32: Chapter 32 The Imperial Seal's Merit

"That's right, that's what Deacon Yang's information said." Xiang Tian nodded, his expression darkening.

"Hmm! Based on their style of operation, they are likely already lying in ambush around the Haotian Sect." Xiahou Yun's eyes were grave, "They are just waiting to confirm my death before making a move against the Sect Leader."

"That should be the case." Xiang Tian stroked his chin.

"How about this: I wait until I reach a Breakthrough to the Martial King Realm before going back? That way, we'll have a better chance of winning." Xiahou Yun suggested immediately.

"How long will you need to advance to the Martial King Realm?" Xiang Tian asked, raising an eyebrow.

"It's hard to say; I need an opportunity." Xiahou Yun answered truthfully.

The Martial King Realm may seem like just another Realm, but it is a sign of having truly entered the inner sanctum.

Yet this hurdle has blocked countless low-level cultivators, leaving them unable to make any progress for their entire lives.

"An opportunity, you say?" Xiang Tian's eyes suddenly lit up, and he stroked his chin while looking Xiahou Yun up and down.

"Then why don't we try Dual Cultivation again? Maybe you'll be able to Breakthrough."

"Are you looking for a beating again?" Xiahou Yun's eyes widened instantly.

"Xiao Yun, I'm not just saying this!" Xiang Tian waved his hands hurriedly and analyzed with a straight face, "Think about last time we did Dual Cultivation; both of our cultivation levels improved. This shows that our Physiques are very compatible!"

"Don't you dare mention Dual Cultivation again!" Xiahou Yun grabbed his ear.

Xiang Tian grimaced in pain.

"Let go! My ear is about to fall off!" Xiang Tian stomped his feet in pain.

He took a deep breath and pressed down on Xiahou Yun's hand.

"Xiao Yun, I really want to help you. I don't want anything to happen to you. Can you understand my concern?"

Xiahou Yun's hand paused; she didn't use any more force, nor did she shake him off.

She stood there quietly, wanting to hear what else he had to say.

"We've known each other since we were kids, and you've always been a strong-willed girl." Xiang Tian gently held her hand, his gaze sincere.

"Back then, when you agreed to be my fiancée, the pressure must have been immense, right? Those Elders and Disciples didn't hold back when gossiping about you behind your back."

"So, I am very grateful for everything you have done for me." His voice softened significantly, "I will become stronger, and I will definitely protect you well, so you won't have to suffer any more grievances."

This wasn't just empty talk; he truly wanted to protect this girl who had been working hard to Cultivate since she was young.

Xiahou Yun's heart stirred, and her eyes grew a little warm.

She was never good with words, and at this moment, she didn't know how to respond, so she could only stand there in silence.

"You must change your understanding of the Immaculate Sword Body." Xiang Tian looked into her eyes and said solemnly, "Sometimes, ingrained ideas can trap a person. The power of the Immaculate Sword Body is far more than what you see now."

He paused, his tone carrying unprecedented firmness, "Finally, I want to say one thing to you: even if the whole world wants to kill you, I never will."

Xiang Tian pulled Xiahou Yun into his arms, holding her tightly.

Xiahou Yun stiffened, her mind going blank.

She didn't push him away, simply leaning against his chest in a daze, listening to his strong heartbeat.

Is this really the same timid, weak, and submissive Xiang Tian she knew?

It seems like it, yet it also seems not.

She seemed to have a new understanding of him.

"Xiang Tian, what kind of person are you, really?" Xiahou Yun finally asked the question that had been weighing on her mind.

Xiang Tian lowered his head, rubbing his nose against her forehead, "No matter what I am like in front of others, I will always reserve my gentlest side for you."

He slowly lowered his head, moving to kiss her lips.

Xiahou Yun subconsciously closed her eyes, feeling a mix of anticipation and nervousness in her heart.

She still stopped Xiang Tian's actions.

"Let me properly consider our relationship; don't be in such a rush." Xiahou Yun opened her eyes, her cheeks slightly flushed.

This time, she didn't beat him up, nor did she scold him.

"Alright, I can wait for you forever." Xiang Tian nodded with a smile, his heart blooming with joy.

That's more like it!

Finally, it felt a little like how a couple should be.

The two strolled side by side in the forest, the atmosphere rare and harmonious.

But just at this moment, a cold voice suddenly came, breaking the tranquility.

"Xiahou Yun, where else do you think you can escape to?"

Xiang Tian and Xiahou Yun's expressions changed, and they turned to look, only to see the Fifth Elder and the Seventh Elder leading a dozen or so Haotian Sect Disciples, closing in from all directions.

"Xiang Tian, if you get a chance later, run away immediately! Don't worry about me!" Xiahou Yun clenched her fists, shielding Xiang Tian behind her.

She knew that with their current strength, facing two Elders, their chances of winning were slim.

"How could I possibly abandon you and run?" Xiang Tian raised an eyebrow, took the Martial King-level yue maiden sword from the System space, and shoved it into Xiahou Yun's hand, "If we're going to escape, we'll do it together. Take this sword; it should be able to help."

He really didn't like the name "yue maiden sword," so giving it to Xiahou Yun was perfect; she wasn't an outsider anyway.

"Hmm? This is... a Martial King-level weapon?" Xiahou Yun gripped the hilt, feeling the surging Spiritual Qi coming from the blade, "What kind of encounter did you have?"

"Just consider it as such." Xiang Tian smiled, not explaining much.

Xiahou Yun didn't stand on ceremony either; she gripped the yue maiden sword tightly, the blade trembling slightly.

With one more Martial King-level weapon, her chances of winning increased by a fraction.

