You disturbed my sleep

Dawn light had just begun to seep through, yet the mountain gate of Eastern Xuan Academy was already thronged with people, disciples from every peak gathered here.

The Sword Testing Platform, usually shrouded in spiritual energy, was today enveloped by a solemn atmosphere.

"This is... the Nangong Family from Central Continent has arrived!"

"The one at the bow... that's Nangong Yan of the Burning Heaven Sword Body! The younger brother of Nangong Huo, ranked two hundred fiftieth on the Heavenly Pride Ranking's Earth Tier! Why is he here?!"

"No idea. But I heard he's supposedly the fiancé of that junior sister Mu Qingxue!"

"What? He's the nominal fiancé of Fairy Qingxue?"

"Shh, keep your voice down! The Nangong Family holds great power; even the academy's elders might not dare to provoke them..."

The murmurs surged like a tide, but abruptly ceased when a single figure appeared.

On the eastern side of the Sword Testing Platform, Mu Qingxue stood tall and proud in a plain white sword robe, her posture as steady as a pine.

Her features were cold as snow, her brows carrying an unyielding sword intent.

The Wuchen Sword at her waist trembled, the frost at its hilt melting visibly, as if something was devouring its cold aura.

Mu Qingxue lifted her gaze toward the clouds.

There, a massive gilded warship, like a floating mountain, slowly approached.

The hull bore a family crest—the Nangong Family of Central Continent!

On the warship's deck, a crimson flame vortex suddenly exploded. A Flame Dragon Phantom coiled and spiraled, forming a staircase of fire.

A young man in a Dark Brocade Robe stepped down through the flames, one step at a time.

Each step left a scorched black footprint on the Azure Jade Slab. The Yan Pattern embroidered on his robe with Golden Thread flowed with his movement, as if flames burned within.

The young man's features were handsome, but half his face was covered by a hideous Flame Fire Ghost Mask. From the mask's cracks, magma-like Blood Light seeped out, sending chills down the spine.

"Little sister Qingxue." Nangong Yan stopped ten zhang away from Mu Qingxue, his voice teasing, thick with greed.

"My clan's ancestor once did your Mu Family a favor, but it seems you've forgotten.

"You even defied your Mu Family elders and ran off to this Eastern Xuan Academy. Did you think that would stop my Nangong Family?

"According to our agreement, today should have been our wedding day."

From his wide sleeve, a Marriage Contract slipped out, radiating an ancient and powerful aura.

"But you've been disobedient. I won't force you. So today, I grant you a battle.

"If you win, this contract is void. But if you lose..." He paused, a sinister smirk curling at the corner of his mouth.

"Then you'll obediently return to the Nangong Family with me, as my concubine."

At these words, the crowd erupted!

When had a prodigy of the Eastern Wasteland Domain ever suffered such humiliation? This was a blatant provocation to the entire Eastern Xuan Academy!

Below the Sword Testing Platform, a handsome young man slammed the table and stood, shouting in anger: "Hey, that Nangong guy! Mu Qingxue is our academy's newly promoted Core Disciple! Acting like this, you clearly don't hold Eastern Xuan Academy in any regard! Wait until our academy's elder—"

"Annoying." Nangong Yan didn't even glance at him, merely flicked a finger.

A wisp of Burning Heaven Purple Fire turned into a chain, instantly binding that disciple to his seat, immobile.

The crowd fell silent.

Hadn't they just seen that somewhat skilled senior brother unable to withstand even a single move?

"Enough. I accept. Release him, and we'll settle this on the Sword Testing Platform." Mu Qingxue frowned, her Spiritual Power surging.

It was the Xing Yuan Realm Peak!

"Fine. But first, I'll collect a little interest as compensation for the mental anguish your Mu Family has caused this young master." Nangong Yan's eye twitched slightly, then his gaze grew bolder, lingering on Mu Qingxue with even more amusement.

He suddenly raised his hand and clenched it in the air.

At Mu Qingxue's waist, a crystal-clear Jade Pendant shattered with a sound. Inside the pendant, a Blood Jade carved with the characters "Nangong" was hidden.

This Blood Jade emitted an eerie light, as if alive, pulsating.

