Time never stopped, flowing like water. In the blink of an eye, two years had passed. Su Chen had lived at his leisure during those two years, spending most of his time in the courtyard and occasionally visiting Qin An.
The Demon Venerable had also successfully broken through to the Quasi-Emperor realm during those two years. That strand of Primordial purple Qi had brought him straight to the peak of the Ninth Level of the Quasi-Emperor realm. Not only that, but his cultivation aptitude had also improved tremendously.
His improved aptitude would allow him to travel farther on the path of immortal cultivation in the future. He had been especially excited at the time, saying again and again how right his choice back then had been.
After lunch, the sunlight was warm and gentle. Su Chen lay in a wicker chair, enjoying the peaceful moment.
Not far from him, Ye Lingxi was swinging a longsword. Her blade darted around her like a swimming dragon. At times she was as light as a swallow, rising with a flick of her sword; at others she was as swift as lightning, scattering fallen leaves in all directions.
Just then, her eyes sharpened, and she shot into the sky as the cultivation of the peak of the Ninth Level of the Saint Realm erupted from her! Then she thrust her sword fiercely at the heavens.
Boom!
The might of her sword intent swept across a thousand li, and the surrounding space began to boil. Carrying an invincible force, her sword tore the entire sky apart.
Strangely, everyone in the Su Clan merely glanced at the sky before paying it no further attention, as though they had long since grown accustomed to it.
Ye Lingxi stood in the air with her hands behind her back, holding the Fallen Phoenix Sword. She glanced at the sky she had torn apart with a single strike, and a trace of dissatisfaction flashed through her eyes.
Lowering her head, she murmured, "Why do I always feel like something is missing?"
After a moment of silence, she descended to the ground, walked over to Su Chen, and began massaging his shoulders.
A smile touched Su Chen's lips, and he opened his eyes. "If you have something to say, say it."
Ye Lingxi grinned. "Brother, how did you know I had something to ask?"
Su Chen shook his head with a smile. "If you didn't, you wouldn't be massaging my shoulders."
Ye Lingxi's face reddened, and she looked embarrassed.
Su Chen smiled. "Go on, what is it?"
Ye Lingxi said, "I always feel like my sword is missing something, but I don't know what it is. Do you know, brother?"
Su Chen said bluntly, "You lack combat."
"Combat?"
Ye Lingxi was puzzled.
Su Chen nodded. "Since you began cultivating, you've never truly fought a battle, nor have you ever experienced a life-and-death fight against someone in the same realm. If you fought someone, you would only use your own strength blindly, without any technique at all."
"If you encountered someone in the same realm with plenty of combat experience, there would be only one outcome: defeat! What you lack now is combat experience. You have to fight and learn from your battles and your shortcomings."
"Only then will your sword Dao be more complete. You can't just stay in the courtyard swinging your sword. That's no use."
After listening to Su Chen, Ye Lingxi stood there in silence. After a while, she asked, "Then who should I fight? The heavenly prides of the Su Clan?"
Su Chen shook his head. "If you fought the younger generation of the Su Clan, they certainly wouldn't go all out. A fight like that would be meaningless."
Ye Lingxi's face fell. "Then what should I do?"
Just then, a figure appeared in the courtyard. It was the Demon Venerable. He respectfully bowed to Su Chen, then said, "Young Master, someone just came to invite you to the Heavenly Pride Gathering."
Su Chen said calmly, "Tell me about it."
The Demon Venerable said, "The Heavenly Pride Gathering was established by a monstrous genius from a forbidden force. Her name is Yun Yao. Every year, she invites all the heavenly prides and monstrous geniuses of the Immortal Realm to attend."
"The gathering is mainly for heavenly prides to spar. Whoever takes first place receives some rewards from Yun Yao."
After listening, Su Chen's lips curved slightly.
This Heavenly Pride Gathering has come at just the right time.
He looked at Ye Lingxi. "Let's go. This Heavenly Pride Gathering will give you a chance to have a good fight."
Several days later, in the Southern Province.
Today, countless heavenly prides and monstrous geniuses had flocked to the Southern Province, all to attend the Heavenly Pride Gathering!
Many heavenly prides and monstrous geniuses had gathered in a vast courtyard, where they were chatting and laughing.
"I heard Wu Mingxiao is coming this time too."
"Wu Mingxiao! He's an extraordinary figure. Rumor has it he's already broken through to the Sixth Level of the Saint Realm, and he once faced three Great Saint Realm experts at the same time without being defeated!"
"He really is terrifying, but I've heard that many heavenly prides from High Antiquity have recently burst onto the scene. Their strength is utterly terrifying. Even Wu Mingxiao would give them a wide berth."
As everyone was talking, a woman slowly walked into the courtyard. She had a graceful figure, a face like jade, and skin as smooth as cream. Clad in a long purple dress, she exuded nobility from head to toe.
"Miss Yun!"
Upon seeing her, the heavenly prides in the courtyard bowed one after another, their eyes burning with eagerness.
Yun Yao nodded without speaking. She went to the seat of honor and sat down, then closed her eyes to rest.
After a while, a man walked in. He wore a red robe and had hair as black as ink. His build was massive, more than twice the size of an ordinary person, making him look like a giant.
"Wu Mingxiao is here!"
Everyone recognized the man.
Wu Mingxiao ignored them. He walked up to Yun Yao and smiled. "Long time no see."
Yun Yao slowly opened her eyes and glanced at Wu Mingxiao. A trace of disgust flashed through her eyes, but it vanished in an instant. She nodded, then closed her eyes again.
Seeing this, Wu Mingxiao's expression darkened somewhat, but he said nothing more and sat down beside Yun Yao.
Yun Yao frowned with her eyes still closed, but said nothing.
Time passed quickly, and an hour went by in the blink of an eye. During that time, many heavenly prides arrived one after another.
Just then, a white-robed man and a little girl walked into the courtyard. The man had a handsome face and eyes that held the stars. Like a drifting cloud in the wind, he was graceful and light, and his transcendent bearing as he walked drew the gazes of the heavenly prides present.
The little girl had a delicate, petite face. Most beautiful of all were her clear, limpid eyes, which resembled stars.
Their arrival immediately drew the attention of every heavenly pride. They studied the pair curiously, seemingly wondering who they were.
Just then, a male heavenly pride seemed to recognize the man and cried out, "It's Su Chen, the Divine Son of a forbidden force!"
"What! It's him!"
At those words, everyone present erupted into an uproar. They looked at Su Chen, fear in their eyes.
They knew what Su Chen had done at Yingtian Academy.
Rumor had it that he was ruthless and vicious, killing anyone who displeased him-a killing god who could kill without batting an eye.
Yun Yao opened her eyes and smiled sweetly at Su Chen. "Young Master Su, little sister, sit here."
As she spoke, she pointed to two seats beside her.
Watching from the side, Wu Mingxiao's eyes gradually turned cold. He glanced at Su Chen, and killing intent surfaced in his eyes.
Just then, Su Chen looked at Wu Mingxiao, his eyes as calm as still water.
Squelch!
A flash of sword light swept across the courtyard. Wu Mingxiao's eyes widened, filled with confusion, unwillingness, and fear.