Chapter 280: Fallen Genius

"Brother-in-law... Brother-in-law... Brother-in-law!!"

Xia Yuanba charged forward like a madman, collapsing under the Skyfall Sword. He frantically pounded the platform beneath the sword with his hands, striking it until his knuckles bled. However, the Skyfall Sword's suppression was so immense that even all the combined power of Heaven's Might Sword Sect couldn't budge it an inch. Let alone one Xia Yuanba, not even ten million Xia Yuanbas could inflict the slightest damage.

Everyone's faces were filled with shock. They never imagined that Yun Che, who at seventeen had defeated the core disciples of major sects, won first place in the ranking tournament, and earned fame across the Profound Sky Continent, would so swiftly and unexpectedly fall before their eyes, just as he donned his dazzling new halo of glory.

The fundamental reason for his demise was not an accident caused by the demonic cultivator's methods, but simply to save someone whom they considered less than a "waste." As people lamented, they didn't know whether to praise his profound loyalty or sigh at his utter foolishness.

"How could this happen..." Qin Wushang was stunned, standing there for a long time, utterly at a loss. He had been on the verge of returning to the Imperial City of the Blue Wind with immense glory and triumph, but a nightmare had suddenly descended. He tilted his head back, let out a heavy gasp, his chest so constricted it felt like it would explode. Clutching a glimmer of hope, he took incredibly heavy steps toward Ling Kun, his expression dim, and said, "Elder Ling, could you please raise the Skyfall Sword again... Yun Che, he might... he might..."

Mid-sentence, Qin Wushang's voice trailed off in anguish... What good would it do to raise the Skyfall Sword again? Everyone had clearly seen Yun Che's tragic state after the demonic cultivator's attack. Such severe injuries would be fatal even for a super-expert of the Sky Profound Realm, let alone a profound practitioner who had just entered the Spirit Profound Realm... There wasn't even a sliver of hope for survival.

Qin Wushang's words made Xia Yuanba, who was crying in despair, tremble. He suddenly lunged forward, dropping to his knees with a thud before Ling Kun, clutching his legs with blood-stained hands. "Elder Ling... Elder Ling, please... I beg you, please have mercy and raise the Skyfall Sword... Brother-in-law... he won't die that easily... please... I beg you... please save my brother-in-law!!"

Xia Yuanba's voice was hoarse and desperate, making the hearts of all who heard him tremble. Ling Kun's expression was grim, for ultimately, this incident was his responsibility. Had he not impulsively decided before the ranking tournament to invite the top ten sects to observe the demonic cultivator sealing ceremony, such an event would never have occurred. If Xia Yuanba had died, it would have been a minor incident quickly forgotten... That was right! No one would remember a weak person, much less a dead one; this was the harsh reality.

But Yun Che was the top-ranked competitor in this tournament! More importantly, he belonged to no sect or school, competing as a disciple of the Imperial Family's Profound Palace. His achievement invigorated and inspired countless young people without sect backing but with dreams of becoming strong. The sensation his victory caused surpassed every previous tournament. While people within Heaven's Might Sword Sect were oblivious, a massive storm had already been brewing across the Blue Wind Empire because of Yun Che. Especially in the Imperial City of the Blue Wind, the entire city was already adorned with lanterns and streamers, preparing to welcome Yun Che's return. Even Emperor Cang Wanhe of Blue Wind was beaming, eagerly awaiting their triumphant return each day.

His perfect mastery of the heavy sword had even made Ling Kun consider bringing him into Heaven's Might Sword Region.

Yet, such a person had met his end just like that.

If word of this incident spread, the resulting public outcry would be nothing short of a colossal wave sweeping across the entire Blue Wind Empire.

Ling Kun took a deep breath and said grimly, "Ridiculous! The Skyfall Sword's suppression cannot be activated just like that. The profound formation I just used to activate it was a combined effort of over a dozen grand elders of Heaven's Might Sword Region, taking an extremely long time to complete... Sigh! Even if it could be reopened, what then? His injuries just now... he's certainly dead. This was his own doing... You all... give up hope."

