Chapter 1988: The End of Helian (Part 1)

Yun Che soon met Helian, the monarch of the Helian Dynasty and the ostensible ruler of the Lin Yuan Realm.

He stood in the main hall, his imperial robes and crown predictably dull yellow. His eyes, sharp and dignified, seemed to conceal the natural arrogance of a realm's sovereign.

His gaze fell on Yun Che, but he didn't scrutinize him excessively.

"Lingzhu, Cangying, you're back.""Father, I made you worry," Helian Lingzhu said, bowing respectfully.

"It's good that you're safe," Helian sighed. "It is my incompetence as a father that forced you to put yourself in danger."

He turned his gaze to Yun Che. "Is this the extraordinary person you mentioned in your message?"

Yun Che stepped forward. "I am Yun Che. Greetings, Lord Helian."

"Hmm," Helian replied faintly, yet his brow furrowed almost imperceptibly.

The man before him had a face like flawless jade, and his eyes were as dark as night, almost devoid of any haziness. His entire being seemed untouched by the corruption of the Abyssal Dust. What surprised him most was that despite Yun Che's peak Divine Sovereign realm cultivation, his aura showed not the slightest ripple even under Helian's direct gaze.

*Untouched by Abyssal Dust, exceptional demeanor... could he be from the Divine Kingdom?* he wondered to himself.

"I heard you were pursued, escaped into a sandstorm, and woke up with no memory of your past?" he asked, his gaze scrutinizing.

"Yes," Yun Che replied. "I was fortunate to be saved by the Princess and Senior Mo."

Although Lord Helian did not openly release profound energy, Yun Che knew at first glance that this person's cultivation surpassed anyone he had encountered in the God Realm... it transcended the limits of his world. He was a demigod, like Mo Beichen, just a step away.A Half-step Divine Extinction Realm!

This was the Abyss, after all! Even in a remote land beneath a Divine Kingdom, its ruler was an existence surpassing the highest Divine Emperor.

"Father, please don't ask too many questions for now. Quickly, let him examine the old hidden injury you sustained back then." Helian Lingzhu gently nudged Yun Che forward.

Her unconscious gesture made Helian's eyebrows twitch, though he showed no emotion on his face. "It's rare for Lingzhu to recommend someone so highly. Your medical skills must be extraordinary. Please, take a look at me."

His injury had been inflicted by a demigod, making it beyond the scope of "medical skill" to resolve. He naturally held no real hope, simply not wishing to disappoint Helian Lingzhu.

Without a word, Yun Che extended his hand and touched Helian's wrist with his fingertip. A faint wisp of profound energy emerged, circulating rapidly around Helian's body once. As the profound energy dispersed, Yun Che's finger withdrew. The entire process took no more than three breaths.

Such a swift examination left all three with surprised expressions. Helian Lingzhu tentatively asked, "How is it?"

Yun Che said, "The power that invaded your heart is very strong, so it's no wonder Lord Helian couldn't dispel it. Moreover, this power is primarily constrictive and won't be life-threatening in the short term; it was clearly done on purpose."

Helian's expression dimmed, and he said wistfully, "He hated me to the bone, yet disdained to let my blood stain the honorable name of his Abyssal Knights... it was all fate."

"Then... is there a way?" Helian Lingzhu still held onto hope.

Yun Che smiled faintly. "With my current cultivation, I certainly cannot dispel this binding force. However, I can draw it out of your heart.""Ah?" Helian Lingzhu was visibly startled, then her face lit up with immense joy. "Re-really?"

In contrast to Helian Lingzhu's excitement, Helian and Mo Cangying were slightly astonished, showing no hint of joy. If this power could be drawn out of the heart, then dissolving it or forcefully expelling it would be simple, without any further concerns. But that was the power of a demigod! Even the strongest guardian ancestor of the Helian imperial family was helpless, so how dared a junior at the Divine Sovereign Realm claim such a thing?!

"How do you intend to draw it out of the heart?" Helian asked, his face unperturbed.

Yun Che's tone was calm, as if he had a clear plan. "The method of extraction involves medical principles that are difficult for me to explain clearly. However, the most crucial aspect of this method is Lord Helian's trust in me."

Helian narrowed his eyes slightly, watching him continue. "Lord Helian must allow my profound energy to enter your heart and create seventeen incisions within it. If this is done, I am absolutely confident that I can draw all the binding force out within thirty breaths."

"Nonsense!"Before Helian could respond, Mo Cangying roared in anger. "Yun Che! How dare you utter such absurdities! Or... do you harbor malicious intentions?!"Allowing another's profound energy into one's heart... that was tantamount to placing one's life in their hands. And creating seventeen incisions in the heart... that was the heart! The slightest mistake could lead to irreversible severe injury, or even death. Yun Che's words were practically an open scheme to endanger his life.

"Ninth Senior Brother!" Helian Lingzhu was startled and quickly grabbed him. "Yun Che certainly doesn't have the ill intent you're imagining."

Yun Che was not surprised by their reaction. He calmly stated, "I have just arrived in the Lin Yuan Realm and have no animosity towards anyone. The Princess, moreover, saved my life, and I am here to repay that kindness. There is absolutely no reason for me to harbor malicious intentions."

"Yes, Father," Helian Lingzhu hastily explained. "Yun Che was someone my Ninth Senior Brother and I voluntarily rescued. After he woke, he even feared bringing us trouble and wanted to leave despite his severe injuries. It was only after I witnessed his remarkably subtle and astonishing method of healing a junior disciple that I decided to bring him to you.""Ninth Senior Brother can attest to this."

