Chapter 809: Bloodstained Jasmine (II)

"You…"

If Feng Zukui had been standing in front of Yun Che, Xuanyuan Guyun would have been enraged and cursing. But seeing only a young girl before him, he was so shocked he couldn't speak for a moment.

The flames he had just witnessed were enough to confirm that the girl possessed power comparable to his own. He was the second-ranked elder in the Heavenly Sword Villa, a position of great prestige, yet his opponent was merely a young woman.

This white-clad girl was, naturally, Feng Xue'er. Given her astonishing power and grace, Xuanyuan Guyun had, of course, noticed her long ago. However, he had not expected her true power to not only match, but far exceed, her profound cultivation level. While her profound energy aura indicated a Monarch Profound Realm Level Eight, her actual combat ability was certainly on par with his own mid-stage Monarch Profound Realm Level Nine.

Perhaps only Feng Xue'er in the entire world could render someone of Xuanyuan Guyun's stature speechless with astonishment.

"Truly worthy of someone who inherited the Phoenix God's power. Absolutely astonishing, like a celestial being," Xuanyuan Wentian remarked with a faint smile and a sigh.

The Phoenix Divine Sect seemed to awaken from a dream. Feng Hengkong frantically shouted, "Xue'er, what are you doing... come back!!"

"Xue'er, don't be foolish!" Feng Tianwei's expression also changed slightly. Yun Che's exposed identity was too shocking and terrifying, especially since his "supporting master" turned out to be a complete fabrication. For some time, knowing that Yun Che supposedly had such a powerful patron, they had not only stopped opposing Feng Xue'er's relationship with him but had even actively promoted it. Now, in their current predicament, they naturally wanted to avoid him at all costs. If anyone were to mention the rumor of the Phoenix Divine Sect betrothing Princess Xue to Yun Che, they would deny it vehemently.

Just as the Heavenly Sword Villa was about to apprehend Yun Che, Feng Xue'er suddenly intervened, causing everyone in the Phoenix Divine Sect to tremble with fear.

Feng Xue'er stood in front of Yun Che, her voice trembling. "Brother Yun... even though he is from the Illusory Demon Realm, he truly isn't an evil person. You can't treat him like this."

"Not evil?" Xuanyuan Wentian sneered. "Hmph, truly worthy of the Demon Emperor; he's even managed to bewitch the renowned Phoenix Princess Xue. Phoenix Divine Sect, I've long heard that your ties with Yun Che are very close, even to the point of intending to betroth your most treasured Princess Xue to him. However, that was in the past, when you were unaware of his demonic identity, so it's understandable. But now, to still protect him like this, could it be that you are determined to side with a demon?"

"No, no, no, absolutely not!" Feng Hengkong frantically protested. "Xue'er grew up beside the Phoenix God from a young age and is naive to the world, completely unaware of the evil of demons. Coupled with Yun Che saving her life several years ago, she acted impulsively out of emotion. There's absolutely no intention on our part to associate with demons."

"Sword Master Xuanyuan, my imperial sister is kind-hearted. It's just that she's been deeply misled by this demon, Yun Che, over the years, which caused her... to act so rashly! No one in our sect has ever mentioned the Illusory Demon Realm to her; she doesn't even know what it is. Otherwise, how could she possibly help this treacherous, utterly wicked demon?"

Feng Ximing turned to Xuanyuan Wentian, his face filled with dread, his voice pleading. "Please, Sword Master Xuanyuan, judge fairly."

"Imperial Sister, come back quickly! Yun Che is nothing but a villainous demon; you've been deceived by him all these years!"

Feng Zukui's brows furrowed. He leapt up, reached Feng Xue'er, and grabbed her arm. "Xue'er, your intervention just now can be considered repaying his life-saving grace from back then. From this point on, you cut all ties with him, and have no further association. Let's go!"

"No!" Feng Xue'er, usually gentle and compliant in front of elders, shook off Feng Zukui's hand. "Even though Brother Yun has the bloodline of the Illusory Demon Realm, he has lived his entire life in the Profound Sky Continent. Even after learning his parents' homeland is the Illusory Demon Realm, he has always considered himself a person of the Profound Sky Continent. After returning to the Illusory Demon Realm, he came back...

...with no so-called sinister plot; he simply considers this place his home... I've been with Brother Yun ever since he returned, and I've watched him diligently protect his homeland and its people. He hasn't done anything to betray the Profound Sky Continent!"

