CHAPTER 971: CHAPTER 105: RECKONING (PART 2)

Misfortune leans on fortune, fortune hides within misfortune.

This great catastrophe ultimately became a stroke of providence.

Immediately after.

The Heavenly Peak bathed in Holy Light suddenly began to drizzle with white and delicate "Life Rain."

This "Life Rain" carried vitality, falling on everyone’s heads and shoulders.

"Is this... the Life Dao Realm?"

An elder from True Hidden Peak couldn’t help but speak.

Earlier in the Sword Forest, they had witnessed these techniques.

Several elders simultaneously looked towards the exit of the Lotus Forbidden Land, where the young man in black had somehow vanished, leaving only a golden flying sword like a streaming light, swaying above Da Sui Sword Palace, showering down the Life Rain.

Xie Xuanyi hadn’t gone far.

He stood atop the small hill where he had previously battled Zhu Yan, silently watching the Life Rain in the distance. Ever since he had "died" once, he hadn’t liked appearing before many people. After leaving the Lotus Forbidden Land and completing his master’s instruction to return the Sword Qi Dragon Vein, there was no need for him to show his face for the remaining matters.

Now.

Finally, he regained his freedom.

From this day forward, he wouldn’t need a pseudonym, wouldn’t need to wear the "All Living Beings" mask, and wouldn’t need to conceal his Lifebound Flying Sword.

Xie Xuanyi slowly breathed out a breath of stifling air.

This breath...

He had held it in for a long, long time.

"Congratulations."

A casual voice sounded beside him.

Xie Xuanyi turned around to see that Ci Jing, the Great Demon, had appeared next to him unnoticed.

"There’s nothing to congratulate."

Xie Xuanyi shook his head, saying sadly, "In this battle... the Sword Palace lost many disciples..."

After the Mountain Suppressing Array was broken, though everyone retreated and defended the Sword Forest, they ultimately exposed a weakness.

Within the scope of the Life Rain, Xie Xuanyi saw countless corpses slain on the spot...

The loss was severe across all peaks.

At this moment, everyone was immersed in the joy of victory.

After a while, when they tally the losses, they will realize just how heavy this battle was.

"To achieve victory is worth the congratulations."

Ci Jing, with his hands behind his back, said lightly: "If you had been defeated in the North Sea, if we hadn’t arrived in time, if your master hadn’t won his previous battle... the people lying in pools of blood would have been tenfold, a hundredfold."

"..."

Xie Xuanyi fell into silence.

Ci Jing was right.

For Da Sui Sword Palace, the Holy Empress’s assault was nearly tantamount to a disaster of extinction!

He couldn’t help but recall what his master had said to him in the Lotus Forbidden Land.

If there was another rendition within the River of Destiny’s reincarnation... would Da Sui Sword Palace have already faced destruction?

"...You’re right."

Xie Xuanyi rubbed his brow, speaking bitterly: "Though this battle was won, my heart doesn’t feel relieved."

Xie Xuanyi rarely shared these emotions with outsiders.

He had only interacted with Ci Jing a few times.

True "understanding," in essence, had been less than a day, yet two life-and-death battles had brought them much closer...

"Naturally."

Ci Jing mockingly said: "Now, that old man named Zhao has handed over the burdens of the Sword Palace entirely to you. How could you be relieved?"

"Look."

Ci Jing moved his chin, gazing at the ruins nearby, his words somewhat teasing: "Ten days ago, they called you ’Junior Brother Xie Zhen,’ or ’Little Mountain Master’... and now, what should they call you? ’Senior Brother Xuan Yi,’ ’Mountain Master,’ and soon, they’ll be calling you ’Sect Leader Master.’

Xie Zhen’s "glorious deeds," he had heard of.

Not that he was truly interested.

Primarily, while teaching Jiang Huang boxing, that little girl kept talking on and on, after all, Jiang Huang only had two brothers in total. When Xie Xuanyi wasn’t at the back mountain, Jiang Huang would pull Golden Turtle Peak disciples to chat during her boxing breaks, probing them for information. The little one would always boast and praise how outstanding Senior Brother Xie Zhen was, leaving Ci Jing helpless, as his ears nearly grew calloused from hearing it.

Initially, Ci Jing inwardly despised this so-called Senior Brother Xie Zhen.

How could he, a dignified Yang God Great Demon, lose to a sixteen or seventeen-year-old boy who still smelled of milk?

