Chapter 590 - 599: A Turning Point

Meanwhile, Lim Tian behind him was shrouded in a layer of frost, his expression vacant and his eyes filled with shock. However, within that ice, a trace of violet-gold flame flickered, burning and boiling ceaselessly.

The sight was heaven-shaking and earth-shattering, a shock to all who witnessed it.

Throughout the entire city of Zhucheng, tens of thousands of people craned their necks, staring dumbfounded at the spectacle.

"’That day, his sword intoxicated three thousand guests in the hall; today, a single blade sends a chilling frost across seventeen provinces,’" an old man couldn’t help but mutter to himself. "Wen Qingye’s Sword Dao Cultivation is far beyond what the likes of us can even glimpse."

In recent antiquity, the Eastern Profound Domain was divided into seventeen provinces.

Wen Qingye silently watched Lim Tian, who was now frozen into a block of solid ice, and a faint smile touched the corner of his lips.

"Lim Tian, go on ahead and scout the path. Remember to find a peaceful resting place for the tens of thousands of disciples of your Taiyi Pavilion."

SHATTER!

As his words fell, the massive block of ice abruptly shattered into countless ice crystals that drifted through the air, sparklingly beautiful and captivatingly clear.

Above the city of Zhucheng, the sky filled with a flurry of glittering shards.

Everyone stared blankly at the calm-faced young man, their eyes filled with utter shock.

Who could have imagined that the young man who, just six months ago, had been chased for thousands of miles by Lim Tian, fleeing wretchedly into the Purple Nether Swamp—one of the four great Secret Lands of the Eastern Profound Domain—would today, under the gaze of tens of thousands, slay Lim Tian, the Taiyi Pavilion Elder, with a single strike of his sword.

Amidst blades and swords, he laughs as the winds and clouds change color. Who can truly know who will win and who will lose?

"Hahahahaha..."

Suddenly, laughter that pierced the clouds echoed, swirling in everyone’s ears.

Wen Qingye’s figure flickered, and in the blink of an eye, he vanished from above Zhucheng. His lonely yet unrestrained laughter carried far, far into the distance.

...

「At the foot of a cloud-piercing mountain in the Taiyi Cloud Sea.」

A short figure clad in black, with little legs churning, was rushing up the mountain.

Before long, she reached the lush green mountain and was about to charge toward the pavilion above.

SHING!

The next moment, the cold glint of a blade was pressed against her neck. Though it rested on her skin, it was clearly a good distance from her artery, showing no intent to kill.

"Who are you? Why have you appeared on my mountain? Don’t you know this is a Forbidden Land of the Taiyi Pavilion?"

Before the short figure stood a stunningly beautiful woman. She pressed her lips together, her eyes watching the small form before her with a trace of vigilance.

This stunningly beautiful woman was none other than Zhang Xiaoyun.

A hoarse voice emerged from beneath the small, black-robed figure’s hood. "Hey, you’re Zhang Xiaoyun of the Taiyi Pavilion, right?"

Hearing that voice, Zhang Xiaoyun’s pretty face flushed red, and she asked nervously, "I am. Who are you?"

The small, black-robed person chuckled lowly. "So pitiably lovely. No wonder Wen Qingye of the Celestial Profound Sect can’t forget you."

"Who in the world are you?" Zhang Xiaoyun couldn’t help but retreat several steps, her voice cracking.

"Hahaha, who am I?" The small, black-robed person clasped her hands behind her back and laughed heartily.

Zhang Xiaoyun gritted her teeth, momentarily at a loss. Her mind was in chaos, but in the next instant, the thought that this person could expose her and Wen Qingye—condemning them to an endless hunt by the Taiyi Pavilion—caused a cold glint to appear in her eyes.

From the moment she fell in love with Wen Qingye, her world had come to contain only him, with no room for anything else—sometimes, not even for herself. This was Zhang Xiaoyun.

A one-of-a-kind woman in this world, one who inspired both pity and affection.

"Have you ever heard of Wuyou Palace?"

The small, black-robed person’s sudden question interrupted Zhang Xiaoyun’s next move.

Zhang Xiaoyun shook her head very directly and said, "No."

"Well, now you have."

The small, black-robed person circled Zhang Xiaoyun once and said, "You’d better remember this. Our Wuyou Palace is an incredible power, definitely no weaker than this Taiyi Pavilion."

Zhang Xiaoyun nodded and asked, puzzled, "Then what are you doing here? This is the Taiyi Pavilion, you know."

"To find you." The small, black-robed person stopped abruptly, her gaze fixed on Zhang Xiaoyun. "I came here entirely for you."

Zhang Xiaoyun’s beautiful eyes widened. She said, a little flustered, "For me? Why for me?"

The small, black-robed person adopted a world-weary, old-fashioned tone. "To take you away from here. How about it?"

"Leave this place?" A flash of joy appeared on Zhang Xiaoyun’s face when she heard this, but then her heart tightened. "No, I don’t even know what kind of Sect Wuyou Palace is. I can’t leave with you."

Hearing this, the small, black-robed person was so exasperated she nearly jumped. She couldn’t help but shout, "Are you stupid? Would I really harm a little slip of a girl like you? What benefit would I get from harming you?"

"Then why do you want to save me?" Zhang Xiaoyun retorted.

The small, black-robed person thought for a moment before saying, "By saving you, we hope... we hope to join forces with the people from the Celestial Profound Sect to deal with the Taiyi Pavilion."

Zhang Xiaoyun frowned and asked, "Is that true?"

The small, black-robed person nodded. "Of course, it’s true. As long as you leave the Taiyi Pavilion, our Wuyou Palace won’t interfere with any of your activities. Once you’re out, the vast sea is yours to leap in, the high sky yours to fly through. Everything will be up to you, whether you want to go to the Celestial Profound Sect or return to the Celestial Martial Country."

"Then tell me, how will you get me out?" Hearing the small, black-robed person’s words, Zhang Xiaoyun felt a surge of excitement and couldn’t help but ask.

The small, black-robed person slowly explained, "Six months from now—you know this, right?—the Taiyi Pavilion’s Profound Light Cave will definitely open for their powerful disciples to undergo a trial. That will be your only chance to leave this mountain. When the time comes, we’ll coordinate from the inside and outside..."

Hearing this, Zhang Xiaoyun’s breathing began to quicken.

"Is it really possible?"

"If you believe, then it’s absolutely possible. With the power of our Wuyou Palace, humph, a measly... uhm, a Taiyi Pavilion is hardly a concern," the small, black-robed person said slowly, scratching her head.

Zhang Xiaoyun looked at the small, black-robed person and said seriously, "After you rescue me, you won’t interfere with my freedom?"

The small, black-robed person said irritably, "Of course not! Absolutely, positively not! You can rest assured."

"Alright then, when the time comes..."

The small, black-robed person waved a hand, cutting Zhang Xiaoyun off. "Just tell me if you agree or not. Cut the useless chatter."

Zhang Xiaoyun pressed her lips together and nodded. "Alright, I agree."

"Good. Then just wait for my signal."

After saying this, the small, black-robed person clasped her hands behind her back and sauntered down the mountain.

Before long, she disappeared from Zhang Xiaoyun’s sight.

Zhang Xiaoyun watched the figure depart, her beautiful eyes shining with a bright light as she replayed the person’s every word, and the sound of her voice, over and over in her mind.