Chapter 1999: The Meeting of the Lin God (Part 2)

On the mystic vessel, Helian Lingzhu stood tall, her eyes filled with worry. Meanwhile, the young profound practitioners of the Helian Heavenly Palace were all beaming with excitement, their anticipation and eagerness palpable.

Everyone in the Linluan Realm knew that the Helian Imperial Family was gradually declining, a trend that had continued for several eras. However, they were completely unaware of the drastic changes currently unfolding. They didn't know that the Bailin Alliance had gained the support of the Three Sects, nor that the Bailin Alliance would participate in this Lin God Assembly, and were even ignorant that the Abyssal Knight witnessing the assembly was from the Bailin Alliance.

They still believed that the Helian Imperial Family would certainly enter the Lin God Realm, just as in every previous era, though only holding the lowest level of control.

The words declared by Zhai Liancheng and Ximen Qi when they visited that day could not be made public by Helian Jue; he had to keep them strictly secret, otherwise, they would undoubtedly cause immense panic and unpredictable turmoil. Furthermore, after that, Helian Jue's severe injuries flared up, leaving him no time for other matters.

Helian Jue's absence, attributed to "unhealed severe injuries," was a perfectly reasonable excuse.

However, the fact that Helian Lingzhu was leading left everyone utterly stunned.

Prince Helian Linglang, in particular, was undoubtedly filled with confusion, indignation, fear, and rage. Even while Helian Jue was in seclusion for healing, the Prince sought an audience multiple times, eventually even attempting to force his way in, but was inevitably thrown out immediately.

But a prince was still a prince, while Helian Lingzhu was merely a woman in the eyes of the secular world. Even though she had been personally appointed by the Helian Monarch, the peerless geniuses of the Helian Imperial Family and Heavenly Palace still clustered around Helian Linglang.

Helian Linglang stood on the other side of the mystic vessel, his gaze constantly sweeping over Helian Lingzhu and Yun Che, his expression dark and uncertain.

"Crown Prince brother, why are you so concerned?" a Helian prince beside him said. "Everyone says that father's injuries were healed by our imperial sister. Father entrusting her with this responsibility is merely a reasonable reward. As for shaking your position as Crown Prince, that's pure nonsense."

"Exactly," interjected Fang Zhonghe, the chief disciple of the Helian Heavenly Palace this generation. "Although the Grand Princess has a considerable reputation, with the Crown Prince presiding over the Helian Imperial Family, how could it be her turn?"

Helian Linglang's expression didn't soften at all. He glanced at Mo Cangying, who never minced words with him, then glared fiercely at Yun Che. "It's all because of this pretty boy... What's his background, anyway!"

"Who cares about his background?" another Helian prince said with a disdainful look. "He's just a pretty boy kept by the imperial sister, after all. Speaking of which, Mo Cangying hasn't looked too good these past few days. I'm afraid it won't be long now... heheheh."

A burst of laughter erupted immediately, and the corners of Helian Linglang's mouth curled slightly.

Although they were far apart, Mo Cangying, as the most outstanding disciple of this generation from the Helian Heavenly Palace, possessing a cultivation of Divine Master Realm Level Three, heard the laughter clearly.

He clenched his fists, his brows deeply furrowed, but he remained still for a long time.

Yun Che, however, walked over to his side.

"Brother Mo," he began, "the Grand Princess seems to be in low spirits. At a time like this, you should be by her side."

Mo Cangying maintained his original posture, not even glancing at him, his face devoid of expression. "Wouldn't it be better if you went?"

"Me?" Yun Che looked bewildered and confused, then let out a laugh. "Brother Mo, I don't understand what you mean."

"You do understand," Mo Cangying's tone hardened slightly. "Her eyes and heart are full of you right now! You've stayed, and everything you've done has been for her... Don't take me for a fool!"

"Since she entered the Helian Heavenly Palace as an ordinary disciple, I've been watching her. I know better than anyone what she's like..." Mo Cangying looked away. "Whomever she favors is her freedom. It's only natural that you would favor her, and I have nothing to say about it, nor do I stoop to anger or resentment because of it."

