Chapter 2001: Sweeping (Part 1)

Ximen Boyun showed his disdain for the Abyss Knight's integrity. Ximen Borong sneered, "The Qilin Divine Realm is a divine blessing personally bestowed by the Abyss Emperor. With Sir Knight here to supervise and witness, those who seek this grace must be transparent and just, absolutely free from favoritism or hidden impurities! Otherwise, it is an act of blasphemy against the Abyss Emperor's grace and Sir Knight!"

"Crown Prince Helian, there's no need to bring your royal family's ways into this Qilin Divine Realm, a place that brooks no blasphemy!"

Helian Linglang's mouth fell open, his face instantly contorting into an extremely ugly expression. For a long time, he couldn't utter a single word.

"Moreover, Crown Prince Helian has misunderstood something," Ximen Borong declared proudly, not even deigning to look at him again, his head held high. "What our Alliance of Qilin Worship wants is not to enter the Qilin Divine Realm alongside others, but to... eliminate the unworthy and take their place."

Only then did Helian Linglang grasp the implication, his already grim face instantly turning an even paler shade of ashen gray.

Zhaike Xie chuckled, "Considering the Alliance of Qilin Worship's current power, I believe no one would question their eligibility to participate in this Qilin Divine Gathering. However, whether they join by ranking alongside others or replace the last-place participant, my Panxuan Sect cannot unilaterally decide. We should consult..."

"No need."

Before Zhaike Xie could finish speaking, he was interrupted by a clear female voice.

Helian Lingzhu stepped forward slowly. Under the varied gazes, her expression remained composed, devoid of panic or alarm. Her elegant voice carried a subtle, inherent royal dignity: "Only a thousand individuals can enter the Qilin Divine Realm each time it opens. One dynasty and three sects already make it quite crowded. If the Alliance of Qilin Worship were to be added, I fear it would cause widespread resentment."

In such a situation, with an utterly disgraced Crown Prince present, she forced herself to remain calm and not betray any fear.

"'Eliminating the unworthy' is something my Helian Imperial Family wholeheartedly endorses. I imagine the Panxuan, Wanren, and Liesha Sects would also have no objections."

Such composure and response clearly surpassed the expectations of both the Alliance of Qilin Worship and the three major sects, causing a shift in everyone's gazes.

Knowing he had just lost significant face and seething with frustration, Helian Linglang, upon hearing these words, seemed to find an immediate outlet for his fury. He instantly roared, "Lingzhu, you... do you know what you're saying?!"

"Adding another Alliance of Qilin Worship means five factions vying for ranks. Even if my Imperial Family came in last, we could still send dozens of people. But if the last place is eliminated... if we happen to fall short of the Alliance of Qilin Worship, we'll be unable to enter the Qilin Divine Realm! Do you comprehend the consequences of that?"

"How is this any different from sacrificing the future of our Helian lineage!"

"Crown Prince Brother..." Helian Lingzhu murmured, then her voice abruptly sharpened, "Be quiet!"

"..." Helian Linglang instantly fell silent. This was the first time he had been reprimanded so sharply by his imperial sister, whom he had always underestimated.

Helian Lingzhu spoke firmly, "This Qilin Divine Gathering has been entrusted to my complete leadership by Father Emperor! I will personally bear all consequences; they will not affect you."

"But if you stir up trouble and defy orders, it will be tantamount to disobeying Father Emperor's command. At that point, before Father Emperor, I will show no mercy! I urge Crown Prince Brother to compose yourself and act with self-respect!"

"You!" Helian Linglang's features twitched, contorting in a mix of humiliation and resentment. Then he said coldly, "Fine! I'll just watch how you manage this, hmph!"

He let out a heavy snort, retreated among his guards, and stood with a stiff, cold face, saying nothing further.

Helian Lingzhu secretly let out a breath, then subtly glanced at Yun Che.

All the words she had used to respond to the Alliance of Qilin Worship and scold Helian Linglang had been transmitted to her telepathically by Yun Che.