Feng Xue'er's words were filled with anger, confusion, panic, and a touch of bewilderment, each one striking like jade against the heart. Yun Che moved to her side and gently patted her shoulder. "Xue'er, you don't need to say anymore. Whether I'm an evil person, or if I returned to the Profound Sky Continent with some hidden agenda, do you think... they truly don't know?"

Yun Che's gaze swept over the Four Sacred Grounds, his eyes full of mockery. "The Four Sacred Grounds have always claimed to guard the borders of the Profound Sky Continent, resisting the invasion of foreign powers. And this foreign power is the Illusory Demon Realm! But outside the Four Sacred Grounds, who has truly witnessed an invasion from the Illusory Demon Realm? Who has truly interacted with people from the Illusory Demon Realm? And who truly knows whether the people of the Illusory Demon Realm, or the Illusory Demon Realm itself, are good or evil?"

"No one!" Yun Che slowly shook his head, a cold sneer on his face. "What you hear is always only what the Four Sacred Grounds want you to hear! Which side, the Illusory Demon Realm or the Four Sacred Grounds, is truly the land of sin? Which side is truly filled with greed and filth? You cannot see it, but I see it clearly, and this heaven and earth see it clearly. Therefore, retribution will come one day!"

Yun Che's gaze swept over Qu Fengyi, then settled on Huangji Wuyu, the Sacred Emperor of the Emperor Absolute Sacred Region and leader of the Four Sacred Masters. "Sea Emperor of the Ocean Palace, Sacred Emperor of the Sacred Region, do you say I'm right?"

Qu Fengyi and Huangji Wuyu's eyebrows twitched simultaneously, but neither spoke... or perhaps they were speechless.

"On the verge of death, and still spewing nonsense, foolishly attempting to tarnish the reputation of my Four Sacred Grounds," Xuanyuan Wentian sneered dismissively. "Yun Che, you can't be so naive as to believe that the profound practitioners of my Profound Sky Continent would choose to believe you, a demon emperor, and doubt my sacred grounds that have protected the Profound Sky for ten thousand years, can you? This is utterly ridiculous!"

"Duan Qing!"

Xuanyuan Wentian uttered a low command, and a dark figure, like a ghost, appeared beside him, uttering a low, hoarse voice: "Sword Master."

With the appearance of the black-clad figure, thousands of powerful individuals present felt a chill run through their bodies. Especially those holding swords, their blades trembled on their own, emitting trembling hums.

Even Feng Zukui, who was standing in front trying to forcefully pull Feng Xue'er away, had a drastic change in expression, a flicker of terror even appearing in his pupils.

This was because the person was one of the Heavenly Sword Villa's Three Sword Attendants, who inspired dread in all who heard their names — Duan Qing, the Heart-Severing Sword Attendant!

A terrifying existence second only to the Sacred Masters among the Four Sacred Grounds!

"Seal Yun Che's profound energy and apprehend him! Whoever interferes... kill them!" A cold glint flashed in Xuanyuan Wentian's eyes. Xia Yuanba had already been restrained by the Emperor Absolute Sacred Region, and the last four words were clearly directed at the Phoenix Divine Sect.

"Wait a moment!" Yun Che, who had remained silent without offering a single word of defense, suddenly spoke up. He looked at Xuanyuan Wentian, a meaningful smile suddenly appearing on his face. "Sword Master Xuanyuan, you've revealed my identity and many secrets, but it seems you've conveniently omitted the most crucial thing."

"Oh? Is that so?" Xuanyuan Wentian scoffed. With him present, Yun Che could have a thousand tricks, but he wouldn't escape. "Then tell me, what have I overlooked?"

The moment he spoke, he suddenly remembered something, and his expression changed. But before he could even form the thought of restraining Yun Che, those three words had already left Yun Che's mouth.

"Naturally... the Mirror of Samsara!" Yun Che stated with a cold laugh.

"..." Xuanyuan Wentian's body swayed, the smile on his face completely frozen. For the first time, a dark, gloomy expression appeared on his face. Behind him, Xuanyuan Wendao's expression also changed, and his teeth instantly ground together with a clatter.

Yun Che's words had completely nullified Xuanyuan Wentian's meticulous plan.

