Chapter 350: The Burning Heaven Sect's Request for Help

Today, Burning Heaven Clan was a shadow of its former majestic self. Especially after news broke that the Grand Elder was severely injured and Supreme Elder Fen Ziya had died at Yun Che's hands, a pall of fear hung over the entire clan. The disciples were restless and anxious, subtly sensing the impending doom.

Even if this disaster were to cease immediately, Burning Heaven Clan would no longer be qualified to be counted among the Four Major Sects alongside Heavenly Sword Villa, Ice Cloud Immortal Palace, and Xiao Sect.

In the main hall of Burning Heaven Clan, Grand Elder Fen Yijue had just awakened. Fen Duanhun and all the remaining elders and pavilion masters were gathered there, their faces filled with gloom and sorrow.

Every time they faced Yun Che, they realized they had underestimated his power once again.

Each time they were utterly confident they could kill Yun Che, he would deliver a nightmarish outcome.

By now, the name Yun Che had become their most terrifying nightmare.

"Father, how are your injuries?" Fen Duanhun stepped forward and asked, his voice tinged with a deep sense of helplessness. For him, the only consolation was that Yun Che had also been severely wounded; otherwise, Yun Che wouldn't have chosen to flee immediately.

"I'm not dead yet... *cough, cough cough*..."

As Fen Yijue spoke, he was seized by a violent coughing fit, each cough bringing up traces of blood. Yun Che's technique, "World Extinguishing Sky," had effortlessly shattered all his profound energy defenses, severely dislocating and damaging his internal organs. The injuries were so severe that even with his power as a Sovereign, it would take at least three months to fully recover.

"Grand Elder..." several elders quickly rose and gathered around Fen Yijue.

"Don't... don't worry about me, I'm fine." Fen Yijue circulated his profound energy to suppress his injuries, then raised his head, his gaze revealing deep malice and coldness. "I misjudged Yun Che's strength. All of us misjudged his strength! And you... you brought such an enemy upon us!"

The elders all lowered their heads, their faces alternating between pallid and ashen.

Fen Yijue's chest heaved as he continued in a heavy voice, "Many things about Yun Che defy common sense. The day before yesterday, he clearly left severely injured, yet just one day later, his injuries and strength were fully recovered... He must possess some special secret method for recovery. This time, although his injuries are no lighter than mine, he might recover in a very short time, just like before... And when that happens, it will be the end of our Burning Heaven Clan!"

At Fen Yijue's words, everyone's faces turned ashen. These words were not from someone else but spoken directly by the Grand Elder himself! And what he said was an undeniable, brutal truth. With the Supreme Elder dead, the Heavenly Fire Burning Star Formation destroyed, and the Grand Elder severely injured, if Yun Che were to attack again, they would truly have no means to resist him.

"Father, what should we do now? Our Burning Heaven Clan's thousand-year foundation cannot be destroyed like this! Otherwise, how could we face our ancestors in the underworld?" Fen Duanhun said, clenching his hands tightly.

"Right now, there are still two options!" Fen Yijue said.

Fen Duanhun and the elders immediately perked up, hope reappearing on their faces as they eagerly asked, "Wh-what options?"

Fen Yijue took a deep breath and slowly said, "We are already severely wounded and powerless to resist this disaster. At this point, our only option is to seek help from others... Given Yun Che's strength, only Heavenly Sword Villa, Ice Cloud Immortal Palace, and Xiao Sect have the ability to resolve this crisis. Ice Cloud Immortal Palace has no grievances or favors with us, and they are unwilling to get involved in disputes, so seeking their help would be fruitless... That leaves only Heavenly Sword Villa and Xiao Sect. I once had a deep friendship with Heavenly Sword Villa's Grand Master, Ling Tianni. On one occasion while drinking, I jokingly remarked that if Burning Heaven Clan ever faced a desperate situation, I hoped he would lend a hand, and he laughingly agreed..."

Ling Tianni?

