Chapter 358: Direct Confrontation

"He's a level six King Profound Realm practitioner!" Jasmine said cautiously, "He has remained at this level for many years, possessing incredibly deep profound energy and emanating an exceptionally sharp aura. I didn't expect someone who has reached the mid-stage of the King Profound Realm to exist in this land. With your current strength, you're no match for him at all."

Mid-stage King Profound Realm?

Yun Che glanced south, his expression grave. After hearing Jasmine's words, Yun Che immediately thought of someone… and also recalled Ling Jie's warning that day.

The number one person in Cangfeng — Ling Tianya!!Within Cangfeng, only Ling Tianya possessed such strength!

Ling Jie's warning had come true… No, it was even more thorough than his initial warning. He not only acted, but personally pursued him all the way to the Imperial City, broadcasting his intent to take Yun Che's life throughout the entire city!

Ling Tianya, the previous master of Heavenly Sword Villa, was the supreme legend of the Cangfeng Empire, and widely recognized as the number one person in Cangfeng. He became renowned throughout the world in his youth, obsessed with the sword. Twenty years ago, he became the greatest under heaven, his profound energy and sword mastery reaching a peerless state, unrivaled by anyone. Even now, he hadn't appeared in public for a full twenty years, yet his legend constantly circulated throughout the Cangfeng Empire. Young profound practitioners mostly grew up listening to his tales, filled with endless aspirations for him.

Now, this legendary, peak figure had appeared in public, his sole purpose being to kill Yun Che.Only Yun Che had ever received such 'honor'.

When Ling Tianya made his declaration, his distance from Yun Che was already quite close. Yun Che could sense that he was currently less than three li in front of the Imperial Palace. He even suspected that Ling Tianya had already discovered his location but simply didn't want to make his move inside the Imperial Palace.After all, Heavenly Sword Villa and the Cangfeng Imperial Family shared deep historical ties from their origins.

"He didn't appear even after the Burning Heaven Clan was annihilated. I thought all my worries were superfluous, but unexpectedly, he finally showed up," Yun Che whispered to Jasmine. "However, he's already hot on my heels and even broadcast his intentions throughout the city just to force me to appear… If I were to retreat and not respond, that wouldn't be Yun Che's way!"

"Hmph, I knew you'd say that!" Jasmine scoffed. "If you're unwilling to flee, then by all means, go up and fight him. Although you can't possibly defeat him, you have the Dragon God's bloodline protecting you, so it won't be easy for him to kill you. But if you don't know when to advance or retreat, you will certainly die."

"I understand. My life is more precious than anything. How could I allow myself to die here for nothing… Since he's here, it's a good opportunity for me to witness this renowned number one person in Cangfeng!"

"Xiao Chan, let's go!"

The Snow Phoenix Beast carried Yun Che, letting out a long cry, and flew directly towards Ling Tianya's location. The moment the Snow Phoenix Beast took to the air, a mountain-like oppressive aura firmly locked onto Yun Che.

"What? That person is… Ling Tianya? The legendary Sword Saint?"This was, after all, the Imperial City, and among the older generation, many had witnessed the Sword Saint's grandeur in his prime. Thus, when Ling Tianya appeared above the Imperial City, some elders cried out his name in utter shock.

"Sword… Sword Saint? The legendary Sword Saint? My heavens! I actually saw this Cangfeng legend with my own eyes!""No wonder he's so imperiously determined to kill Yun Che… Besides the Sword Saint, who else possesses such strength and imposing presence?""Yun Che is in trouble now. No matter how monstrous he is, he's simply no match for the Sword Saint. If Yun Che were smart enough, he should hide immediately.""I heard the Sword Saint hasn't concerned himself with worldly affairs for twenty years. This annihilation of the Burning Heaven Clan, which shocked Cangfeng, actually stirred him!""I heard the Sword Saint's temperament is as upright as a sword, hating evil like a mortal enemy. He also had a deep friendship with Burning Heaven's former Grand Master, Fen Yijue. It's truly not surprising that he'd personally appear after Yun Che annihilated the Burning Heaven Clan."

