20: Chapter 20 The Ninety-Nine Swords of Heaven's Destruction

At this moment, Sword Immortal Hua Qingying had already formed a barrier, isolating Goddess Hua Caili!

After Goddess Hua Caili’s injuries had completely healed and her cultivation had basically recovered, Sword Immortal Hua Qingying’s complexion also changed from its previous fatigue and dimness, her whole body radiating the aura of a fairy untainted by the mortal world, leaving one intoxicated.

Yun Che glanced at Goddess Hua Caili in the distant barrier and let out a long sigh of relief. He thought to himself that the dream he had initially woven for the three kingdoms—Zhetian Divine Kingdom, Senluo Divine Kingdom, and Zhimeng Divine Kingdom—had begun to take effect, and next, he needed to further continue weaving this dream.

This was a long-overdue conversation. Whether it was Sword Immortal Hua Qingying or Yun Che, both had things to say to each other. Yun Che spoke first:

"Senior, please tell me who hurt her. I want to hear the truth. I will personally kill them with my own hands to avenge the one I love!"

Sword Immortal Hua Qingying replied word by word: "The Ruler of the Senluo Divine Kingdom, Sovereign Dian Luohou!"

Now that things had come to this, she did not intend to hide it any longer and had long wanted to find an opportunity to explain everything clearly to Yun Che.

"We didn't intend to deceive you back then. Her name isn't Qu Yixin, but Hua Caili, the Princess and Goddess of our Zhetian Divine Kingdom, and my only niece. She has a fiancé betrothed to her by Emperor Yuan, the Divine Son of the Senluo Divine Kingdom, Dian Jiuzhi..."

Sword Immortal Hua Qingying briefly narrated the process of how Goddess Hua Caili was injured.

Hearing that Sovereign Dian Luohou of the Senluo Divine Kingdom had acted to heavily injure Fairy Caili, a cold light flickered in Yun Che's eyes, filled with thick killing intent. He muttered in his heart:

"Senluo Divine Kingdom!"

"Sovereign Dian Luohou!"

"Divine Son Dian Jiuzhi!"

Yun Che then asked again:

"Senior, could you tell me how long you had been by my side before you appeared to meet me?"

Yun Che gazed into Sword Immortal Hua Qingying's clear yet deep eyes, unable to see through them.

"Our Zhetian Divine Kingdom has informants within the Dragon Clan. I already knew when you were making a scene at Longyin Pavilion and guzzling Dragon Breath Brew. It’s just that after you were wanted by the Seventh Elder throughout the city, you never appeared again. Not until you suddenly broke into the Ancestral Dragon Temple a few days ago."

Sword Immortal Hua Qingying spoke indifferently. Presumably, what she had heard and seen recently, along with Yun Che's actions, had been enough to surprise her countless times, yet she still appeared very calm now.

Yun Che was not surprised. For a powerful force like the Zhetian Divine Kingdom, how hard could it be to find him? Moreover, recently, he had not deliberately hidden his tracks; instead, he had been very high-profile, causing a stir throughout the entire Dragon Domain.

He couldn't help but remember when he was fighting to the death with the Grand Elder and almost lost his life on the spot. He gave a bitter smile and sighed:

"Senior, was you also present when I was fighting the Dragon Clan Supreme Elder?"

Sword Immortal Hua Qingying's heart stirred, and she understood his meaning, countering:

"You want to ask why I watched and did nothing while you were in danger, right? Since you dared to charge into the Ancestral Dragon Temple, you naturally must have thought of a strategy and a way out. I don't believe you are a reckless person... Aren't you perfectly fine now?"

Yun Che didn't continue asking; there seemed to be no need. Instead, he said with a slight hint of embarrassment:

"Senior, I didn't tell you the truth back then; I hid the matter of Long Xi. Let's consider us even."

A rare smile appeared on Sword Immortal Hua Qingying's face. She thought that since they were strangers, it was only normal to hide things from each other in such a harsh survival environment as the Abyss. The fact that you feel embarrassed about the deception is awareness enough.

What she was thinking about now were her own speculations and doubts. After a slight hesitation, she finally asked:

"Yun Che, have you obtained the legacy of a certain Creation God?"