The publicly acknowledged number one in the Azure Cloud Profound Realm, Sword Saint Ling Tianni?!

The name echoed like thunder in everyone's ears, bringing expressions of surprise and delight to their faces. They hadn't realized that Fen Yijue actually had such a close relationship with the Azure Cloud's top expert, or that he had a promise to assist Burning Heaven Clan in its time of crisis!

If Ling Tianni truly offered his help, Burning Heaven Clan's disaster would undoubtedly be resolved... Although Yun Che was unexpectedly powerful, he could never be a match for Ling Tianni!

Moreover, Ling Tianni had the formidable Heavenly Sword Villa backing him.

"Good! I understand. I'll immediately send a sound transmission to Heavenly Sword Villa Master Ling Yuefeng! I'll have him relay the message to the Grand Master!" Fen Duanhun said with some excitement.

"Don't rejoice too soon," Fen Yijue slowly said. "Ling Tianni and I haven't met in decades. His disposition is naturally detached, and after twenty years of secluded cultivation, he might have become completely indifferent to worldly affairs, no longer wishing to be tainted by the dust of the mundane world. It's uncertain whether he'll be willing to help. As for Xiao Sect... while I had some acquaintance with Xiao Wuqing back then, it was far from a deep friendship. If Xiao Sect knew about Yun Che's strength, they would surely be unwilling to offend such a terrifying enemy for our sake... Both these paths are worth trying, but hope is slim."

"How will we know it won't work if we don't try!" Fen Duanhun's brow furrowed, but his expression was no longer as bleak as before. "I'm not sure if the Sword Saint will act, but Xiao Sect will definitely help!"

Fen Yijue glanced sideways, his face showing puzzlement.

Fen Duanhun immediately explained, "While investigating everything about Yun Che earlier, we unexpectedly learned that the fundamental reason he was driven from his home back then was due to persecution by Xiao Kuangyun, the fourth son of Xiao Sect Master Xiao Juechen! Xiao Kuangyun wanted to claim Yun Che's wife and also coveted his aunt."

Fen Yijue's eyes flickered. "Is that true?"

"Absolutely true!" Fen Duanhun nodded. "Yun Che swore to destroy our Burning Heaven Clan just because we kidnapped his family members, which shows how incredibly important his family is to him, and also that he's extremely narrow-minded and vengeful! How could he not seek revenge for such a profound enmity with Xiao Kuangyun? If Xiao Kuangyun were just an ordinary Xiao Sect disciple, it might be different, but he's the Sect Master's son! This is enough to escalate into a deep hatred between Yun Che and the entire Xiao Sect! However, it seems Xiao Sect hasn't realized this yet. But if Xiao Sect learns of this and Yun Che's vengeful nature... if I were Xiao Juechen, I would never choose to rest uneasily, waiting for Yun Che to show up one day. Instead, I would seize the opportunity to unite and eliminate Yun Che here and now!"

"I'll immediately send sound transmissions to Heavenly Sword Villa and Xiao Sect!"

At the same time, within Xiao Sect.

"What did you say... Is this truly accurate?" Xiao Juechen exclaimed, rising abruptly.

"Absolutely true! Tens of thousands witnessed that battle in front of Azure Flame City; soon, everyone in Azure Cloud will know." An elder standing before Xiao Juechen said with a solemn expression.

"This... this is truly unbelievable. I remember during the ranking battle, he was only seventeen. This year, at most, he's nineteen, right?" The astonishment on Xiao Juechen's face lingered. He found it hard to believe that a mere nineteen-year-old youth could single-handedly push Burning Heaven Clan, a force not much weaker than Xiao Sect, almost to the brink of destruction, and even kill one of Burning Heaven Clan's two Sovereign Xuan experts on the spot while fighting both simultaneously.

What terrifying strength! What shocking news!

