Chapter 276: Great Favor

Two days had quickly passed since the top ten sects from the ranking battle entered the Heavenly Lake Secret Realm.

On the open ground in the back mountain of Heavenly Sword Villa, dozens of people were anxiously waiting. These were the disciples from various sects who had not been able to enter the Heavenly Lake Secret Realm. The Heavenly Lake Secret Realm was a completely isolated world, and no information from within could be transmitted outside. Therefore, they had no idea what had transpired over the past two days.

Cang Yue and Xia Yuanba were undoubtedly the most anxious, as Yun Che had entered the unknown realm with severe injuries that had only just begun to heal, and his profound energy was not yet recovered. This significantly increased the danger. For the past two days, Cang Yue had barely eaten or slept, arriving early to wait, eagerly hoping for Yun Che's appearance.

Ling Kun stood silently in the middle of the open ground, looking ahead.

As a spatial vortex shimmered with light, a white-robed figure was ejected. His hair was slightly disheveled, and his clothes showed occasional damage, as if he had just been through an intense battle... The first person to emerge was none other than Ling Yuefeng.

Ling Kun opened his eyes and calmly asked, "What did you gain?"

Ling Yuefeng let out a slight breath and frowned, saying, "Our luck was poor this time. We encountered the severe winter of the Heavenly Lake Secret Realm; everything was frozen and covered in snow, so there were no major gains. However, there was an astonishing discovery... a Tyrannical Profound Beast actually exists within this realm!"

"Oh?" Ling Kun's eyes flickered. "What kind of Tyrannical Profound Beast?"

Ling Yuefeng shook his head. "I only heard its imposing presence, but dared not approach. Perhaps someone unfortunately provoked it."

"Hmm..." Ling Kun mused, "To think there's a Tyrannical Profound Beast in there. If I had known, I would have gone in with them two days ago. Finding a Tyrannical Profound Beast is no easy feat."

Although the Heavenly Lake Secret Realm was mysterious, its contents were too low-level for Ling Kun. After entering once, he had lost all interest in going back in, including this time.

Shimmering lights flashed one after another, and more and more people were ejected after Ling Yuefeng. Ling Yun and Ling Jie, though appearing disheveled, were unharmed and had also gained something.

Disciples from the various major sects appeared one by one. Soon, all of the Xiao Sect's members were out, and then members of the Burning Heaven Clan began to emerge... but ultimately, only four appeared.

When Fen Moli appeared, he carried an overwhelming killing intent. The moment he emerged, an extremely furious roar erupted: "Mu Tianbei!! You beast, get out here!! How dare you kill my second young master... I will annihilate your entire sect!"

Fen Moli's rage and his booming voice instantly struck fear into everyone from the Heavenly Spear Thunderflame Fortress, and astonishment into the hearts of all present... Mu Tianbei killed Fen Juebi? No one had ever heard of any animosity between the Heavenly Spear Thunderflame Fortress and the Burning Heaven Clan. Why would Mu Tianbei attack Fen Juebi? To kill the Burning Heaven Clan's second young master—had Mu Tianbei gone mad?

"Grand Elder!" Fen Juecheng immediately went to Fen Moli, pulled him aside, and whispered something through gritted teeth.

People emerged one after another, and with each new person, Cang Yue's heart tightened a little more. Xia Yuanba continuously tried to comfort her, saying, "Senior Sister, don't worry, brother-in-law is so strong, he'll definitely be fine."

A final flash of spatial light appeared, and Yun Che and Xia Qingyue emerged simultaneously, standing side by side.

"Junior Brother Yun!" Cang Yue cried out in delighted surprise. Her suspended heart instantly settled, and she let out a long breath, rushing towards Yun Che.

Just then, an angry roar suddenly exploded like thunder: "Despicable brat... Die!"

Amidst the roar, Fen Moli lunged forward like an enraged lion, his entire right arm engulfed in deep purple flames, striking directly at Yun Che.

