Chapter 2040: Palm Blood

Fan Qingzhou's intent was glaringly obvious, clearly displayed through his gaze and killing intent.

The lightning was dazzling, and even more piercing to the heart. Hua Caili lifted her jade fingers, and the Rift Cloud Sword flew before her, following the trajectory of her fingertips, releasing a jade-like sword brilliance. "The duty of an Abyssal Knight is judgment, and their will is protection. As a candidate qualified for the trial, do you truly… simply to avoid leaving a blemish, intend to harm someone with whom you have no grievances?"

Her words and gaze were stern, yet held a hint of perplexing sorrow that caused Fan Qingzhou to momentarily falter.

But it was only for an instant. Following that, an even more resolute killing intent surged within him. "I'm very curious how you immediately saw through my identity. I think the most likely answer is that you frequently interact with Abyssal Knights."

"Therefore, I can't ask. Because I'm afraid the answer I get might make me hesitate, or even fear."

The name Fan Qingzhou could bear blemishes—either before or after becoming an Abyssal Knight. But absolutely not during this trial. The higher her status, the more likely she was to expose this blemish. He was just a single step away, this final half-step; how could he allow such an unexpected existence?

He pointed his sword forward, and the instantly raging lightning reflected the grim ferocity in his pupils. "You shouldn't have exposed my identity. You've left me... with no choice!"

Based solely on her aura, he was certain her identity was extraordinary. But this was the Mist Sea, which could conceal and swallow everything, so he dared to be so ruthless. Moreover, having taken this step, there was no turning back. Without another word, Fan Qingzhou thrust his sword forward, its blade carrying a thousand bolts of lightning directly at Hua Caili.

As for Yun Che, he did not spare him a single glance from beginning to end.

The might of a Divine Extinction Realm, first level, was absolutely no match for a half-step Divine Extinction Realm cultivator. Furthermore, Hua Caili was already heavily depleted and not fully recovered.

However, Hua Caili was no ordinary person. Although she had not yet entered the Divine Extinction Realm, having grown up surrounded by true gods and demigods, the power of the Divine Extinction Realm could not genuinely intimidate her soul. Even its suppression of her body and strength was far weaker than it would be for others. She darted forward, unfurling a flurry of phantom images like a continuous flutter of butterfly wings, instantly evading the trajectory of the sword light and lightning, also moving away from Yun Che's location.

Fan Qingzhou's brow visibly furrowed, as if disbelieving that his Divine Extinction power had not touched her in the slightest. He changed his hand gesture, and the sword light and lightning in mid-air abruptly shifted direction, chasing Hua Caili.

The Rift Cloud Sword also swept out at this moment, its jade-colored blade drawing a light, ethereal arc in mid-air, yet instantly unleashing dozens of colorless sword lights. The sound of tearing air was as faint as a mosquito's buzz, but Fan Qingzhou's expression changed slightly, as he suddenly realized that his connection with his sword light and lightning had vanished. Hua Caili's sword intent had silently severed it!

The uncontrolled sword light and lightning plummeted, tearing through the Mist Sea ground and causing a terrifying lightning storm that ravaged several miles. Since there were many attendant knights in the not-too-distant area, Fan Qingzhou had not used his full power when he attacked, and had tried to concentrate his strength, so as not to cause too much commotion.

Although a half-step Divine Extinction Realm was called "half-step Divine Extinction," there was an insurmountable major realm gap compared to a true Divine Extinction Realm. Fan Qingzhou never imagined his Divine Extinction power would be severed in an instant by her.

Hua Caili's counterattack arrived in a flash. Her sword gently thrust forward—there was no visible sword light or blade energy, and even the surge of profound energy was very faint. However, in the space less than three feet in front of Fan Qingzhou, dozens of sword lights suddenly shot out, aiming directly for his pupils. Fan Qingzhou was already startled by the severing of his profound energy, and these dozens of sword lights appeared completely out of thin air. At his initial half-god realm, he was caught off guard, only managing to pull back slightly.

