Chapter 1004: Killing Intent Explosion

Yan Wancang and Yan Juehai's expressions instantly stiffened. They both secretly drew a breath, their hearts filled with both anger and helplessness. Since they had chosen to force their way in, they were well aware of the consequences. Given Mu Xuanyin's domineering nature, her anger would not be easily quelled.

"…Yes, Master." Yun Che didn't say much, simply putting away the red wooden box. He groaned inwardly. A gift from the three sect masters to the Snow Song Realm King! It certainly wouldn't be an ordinary item. Could it be… that it was truly given to him?

Well, he should probably just return it to his master honestly after they left.

Mu Xuanyin leaned slightly, adopting a posture that was infinitely alluring yet so commanding and cold that no one dared to look directly at her. "It seems the three sect masters are indeed full of sincerity. Very well, uninvited guests are still guests, after all. Driving you away like this would only make this King seem ungracious."

"As for your forced entry into the Ice Phoenix Realm and disruption of the sect assembly, this King will temporarily set that aside and listen to what you have to say. However…" Mu Xuanyin's eyes narrowed slightly, "This King will only give you fifteen minutes!"

Yan Wancang stepped forward and said solemnly, "Very well, the three of us thank the Snow Song Realm King for granting this."

Yan Zhuo, Yan Mingxuan, and Huo Poyun had returned behind the three sect masters. Their hearts were all churning violently, their lifelong understanding completely overturned. The three supreme sect masters of the Flame God Realm were all present, yet they were so wary in front of the Snow Song Realm King, and they showed no anger at all despite the sarcasm and ridicule.

The words "fifteen minutes" clearly sounded like a condescending favor, yet judging by Yan Wancang's expression and tone, he accepted it with pleasure. The impact this had on them was immense.

Yan Wancang already had a well-thought-out plan for what and how to say it. Without hesitation, he directly stated, "We believe the Snow Song Realm King already knows the purpose of our visit. Indeed, we are here again because of the ancient flood dragon in the Burial God Flame Abyss. However, this time is vastly different from before."

"How is it different?" Mu Xuanyin said coldly, her gaze like icy arrows.

"Because a major event is about to occur, and it's highly likely to affect the entire God Realm!" Yan Juehai quickly interjected, his expression grave. "Although we don't know exactly what this major event will be, the Brahma Heaven Sound from several months ago and the upcoming Profound God Convention clearly indicate that a significant event is approaching for all realms! We believe the Snow Song Realm King is surely well aware of this."

"Precisely," Yan Wancang nodded heavily. "Since the Brahma Heaven Realm has sent such a signal and is even willing to expend the power of the Brahma Heaven Pearl on profound practitioners from other realms, it's clear that this matter is of immense importance, perhaps even concerning life and death! Currently, all major star realms are on high alert and preparing themselves. We heard that your esteemed sect recently opened the Underworld Ice Lake to thousands of disciples simultaneously for the first time, which we presume is for this very reason."

"That flood dragon has lived for at least hundreds of thousands of years. Every part of its body, even a single scale, is a rare and precious treasure. If we can hunt it down, it will bring an incredibly vast amount of resources to both our realms. The Snow Song Realm King's profound energy is world-shaking, but advancing within the Divine Master realm is incredibly difficult. However, a flood dragon that has lived for hundreds of thousands of years would certainly be enough to allow the Snow Song Realm King to make further progress in a short amount of time."

"Moreover, with a major event potentially looming, its significance is far greater than ever before!"

"This is the first point."

"Secondly," Yan Wancang continued without interruption, "a thousand years ago, although an accidental mishap caused us to fail at the last step, that flood dragon sustained severe injuries, and it's absolutely impossible for it to have fully recovered in just a thousand years. During this millennium, the three of us have not slacked off and have made some progress. The Snow Song Realm King, we presume, is even stronger than a thousand years ago. With the flood dragon still injured, this is the best time to hunt it! If we miss this opportunity, a thousand years from now, its injuries are highly likely to have healed, and it will be much more difficult then."

"With the Snow Song Realm King's divine might, combined with the humble strength of our Flame God Realm, I, Yan, dare to assert here…" Yan Wancang held up two fingers, "This time, hunting the ancient flood dragon… we have at least an eighty percent chance of success!"

