What a coincidence this was.
He had just saved someone from the Jade Balance Sword Palace, and Heavenly Venerable Yunli happened to awaken right then. Quite the coincidence, wasn't it?
"Huh? P-Palace Master...?"
Chen Xiong looked at Heavenly Venerable Yunli in bewilderment and disbelief, somewhat dazed.
Paying his respects was a trifling matter. Never mind bowing-he would gladly kowtow. She had saved his life, after all.
But where had this talk of a palace master come from?
He had never seen the palace master of the Jade Balance Sword Palace since joining the sect. He did not even know whether this supposed palace master really existed, nor did he dare presumptuously ask Deputy Palace Master Han Yue.
Now someone had suddenly appeared, claiming to be the palace master of the Jade Balance Sword Palace? How could he believe that?
Beside him, Heavenly Venerable Yunli had already understood what had happened after Qu Youmeng quietly explained.
She had no intention of making things difficult for Chen Xiong either. Smiling, she raised her hand and tossed him a jade token.
"Do you recognize this?"
As the jade token flew out, Chen Xiong hastily caught it. When he saw its appearance clearly, his pupils dilated!
He was all too familiar with this jade token!
The token at Deputy Palace Master Han Yue's waist was similar to this one, but the patterns on this token were even more elaborate and distinguished.
He carefully sent a strand of spiritual power inside. Upon sensing the familiar spiritual power patterns within the token, along with the unique presence of the Jade Balance Sword Palace, he no longer had any doubts!
"Chen Xiong, Second Elder of the Jade Balance Sword Palace, pays his respects to the Palace Master!"
Without hesitation, Chen Xiong offered a deep salute, his heart brimming with excitement.
This peerlessly beautiful fairy before him really was their Jade Balance Sword Palace's palace master, whose name he had always heard but whose face he had never seen!
He was so excited that even his voice trembled. Before he could think of what to say, a force he could not resist slowly lifted him, stopping him from kneeling.
Chen Xiong looked up in astonishment, only to see Heavenly Venerable Yunli slowly withdrawing her slender hand.
Heavenly Venerable Yunli gently shook her head. "There is no need to kneel to me. Stand and speak."
Looking at the token cupped in Chen Xiong's hands, a warmth of reminiscence flickered through Heavenly Venerable Yunli's eyes.
At first, she had never intended to develop the Jade Balance Sword Palace into any particularly powerful force. She had not given Han Yue much guidance, let alone resources.
Only Han Yue likely knew the hardships and difficulties involved in developing the Jade Balance Sword Palace to its current standing as one of the Heron Empire's seven great sects.
Meanwhile, Chen Xiong was even more shaken.
Not only was the palace master as beautiful as a celestial fairy, but her cultivation... faced with that power, he could not even conceive of resisting!
King Realm fifth level? Or even higher?
He drew in a sharp breath...
Before Chen Xiong could reach any conclusion, he heard Heavenly Venerable Yunli ask with a smile.
"Is that little girl Han Yue in the sect now? Is everything well with the Jade Balance Sword Palace? And those two-why were they hunting you?"
"Tell me everything, one thing at a time. I will see justice done for you."
Little girl?
Chen Xiong shivered. Only the palace master could say that. Who else would dare call that famously icy beauty a little girl...?
He swallowed.
"Reporting to the Palace Master, the Deputy Palace Master is currently... away from the sect. As for why those two were hunting me, that is a long story..."
"This is what happened..."
He hurriedly recounted events, doing his best to explain briefly, and Lin Xuan and the others finally learned the reason.
Men died for wealth, just as birds died for food!
Among the Seven Moon-Reflecting Kingdoms, the Heron Empire ranked near the bottom and had only seven top-tier sects.
The Illusory Feather Sect and the Jade Balance Sword Palace were both among the Heron Empire's seven sects, with the former slightly stronger. One was in the north and the other in the south. They normally had little interaction, and conflicts between their disciples were rare. They could be said to have neither grudges nor enmity.
Yet wealth could move people's hearts.