"But for you to actively stick close to her, acting all ambiguous and strange," he gave a cold sneer, "that's stooping to a low level."

The smile vanished from Yun Che's face. Instead of leaving, he took a few more steps closer, standing side-by-side with Mo Cangying.

"Brother Mo, have you ever calculated how long I've actually spent with the Grand Princess?"

Mo Cangying: "..."

Yun Che slowly continued, "Excluding the time you brought me from the sandstorm to the Helian Heavenly Palace and our shared journey from the Helian Heavenly Palace to the Imperial City, the actual time I've spent interacting with the Grand Princess, even fully calculated, is less than three hours."

"And Brother Mo, you and the Grand Princess have known each other since childhood, started from humble beginnings together, and mutually accompanied, supported, and grown. Such a bond is deeply engraved in your bones, incomparable to any other person or feeling."

"That's why, when the Grand Princess ventured into the Misty Sea alone, Brother Mo bravely entered without hesitation, risking his life to save her. I believe the Grand Princess would do the same for you, Brother Mo."

"As for me, I am just an outsider. I've known the Grand Princess for less than a month; our interactions are as shallow as water, and mutual understanding is out of the question." Yun Che shook his head. "Compared to the bond between Brother Mo and the Grand Princess, what right do I have to be considered even slightly comparable?"

Mo Cangying turned his head, his expression slightly moved. "But..."

"No 'buts'," Yun Che smiled. "I can prove that what Brother Mo believes is wrong."

"Brother Mo says I'm smitten with the Grand Princess. In truth, everything I've done for her is to repay the life-saving kindness, and I also have a personal motive: to visit the Lin God Realm. After all, it's a secret realm related to the Abyssal Emperor, which naturally sparks curiosity and yearning."

He said with a frank expression, "As a man, a life-saving grace is paramount; how could I not repay it with all my might? If it were you, Brother Mo, you would surely do the same."

"..." Mo Cangying's lips twitched, about to say something, but he heard Yun Che continue, "After the Lin God Assembly, I will immediately leave the Linluan Realm. In the future, there will likely be no chance for us to meet again."

He suddenly turned his head. "You... will leave?"

"Of course," Yun Che's face showed no trace of lingering attachment, only a matter-of-fact certainty. "This is not my birthplace, and after repaying the kindness, there's naturally no reason for me to stay. So, Brother Mo, your assertion that I'm smitten with the Grand Princess is inherently wrong."

"Similarly, Brother Mo, your claim that the Grand Princess is smitten with me is also wrong."

Mo Cangying's expression clearly fluctuated. His previous stiffness vanished without a trace.

"The Helian Imperial Family is gradually declining, and the Grand Princess knew in advance about the Bailin Alliance's ambitions. She was even so lost and helpless that she ventured alone into the Misty Sea. Therefore, my appearance was like a straw of hope... one that might bring a slight turning point. In her desperation, it was natural for her to cling to it tightly."

"That's why she showed excessive eagerness and trust towards me. I presume her biggest gamble and hope right now lie in my background."

"As for being 'smitten' with me," Yun Che shook his head and chuckled, "that's simply out of the question."

Mo Cangying was clearly persuaded, or perhaps suddenly enlightened.

"To her, you are as close as a sibling, already indispensable. To her, I am merely like a timely cotton coat appearing when the cold wind strikes, incomparable to you."

He turned his gaze, gesturing towards Helian Lingzhu's direction. "Brother Mo, if you're not by her side right now, she'll surely feel downcast and heartbroken."

Mo Cangying's upper body straightened abruptly, then he shot directly towards Helian Lingzhu's direction. But he immediately stopped and turned back, saying to Yun Che, "Brother Yun, your kindness to Lingzhu and to the Imperial Family is kindness to me, Mo Cangying."

"If you can truly help the Helian Imperial Family enter the Lin God Realm... while you remain in the Linluan Realm, whatever you ask for, I will not hesitate to give my life!"

His words were impactful and resolute. Without waiting for Yun Che's reply, he had already moved to Helian Lingzhu's side.

