guangfa Tianzun, and the others looked more conflicted, as if torn between sympathy and helplessness.
On the other side, Di Jun and Tai Yi exchanged a meaningful glance, faint amusement curling at the corners of their mouths. The Ancestral Witches, meanwhile, grinned broadly, making no effort to hide how much they enjoyed the spectacle. Zhu Rong in particular let out a quiet snicker, clearly pleased to see the Chan Sect suffer a setback. In the West, Jieyin and Zhunti still wore expressions mingling sorrow with shrewdness; no one could tell what they were plotting.
Empress Nuwa's gaze shifted between Lin Xuan and the Sovereign of the Heavens, and a faint trace of contemplation flickered in her eyes.
The Sovereign of the Heavens paid no attention to the reactions around him. Once he had spoken, there could be no question of his decision. His gaze swept over his disciples, lingering for a moment on Lin Xuan. He gave a slight nod, both approving and reassuring. Then he closed his eyes again, his sword intent fading as he merged once more with the vast Dao Charm, as though everything that had just happened were no more than a trivial interlude.
Yet the instant his eyes closed, perhaps to cow the lesser beings once and for all, or perhaps on a mere impulse, the [Divine Ability Imprint Pine Sword Seal (Replica)] that Lin Xuan had obtained through a sign-in at Jin'ao Island suddenly grew scorching hot in the depths of his sea of consciousness!
Humm!
A nearly imperceptible sword hum rang out from the sea of consciousness between Lin Xuan's brows! An exceedingly faint yet supremely condensed streak of azure light flashed from his brow and vanished. It had not truly been activated, but the peerless sharpness that radiated from it in that instant—the very essence of the Qingping Sword—and its resolute Dao Charm of seizing a chance for survival spread silently like ripples across water!
The wisp of Dao Charm was so faint that, were those present not among the greatest powers of the Primordial World, they would hardly have noticed it. But its origin—Lin Xuan himself—its utterly pure Interception Sect Origin Aura, and the mingled destruction and renewal within it, which made even them shudder, all pointed to its source: the manifested will of the Qingping Sword, the Sovereign of the Heavens' sacred treasure.
What did this mean?
It meant that the Sovereign of the Heavens valued this young man far more than anyone could have imagined. He had even left him such a precious protective sword seal! This went beyond simple appreciation. It was nearly a declaration: This man is under my protection. If you touch him, consider whether you can bear the edge of the Qingping Sword!
Guangchengzi had only just managed to suppress his anger when he felt that fleeting sword intent and Dao Charm. His body stiffened, and for the first time, genuine terror appeared deep in his eyes. He had assumed Lin Xuan was merely a clever pawn the Sovereign of the Heavens had taken in on a whim. He had never imagined that he would be granted an Azure Pine Sword Seal! Though it was only the Dao Charm of a replica, its symbolic significance was immense. Guangchengzi realized that his judgment of Lin Xuan might have been severely mistaken. Lin Xuan's place within the Interception Sect was likely highly unusual—and central.
Di Jun and Tai Yi's gazes sharpened, their amusement replaced by a hint of gravity. They had sensed the sword seal's extraordinary nature as well, and began reassessing Lin Xuan's value and the state of affairs within the Interception Sect. Among the Twelve Ancestral Witches, several with especially keen senses, such as Di Jiang and Zhu Jiuyin, turned their gazes toward Lin Xuan, watching him more closely. Even Laozi, who had remained indifferent, lifted his eyelids slightly.
A wisp of sword-seal Dao Charm spoke louder than words.
It made no earth-shaking display, yet it was more intimidating than any declaration. It plainly told everyone with ulterior motives that this Human Race cultivator, Xuanyuanzi, was a line the Sovereign of the Heavens had drawn. Any attempt to trouble or harm him could be taken as a provocation against the Interception Sect—and against the Sovereign of the Heavens himself!
The undercurrents in Zixiao Palace continued to surge, but the undercurrent of doubt and contempt directed at Lin Xuan was forcefully quelled by this sudden sword intent. At least for now, no one dared openly make trouble.
Lin Xuan himself felt the disturbance of the Azure Pine Sword Seal in his sea of consciousness, as well as the subtle shift in the atmosphere around him. Warmth welled up in his heart. The Sovereign of the Heavens' gesture had undoubtedly given him the greatest possible protection and confidence. He drew a deep breath, burying his gratitude within him, and resolved more firmly than ever to follow the Sovereign of the Heavens and pursue his own path.
He sat cross-legged once more, eyes fixed on his nose, nose fixed on his heart. With the help of the Enlightenment Cushion, he worked to sink his mind back into the boundless ocean of Dao Charm. The danger he had faced had only made his mind clearer, washing away every distracting thought.
The Sovereign of the Heavens' fury startled the immortals; his sword seal drove them back. The uproar that had begun because of Lin Xuan was temporarily quelled by the Sovereign of the Heavens' forceful defense of his own. Lin Xuan knew this was not the end, but he was no longer a "mere spectator" whom anyone could look down on. With the Azure Pine Sword Seal upon him, he had earned the right to keep moving forward on the highest stage of the Primordial World and seek the Great Dao.
The Dao Ancestor Hongjun's calm, detached voice sounded again, continuing his lecture on the boundless, profound principles of the Great Dao. Zixiao Palace returned to silence, with only the eternal sound of the Dao remaining.
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