He no longer held that thought.

If there was someone to take over Zhao Chunyang’s role at Da Sui Sword Palace in the future.

In Ci Jing’s view, it could only be Xie Xuanyi.

Aside from these factors, what truly earned Ci Jing’s respect was Xie Xuanyi’s inner qualities.

This young man is tough, ruthless.

Dares to fight desperately against a Venerable of the Eighth Heaven, dares to break into the Heavenly Human Battlefield.

In Ci Jing’s eyes, although Xie Xuanyi is currently just a Yin God, he is destined to become an unparalleled cultivator on par with Zhao Chunyang, or even surpass him in the future.

"What sect leader, I don’t care..."

Xie Xuanyi shook his head helplessly, sighed: "I wish Master would always be the sect leader, for long, long time, never have it come to me."

Saying this, Ci Jing’s expression became serious as he frowned and asked: "Is that old man really still well?"

With the battle’s closure, Zhao Chunyang hadn’t shown himself, Xie Xuanyi stood in for him, though it could appease those Sword Palace disciples...

Yet could not deceive himself.

If truly unscathed, why not come out?

Moreover, no matter how powerful, could an old man emerge unscathed after shattering the Holy Empress to pieces?

"I checked with Divine Thought, no major injuries."

Xie Xuanyi hesitated a little: "But his aura is unstable... like..."

The conversation paused.

Ci Jing picked up where Xie Xuanyi left off, tentatively asked: "Is his time up?"

"..."

Xie Xuanyi said nothing.

But Ci Jing’s thoughts were already confirmed.

"Maybe."

Vermilion Bird Demon laughed with self-mockery: "They say Yang Gods can live for five hundred years, the higher the realm, the longer the life, yet in reality, who can live that long? Primordial Energy is depleted, cultivation is hard, longevity even harder... entangled in cause and effect, exhausted lifespan, the old man must have lived for two or three hundred years right? If he keeps living, he’d almost compare to a Zen Master..."

Saying this, he couldn’t stop himself, only then realizing his lapse.

Though he usually bad-mouthed Zhao Chunyang.

But the old man, after all, was the sect leader of Da Sui, who had just fought a desperate battle and won.

His words, spoken without malice, heard by others, invariably sounded like "sarcasm."

"Sorry, no offense meant."

Ci Jing gave a light cough, breaking off immediately.

This apology was half said for Xie Xuanyi and half for the one in seclusion, knowing Zhao Chunyang hadn’t died, aware of every subtle occurrence within the Sword Palace, offending anyone but this old man wasn’t an option.

While saying this, he cautiously looked at the young man beside him, only to find Xie Xuanyi still expressionless, just as calm as ever, even casually saying this response.

"Mortal life... eventually has an end."

With these words, the hill plunged into silence.

Vermilion Bird Demon fell silent.

Indeed.

What he could think of, the clever lad named Xie surely could think of too?

"Well..."

Ci Jing lightly sighed, quickly changing the subject, earnestly asked: "Is Jiang Huang alright on that side? I saw an intense aura emerge from Lotus Peak earlier..."

He pointed north.

Though the Holy Empress was dead, this turmoil hadn’t completely ceased.

Coincidentally.

No sooner had Ci Jing’s words fallen, the long silent Ruyi Order began to shake.

Xie Xuanyi quickly entered the token with his Divine Soul.

"Brother Xuanyi."

From the other side of the Ruyi Order came Chen Jingxuan’s voice, though it sounded weak, yet steady: "Everything is settled, all is calm. Everything’s fine on my side, how about yours?"

"On my side... it’s good."

Xie Xuanyi paused briefly, then said: "Is Jiang Huang alright?"

"Jiang Huang?"

Chen Jingxuan’s voice was somewhat surprised; he truly hadn’t expected Xie Xuanyi would be so concerned about this little girl, laughing and replying: "...Jiang Huang is by my side, all is well. We are preparing to return to the Imperial City."

Northern Sea affairs were handled thoroughly.

Next, returning to the Imperial City, begins the final reckoning!

"That’s good then..."

Xie Xuanyi slightly loosened the taut string in his heart.

He gazed towards Ci Jing, nodded slightly, after exchanging eye signals, the latter also breathed a sigh of relief.

After confirming Jiang Huang was unharmed.

Xie Xuanyi’s gaze instantly became sharp.

Imperial City reckoning...

How could it happen without him?