Chapter 344: Ling Jie's Advice

"Is it true? Who... who exactly killed my brother!" Xiao Lingxi asked urgently. Although she hadn't experienced the events of that year, she deeply empathized with Xiao Lie's suffering over the years and had always hoped to find the culprit.

Yun Che pondered for a moment before saying, "Grandpa, I know finding the killer has been your greatest wish for many years. However, the power that killed Uncle Xiao back then is far, far stronger than we ever imagined... You need to be mentally prepared."

Upon hearing this, Ling Jie's heart sank. He quickly walked over, pulled Feng Juecheng up, and said, "I'm going to feed my Wind Gale Bird. Just call me when you're ready to leave."

With that, he dragged Feng Juecheng a considerable distance away and suppressed his hearing.

Xiao Lie's chest rose and fell heavily. After a moment, his emotions calmed somewhat, and he said, "Tell me. For over a decade, I've dreamed of knowing who killed my son... No matter who it is..."

Yun Che nodded slightly and whispered, "Grandpa, have you heard of the Four Great Sacred Grounds?"

"The Four Great Sacred Grounds? What kind of place is that?" Xiao Lingxi asked, looking bewildered.

Xiao Lie was startled for a moment, then his expression changed drastically. He did know the name of the Four Great Sacred Grounds, having learned about them from his son, Xiao Ying. He knew they were the four most colossal powers on the Profound Sky Continent, transcendent existences that oversaw the entire continent like arbiters. Their might far surpassed that of the Four Great Sects; they were a peak legend, rarely even heard of, and utterly beyond their reach. He gasped, "Could it be... could the person who killed my son be... be from..."

"I don't know who personally laid hands on Uncle Xiao. I only know that he came from the Heavenly Sovereign Sword Region, one of the Four Great Sacred Grounds!" Yun Che stated, his voice heavy.

Xiao Lie's entire body stiffened, his eyes and hands trembling violently from boundless excitement and shock. Xiao Lingxi, however, mumbled the name "Heavenly Sovereign Sword Region" with a still-blank expression. Having never heard of the "Four Great Sacred Grounds," she had no concept of how terrifying the words "Heavenly Sovereign Sword Region" were. Even a powerful figure like the Master of Heavenly Sword Villa would barely be considered mediocre in the Heavenly Sovereign Sword Region.

Xiao Lie had countless times contemplated revenge. He had secretly sworn that no matter who the killer was, he would personally make them pay for the blood debt the day he found them. But the name "Heavenly Sovereign Sword Region" pressed down on his heart like a towering, unreachable mountain, filling him with profound despair. His thirst for revenge was instantly suppressed, almost completely extinguished.

Among the Profound Sky Seven Nations, the Blue Wind Empire had the smallest territory and the weakest strength, even paying indirect tribute to the Divine Phoenix Empire annually. The Four Great Sacred Grounds, however, existed beyond the Profound Sky Seven Nations. Even the powerful Divine Phoenix Empire would never dare provoke them. Before the Four Great Sacred Grounds, all beings were as insignificant as ants... How could he exact this revenge? With what means?

Xiao Lie's reaction revealed his thoughts to Yun Che. He stood before Xiao Lie and stated with conviction, "Grandpa, although this enemy is far, far more powerful than we ever anticipated, that absolutely doesn't mean we can't seek revenge, nor can it make us give up on revenge... While my current strength is far from sufficient to demand retribution from the Heavenly Sovereign Sword Region, please believe me, Grandpa, one day, I will ascend to the Heavenly Sovereign Sword Region and reclaim this blood debt! Because this isn't just your debt, or Uncle Xiao's debt; it's also the debt of my biological grandfather, my biological parents... and my own debt! In this life, as long as I live, I will make the Heavenly Sovereign Sword Region repay every single bit!"

"Your... biological grandfather?" Xiao Lie was stunned.

