Chapter 447: Divine Phoenix Murderous Intent

Jasmine had once said that once the Emperor Overlord Divine Veins awakened, profound energy would surge overnight to the Sovereign Profound Realm, or even the Tyrannical Profound Realm. At the time, Yun Che's only feeling was that it was too exaggerated and fantastical, so exaggerated that he dared not believe it, even coming from Jasmine herself.

But now, standing before him, was Xia Yuanba. Two years ago, he was only in the Elementary Profound Realm, yet now he was a true Overlord, one who could profoundly move even the Phoenix Sect Master! Yun Che could not but believe it.

In this world, such an incredible profound vein actually existed... and it was right beside him, in Xia Yuanba, who had grown up with him since childhood!

"The awakening of the Emperor Overlord Divine Veins requires an ultimate desire for power," Jasmine said slowly. "One must possess a reckless, almost insane craving for strength to awaken the Emperor Overlord Divine Veins. His personality before was exceptionally weak; he should have never awakened it in his lifetime. However, it seems his character has changed significantly over the past two years. If I'm not mistaken, it's likely because he watched you die to save him back then, leading to a drastic change in his personality amidst extreme pain and self-reproach, unwilling to remain a useless burden."

Yun Che was deeply moved. He had learned from Cang Yue that after he was trapped beneath the Sword Discourse Arena, Xia Yuanba had left alone. Though always gentle by nature, he had been incredibly stubborn and resolute that time... Senior Zi from the Black Moon Merchant Guild had told him that Xia Yuanba had appeared in Divine Phoenix City, challenging various sects daily like a madman, refusing to stop even when covered in wounds and on the verge of death...

Seeing Xia Yuanba again, he had grown... His growth had far exceeded Yun Che's imagination. From someone who needed his protection, who dared not retaliate when bullied, and who did everything cautiously, he had become someone Yun Che now had to look up to. He had become a figure among the imperial class of the entire Profound Sky Continent.

Faced with Xia Yuanba's overwhelming aura, all nine Phoenix disciples were terrified. Not only did they not dare to step forward, but not a single one dared to speak. True Master Gu Cang shook his head and said, "Yuanba, this is the ranking tournament arena. Your relative is merely in the arena, not being deliberately besieged or bullied. Come over to your master's side for now."

"I know!" Xia Yuanba's stern face remained unchanged. His current personality was incredibly unyielding, and although True Master Gu Cang was his current master, he showed no deference. "As I just said, I am representing the Blue Wind Nation and fighting alongside my brother-in-law. What's wrong with that?"

Feng Feiyan immediately lost his composure and frowned, "The Seven Nations Ranking Tournament is a battle between profound practitioners from different nations. Only profound practitioners from the Blue Wind Nation can represent it, not just anyone who wishes to! Otherwise, how could it be called the Seven Nations Ranking Tournament?"

"How could I not understand that rule!" Faced with Feng Feiyan's imposing aura, Xia Yuanba retorted sharply, "I'm afraid you'll be disappointed! Because I *am* a native of the Blue Wind Nation! Why can't I represent the Blue Wind Nation in battle?"

Xia Yuanba's resolute expression made Gu Cang smile bitterly and say somewhat helplessly, "My unruly disciple is indeed from the Blue Wind Nation."

Feng Feiyan and the others all changed their expressions, and the profound practitioners in the arena gaped... Yun Che, who defeated Feng Xiluo, was from the Blue Wind Nation, and this eighteen-year-old Overlord was also from the Blue Wind Nation!

This smallest and weakest nation on the Profound Sky Continent, always looked down upon by the other six nations, in this generation... could it be favored by the gods?!

"Wrong!" Feng Feiyan shook his head, "The Four Sacred Grounds exist above the Seven Nations and do not belong to any single country. Since he has entered the Supreme Ocean Sacred Land and become a disciple of True Master Gu Cang, he is a person of the Sacred Land, not of any nation. He is fundamentally unqualified to represent the Blue Wind Nation in battle."

As soon as Feng Feiyan finished speaking, Xia Yuanba turned and knelt on one knee towards Gu Cang: "Master, your disciple is unfilial. I now wish to leave your tutelage and depart the Supreme Ocean Sacred Land. I beg my master to grant this."

Xia Yuanba's actions, words, and demeanor were incredibly decisive and resolute, without the slightest hesitation, leaving everyone agape and their hearts trembling violently.

At this moment, even a fool could clearly sense the profound affection Xia Yuanba harbored for Yun Che. When facing the formidable Divine Phoenix Sect, his words and demeanor were extremely overbearing, yet before Yun Che, he cried like a child. To fight alongside Yun Che, he even unhesitatingly declared his desire to leave the Supreme Ocean Sacred Land... a place that profound practitioners of Profound Sky could only dream of.

Even True Master Gu Cang, who was usually as calm as still water, couldn't help but be stunned. He shook his head, a hint of bewilderment in his expression: "Yuanba, why would you... go to such lengths?"

Xia Yuanba's gaze was calm, without the slightest hesitation or struggle at the crossroads of his decision. He spoke each word distinctly: "Master, your unfilial disciple has surely grieved you. But my brother-in-law is a relative I can never betray in this life. My first life was given by my parents, and my second life was exchanged for by my brother-in-law's own life! In my heart, my brother-in-law is as important as my parents. I would rather betray myself, my master, the Sacred Land, and even the heavens, than betray my dearest kin!"

