Chapter 1363: Unintentional Moonlight (Part 1)

Compared to the Divine Realm, the aura of the Profound Sky Continent was shallow and impure.

Within the Profound Sky Continent itself, this place, however, was undoubtedly a pure and unblemished sanctuary.

Days passed, and Yun Che, having regained his ability to walk, explored many parts of this place daily. His body gradually shed its weakness, becoming more and more like that of a normal… mortal.

Summer turned to autumn, and fallen leaves swirled about. Yun Che walked upon the leaves, his steps still a little slow, but he was no longer being supported. Beside him, Feng Xian’er followed closely, step for step. This was the Phoenix Remnant, isolated by the Phoenix Barrier, so no outsiders or profound beasts could enter, yet she couldn’t bring herself to relax.

Ahead, scattered rocks covered the ground, and though there were no bushes, a thick layer of fallen leaves somehow covered everything. Stepping onto the soft leaves, Yun Che swayed slightly, and Feng Xian’er quickly moved forward, carefully supporting his arm.

“It’s alright,” Yun Che smiled. “I can walk back on my own today, no problem.”

As he spoke, he noticed Feng Xian’er gazing silently ahead, her eyes somewhat distant.

“Benefactor Brother, do you remember?” Feng Xian’er said softly. “This is where we first met.”

Yun Che paused, then looked forward.

“At that time, my brother and I were captured by those bad people called ‘Black Fiends.’ We met you and Sister Xue’ruo here, and Sister Xue’ruo drove those villains away, saving my brother and me…”

That scene, for Feng Xian’er, was not only a precious memory she would never forget in her life, but also a turning point in her destiny. “Sister Xue’ruo was so beautiful and so kind. Not only did she save us, but she also promised to save our clansmen.”

“At that time, Benefactor Brother, you were unconscious, dirty, and covered in blood. But Sister Xue’ruo didn’t mind at all; she carried you on her back and followed us home… Even though you seemed to be severely injured then, my brother and I both felt you were so fortunate.”

Yun Che was speechless.

“I wonder how Sister Xue’ruo… oh no, now she’s Empress Sister, how she’s doing now.” Feng Xian’er looked into the distance and said sincerely, “But one thing I know for sure is that she must… she must miss Benefactor Brother very much.”

Feng Xian’er’s words brought Yun Che’s memories back to thirteen years ago… The scenes from that time replayed in his mind, incredibly vivid, yet feeling like another lifetime.

If his first turning point in destiny was meeting Jasmine.

Then the second, without a doubt, was due to meeting Cang Yue, who was then using the alias Lan Xue’ruo.

“Junior Brother Yun, once I fulfill my imperial father’s wish, I will leave with you. Princess… royalty… I can give up everything…”

“Senior Sister, your tears are too precious. So precious that… I can only exchange them with my entire life.”

“I said those words because I was anxious and afraid… I didn’t know if I had truly entered Senior Sister’s heart, because Senior Sister was so wonderful and a princess of noble birth, while I had no power or influence, and was of humble origins. I had nothing but my pride, passion, and my heart for Senior Sister, so I was truly anxious and afraid… I was very selfish, wanting to see if Senior Sister would cry for me…”

Those past years of humility and confusion, those words and promises that now seemed a little naive but had come straight from the heart at the time…

Lan Xue’ruo… Cang Yue… the imperial princess who had fallen for him when he was at his most humble and confused, and was even willing to abandon everything for him…

“Xian’er,” Yun Che suddenly said, “I want to… go see the Imperial City of the Azure Cloud.”

Feng Xian’er turned around with lightning speed, immense joy blooming like fireworks in her eyes and heart. She nodded vigorously. “Okay, let’s go together… Let’s go now!”

Without any preparations, without telling any of her clansmen, and giving Yun Che no chance to hesitate or change his mind, Feng Xian’er gently lifted Yun Che and soared into the sky with the gentle breeze, flying beyond the Phoenix Remnant.

During this period, he had seemed to confine himself here, unable to leave. Today, his heart, which had been closed off in his self-indulgence, finally opened a small crack.