Yun Che leaned back against the cabin wall, his gaze as placid as stagnant water.

Mo Cangying's words, the so-called kindness to Helian Lingzhu, accounted for at most a small portion; more largely, they stemmed from guilt over his "misunderstanding" and gratitude for being "enlightened."

He was, after all, a straightforward person, easily appeased with just a few words.

The word "love," though often associated with eternity, can often be overcome in an instant.

This holds true for both women and men.

Clearly, Mo Cangying didn't quite grasp this. However, this way, he wouldn't be a variable, and perhaps... he might even be useful.

After integrating the memories of Chi Wuyao, his way of perceiving people and his behavioral habits had somewhat come to resemble hers.

The center of the Linluan Realm was known as the Qilin Divine Realm.

The entrance to the Lin God Realm was located here, containing the Abyss's most tumultuous rock-sands and the last Qilin of the Abyss.

The name "Last Qilin" was undoubtedly alluring, yet few outsiders ever set foot in the Linluan Realm. This was because the Lin God Realm, which protected the last Qilin, was established by the Abyssal Emperor and remained closed year-round. Who would dare trespass?

Today, the Qilin Divine Realm was filled with mystic vessels of various sizes floating across the sky.

The Lin God Realm had always been controlled by one Imperial Family and Three Sects. Thus, what was commonly known as the Lin God Assembly was merely a struggle among these one Imperial Family and Three Sects for allocation rights.

However, those who could participate in this struggle were undoubtedly the top geniuses of the younger generation. After entering the Lin God Realm, they could advance even further, undergo a complete transformation, and undoubtedly grow to become the highest-level existences in the Linluan Realm in the future.

Therefore, the young profound practitioners participating in each Lin God Assembly were essentially the controllers of the Linluan Realm in the next era. All major powers naturally came to observe, to foresee the future basic structure of the Linluan Realm.

Nearly a hundred thousand people gathered in the sky above the Qilin Divine Realm. While this might be a small scene in the God Realm, in the sparsely populated Abyss, it was already quite a large gathering.

The Three Great Sects—Panxuan, Wanren, and Liesha—had all arrived, forming a three-sided stance in the central area. The Helian Imperial Family's mystic vessel landed on the fourth side, but any profound practitioner could sense that its overall aura was distinctly weaker than that of the Three Great Sects.

The increasing strength of the Three Great Sects and the generational weakening of the Helian Imperial Family were well-known realities throughout the Linluan Realm. It was expected that this Lin God Assembly would again be a contest among the Three Great Sects, with the Helian Imperial Family, which had consistently ranked last for several eras, merely going through the motions.

Taking charge of such a scene for the first time, Helian Lingzhu strove to maintain an outward appearance of certainty and dignity. In reality, her nervousness and apprehension surpassed any she had ever felt in her life.

Her gaze quickly found the Bailin Alliance, situated in a distant corner, and they returned an arrogant, faint smile.

"Yun Che," she carefully transmitted her voice, "is it... is it really alright?"

"Just trust me, and trust yourself," Yun Che replied gently. "I've never gone back on my promises."

That's right, he didn't even consider the Panxuan Sect or the Bailin Alliance a threat, and he could easily accomplish what even the Guardian Grand Ancestor was helpless to do. Helian Lingzhu took a deep breath, feeling a little more at ease.

"Oh? The Imperial Family actually sent a little girl to lead the team this time?"

A jarring voice came from the side.

The speaker was Wan Chongyue, the Young Sect Master of the Wanren Sect. He squinted his eyes, his tone arrogant and tinged with schadenfreude.

"Little girl?" Mo Cangying's eyes instantly sharpened like a hawk's talons, piercing Wan Chongyue. "Are you blind? How dare you disrespect the Grand Princess!"

"Oh, so she's the Grand Princess," Wan Chongyue said, feigning sudden realization, then laughed even more wildly. "Disrespectful, so what? Will I be banished to the sand abyss, or will my entire clan be executed? This young master is simply trembling with fear."