Yun Che nodded gently. "Last year, during a major accident, I found my biological grandfather. He had been severely injured by someone from the Heavenly Sovereign Sword Region and sealed away in a sunless place for a full century. If not for a fortunate turn of events, I might never have seen him in this lifetime. From my biological grandfather, I learned some things about that year, discovered the identities of my biological parents, and also learned who killed Uncle Xiao."

"Then your grandfather... is he alright now?"

Yun Che closed his eyes, gently turned his face away, and gazed at the empty distance. "He died... To allow me to escape, he severed his own life force... Before he died, he asked me to convey his gratitude to you... He said that you were the person he was most grateful to and felt most indebted to in his life."

Xiao Lie's expression was blank, and he remained silent for a long time.

"The day my biological grandfather died, I swore that I would reclaim this blood debt from the Heavenly Sovereign Sword Region, no matter what. When that day comes, I will break into the Heavenly Sovereign Sword Region, find the person who harmed Uncle Xiao, and bring him alive before you, Grandpa, so you can personally decide his fate," Yun Che said firmly.

Xiao Lie's gaze trembled again. After a long pause, he slowly nodded, saying as if in a daze, "Good... good..."

Xiao Lie was usually a composed man, and Yun Che rarely saw him lose control of his emotions. Yet, at this moment, Xiao Lie was clearly in disarray. He had yearned to know the killer's identity, but the truth was cruelly devastating to him. From Xiao Lie, Yun Che even sensed a sudden surge of a desire to die...

For so many years, what had sustained Xiao Lie was not just Xiao Lingxi and Yun Che, but also his obsession with finding the enemy and seeking revenge.

But when revenge became an extravagant hope, the shock, helplessness, and guilt towards his son and wife... all dimmed the fire in his heart. Although Yun Che had solemnly sworn to avenge this wrong, that was the Heavenly Sovereign Sword Region, the pinnacle existence of the Profound Sky Continent. He didn't believe Yun Che truly had the ability to seek revenge from such a colossal power, and he certainly didn't want Yun Che to take such risks or even lose his life as a result.

Seeing Xiao Lie's state, Yun Che sighed inwardly and said, "After I reconnected with my biological grandfather, I learned some things... Back then, after my biological parents left Floating Cloud City, they weren't caught by the people from the Heavenly Sovereign Sword Region. Instead, they safely returned to their hometown... Grandpa, do you know what that means? It at least confirms that the child who left with my biological parents—Uncle Xiao's child, your biological grandson—was not harmed either. He also reached an absolutely safe place with my biological parents..."

Yun Che's words struck Xiao Lie like thunder. His eyes widened instantly, and his previously ashen gaze suddenly blazed with intense vigor. He grabbed Yun Che's shoulders, trembling with excitement, "Are you telling the truth... Is this truly true!?"

"Absolutely true!" Yun Che clasped Xiao Lie's arm and looked directly into his eyes, saying, "When my biological parents fled to Floating Cloud City, they were gravely injured and at the end of their rope. If the people from the Heavenly Sovereign Sword Region had caught up, they would surely have perished. But they ultimately escaped safely back to their hometown, proving they didn't encounter any more enemies afterward. Therefore, the child they carried must also be safe and sound... He is about my age; now, he's also... nineteen, just like me. Your bloodline, Uncle Xiao's bloodline... has never been severed!"

Xiao Lie stood there in a daze, and in an instant, old tears streamed down his face.

Yun Che softened his voice. "I long to reunite with my biological parents, and he, too, must long to be reunited with his blood relatives. So, Grandpa, you must be strong. Your biological grandson is still waiting for you to recognize and reunite with him."

Xiao Lie's hands gradually loosened. His face was streaked with tears, but the light in his eyes had grown stronger, replacing all the dull grey. He nodded heavily and softly said, "Good... good!"

The same two words, yet they lacked the previous despair and helplessness, and there was no trace of a desire to die.

Yun Che quietly breathed a sigh of relief. He called Ling Jie back and helped Xiao Lie and Xiao Lingxi onto his Wind Gale Bird mount.