Having said this, Yan Wancang's voice softened slightly. "A thousand years ago, we promised that if we succeeded, both realms would each receive half of the flood dragon's body. This time, we will still honor that promise; after the flood dragon's death, we will each take fifty percent. After all, although the ancient flood dragon resides in our Flame God Realm, without the Snow Song Realm King's power, our Flame God Realm would be utterly incapable of slaying it."

After Yan Wancang finished speaking, Mu Xuanyin remained silent for a long time, her icy expression unchanged from beginning to end.

"Are you finished speaking?" Mu Xuanyin said coldly.

Yan Wancang's heart tightened slightly.

"Since you are finished," Mu Xuanyin straightened up slightly and said sharply, "Huanzhi, see the guests out."

Yan Wancang and Yan Juehai's expressions changed slightly at the same time. Yan Wancang loudly said, "Snow Song Realm King, what… what do you mean by this?"

"What do I mean?" Mu Xuanyin slowly rose to her feet. As she stood, the temperature of the surrounding space plummeted, and the entire sky seemed to suddenly press down. "If the three of you had merely come to offer congratulations this time, this King might have treated you with courtesy. But you forced your way into my sect assembly first, and now you even have the audacity to mention the ancient flood dragon!"

"Do you truly believe this King has forgotten the disgraceful act your Flame God Realm committed a thousand years ago?!"

This sharp rebuke shook the three young Flame God Realm disciples, making them retreat simultaneously. Their faces instantly turned ashen white, and they almost spat blood. An icy killing intent refracted from Mu Xuanyin's eyes, falling directly upon Huo Rulie, who had remained silent.

"Clench… clench…" Flames flared around Huo Rulie's entire body, and a sound like teeth being crushed came from his mouth. He desperately endured, refraining from speaking, but blood was already seeping from between his fingers.

Although Yan Wancang and Yan Juehai had somewhat anticipated Mu Xuanyin's sudden fury and killing intent, their hearts still clenched. Yan Wancang tried hard to remain calm and said, "Snow Song Realm King, regarding the events of that year, you were, after all, the one who severely injured Fire Sect Master's only son first…"

"Silence!" Mu Xuanyin's gaze and killing intent suddenly shot towards Yan Wancang, making his voice abruptly halt. "That ignorant junior, with his meager cultivation, foolishly approached the Burial God Flame Abyss. Even if this King hadn't acted, he would have died under the flood dragon's flames!"

"Although he was severely injured by this King's power, all of you know it was purely an accidental injury. This King would disdain to act against a mere junior! Because of that incident, this King initially felt guilty and wished to compensate with Moon Phoenix Jade… But that scoundrel Huo Rulie ambushed this King's sister, even going so far as to use the flood dragon's poison!"

"This King caused an accidental injury, but Huo Rulie carried out a malicious ambush! How can these two be compared?!"

Yan Juehai gritted his teeth slightly and said in a deep voice, "Snow Song Realm King, in this matter, our Flame God Realm was indeed in the wrong. However, after that incident, in your rage, you severely injured thousands of people from our three sects and destroyed all the star realms controlled by our Flame God Realm. Our losses were tens of thousands of times greater than yours in the Snow Song Realm! Furthermore, the one you injured back then was Fire Sect Master's only son. He was a heaven-gifted prodigy, but he was crippled because of it. Although his life was forcibly extended and he barely survived, he struggles even to stand. His existence is worse than death. Fire Sect Master was in such extreme grief and rage that he acted as he shouldn't have."

"Hmph!" Mu Xuanyin let out a cold laugh. "He himself was greedy for success and advanced recklessly, causing internal flames to burn his body and making him unable to procreate, yet he wants to transfer his resentment onto this King?!"

Yun Che's mouth fell open.

By now, he had roughly understood the thousand-year-old feud.

A thousand years ago, during the ancient flood dragon's scale-shedding period, Mu Xuanyin went to the Flame God Realm to hunt the ancient flood dragon together with them. However, just as they were about to succeed, she accidentally injured Golden Crow Sect Master Huo Rulie's son… and he was his only son.

Meanwhile, at some point during his cultivation, Huo Rulie had been greedy for success and advanced recklessly, leading to a backlash that injured him and rendered him unable to procreate. This meant he could never have any more children.

Therefore, the one Mu Xuanyin injured was his only son, his only descendant. Moreover, it sounded like the injury was extremely severe, crippling his entire body and making even walking difficult. He was still alive only because Huo Rulie had forcibly extended his life at all costs.