Leaving the center of the Myriad Beast Mountain Range, a faint barrier appeared before them. As Feng Xian’er approached, the barrier automatically opened a gap, and then the two flew out of it, heading north.

“When was this barrier set up?” Yun Che asked. He gazed at the distant north, thinking of the person he was about to meet, and the resolve he had just found began to waver and churn in the wind again.

Feng Xian’er was in excellent spirits. She replied, “Back then, Lord Phoenix God not only lifted our bloodline curse, but also erected this Phoenix Barrier after you left to protect us, giving us enough time to grow without having to face the disasters of the past.”

“I see,” Yun Che nodded slightly. So, this protective barrier had been erected after he and Cang Yue left all those years ago. Perhaps the Phoenix Soul felt a slight guilt for the bloodline curse affecting future generations, or perhaps… after giving him its divine soul and Nirvana Flame, it knew its time was running out and used its last remaining power to form this protective force.

“Back then, when the Divine Phoenix Empire launched a full-scale invasion of Azure Cloud, it was the Phoenix Barrier that protected us. In recent years, profound beast unrest has continuously occurred in the Azure Cloud Nation, and recently it has even spread to the Myriad Beast Mountain Range, making the profound beasts here quite terrifying. It was also Lord Phoenix God’s barrier that protected us,” Feng Xian’er said.

“Profound beast… unrest?” Yun Che’s gaze shifted slightly. “What happened?”

The moment he spoke, he felt Feng Xian’er’s body tense slightly.

Just then, a sharp… and distinctly violent cry rang out, and a massive green shadow burst forth from below, carrying a terrifying gale that swept towards them.

Seeing this green shadow, its name instantly flashed through Yun Che’s mind:

Green-Scaled Beast!

A high-level wind-attribute Earth Profound Beast with strong flying abilities, primarily feeding on wind and bamboo grasses. Its nature is generally docile, rarely attacking humans or other profound beasts unless provoked.

However, this suddenly appearing Green-Scaled Beast furiously attacked, stirring up a gale. Its cry was so shrill, as if it had encountered a mortal enemy.

Having received the first six stages of the World Ode of the Phoenix and the Tyrannical Emperor’s Divine Dan from Yun Che, Feng Xian’er and Feng Zu’er’s cultivation had advanced by leaps and bounds in recent years, both having broken through to the Sovereign Profound Realm. An Earth Profound Beast posed no threat to her; even if she allowed it to attack, it would barely harm her.

However, beside her was a frail and weak Yun Che!

Even if he were to be slightly touched by the storm stirred up by the Green-Scaled Beast, he would be instantly torn to shreds.

“Look out!” Feng Xian’er instinctively cried out. Yun Che’s body was uncomfortably jostled, and she dared not move quickly. Her first reaction was to hastily cover Yun Che with most of her profound energy, while igniting Phoenix flames with the remaining energy.

The crimson flames ignited the wind, then mercilessly set the Green-Scaled Beast ablaze. With a sharp shriek, the Green-Scaled Beast plummeted in flames… Yet, in the next instant, dozens of similar sharp shrieks erupted as scores of Green-Scaled Beasts surged into the sky, rushing straight towards them. Immediately, the entire sky was engulfed by a furious gale.

“…” Yun Che was stunned. What was happening? How could Green-Scaled Beasts become so violent? Had he misidentified them, and these weren’t Green-Scaled Beasts at all?

“Ah!” Feng Xian’er let out a soft cry, but quickly regained her composure, and a ring of crimson fire instantly blazed around her body.

The Phoenix Divine Flame exerted immense spiritual pressure on profound beasts, especially since Feng Xian’er’s realm was two major stages higher than the Green-Scaled Beasts. Under such Phoenix Divine Flame, the most normal reaction for profound beasts should have been to flee in terror… Yet, these Green-Scaled Beasts were not deterred in the slightest; they continued to charge directly, their shrill cries almost tearing eardrums.

It was as if they had all gone mad.