With a soft hum, all the sword lights struck Fan Qingzhou's body, none missing. Yet, none passed through him; instead, they embedded themselves into his flesh. The difference in major realms meant that Hua Caili's sword ultimately found it difficult to inflict severe injury. Fan Qingzhou waved his arm, and lightning crackled on his body, instantly shattering all the embedded sword lights. But as the sword lights dispersed, dozens of half-inch deep blood holes appeared on his body, a splash of blood beads quickly sealing themselves.

Fan Qingzhou stumbled back a step, his heart filled with terror. He, too, was a swordsman, his sword energy intertwined with lightning, capable of pursuing souls and binding lives in an instant. His sword intent being severed by Hua Caili had already left him bewildered. And the sword lights that appeared out of thin air just now completely transcended his understanding of the sword path.

Yun Che's tightly closed eyelids twitched slightly. As expected of the Heaven-Shattering Sword Art created by the Heaven-Punishing God Emperor Mo E, its first strike’s sword intent could traverse space. Hua Caili had only just gained insight into it a few hours ago, yet now she could wield it to such an extent.

The clarity in his mind harshly sounded an alarm for Fan Qingzhou. The sword intent, defying his understanding, showed just how profound her sword path was, and naturally meant her origin must be… perhaps far more terrifying than he had anticipated. His heart instantly turned cold, then abruptly shifted to an even more bone-chilling killing intent. The moment he looked up, the purple sword in his hand shot out. In this strike, he held nothing back, leaving no room for retreat.

The might of Divine Extinction cleaved an incredibly dazzling purple light through the Mist Sea space, completely dyeing Hua Caili's pupils a deep, abyssal purple. Hua Caili swiftly darted, and where her Rift Cloud Sword pointed, the purple sword's flight path instantly deviated. Such a cross-realm interference of sword intent was astonishing, but ultimately, it was Divine Extinction power. As the purple sword swept past, even several feet away, Hua Caili still let out a soft groan, forcefully thrown back.

Her body crashed heavily to the ground, creating countless cracks in the earth. A few strands of shattered hair and blood beads floated in mid-air. Hua Caili struggled to get up. As she looked up, a deep crimson gash appeared on her jade-like forehead, and a trickle of blood slowly oozed from the corner of her lips.

Fan Qingzhou paused in shock a third time, then immediately turned ruthless again. He grasped with his hand, and the purple sword flew back into his grip. Violent lightning instantly engulfed the sword and his entire right arm. Gritting his teeth, he let out a low growl and lunged at Hua Caili like a狂躁 wild beast. "Die!"

The thunderous roar churned the gloomy space. Fan Qingzhou clearly no longer cared about alarming others, desperate to utterly obliterate Hua Caili, who caused him such immense unease. The demigod's aura fiercely suppressed her, and the lightning-wrapped purple sword ruthlessly plunged towards her throat.

Hua Caili gritted her jade teeth, but new injuries piled upon old. Facing Divine Extinction power she could not resist, this time, she couldn't even fully lift her arm, only able to watch as the death-bringing purple light drew closer and closer in her pupils.

*Aunt, save me…* she silently cried out in helpless despair.

No wonder Aunt said that human nature is always hidden beneath rules. But the murky Mist Sea can clearly reflect it. Abyssal Knights… in her understanding, they were righteous and pure individuals, yet in the Mist Sea, they could be so cruel and terrifying.

The purple light, carrying the aura of death, drew closer and closer, until it was right before her, forcing her eyes shut. But still, her aunt's presence did not appear.

*Schhh… Buzz!*

A piercing snap and a dull thud sounded simultaneously in front of her. A chaotic storm of wind swept across her face, but the terrifying aura of death was gone. She slowly opened her eyes. What met her gaze was not her aunt's ethereal, azure figure, but a man's silhouette, his body firmly shielding her.

*Drip…**Drip…*

The purple sword, aimed at her, had pierced through the man's palm, half its blade embedded, then was firmly held in place by his bent fingers in his bone joints, unable to approach her by another inch. Only one drop after another of blood fell from his palm, slowly spreading across her pure white gauze dress and her bewildered pupils.

