Chapter 82: Xiao Zong Visits

In the main hall of New Moon Profound Palace, not long after Yun Che left, a woman, clad in snow-white robes and graceful as a celestial being, slowly walked in.

Qin Wuyou was still in the main hall, not having left, seemingly deep in thought about how to handle the situation with Yun Che and the Xiao Sect's Outer Sect. When he saw the woman enter, he was momentarily startled. Then, the face of the New Moon Profound Palace's new master, also its highest authority, showed profound respect. He rose from his seat and quickly went to greet her, stopping three paces away, bowing and saying, "Your Highness."

If any elder of the New Moon Profound Palace had witnessed Qin Wuyou display such deference towards a young woman, they would surely have been utterly astonished.

The woman nodded slightly and asked, "Palace Master Qin, what is your assessment of Yun Che?"

Qin Wuyou chose his words carefully, responding cautiously, "To defeat opponents several levels, almost an entire major realm, above him, while only at the first level of the True Profound Realm—this talent is something I have never witnessed in my life. Had he been born into a major sect, he might already be renowned throughout the world. His future achievements are undoubtedly limitless."

"I share your thoughts," the woman said softly and gently. "However, he has caused a great deal of trouble today. If all goes as expected, the Xiao Sect will come knocking within three hours. When they do, I ask that Palace Master Qin do everything in your power to stop them and ensure Yun Che's safety."

"This..." Qin Wuyou was momentarily stunned. "Could it be that Your Highness... has chosen him?"

The woman nodded slightly, sighing softly. "In these past few years, I've visited seven profound palaces, yet I never found a suitable candidate. But this Yun Che, he truly caught my attention."

"However, despite Yun Che's astonishing talent, he is still only sixteen years old and merely at the first level of the True Profound Realm," Qin Wuyou said, perplexed. "There are only two years left until that grand event. While his current aptitude is top-tier in New Moon City, it's still far, far inferior to those monstrous geniuses. Even when compared to the top disciples of the Azure Wind Profound Palace, there's a significant gap."

The woman calmly stated, "Because he, while at the first level of the True Profound Realm and in a weakened state, single-handedly crippled an opponent on the verge of entering the Nascent Profound Realm. He achieved something that none of the supreme geniuses I've encountered could. That alone is enough. Although his current strength is still weak, when he crippled Xiao Luocheng, I had a strong intuition that in two years, he will reach a height that will astound everyone."

At this, she smiled faintly. "You see, the most terrifying thing in this world is a woman's intuition."

Qin Wuyou pondered for a moment, then lowered his head and respectfully said, "I understand. Since it is Your Highness's wish, I will do everything in my power to protect his life. I will also provide him with the greatest convenience for his cultivation within the palace. However, regarding his background..."

"You needn't worry about that," the woman said. "He is Xia Yuanba's brother-in-law, and like Xia Yuanba, he comes from Floating Cloud City, a small town in the east. He was born into a minor sect there called the Xiao Clan and had never left Floating Cloud City before the age of sixteen. Six months ago, it was revealed he didn't possess Xiao Clan blood, leading to his expulsion. Now solitary, he sought a place to settle and found my grandfather's old acquaintance, Situ Han, thereby joining the New Moon Profound Palace. His background is exceedingly simple and clean. I've already confirmed all this with Situ Han and Xia Yuanba. Just now, I also dispatched someone to Floating Cloud City for immediate investigation, though it's likely to be accurate. Situ Han wouldn't deceive me, and as for Xia Yuanba," she smiled, "whether he's lying is evident at a glance."

"Nevertheless, I've only tentatively selected him. I will continue to stay at the New Moon Profound Palace for a while longer and try to interact with him as much as possible. If he ultimately disappoints me, I will choose another candidate. Palace Master Qin, I will have to trouble you considerably in the coming period. Although it's only the Outer Sect of the Xiao Sect, dealing with them will still be extremely difficult."

"Heh heh, Your Highness, please rest assured," Qin Wuyou replied. "I've visited the Xiao Sect's Main Sect a dozen times; why would I fear a mere Outer Sect? However... I'm unsure how Yun Che's personality and character were cultivated. Despite being just a young man, his cunning is frighteningly profound. Almost every action he takes, every word he speaks, has a clear objective. Just now, when I spoke with him, he stood right before me, yet I couldn't see through him at all. His eyes remained as calm as a dead man's," Qin Wuyou shook his head with a bitter smile. "Even Fen Juechen, the top-ranked genius on the Azure Wind Profound Palace's Heaven Profound Ranking, who never shows his emotions, hasn't given me this feeling. I sense that he is someone who absolutely cannot be controlled by others. Setting aside whether he can meet Your Highness's expectations in two years, simply persuading him to serve Your Highness will be extremely difficult. Your Highness must know that he joined the New Moon Profound Palace with no intention of serving the Imperial Family."

"Oh?" The woman's face showed prolonged surprise at Qin Wuyou's assessment. Then, she smiled faintly. "Palace Master Qin, rest assured, I will handle this matter personally. I trust my judgment and discernment, and even more so, my own capabilities."

In the southern suburbs of New Moon City, Mount Yue'nan stood majestically. The Xiao Sect's branch was located here, with the entire Mount Yue'nan belonging to the Xiao Sect. Behind Mount Yue'nan stretched a forest spanning three hundred li, also part of the Xiao Sect's territory. Though not exceptionally vast, its excessively tall and dense foliage kept it perpetually dim, earning it the name "Shadowed Forest" from the people of New Moon City. The Shadowed Forest was home to countless dangerous profound beasts and was frequently used by the Xiao Sect as a trial ground, where thousands of Xiao Sect disciples died each year.

