Chapter 893: Another Heavenly Poison Pearl (Part 1)

Leaving the Primordial Profound Ark, Yun Che and Su Ling'er sat together at the edge of the Absolute Cloud Cliff, recounting the experiences of their lives over the years.

Facing the pitch-black abyss below, they felt no trepidation. Both had once leaped off the Absolute Cloud Cliff, and their destinies had been profoundly altered as a result. What was known as the "Graveyard of the Grim Reaper"—a place feared by everyone in the Azure Cloud Continent—had not only failed to swallow their lives but had reconnected their fractured destinies.

Later, Su Ling'er fell asleep peacefully in Yun Che's arms, waking the next day around noon.

“Brother Yun Che, once we reach that place called the Illusory Demon Realm, will we truly never be able to return?” Su Ling'er asked, gazing at him tenderly, though her words carried little reluctance.

“At least, returning won't be possible for a while. The Primordial Profound Ark only has enough power for one round trip between the Illusory Demon Realm and the Azure Cloud Continent. But Ling'er, if you ever want to come back, I’ll do my best to find a way,” Yun Che said seriously.

Su Ling'er, however, simply smiled and shook her head, “With you and Father, any place is fine.”

As she spoke, she retrieved a profound crystal enveloped in a yellow glow from her clothes. Judging by its aura, a special profound formation was likely hidden within the crystal.

Yun Che immediately guessed that it must be the “Treasure Key” Su Hengshan had given her. It was this key that had attracted countless greedy eyes, causing endless internal strife within the Tai Su Sect and eventually inviting the Seven Star Divine Palace, which ultimately led to the sect's downfall.

Clutching the profound crystal, Su Ling'er forcefully threw it into the Absolute Cloud Abyss.

Watching it fall in an orange-yellow arc into the endless abyss, burying the so-called sect treasure forever, never again to attract greed or disaster, Su Ling'er showed no hint of heartache or reluctance. Instead, after a brief moment of hesitation and sadness, she revealed a relaxed, faint smile.

“Brother Yun Che, I want to go back to the Tai Su Sect first. There are a few relics my mother left behind there that I can’t bear to part with.”

“Alright,” Yun Che agreed without hesitation. “We’ll return to the Primordial Profound Ark. Using it, we can reach the Tai Su Sect from here in an instant.”

Su Ling'er shook her head, smiling sweetly. “No! I want Brother Yun to carry me back. Before, I always carried you. Now, I want you to make up for all of it.”

“...Alright!” Yun Che's emotions stirred, and his eyes felt slightly warm. Indeed, it was always her who had carried him, covered in blood. He had barely given her a warm embrace in return, accustomed only to her meticulous, heartbroken, and tearful care, or to selfishly indulging his desires on her without a trace of tenderness.

Putting away the Primordial Profound Ark, Yun Che wrapped his arm around Su Ling'er’s slender waist and rose into the air, flying away with the wind amidst her ethereal, dream-like laughter.

Yun Che flew slowly, taking nearly an hour to leave the range of the Langhuan Mountain Range and re-enter the Fusu Kingdom. As he flew out of the mountains, he sensed several waves of profound energy, totaling over thirty disciples from the Seven Star Divine Palace.

Clearly, they were searching as thoroughly as possible for whoever had killed their people. After all, the brutal murder of a Seven Star Divine Palace elder was an earth-shattering event across the entire Azure Cloud Continent.

In the past, if his lingering hatred hadn't subsided, he would have ensured all Divine Palace disciples who came perished in the Langhuan Mountain Range, further enraging the Seven Star Divine Palace. But now, he couldn't even be bothered to glance at them.

Gazing at the Fusu Kingdom's territory in the distance, Yun Che's eyes gradually became distant.

“Brother Yun Che, are you troubled?” Su Ling'er, who had been listening to the wind and Yun Che’s heartbeat, asked with concern.

“I'm thinking... where might my master be now? Should I go find him?” Yun Che exhaled softly. “At this time in the Azure Cloud Continent, Master should still be safe. But the difference is, I was never by his side, nor was the Sky Poison Pearl.”

“It’s just that...” Yun Che gave a self-deprecating smile. “He raised me, taught me all his medical skills, and instilled in me benevolence to help the world. Yet, after his ‘ascension,’ I’ve killed thousands, tens of thousands more people than I’ve saved. What face do I have to meet him again?”

“No, that’s not true,” Su Ling'er gently comforted him. “How could a remarkable person like Master not discern whether Brother Yun Che is good or evil? He cherished you so much back then. If you could meet him again, even as strangers, he would surely like you just as much as before. Because my Brother Yun Che possesses such immense charm.”

“Hahaha...” Su Ling'er's adoring words made Yun Che laugh. Yet, he still wavered, uncertain whether to seek out his master. He longed to see him again but also feared it, dreading that his appearance might disturb his master’s peaceful life.

In the current Azure Cloud Continent, without the Sky Poison Pearl, his master wouldn't encounter disaster for possessing a treasure; instead, he would live a life respected by all. As for Yun Che, everywhere he went, blood was likely to be spilled. He feared his presence would disturb his master's peaceful existence in this lifetime.

Exiting the Langhuan Mountain Range, the two headed north, flying towards the Fusu Kingdom. Just a hundred li later, Yun Che’s brows suddenly twitched… because not far ahead, an abnormally high concentration of profound energy auras suddenly appeared.

Over forty auras of the Sovereign Profound Realm!!