Most of those present were discussing their gains from the Heavenly Lake Secret Realm, and no one anticipated such a sudden turn of events. Qin Wushang's face instantly blanched, and Chu Yuechan and Chu Yueli's expressions also changed drastically... because Xia Qingyue was standing right beside Yun Che, and Fen Moli's attack could very likely affect her. How could two juniors withstand an attack from a Half-Step King Profound Realm expert?

But everything happened too suddenly. By the time they reacted, Fen Moli had already lunged in front of them. They had no time to intervene and could only shout in unison, "Stop!!!"

Cang Yue, who was almost beside Yun Che, suddenly felt an intensely hot wave of air coming from behind. The sense of danger drained the color from her face. Fen Moli, in his extreme fury, attacked swiftly and viciously, intending to kill Yun Che instantly. Given his trajectory, Cang Yue would be the first to be affected.

Yun Che's brows furrowed deeply. Instead of retreating, he swayed and instantly moved forward, simultaneously transmitting a message to Xia Qingyue at high speed: "Help me cripple him!"

With a flicker of an afterimage, Yun Che appeared beside Cang Yue, holding her firmly, and immediately activated 'Cloud Sealing Sun Locking'.

Meanwhile, to everyone's astonishment, Xia Qingyue actively moved to confront the crazed Fen Moli, pushing her blue-glowing right hand forward to meet Fen Moli's purple flames.

"Qingyue!!" This scene horrified Chu Yueli, but she could only watch as the two powers collided...

With a muffled thud, a massive ice lotus instantly bloomed between them. As the ice lotus rotated, the purple flames on Fen Moli's arm were completely extinguished in an instant. Before Fen Moli could even react with a change in expression, the huge ice lotus suddenly split into nine smaller ice lotuses, striking Fen Moli's face, neck, chest, ribs, and limbs.

Though both were in the King Profound Realm (referring to the general tier), if Xia Qingyue were to fight Chu Yuechan, she would almost certainly lose. This was because she was far inferior to Chu Yuechan in combat experience and the manipulation of Ice Cloud Arts. However, in terms of pure profound energy, she had completely surpassed Chu Yuechan by a level, and even all the Ice Cloud Seven Fairies. In a direct collision like this, even Chu Yuechan would be at a disadvantage, let alone Fen Moli... While a Half-Step King Profound Realm was only a half-step away from the King Profound Realm, that half-step represented an insurmountable chasm!

None of the scenes everyone had anticipated occurred. What they witnessed was Fen Moli being sent flying backward amidst scattering ice crystals. He grunted upon landing, his eyes bulging, his face pale. He stared wide-eyed at Xia Qingyue, his throat convulsing, until he finally trembled all over and knelt to the ground with a thud, his entire body convulsing in pain.

Xia Qingyue effortlessly withdrew her arm, remaining perfectly still throughout the entire process. The profound energy aftermath of her clash with Fen Moli was naturally terrifying, but under the protection of Cloud Sealing Sun Locking, Yun Che and Cang Yue were only pushed far back, completely unharmed. He quickly released Cang Yue and anxiously examined her from head to toe, asking, "Senior Sister, are you alright?"

Cang Yue's face was already pale from the recent upheaval. For someone at her True Profound Realm level, being exposed to the power of a King Profound and a Half-Step King Profound practitioner felt like falling into the abyss of death. Seeing Yun Che safe and sound, she smiled reassuringly, "I'm fine..."

After she uttered those three words, she noticed that the surroundings had become terrifyingly quiet... All eyes were fixed on Xia Qingyue. Both young disciples and the powerful experts who dominated their regions displayed expressions of profound shock that distorted their faces.

"King... Profound... Realm!" Ling Kun stared at Xia Qingyue, his brows furrowed, an unreadable glint in his eyes. The three words he spoke echoed like three thunderclaps in everyone's ears.

"This... isn't... possible..." Ling Yuefeng murmured in a daze, his shock beyond words. While he was surprised by Chu Yuechan entering the King Profound Realm, it was still acceptable, as she had already been at the Half-Step King Profound Realm. But Xia Qingyue... a seventeen-year-old King Profound master! In the Azure Cloud Empire, this was even more illusory than a myth; even seeing it with their own eyes, people found it impossible to believe.