"Since the Helian Imperial Family has decided so, my Wanren Sect naturally has no objections," said Sect Master Wan Wei of the Wanren Sect, rising to his feet.

"No objections," Sect Master Lie Qianhong of the Liesha Sect responded coolly.

The Qilin Abyss cultivators were abuzz with discussion. It was clear to even a fool who the "unworthy" ones the Alliance of Qilin Worship was referring to, or rather, targeting.

And since the Alliance of Qilin Worship dared to step forward and be so overtly aggressive, they naturally possessed ample confidence. After all, with an Abyss Knight emerging from their ranks, their hidden strength was likely beyond anyone's ability to fathom.

Yet, surprisingly, the targeted Helian Imperial Family did not contend at all, directly acceding to their opponent's wishes.

Was it a concession born from knowing they were outmatched, seeking to preserve dignity? Or were they... hiding a trump card?

If the Helian Imperial Family were to truly lose their qualification to enter the Qilin Divine Realm now, they would become incapable of sustained succession and rapidly decline. It might not be long before the already precarious title of "Imperial Dynasty" would be forever buried in the dust of the Qilin Abyss Realm.

There was no need to exert pressure, or even waste words. Zhaike Xie couldn't be bothered with further pleasantries and stated directly, "Since none of you have objections, then this Qilin Divine Gathering will feature five factions competing, with four ultimately entering the realm."

"In previous Qilin Divine Gatherings, battles were always two-on-two. Since there are five factions this time, to ensure fairness, it should be a round-robin tournament..."

Zhaike Xie's words flowed smoothly, clearly indicating prior preparation. At this moment, Yun Che's telepathic message sounded in Helian Lingzhu's ear.

She abruptly turned her gaze, her face etched with disbelief.

Yun Che met her gaze with a confident smile.

Helian Lingzhu took a deep breath and stepped forward... Though her heart was filled with profound apprehension, at this point, she had no other choice but to trust implicitly.

"Sect Master Panxuan," Helian Lingzhu suddenly interjected, interrupting Zhaike Xie, "With merely one additional faction, why go to the trouble of changing the competition format?"

"..." Zhaike Xie turned his gaze, his expression subtly shifting. "Then, may I ask what wise counsel Her Royal Highness Princess Helian has?"

Helian Lingzhu slowly replied, "If it's a group battle, what difference does it make if it's two-on-two or two-on-three?"

Zhaike Xie was visibly taken aback, and everyone else present also froze in surprise.

"Hehehe," Zhaike Xie laughed. "In that case, wouldn't it be unfair to those participating in a three-way battle?"

Helian Lingzhu immediately countered, "If that's the case, then my Helian Imperial Family will voluntarily participate in the three-way battle. Sect Master Panxuan and everyone else, do you still have any concerns or objections?"

"Hahahahahahaha..."

Unconcealed laughter erupted from the three major sects and the Alliance of Qilin Worship.

"Has this Helian Grand Princess lost her mind?"

"No, no, no, she probably just wants to end it quickly, so they can tuck their tails and make a swift, shameful exit."

"Exactly. Every extra second they remain is another second of public humiliation. If it were me, I'd probably just abandon the fight and leave, to avoid having my head trampled underfoot like a toy later, hahahaha... huh?"

The sneering disciple of the Alliance of Qilin Worship suddenly felt a chill run through him. He turned his head and saw Ximen Qi staring coldly, with an almost murderous intent simmering in the depths of his eyes.

The strongest reaction, without a doubt, came from the Helian Imperial Family.

Kuxian and Mo Cangying both wore expressions of shock and bewilderment.

Helian Linglang, who had finally managed to stay quiet for a while, immediately sprang up and roared, "Helian Lingzhu, are you out of your damn mind?!"

"..." Helian Lingzhu responded to no one, simply staring unyieldingly at the three major sects and the Alliance of Qilin Worship.