The world briefly froze. Fan Qingzhou's pupils dilated by more than double, staring fixedly at the man who had suddenly appeared in front of him. The aura of a Divine Master Realm, third level, had actually completely stopped his Divine Extinction power!?

"..." Hua Qingying, who was about to act the next instant, instantly reined in her sword intent.

"You...?" Fan Qingzhou looked at Yun Che, who was so close, repeatedly confirming his cultivation and his own perception. This was the man who had been breaking through just now, his early Divine Master Realm aura making him disdain to even spare a glance. Yet, such a person stood unmoving before him, directly blocking his power. The shock and absurdity of this moment made him feel as if he were dreaming.

Yun Che's palm, pierced by the sword, suddenly tightened, causing the purple sword to hum with a tremor, and most of the lightning covering it dissipated. His other hand gently pushed back, and a gentle profound energy pushed Hua Caili far away.

"Someone of your caliber, do you really deserve to be an Abyssal Knight?" he gazed at Fan Qingzhou, his voice low and cold. Fan Qingzhou's expression, opposite him, grew increasingly unsightly. He had been trying to withdraw his sword, but no matter how much strength he exerted, he couldn't pull the purple sword from Yun Che's fingers.

"Who... are you!?" he roared, his voice three parts disbelief, seven parts chilling fear. A major realm gap was insurmountable. Even someone as strong as Hua Caili, with her sword path, could defeat several opponents of the same realm and bridge one, or even several minor realms, but it was absolutely impossible to bridge a major realm to contend with Fan Qingzhou. Yet, this man, only in the Divine Master Realm, third level, exerted such immense force from the sword that his arm felt as if a heavenly mountain had fallen upon it, heavy to the point of bone fracture.

A demigod was snarling ferociously, while the Divine Master opposite him wore a cold, indifferent expression. This scene was incredibly incongruous, even somewhat comical. Yun Che did not reply. His gaze sharpened, and profound energy erupted from him.

With a sharp clang, a colossal force, far exceeding imagination, surged from the sword blade. The remaining lightning was instantly annihilated, and Fan Qingzhou's sword-wielding hand immediately tore open the webbing between his thumb and index finger. He cried out in agony, violently withdrawing his hand and staggering back. Yun Che's palm shook, and the purple sword, which had pierced his palm, instantly dislodged and fell into his other hand.

Fan Qingzhou raised his hand, his splayed fingers trembling violently, his palm flesh torn and twisted, mixed with shattered bone fragments. He abruptly looked up at Yun Che. In his constricted pupils, he saw his own purple sword now clutched in the other's hand. For a sword wielder, what a defeat and humiliation this was. But at this moment, his heart was filled only with endless horror, like countless surging waves.

"Who... exactly are you!?" he roared again. At this moment, he absolutely refused to believe that the other party was merely a third-level Divine Master who had just completed a breakthrough. He must be... an old monster whose cultivation was so high he wasn't qualified to discern!

"Heh!" Yun Che let out a faint, cold laugh, his gaze mocking and contemptuous, like one gazing upon pitiful ants. This only further convinced Fan Qingzhou of his judgment. "It's fortunate you're still only a candidate knight. If you truly became an official Abyssal Knight, with your actions today, the very words 'Abyssal Knight' would be stained because of you. Who do you think would be least able to tolerate you then?"

Yun Che's words undoubtedly cut into Fan Qingzhou's heart with every syllable. He casually raised the purple sword in his hand, looking down with a sarcastic smile. "Or, you can continue trying to silence us."

"..." Fan Qingzhou's pupils continued to violently expand and contract, unable to stop. He was not a fool; on the contrary, his character was extremely ruthless and decisive, and not without cold sobriety—otherwise, he wouldn't have so decisively come to silence them. The premise for his decision to silence was his absolute certainty that he could eliminate the other party and this potential hidden danger without a trace. Hua Caili's possible identity had startled him, made him afraid to think deeply, and left him with no retreat. He never dreamed he would kick such an unyielding iron plate.

