A Blessing to Have You, Turmoil in the Lower Realm

"My Azure Luan possesses Sword Bone; she will surely be the hope of the Li Clan in the future," the father said, stroking his beard and smiling.

"Sister, you're amazing! Everyone says you're a future sword immortal!" The younger sister exclaimed excitedly, holding up her Wooden Sword.

"As expected of Miss, the hope of the Eighth Seal of the Li Clan." The elder praised with a smile.

Countless voices mingled, all saying that she would be the future hope of the Li Clan, the future sword immortal, and would represent the Li Clan.

Until that day, the Old Ancestor issued a summons.

Instead of the expected praise, a marriage certificate arrived.

"Find some time to go and see Qin Wangchuan."

Young Li Qingluan stood frozen in disbelief.

"Old Ancestor ..." her voice tightened, "Didn't you say that I am the hope of the Li Clan?"

The Old Ancestor's expression remained unchanged. "Even after you marry into the Li family, you will still be a member of the Li Clan."

"But—" She looked up abruptly, a flicker of panic in her eyes, "This is different! I still need to study Sword Dao, I've sworn to dedicate everything to the Li Clan, and I still need to deduce Sword Seals..."

"I... I!"

"Azure Luan," the Old Ancestor interrupted her, his tone leaving no room for argument, "This is what you should do for the Li Clan."

"That young man possesses extraordinary talent, and his appearance and demeanor are both Higher Vehicle. Even within the entire Imperial Clan, he would be a top figure—a marriage agreement like this is something countless people would beg for."

At that moment, Li Qingluan suddenly felt the sword in her hand weigh as heavy as a thousand pounds.

"Old Ancestor..." her voice was so soft it was almost inaudible, "What I wanted... was never a life of being a wife and mother..."

"What I want is to roam the world with a sword, to pursue the ultimate Sword Dao..."

"This is not a discussion; everything is for the sake of the Lineage." The Old Ancestor lifted his eyelids and unilaterally ended the conversation.

"But I'm also cultivating diligently for the sake of my Lineage..." Li Qingluan's voice began to tremble, "Why... why does it have to be me?"

Suddenly, Deathly Stillness fell over the surroundings.

"Because--"

Another "Li Qingluan" emerged from the darkness, her fingertips lightly lifting her chin. "You're not ruthless enough."

"Because he wasn't ruthless enough, his Lineage discarded him like a stinky rag."

"You kept saying you were the hope, that the future depended on me, but what was the result?"

As this "Li Qingluan" spoke, her eyes gleamed with bloodlust, and her voice was as chilling and piercing as a drawn sword. "Since the Lineage doesn't want you... then kill you!"

"No..." Li Qingluan staggered backward, only to crash into a circle of herself.

Some of them were crying, some were laughing, and some were pressing the tip of a sword against their father's throat, screaming wildly.

"Didn't you say I was the hope?" she demanded sharply. "Then why are you betraying me now!"

"By what right—" another woman pointed her sword at the Old Ancestor, "You've decided my life on your own?"

Another woman even pressed the tip of a sword against her sister's throat, demanding sharply, "Your talent is far inferior to mine, so why wasn't it you who sacrificed yourself for the Lineage?"

"Kill!"

"Kill!"

"Kill!"

As she looked around, Li Qingluan suddenly noticed that her hand was moving.

She looked down and saw that she also had a sword in her hand.

The sword reflected her blood-stained face, which, like the other "Li Qingluan," wore a cold smile.

"Aren't you glad it wasn't you who got married!" she heard herself say.

The sword pierced through her sister's throat, and blood splattered onto her face.

The younger sister's pupils suddenly dilated, her hands futilely clawing at her neck, a gurgling sound of blood and froth coming from her throat.

"Kill!"

"Kill!"

With each sound, another corpse appeared before them.

They either begged for mercy or expressed remorse, but Li Qingluan showed no mercy.

On the contrary, I felt only joy!

Li Qingluan could no longer tell whether she was watching or chopping.

The air was filled with countless shouts of "Kill!" and with each shout, a sword pierced a body.

Blood stained her vision as she mechanically swung and sheathed her sword, as if this body no longer belonged to her.

When the last member of the tribe fell, the whole world seemed to be filled only with the sound of dripping blood.

Even after everyone was killed, the sounds still echoed in his ears, growing even more frenzied.

"Kill! Kill! Kill!"

