Chapter 2003: Liancheng's Fine Sword

Moments ago, there had been a succession of roars, screams, and bloodshed. Yet, outside the battlefield, a terrifying silence now reigned. Regardless of gender, strength, or status, their eyes were wide, as if pierced by steel needles, dilated to the point of bursting. Countless jaws hung agape, dislocated in the moment, unable to close for a long time.

Helian Lingzhu was completely bewildered. Ku Xian's cloudy eyes were wide with shock, and Helian Linglang stood rooted to the spot, as if he had seen a ghost.

Yun Che was at the peak of Divine Sovereign Realm Level Ten.

The ten profound practitioners from the Myriad Blades Sect included one Level Three Divine Master, three Level Two Divine Masters, five Level One Divine Masters, and a single Divine Sovereign. Yet, before Yun Che, not one of them could withstand a single blow.

The bludgeon he wielded—no, wait—it was Zhailiancheng, the young sect master of the Profound Stone Sect. Zhailiancheng was the sole Level Four Divine Master among profound practitioners under six hundred years old in the Lin Yuan Realm, and the undisputed top talent of the younger generation. He had actually been…

Ximen Boyun had already risen from his esteemed seat; his eyes, typically filled with gravitas, now held nothing but shock and bewilderment. He wasn't even aware when he had stood.

High above, Hua Caili’s lips were parted wide, and the stars in her beautiful eyes seemed to forget to twinkle.

“He… he… he…”

Though her experience was limited, her lineage ensured her understanding of the profound way far exceeded that of ordinary people. Yet, in this moment, that understanding was utterly shattered.

After a long while, Hua Qingying’s voice slowly reached them: “He is indeed in the Divine Sovereign Realm; there is no hidden cultivation. And the lightning he used is certainly not ordinary lightning.”

“…A Divine Sovereign Realm practitioner, to actually… defeat a Divine Master in a single strike…” Hua Caili murmured. While there was a significant disparity between lower and higher Divine Masters, to achieve such a decisive, single-strike victory would typically require at least a Level Eight Divine Master cultivation. And he was merely a Divine Sovereign!?

This time, Hua Qingying had no reply.

That gaze, imbued with infinite sword intent and unique to a Sword Immortal, was for the first time directed at a man so unfamiliar, and who was merely a Divine Sovereign.

At this moment, Yun Che looked down at Zhailiancheng in his hand, lavishly praising him.

“What a fine ‘sword,’ truly exceptional. So easy to wield, it cannot remain nameless.”

“For now, let’s call it… the Liancheng Sword.”

Zhailiancheng was indeed quite despicable, brazenly insulting the Cloud Emperor.

Mo Cangying’s arm remained suspended in mid-air; with his mind overwhelmed by shock, he had completely forgotten its existence.

After the deathly silence, the Qilin Divine Realm erupted into arguably the most chaotic uproar in its history.

“What… what… what… happened…?” Stuttering voices echoed all around.

“He… a Divine Sovereign… nine Divine Masters… all defeated in a single strike… astounding…”

“Am I dreaming, for crying out loud!?”

“What’s happening? Can anyone tell me what just occurred? This person… this person…”

The cacophony around him finally roused Zhailieke, whose mind had been blank. He abruptly lunged forward, his eyes bloodshot, and roared, “Yun Che, you insolent brat! Release Liancheng!” His profound energy erupted with his voice, the formidable aura of a Half-step God Extinguishing Realm practitioner instantly conjuring a terrifying storm across the entire battlefield.

That was the young sect master of his Profound Stone Sect, his most beloved son. To actually… to actually be subjected to this… What an utter humiliation!

Zhailieke’s roar instantly silenced all other sounds.

Yun Che turned angrily, raising the Liancheng ‘Sword’ in his hand and pointing it directly at Zhailieke. “Sect Master Profound Stone! How dare you! With a Deep Abyss Knight present, you actually dare to interfere with and disrupt the battlefield! Are you showing no respect for the dignity of the Pure Land!?”