Ling Kun's words were a widely known truth. Even within the Heaven's Might Soul Suppressing Formation, the demonic cultivator could still unleash profound energy at the strength of a Monarch Profound Realm expert. His attack was simply beyond Yun Che's ability to withstand. The injuries Yun Che sustained from that palm strike made everyone who witnessed it shudder with cold. With such wounds, any person present, even with mountains of spiritual pills and miraculous medicines, could not have survived.

Even if, by some million-to-one chance, he wasn't truly dead and still had a breath left, he was still under the clear control of a demonic cultivator driven to madness. How could he possibly survive?

And even if, by some one-in-a-million chance, the demonic cultivator lost his mind and decided not to kill him, and he miraculously came back to life... the Skyfall Sword's suppression would only be lifted once every twenty years. Given the demonic cultivator's power, he wouldn't die even after a hundred years without food or water, but at Yun Che's profound cultivation level, one or two months would be his absolute limit, after which he would starve and thirst to death.

No matter what, Yun Che was undoubtedly dead.

"Sigh!" Qin Wushang let out a long sigh, closed his eyes, his heart filled with profound sorrow.

Xia Yuanba remained motionless. He knelt there, completely still, as if he had suddenly died.

"Yuanba, get up. Only by living well can you truly honor the life Yun Che saved with his own," Qin Wushang said with deep pain. After he spoke, he received no response from Xia Yuanba. He lowered his head, intending to help him up, but suddenly saw two long streaks of blood clearly visible on Xia Yuanba's face.

Blood tears!! Tears of blood only flowed when a person was in extreme sorrow, extreme pain, on the verge of a mental breakdown, and their soul cried out in endless anguish!!

Qin Wushang's heart violently trembled. In that moment, he suddenly understood that he seemed to have always underestimated the bond between Yun Che and Xia Yuanba. He couldn't have known that during the time Yun Che's profound veins were crippled, and he suffered countless cold stares and taunts, only Xia Yuanba, besides his grandfather and aunt, consistently stood by his side, comforting and encouraging him, repeatedly getting into fights with those who mocked him, bleeding profusely. In their youth, Xia Yuanba was almost half of Yun Che's spiritual support, the only brother truly etched in his heart throughout his life. As Yun Che grew stronger and more illustrious, various "friends" would appear around him, but those feelings could never compare to Xia Yuanba's pure and unadulterated affection for him during his most down-and-out, most despised period, when he was even considered to have no future.

Therefore, after he became powerful, he could not bear the slightest bullying of Xia Yuanba. Anyone who harmed Xia Yuanba would be made to pay a heavy price. When he saw Xia Yuanba in grave danger, he didn't hesitate at all to trade his life for his... because Xia Yuanba was absolutely worth it.

Qin Wushang hastily knelt before Xia Yuanba and comforted him, "Yuanba, are you... are you alright? Sigh... If you want to cry, cry out loud. After you've cried, you must live well. Live to handle Yun Che's final affairs, and live to help him complete all the things he left unfinished..."

Qin Wushang's words of comfort, however, elicited no response from Xia Yuanba. He remained kneeling there, unmoving, his face so pale that not a trace of blood color could be seen. His eyes were empty, devoid of any spirit, and the two streaks of blood tears on his colorless face were incredibly striking and shocking...

"Yuanba!" Qin Wushang roared.

The loud shout made Xia Yuanba's entire body jolt, as if waking him abruptly from a nightmare. He suddenly let out a hoarse cry, stood up, and charged madly towards the north. His heart-wrenching screams, like steel needles carrying endless sorrow, harshly pierced everyone's hearts. No one tried to stop him; they all watched with complex expressions as he ran further and further out of sight.

"Yuanba!!" Qin Wushang cried out in alarm. He wanted to give chase but had to consider the unconscious Cang Yue. He let out a long sigh, his heart as heavy as a mountain.

"Sect Master Ling, please send someone to look after my disciple Yuanba," Qin Wushang said weakly, unwilling to speak another word to anyone. He then took Cang Yue and swiftly flew towards their courtyard, his figure appearing incredibly desolate and mournful.