The sound of Blood Bead dripping from the sword tip created an eerie resonance with the shouts of battle.

"It's all his fault..." Whispers came from all directions, slithering into her ears like venomous snakes, "It's all that person's fault..."

"Who is it?" Li Qingluan looked around blankly, blood still dripping from the blade of her sword.

In the instant she looked up, she saw five-year-old Qin Wangchuan standing in a pool of blood.

He gazed at her silently, his eyes showing neither fear nor anger.

She drew her sword and strode forward, placing the blade against his neck.

"It's all your fault..." she heard herself say, her voice terribly hoarse, "As long as you're dead..."

The blade pressed into the flesh, and blood trickled down the blade.

Li Qingluan's sword penetrated another half inch, and blood had already stained Qin Wangchuan's clothes red.

She was now blinded by rage, her memory was fragmented, and only one thought remained in her mind—kill!

But... his calm, still eyes were so unsettling.

"Beg for mercy!" she suddenly screamed, the sword trembling as it sliced a deeper wound into Qin Wangchuan's neck. "Cry and beg for mercy like them!"

"Beg for mercy!"

Li Qingluan repeated it again.

"No need." Qin Wangchuan remained standing quietly, his voice as calm as still water, a mocking laugh escaping his slit throat, "Because—"

"Li Qingluan is very gentle."

Li Qingluan is very gentle.

These words were like a blunt knife, slashing sharply into Li Qingluan's consciousness.

She was stunned.

The sword was still pressed against Qin Wangchuan's neck, Blood Bead rolled down the blade, but the frenzied shouts of "Kill!" suddenly faltered for a moment.

Gentle?

How did this word get involved with me?

Hope, genius, sword immortal—these are the words that should be used to describe her.

But it does sound familiar...

Where?

Fragments of memory suddenly surged forth.

The signboard was charred black.

Half a broken wall amidst the ashes.

A boy playing with wild grass like a child... Who is he?

"No, that's not my memory..."

"Should I be at the Li Clan right now...?"

The long sword in Li Qingluan's hand fell to the ground with a clang.

She staggered back two steps, her pupils trembling violently.

Those fragments of memory, blurred by blood, flashed before my eyes like a revolving lantern—

Amidst the ruins of the Han Clan, they merely offered him a few words of comfort.

The boy suddenly turned to look at her, smiled, and said, "You're so gentle."

That was the first time I'd heard such a comment.

"I... I remember..." Her voice seemed to be squeezed out from a broken throat, each word carrying the scent of blood and foam.

"Qin Wangchuan!"

Li Qingluan screamed instinctively and stumbled forward.

She gripped his collar tightly, held him close to her, and kept calling his name.

"Qin Wangchuan Qin Wangchuan Qin Wangchuan-- "

The hoarse shouts, mixed with the sound of teeth chattering, grew more urgent and broken with each breath.

Until finally it all turned into meaningless sobs.

Qin Wangchuan's body gradually became transparent between her tightening arms, turning into wisps of Black Mist that flowed through her fingers.

His face still held that calm smile, his voice as soft as a wisp of smoke drifting into her ear:

"It's time to wake up."

Li Qingluan collapsed to the ground, trembling as she held the last wisp of dissipating Black Mist in her hands, her fingertips carefully cupping it as if she were holding the most precious treasure in the world.

"Thank you..." Her voice was so soft it was almost inaudible, with an unprecedented gentleness, "Thank you."

In that instant, Li Qingluan suddenly understood—

Why is it that in this Heavenly Gate Illusion Realm filled with distortion and slaughter, only Qin Wangchuan remains unchanged?

Because... I only have good memories of being with him.

"Qin Wangchuan... it's so good to have you..."

The mist swirled in her palm, eventually dissipating as starlight.

The corpses of those slaughtered tribesmen now lay scattered like sand paintings blown away by the wind, peeling away and disappearing one by one.

The entire blood-red world began to collapse, leaving only Li Qingluan's kneeling figure and the lingering cool touch in her palm.

The next moment

The Heavenly Gate opened, and the Great Dao Bell tolled.

Li Qingluan – Entering the Celestial Being Realm!

Just as the Ten Directions Immortal Court was embroiled in the turmoil of the Celestial Being Realm.

Lower Thousand Provinces, Canglan Sea Realm.

The Wen Dao Palace is facing its greatest crisis in history.

Great Power of Upper Realm Lower Realm to seize treasures!