Chapter 1445: Terrifying Omen

Yun Che also stopped and bowed to the elderly man with an immortal aura. "This Ice Phoenix disciple, Yun Che, greets Senior Sword Monarch. And congratulations to Fairy Xilei on achieving the Grand Dao."

"Hmph!" Jun Xilei's face was icy, her gaze sharp as a sword. "No need for your feigned pleasantries! Yun Che, I haven't forgotten about what happened back then!"

"What happened back then? What are you talking about?" Yun Che looked bewildered. "Counting our first meeting in the Snow Song Realm and the battle on the Conferred God Stage, we've only met three times in total, right? What 'account' could there be?"

As he spoke, his eyes suddenly lit up with realization. "Are you perhaps referring to the snow-white robe I gave you back then?"

During their battle back then, Jun Xilei, humiliated, fought with her life on the line, forcefully wielding the Nameless Sword. When she unleashed her third sword, Yun Che shattered her with soul power. As her conviction collapsed, she had no strength left. Her already tattered clothes, held together only by profound energy seals, were about to completely disintegrate.

Fortunately, Yun Che had sensed this earlier and quickly sealed her dress with profound energy. He then draped one of his own Ice Phoenix snow-white robes over her... and even patted her head, coaxing her into unconsciousness on the spot.

Looking back, that was indeed the only "account" between him and Jun Xilei.

At the sudden mention of this, Jun Xilei's sword aura became visibly chaotic. Her face darkened, and the cold light shooting from her eyes seemed to wish to pierce Yun Che's body with a thousand holes... yet she was speechless for a long moment.

"Oh..." Yun Che adopted an understanding expression. "As expected of Fairy Xilei, the future Sword Monarch, you truly distinguish clearly between favors and grievances, unwilling to owe anyone anything. Well then, if you dislike being in debt so much, just return that Ice Phoenix snow-white robe to me."

As he spoke, Yun Che actually extended his hand.

For Yun Che, four years had passed since that battle.

But for Jun Xilei, three thousand years had passed!

If that Ice Phoenix snow-white robe were still around, that would be truly astonishing!

Moreover, given Jun Xilei's level of resentment towards Yun Che, it was likely that the very next day after that battle, she would have destroyed the robe until not a speck remained.

However, to be fair, that robe was indeed a kindness Yun Che showed to Jun Xilei. Had it not been for him, four years ago during that battle, as her profound energy completely dissipated, she would have been exposed naked on the Conferred God Stage for all of the Eastern Divine Region to see. Given her immense pride and self-respect, she would have been mortified to death.

The sudden sight of a living Yun Che filled Jun Xilei with instant rage. But with Yun Che's remark... Jun Xilei instantly went from demanding payment to being in debt.

"You!" Jun Xilei's fair face changed again... Among the nineteen Divine Children of the Heaven Covering Realm who had achieved Divine Master, Jun Xilei was naturally one. Furthermore, she was now a mid-stage Divine Sovereign, far surpassing Jun Wuming at the same point in his life.

The current Jun Xilei, whether in her cultivation of the sword or her mental state, was far beyond what she was back then... yet Yun Che's few words made her gnash her teeth in anger.

She immediately noticed the inappropriate shift in her emotions and instantly regained her composure. However, the unnamed rage in her chest was impossible to suppress. She secretly gritted her teeth, reaching out a hand. "Fine! It's just a tattered old robe... I'll return it to you then!"

She swung her palm, and a white blur flew straight towards Yun Che's face.

Yun Che instinctively reached out and caught it, then froze when he saw what was in his hand.

In his hand was a man's outer robe, snow-white and spotless, with cold energy emanating from it... It was indeed an Ice Phoenix snow-white robe, and precisely the one he had draped over Jun Xilei back then.

Because he was Mu Xuanyin's direct disciple, his Ice Phoenix snow-white robes were different from those of all other Ice Phoenix disciples and could not be replicated.

Yun Che looked up at Jun Xilei, whose face was filled with resentment, as if she wished to devour him alive. He gaped, "Hey, hey... It's been three thousand years! You actually kept it? You're not secretly in love with me, are you?"

"You're asking for death!" Jun Xilei was furious. She extended her fair hand, already gripping the hilt of the Nameless Sword.

Though only half a foot of the Nameless Sword's blade had been drawn, it already caused space to solidify and the heavens and earth to tremble.

On the other side, Jun Wuming and Mu Xuanyin conversed calmly, seemingly oblivious to the dispute between the two juniors.

"Senior Sword Monarch, I trust you have been well," Mu Xuanyin bowed.

"Heh heh," Jun Wuming smiled faintly, his eyes full of admiration. "It has only been a few short years, yet Realm King Xuanyin's aura seems to have undergone another qualitative change. Truly, the younger generation is to be feared, to be feared indeed."

