Chapter 742: The Taste of Conspiracy

"You knew, as expected." Ji Qianrou leaned forward, and with a flip of his right hand, he pushed a palm-sized, hexagonal jade emitting a dreamy blue light towards Yun Che. "This is the invitation to the Devil Sword Convention. In a hundred days, you can use it to enter my Supreme Ocean Palace and participate."

Yun Che reached out and took the blue jade. A cool, refreshing sensation immediately spread from his palm. He glanced at the characters engraved on the jade before putting it away. "Thank you, Senior Ji, for coming in person. This junior will certainly visit Supreme Ocean Palace in a hundred days. Also... regarding the Devil Sword Convention, Senior Ji, please enlighten me. What is the purpose of this convention? And what does 'Devil Sword' refer to?"

"Oh?" Ji Qianrou looked at Yun Che in surprise, gently gathering his flawless, jade-like fingers. "So Little Che doesn't know. The Devil Sword Convention has been publicized for so long in the upper profound world of the Heavenly Profound Continent, yet Little Che doesn't even know what the Devil Sword is. It seems Little Che isn't very interested in the convention."

"To be honest, Senior Ji, this junior indeed doesn't have much interest in the Devil Sword Convention," Yun Che said without reservation. "However, I can use this opportunity to visit the Supreme Ocean Palace, a place I've long yearned to see."

"Hehehee..." Ji Qianrou laughed, more alluring than a woman, causing Yun Che's stomach to churn violently. Had he not controlled himself well enough, his face might have contorted. Ji Qianrou said with a smiling gaze, "This Devil Sword Convention, while grand in scale and hype, is quite uninteresting to me. Comparatively, I'm much more interested in Little Che's mysterious master. If Little Che's master could condescend to visit the Supreme Ocean Palace, it would surely cause an even greater sensation than the Devil Sword Convention."

Yun Che smiled but remained silent.

"Since Little Che asked about the Devil Sword Convention, of course I'll give a thorough explanation. Speaking of the Devil Sword Convention... Little Che, have you heard of the Eternal Night Royal Family?" Ji Qianrou asked softly and slowly, his peach blossom eyes narrowing, even more enchanting than a woman's.

"Eternal Night Royal Family?" Yun Che paused, then his brows twitched. "Could it be that the 'Devil Sword' of the Devil Sword Convention refers to the Heavenly Sin Divine Sword?"

Yun Che had first heard the name 'Eternal Night Royal Family' from Grand Palace Master Feng Qianhui on his very first day at the Ice Cloud Immortal Palace. According to Feng Qianhui's account, the Eternal Night Royal Family was originally one of the five Holy Lands, and the only family power among them. However, a millennium ago, they were annihilated by the combined forces of the other four Holy Lands.

Later, the other three Holy Lands gradually realized they had been manipulated by the Heavenly Might Sword Region. However, bound by their status as Holy Lands, they simply continued the pretense, upholding the Eternal Night Royal Family's ill reputation and swiftly erasing all traces of their existence. To this day, very few people on the Heavenly Profound Continent know the name of the Eternal Night Royal Family, and as for the grievances of that era, almost no one outside the four Holy Lands is aware of them.

The Ice Cloud Immortal Palace knew because their ancestor, Mu Bingyun, had once received kindness from the Eternal Night Royal Family. Unable to reconcile with their tragic annihilation, she sealed this memory within the Palace Master's legacy.

"Ah! Even though Little Che didn't inquire about the Devil Sword Convention, he still knows about the Eternal Night Royal Family and the Heavenly Sin Divine Sword, as expected. It's no wonder, with such an amazing master, how could there be anything Little Che doesn't know?"

Outside the four Holy Lands, very few people knew the name Eternal Night Royal Family, and those who knew of the "Heavenly Sin Divine Sword" were almost non-existent.

Yun Che shook his head slightly. "This junior only heard of it by chance, but doesn't know the full details. I hope Senior Ji can enlighten me on the underlying reasons."

Ji Qianrou half-closed his eyes and spoke softly and slowly, "Speaking of the Heavenly Sin Divine Sword, a millennium ago, though few knew its name, it was known to everyone at our Holy Land level. It is the Heavenly Profound Continent's only Emperor Sword, the sole Emperor among swords. Its origin has always been unknown; we only know it was a divine sword guarded by the Eternal Night Royal Family for generations. As for the reason for its guardianship, that too remains unknown. I'm afraid even within the Eternal Night Royal Family itself, very few knew these secrets."