When the Heaven-Burning Mystic Realm opened some time ago, two King Realm elders from the two sects fought over a treasure, and both were injured in the battle.
After leaving the mystic realm, each gave a different account, making it difficult to determine who was right. But the Jade Balance Sword Palace's elder had indeed been luckier and managed to obtain the treasure.
Resentful, the Illusory Feather Sect elder brought several other King Realm cultivators from his sect to the Jade Balance Sword Palace after leaving the mystic realm, using their might to pressure the palace into handing over the precious treasure.
Naturally, the Jade Balance Sword Palace's elder refused...
Conflict erupted as a matter of course.
Although the Illusory Feather Sect had four King Realm cultivators, Fairy Cold Moon was extremely powerful. Fighting two against one, she actually held the upper hand against the Illusory Feather Sect's sect master and deputy sect master, ultimately driving the sect back with overwhelming force!
Unwilling though they were, the Illusory Feather Sect could only leave in frustration.
But the matter did not end there.
Just a few days ago, the Jade Balance Sword Palace received a secret letter stating that the Illusory Feather Sect was preparing to join forces with the Thundercloud Pavilion, another of the seven sects, to attack the Jade Balance Sword Palace.
The Thundercloud Pavilion, one of the Heron Empire's seven sects, ranked above both the Illusory Feather Sect and the Jade Balance Sword Palace in strength.
Once the Thundercloud Pavilion joined the conflict, the situation would become extremely unfavorable for the Jade Balance Sword Palace.
Upon learning of this, Han Yue naturally would not sit and wait for death. She acted decisively, sending Chen Xiong to Cangnan City to seek help.
Cangnan had always been on good terms with the Jade Balance Sword Palace. Although it was not one of the seven sects, it was an extremely special existence.
There was one, and only one, King Realm cultivator in the city. But that King Realm expert-the Cangnan City Lord-had reached the King Realm third layer. With a special Cultivation Method and formidable strength, he was someone even the seven sects were reluctant to provoke lightly.
Han Yue herself immediately set off for the Silver Frost Empire.
There was a King-tier sect there, the Clear Breeze Valley, which once owed the Jade Balance Sword Palace a favor. If she could use that favor to persuade the Clear Breeze Valley to help, the Jade Balance Sword Palace would have nothing to fear even if the Illusory Feather Sect and the Thundercloud Pavilion joined forces.
However, no one had expected Chen Xiong to be intercepted by two King Realm cultivators on his way to Cangnan!
He recognized one as an elder of the Illusory Feather Sect. Though the other was unfamiliar, he was also at the King Realm second layer, beyond Chen Xiong's ability to fight.
Without Lin Xuan, he would undoubtedly have died.
He had assumed that the unfamiliar King Realm expert hunting him had been sent by the Thundercloud Pavilion. Never had he imagined... that he was from the Spirit Firmament Sect!
The Spirit Firmament Sect!?
Chen Xiong nearly lost his composure when he learned that.
The Spirit Firmament Sect was unlike the Thundercloud Pavilion or the Illusory Feather Sect.
It was a super sect ranked among the top three in the Heron Empire! Why would it join forces with the Illusory Feather Sect... just to target the Jade Balance Sword Palace?
In that instant, Chen Xiong had despaired.
If the Illusory Feather Sect had allied with the Thundercloud Pavilion, the Jade Balance Sword Palace would still have had the strength to fight. But with the Spirit Firmament Sect replacing the Thundercloud Pavilion... what could the Jade Balance Sword Palace possibly fight with?
Even two Jade Balance Sword Palaces combined would be no match for the Spirit Firmament Sect.
If the Spirit Firmament Sect truly allied with the Illusory Feather Sect, the Jade Balance Sword Palace's attempts to seek help would be utterly useless and meaningless.
Even if the Cangnan City Lord and the Clear Breeze Valley both lent their aid, it would do no good.
Having briefly finished his account, Chen Xiong shook his head and sighed, his face bitter.