The Wuchen Sword slid three inches from its sheath, unleashing a burst of biting cold. Yet the frost spread only three zhang before halting, unable to advance further.

Mu Qingxue's face turned pale as paper. She could clearly feel her sword intent being devoured by that Blood Jade.

This was the power of that Bloodline Contract—once activated, it was impossible to resist.

She should have known...

How could Nangong Yan come without preparation?

Even that earlier Burning Heaven Purple Fire was likely a gift from his brother, Nangong Huo.

"Pretty big sister, your sword seems to be crying."

Just then, a clear, youthful voice rang out abruptly.

Beside Mu Qingxue, a white-robed youth had appeared without anyone noticing. At his feet, a strange Green Lotus Phantom of indistinct shape slowly bloomed, radiating a hazy glow.

The youth yawned, a carefree smile on his handsome face.

This youth was none other than Xuanyuan Che.

Nangong Yan's pupils abruptly constricted. He and Mu Qingxue were both at the Star Ridge peak level, yet they couldn't see through this clearly young boy who wasn't even that old!

Most importantly, this kid's face made him extremely, extremely displeased.

Extremely displeased!

In his palm, Burning Heaven Purple Fire surged, condensing into a flaming longsword that pointed at Xuanyuan Che: "Where did this wild brat come from, daring to meddle in my Nangong family's affairs?"

Just then, Wuchen Sword suddenly unsheathed itself half a foot, its ringing cry like a phoenix soaring through the nine heavens, clear and stirring.

Mu Qingxue felt the Sword Bone within her resonating with Wuchen Sword. A sword intent that had lain dormant for years slowly awakened, like spring snow melting away.

This sword intent was vast and majestic, sharp and unmatched—it was the Guixu Sword Intent she had painstakingly sought for years!

Only Xuanyuan Che knew this anomaly was no coincidence. The seed had been planted the very day he entered the academy!

"It seems this lady's sword prefers me more," Xuanyuan Che said with a smile, snapping his fingers.

Within Nangong Yan's sleeve, the Burning Heaven Sword Array that had just taken shape instantly froze, turning into a block of ice.

He strolled over to Mu Qingxue's side, reached out, and took her jade hand. A strand of chaotic energy turned into a thin veil, gently covering the Betrothal Jade Pendant. Watching this, the flames in Nangong Yan's eyes burned even brighter.

The Blood Jade, which had been pulsing, suddenly quieted, as if sealed away.

"The Sword Devouring Gu has already been raised to the eighth turn, hasn't it? Swallow three more Sword Souls, and it can evolve into the Supreme Devouring Gu... What a well-laid scheme." Xuanyuan Che's voice was soft and calm, yet carried a wisdom that saw through everything.

Nangong Yan's expression finally changed. Blood flames shot three feet from his blood-red pupils beneath the ghost mask, his voice hoarse: "Nonsense! This is an agreement between my Nangong family and the Mu..."

"Three hundred years ago, the massacre of the Sword Pavilion in the Eastern Wasteland Domain." Xuanyuan Che cut him off, tapping his temple as if recalling something. "Seven hundred sword cultivator corpses, each with a gnawing mark over the heart—shall I summon the Myriad Gu Records from the Heavenly Machine Pavilion to compare them one by one?"

"A sharp-tongued brat." Nangong Yan suddenly smiled eerily. Seven crimson flying swords materialized from the void, their tips aimed at Xuanyuan Che. "Once I extract your Sword Bone, let's see if you can still..."

"You disturbed my sleep.

"I am very displeased."

Xuanyuan Che interrupted. The entire Sword Testing Platform fell into absolute silence.

Whoosh! Whoosh!

Xuanyuan Che's figure flickered three times through the gaps in space and time.

Each flicker was accompanied by the blooming of a strange Green Lotus.

When the third Green Lotus bloomed, the Purple Gold Crown binding Nangong Yan's hair was already in Xuanyuan Che's hand.

"Burning Heaven Sword Body?" Xuanyuan Che toyed with the Purple Gold Crown in his hand, sneering disdainfully. "I think it'd be better to rename it the Stove Burning Sword Body—at least it could still light a fire for cooking."

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