"I truly wonder what kind of master could cultivate such a disciple! Or is he truly gifted to this extent? Or perhaps, is he really a successor of the Sacred Land, as rumored?" Xiao Juechen mused, then suddenly asked, "What deep-seated hatred drives Yun Che to insist on destroying Burning Heaven Clan completely? Did Burning Heaven Clan annihilate his entire family?"

"No!" The elder shook his head. "The real reason might seem laughable to the Sect Master. Fen Juecheng previously tried to marry Princess Cang Yue, but Yun Che interfered, causing Fen Juecheng to lose face greatly. Burning Heaven Clan seemed overly eager to seek revenge on Yun Che, so they resorted to despicable means, kidnapping two of his family members from Floating Cloud City, where Yun Che was born, to lure him to Burning Heaven Clan... Yun Che's fury consequently filled the heavens, and he swore to destroy Burning Heaven Clan."

"Hmph, Burning Heaven Clan actually resorted to such despicable and lowly tactics," Xiao Juechen snorted disdainfully. "Were his two family members tortured to death by Burning Heaven Clan?"

"No! Both of his family members are safe and sound... But merely because Burning Heaven Clan kidnapped them, he intends to wipe out their entire clan." The elder raised his head and said cautiously, "Clearly, this is a person who holds grudges and seeks revenge for the slightest offense. Once hatred takes root in his heart, he becomes like a madman... Absolutely not to be provoked!"

"Of course, he cannot be provoked!" Xiao Juechen nodded. "A person who can single-handedly push Burning Heaven Clan to the brink of despair, and who possesses such terrifying growth speed, must never become an enemy, even if he cannot be a friend... At tomorrow's morning assembly, remember to announce to the entire sect that from now on, anyone who encounters Yun Che, or anyone connected to him, must give him a wide berth. It's better to show weakness than to offend him."

As one of the Four Major Overlords of Azure Cloud, Xiao Sect never needed to fear anyone externally. But Burning Heaven Clan's bloody example made him feel a deep apprehension... even fear... towards Yun Che in his heart.

Just then, an elder in black robes hurried in from outside, saying anxiously, "Sect Master, Fen Duanhun just sent a sound transmission, requesting the sect's assistance against Yun Che, considering our long-standing good relations with Burning Heaven Clan."

Hearing this, Xiao Juechen was not surprised. He smiled faintly and said, "No need to pay attention. Our Xiao Sect's friendship with Burning Heaven Clan is not strong enough for us to provoke someone who could bring about the destruction of our sect for their sake."

"But... but..." The black-robed elder swallowed hard, his voice strained. "Fen Duanhun said... he said... he said that Burning Heaven Clan faces annihilation simply because they kidnapped Yun Che's family, and that Yun Che's hatred for our Xiao Sect is a hundred times deeper... If we don't help them, once Burning Heaven Clan is destroyed, it will... it will be our Xiao Sect's turn."

Xiao Juechen's brows furrowed sharply. "Nonsense! Our Xiao Sect has no grievances or enmity with Yun Che; where would such hatred come from? Fen Duanhun is spouting such idiotic words just to make us act."

The black-robed elder wiped the cold sweat from his forehead, his voice trembling. "Sect Master, do you remember three years ago, when Elder Xiao Zheng passed away? Before his death, he couldn't stop thinking about a trace of his bloodline left in Floating Cloud City and requested the Sect Master to bring a descendant back to Xiao Sect... And at that time, the person you sent was the Young Master... Back then, accompanying the Young Master was Eastern Pavilion Steward Xiao Moshan... After the Young Master returned, Xiao Moshan told me that while the Young Master was there, he set up a scheme to frame a young disciple, intending to claim his newlywed wife and his aunt. In the end, he forced that person to be permanently expelled from his home..."

"And that person... that person... is... is today's Yun Che!!"

As the black-robed elder uttered his last sentence, it was as if a muffled thunderclap exploded in Xiao Juechen's mind. He instantly shot to his feet, trembling all over, his facial muscles twisting violently. "What... did you say?!?"