Chapter 1214: Tit for Tat

Eternal Heaven Realm, Conferred God Stage.

Today was the seventh round of the losers' bracket in the Conferred God Battle, featuring only one match: Yun Che against Jun Xilei.

Although, similar to the previous battle between Luo Changsheng and Shui Yingyue, the outcome of this match was predetermined in everyone's eyes, without any suspense, its level of attention had not diminished in the slightest; it even surpassed the final match of the winners' bracket.

This was because Yun Che was fighting… and it would be his final battle. As the most attention-grabbing dark horse of this Conferred God Battle, the figure who utterly shook the entire Eastern Divine Region, his performance naturally drew everyone's gaze. Especially for profound practitioners from the middle and lower star realms, who regarded Yun Che as their pride, there was no way they would willingly miss his last battle.

In the spectator stands of the Conferred God Stage, nearly every marked seat was occupied. Clearly, those who wished to witness Yun Che's final battle were not merely young profound practitioners. Even if these supreme figures, standing at the pinnacle of the Eastern Divine Region, wouldn't admit it outwardly, subconsciously, Yun Che had become someone they simply couldn't ignore.

The Sword Sovereign and his disciple arrived early. However, Yun Che was late. It wasn't until the last moment before the battle began that a wave of heat approached from the distant sky. Huo Rulie arrived in an instant, carrying Yun Che. They streaked across the sky, leaving a lingering fiery afterimage, and landed directly in their seats.

“Wow!!!!” A delicate, joyful, and extremely pleasant cry reached almost everyone's ears. Shui Meiyin sprang up, exclaiming, “It’s Big Brother Yun Che! Big Brother Yun Che is finally here!”

Countless profound practitioners simultaneously turned their heads, their gazes strange. Shui Qianheng’s face was lined with exasperation, and he whispered, “No shouting! What manners!”

“Yun Che’s profound energy… Divine Tribulation Realm, Level Nine?” Shui Yingyue raised her brows slightly.

“Hmph! He wasn't present for your battle with Luo Changsheng, and there's been no sign of him these past few days. Clearly, he was cultivating in seclusion for today's fight, and he actually managed a breakthrough.”

Shui Qianheng said irritably, “It’s only been a few days; he must have used a Time Wheel Pearl. However, it’s just a small realm improvement. If he thinks this qualifies him to fight Jun Xilei, then he’s far too naive.”

“Hmph! That's not what Daddy said at all,” Shui Meiyin pouted discontentedly. Her beautiful eyes then sparkled with starlight: “I feel like my Big Brother Yun Che has become much, much stronger… as expected of my Big Brother Yun Che.”

“You… you!” Seeing his daughter, who was like a goddess from the heavens, actually sporting such a lovesick expression, Shui Qianheng’s mouth twitched and his eye darted, but he couldn't hit or scold her. He could only glare, staring intently at Yun Che: “This brat… if he weren’t about to enter the Eternal Heaven Divine Realm soon, I would… Hmph!”

“…Daddy, what were you just mumbling?” Shui Meiyin asked, tilting her head.

“…Nothing, you must have misheard,” Shui Qianheng replied, turning his face away with a blank, innocent expression.

Yun Che’s arrival drew everyone’s attention, and naturally, they noticed the progress in his profound energy. However, people were only slightly surprised; it didn’t cause any ripples.

If their strengths were similar, a small realm improvement could completely turn the tide of battle. But the gap between Yun Che and Jun Xilei was not something a small realm improvement in the Divine Tribulation Realm could bridge.

“Brother Yun, congratulations on your new breakthrough!” Huo Poyun said delightedly.

“I have to thank Sect Master Huo for his help, and also for the Time Wheel Pearl you gave me,” Yun Che replied with a smile. His gaze swept over the Conferred God Stage, briefly passing over Jun Xilei’s figure.

Yan Juehai and Mu Bingyun’s gazes were fixed on Yun Che, their expressions varied. They were closest to Yun Che and perceived more than just the increase in his profound energy; they also faintly sensed a strange, heavy presence about him… a feeling that had definitely not been there before.

“Seventh round of the losers' bracket in the Conferred God Battle: Yun Che of the Snow Song Realm versus Jun Xilei, the Sword Sovereign’s inheritor! Enter the Conferred God Stage swiftly!”

Yun Che immediately stood up, his gaze instantly firming.

Just as he was about to leap up, Mu Bingyun suddenly reached out and grabbed his arm. “Yun Che, Jun Xilei harbors a deep resentment towards you. She might intentionally strike with heavy force… You must be extremely careful.”