Someone who could instantly seize his sword – he wasn't naive enough to believe he could still silence them.

*Grrr... Grr...*

The sound of teeth being ground down escaped Fan Qingzhou's lips. His steps began to retreat. After three steps back, his eyes suddenly darkened, and with a sweeping storm around him, he exploded away, his figure vanishing instantly into the vast Mist Sea. He had actually fled directly.

Yun Che did not pursue, for after all... why pursue a dead man?

"Hoo..." He let out a long breath, and this breath seemed to drain all his vital energy at once. His entire body went limp, and he half-knelt on the ground.

"Ah!" Hua Caili cried out softly and swiftly darted over. "Are you... are you alright?" She saw Yun Che's pale face and his bloodied palm, and a flicker of pain crossed her heart. He had suffered such heavy injuries earlier, and then broke through while still severely wounded. The strength and demeanor he displayed just now were clearly forced... she thought. Subconsciously, she reached out to help him up, but as her jade fingers neared, she quickly pulled them back.

"Don't worry, I'm perfectly fine, just a little weak," Yun Che said with an indifferent smile, then slowly sat down, his right hand covering the blood-stained palm. "Thankfully, I scared him off."

"You... why did you use your hand to grab his sword?" Hua Caili's gaze kept falling on the hand that had been pierced by the purple sword to protect her, the spreading blood on her clothes equally jarring. "You clearly could have..."

"If I had just pushed him away, you would have been hurt by the residual force," Yun Che said with a smile, showing no sign of pain on his face. "In the heat of the moment, it was the only way."

"..." Hua Caili's lips parted. For a moment, she didn't know what to say. Since childhood, she had never encountered such a situation, nor had she ever experienced such... strange, inexplicable emotions.

Yun Che slowly exhaled again, then said, "Would it trouble you,仙子姐 (Immortal Sister), to continue guarding me for a little while longer? It will be quick."

"Okay," Hua Caili nodded without hesitation. She stepped back a few paces and re-established a barrier around Yun Che. However, compared to before, her movements were slightly flustered, and her gaze seemed to carry a hint of perplexing confusion. It was as if, in a certain instant, a part of her soul, whose existence she had never known, had been silently touched.

Lisha silently watched everything... attempting to understand Yun Che's intentions beneath all the false appearances. With the Great Dao Futu Art, Yun Che's injuries would heal completely after each breakthrough, and he would certainly not be weak. Furthermore, given the formidable strength of Yun Che's body, it would be extremely difficult for Fan Qingzhou's sword to pierce his palm. The difficulty lay not with Fan Qingzhou, but with Yun Che having to perfectly coordinate his own strength, the precise point of impact, and the angle.

Could such a childish and perplexing action truly have any effect?

Fan Qingzhou moved like a thunderclap, the frantic roar of lightning startling cries from the abyss beasts, yet his speed did not diminish in the slightest. Because he had to find his backing as quickly as possible and return to eliminate the witnesses in the shortest time. Otherwise, if the other party got far away in the vast Mist Sea, they would be difficult to find again. Fortunately, the thundering sound he caused startled not only profound beasts, but also Abyssal Knights.

Fan Qingzhou's frantically running figure slammed violently into an invisible barrier. A powerful demigod was actually thrown back by this barrier, tumbling several miles away. When he landed, even the lightning on his body was completely shattered. His entire skeleton felt as if it had come apart. Fan Qingzhou groaned as he got up, and looking up, he saw a pair of calm yet imposing eyes. The man wore silver armor and was of average build, but standing before Fan Qingzhou, he seemed like a colossal, towering peak, making Fan Qingzhou instantly hold his breath.

His body, which had been trying to stand, immediately bent down. He knelt with immense respect, then swept his gaze around to confirm no one else was nearby. He frantically threw himself forward on his knees, grabbing the man's hem. "Uncle Thirteen, save me! You must save me!"