Just as Mu Xuanyin had been forcibly extending Mu Bingyun's life at all costs for the past millennium.

Because of this, in his extreme rage, Huo Rulie found an opportunity to ambush Mu Bingyun… even going so far as to use the flood dragon's poison he had obtained from the ancient flood dragon.

Mu Xuanyin had crippled his only son. And he had ambushed Mu Xuanyin's only blood relative.

Obviously, compared to Mu Xuanyin's accidental injury, Huo Rulie's vengeful ambush appeared particularly despicable and vicious. However, bearing the Golden Crow Divine Flames, his temperament was naturally fiery, and coupled with his inability to procreate, Mu Xuanyin had not only ruined his son but also completely severed his lineage. How could he not be enraged to the point of losing control?

But… if not for Huo Rulie's despicable ambush, Mu Bingyun would not have fallen to the Heaven Profound Continent. And there would be no Frozen Cloud Asgard on the Heaven Profound Continent.

He wouldn't have met Little Fairy, wouldn't have become the Palace Master of Frozen Cloud Asgard, wouldn't have had so many grudges and entanglements… and wouldn't have followed Mu Bingyun to the God Realm…

"…" Suddenly, Yun Che felt a tiny bit of… gratitude toward Huo Rulie.

"Mu Xuanyin!!"

This sharp roar was like a volcano erupting, a thunderclap out of nowhere. Huo Rulie, whose scar had been fiercely torn open, finally erupted. The Golden Crow Flames on his body instantly shot up dozens of feet high, and his eyes had startlingly turned an intense crimson-gold. "You haven't forgotten how I ambushed Mu Bingyun, and I, Huo Rulie, will never forget the grudge of you crippling my son until the day I die!!"

"I, Huo Rulie, am incapable of personally avenging my son… But if I ever seize an opportunity, I will absolutely tear you to shreds!!!"

Huo Rulie's roaring words caused the atmosphere to change drastically. All the elders and palace masters erupted in rage, and a cold, murderous aura instantly swept through like a storm. Yan Wancang and Yan Juehai were both greatly alarmed and paled. Yan Wancang quickly stepped in front of Huo Rulie and anxiously said, "Snow Song Realm King, Fire Sect Master has a fiery temper and spoke out of turn in his rudeness… We will leave immediately. Please forgive us, Snow Song Realm King!"

Meanwhile, Yan Juehai was telepathically sending a message to Huo Rulie:

"Idiot! Are you mad?! This is the Snow Song Realm's territory! Haven't you experienced how terrifying Mu Xuanyin is?!"

"How did you promise us before coming here? You vowed never to mention the grievances of that year…"

"That's because it wasn't *your* sons who were crippled!!!!"

Huo Rulie's words were not a telepathic message, but a ferocious roar filled with endless resentment and unwillingness.

He was indeed unwilling, incredibly unwilling… His only son was crippled forever, and he had ambushed Mu Xuanyin's only blood relative with the flood dragon's poison, having always believed she would surely die, thereby achieving a twisted psychological balance.

But some time ago, he suddenly heard that Mu Xuanyin had found a cure, and in just a few months, Mu Bingyun had almost fully recovered.

Meanwhile, his son, whose life had been extended for a thousand years, was now at his last gasp, on the verge of death, ready to perish completely at any moment. How could he accept this enormous disparity?!

Huo Rulie shoved Yan Wancang aside and directly faced Mu Xuanyin. Under his rage and fiery flames, the ice domain beneath his feet melted layer by layer. "Mu Xuanyin, if I, your father, ever reach the Divine Master realm, the first thing I'll do is come and kill you!"

"Just you?" Mu Xuanyin sneered with utmost disdain.

"Hahahaha!" Huo Rulie laughed wildly. "As long as I, Huo Rulie, don't die, I will make sure you die one day! If you have the guts, then kill me now!"

"You think this King doesn't dare?" Mu Xuanyin took a step forward, and the world turned icy cold. "Huo Rulie, you should truly be glad that this King's sister, Bingyun, is safe and sound. Back then, this King made a solemn vow: if anything happened to Bingyun, the day this King abdicated the Realm King position would be the day your Golden Crow Sect was annihilated."

"Now that Bingyun is unharmed, then the Golden Crow Sect can remain." Mu Xuanyin extended her palm, and a chilling aura, seemingly from nowhere, pierced everyone's souls like a poisonous thorn. "Killing just you is enough!!"