Mo Cangying could not deny it.

Yun Che said, "What I proposed is merely a solution derived from my understanding of medical principles. Of course, given your status as ruler and the involvement of your heart, it is perfectly reasonable to be wary of an outsider you've just met. To agree directly would, in fact, be illogical."

Helian's expression remained unchanged as he looked at Yun Che. "Aside from this, is there any other method?"

Yun Che replied, "My cultivation is still shallow, and since it concerns the heart, this is the only method I can conceive of. However, thinking about it now, for someone of my standing to speak so directly to the ruler was indeed overly presumptuous."

"It's good that you know," Helian said flatly, showing no emotion, but a clear hint of coldness had entered his voice.

"Father," Helian Lingzhu, sensing her father's displeasure, once again spoke up for Yun Che. "Your daughter assures you, Yun Che is certainly not malicious. My Ninth Senior Brother and I witnessed his healing of our junior disciple that day. Otherwise, your daughter would not have brought him to you personally."

"My daughter, of course I believe you," Helian said. "But for me to trust an outsider with an unknown past with my very life is utterly preposterous."

"Furthermore," he added, a sharp, narrow glint in his eyes, "he utters such absurdities, yet you still defend him at every turn. You've known him for less than three days, and he's managed to earn such trust from you? This young man's methods are likely far more sophisticated than his so-called medical skills."

"Father..." Helian Lingzhu opened her mouth, momentarily speechless.

"Lord Helian's words leave me no room to refute," Yun Che said, his expression so calm that Helian secretly frowned. "In that case, I have no reason to stay further. I bid you farewell. I will surely repay your life-saving kindness once my injuries have recovered."

Helian turned away. "There's no need. The Helian lineage never demands repayment for kindness. This is not a place for you to stay, nor is my daughter someone you should approach. Leaving the Lin Yuan Realm immediately would be the best repayment."

"Father, I..."Helian Lingzhu tried to say more, but Helian had already swept his long sleeve. "Cangying, see him out.""Yes!"Mo Cangying responded.

Just then, a sudden sandstorm howled outside the hall, accompanied by a wildly arrogant laugh. "Hahahahaha, Liancheng Zhai of the Panxuan Sect requests an audience with Lord Helian!"He claimed to "request an audience," yet he intruded uninvited, and the sandstorm surged directly towards the imperial hall.

The guards in front of the hall hadn't even had time to form a defensive stance before they were struck by the furious sand, swept far away amidst successive cries of alarm.

"Panxuan Sect!?" The name, and the suddenly approaching aura, made all three of their expressions change drastically.

"You scoundrel!"Mo Cangying angrily spun around, his body suddenly erupting with yellow light. Thick, tangible rock-light condensed on his arms as he lunged directly at the figure behind the sandstorm.

A thunderous roar, like exploding rock, accompanied the shattering of the sandstorm. Space trembled, and sand and stones flew everywhere.

Amidst the scattered, dull yellow profound light, Mo Cangying spun backward and landed, his feet sinking nearly a foot deep, the surrounding ground cracking. After a violent tremor, he managed to stand firm, though his face was momentarily grim before turning into a fierce, hawk-like glare.

"Oh? If it isn't Brother Cangying."A tall, imposing figure approached, his mouth uttering unrestrained arrogance and mockery. "Thirty years, and you haven't made any progress. You, the so-called 'Cangying' who once claimed he'd soar into the Pure Lands, haven't you perhaps plucked all your own feathers just to become Helian's son-in-law?"

"You!"The ferocity in Mo Cangying's eyes intensified, his tightly clenched fingers almost drawing blood.

The man before him was Liancheng Zhai, the young sect master of the Panxuan Sect. Thirty years ago, they had fought to a draw. Now, with just a single exchange, the disparity in their power was clear.

A large hand slowly patted Mo Cangying's shoulder. Helian stepped forward, his imperial eyes emitting a faint authority. "Young man of the Zhai family, your manners for requesting an audience are growing increasingly presumptuous. It seems your father hasn't raised you well these past few years."

It was more than just presumptuous; even the dullest mind would understand that this was blatant provocation and contempt. More directly, it showed a complete disregard for the monarch.

Liancheng Zhai had not come alone. Beside him stood an unusually young-looking man of average build and unremarkable appearance, yet possessing a peak Divine Sovereign realm cultivation. Both Helian and Mo Cangying found this face entirely unfamiliar. However, this man seemed completely at ease before Helian, a faint smile playing on his lips as his gaze casually swept over the group.

His arrogant demeanor even surpassed Liancheng Zhai's. His position was also beside Liancheng Zhai, not behind him.

"Yun Che!" Helian Lingzhu urgently transmitted to Yun Che. "Find an opportunity to leave later. This person is the young sect master of the Panxuan Sect, and he's extremely difficult to deal with. I'll go... find you later, and then personally see you off."Yun Che smiled in response, yet he did not move.

Rumble!Sand and dust rose again as a multitude of imperial guards swarmed in, their vast auras locking tightly onto the two seemingly outnumbered intruders. However, Helian waved his hand and calmly ordered, "All of you, stand down."

Under the royal command, their auras, along with the dust, quickly dissipated.A slight arc of mockery curved Yun Che's lips... This monarch appeared broad-minded and as steady as a mountain, but in reality, he harbored fear and was holding back. When he was the Yun Emperor, who would have dared to intrude upon Imperial Cloud City like this? They would have been torn to shreds by Yan San's claw long ago.