Chapter 36

Lin Jianran looked as if she had lost her soul, eyes red, she drew a deep breath, the tip of her nose sore, her hoarse

I never even dreamed that he would love me, love me to the point of being unable to extricate himself, alas!

Bilian:???

Bilian's face was full of question marks—where does this even start?

"Sister Jianran, mistaken blame? Who did we wrongly blame?"

Lin Jianran nodded, yet she had the look of wanting to speak but stopping herself.

Bilian urgently pressed: "Sister Jianran, is there anything between us that cannot be said? Rest assured, I will keep this secret tight as a sealed bottle—Heaven knows, earth knows, you know, I know! I swear on my Dao heart! Surely you can trust me now?"

Lin Jianran thought about it and agreed.

This is her bosom sister; she will surely keep the secret for her.

Thinking thus, she shed her psychological burden and related in detail everything she had heard from the Imperial Princess; upon hearing it deeply, the other's pupils suddenly contracted and her little face turned deathly pale.

And Bilian, upon returning to her manor, continued to tell her parents, "Heaven knows, earth knows, you know, I know."

Upon hearing it, her parents exclaimed, "How could that be allowed?"

She immediately informed her close aristocratic families, fearing they would be implicated by the Profound Heaven Dao Sect.

Thus the secret was kept tight and passed on.

In just two days.

Everyone in the Eastern Wasteland knew!

Those who had even slight ties with the Profound Heaven Dao Sect immediately cut off relations, and even moved out of their entire mansions.

Thus even all the great and small families of Qianyuan City came to know of this.

Moreover, it just so happened that the news arrived at the Ye family patriarch's ears that three Martial Sect masters and thirty Martial Kings had all perished, none surviving.

The Ye family patriarch heard it and broke out in a cold sweat; even the people of the Star Pavilion twitched their eyelids, having thought that such strength would be enough to sweep the entire Eastern Wasteland domain.

Who would have thought that the Profound Heaven Dao Sect's Su Changfeng had hidden himself so deeply?

The Ye family patriarch thought that Ye Xuan had not yet arrived, making it difficult to act.

He could only personally send a voice transmission: "The Ye family and the Profound Heaven Dao Sect have been on good terms for generations; the enemies of the Profound Heaven Dao Sect are my Ye family's enemies."

"The patriarchs of the Profound Heaven Dao Sect throughout history, upon death, would self-immolate their essence and blood to return to peak strength, entering the outer forbidden demon abyss to slay heavenly demons! They are our sworn enemies—how could they collude with outsiders? This is nothing but alarmist talk!"

"'Our Ye family, I, the patriarch, personally bear witness for the Profound Heaven Dao Sect.'"

"'They claim that the Sect Master Su still consorts with the demon tribe, having close relations and bringing the cub of the White Tiger Holy Beast—did the elders of my Ye family die at the jaws of those demon beast cubs?'"

"'Patriarch, I really cannot believe it… oh well!'"

"'All the sons of the Ye family, raise the Cloud Smoke Covering Sun Formation to resist external enemies, and also trouble the honored guests of the Star Pavilion to lend a hand.'"

There was no way—Ye Xuan hadn't arrived, and the Ye family lacked a Martial Sovereign‑level expert to hold the fort.

The entire Eastern Wasteland trembled.

All the clans and sects clearly understood that whether Sect Master Su was a descendant of outer heavenly demons no longer mattered; what mattered was the grudge between the two houses.

Back then, Su Chen defiled Ye Xuan's adopted sister, Ye Ling! Later, he even crippled Ye Xuan's entire meridian network on the dueling platform.

Given Ye Xuan's nature, it was impossible for him to just let it rest.

The Profound Heaven Dao Sect was isolated and helpless, already doomed.

Su Chen, mocked and gloated over by the cultivators of all the clans and sects of the Eastern Wasteland, was at this moment leisurely reclining in the grand master's chair.

Watching the nine elite disciples selected, practicing the coordinated strike sword formation.

Madam Su said, these nine were brought from the Three Thousand Dao Provinces three years ago by the Profound Heaven Dao Sect, originally intending to train them as death warriors.

Furthermore, these nine were orphans in the Three Thousand Dao Provinces, with clean backgrounds and utterly loyal.

Outside rumors grew ever more absurd.

Now even the servants of the Profound Heaven Dao Sect know that the sect is on the brink of death; some outer disciples, watching the nine death warriors train day and night, reveal a hint of sympathy in their eyes.