"What are you doing!?" The silver-armored man, however, kicked him away, his voice chilling to the bone. "To be an Abyssal Knight, one must always be calm and collected in all matters, without panic or arrogance. Yet you've created such a commotion, and your posture is like that of a stray dog. Do you still remember the purpose of your journey into the Mist Sea this time?"

"And! I am your supervisor for this Mist Sea assessment, not some 'Uncle Thirteen'!" His brows furrowed tightly, his eyes filled with disappointment and warning.

"I understand," Fan Qingzhou took a deep breath, quickly making his expression solemn, then knelt before the silver-armored man again. "But I have truly encountered a great difficulty this time. If Uncle Thirteen refuses to help, I fear... I will have no hope of becoming an Abyssal Knight."

"..." The silver-armored man's already tightly locked brows deepened further, but he did not kick Fan Qingzhou away. He said coldly, "Speak." Fan Qingzhou secretly exhaled in relief. He was about to speak... when he suddenly felt a chill spread through his body. Because the man in front of him, having seen something, suddenly had a changed expression. His collar tightened, and in utter suffocation, he was lifted by the silver-armored man, who gripped his throat. "Where did the sword wound on your body come from? Where did it come from!!"

The silver-armored man's pupils were dilating, clearly showing terror. Even his voice abruptly turned hoarse. The hand gripping his throat was also visibly trembling. Fan Qingzhou dared not struggle, and the silver-armored man's reaction plunged his spirit to the bottom.

"The trouble you mentioned, could it be..." The silver-armored man's brow twitched. With each word he spoke, his gaze grew more sinister. "The person who left that sword wound on you?"

"..." Fan Qingzhou couldn't speak, only his eyes grew more terrified. Because the silver-armored man's expression meant that the other party was someone even he deeply feared. Attempting to seize an abyssal crystal, even if it spread, would merely be a blemish. But malice was like a rolling snowball... until it spiraled out of control and threatened to bury him.

A faint hum, like a needle dropping into a still lake. Fan Qingzhou, in his hand, was gone. His neck rotated with difficulty. Ten feet away, Fan Qingzhou's body lay silently, without a sound, without a trace of blood. Only a faint sword light dispersed silently.

*Thud!* The silver-armored man knelt on one knee, bowing solemnly. "Abyssal Knight Fan Cheng respectfully greets Sword Immortal Your Excellency! Fan Qingzhou is of poor character and corrupted faith, no longer qualified to be a knight of the Pure Land. To receive punishment personally from Sword Immortal Senior is his greatest fortune in this lifetime."

As an Abyssal Knight who served close to the Myriad Dao Divine Official, Fan Cheng immediately recognized that Fan Qingzhou's sword wound was left by the Rift Cloud Sword. And the Rift Cloud Sword had been personally given by the Myriad Dao Divine Official to the Sword Immortal Hua Qingying, to bestow upon Hua Caili, who had long gazed at it with longing. At that moment, he knew Fan Qingzhou was dead for certain; no one could save him.

The Sword Immortal Hua Qingying, an otherworldly immortal in the eyes of the world, untainted by mortal dust, untouched by worldly grievances. But, at a sufficiently high level, one would know. Once Hua Caili was involved, this transcendent Sword Immortal would become a fanatical lunatic. His guilt towards Hua Caili, his self-hatred... The Myriad Dao Divine Official had once remarked that Hua Qingying's remaining life might well be for... and only for Hua Caili. If Fan Qingzhou had provoked Hua Qingying herself, Hua Qingying might not even bother to kill him. But to provoke Hua Caili, even a thousand lives would not be enough for him to die!

Fan Cheng's voice was quickly swallowed by the gray mist. For a long time, there was no response. Yet, Fan Cheng remained with his head deeply bowed, in the most respectful kneeling posture, unmoving. Half an hour passed like this before he carefully rose, then lightened his footsteps and quietly moved away, not daring to take Fan Qingzhou's body, nor even glance at his corpse. He did not even know what exactly had happened, and certainly lacked the courage to investigate.