Such blatant disrespect towards the Imperial Family went unchallenged by those beside him; instead, there was a chorus of laughter.

"There's no need to pay attention to them," Helian Lingzhu said. She had always known that the Imperial Family's prestige only applied to commoners and smaller sects, appearing as a joke to the Three Great Sects.

The Wanren Sect, however, persisted. Wan Chongshan, the Sect Master's youngest son, deliberately raised his voice, "I heard that the Helian Monarch has been tormented by the profound energy Senior Mo instilled in him years ago, wishing he were dead, and could die suddenly at any moment. He hasn't appeared at an important event like the Lin God Assembly this time. Do you think it could be because..."

"Hahahaha!"

"No, no, no, it could also be that he heard some news and was scared witless, so he didn't dare come."

"Guts? Does Helian Jue even have those?"

Another large wave of unrestrained laughter erupted.

Mo Cangying's eyes blazed with fire, but seeing Helian Lingzhu's relatively calm expression, seemingly disinclined to react, he finally managed to hold back from exploding.

Helian Linglang, on the other hand, had a dark, livid face and muttered through gritted teeth, "It's all because father insisted on appointing her... It's utterly humiliating!"

At this moment, Zhai Kexie, the current Sect Master of Panxuan Sect and the top contender of the previous Lin God Assembly, soared into the air, his voice resounding like a great bell: "The time has come. We respectfully welcome the esteemed Abyssal Knight, who hails from the Pure Land and will witness this Lin God Assembly."

The barrier of the Lin God Realm was set up by the Abyssal Emperor, and its activation also required a Pure Land Divine Mark. Therefore, an Abyssal Knight would arrive before each opening of the Lin God Realm, both to activate it and to serve as a supervisor during its operation.

Later, as the Three Great Sects gradually rose, the Lin God Assembly came into being. Consequently, the arriving Abyssal Knights would be invited as witnesses to the Lin God Assembly, as a sign of respect.

A figure ascended into the air, the Abyssal Knight's silver armor and cape reflecting a chilling light that pierced everyone's eyes and souls.

The Pure Land Divine Mark shining on the back of his hand emitted a divine radiance of heavenly might that almost enveloped the entire Qilin Divine Realm.

"Welcome, esteemed Knight."

Zhai Kexie was the first to bow, followed closely by the members of the Panxuan Sect behind him.

Immediately, all profound practitioners present bowed their heads, holding their breath in reverence, as if worshipping a descending deity.

To all beings in the Abyss, the Pure Land was the supreme holy land. Those who came from the Pure Land were naturally as sacred as gods.

But instantly, gasps of astonishment broke out.

"That... that's..."

"Ximen... Boyun?"

"Xi... Ximen Boyun!!"

Countless people looked up in shock, their uncontrolled exclamations spreading rapidly, astounding everyone.

"That's right! That's Ximen Boyun, the Vice Alliance Master of the Bailin Alliance!"

"Didn't he die?"

"He... actually became an Abyssal Knight!"

"That seemingly absurd rumor is actually true! Not only did he not die in the Misty Sea, but he also became an Abyssal Knight of the Pure Land!"

"Doesn't that mean the Bailin Alliance will... skyrocket?"

Exclamations filled the air, persistent and unending.

Soon, gazes of surprise, doubt, or pity turned towards the location of the Helian Imperial Family.

The Bailin Alliance's rapid rise was well-known; it had long been on the verge of becoming the fourth great sect.

Now that an Abyssal Knight had emerged from their ranks, wouldn't their momentum directly surpass that of the Helian Imperial Family?

Then this Lin God Assembly...

If the Bailin Alliance also participated, would it mean an additional force entering the Lin God Realm, or would one of the existing parties be squeezed out?

If it were the latter...

More gazes sought out the Bailin Alliance's position, only to realize that they were already standing in full battle readiness.

Alliance Master Ximen Borong and Young Alliance Master Ximen Hong were both present, and all major leaders and hall masters had also arrived.

The young profound practitioners in the back were also clearly in a state of preparation for battle.

What was to happen next was glaringly obvious.