"Furthermore, since the Heavenly Sin Divine Sword's existence became known, no one has ever been seen using it. Perhaps its level is too high, and no one in the world can wield it. A millennium ago, after the Eternal Night Royal Family committed unforgivable grave sins and was annihilated by our four Holy Lands, the Heavenly Sin Divine Sword vanished without a trace for a full thousand years. However, not long ago, the Heavenly Might Sword Region claimed to have accidentally discovered a strange sword in a desolate place and confirmed it to be the Heavenly Sin Divine Sword, which had been missing for a millennium."

Yun Che was silent.

Three years ago, Feng Qianhui had told him that the Ice Cloud Ancestor had confirmed that the Eternal Night Royal Family's "crime" was in fact a malicious frame-up meticulously orchestrated by the Heavenly Might Sword Region, whose true aim was to obtain the Heavenly Sin Divine Sword. After the Eternal Night Royal Family's destruction, the Heavenly Sin Divine Sword disappeared, very likely falling into the hands of the Heavenly Might Sword Region.

However, for Ice Cloud Ancestor Mu Bingyun to have known such a detailed Holy Land level secret, particularly one so heavily suppressed by the four Holy Lands—especially the Heavenly Might Sword Region—was quite incredible upon reflection.

"And this Devil Sword Convention is the Heavenly Might Sword Region's way of showing they don't wish to monopolize the Heavenly Profound Continent's only Emperor artifact. Thus, they invited all heroes from across the land to gather at my Supreme Ocean Palace to jointly explore the divine sword's secrets."

"Oh... I see," Yun Che said, nodding slowly with a faint smile. "This junior has long heard that the Heavenly Might Sword Region takes the sword as their path, values swords more than life, and spends their entire lives pursuing stronger swords and the ultimate sword dao. I'm surprised that upon accidentally obtaining the Heavenly Sin Divine Sword, the world's strongest sword, the Heavenly Might Sword Region didn't keep it for themselves. Instead, they revealed it to the world, inviting heroes to appreciate it together. To show their sincerity, they even deliberately set the location at Supreme Ocean Palace, rather than their own Heavenly Might Sword Region. Truly worthy of being the Holy Land of Swords, such a magnanimous and selfless breadth of mind truly fills us juniors with admiration."

Ji Qianrou, of course, understood that Yun Che's words clearly questioned the Heavenly Might Sword Region's true intentions and carried a hidden layer of sarcasm. His eyes narrowed, and he said with a beaming smile, "Then Little Che must not disappoint the Heavenly Might Sword Region's 'beautiful goodwill.' Make sure to come when the time comes. If Little Che genuinely has no interest in the Devil Sword Convention, it would be excellent for me, who also has no interest, to take you on a tour of the sea's wonders."

"Then I thank Senior Ji for your kind offer," Yun Che said with a smile. He had some curiosity about the Devil Sword Convention but not much interest, especially after hearing Ji Qianrou describe its details. He immediately detected the scent of a conspiracy, concluding it would be best not to participate.

His main purpose for going to Supreme Ocean Palace was the Underworld Brahma Flower!

As for the Devil Sword Convention... it was uncertain if he would even go to glance at it. After all, it was best for him to minimize contact with the Holy Lands for now. Due to the existence of his fabricated "master," even though Ye Xinghan loathed him and an elder along with several guardians from Sun Moon Divine Palace had perished at the Ice Cloud Immortal Palace, they still didn't dare to make a move against him. However, the more he interacted with them, the easier it would be to expose his deception.

And once his so-called "master" was exposed as fake, the consequences would be catastrophic.

Furthermore... the last two sentences Zi Ji spoke when he left the Black Moon Merchant Guild made him inherently cautious.

"Senior Ji, this junior is curious, which forces are qualified to be invited to the Devil Sword Convention?" Yun Che asked.

"Invitations have been sent to all forces and individuals possessing profound practitioners at the Tyrant Profound Realm," Ji Qianrou said unhurriedly. "More than half of these forces or practitioners are concentrated in the Divine Phoenix Empire, with very few in the other six nations."

"So, the Divine Phoenix Sect will also participate?" Yun Che mused slightly.

"Hehehe, naturally," Ji Qianrou giggled, trembling like a swaying branch. "Now the whole world knows that the Divine Phoenix Sect gave up Princess Snow to appease Little Che's anger. If Little Che could bring Princess Snow along, that would be truly wonderful. The invitation I just gave you allows you to bring ninety-nine people with you."