Xuanyuan Wentian, through his informants in the Illusory Demon Realm, knew of Yun Che's identity there and naturally also knew that the Mirror of Samsara was on him. Xuanyuan Wentian had kidnapped Xiao Yun and personally confronted him... the only reason Yun Che could think of was to seize the Mirror of Samsara.

However, Yun Che was also puzzled. Since Xuanyuan Wentian knew the Mirror of Samsara was with him, why didn't he secretly act against him without alerting the other three Sacred Grounds, instead choosing to confront him publicly? Because once the Mirror of Samsara was exposed, the other three Sacred Grounds would undoubtedly try to snatch it at any cost, making it far more difficult for Xuanyuan Wentian to acquire it.

Yet today, Xuanyuan Wentian publicly exposed all of Yun Che's identities from the Illusory Demon Realm and leveled several grave accusations against him, but never once mentioned the "Mirror of Samsara." Even the "Primordial Profound Ark" was kept hidden.

It was only when Xuanyuan Wentian deliberately concealed the "Primordial Profound Ark" that Yun Che instantly understood his true objective.

Given the power of the Heavenly Sword Villa, acting against him in secret would certainly not have been difficult. However, Yun Che was by no means an unknown figure in the Profound Sky Continent; even the Four Sacred Grounds paid close attention to his movements. Therefore, if the Heavenly Sword Villa had moved against him in secret, the other three Sacred Grounds would very likely have discovered it and would have investigated the reason. Especially since Xia Yuanba was a member of the Emperor Absolute Sacred Region, and given his regard for Yun Che, and Huangji Wuyu's regard for Xia Yuanba, there was a high probability of a major conflict. Once it was discovered that Yun Che possessed the Mirror of Samsara, Xuanyuan Wentian could forget about "monopolizing" it.

But here on the Sea God Stage, in front of the Four Sacred Grounds and the heroes of the Profound Sky, by openly revealing Yun Che's identity and then justifiably taking him back to the Heavenly Sword Villa for disposal, the other three Sacred Grounds would have no suspicion or reason for deep investigation. At most, they would simply monitor the outcome of the disposal. At that point, Xuanyuan Wentian could easily claim the Mirror of Samsara for himself.

No, besides the Mirror of Samsara, he had deliberately hidden the Primordial Profound Ark, clearly intending to acquire both simultaneously!

Xuanyuan Wentian was a man of profound schemes, with an incredibly malicious and cautious mind. His calculations could be described as perfect... because, by common sense, if the "Mirror of Samsara" and the "Primordial Profound Ark" remained unexposed, one would secretly rejoice and breathe a sigh of relief. No one would be foolish enough to reveal them voluntarily... for once exposed, they would ignite the greed of all four Sacred Grounds, truly condemning oneself to eternal perdition.

Xuanyuan Wentian thought the same.

But he underestimated Yun Che's fierce defiance.

Even if it meant provoking the greed of the Four Sacred Grounds, becoming their desperate prey, and plunging himself into an abyss of endless turmoil, he would still thoroughly disgust Xuanyuan Wentian!

Sure enough, the moment the words "Mirror of Samsara" were uttered, the other three Sacred Grounds, especially the three Sacred Masters, were all jolted as if by an electric shock. "What did you say? The Mirror of Samsara!?"

The "Mirror of Samsara" was an unfamiliar name to the people of the Seven Nations, but for the Sacred Grounds, these three words were like a clap of thunder.

A century ago, they had paid a tremendous price to invade the Illusory Demon Realm, all for the legendary Mirror of Samsara, said to hold the secrets of the Divine Profound!

"The Mirror of Samsara is on you?" Ye Miexie demanded sharply, unconsciously taking a step forward.

"Of course. Otherwise, why would Sword Master Xuanyuan's expression have changed?" Yun Che retorted mockingly.

At the sudden mention of the Mirror of Samsara, Huangji Wuyu, Qu Fengyi, Ye Miexie, and all the elders of the various Sacred Grounds were first shocked, then a burning eagerness surged within them. Only Xuanyuan Wentian's face remained grim. The three Sacred Masters, being astute individuals, instantly understood—Xuanyuan Wentian clearly knew the Mirror of Samsara was on Yun Che all along, and all this elaborate effort was to conceal it from them so he could monopolize it!

And this also simultaneously proved that the Mirror of Samsara was indeed on Yun Che!