The three strongest among them had impressively reached the ninth level of the Sovereign Profound Realm!

In addition to the Sovereign Profound Realm auras, there were over two hundred auras of the Tyrant Profound Realm.

Of the three continents on the Blue Pole Star, the Profound Sky Continent had the strongest overall profound strength, followed by the Illusory Demon Realm. Based on Yun Che's understanding, the Azure Cloud Continent's profound strength was considerably weaker than that of the Illusory Demon Realm.

The three strongest sects in the Azure Cloud Continent—the Heaven Breaking Sect, the Seven Star Divine Palace, and the Flying Immortal Sword Sect—each possessed strength roughly comparable to a mid-tier Guardian Family in the Illusory Demon Realm.

The ninth level of the Sovereign Profound Realm was essentially the peak power in the Azure Cloud Continent at present. As for the tenth level of the Sovereign Profound Realm, it existed in both the Profound Sky Continent and the Illusory Demon Realm, but in the Azure Cloud Continent, it seemed to have only appeared in historical records.

Therefore, over forty Sovereign Profound Realm auras… this was an extremely exaggerated number for the Azure Cloud Continent.

And three ninth-level Sovereign Profound Realm practitioners were almost equivalent to the four Sacred Masters gathering in the Profound Sky Continent.

Moreover, these auras were clearly divided into three groups, each with roughly similar overall strength.

There was only one possible explanation for such a formation in the Azure Cloud Continent.

The Heaven Breaking Sect! The Seven Star Divine Palace! The Flying Immortal Sword Sect!

These three most formidable sects of the Azure Cloud Continent had actually converged in the Fusu Kingdom, deploying an incredibly extravagant lineup… it was highly likely that even their three sect masters had come. What could possibly be the reason?

What in the small Fusu Kingdom could possibly be worth such a grand mobilization from these three dominant sects?

“Brother Yun Che, what’s wrong? Has something happened ahead?” Su Ling'er asked curiously, seeing Yun Che's slight frown.

Yun Che turned his gaze back to her and smiled, “It seems there’s a group of people causing a commotion ahead. I was wondering, should we go around them, or simply fly directly over their heads?”

Su Ling'er giggled at his peculiar question.

If Yun Che had been alone, he would certainly have gone to investigate. But now, with Su Ling'er in his arms, her safety was his priority. Without much hesitation, he significantly altered his flight path and reduced his speed.

As they drew closer to the source of the exaggerated auras, Yun Che simply used Flowing Light Thunder Shadow to conceal both his and Su Ling'er's presence. He didn't want anything involving outsiders to startle his Ling'er again.

However, as they passed by, driven by curiosity, he still released his spiritual perception to listen in on the commotion.

“Sect Master Zuo, you have indeed come.” This was the voice of a middle-aged man, each word imbued with immensely powerful profound energy. He was clearly one of the three ninth-level Sovereign Profound Realm experts.

“Hehehe,” the man addressed as “Sect Master Zuo” let out a long, mocking laugh. “Of course. Upon hearing of such a world-destroying item appearing, my sect naturally has an obligation to eliminate it. As for you, Sect Master Mu, have you also come specifically to rid the world of harm?”

Sect Master Mu’s words seemed complimentary, but anyone who wasn’t an idiot could tell that every word was laced with sarcasm.

“Hehe, the feeling is mutual. Speaking of which...” Sect Master Zuo seemed to turn his attention to another person. “Palace Master Duan, I heard that recently, an elder and dozens of disciples from your palace were brutally murdered. You’ve suddenly come to this small Fusu Kingdom—it couldn’t be to personally investigate that matter, could it?”

“Heh,” the man called “Palace Master Duan” chuckled faintly. “An elder of my Divine Palace being killed outside hasn't happened in over a thousand years. This isn't merely about the lives of one elder and dozens of disciples; it's a millennium-long disgrace to my Divine Palace, so of course I must personally investigate! It’s quite a coincidence, though, that both Sect Master Mu and Sect Master Zuo have personally come out as well. Truly remarkable.”

“Indeed, who could argue? Hahahahahaha...”

The three men laughed together, but a distinct chill laced each of their laughs.

Their auras, words, and mutual addresses immediately confirmed their identities to Yun Che.

Zuo Hanshuo, Sect Master of the Heaven Breaking Sect!

Duan Heisha, Grand Palace Master of the Seven Star Divine Palace!

Mu Yingchan, Grand Sect Master of the Flying Immortal Sword Sect!

It truly was these three individuals who had personally arrived.

And clearly for the same purpose!

For this shared goal, none of them were left behind; they had instead collided head-on.

Yun Che, however, had no idea what they were going to such great lengths for.

Yun Che swiftly carried Su Ling'er past the area where the three sects were gathered, moving further and further away. The voices Yun Che could hear gradually faded with the increasing distance.

Just as Yun Che was about to retract his spiritual perception, he heard one of them say, “Very well... Since our objectives are the same, perhaps we should first work together to force out that ‘calamity,’ and then decide who will proceed.”

“Sect Master Mu’s words are wise,” Duan Heisha readily agreed. Then, his voice suddenly turned cold, letting out a low roar laden with heavy coercion: “Yun Gu, since you already know our identities, don’t refuse a toast only to be forced to drink a forfeit. Hand over the Sky Poison Pearl immediately!”

Yun Che, who had flown a considerable distance, felt as if he had been struck by lightning and abruptly halted.