"Oh, right, there's one more person who received a special invitation," Ji Qianrou said, watching Yun Che's expression. "That person is also in the Blue Wind Nation, and his name... you must be very familiar with it..."

"Fen Juechen."

"Him?" Yun Che's brow twitched sharply. "Why would they invite him?"

"Because he is even stronger than Little Che is now," Ji Qianrou said, a strange light glinting in his eyes. "Ever since he appeared, the Four Holy Lands have shown great, great interest in him, almost as much as they have in Little Che."

"He was once just a weakling in the Spirit Profound Realm, yet after disappearing for two years, he now possesses the power of the Monarch Profound Realm. He's simply a more frightening anomaly than Little Che. I'm very curious about him too. Moreover, he accepted the invitation... so, Little Che, you must be careful then. Anyone who has investigated Fen Juechen knows that the one thing he wants most is to kill you."

"Thank you for the reminder, Senior Ji," Yun Che said with a calm smile, though doubt welled up in his heart. It was no surprise that the Four Holy Lands would be interested in Fen Juechen, but given Fen Juechen's temperament, why would he be willing to participate in a strange Devil Sword Convention?

"Alright, my task here is complete, and I can return now. Please, remember to come in a hundred days," Ji Qianrou said. With a flick of his long sleeve, he turned to leave.

Yun Che called out to him, "Senior Ji, this must be your first time visiting the Ice Cloud Immortal Palace. At least allow this junior to extend some hospitality."

"No need. I've heard the Ice Cloud Immortal Palace is full of women, and women are the most bothersome things; I have no interest in them at all. Seeing Little Che is already quite satisfying, hmm."

With a wave of his hand, a flurry of flower petals drifted down, carrying Ji Qianrou's figure far away until he swiftly vanished into the vast expanse of snow.

After Ji Qianrou left, Yun Che did not immediately return to the Ice Cloud Immortal Palace. Instead, he remained where he was, deep in thought for a long time.

The Devil Sword Convention... the Eternal Night Royal Family... the Heavenly Sin Divine Sword... the Heavenly Might Sword Region!

"What are you thinking about?" Jasmine's voice chimed in.

Yun Che twitched his brow, pondering, "Clearly, Feng Qianhui was right back then. The Heavenly Sin Divine Sword, which disappeared a millennium ago, has been in the hands of the Heavenly Might Sword Region this entire time. If the Heavenly Might Sword Region had truly just acquired the Heavenly Sin Divine Sword, they would never have exposed it."

"The fact that they are now proactively revealing the Heavenly Sin Divine Sword and orchestrating this Devil Sword Convention most likely means that the Heavenly Might Sword Region has failed to find a way to wield the Heavenly Sin Divine Sword for over a thousand years, and their patience has worn thin. Thus, they are inviting experts from across the land to gather and jointly explore its secrets."

"There's another possibility," Jasmine said indifferently. "That is, the Heavenly Might Sword Region has found a method to unlock the Heavenly Sin Divine Sword's secrets, but it's not something they can achieve with their own abilities, so they are using the 'Devil Sword Convention' as a pretext to gather more power."

"That's also possible."

The deaths of his grandfather Yun Canghai and the Demon Emperor, the tragedy of the Xiao family, the vengeance for his parents, the hatred of the Little Demon Empress... all were greatly intertwined with the Heavenly Might Sword Region. The annihilation of the Eternal Night Royal Family was also a scheme orchestrated by the Heavenly Might Sword Region for their own selfish desires. Yun Che let out a heavy breath and murmured, "I originally thought this Devil Sword Convention was being hosted by the Supreme Ocean Palace, so I hadn't given it much thought. But since it originated from the Heavenly Might Sword Region... I'll need to be more cautious."

Up to this point, Yun Che had only interacted with Ling Kun from the Heavenly Might Sword Region. Based on his accumulated experiences, his impression of the Heavenly Might Sword Region was entirely one of danger, malice, deceit, ambition, and unscrupulousness.

"Hmph, you'll know when you go there. As for potential conspiracies or dangers..." Jasmine's voice was dismissive. "You don't need to overthink it. By that time, the devil poison in my soul will have been completely purified! Let alone a mere Heavenly Might Sword Region, even if the so-called Four Holy Lands unite... if I want them all dead, it will take but a snap of my fingers!"

Yun Che was speechless.

"The same goes for you dying!" Jasmine added very deliberately.