Having spent so much time together, Sword Immortal Hua Qingying no longer formally addressed him as "Young Master Yun," but called him "Yun Che" directly!

Yun Che was not surprised by this question. His display of controlling five elemental powers to Sword Immortal Hua Qingying and Goddess Hua Caili in the Mist Sea was precisely to pique their curiosity.

Since ancient times, throughout the Nine Heavens and Ten Lands, only Creator God Ni Xuan could simultaneously cultivate five types of elemental power, so this was not exactly a secret.

Although logic told Yun Che not to easily trust anyone in the Abyssal World, he felt that the Sword Immortal Hua Qingying before him could be trusted.

This woman, when her niece was heavily injured and her life was hanging by a thread, first thought of him, a strange man. This level of trust deserved to be repaid in kind.

He answered calmly, "Yes!"

Sword Immortal Hua Qingying's heart felt as if a giant wave had surged within it. It was actually true; the guess she and Sovereign Hua Fuchen had made before was actually true. This was too incredible—this young man had obtained the legacy of a Creation God!

Pressing down the waves in her heart, she asked once more:

"So, you come from another world?"

Yun Che remained very calm and did not deny it, asking instead:

"Why do you ask me that?"

"Because there is no legacy left by Senior Ni Xuan in the Abyssal World?"

As Sword Immortal Hua Qingying answered, she was shocked beyond measure. No matter how logical or airtight her guess was, until there was solid evidence, it was ultimately just a guess. But now, Yun Che had not denied it but had implicitly accepted it, and that changed the situation completely.

She subconsciously scrutinized Yun Che seriously, as if seeing him for the first time.

This human comes from the Eternal Pure Land and does not belong to our world, she told herself!

Although the Yun Che before her was no different from any other human, she suddenly felt that his whole body exuded an air of strangeness.

After finally calming her emotions, Sword Immortal Hua Qingying asked again:

"Then you must have seen Vanguard Knight Mo Beichen, right?"

"He's dead!"

Yun Che replied coldly.

Sword Immortal Hua Qingying immediately felt a strong sense of unease. Mo Beichen was the Vanguard Knight who represented Emperor Yuan in the campaign against the Eternal Pure Land, and the relationship between the Zhetian Divine Kingdom and the Pure Land ruled by Emperor Yuan was extraordinary. The Hua family, Sovereign Hua Fuchen, Goddess Hua Caili, and she herself were all honored guests of Emperor Yuan.

While Yun Che didn't say it explicitly, it was obvious that Mo Beichen had died either by his hand or the hand of his friends.

After a moment of silence, she looked at Yun Che and asked a question she herself found difficult to decide:

"So, are we ultimately friends or enemies?"

Yun Che appeared very calm. When he chose to tell Sword Immortal Hua Qingying, he already understood that this would be the result. Perhaps he could have told them later, but that wouldn't change anything; it would have to be faced eventually.

He did not hesitate for a moment, answering very frankly but with a firm tone:

"That depends on your own choice, including yours, Fairy Caili's, and the Zhetian Divine Kingdom behind you. If you choose to be friends, then I am a friend; if you choose to be enemies, then I am an enemy."

At this moment, Yun Che stood atop the hill, his posture as straight as a sword, his gaze deep and firm, his robes fluttering, and his hair dancing in the wind. His entire being actually exuded a majesty and confidence that only an emperor could possess.

In that instant, Sword Immortal Hua Qingying actually felt that Yun Che was an existence she needed to look up to.

She couldn't help but fall into deep thought. Perhaps she could strike now and kill Yun Che instantly, but she didn't do so. She knew very well how important Yun Che was to Fairy Caili. Subconsciously, she even felt that she liked him too—this young man from the world above the Abyss, the Pure Land.

She was silent for a moment, then suddenly requested of Yun Che:

"No matter what happens in the future, please be sure to treat Fairy Caili well!"

Sword Immortal Hua Qingying could already foresee the stormy waves that might appear in the future. She, and the entire Zhetian Divine Kingdom, would face difficult choices and dilemmas. However, at this time, she neither made things difficult for Yun Che nor made any other requests.

Yun Che was deeply touched by Sword Immortal Hua Qingying's love for Goddess Hua Caili!

