Chapter 593

Lian Chengzhi wept for a long time before gradually falling silent, then asked Chi Xue,

"So… who exactly was it?"

One word—"bitch"—cost him his most loyal subordinate.

He himself nearly collapsed mentally, almost dying along with her.

After hesitating repeatedly, Lian Chengzhi scanned the horizon in all directions before finally asking this question.

"One of the Four Seasons Protectors of the Qinglong Society—'Winter Snow,' Lu Xueqi!"

Chi Xue sighed and revealed Lu Xueqi's identity.

"How is that possible? She was only ranked twenty-ninth, three places below both me and Seeing Ao Jue!"

Lian Chengzhi's face was filled with disbelief.

After all, the Heavenly Dao Golden List's rankings were backed by Heavenly Dao itself.

Could the heavens themselves have made a mistake?

Or was Heavenly Dao deceiving all under heaven?

"This…"

Chi Xue could only remain silent.

The rankings of the Heavenly Dao Golden List were deeply embedded in the hearts of the Wu Lin and all factions, accepted by nearly everyone.

Yet the rankings of the Heavenly Dao Golden List clearly had not been recently updated.

Perhaps Lu Xueqi had made tremendous progress since appearing on the list?

But Chi Xue found it hard to say this.

After all, Lu Xueqi's progress had surged far beyond Lian Chengzhi's.

This blow to Lian Chengzhi would likely be even greater!

Seeing that Chi Xue said no more, Lian Chengzhi did not press further.

Everyone knew the Qinglong Society possessed three miraculous structures: the Scripture Hall, the Pill Tower, and the Divine Weapon Hall.

Thus, many speculated the Qinglong Society's cultivation resources were immense.

So perhaps Lu Xueqi's progress stemmed from the Qinglong Society!

But he had never imagined that after opening the Sword Realm, Lu Xueqi had remained inside it continuously.

Only today, when he reopened the Sword Realm with the Senluo Liuhex Array, did Lu Xueqi leave the Sword Realm—and casually shut it again.

In other words, during this entire period, Lu Xueqi had never been with the Qinglong Society.

"Then why did she close the Sword Realm? And why are you lingering at its entrance, refusing to enter and retrieve the Thousand Autumns Sword Intent?"

Xuanwu Jun was dead, and Lu Xueqi was terrifying—but none of this mattered most to Lian Chengzhi.

What mattered most was still fulfilling the plan of the Thousand Autumns Cataclysm: finding the Thousand Autumns Sword Intent, forging it into the Thousand Autumns Sword, and severing the White Dragon Creek's dragon vein.

Yet in Lian Chengzhi's eyes, everything had failed because of Chi Xue's hesitation!

Compared to Lu Xueqi's terror, Chi Xue found the Sword Realm's true scene—visible from its entrance, like a battlefield—more terrifying.

Chi Xue felt it was even more terrifying.

Countless flying swords soared through the air, each capable of destroying heaven and earth.

The towering, demonic figure had been seared into Chi Xue's mind.

But how could Chi Xue possibly speak of this?

If she told Lian Chengzhi the truth, would he believe her?

From Chi Xue's understanding, Lian Chengzhi would likely think she was making up a story, making excuses!

"Chengzhi, I…"

But if she didn't speak, the misunderstanding might deepen. After hesitation, Chi Xue prepared to explain clearly.

Yet the words reached her lips—and she found she could not utter them at all.

As if an invisible force restrained her, preventing her from speaking the truth.

"What is this…?"

In an instant, Chi Xue thought of the figure that permeated the Sword Realm's heavens and earth.

"Could it be him? Has he used some unknown Master Tongtian technique to block all of this?"

This absurd notion surfaced in Chi Xue's mind.

She felt a sudden clarity.

Perhaps this guess was also a warning from that unknown being.

The Sword Realm's secrets were too terrifying—truly unsuitable for public revelation.

On the cliff's peak, Lian Chengzhi and Chi Xue whispered to each other.

Below the cliff, after Xuanwu Jun fought the Divine Sword Controlling Thunder True Art and turned to ash,

the remaining Er Bao, Zhong Ba, and others—deprived of Xuanwu Jun's leadership and the Senluo Liuhex Array's boost—had long lost their fighting spirit.

Emperor Wenlong, having witnessed the Divine Sword Controlling Thunder True Art, smiled faintly.

After glancing at the remaining five You Dongying experts and the two on the cliff's peak, he said to Seeing Ao Jue,

"Enough. The matter here is concluded; I must leave. What about you?"

Seeing Ao Jue, too, remained deeply unsettled by the Divine Sword Controlling Thunder True Art.

He had believed himself among the strongest of his age, and his battle spirit had been greatly tempered in this fight.

His strength had increased by at least fifty percent since his last appearance on the Heavenly Dao Golden List.

He expected to rise several ranks.

Yet the blow came so swiftly.

Who was the one who executed that sword strike in the sky?

Why was the gap between himself and her so vast?

Only now, upon hearing Emperor Wenlong's question, did he gradually come back to his senses.

"Oh! Let's go too!"

Everything here was already over. The Xuanwu Lord was dead, and Lian Chengzhi, Er Bao, and the others had lost all fighting spirit.

Seeing Ao Jue also understood that, relying on himself alone, he could not kill Er Bao and the others.

Since the old man before them was leaving, it was clear he had no intention of killing them all.

Hearing Seeing Ao Jue say this, the two of them left together.

Er Bao and the others, as expected, did not try to stop them again.

Arriving in the dense forest, Emperor Wenlong spoke again,

"What Wuchang did back then was indeed excessive, but there were other reasons behind it."

"Today I saved you and Can Ji. I hope you can promise me not to go looking for trouble with Wuchang anymore."

"If you have any grievances, you may come find me here."

"The enmity between you and him, I am fully willing to take on."

After saying this, without waiting for Seeing Ao Jue's agreement, he flashed away and left directly.

Seeing Ao Jue could only heave a dispirited sigh upon hearing this.

Although he did not know Emperor Wenlong's true identity, he could still tell—

Emperor Wenlong and his enemy Emperor Wuchang had a deep relationship.

With such a master standing in the way, the difficulty of seeking revenge against the Yunzhou court had grown once more.

Upon hearing that Can Ji was already fine, Seeing Ao Jue set off toward the Western Regions.

Having just left Bai Longxi, he saw Can Ji's figure beneath the setting sun.

"Can Ji…"

Seeing Ao Jue was overjoyed. Over these past few days, to rescue her, he had truly expended immeasurable effort.

Overcome with emotion, he could not help but scoop Can Ji up around the waist, basking in the sunset, fully savoring this rare joy.

"Junior brother, where is Emperor Wenlong?"

After a long while, once Can Ji had calmed down, the blush on her face had not faded. Nestled against Seeing Ao Jue's chest, she asked him.

"Hm? Emperor Wenlong? You mean that old man?"

Seeing Ao Jue came to realize who it was that had fought alongside him and saved him at the final critical moment!