Yun Che’s voice was even more deafening than Zhailieke’s, and with his righteous roar, a colossal accusation was slammed onto Zhailieke’s head. The phrase “dignity of the Pure Land,” in particular, struck Zhailieke like a splash of ice water, instantly solidifying the profound energy he had released.

On the other side, Wan Wei, who had been preoccupied with rescuing Wan Chongyue and Wan Chongshan and thus hadn’t reacted immediately, also abruptly suppressed his surging anger and profound energy.

“You… you!” Zhailieke pointed a trembling finger at Yun Che, his entire face scarlet with rage. Only a sliver of remaining rationality desperately restrained his urge to instantly obliterate Yun Che.

“What about me?” Yun Che lightly shook the ‘sword’ in his hand. From Zhailiancheng’s head, which was tougher than steel under the Heavenly Tribulation Lightning, a faint crimson sword aura subtly materialized, pointing directly at Zhailieke’s nostrils. “Have I, perhaps, violated any battlefield rules?”

“You… you!!!” Zhailieke’s eyeballs bulged, nearly bursting from their sockets. Many times in his life, he had faced the points of swords, knives, spears, and halberds, but he never in his wildest dreams imagined a day when he would be pointed at with his own son. What an absurd and utterly mortifying humiliation.

Before today, Zhailiancheng was lauded and revered by all as the foremost talent among the younger generation in the Lin Yuan Realm. But after today, whenever Zhailiancheng was mentioned, who wouldn’t commend him as… the peerless ‘sword’ that shattered the Myriad Blades Sect’s ten profound practitioners in just three breaths! For a thousand years to come, the Lin Yuan Realm might never witness a more colossal joke.

“Sect Master Profound Stone,” Ximen Boyun interjected, “please calm yourself. This is the Qilin God Assembly; do not act rashly.”

*Calm down, my foot! What if it were your son!?*

Every pore on Zhailieke’s body trembled, and he bit down so hard that blood seeped from his teeth. Glaring at Yun Che, he forced himself to speak with all his remaining composure: “To kill someone is one thing, but you… your intentions are malicious… you have gone too far in your humiliation…”

“Killing would violate battlefield rules,” Yun Che stated unhurriedly. “But humiliating someone does not.”

“The battlefield rules were personally announced by you, Sect Master Profound Stone, and everyone here heard them clearly,” Yun Che continued, his expression hardening. His tone became righteous once more: “To so flagrantly disregard the very rules you yourself proclaimed, simply to favor your own! It seems your Profound Stone Sect has wielded power tyrannically in the Lin Yuan Realm for far too long, and has indeed ceased to regard the Abyssal Emperor’s benevolence or the Pure Land’s dignity!”

“You!!” A mouthful of old blood surged to Zhailieke’s throat, barely held back from erupting.

“Sect Master Profound Stone,” Ximen Boyun commanded, “stand down!”

Zhailieke’s chest heaved violently. He took several deep breaths before managing to retract his profound energy. “It was my momentary impulsiveness, Sir Knight; I beg your forgiveness.”

Ximen Boyun lowered his gaze and stated calmly, “The battle continues.”

Yun Che, however, abruptly looked up, meeting Ximen Boyun’s gaze directly. “Continue? Sect Master Profound Stone disrupted the battlefield, which is a serious violation of the rules. Should he not be disciplined? Just the two words, ‘stand down’?”

The atmosphere in the Qilin Divine Realm instantly solidified. Helian Lingzhu, Ku Xian, Mo Cangying, and others wore expressions of utter shock. For Yun Che’s words were unmistakably… a challenge and an accusation directed at a Deep Abyss Knight.

“No substantial interference?”

The moment the words left his lips, Yun Che secretly discharged a surge of profound energy, causing a stream of blood to spurt from the corner of his mouth. He simultaneously wiped a finger across his lips, leaving a glaring smear of crimson blood.

“Sect Master Profound Stone’s might is absolute in the Lin Yuan Realm; he is an unparalleled Half-step God Extinguishing practitioner. And I am merely a minor Divine Sovereign. How could I possibly withstand the profound energy he unleashed!?” Zhailieke wished he could splatter Yun Che’s face with filth right then and there… *Damnable* “minor Divine Sovereign!”