"How could this be... How could this be..." Ling Jie slumped to the ground, staring blankly at the massive Skyfall Sword, his mind in a complete turmoil.

"Heaven truly envies talent," Ling Yun said regretfully, closing his eyes.

"Elder Wugou, send someone to closely follow that person named... Xia Yuanba, make sure he doesn't meet with any accidents. Also, have Granny Jiumu go check on Princess Cang Yue; ensure she doesn't suffer any physical or spiritual harm. Sigh." Ling Yuefeng finished giving instructions, also letting out a long sigh. To rank first in the tournament with True Profound Realm profound energy was an unprecedented and unmatched achievement, yet such a peerless genius, rarely seen in a millennium, had fallen just like that, making it impossible not to feel regret.

"Understood," Ling Wugou replied with a grave expression, then withdrew.

"Let's go," Chu Yueli said, her gaze flickering with complex emotions, as she silently departed with Shui Wushuang and Wu Xuexin. She felt some regret and pity for Yun Che's demise, and at the same time, a slight, unseemly sense of relief... Because now, Xia Qingyue was completely free from worldly ties and could peacefully remain in the Ice Cloud Immortal Palace, eventually inheriting the position of Palace Master and leading the Ice Cloud Immortal Palace to stand at the very pinnacle of the Blue Wind Empire. The immense favor the Ice Cloud Immortal Palace owed Yun Che had also vanished with him.

Most people lamented and sighed with regret, but of course, there were also some secretly gloating. For Fen Juecheng, this outcome was nothing short of a windfall, a delightful surprise. He sneered inwardly, "Idiot! To throw away your life just to save a piece of trash... a complete fool! But you were lucky to die cleanly. If you had fallen into my hands, you wouldn't have had such an easy death!"

People gradually began to disperse. They could foresee that a massive storm of public opinion would erupt within the Blue Wind Empire due to Yun Che's sudden demise.

Ling Kun stood rooted, gazing at the Skyfall Sword, his brow furrowed in thought: Strange! The power Yun Che unleashed after entering the Heaven's Might Soul Suppressing Formation clearly showed no weakening compared to before... Why wasn't he suppressed by the Heaven's Might Soul Suppressing Formation? Was it some coincidence, or did the formation have a flaw?

But the person was already dead; there was no point in him dwelling on it further. With a forceful flick of his sleeve, he transformed into an unseeably fast streak of light and vanished from the Sword Discourse Arena.

"Wh-what? What did you say... What did you say!?"

After Chu Yueli relayed the full account of Yun Che's demise to Xia Qingyue, she had not yet received a response from Xia Qingyue, but first heard Chu Yuechan's voice, trembling like a lotus leaf in the wind.

Chu Yuechan stood up, the ice energy all over her body becoming incredibly chaotic. Chu Yueli looked at her in surprise, asking in bewilderment, "Sister, what's wrong? You..."

"You said he died... he... died?"

At that moment, Chu Yuechan's voice was so faint it seemed to drift from the clouds. Her eyelashes, her gaze, her ice energy, her entire body... all trembled violently... Chu Yueli was greatly startled. She knew her sister better than anyone; almost nothing in this world could shake her spirit even slightly. Yet now, her emotions were clearly out of control... completely out of control! This was the very first time in her memory. She took a few steps to Chu Yuechan's side and anxiously said, "Sister, what's wrong? You... did you misunderstand something? I said the person who died was Yun Che. He died at the hands of that demonic cultivator, saving Xia Yuanba, who came with him. His body, along with the demonic cultivator, is suppressed beneath the Sword Discourse Arena..."

Before Chu Yueli could finish speaking, Chu Yuechan had already shot out, leaving only a chillingly desolate gust of cold wind behind.

"Sister!" Chu Yueli exclaimed, quickly giving chase.

Shui Wushuang and Wu Xuexin exchanged glances, looking at each other, completely at a loss.

As for Xia Qingyue... she sat there motionless, her gaze completely still, devoid of color or focus as she stared ahead. Even her breathing and heartbeat had completely stopped, her entire being seemingly transforming in an instant into a beautiful, lifeless ice sculpture...