The varied gazes and chaotic murmurs made Yun Che subtly curl his lips... He simply did not want to waste time, nor did he wish to expend any unnecessary effort.

If they were to fight a full round-robin as Zhaike Xie suggested, he would have to act four times... But by this arrangement, two actions would suffice.

If it weren't absolutely essential to enter the Qilin Divine Realm, he truly wouldn't deign to lift even a single finger against these individuals.

"Heh," Zhaike Xie's smile was rather peculiar. The lines and competition format he had prepared to subtly mock and pressure the Helian Imperial Family were now entirely useless, as their opponents had eagerly jumped forward, seemingly seeking their own demise.

The three major sects and the Alliance of Qilin Worship were no longer fighting independently; instead, with the Alliance of Qilin Worship at their core, they had formed a temporary "united front."

They had already demonstrated this to the Imperial Family earlier through Zhailecheng and Ximen Qi.

If it was a three-way battle, the Helian Imperial Family would essentially be... fighting one against their two combined factions.

Such eagerness to court their own demise was truly a rare sight.

"Since the Helian Imperial Family is so 'magnanimous,' how could we possibly refuse?"

Setting aside his amused smile, Zhaike Xie raised his palm, clutching four Abyss Stones of various colors. "The Helian Imperial Family has already chosen to participate in a three-way battle. For our four remaining factions, we shall use these stones to determine the combat alignment."

"The two dark-colored stones will indicate a two-faction battle, while the light-colored stones will signify participation in the three-faction battle with the Helian Imperial Family."

A slight expulsion of profound energy condensed into rock, enveloping the four Abyss Stones, which then shot thousands of feet into the high sky.

Immediately after, the masters of the three sects and one alliance simultaneously made their moves, each drawing one stone into their hand. The rock casing shattered, revealing the colors of the Abyss Stones.

The Liesha Sect was drawn against the Alliance of Qilin Worship.

The Panxuan Sect, Wanren Sect, and Helian Imperial Family were drawn into the three-way battle.

Looking at the colors of the Abyss Stones in their hands, the masters of the three sects and one alliance all glanced at the Helian Imperial Family, a mix of open and subtle pity in their smiles.

Among the three major sects—Panxuan, Wanren, and Liesha—the Panxuan Sect was the strongest, followed by the Wanren Sect.

And the Helian Imperial Family was, surprisingly, directly facing these two strongest sects.

"The battleground is prepared, and the curtain of war has risen," Zhaike Xie announced loudly. "Will the participating cultivators from the Wanren Sect, Helian Imperial Family, and Panxuan Sect please enter the arena."

Nineteen Divine Master auras permeated the air, and in mere moments, the cultivators from the Panxuan Sect and Wanren Sect who were slated to participate had already taken their positions in the arena.

The Wanren Sect had nine Divine Masters and one Divine Sovereign. One of the Divine Masters was not a Wanren Sect disciple, clearly an external reinforcement... It was a pity that their tenth Divine Master reinforcement couldn't be secured, so they had to use a peak Divine Sovereign to complete their ten-person quota.

Their strongest participant was Young Sect Master Wan Chongyue, a Divine Master at Level Three.

As for the Panxuan Sect, all ten of their members exuded Divine Master auras. Their strongest participant was even a Divine Master at Level Four—Young Sect Master Zhailecheng himself.

"Young Sect Master Wan," Zhailecheng said leisurely, his voice not deliberately lowered, "How about we take care of the small fry first?"

"Why not?" Wan Chongyue responded with the same expression and tone.

The cultivators from both sects exchanged knowing glances, a tacit understanding passing between them.

On the Helian Imperial Family's side, however, the atmosphere was heavy with tension.

"Helian Lingzhu," Helian Linglang addressed her by name, his voice sinister, "You are about to become the... eternal sinner of our Helian lineage!"

Helian Lingzhu paid him no mind, her gaze fixed intently on Yun Che.

"Brother Mo, let's go," Yun Che said, patting Mo Cangying's shoulder.