"The Deputy Palace Master... has already done everything she can. The Jade Balance Sword Palace has also mobilized every force available to it, but... how could we possibly be a match for the Spirit Firmament Sect?"
Bitterness filled his heart.
"So that is how it is."
By now, Lin Xuan and the others had sorted out the sequence of events and gained a rough understanding of the distribution of forces in the Heron Empire.
After a moment's thought, Lin Xuan directly took out a piece of black jade containing a Demonic Shadow Clone, tossed it into Chen Xiong's hands, and instructed him.
"Go to the Illusory Feather Sect with this black jade. Once you arrive, crush it."
Chen Xiong caught the black jade but froze upon hearing Lin Xuan's words.
He was to go to the Illusory Feather Sect?
He was only at the King Realm first layer. If he went to the Illusory Feather Sect, would he return alive?
But...
Looking up at Lin Xuan, Chen Xiong tightened his grip on the black jade and nodded firmly.
"Yes! This junior obeys!"
This man was his savior, and their Jade Balance Sword Palace's palace master stood beside him. The two were clearly closely acquainted and surely would not harm him.
Besides, Lin Xuan had saved his life. He believed this senior would not send him on a pointless task.
Then, taking the black jade, Chen Xiong cupped his fists toward them and departed.
Seeing his air of sacrificing his life for righteousness, anyone who did not know better would truly have thought he was going to his death.
Although he did not think Lin Xuan would send him to his death, he still felt uncertain. After all, he was heading up to the Illusory Feather Sect alone, with a single spear and horse!
Hurrying along, he finally reached the Illusory Feather Sect's grounds in what he considered the shortest possible time.
Chen Xiong did not conceal his presence, nor did he have a Cultivation Method for doing so. Almost as soon as he arrived, the Illusory Feather Sect's experts sensed him.
"Who dares trespass upon the gates of our Illusory Feather Sect!"
Three streaks of light flashed across the sky and landed directly before the gates, their presence formidable... no! Not three!
Four!
Behind those three King Realm presences, another streak of light shot out, landing behind the Illusory Feather Sect's sect master and deputy sect master. However, he wore neither the Illusory Feather Sect's robes nor its insignia.
Four in total, all at the King Realm.
Chen Xiong's heart tightened slightly. He clenched his teeth, suppressing his fear and confusion.
Four King Realm experts. Without Lin Xuan's instructions, he would never have dared recklessly come alone. Against a joint attack from four King Realm cultivators, he would have no chance of escape.
But... only three of these four belonged to the Illusory Feather Sect.
Who was the other unfamiliar King Realm cultivator?
The Spirit Firmament Sect? The Spirit Firmament Sect had already sent one King Realm cultivator to intercept him, only for him to die miserably at Lin Xuan's hands. Had it actually dispatched two King Realm cultivators to assist the Illusory Feather Sect against the Jade Balance Sword Palace?
"Phew-"
Chen Xiong slowly exhaled, steeling himself and steadying his mind.
He thought to himself, Forget it. The Palace Master and Senior Lin surely wouldn't harm me!
The Illusory Feather Sect's four King Realm cultivators had all appeared, an absolute advantage in strength. One of them slowly stepped forward, narrowed his eyes at Chen Xiong, and suddenly sneered.
"Chen Xiong, you're actually still alive? You really are hard to kill."
This man was none other than the Illusory Feather Sect's sect master!
At King Realm second layer perfection, with a robust foundation, he was at the same cultivation level as Fairy Cold Moon. Though weaker than her, his sharp presence still made Chen Xiong's scalp prickle.
Suppressing his unease, Chen Xiong said, "What, are you disappointed that I'm not dead?"
"Heh-"
The Illusory Feather Sect's sect master scoffed coldly. Looking at Chen Xiong with the same contempt he would a dead dog, he casually waved a hand.
"Heh... the barking of an ignorant brat is rather amusing. Though I don't know how you escaped Elder Han, you not only refused to flee but actually dared come to my Illusory Feather Sect. It seems you've tired of living!"