True Master Gu Cang's expression froze; for a moment, he didn't know what to say. Xia Yuanba losing control and weeping bitterly upon seeing Yun Che had already astonished him... because the Xia Yuanba he knew was a person of incredibly unyielding character. He had never imagined Xia Yuanba would go to such lengths for Yun Che. It was abundantly clear that the connection between them was far from that of ordinary relatives.

Now, True Master Gu Cang deeply regretted bringing Xia Yuanba out. Xia Yuanba's astonishing growth had already caused a huge stir in the Supreme Ocean Sacred Land. His profound veins were unusual, containing power that even the Sacred Emperor could not fathom. Many in the Supreme Ocean Sacred Land believed that at Xia Yuanba's current incredible growth rate, his future achievements might very well surpass the Sacred Emperor's!

If Xia Yuanba were to truly leave the Supreme Ocean Sacred Land because of this, it could be an extremely enormous loss for the entire Sacred Land.

The Supreme Ocean Sacred Land was a dreamlike sanctuary that all profound practitioners could dream of but could not hope to attain. However, when faced with a genius of unparalleled talent, even the Sacred Land itself yearned for them and would absolutely not be willing to let go.

At this moment, a hand suddenly landed on Xia Yuanba's shoulder. Yun Che patted him and said, "Yuanba, get up. The Supreme Ocean Sacred Land is the foremost of the Four Sacred Grounds. To enter this highest-tier Sacred Land of Profound Sky is the dream of all profound practitioners. You don't need to do this for me. I know you're afraid I'll be bullied, but against these people, I alone am enough."

"But..." Xia Yuanba turned his face. He could see Yun Che's condition; he had clearly just endured a fierce battle, and most of his profound energy was depleted. Moreover, the aura of each of the nine individuals surrounding him far surpassed Yun Che's... This was blatant bullying! If the fight continued, defeat would be secondary; Yun Che could easily lose his life if he made even a slight mistake.

Now, he finally had the ability to protect Yun Che, so how could he allow anyone to harm him in the slightest! Even if it meant abandoning his master and sect, he would stand before Yun Che and defeat all nine of these Divine Phoenix Sect disciples.

Yun Che shook his head. "Since you have already acknowledged True Master Gu Cang as your master, and even his last disciple, to abandon him like this would be highly disrespectful and cause your master to lose face in front of so many people. I know what you're worried about, but don't worry, I really am enough on my own... I'm your brother-in-law, when have I ever disappointed you?"

Xia Yuanba's eyes flickered. He recalled his unreserved admiration for Yun Che in the past, and how Yun Che had repeatedly turned the impossible into reality... Back then, Yun Che was truly omnipotent in his eyes. No matter how powerful the enemy, even figures he considered mythical, ultimately fell before Yun Che.

No matter when, he had never failed.

Even though he was now an Overlord, this almost blind trust and admiration still strongly persisted.

"Alright." Although still worried in his heart, that deep sense of trust made Xia Yuanba nod heavily without much hesitation, choosing to obey. "Then I'll be down below, waiting to see brother-in-law utterly defeat all of them... Brother-in-law, please be careful."

"Don't worry, my life is so tough, I can't die even if I try," Yun Che chuckled.

Xia Yuanba immediately walked down and stood beside True Master Gu Cang. Even with Gu Cang's calm and unperturbed nature, he couldn't help but feel a pang of jealousy. When he, as a master, asked Xia Yuanba to come down, he refused directly, even unhesitatingly stating his desire to leave the Supreme Ocean Sacred Land. Yet, with just a few words from Yun Che, he obediently descended.

Oh dear... what a situation.

At the same time, a question arose in his mind: why would Yun Che let Xia Yuanba leave? In his current state, it was impossible for him to defeat nine talented disciples of the Divine Phoenix Sect. Was he simply trying to prevent Xia Yuanba from leaving the Supreme Ocean Sacred Land because of him?

The Divine Phoenix profound practitioners, whose faces had been grim, secretly breathed a sigh of relief... That was an Overlord! An eighteen-year-old Overlord! If he had truly represented the Blue Wind Nation, then what chance would the Divine Phoenix Sect have?! Before a true Overlord, let alone nine Intermediate Sovereigns, even ninety more would be utterly annihilated.

However, Feng Hengkong and Feng Feiyan's expressions simultaneously darkened.

Yun Che was already fated to die!

And now, an incredibly talented relative from the Supreme Ocean Sacred Land had emerged! What's more, this person was willing to do anything to protect him! This meant Yun Che indirectly gained a layer of protection from the Supreme Ocean Sacred Land!

Therefore, he absolutely had to die!

If they didn't "righteously" kill him today in the ranking tournament arena, it would be incredibly difficult to kill him in the future! Once he fully matured, he would become an immeasurable future threat.

Yun Che straightened his body and re-gripped Dragon Fault. The entire arena fell silent, all eyes fixed on him... No one believed he could defeat the combined force of nine Intermediate Sovereigns, especially after his profound energy was greatly depleted from his fierce battle with Feng Xiluo. So what exactly was he going to do? Was he going to surrender directly?

Without Xia Yuanba's terrifying pressure, the Phoenix disciples' minds finally stabilized, and they once again approached Yun Che... Just then, Feng Hengkong's profound energy transmission simultaneously reached their ears:

"Immediately activate your Phoenix Domain at full power! Use the Nine-fold Domain to instantly incinerate him! Don't give him any chance to surrender or for others to rescue him! Now... quickly!!"