Softening his tone, he said calmly:

"Actually, the reason I killed Mo Beichen was simply because he betrayed Emperor Yuan's decree and failed to uphold the honor and pride of an Abyssal Knight. In the God Realm—which is what you call the Eternal Pure Land—he was overbearing and slaughtered the innocent."

Sword Immortal Hua Qingying's heart could no longer remain calm. When she first met Yun Che, he was only at the tenth level of the Divine Sovereign Realm, while Mo Beichen was already in the Divine Extinction Realm when he set out, a difference of three major realms. She looked at Yun Che with a face full of doubt, but his face was as still as water, his eyes like a well, as if he were speaking of a very ordinary matter without any exaggeration or embellishment.

She had seen many geniuses in her life, and she herself was deservedly the most outstanding and gifted genius of the Abyssal World for the past ten thousand years. But standing before Yun Che, she felt like a mortal. The capital she took pride in was simply not worth mentioning in front of Yun Che.

She had no doubt that even that legendary existence in the Pure Land would pale in comparison to Yun Che.

Heavens! The Dragon Clan actually provoked such a peerless genius; it was simply asking for humiliation. Sword Immortal Hua Qingying turned her head to look at Goddess Hua Caili, who was sleeping soundly and carefree in the barrier, and secretly rejoiced in her choice.

Yun Che continued:

"Senior, I chose to tell you this because I trust you and I trust Fairy Caili. Fairy Caili and I once made a pact in the Mist Sea to keep each other's secrets."

Sword Immortal Hua Qingying nodded, then said with a serious expression:

"Yun Che, no matter what, do not go to the Pure Land now. That is not an existence you can afford to provoke! You must be responsible for Fairy Caili. I don't want to see her sad!"

"Thank you for the reminder, Senior!"

Yun Che nodded in agreement. This was not the first time Yun Che had heard such words; when he went to participate in the Profound God Convention, Imperial Consort Mu Xuanyin had cautioned him in the same way.

As if remembering something, he suddenly asked:

"Senior, do you know how Emperor Yuan opens the passage to the Eternal Pure Land?"

Sword Immortal Hua Qingying thought for a moment and replied, somewhat reluctantly:

"He has a Heavenly Profound Treasure in his hand!"

"Is it the underworld mirror?" Yun Che pressed.

Sword Immortal Hua Qingying nodded without speaking. Yun Che thought, as expected, confirming their long-held suspicion. But the more he knew, the more questions arose. He continued:

"Does the next opening of the passage to the Eternal Pure Land have to be fifty years later?"

This time, Sword Immortal Hua Qingying didn't know how to answer either; she just shook her head and said:

"Only Emperor Yuan can open the passage, and opening it requires the power of the Six Great Divine Kingdoms and the Dragon Clan."

She paused and then continued:

"Perhaps the spiritual power of the underworld mirror is insufficient and needs fifty years to recover!"

Yun Che nodded, feeling that this was likely similar to his own conjecture. Although the environment of the Abyss was slightly better than the God Realm, it also suffered from a lack of Primordial Qi and the aura of heaven and earth.

Over the long passage of time, the underworld mirror, like the seven Heavenly Profound Treasures, likely had spiritual power far inferior to before. Each time it was used, it would require many years to accumulate power again.

Yun Che didn't ask further but instead said:

"Fairy Caili's injuries and cultivation have mostly recovered, so I am also preparing to leave this place."

Not expecting the parting to come so soon, Sword Immortal Hua Qingying was startled and asked:

"Where are you going?"

Yun Che looked at the gray mountains in the distance and replied:

"I can't say for the time being. Please forgive me, Senior!"

Sword Immortal Hua Qingying didn't ask further, but suddenly changed the subject and said seriously to Yun Che:

"Yun Che, since you saved Fairy Caili, I will grant you the Zhetian Sword Technique... Don't be in a hurry to refuse. I'm doing this for two main reasons: first, I, Hua Qingying, do not wish to be indebted to others in my life, and since you saved Fairy Caili, this is the reward you deserve; second, I hope that after you cultivate this sword technique, you can better protect Fairy Caili."

If anyone else heard this, they would think Sword Immortal Hua Qingying had gone mad. Giving the world-renowned family secret technique to Yun Che and even worrying if he would refuse.