Feng Xian’er’s hand gesture shifted slightly; she was about to incinerate them all, but just then, a sword gleam flashed suddenly.

Swoosh!!

The sword gleam tore through the storm, tore through space, and instantly annihilated three Green-Scaled Beasts. Subsequently, a white figure appeared in the distance, their sword cutting through streaks of white light, sending the raging Green-Scaled Beasts one by one into the abyss of death.

“This person…” Feng Xian’er slightly held back her hand, then her lips parted slightly. “He’s so powerful.”

She didn't notice that Yun Che’s gaze had first been slightly dazed, then turned into an unspeakable complexity.

Although he had lost his divine sense, he still recognized that the person was using the Sky Might Absolute Sword.

His figure and sword moves were too swift for his current sight to follow, but he still vaguely recognized the person’s identity…

“Xian’er,” he said softly, “Don’t let him see me.”

“Huh?” Feng Xian’er was slightly surprised. Then, with a wave of her hand, a layer of crimson Phoenix flame light covered Yun Che’s body.

The sword glinted like a rainbow, and in just a moment, all the Green-Scaled Beasts were annihilated, and even the chaotic storm was completely dispelled. The white-robed man turned around. His posture was tall and heroic, his eyes like cold stars. In his hand was a simple white sword, but in his grip, it reflected a sword gleam so bright it was hard to look at directly.

He glanced at Feng Xian’er, a faint surprise flashing across his face. “Might this young lady be from the Divine Phoenix Sect? It seems I’ve been meddlesome.”

Only then did he realize that the woman before him, burning with Phoenix flames, clearly possessed Sovereign Profound Realm cultivation. His intervention had indeed been unnecessary.

“Thank you for your assistance,” Feng Xian’er said politely.

“You’re too kind. With your ability, even a thousand more of these Green-Scaled Beasts would be no trouble at all,” the young man nodded. “I am Ling Jie of Heavenly Sword Villa. May I ask why you are here, young lady?”

“Oh?” Feng Xian’er exclaimed softly. “So you’re the legendary Azure Cloud Sword Saint! No wonder you’re so powerful.”

Azure Cloud Sword Saint?

Yun Che sighed inwardly… As expected of Ling Jie. After a few years, he had already surpassed his grandfather, Ling Tianni, and taken on his title of ‘Sword Saint’.

He had not violated his promise to him from back then, nor had he deviated from his own will and pursuits. In the future, he would surely stand in a higher realm and become the eternal pride of Heavenly Sword Villa.

“It’s merely a humble title, not worthy of such praise from a young lady,” Ling Jie said courteously. Compared to his youth, he had shed his former awkwardness and immaturity, gaining some of the steady elegance of his brother, Ling Yun.

Feng Xian’er appeared to be in her twenties, yet her profound strength was actually at the Sovereign Profound Realm, which couldn’t help but surprise Ling Jie. His gaze shifted slightly, falling upon Yun Che. Yun Che’s figure was shrouded in the fiery light, making him hard to see clearly, but for some reason, an inexplicable sense of familiarity welled up in Ling Jie’s heart, and a question slipped out: “Who is this?”

“He…” Feng Xian’er began, but didn’t know how to answer.

Yun Che’s gaze shifted, and he said in a low voice, “Let’s go.”

“Ah? Go back?” Feng Xian’er was slightly flustered.

“Yes, back,” Yun Che closed his eyes.

He had thought that after this period of quiet reflection and tempering, and with each increasingly strong urge, he was sufficiently prepared.

However, facing Ling Jie, he realized he still couldn’t do it…

“…Alright.” Feng Xian’er didn’t press him. She nodded obediently and flew back in the opposite direction with Yun Che… even forgetting to bid Ling Jie a polite farewell.

Ling Jie did not leave, silently watching them depart. His gaze was not on Feng Xian’er, but on the figure enveloped in crimson light, feeling an inexplicable sense of familiarity continuously welling up in his heart.

Who… was he?

He possessed no profound energy aura, a mortal among mortals, yet why was there such a subtle… sense of familiarity?