Dusk had passed, and night had just begun to fall, but urgent shouts abruptly shattered the tranquility of the Xiao Sect's branch.

"Move aside! Hurry up! Young Sect Master is severely injured! Go immediately and inform the Sect Master and the people from the Pill Hall! Quick!!"

Xiao Zaihe personally carried Xiao Luocheng on his back, rushing through the main gate of the sect like a madman, heading straight for the Pill Hall. The few people following him were also drenched in sweat, their faces terrified. Seeing that it was Xiao Zaihe, the sect members quickly made way, and several of them rushed to report to Sect Master Xiao Tiannan.

Not long after, Xiao Tiannan and two elders from the Pill Hall arrived in a hurry. As soon as he saw Xiao Tiannan, Xiao Zaihe fell to his knees with a thud, crying out in anguish, "Sect Master! Quick, please save the Young Sect Master! He's gravely wounded... even his meridians and profound veins are... are..."

Seeing the blood-soaked Xiao Luocheng on Xiao Zaihe's back, Xiao Tiannan and the two elders were collectively aghast. Xiao Tiannan quickly stepped forward and took Xiao Luocheng's right wrist. The moment he touched it, he recoiled as if struck by lightning, his resolute face instantly twisting into a ferocious grimace. He grabbed Xiao Zaihe's collar and roared like an enraged lion, "Who was it? Who did this?! Who did this?!"

"It was... it was the New Moon Profound Palace!" Xiao Zaihe stammered, his voice trembling. "The Young Sect Master was sparring with a disciple from the New Moon Profound Palace, and the other party dealt a heavy blow. The Young Sect Master... he..."

"New Moon... Profound Palace?" Xiao Tiannan's eyes widened in disbelief. "Nonsense! Which one of those useless disciples from the New Moon Profound Palace could possibly injure Luocheng?!"

"Sect Master, please calm down," an elder behind him quickly interjected. "The Young Sect Master appears to be gravely injured; he should be taken to the Pill Hall immediately."

"Calm down? How can I calm down?" Xiao Tiannan roared. "Luocheng's upper body meridians are almost completely severed, his profound veins shattered, leaving him virtually crippled, and all his profound energy cultivation has been depleted! How can you tell me to calm down?!"

"Wh... what!?" The two elders instantly turned pale with shock.

"You two, take Luocheng to the Pill Hall at once! Then dispatch people immediately to summon all the best physicians in the city! Zaihe! You are to explain to me clearly what exactly happened!!"

After returning to his residence, Yun Che sat cross-legged on his bed and quickly entered a meditative state, slowly recovering his depleted profound energy. When he opened his eyes, night had fully descended, and his profound energy had recovered by just under half. However, the pervasive soreness and stinging sensation throughout his body still lingered.

"Phew, I've finally recovered a bit," Yun Che sighed, stretching his body. "But this pain..."

"That's the after-effect of forcibly using Evil Soul," Jasmine said coldly. "It's a good thing you only used it for a mere half an hour; otherwise, you wouldn't just be sore all over, but your muscles would have ruptured and your meridians would be shattered!"

"Don't worry, I know my own body best. When I can't bear it anymore, I'll naturally stop," Yun Che said nonchalantly. He then exclaimed, "But this 'Evil Soul' is only the first stage of the Evil God Profound Arts, yet it's so terrifying! It actually allowed me to completely defeat opponents at the seventh level of the True Profound Realm."

"The attribute of the Evil God Arts is 'Rage'! The first stage, Evil Soul, can instantly increase your profound energy strength by one to two times. The second stage, Burning Heart, can increase your profound energy strength by two to three times. The third stage, Heaven Breaker, can increase it by three to four times. The fourth stage, Purgatory, can increase it by four to five times. And the fifth stage, Yama Emperor, can increase it by five to six times."

"That... terrifying?" Jasmine's words made Yun Che's eyes widen in astonishment. He had personally experienced the first stage, "Evil Soul"; the sudden surge of profound energy still made his blood boil at the memory. Without Evil Soul, he couldn't have defeated Tie Hengjun and Lu Zhannan. While Yun Che wasn't unfamiliar with abilities that rapidly and significantly boost profound energy, those were typically special profound arts used only in crises or desperate situations, at great cost. Their use would result in severe drops in profound energy, even significant lifespan reduction, and the extent of the profound energy amplification was nowhere near the direct one-to-two-fold increase provided by "Evil Soul."

And Evil Soul was only the first stage!

If he reached the second stage, Burning Heart, he could easily cripple Xiao Luocheng even without using "Falling Moon Sinking Star."

And if he could unlock the third, fourth, or even fifth stages, it would be simply unimaginable. Perhaps then, even in the Spirit Profound Realm, where each level signifies a vast difference, he might be able to defeat opponents a major realm above him!

"So, roughly when can I fully master Evil Soul? And when can I activate Burning Heart?" Yun Che asked eagerly.

"Once you reach the sixth level of the True Profound Realm or higher, Evil Soul can be activated at will. As for Burning Heart, that will only be possible after you enter the Spirit Profound Realm, at the earliest," Jasmine replied indifferently.

Just then, a resounding "boom" suddenly echoed from outside, followed by a thunderous roar of anger from the distance:

"Hand over Yun Che immediately, or tonight, I will flatten your New Moon Profound Palace!!"