"Xiao Che, you must be careful! Don't act recklessly, and don't let anything happen to you!" Xiao Lingxi said, clutching the corner of her clothes, sounding nervous and worried.

"Don't worry," Yun Che said with an easy smile. "I'm invincible now. A small Burning Heaven Clan isn't even worth my attention. I've just reunited with you all; how could I possibly let myself die... Enjoy yourselves in the Imperial City for a few days. By the time you've had enough fun, I should be there."

"Heh, three years apart, and Xiao Che has actually learned to boast," Xiao Lingxi chuckled softly. She glanced at Feng Juecheng, who lay paralyzed on the ground nearby, and suddenly remembered something. She said, "Xiao Che, if you can really destroy the Burning Heaven Clan, could you spare one person there?"

Yun Che paused slightly, then asked, "Who are you referring to, Little Aunt?"

"I remember his name is... Right, it's Feng Juechen!"

"Feng Juechen?" Yun Che's brows furrowed sharply, and he asked in surprise, "Why should I spare him? He was the one who abducted you from Floating Cloud City to the Burning Heaven Clan!"

"But he was also following *that* person's orders..." Xiao Lingxi pointed at Feng Juecheng. "And after we arrived at the Burning Heaven Clan, that hateful person tried to... tried to... Feng Juechen stopped him. Otherwise, I might have already been... Also, after you arrived, it was also that person who wanted to use me to threaten you, and again, Feng Juechen stopped him, even suffering serious injuries because of it."

Xiao Lingxi's words made cold sweat break out all over Yun Che. He sharply turned his gaze to Feng Juecheng, murderous intent swirling wildly in his heart. He almost used all his willpower to forcefully suppress this killing intent. He slowly nodded. "I understand. I will spare him."

"Whew..." Xiao Lingxi patted her chest and let out a soft breath. "Although he looks scary, his heart isn't bad at all... It's this Feng Juecheng who is utterly rotten!"

Feng Juecheng, still paralyzed on the ground, let out a pained groan, as if he wanted to argue or beg for mercy, but in the end, he could only slump back powerlessly.

The Wind Gale Bird slowly ascended. Ling Jie remained on the ground, hesitating before jumping on. After a moment, he suddenly asked Yun Che, "Boss, are you really going to completely destroy the Burning Heaven Clan this time?"

"Yes!" Yun Che nodded without hesitation. "Just as I said before, I must make everyone clearly understand the consequences of harming my loved ones... There will be no room for compromise."

Ling Jie's lips twitched, and he quietly sighed. "There's something I might... or perhaps need to tell you. My grandfather once had a connection with Feng Yijue, the Grand Elder of the Burning Heaven Clan. Although I haven't seen my grandfather many times growing up, I've heard my father say that my grandfather values loyalty and righteousness above all else. I'm concerned... I'm concerned that if the Burning Heaven Clan truly reaches that point, my grandfather might intervene."

Yun Che: "..."

"Ten years ago, Grandpa was already at the mid-stage of the King Profound Realm. He's widely recognized as the strongest person in the entire Blue Wind Empire. Feng Yijue, the Grand Elder of the Burning Heaven Clan, is incredibly powerful, but three of him couldn't defeat my grandfather. If my grandfather really were to intervene, I'm afraid... I'm afraid..." Ling Jie vigorously shook his head, then grinned. "Uh, it's just a slight possibility, maybe I'm overthinking it. Besides, Grandpa said a long time ago that he wouldn't interfere with worldly affairs anymore... Anyway, Boss, you must be careful."

"Mm, I understand. Thank you for telling me this," Yun Che nodded.

Ling Jie let out a low whistle and leaped onto the Wind Gale Bird's back. The Wind Gale Bird spread its wings and soared into the sky. Watching the green silhouette recede further and further into the distance, Yun Che's brows furrowed as he fell into deep thought.

Yun Che had occasionally heard Cang Yue mention Ling Jie's grandfather...

Sword Saint Ling Tianni! The strongest person in the Blue Wind Empire!