What Yun Che was thinking at this moment, however, was: This isn't just wanting to teach me a sword technique; she clearly wants to hand Fairy Caili over to me!

On second thought, the Zhetian Sword Technique was never passed to outsiders. If she hadn't accepted him as her nephew-in-law, Sword Immortal Hua Qingying would have no reason to pass it to him.

Yun Che quickly bowed and said, "Thank you, Senior!"

A ray of light slid from Sword Immortal Hua Qingying's fingertip and quickly flew into the space between Yun Che's eyebrows; it was precisely the complete ninety-nine forms of the Zhetian Sword Technique! Sword Immortal Hua Qingying not only passed the moves of the Zhetian Sword Technique to Yun Che but also demonstrated them for him on the spot.

At this moment, she, with her robes fluttering, was like a fairy from the Nine Heavens descending to the mortal realm. The precious sword in her hand flashed with cold light, like the light of a cold moon.

With a soft cry, her figure moved instantly. The precious sword in her hand was like a flood dragon emerging from the sea, piercing through the sky and bringing forth streaks of sharp sword qi. The sword momentum was like a rainbow, swift and precise, each move and form containing endless power.

Her posture was light, and her movement was like lightning and wind, weaving freely through the heavens. The sword followed her body, and her body danced with the sword; person and sword seemed to merge into one, turning into a brilliant light. One moment she soared into the air, sword pointing to the firmament, sword qi piercing the clouds; the next, she dove down rapidly, her sword sweeping across with a whistling wind, shattering stones and startling the heavens.

Her sword technique was sometimes fierce and overbearing, like a giant mountain pressing down, and sometimes light and agile, like a breeze brushing against willows. Under her sword, it seemed as if the entire world changed color.

The sword shadow is like a dream, hard to find in the firmament; the fairy's trail is ethereal, already reaching the horizon!

Only when the sword was in her hand would Sword Immortal Hua Qingying feel her true self!

Her sword was not just danced for Yun Che to see, but also for her own appreciation.

The title of [Sword Immortal] is first the [Sword] of the [Sword Immortal], and then the [Immortal] of the [Sword Immortal].

However, whether they were worldly mortals or so-called deities, most only focused on her peerless beauty, putting all their thoughts into the word [Immortal], becoming infatuated and entranced by it. Yet very few went to explore the profound meaning of the word [Sword].

This time, Sword Immortal Hua Qingying didn't know if she was once again being self-admiring or if she would find a young kindred spirit.

Yun Che watched intently, intoxicated. His eyes were full of Sword Immortal Hua Qingying's beautiful figure, and the sky was full of brilliant and magnificent sword light, until a moment later, when the last sword light dissipated.

Sword Immortal Hua Qingying stood with her sword sheathed and said indifferently:

"This is the complete Zhetian 99 Sword Technique. It took me over three thousand years to achieve basic mastery back then. Record it for now; with your talent and aptitude, perhaps you can master it in less than five hundred years."

Sword Immortal Hua Qingying had swept away the rulers of the current Six Great Divine Kingdoms at the Pure Land Assembly ten thousand years ago, believing that beneath the Abyss, no one could compare to her in terms of talent and aptitude. But after witnessing Yun Che's abnormality, she also sighed in inferiority. That was why she believed five hundred years would be enough for Yun Che to cultivate the Zhetian 99 Sword Technique.

What she didn't know, however, was that while she was demonstrating just now, Yun Che was learning and pondering, and he was now nearly able to cultivate up to the thirty-seventh sword.

The two returned to Goddess Hua Caili's side, and by now she had already woken up.

"Brother Yun, are you leaving?"

Without Sword Immortal Hua Qingying or Yun Che needing to speak, Goddess Hua Caili's Glazed Heart sensed it and already knew what was coming, asking with reluctance in her heart.

Between every word was full of tenderness and affection, as if it could melt one's heart. In her eyes, crystal-clear teardrops were quietly swirling, like dew rolling on a lotus leaf in the early morning, about to fall but not yet falling.

"We will meet again, Sister Fairy Caili!"

Yun Che lowered his head, whispering softly into her ear, then kissed her tender and silky cheek before leaping away, vanishing into the horizon in an instant.