Yun Che looked back, giving Mu Bingyun a reassuring glance. He then lightly squeezed her smooth, snow-white hand with the back of his own, and while Mu Bingyun was still startled, he flew up and landed on the Conferred God Stage.

Mu Bingyun: “…”

Jun Wuming’s gaze lingered on Yun Che for a long time, his pale sword-like eyebrows slightly furrowed.

“Leier, before you fight Yun Che… promise your master two things.”

“Please command me, Master,” Jun Xilei replied, bowing respectfully.

“Firstly, do not underestimate your opponent!” Jun Wuming said solemnly. “Though only a few days have passed, this child gives your master a vastly different feeling than before. You must be careful.”

“Yes, Master,” Jun Xilei responded.

“Secondly,” Jun Wuming paused slightly, then said, “Defeat him, but do not intentionally strike with heavy force!”

This last sentence was delivered with far more weight than the first.

This was because his trip to the Snow Song Realm had made him wary of Mu Xuanyin.

His lifespan was nearing its end, so of course, he wasn’t afraid of what Mu Xuanyin might do to him. Instead, he feared Jun Xilei meeting an untimely end at Mu Xuanyin’s hands. What made Mu Xuanyin a concern wasn’t her unnaturally powerful profound energy, but her temperament.

Previously, in the Snow Song Realm, Mu Xuanyin had treated him with the courtesy due to an elder, and her words and actions were respectful. Yet, simply because Jun Xilei offended Yun Che, she immediately turned hostile, first reprimanding her angrily, then slapping Jun Xilei. Finally, she directly expelled their master and disciple pair from the Snow Song Realm. The title “Sword Sovereign” was enough to make all upper star realms willingly bow their heads, but in her eyes, it was as insignificant as dust.

Such a temperament was likely unmatched in the entire God Realm.

If Jun Xilei truly gravely injured Yun Che, even if it didn't violate the Conferred God Stage rules at all, given Mu Xuanyin’s extreme protectiveness of Yun Che, she would absolutely not let it go. At that point… the consequences would be unpredictable.

With Mu Xuanyin’s extraordinarily demonic temperament, she was absolutely capable of it!

“…” Jun Xilei was silent for a while before calmly responding, “Yes, Master.”

Jun Wuming’s lips didn’t move, and he seemed to want to say more. But upon meeting Jun Xilei’s gaze, which was noticeably colder than usual, he finally waved his hand: “Go.”

A white shadow flickered, and sword energy cleared the air as Jun Xilei stood on the Conferred God Stage. Her gaze was calm but held a chilling malice. Without activating her profound energy, an invisible sword intent surged across the Conferred God Stage. For a moment, it was as if thousands of unseen sharp swords were all pointed at Yun Che.

Initially, Yun Che’s face was calm as he met Jun Xilei’s gaze without flinching. But after a few breaths, his gaze began to wander, and his complexion gradually turned unnatural. Eventually, his breathing became intermittent and then rapid, his body swaying constantly, making it almost impossible to stand steadily.

The two had not yet engaged in combat, nor had they activated their profound energy; it was merely a clash of auras. Yet Yun Che was already clearly at a disadvantage. Many in the spectator stands shook their heads and sighed, but no one was surprised.

“As expected of the Sword Sovereign’s inheritor. At such a young age, her sword intent has reached this level,” Mu Huanzhi sighed. “Yun Che… truly cannot compare to her.”

“Suppressing him with sword intent before the fight even began, she’s clearly trying to humiliate Brother Yun!” Huo Poyun said indignantly.

“Sigh,” Mu Bingyun sighed softly. She was well aware of the animosity between Yun Che and Jun Xilei, and understood that given Yun Che’s strength, it was already extremely difficult for him to withstand Jun Xilei’s invisible sword intent to this extent. Anyone else would likely have been overwhelmed by fear and dread, surrendering before the battle even began.

Exorcist Venerable’s brows furrowed slightly. With his vast experience, he naturally saw that Jun Xilei seemed to harbor resentment towards Yun Che… and no small amount of it.

It seemed this battle would end quickly… Exorcist Venerable thought to himself. He glanced at Yun Che, then waved his arm: “Begin!”

The instant Exorcist Venerable’s shout fell, a bright light flashed through everyone’s pupils. “Mistlight” was unsheathed, and a pale sword beam appeared from nowhere, instantly spanning the space between Jun Xilei and Yun Che.

The space on the Conferred God Stage seemed to suddenly crack open with a pale fissure.

“Yun Che, be careful!”