In the sky three li in front of the Imperial Palace, a dark figure floated, his black robe flapping fiercely in the strong wind. Below him, the crowd grew increasingly dense, their chatter overwhelming as countless people rapidly surged towards the spot, gazing up at the legendary Sword Saint.

At this moment, a long cry came from the Imperial Palace. Soon, a streak of white light approached like lightning, stopping in front of the black-robed figure, facing him directly.

"Ah? It's… it's Yun Che!""He's actually here in the Imperial City… and he even showed up!""Even though his strength is monstrous enough to annihilate the Burning Heaven Clan, he still can't be a match for the Sword Saint… The Sword Saint clearly wants to kill him, yet he still dared to appear!""Now, this will be a good show."

Ling Tianya appeared to be around forty years old. Although he was Ling Yuefeng's father, the master of Heavenly Sword Villa, he actually looked younger than Ling Yuefeng. Their appearances were about sixty percent similar, but the sword qi naturally emanating from Ling Tianya was several times sharper than Ling Yuefeng's.

The moment Ling Tianya's gaze turned to Yun Che… that mere gaze instantly gave Yun Che a terrifying sensation, as if several sword qi had pierced his body.

"You are Yun Che?" Ling Tianya slowly spoke, his voice as calm as still water.

"This junior, Yun Che, greets Senior Ling. It is my immense fortune to meet the legendary Sword Saint," Yun Che replied courteously.

"So young, and with only a level seven Earth Profound Realm cultivation, yet you can bring about the annihilation of the Burning Heaven Clan. Such an accomplishment far surpasses anything I achieved in my youth." Ling Tianya's indifferent praise—Yun Che was certainly the first to hear the Sword Saint personally utter the words 'far surpasses.' But after the praise came a chilling killing intent: "With your talent, you could have easily dominated Cangfeng, becoming a grandmaster and reaching heights that even my Heavenly Sword Villa could only gaze up at. If you had represented Cangfeng in the Profound Sky Seven Nations Ranking Tournament in the future, you might have changed Cangfeng's millennium-long disgrace at the bottom and gained supreme glory. Yet your heart is so malicious! Because of personal grievances, you slaughtered seventy-three thousand six hundred members of the Burning Heaven Clan! Such actions are utterly outrageous!"

Yun Che, however, smiled faintly and said, "Senior, you exaggerate. While I may not be considered a good person, I certainly wouldn't dare call myself 'malicious.' Although I've killed many, I never kill anyone without reason. I annihilated the Burning Heaven Clan because they crossed my bottom line. They brought it upon themselves. This also served as a warning to everyone about the consequences of harming my loved ones… However, this matter is a grudge between me and the Burning Heaven Clan. How does it concern you?"

"Hmph, the tragedy of the Burning Heaven Clan is an outrage to both gods and men! You wicked creature, you deserve divine punishment, and everyone should be able to execute you! I'm killing you to enforce justice on behalf of heaven!"

"Enforce justice on behalf of heaven? Hahahaha!" Yun Che burst into laughter, his voice turning cold: "My time with the Burning Heaven Clan wasn't long, but I deeply felt the vile and despicable actions of its members. Such a sect must have committed countless atrocious deeds over these past thousand years. The people they bullied and oppressed, or even directly or indirectly killed, would number far more than seventy-three thousand six hundred! Where were you then? Why didn't you come out to enforce justice on behalf of heaven?!"

Ling Tianya was suddenly speechless.

"I've heard that Heavenly Sword Villa and the Cangfeng Imperial Family have deep origins. The founders of your Heavenly Sword Villa and the Cangfeng Imperial Family were sworn brothers who shared life and death. When they established Heavenly Sword Villa and the Cangfeng Imperial Family respectively, they vowed to be interdependent and support each other through the generations. However, Heavenly Sword Villa has grown increasingly prosperous, even finding the Divine Might Sword Region as its backer, while the Cangfeng Imperial Family has gradually weakened. Today, it faces grave crises, even being infiltrated by the Xiao Sect and Burning Heaven Clan, with the Cangfeng Emperor himself targeted in an assassination attempt. With the power of your Heavenly Sword Villa, it's impossible that you weren't aware of the Cangfeng Imperial Family's crisis. Yet during this entire period, why was there no assistance whatsoever from your Heavenly Sword Villa?! Why did your so-called 'enforcing justice on behalf of heaven' completely disregard this most basic morality?! On the contrary, it was I who saved the Cangfeng Emperor's life. If I hadn't acted, the Cangfeng Emperor would already be dead by now. After you die, I'd like to see how you face your ancestors!"

