No one expected this seemingly ordinary girl to possess such overwhelming Ancient Divine Power. The surrounding gale gradually came to a standstill. In the sky, the image of the Three Emperors also slowly dissipated. Murong Xian'er gradually recovered as the white radiance faded. She gently closed her eyes as if she was exhausted and began falling to the ground.
Xiao Chen sprang upward to catch her midair and landed on the ground. He felt a stab of pain after seeing her pale face and frail condition. A wave of hatred swept him. Murong Xian'er opened her eyes ever so slightly and tugged on his arm. "Brother Xiao, don't…"
His heart ached even more after seeing how she was only concerned about him, even now. After waking up a millennium later, she was the only one aside from Evernight that he felt as if he had known all along. Yet he failed to protect her and allowed harm to come to her again and again.
Noticing his enthralled state, a cold glint flashed in Ling Jingshan's eyes. Suppressing the pain in his body, he swiftly conjured an Immortal's Sword and then flung it at Xiao Chen. His movement was as quick as lightning, eliciting shocked cries from those around him.
Even so, it didn't escape Xiao Chen's notice. Holding Murong Xian'er in one hand, he pushed his other hand with great force. Instantly, his sleeve billowed and a bold, powerful force accompanied by dragon's cries surged toward Ling Jingshan.
"Pfft!" Blood sprayed from Ling Jingshan's mouth. He not only used the Life-taking Sky Slash, but was also hit by Murong Xian'er's Spiritual Power earlier. Right now, he didn't even have the strength to defend against one of Xiao Chen's attacks. Both he and his sword were flung thirty more meters backward before crashing to the ground. Blood kept rising from his throat.
Xiao Chen's gaze was icy as his murderous aura spread silently. He said coldly, "Ignorant fool. Your Ling Family tried to push me around once and again. Today, let me send you off to the underworld. Your family will join you soon enough!" He summoned his Blood Lotus Demon Blade from the Divine Vessel. The blood-red evil radiance was full of such incredibly bloodthirsty murderous aura that the others couldn't help shivering in fear.
Suddenly, a wizened voice drifted from above the sky. "Young man, don't be hasty."
"Not even immortals can save you!" Xiao Chen bellowed and swung his blade downward. The blood-red saber radiance extended as long as several dozen Chinese feet long and charged at Ling Jingshan with whistling noises. This attack was imbued with immensely fierce power and was certain to wipe out both Ling Jingshan's body and soul. Those nearby couldn't help gasping.
A thunderous explosion resounded. Where Ling Jingshan stood, rocks and stones scattered in the air. Even he himself was reduced into a bloody mist. However, it wasn't Xiao Chen's attack that exterminated his body and soul. Rather, he had employed one of his family's mystic arts: the Blood Yin Incantation.
The bloody mist gradually crept away in an attempt to flee, prompting a voice to drift from afar. "Kid! Even if I can't kill you now, there will naturally be others who will finish the job in the future!"
Xiao Chen snorted and returned his Blood Lotus Demon Blade to the Divine Vessel. He looked at Xian'er, who lay in his arms. She looked pale and exhausted, but unharmed. He asked softly, "Xian'er, how are you feeling?"
Murong Xian'er gently shook her head with a smile. "I'm fine, Brother Xiao Chen. I'll get better after some rest. Don't worry…" She drifted into dreamland mid-sentence.
Xiao Chen carefully carried her with two hands and walked out of the square as the others hastily moved out of the way. They were surprised to see such a gentle side from a person who was emanating such fierce murderous aura just moments ago.
Simultaneously, a floating island emerged in the sky. The island was fairly small but was blanketed in an invitingly green meadow. In the middle of the island was a pavilion, where a chessboard sat. The pieces lay on the board, clearly without a victory in sight.
Two people with unworldly disposition stood on the edge of the island, overlooking everything taking place in the city. One of them was an old man in a wide-sleeved cyan robe with white hair and beard.
The other one, dressed in white, was similarly silver-haired. However, he was young and handsome. He had a red-crowned crane perched on his left shoulder and a cyan-colored sword case on his back. The seal on his sword case had a cosmological pattern and underneath it was the word "Kunlun" engraved in seal script.
"Is he the Xiao Chen that you spoke of?"