Murderous intent flashed fiercely in his eyes, and his presence surged to its peak. The instant his words fell, he attacked brazenly, his face filled with savage cruelty and killing intent!
"Now that you're here, don't dream of leaving! Give me your life!"
As the Illusory Feather Sect's sect master finished speaking, the other two King Realm cultivators coordinated with him, attacking from three directions and sealing off every route of retreat for Chen Xiong.
At that moment, it was not that Chen Xiong felt no fear.
But his hand moved faster than his fear.
After a barely audible crack, the black jade Lin Xuan had given Chen Xiong shattered in his grip. A pitch-black shadow, dense as ink, abruptly appeared in front of him.
This black shadow... was none other than Lin Xuan!
Or rather, it was Lin Xuan's Demonic Shadow Clone.
The moment the Demonic Shadow Clone appeared, the Illusory Feather Sect's sect master and the others sensed something amiss.
The sudden black shadow had appeared before Chen Xiong without alerting any of them. Was it a Cultivation Method?
No, it bore no trace of a Cultivation Method, nor did it resemble a Spirit Artifact or an artifact spirit. Just what was this thing!?
"Who are you? Why skulk around and hide yourself? Do you not dare reveal your true form!?"
But why would Lin Xuan pay him any attention?
The instant it landed, the Demonic Shadow Clone said nothing and slashed its sword toward the Illusory Feather Sect's sect master.
He had no intention of holding back. His first move was a killing move, meant to put his enemy to death!
In an instant, vast sword light erupted with dazzling crystalline brilliance, engulfing the Illusory Feather Sect's sect master outright!
There were no screams, no curses, not even a sound.
The blinding sword light dispersed, and the previously living, breathing sect master of the Illusory Feather Sect... was simply gone.
Not a speck of residue remained where he had stood, much less a human life.
The Illusory Feather Sect's sect master, dead!
Everyone, Chen Xiong included, stood rooted to the spot, utterly unable to process what had happened.
The Illusory Feather Sect's sect master was an expert at King Realm second layer perfection, a figure with a face and a name throughout the Heron Empire. Yet... after one sword strike, his face and name, both physically and in reputation, were gone...
The two King Realm cultivators in the other directions, along with the unfamiliar King Realm cultivator, were also plunged into boundless shock.
Killing the sect master with one sword strike? What kind of strength was this?
This strength... even if my sect's ancestor came in person, he could never accomplish this! the King Realm cultivator of unknown origins thought in shock.
He was not from the Illusory Feather Sect, but one of the Spirit Firmament Sect's elders. He had come on his sect master's orders to discuss the distribution of benefits after the Jade Balance Sword Palace's destruction.
The elder accompanying him had been sent to hunt down Chen Xiong and had yet to return, while his own negotiations were still unfinished. All that was one thing, but... why did he have to encounter something so outrageous as well!?
Just where had this shadowy young man come from?
Never mind him, the shock and confusion in Chen Xiong's heart were no less than anyone else's.
He knew the senior who had saved him was powerful, but he had never imagined he could be this powerful.
Others might not know, but how could he not?
This black shadow's build was identical to that senior's. At a glance, he could tell it was a clone. Yet even a mere clone could instantly kill a sect master.
That was a veteran expert at King Realm second layer perfection.
How powerful must that senior himself be?
For a time, wary of the demonic shadow, not a single person present dared attack again. The entire place fell silent, without even a crow or sparrow's cry!
After casually cutting down the Illusory Feather Sect's sect master, Lin Xuan's calm voice came from within the demonic shadow.
"Within seven days, the Illusory Feather Sect, and..."
Lin Xuan paused briefly and looked toward the unfamiliar King Realm cultivator who had remained motionless. At a glance, he saw concealed patterns in a hidden corner of the man's robe, identical to those on the Spirit Firmament Sect elder he had killed earlier.
"The Spirit Firmament Sect must each bring ten million Spirit Stones to the Jade Balance Sword Palace to apologize."
"Otherwise, neither the Illusory Feather Sect nor the Spirit Firmament Sect will have any need to exist."
"Remember, you have only seven days."