“Ah!!” Countless exclamations instantly erupted from the spectator stands.

But in another instant, these cries seemed to be swallowed by a black hole, vanishing completely.

Simultaneously with the pale sword beam’s flash, a vermillion sword arc also swept forth. Although its speed was half a breath slower than the pale sword beam, the divine might unleashed in that instant caused everyone’s hearts to suddenly spasm.

BOOM!!!!! A thunderous roar. A figure shot straight backward, spewing several gouts of blood in mid-air, and crashed heavily a hundred miles away. Yet that terrifying sword might still enveloped more than half of the Conferred God Stage, lingering for a long time without dissipating.

The entire Conferred God Stage area suddenly became eerily silent, as if stuffed into a large jar. Pairs of pupils dilated to the point of almost bursting.

This was merely the first instant after Exorcist Venerable announced the start of the battle, the very first exchange between the two, yet one party was already gravely injured.

And the person instantly gravely injured, scattering blood for a hundred miles… was actually Jun Xilei!

She lay slumped on the ground, her white robes largely stained with blood, blood flowing copiously from her pale lips. She had clearly suffered extremely severe internal injuries. Her eyes no longer held their previous sharp indifference, only a murky emptiness… as if she had suddenly fallen into a nightmarish abyss of illusion.

Yun Che’s upper body leaned back significantly; a bloody hole had burst open on his chest, but it hadn’t pierced through. Following this, he slowly straightened up, the blood flow from his chest stopped, and his feet seemed nailed to the Conferred God Stage, not retreating a single step.

There was no trace left of his previous suppressed posture under the invisible sword intent. He stood like an ancient pine tree, majestically and coldly gazing at Jun Xilei, who had been sent flying far away and lay gravely injured and slumped on the ground. The vermillion greatsword in his hand emitted no dazzling sword light, yet a terrifying, unparalleled pressure enveloped the entire Conferred God Stage like a fully awakened abyssal beast baring its fearsome fangs.

“Ahhh!”

“Ah… ah… what… what… just happened?” Huo Poyun stammered, his eyes wide.

“Jun Xilei… actually…”

“Am I… dreaming?”

After the deathly silence, the spectator stands suddenly erupted as if a bomb had gone off. Almost half of the powerful cultivators from various realms stood up, unable to believe their eyes.

On this Conferred God Stage, Yun Che had already created too many miracles, shocking the world again and again, even shattering common understanding. This was also why Yun Che’s matches received so much attention.

Just when everyone thought they had seen Yun Che’s limits, the very first instant of his battle with Jun Xilei once again left them all aghast.

Jun Xilei gravely injured by a single sword strike!

Startled shouts erupted all around, and perhaps the entire Eastern Divine Region had been rocked by a tremendous wave due to that single instant. Yet Yun Che’s expression remained calm. He didn’t seize the opportunity to pursue. Holding the Heaven Smiting Sword, he stood proudly in place, coldly gazing at Jun Xilei, who still hadn’t risen or perhaps hadn’t even recovered her senses. A barely perceptible curve silently formed at the corner of his mouth.

He was well aware of how much resentment Jun Xilei harbored towards him. Especially as his fame shook the Eastern Divine Region, this resentment would only intensify.

In Jun Xilei’s battle with Huo Poyun, she made Huo Poyun suffer a crushing defeat in an instant, simply to vent her anger.

If she treated Huo Poyun, who was close to him, like that, then her approach to fighting him would naturally be even more severe.

The best way for Jun Xilei to strike at him was naturally to make him suffer a crushing defeat. The faster he lost, the more miserably he lost, the better. Ideally, he would lose in a single move, just like Huo Poyun, so that his halo would forever be tainted with the joke of “being instantly crushed by the Sword Sovereign’s inheritor.”

Therefore, he had determined that Jun Xilei would very likely unleash her full power in the very first instant, and that her sword strike would be far more brutal and merciless than when she defeated Huo Poyun.

However, Yun Che was not Huo Poyun after all. Even a sudden, full-force sword strike might not guarantee his immediate severe injury and defeat. Thus, Jun Xilei immediately released her sword intent upon entering, aiming to make Yun Che lose his nerve before the fight even began… After all, sword intent was a sword dao aura; it didn’t involve profound energy and wasn’t against the rules.

He had feigned fear and absent-mindedness under Jun Xilei’s powerful sword intent. And in the very first instant Exorcist Venerable announced the start of the battle, Jun Xilei unleashed her full power without hesitation, her Mistlight Sword infused with her ultimate profound energy and sword intent, striking directly at Yun Che.