Yun Che pointed at Ling Tianya, his brows furrowed as he declared: "Your so-called 'enforcing justice on behalf of heaven' is a joke to me! You are simply not qualified to condemn me! If you weren't sporting the title of 'Sword Saint,' I wouldn't even be interested in looking at you today! On the contrary… my annihilation of the Burning Heaven Clan wasn't just to vent my hatred; it was true enforcement of justice on behalf of heaven!"

Ling Tianya had come to demand accountability. Facing Yun Che, who had massacred the entire Burning Heaven Clan and incurred a shocking blood debt, Ling Tianya was initially on the side of righteousness, thus showing no fear in appearing before the public. He even intended to punish Yun Che in front of everyone. Unexpectedly, in front of everyone, Yun Che had retorted, every word striking at his weak points, hitting him where it hurt, leaving Ling Tianya unable to utter a counter-argument. Ling Tianya, who had come to 'enforce justice on behalf of heaven,' was forcefully portrayed by Yun Che's few words as a heartless and unrighteous individual, and the reasons listed were so compelling that the crowd below involuntarily felt a sense of agreement.

Especially for those profound practitioners who were often oppressed by powerful sects but dared not speak out, Yun Che's words struck directly at their hearts. Those who had suffered bullying from the Burning Heaven Clan or its outer sect clenched their fists, their minds surging with emotion, and their reverence for the Sword Saint diminished somewhat.

Ling Tianya sighed deeply: "Not only is your talent astonishing and your strength world-shaking, but you are also incredibly eloquent. But even if you have a silver tongue, it cannot conceal the monstrous blood debt you have incurred. For the seventy thousand souls who died by your hand, today, I shall punish you with my sword. No matter how many reasons you offer, you will not escape death."

"Heh!" Yun Che sneered: "Do you think I just wasted my breath talking to you for so long because I wanted you to spare me? You're thinking too much. You're not qualified to make me afraid, let alone kill me."

Facing someone who intended to kill him, Yun Che naturally shed all pretense of politeness. He swung his arm, and the nine-foot Dragon Fault appeared in his hand, letting out a roaring dragon's cry that shook the heavens: "Today, I shall meet you, Sword Saint! Let me see if your 'Dao' is worthy of shaking my 'Dao'!"

Yun Che leaped from the Snow Phoenix Beast's back, activated Burning Heart, and his aura surged explosively. Dragon Fault carved a dark trajectory in the air, hurtling towards Ling Tianya with an aura that shook the very winds and clouds.

Ling Tianya slowly raised his eyes. In his hand, a cyan longsword silently appeared. Its blade was lusterless, with no visible edge, yet held in the Sword Saint's grasp, it radiated an imposing might that was impossible to look at directly.

Facing Yun Che's attack, which contained berserk power, Ling Tianya's figure remained motionless, showing no intention of evading its edge. Instead, he met Dragon Fault head-on, slowly thrusting out a single sword strike.

Indeed, it was a slow thrust. Everyone, from Yun Che to even the lowliest Nascent Profound Realm practitioner below, clearly saw the sword's trajectory. Yet, this seemingly slow strike seemed to transcend space, even time. Half a breath ago, it was still thirty zhang away, and half a breath later, it had so slowly… pierced Yun Che's chest.

An extremely dangerous aura suddenly assailed him. In front of him, an unprepared, monumental wave of profound energy, like a collapsing mountain and splitting earth, suddenly appeared. A strong, sharp pain also radiated from his chest. Yun Che's heart suddenly jolted. Without thinking, he instantly activated Star God Broken Shadow, flashing away and then quickly tumbling down.

When he landed, blood was pouring from his chest. Two half-foot-long sword marks were deeply etched upon it… And Yun Che didn't even know how he had been struck by the sword.