“Just now, the Half-step God Extinguishing power from Sect Master Profound Stone inflicted significant internal injuries upon me! Had my body and will not been exceptionally resilient… anyone else would likely have been instantly shattered!” Yun Che’s tone gradually became tinged with indignation: “Such grievous injuries, and you deem that ‘no substantial interference’?”

Ximen Boyun’s brow furrowed deeper. “Yun Che, do not… push… your… luck!” The brief words hinted at surging anger, causing everyone’s hearts to clench.

CRASH!!

With a heavy thud, the ‘sword’ in Yun Che’s hand suddenly struck the ground, burying Zhailiancheng’s entire head beneath his foot.

“#*$%…” Zhailieke’s profound energy nearly spiraled out of control once more.

“Dare I ask, Sir Deep Abyss Knight,” he said, meeting Ximen Boyun’s imposing gaze without flinching, his voice surprisingly even deeper than the Knight’s, “in this battle, have I, Yun Che, committed even the slightest violation of the rules?”

“…None,” Ximen Boyun replied, his brow furrowed, his heart sinking further. Under the soul pressure of his Half-God Realm, the other party showed not a trace of fear!? This person calling himself “Yun Che”—who exactly was he…?

Yun Che’s tone rose another notch. “Then, is it not a fact that Sect Master Profound Stone Zhailieke, in order to protect his son, interfered with the battle using Half-step God Extinguishing power, injuring me, and thus severely violating the battlefield rules?”

…Ximen Boyun could not deny it.

“Heh!” Yun Che scoffed, a fearless, yet indignant and sarcastic, cold laugh. “It is common knowledge that to become a Deep Abyss Knight of the Pure Land, one must not only possess a demi-god body but also pass the trials of soul and will.”

“A noble soul, an unyielding will—these are the fundamental tenets of a Deep Abyss Knight! The title ‘Deep Abyss Knight’ is an identity granted by the Abyssal Emperor, representing the dignity of the Pure Land and the prestige of the Abyssal Emperor!”

“Just moments ago, right before the battle commenced, you unequivocally stated publicly: under the gaze of a Deep Abyss Knight, no evil, defilement, or injustice shall be tolerated.”

“But!” He glared furiously. “Under your very gaze, Zhailieke openly disrupted the battlefield, defied the rules, and gravely injured a profound practitioner participating in the battle, yet you merely uttered ‘stand down,’ without imposing any punishment whatsoever.”

“And I, a victim under your very eyes, who merely pointed out your unfairness and sought to uphold this most basic principle of justice, have now become ‘pushing my luck’ in your own words!?”

“Is this your ‘nobility’ as a Deep Abyss Knight!? Is this the dignity of the Pure Land you claim to represent!?”

Ximen Boyun abruptly rose, his robes billowing, clearly seething with rage. He glared at Yun Che, but for a long moment, no words escaped him. Meanwhile, the countless gazes fixed upon him from all sides now felt like piercing thorns.

“His words are incredibly sharp.” Hua Caili murmured softly in astonishment, the name “Yun Che” involuntarily etched into her mind.

“…Indeed,” Hua Qingying unexpectedly conceded.

BOOM!!

Following his outburst of anger, a surge of profound energy erupted from Ximen Boyun’s body. It was the aura and oppressive might of a demigod. In that instant, the very sky above the Qilin Divine Realm seemed to bear down, causing countless profound practitioners to gasp for air. Just as everyone braced themselves, believing Ximen Boyun had lost control in his fury and was about to strike Yun Che, they witnessed him unleash a palm strike.

SMACK!!

An incredibly forceful slap, akin to a thunderbolt splitting the sky, landed squarely on Zhailieke’s face from ten miles away. Though a Half-step God Extinguishing practitioner was powerful, how could he withstand the might of a demigod? Amidst the resounding, heart-shattering smack, Zhailieke was violently sent flying from high in the air, crashing into the ground and leaving a massive crater before bouncing up and landing dozens of miles away, trailing several plumes of blood.