The cyan-robed old man nodded. "This kid is alright but it's a pity that he has such an intense murderous aura. If he has really taken Ling Jingshan's life earlier, I suppose Ling Ruoxu will be furious after coming out from self-seclusion! Hehe!"
The white-robed Sword Immortal shook his head with a smile. "Youngsters are full of vigor. Earlier, I saw that your disciples seemed eager to give it a go."
The cyan-robed old man forced a smile. "This group of brats..."
"Either way, why do you think Xiao Chen came to the Middle Continent? Don't tell me he's also here for that ancient scroll."
The cyan-robed old man frowned. While smoothing his beard, he said, "That I'm not sure. I don't know what's his motive in coming here, I only hope he won't cause a huge mess in the Middle Continent. Instead, I'm more interested in the girl with him."
The white-clothed Sword Immortal nodded. "Three Emperors. Your half of the scroll seems to have mentioned the Three Emperors as well."
"Sigh. What a pity that no one can understand the ancient script used in the scroll. I wonder what terrifying prophecy was recorded in the scroll for two Immortal Kings to fight over it in a life-or-death battle. If we can't find the other half, I fear we'll never understand the prophecy."
"Does this mean that the challenge you gave your disciples this time is finding the other half of the scroll?"
The cyan-robed old man wore a wry smile. "The one-half of the scroll alone had brought countless trouble to the Fortified Heaven Sect in the last few months. Look, it even drew you, the Kunlun Sect Leader, out of your hundred-year seclusion."
The white-clothed Sword Immortal chuckled. "I have waited in the Mystic boundary for 300 years but it felt like no more than the passing of a day. I have never expected to see such a great change in the world. Back then, he died trying to exterminate evil. I wonder if he has reincarnated."
Watching the sunset glow peeking from the horizon, the cyan-robed old man sighed. "300 years, all in the blink of an eye. Have you never thought of visiting the Immortal World?"
The white-clothed Sword Immortal chuckled. "Everyone in this world hopes to become immortal but how is it possible that each of them will have their wish fulfilled? I'm fortunate enough to cultivate an immrtal body that allows me to travel to every corner of the mortal world. That's enough for me!" That said, he climbed onto a sword radiance and flew toward the horizon.
The cyan-robed old man shook his head with a smile. "I wonder when this situation would end, or even if there's an end." He sighed and turned his attention onto the city below.
The curtain of the night drew close. Xiao Chen carried an increasingly pale Murong Xian'er, whose Spiritual Power was continuously depleting, into a tavern. Inside their room, he gently placed her on the bed and tucked her in. He then ordered the waiter to bring a basin of hot water to their room.
Noticing how pale the person laying on the bed looked, the waiter carefully asked, "Sir, your friend appears very ill. Should I help you fetch a physician? Perhaps, you'd like to take her to the Fortified Heaven Sect and get Perfected Immortal Fengxi to examine her?"
"That won't be necessary, but thank you."
Moonlight bathed the night. Inside the room, the candle flame flickered uncertainly. Xiao Chen walked toward the window and closed it firmly to prevent the cold wind from coming in. He returned to the bed. Murong Xian'er was still deathly pale and her Spiritual Power was still pouring out. Two snow-white fox ears appeared on her head.
Xiao Chen had no idea what happened. He watched over her until dawn the next day. Murong Xian'er was as white as paper, losing color even in her lips. She looked as if she was down with a terrible illness. Suddenly, she spoke dazedly as if she was dreaming, "Brother Xiao Chen... I want to..."
Xiao Chen immediately went over to her after hearing her speak. "I'm here. What are you saying?" he asked gently.
She sounded terribly weak. "I want to eat your lotus seed soup... but not the lotus root..."
"Lotus seed soup? Lotus root?" Xiao Chen's heart jumped. Where would he find these things this time of the year? Nevertheless, he replied, "Okay. Wait for a while." He tucked her in, hastily opened the door, and walked out of the room.
In the tavern downstairs, two workers were on the night shift. When they saw him running down, they asked, "Do you need something, sir?"
"Lotus seed soup! I need a bowl of lotus seed soup! Do whatever it takes! Get me the bowl of lotus seed bowl as soon as possible!"
His fierce expression shocked the workers. One of them said, "Yes! Please wait for a while, sir. I'll fetch the lotus seed soup at once."
Xiao Chen walked to the first floor. Just as he was pushing open the door and about to call for Murong Xian'er, he found the bed deserted and Xian'er missing.