Even if he spreads his divine sense, Su Chen, eyes closed and nurturing his spirit, can hear the servants' gossip.

"'Everyone outside says the sect master is a descendant of outer heavenly demons, with demon blood flowing in his veins, and Young Master Ye Xuan's rule over the Eastern Wasteland is meant to sweep away demonic cultivators. I said that when the sect master went to visit the Ye family those few days, he was heavy‑hearted—could it really be that I guessed right?'"

"'No, I don't want to be despised by my clan; I want to break away from the Profound Heaven Dao Sect.'"

"'Outer heavenly demons are to be slain by all; if it were known that we once served a demon descendant, wouldn't we be stabbed in the back?'"

"'Look at those big oafs, practicing the coordinated strike sword formation all day long, dazed and clueless—could they not be intended as sacrifices to the heavenly demons?'"

"'When Young Master Ye Xuan rules the Eastern Wasteland, the junior sect master will surely seize the chaos to flee via the teleportation array… then these people will likely be cannon fodder, paving the way for the junior sect master—tsk tsk, how pitiful.'"

"……"

Beside her, the second sister Su Lingxue flushed with anger, her pretty face alternating between green and white, her bosom heaving.

What was said was truly infuriating.

Fall from favor in a moment, and one is worse than a dog!

Even the menial workers and servants of the Profound Heaven Dao Sect were eager to sever ties with the sect.

"'Little brother, are you really going to indulge them in spreading this further?'"

Su Lingxue puffed her cheeks, pouting, very much wanting to go over and slap these disciples to death, but fearing it would ruin Su Chen's big plan.

Su Chen peeled a bodhi seed and fed it to his second sister, then carefully examined her pallid pretty face and smirked, "Second sister, don't take it too seriously—your face will soon turn rosy."

"'Don't forget that we still have the Ye family's secret guards and Master Wang the apothecary within our sect!'"

"'He is constantly observing our every move with his divine sense.'"

"'Are we really just going to let them spout off without restraint?' Su Lingxue hastily composed herself, returning to her yandere beauty guise."

Su Chen narrowed his eyes, occasionally glancing at a certain corner in the darkness.

A figure flashed and vanished.

Su Chen withdrew his divine sense and said in a low voice, "Let them spread it; the worse we sound, the better."

"Only then can one see clearly in daily life who truly treats us well and who is merely fawning."

"Father should already be arriving at the Ye family, if nothing unexpected happens."

"Hmm, the time is about right; it's time to go to the Lin manor to collect debts."

"The words fell."

"Su Chen brushed off the dust on his collar."

"He rose, used his spiritual energy to store the small booklet a disciple handed him into his storage ring, and strode swiftly out of the sect."

"Over the past three years, the elixirs, spirit stones, magic robes, and mystic weapons sent to Lin Jianran were countless; Su Chen had long ordered them to be organized, but he had been tied up with trivial matters until today, when he finally decided to go collect the debt."

"If he had gone to ask for it earlier."

"Lin Jianran would definitely not give it; he might have to use force."

"But if he goes to ask for it today, the Lin manor will definitely give it, and without any hesitation."

"Because Lin Jianran and her mother are surely eager to cut ties with him, he knows this all too well."

"\"A Chen. \""

"\"Splash! \""

"Soft jade and warm fragrance, a fresh scent wafted over, and a figure lunged into his embrace."

"Su Chen embraced her fully, rubbing his hot chest, his smile impossible to hide as he gently stroked Liu Liyan's hair tips, asking, 'My little lovely wife, have you missed me?'"

"Since Su Chen mentioned it once before, Liu Liyan has kept it in mind; every time they meet, she gives a loving hug."

"No, each of his words is a demand."

"She will treat them as golden words and keep them in mind."

"And she will fulfill them all."

"Upon seeing him, Liu Liyan's originally somewhat dim and listless eyes would burst forth with endless sparkling starlight; she obediently nodded, then placed her small hand atop his large palm."

"\"Hmm, this word is wrong again. \""

"\"What should be used then? \""

"\"Forever. \""

"\"YYDS\""

"\"Good, forever, always, lifetime after lifetime. \" Su Chen looked at her serious expression, the corners of his mouth lifting in an arc—how had he not noticed how cute she was before? She keeps her promises and is also stubborn."