Everyone was completely stunned. A seventeen-year-old King Profound master—this was a realm they simply couldn't comprehend or accept.

"Qingyue, you... you actually..." Chu Yueli walked over, looking at Xia Qingyue, her beautiful eyes filled with shock and disbelief. As a master, she should have been delighted by her disciple's breakthrough, but Xia Qingyue's breakthrough was simply too exaggerated, too terrifying; her initial feeling was one of dread.

Standing in front of Xia Qingyue and sensing the aura of a King Profound master emanating from her, even Chu Yueli, her own master, felt a deep sense of oppression.

Xia Qingyue slowly stepped forward, gracefully performing a disciple's bow. Under everyone's gaze, she softly said, "Master, this disciple had a fortuitous encounter in the Heavenly Lake Secret Realm. I consumed a fully bloomed Bodhi Emperor Heart Lotus... I simply didn't expect the effects of the Bodhi Emperor Heart Lotus to far exceed legends, allowing me to directly break through to the King Profound Realm within a single day."

The intelligent Xia Qingyue knew that she had to announce this matter in front of everyone. Her breakthrough was too astonishing, too shocking, and it would not only shake the Azure Cloud Empire. If she didn't reveal the reason, many individuals or forces—even those outside the Azure Cloud Empire—would desperately try to investigate the cause in hopes of gaining something, which would very likely lead to unforeseen trouble. By simply publicizing the reason, she eliminated this future problem. Furthermore, since she had already consumed the Bodhi Emperor Heart Lotus, there was no 'guilt by possession of a treasure'; even if others envied and coveted it, they would have no way to acquire it.

"So... that's how it is... that's how it is!"

The name Bodhi Emperor Heart Lotus was naturally well-known to all the ten major sects present. It was the only legendary holy artifact recorded in the Azure Cloud Empire! Rumors of a potential Bodhi Emperor Heart Lotus existing within the Heavenly Lake Secret Realm had persisted for hundreds of years. Upon hearing the explanation, the 'dread' in Chu Yueli's emotions naturally dissipated, replaced by extreme joy and excitement: "Four hundred years ago, a senior who perished in the Heavenly Lake Secret Realm left behind information that a Bodhi Emperor Heart Lotus existed within the realm. For hundreds of years, countless seniors have tried to find it, and to think this immense fortune has fallen upon you... This truly is divine favor!"

Listening to their conversation, the shock, envy, and jealousy in the eyes of the other sect members almost materialized and burst forth... The Bodhi Emperor Heart Lotus, a legendary holy artifact! No wonder it allowed a young girl to step directly into the King Profound Realm. This was Xia Qingyue's fortune, and even more so, the Ice Cloud Asgard's fortune... Faced with this colossal opportunity, they deeply felt that centuries of their own sects' fortunes combined could not compare to this single Bodhi Emperor Heart Lotus, which had now settled in the Ice Cloud Asgard!!

They could barely imagine what heights Xia Qingyue, who had entered the King Profound Realm at seventeen, would reach in the future... But it was foreseeable that once Xia Qingyue fully matured, as long as she was present, Heavenly Sword Villa would no longer be able to maintain its unchallenged hegemonic position of a thousand years!

However, Xia Qingyue shook her head and softly said, "Master, this was not this disciple's fortune. That Bodhi Emperor Heart Lotus was not found by me, but rather..." She gestured with her eyes toward Yun Che and continued, "...it was discovered by Young Master Yun. At the time, I encountered a monstrous beast in the secret realm and was on the verge of death. Young Master Yun, to save me, gave me the Bodhi Emperor Heart Lotus to consume... If not for Young Master Yun's rescue, not only would I not have achieved this breakthrough, but I would have also lost my life in the Heavenly Lake Secret Realm."

Xia Qingyue's words somewhat took Yun Che by surprise... because those few understated sentences meant that the Ice Cloud Asgard now owed him an immense debt of gratitude!!