Celestial Dragon Sword Venerable-Chapter 66: Is It Really That Simple?

Wan Jianyun said, "But his theories are rich with the principles of the Supreme Dao. It’s clear he already has some ideas."

Die Xiyue sighed. "Those ideas are truly astounding, powerful enough to leave one breathless. But it’s easier said than done. Even countless peerless, Sword Ancestor Level Elders couldn’t achieve it, so what makes Ye Tianling think he can? We’re too close to the situation, so impressed by this young man that we’re trusting him blindly. But that Chen Fengyan sees things with perfect clarity, which is why... he doesn’t believe there’s any hope."

Wan Jianyun asked thoughtfully, "Then... should we intervene?"

Die Xiyue said, "Let it be. We’ve already done all we can, and we’ve helped where we could. I gave him plenty of Escape Talismans and Profound Crystal Stones. If he can’t rise from this, it’s simply due to his own incompetence. For now, let’s just turn a blind eye. He’s so reckless and arrogant. Only after suffering a setback will he understand that our kindness doesn’t come easily.

When that time comes, once he’s a bit more submissive and obedient, I’ll find another way to help and teach him Alchemy."

Wan Jianyun asked, "But Chen Fengyan won’t be too vicious, will he?"

Die Xiyue replied, "That’s hard to say. Not openly, at least. Who knows what might happen in the shadows. But this Ye Tianling is such a natural troublemaker, which is why I deliberately told him to cause as big a scene as he wanted and that I would have his back."

Wan Jianyun said in surprise, "You want him to blow things out of proportion, get himself into a corner he can’t escape, and suffer a major defeat... all so you can rescue him and make him focus on learning Alchemy? You’re as scheming as ever!"

Die Xiyue nodded and said with resignation, "The young man is just too stubborn, so much like Ye Fengyang back then. A pity... his fate is even more tragic than Ye Fengyang’s. A little suffering will do him good. With all the protective talismans he has, he won’t be killed that easily."

Wan Jianyun conceded, impressed, "Your mind is far too complex. Just promise you’ll never plot against me. Otherwise, I wouldn’t even know it if you sold me out."

Die Xiyue giggled. "Don’t worry. I’ll keep you around for now; you’re still useful. Besides, no one is more suited to be the Sect Master of the Myriad Swords Sect than you."

The two didn’t bother to hide their conversation from the surrounding Elders, whose expressions became quite a sight to behold. At the same time, their curiosity about this ’Ye Tianling’ grew.

’For a young man to cause such a commotion, becoming so infamous that even the beautiful Elder Die Xiyue felt compelled to scheme... that was a rare thing indeed.’

...

Outside the Nine Swords Sect, at the edge of the Celestial Demon Sea Region, lay the Celestial Sword Wilderness.

The Celestial Sword Wilderness was the site of a dilapidated, ancient sword formation and had once served as an ancient battlefield.

The area was treacherous and unpredictable, situated on the outskirts of the even more dangerous Ten Thousand Beasts Demon Cave.

The Celestial Sword Wilderness, located southwest of the Celestial Sword Sect and the Nine Swords Sect, was a favorite training ground for the top True Disciples of the two great sword sects.

Within the Celestial Sword Wilderness, Xiao Zhengnan opened a Communication Jade Scroll and carefully probed its contents for a moment.

In the next moment, his expression twisted into a savage mask.

"Ye Tianling! I’ll make sure you die a miserable death!"

Xiao Zhengnan suddenly roared.

The roar startled Wang Yufei and Qin Tianzhao, who were sitting cross-legged beside him, deep in their cultivation and pursuit of the Enlightenment Dao.

They shot to their feet instinctively, their gazes fixed on Xiao Zhengnan in shock and confusion.

For someone with Xiao Zhengnan’s calm temperament to lose his composure so completely was enough to deeply alarm Wang Yufei and Qin Tianzhao.

"Senior Brother Zhengnan, what’s wrong?"

"Junior Brother Zhengnan, that Ye Tianling... isn’t he the young man whose Soul was crushed by Emperor Cangqian?"

Wang Yufei and Qin Tianzhao asked almost simultaneously.

Xiao Zhengnan’s face was a mask of pure savagery, his eyes bloodshot with intense hatred. He bit out each word, "Ye Tianling murdered my sister. He violated and killed her!"

"What? Junior Sister Ningqing... she’s dead?"

Wang Yufei’s face instantly paled. She covered her mouth, her pretty features a mask of utter disbelief.

"Ningqing... she’s dead? Violated and murdered?"