"Senior Sword Monarch flatters me. Back in the Snow Song Realm, this junior acted impulsively and was somewhat offensive. I hope you can forgive me," Mu Xuanyin said calmly.

Jun Wuming shook his head. "If anyone was offensive, it was my disciple and I who offended first."

He slightly turned his gaze and glanced at Yun Che. "This old man has lived in vain for fifty thousand years, considering my experience vast and my insight sharp beyond compare. Yet, unexpectedly, I completely misjudged back then. To be frank, after the Conferred God Battle, my expectations for Yun Che surpassed even those for my inferior disciple... but it is truly regrettable that he failed to enter the Heaven Covering Divine Realm."

He sighed after speaking.

"That is his destiny, and as the saying goes, a loss may turn out to be a gain," Mu Xuanyin said.

"Indeed," Jun Wuming nodded, reflecting. "Recalling what happened in the Snow Song Realm back then, though it brings me great shame, now I realize it was actually a good thing for my inferior disciple. Especially since these two young people with limitless futures have now formed a connection; perhaps in the future, it could even become a beautiful tale, heh heh."

Mu Xuanyin: "..."

Jun Xilei's furious drawing of the Nameless Sword finally made them turn their heads. Jun Wuming lightly tapped a finger, and with a soft click, the Nameless Sword returned to its sheath. He glanced at Yun Che, saying with a half-smile, "Lei'er, do not be rude. Now that your sword domain has reached great mastery, how can you lose control of your mind like this?"

Jun Xilei lowered her head, took two steps back, and said remorsefully, "Yes, disciple knows her mistake."

In the six hundredth year in the Heaven Covering Divine Realm, she had already achieved Divine Master. Her mental state had also sublimated, reaching the "mind like sword light" realm of the sword dao, and the power of her "Heartless Sword Domain" had undergone a qualitative change.

Yet, in front of Yun Che, she was so easily provoked... Recalling what just happened, a chill ran through her heart. She quickly calmed herself, and soon her sword heart became perfectly clear and tranquil.

At that moment, Yun Che spoke, "Senior Sword Monarch is right. Back then, she was just an immature young girl, so it was normal for her to be proud and arrogant and easily angered. But now she's so old, yet she still wants to fight and kill at the slightest provocation..."

"!#￥... Yun Che, I'll kill you!!!"

Her sword heart, which had just become perfectly clear, was like a suddenly erupting volcano. With a resounding "clang," the Nameless Sword was fully drawn... Had Jun Wuming not quickly extended his hand to stop it, Yun Che might have been annihilated into dust in the next instant.

"Sigh," Jun Wuming completely suppressed Jun Xilei's profound energy, his voice slightly stern. "Lei'er!"

Jun Xilei's beautiful eyes blazed with fury, her jade teeth clenched as she glared fixedly at Yun Che, who had swiftly hidden behind Mu Xuanyin. She then finally, with the greatest willpower she had ever mustered, suppressed her anger, retracted the Nameless Sword, let out a cold snort, and turned away, refusing to look at him again.

Jun Wuming shook his head with a wry smile, gave Mu Xuanyin a slight nod, and turned, saying, "Alright, let's go."

"Hey, wait, wait!" Yun Che spoke up again at this moment, raising his hand to grab the Ice Phoenix snow-white robe that Jun Xilei had returned to him. "I've grown a bit taller and sturdier these past few years, so this robe should have stopped fitting a long time ago. More importantly, I never take back things I've given away, so I'll return it to you."

With that, he pushed his palm, and the Ice Phoenix snow-white robe floated lightly towards Jun Xilei again.

Jun Xilei didn't turn back, saying coldly, "Who wants your tattered robe!"

Jun Wuming, however, reached out, and a gentle profound energy caught the robe. He said with a chuckle, "Thank you for the young friend's gift; this old man will accept it on behalf of my inferior disciple."

Yun Che: "Uh..."

"We shall meet again in three days at the Heaven Covering Grand Assembly," Jun Wuming said with a faint smile, then left with Jun Xilei.

Watching Jun Wuming's receding figure, Yun Che's gaze flickered slightly.

He vaguely sensed that Jun Wuming's lifespan... seemed to be nearing its end.

"Phew..." Yun Che exhaled lightly and muttered to himself, "So many years have passed, yet she hasn't changed at all. It's probably better to stay away from her in the future."

Mu Xuanyin glanced at him, her tone remarkably flat. "Do you despise older women?"

Yun Che was startled, then shook his head like a rattle drum. "No, no, no, no, no, no, no! Absolutely... absolutely not! Your disciple merely... simply dislikes that ill-tempered little Sword Monarch. There's absolutely no other meaning, and certainly, certainly not..."