Wan Wei shivered, secretly grateful that he hadn’t acted on his impulse moments before.

“Sect Master Profound Stone!” Ximen Boyun’s face was etched with fury, his hands subtly trembling. “You maliciously disrupted the Qilin God Assembly, and you deserve this punishment! Should you offend again… I will directly revoke your Profound Stone Sect’s qualification to enter the Qilin Divine Realm.”

This final statement caused the stunned members of the Profound Stone Sect to nearly collapse to their knees in shock.

“Sect Master, calm down, please calm down!”

As Zhailieke barely managed to rise from the ground, the telepathic pleas of various Profound Stone Sect elders to calm down flooded his ears. Immediately, blood gushed from all seven of his orifices, his vision blurred, and he collapsed once more.

“Yun Che, are you satisfied now?” Ximen Boyun’s words sounded calm and even, but anyone could discern the underlying gnashing of teeth.

“Completely satisfied!” Yun Che replied with a smile, nodding slightly. “This is precisely how a Deep Abyss Knight should act.”

Ximen Boyun’s venerable seat armrest was crushed in his grip.

“Sect Master… Sect Master!”

Zhailieke was helped to his feet. He looked up, spitting out broken teeth as he roared, “Are you all dead…? Quickly, save Liancheng!!” The nine Profound Stone disciples still on the field remained in a state of stunned terror. The telepathic message from their sect master, fraught with frenzy, rage, and humiliation, compelled them to brace themselves and charge towards Yun Che.

Unlike the Myriad Blades Sect disciples, who had been completely caught off guard, these nine dared not show the slightest carelessness. Nine Divine Master auras were unleashed without reservation in an instant, causing the entire Qilin Divine Realm to subtly tremble.

Yun Che snatched up the ‘Liancheng Sword’ that was impaled in the ground. The surging sword might immediately repelled Mo Cangying, who had been about to make his move from behind, sending him dozens of yards away. He activated his Illusory Light Thunder Extreme, approaching with the speed of lightning. He then unleashed a “Falling Heavenly Wolf,” wreathed in Heavenly Tribulation lightning, blasting powerfully forward.

CRACK!!

Another planet seemed to explode within Zhailiancheng’s head… A colossal Heavenly Wolf shadow roared above the battlefield. The explosive sword might simultaneously sent all nine Divine Masters toppling, and their protective Profound Stone profound energy completely crumbled within a mere two breaths.

With a blur, Yun Che materialized amidst the nine Profound Stone Sect Divine Masters, unleashing a Heaven Extinguishing Earth Shattering strike directly into the ground.

BOOM————

Over half the battlefield was directly torn apart by the majestic sword might, sending the nine Profound Stone disciples, their protective profound energy shattered, flying through the air. It also thoroughly shook the eyes of those observing the battlefield, which were already bulging and near to bursting.

Standing at the epicenter of the destruction, Yun Che unhurriedly turned around, the ‘sword’ in his hand swirling with the power of a storm, and casually flicked it. Zhailiancheng immediately spun away at high speed, the storm energy it carried instantly conjuring a massive tempest, a hundred miles wide, as it whirled. It ensnared the nine men flying through the air, then violently flung them out… until they were hundreds of miles beyond the battlefield’s edge.

WHOOSH WHOOSH WHOOSH WHOOSH WHOOSH WHOOSH WHOOSH…

The whoosh of the flying ‘sword’ through the air was incredibly clear. Having completed its mission, the Liancheng Sword spun precisely back towards Yun Che. But Yun Che did not catch it with his hand. Instead, he thrust his foot out, kicking the ‘sword’ directly, and with a resounding *CRUNCH*, he viciously stomped Zhailiancheng into the ground.

He leaned down, staring into Zhailiancheng’s almost lifeless eyes, and remarked with an expression of profound admiration: “Young Sect Master Profound Stone truly embodies a noble spirit. For a mere promise, not only did you clear out the Myriad Blades Sect, but you even struck down your own people, and with such ruthless force.”

“How… truly admirable.”