Qin Tianzhao’s voice trembled even more. He looked as if he’d been struck by lightning, utterly devastated and lost.

Xiao Zhengnan didn’t answer, instead tossing the Communication Jade Scroll directly to Qin Tianzhao.

Qin Tianzhao moved with lightning speed, snatching it from the air and immediately probing it with his Soul Power.

A moment later, his expression turned hideous. The vicious fury and hatred in his eyes now surpassed even that of the already-calm Xiao Zhengnan.

"He dared to touch Ningqing—dared to touch the woman I love! For this Ye Tianling, death is too good! No, I can’t let him die a quick death. I’ll make him wish he had never been born!"

Qin Tianzhao gritted his teeth, seething with a chilling hatred.

Xiao Zhengnan said calmly, "Senior Brother Tianzhao, Junior Sister Yufei, stay out of this. I’m going to pay a visit to that arrogant Ye Tianling myself."

"We’re going with you!"

Qin Tianzhao said in a low, firm voice.

Wang Yufei nodded immediately. By now, she too had read the message in the Jade Scroll and knew everything that had occurred at the Nine Swords Sect.

Xiao Zhengnan exhaled a breath of Blood Qi and gazed into the distance.

In the distance, the Void was a bleak gray, and the faintly visible Blood Moon in the sky seemed to have lost its former mystique.

"He is Wan Jianyun’s Direct Disciple, after all, even if only in name. So, I will be the one to step forward and bear the consequences. I will avenge Ningqing’s death. You two should stay out of it."

Xiao Zhengnan’s mind was racing.

’For Ye Tianling to be so brazen, he must have a powerful backer, a formidable Weapon, and perhaps even a terrifying trump card.’

’A person like that wouldn’t be easy to deal with.’

’The deaths of several disciples at the First Heaven of Sword Spirit Realm in the Nine Swords Sect proved that much.’

’Underestimating an enemy often came at the cost of one’s life.’

"Senior Brother Zhengnan, if you say that, where does that leave me? My relationship with Ningqing and Junior Sister Shuiyan was as close as blood sisters. Now that they’ve suffered such humiliation, if I don’t step forward, my Heart of Sword Dao will be forever tainted!"

Wang Yufei’s tone was resolute.

Qin Tianzhao nodded as well, his voice dripping with cold hatred. "This Ye Tianling may have some backing, but I, Qin Tianzhao, am no pushover. My grandfather is a Vice Sect Master. Once Ye Tianling is dead, why would Wan Jianyun make things difficult for me over a worthless corpse?"

Wang Yufei added, "Exactly. Judging by his actions, this Ye Tianling is a bona fide Great Demon. If we don’t kill him now, he’ll become an endless scourge!"

Seeing their resolute attitudes, Xiao Zhengnan felt a small measure of comfort.

"Just observe for now. I’ll make the first move. If I can handle it, then all is well. If any complications arise, it won’t be too late for you to intervene."

Xiao Zhengnan said after a moment of thought.

"Complications?"

Qin Tianzhao sneered. "In terms of sharp weapons, defensive Battle Armor, and cultivation Realm, in every aspect, we are more than capable of crushing that half-crippled ant!"

Wang Yufei said, "It’s not that we’re underestimating him, it’s that the disciples from the Sect were just that weak. They were careless, couldn’t counter Ye Tianling’s fast sword, and lacked powerful Defensive Battle Armor. That’s why he cut them down like grass. But we possess Earth Tier Treasure Swords, Earth Tier Defense Armor, and have reached the Peak of the Sword Spirit Third Heaven! Slaying this Demon will be no problem at all!"

Xiao Zhengnan asked calmly, "How do we compare to Emperor Cangqian?"

Upon hearing this, both Qin Tianzhao and Wang Yufei shuddered. They then shook their heads and sighed, "We’re not even one-ten-thousandth of his match."

Xiao Zhengnan said, "So, this Ye Tianling, whom even Emperor Cangqian couldn’t kill—do you really think he’s that simple? It’s always the unexpected that gets you. As Cultivators, before we do anything, even if we aren’t completely certain of victory, we must, at the very least, plan an escape route."

Xiao Zhengnan’s words were a stark wake-up call, shaking both Qin Tianzhao and Wang Yufei to their core.

Yet it was precisely this—his ability to regain his composure so quickly after his own sister had been violated and murdered, and to so calmly analyze his enemy’s abilities—that made him seem all the more terrifying.

Now, when Qin Tianzhao and Wang Yufei looked at Xiao Zhengnan, their eyes held a new level of awe.