"Xiahou Yun, what a pity." The Fifth Elder stared at Xiahou Yun with greedy eyes, "Your Immaculate Sword Body is truly a top-tier Physique in this world. If it could be transplanted into my body, I would definitely be able to Breakthrough my current Realm."

"Fifth Elder, you think quite highly of yourself!" Xiahou Yun snorted coldly, "Even if I self-destruct, I will never let you succeed! A scoundrel like you doesn't deserve to possess the Immaculate Sword Body; it's simply an insult to it!"

Her figure flashed as she gripped the yue maiden sword and slashed toward the Fifth Elder: "Sword-Breaking Style!"

"Clang!"

The ear-piercing sound of metal clashing rang out. The Fifth Elder blocked in a rush, yet he was actually shaken back repeatedly by this blow.

"You are indeed a Genius." The Fifth Elder steadied his stance, "To be able to force me back before even reaching the Martial King Realm, the Immaculate Sword Body is truly well-deserved of its reputation."

Although he appreciated Xiahou Yun's talent, he had no intention of showing mercy.

The Sect Leader's Disciple must die!

"Fifth Elder, why be polite with her? The Grand Elder is still waiting for our news!" The Seventh Elder said impatiently, his figure moving as he attacked toward Xiahou Yun.

"No choice, we must end this quickly." The Fifth Elder's eyes turned ruthless, and the two attacked Xiahou Yun simultaneously from the left and right.

"Boom!"

The Fifth Elder's Sword Qi broke the sound barrier, rushing toward Xiahou Yun.

"Heavy Sword Style!" Xiahou Yun held the yue maiden sword horizontally in front of her, the blade instantly forming a huge sword shadow, forcefully blocking the two attacks.

"It's my turn to attack!" Xiahou Yun seized the opportunity, her speed exploding to the limit as she instantly arrived in front of the Fifth Elder, stabbing at his vital point with one strike.

"Clang!"

Just at that moment, the long saber in the Seventh Elder's hand blocked the yue maiden sword, sending sparks flying everywhere.

"She is actually half a step stronger than the Fifth Elder." The Seventh Elder frowned deeply, secretly shocked in his heart.

If he hadn't reacted quickly just now, the Fifth Elder would have been severely injured, if not dead.

This Xiahou Yun's strength was even greater than he had anticipated!

Xiahou Yun pulled back to create distance, her brows furrowed deeply.

That was the best opportunity just now, but unfortunately, it was ruined by the Seventh Elder.

As long as she could kill one of the Elders, the rest would be easy to handle, but such an opportunity would be hard to come by a second time.

"Xiao Yun, I'll lend you a hand!" Seeing this, Xiang Tian's figure flashed, and he arrived at Xiahou Yun's side.

Although his cultivation level wasn't high, he couldn't just watch Xiahou Yun fight alone.

"Run! There's still time!" Xiahou Yun said urgently.

"I want to run too, but my strength doesn't allow it!" Xiang Tian said with a mournful face, pointing at the Disciples surrounding them, "Look at this situation; I'm afraid we won't be able to escape today even if we had wings."

"I really can't do anything with you." Xiahou Yun sighed helplessly, "If we're going to die, let's die together!"

She had already prepared for the worst; even if she had to give her all, she would take two people down with her.

"Don't be so pessimistic!" Xiang Tian suddenly smiled, took the jade seal from the System space, and handed it to Xiahou Yun, "Look, what is this?"

"This is..." Xiahou Yun took the jade seal, feeling the heavy pressure radiating from it.

"This is the jade seal from the underwater palace, and its power is infinite." Xiang Tian explained, "I have already had it recognize its master. Now I command it: from now on, you are its mistress, and your commands are my commands!"

As soon as he finished speaking, the jade seal trembled slightly, as if responding to his words.

"This jade seal possesses a trace of spirituality; it's a treasure." Xiahou Yun's eyes lit up, and she no longer stood on ceremony.

"Go!" Xiahou Yun raised her hand and flung the jade seal out.

The jade seal slowly grew larger in the air, and in an instant, it transformed into the size of a small hill, radiating a massive pressure as it suppressed toward the Fifth Elder, the Seventh Elder, and the others.

"Boom!"

As the pressure descended, the Fifth Elder, the Seventh Elder, and the others instantly felt as if Mount Tai was pressing down on them, unable to move a muscle.

Those Disciples with lower cultivation levels were bleeding from their seven orifices, falling to the ground and twitching uncontrollably.

"Not good... Pfft!" Cheng Li, who was in the crowd, couldn't withstand the pressure, spraying out a mouthful of blood and fainting on the spot.

"Fifth Elder, this is bad! These Disciples are all dead!" A small squad leader shouted in terror; he himself was already at the end of his rope.

"What are you panicking about!" The Fifth Elder shouted angrily, taking a token from his storage ring, "Quick, take out your Family's treasures and combine forces to resist!"

The Seventh Elder also hurriedly took out his own trump card treasure.

A bronze shield.

The two injected their Spiritual Qi into the treasures, attempting to resist the jade seal's pressure, but it was ultimately a drop in the bucket.

"Pfft!"

The Seventh Elder was the first to be unable to hold on, spraying out a mouthful of blood, his aura instantly withering.

"Seventh Elder... Pfft!" Immediately after, the Fifth Elder also sprayed out a mouthful of blood, his face turning deathly pale.

This pressure was simply too powerful, like a real mountain pressing down on them, making even breathing difficult.

After maintaining for less than half an incense stick of time, the two could no longer hold on, and their bodies began to crack.

"Boom!"

The jade seal descended completely, and accompanied by a loud noise, the Fifth Elder, the Seventh Elder, and the remaining Disciples were all crushed into a pool of blood by the jade seal.

Xiahou Yun raised her hand in a beckoning gesture, and the jade seal shrank and flew back into her hand.