Mo Cangying remained still, staring directly at him. "The 'method' you spoke of... could it be... just you?"

"Of course," Yun Che nodded.

"..." Mo Cangying's pupils visibly dilated, and he was speechless for a moment.

Yun Che's answer extinguished the light of anticipation in Helian Lingzhu's eyes like shattering crystal. Her body swayed violently, and it took several noticeably rapid breaths before she could with immense difficulty suppress the fierce palpitations in her chest.

The constant astonishing revelations about Yun Che had made her try her utmost to trust him, even decisively staking the future of the Helian Imperial Family on him.

Yun Che's consistent composure and certainty had further bolstered her belief... to the point where she began to fantasize and hope.

She hoped that he hadn't truly forgotten his past, and would reveal his "identity" at the opportune moment, bringing in external support powerful enough to allow the Helian Imperial Family to crush all opposition, saving her from this desperate situation like a hero from a fantasy.

But at this final moment, the answer she received was, surprisingly... merely Yun Che himself.

His ability to defeat Ximen Qi at the same cultivation level was enough to shock the entire Qilin Abyss Realm. But... he was, after all, merely a Divine Sovereign, and there existed a completely insurmountable realm gap between a Divine Sovereign and a Divine Master.

Even with the most profound cultivation within the Divine Sovereign realm, he would be utterly vulnerable before a true Divine Master, much less capable of effecting the slightest change in the battle's outcome.

"Grand Princess, please select the other combatants; it's time to begin," Yun Che reminded her.

Helian Lingzhu had completely lost her previous composure and certainty, her face now visibly pale. No matter how much she trusted him, faced with such an answer, her heart could only sink into despair.

She opened her mouth, reciting with an air of resignation, "Young Master Yun Che, Ninth Senior Brother, Fang Zhonghe, Li Hengsha..."

She listed nine names, until the last one: "And Crown Prince Brother."

"The ten of you will represent the Helian Imperial Family in this battle. I am entrusting everything to you."

A cold snort rang out.

Helian Linglang remained motionless, only his face was terrifyingly grim. "Simultaneously fighting both the Panxuan Sect and the Wanren Sect? Hehehe, Helian Lingzhu, you created this mess, and now you expect us to go up there to die and be humiliated?"

His gaze swept over the young cultivators who had come to participate. "You had better think this through carefully. On the opposing side are the Panxuan Sect and the Wanren Sect combined. Even if you fight to the death, there won't be the slightest possibility of victory. You might even be publicly humiliated and abused like mere toys! And after that, there will be no chance whatsoever of entering the Qilin Divine Realm."

"On the contrary, once you step forward, you will become the very individuals responsible for Helian's defeat, instantly branded with disgrace, or even the mark of a sinner!"

"Whoever wishes to step forward, this Crown Prince... will not be joining you!"

These words caused the other seven cultivators who were about to enter the arena to freeze in place, their faces fluctuating between gloom and uncertainty, with no one taking another step.

Helian Lingzhu's body swayed slightly, her face showing clear indignation. "You... all of you..."

Ultimately, she was not the Helian Monarch, and being a woman, it was difficult for her to assert authority over the crowd.

Yun Che paid them no mind, soaring directly onto the battleground, standing alone and distantly facing the Panxuan Sect and Wanren Sect.

Within the Alliance of Qilin Worship, Ximen Qi's eyes suddenly shot forth a malevolent glare of hatred.

Mo Cangying reached out and patted Helian Lingzhu's shoulder. Without another word, he soared into the air like a spreading-winged eagle, carrying a surge of Divine Master aura, and landed beside Yun Che.

"Brother Yun," he said slowly, looking straight ahead, "In this current situation, you are primarily to blame. However..."

He smiled faintly, "Compared to those useless cowards who greatly benefited from Helian's grace yet deserted at the crucial moment, only you are willing to stand with me and defend the Helian Imperial Family's last shred of dignity."

"Before we settle scores... let us first fight side by side."