"Ah! Master, wait for me!"

Before Yun Che could finish speaking, Mu Xuanyin's figure had already moved far away, and he quickly chased after her.

Elsewhere in the Heaven Covering Divine Realm.

Xia Qingyue sat quietly behind a desk, perusing a Heaven Covering scripture. Her gaze was focused, her jade-like face unadorned, yet she was stunningly beautiful, like morning clouds reflecting on snow. A barrier seemed to separate the room, making it incredibly quiet, and she herself was as serene as a magnificent painting.

As her fingers turned the pages, her posture shifted slightly, and her purple robes inadvertently accentuated the exceptionally rounded and full curves of her chest... Though it was only a fleeting glimpse, it was truly more perfect than the bright moon in the sky.

Just then, the door was gently pushed open, and a slender, delicate young girl with snowy skin and a jade-like face entered. She bowed before Xia Qingyue. "Master, Realm King Xuanyin and Yun Che have arrived in the Heaven Covering Realm."

"Mm," Xia Qingyue put down the scripture she was holding, raised her eyes, and a faint purple light flickered deep within them. "It's about the time I expected. Lian Yue, for the next few days, personally stand by and report anything that happens to me immediately."

"Yes," the girl acknowledged, then took a small step forward and presented a tiny purple crystal with both hands. "Master, this is the recent intelligence."

Xia Qingyue tapped her finger, taking the purple crystal. As purple light flashed, the information within was fully absorbed into her mind. "You may go."

"Lian Yue takes her leave."

The girl took two steps back, about to turn and leave, when she suddenly heard Xia Qingyue's soft call from behind her. "Wait!"

The girl stopped and looked up. "Does Master have any other instructions?"

"..." Xia Qingyue stood up, her moon-like brows slightly furrowed. She slowly walked to Lian Yue's side, her slender figure a head taller than the petite girl. "Instruct them to focus their investigation on the recent frequent massacres in the Dragon God Realm. Especially the time and location of the first incident... and try your best to thoroughly search for any traces of power left at each scene; the more detailed, the better!"

"Huh?" The girl was stunned, and it took her a moment to realize what "massacres" Xia Qingyue was referring to. She asked, puzzled, "Master, there are very few informants in the Dragon God Realm, and it's difficult to place more. If we investigate to this extent, it will greatly affect the collection of other intelligence. Moreover... moreover, these incidents seem like trivial matters to Lian Yue."

Among all the intelligence from the Dragon God Realm, that was the smallest and most inconspicuous piece, merely mentioned in passing.

"Just give the order. Prioritize a full investigation into this matter recently; everything else can be temporarily put aside!"

Both her expression and tone carried a rare heaviness. A chill ran through the girl's heart. Although full of questions, she dared not ask more. "Yes."

Lian Yue turned to leave, but just as she was about to step out of the room, Xia Qingyue called out to her again.

"Lian Yue," she asked, "a year ago, both the Brahma Monarch God Emperor and the Heaven Covering God Emperor sent people to the Dragon God Realm, seeking the Dragon Queen to dispel the Evil Infant's demonic energy for them. But they were both rejected by the Dragon Emperor... Are you sure it was the Dragon Emperor who rejected them at the time, and not the Dragon Queen herself?"

"Yes," Lian Yue thought for a moment. "It is rumored that the Dragon Queen was in seclusion, and no one could see her, so the Dragon Emperor was the one who refused them."

"And the newly formed barrier around the Samsara Forbidden Land, are you certain it was personally set up by the Dragon Emperor?" Xia Qingyue asked again.

"Yes," Lian Yue nodded lightly, this time without the slightest hesitation. "Because the Dragon Queen suddenly entered seclusion, the Dragon Emperor personally ordered that no beings should approach within three thousand li of the Samsara Forbidden Land. To show deterrence, he personally erected a massive new barrier. This is known to all beings in the Dragon God Realm and is not a secret."

"...You may go."

Lian Yue left, and Xia Qingyue stood still, her moon-like brows tightly furrowed...

In the past year, dozens of massacres had occurred consecutively in the Dragon God Realm. All of them involved entire families being wiped out overnight, leaving no trace of their remains... Among them were many prestigious clans and noble families.

The largest clan, numbering a full three hundred thousand people, became a dead race overnight.

Yet, not a single traceable mark was left behind, and no one knew who was responsible.

These massacres involved small clans and large sects, occurring at various times and locations, with no discernible pattern. Furthermore, they did not share common or related enemies.

The only commonality was...

Their family name was "Yun"!

After a long period of silence, Xia Qingyue finally moved, sitting back down at her desk, but she no longer had the heart to read the scriptures. She pressed her fingers to her forehead and sighed softly, "I hope I'm just overthinking."