At the top of the Ling Bao Pavilion, Su Wenye stood by the window, watching the two figures gradually walking away on the street below. His face had long since returned to its usual aloof arrogance.
Even now, a profound, inexplicable depth lingered in the eyes of the Sacred Dynasty's richest man.
To be honest, he found Ling Xiao somewhat inscrutable.
He always felt this young man was far more formidable than he appeared.
The feeling was inexplicable, but Su Wenye prided himself on his keen judgment of character.
This young man was… unusual!
"Alliance Master, what is your assessment?"
Outside the pavilion, the fifth-grade Divine Emperor, Elder Xuan, slowly approached.
Counting the years, he and Sun Ce had followed Su Wenye the longest and could barely be considered confidants.
"What does Elder Xuan think?"
Su Wenye turned, his expression calm as he looked at the old man before him.
"This young man… walks the line between righteous and wicked, his methods are profound. I've heard that most of the major events happening recently in the Eastern Territories are somewhat related to him."
Elder Xuan sighed. Such a monstrous talent indeed had the makings of a formidable figure, but he wasn't a suitable match for the Young Lady.
After all, among those who truly sought to dominate the world, how many cared about romantic attachments?
"Is that so? I, however, think this young man is quite good. Perhaps… the fate of our Yun Alliance will change because of him."
Su Wenye's words carried a cryptic meaning. Elder Xuan's aged eyes suddenly sharpened.
"Alliance Master, are you saying…"
"For hundreds of years, our Yun Alliance has been diligent and conscientious. Now that we hold the world's wealth, why must we… remain under another's control? Ling Xiao said something earlier that resonated deeply with me. For the Yun Alliance to truly become powerful, it must… weather a time of chaos."
Su Wenye smiled faintly, but a cold intent flashed across his face.
"Pass down the order. From now on, whatever the Ling Clan or Ling Xiao needs, our Yun Alliance merchants will provide full support, but… only in secret."
"Yes! Alliance Master!"
…
At the peak of Enlightenment Mountain.
A figure in green robes approached slowly, like a chilling mountain breeze, sharp and cold.
"Who dares trespass into my Tai Xuan Dao Sect?"
A Dao Sect elder descended from the sky, blocking the young woman's path.
"Esteemed Elder, I am here to find someone."
Although Ye Qingchan's aura was icy, a serene smile graced her face.
It seemed somewhat incongruous.
"Hmm? Find someone? Are you here for our Dao Son, young lady?"
The elder's initially gloomy expression gradually softened upon seeing the clean, sincere smile on Ye Qingchan's face.
"No! I'm looking for Ling Xiao."
Ye Qingchan shook her head slightly, a trace of longing flashing in her beautiful eyes.
Young Master!
Qingchan is here!
Have you… missed me?
"Lin… Ling Xiao? May I ask, young lady…"
Hearing the name 'Ling Xiao,' the gloom completely vanished from the Dao Sect elder's face, replaced by a faint trace of reverence.
The Dao Sovereign had already given the order: anyone or any force related to Young Master Ling Xiao was to be treated as the most honored guest of the Tai Xuan Dao Sect.
Although many elders didn't know the reason, it didn't stop them from obeying.
"I am the Young Master's… maid… servant. I heard the Young Master entered the secret realm. I wonder if he has emerged yet?"
Ye Qingchan hesitated for a moment, ultimately not daring to say the word 'concubine.'
Although it was her heart's dream… the Young Master was, after all, betrothed. Saying the wrong thing might harm the Young Master's reputation, right?
"Maid? The Young Master, she…"
Buzz!
Heaven and earth suddenly hummed. A figure descended from the sky.
It was the Dao Son, Liang Yi.
Today, he had changed back into his usual white robes. His eyes were dim and lackluster, yet they gave off an ethereal, immortal feeling.
"Who are you?"
He hadn't heard Ling Xiao mention such a maidservant, and someone randomly inquiring about the Master's whereabouts…
"Who are you?"
Ye Qingchan's eyes turned frosty, as if icy light flickered within them. The entire Enlightenment Mountain suddenly turned bitterly cold for an instant.
"Hmm?"
In a distant hall, the Tai Xuan Dao Sovereign suddenly opened his eyes, a look of surprise on his face. His figure instantly vanished from the spot.
"I am the Tai Xuan Dao Son. You claim to be the Young Master's maidservant?"
An immortal-like phantom seemed to rise around Liang Yi, easily dissipating the biting cold rushing towards him.
But at this moment, his expression was also somewhat grave.
It wasn't because of Ye Qingchan's cultivation level, but that bone-piercing chill…
The Dao Principle of Extreme Cold?!
"You know the Young Master?!"
Since he addressed him as 'Young Master,' it was clear this Tai Xuan Dao Son knew Ling Xiao.
The coldness in Ye Qingchan's eyes completely vanished, replaced once more by a brilliant smile on her pretty face.
He's the Young Master's friend.
Was I too fierce just now?
"I… naturally know the Young Master. Who are you, really? If you are his maidservant, how could you not know his whereabouts?"
Liang Yi's face was cold; he didn't let his guard down in the slightest because of Ye Qingchan's beauty.
Even!
If this young woman couldn't provide a convincing reason, he wouldn't hesitate to kill her right here on Enlightenment Mountain.
"I have been cultivating at the Heavenly Sword Immortal Sect. Now that I've finally managed to leave the mountain, I heard the Young Master entered the secret realm. Dao Son, has the Young Master emerged yet?"
Ye Qingchan's eyes held a trace of disappointment. A look of surprise appeared on the Tai Xuan Dao Son's face.
"You are Ye Qingchan?!"
On the day of Ling Xiao's engagement, the entire Sacred Dynasty knew about it.
And the name 'Ye Qingchan' was even more memorable than Nian Qingyun's.
For no other reason than because Ling Xiao had publicly given the engagement gifts to this woman.
For a time, the name 'Ye Qingchan' instantly resounded throughout the Eastern Territories.
With Liang Yi's cautious nature, he had naturally sent people to investigate Ling Xiao's recent actions.
He just hadn't expected that Ye Qingchan's background would also be so… unusual.
"It's me! Dao Son, did the Young Master mention me?"
Ye Qingchan's face lit up with anticipation, but Liang Yi could only offer a wry smile. "The Young Master went down the mountain today. Right now…"
Suddenly, Liang Yi hesitated.
Right now, the Master was probably with Su Yan…
If he told Ye Qingchan the Master's whereabouts and disturbed his… endeavors, would the Master make him… disappear indefinitely?
"He went down the mountain? The secret realm is over? Didn't they say it would take a month? Where did the Young Master go?"
Ye Qingchan exclaimed in surprise. She had originally planned to wait at the secret realm's entrance for the Young Master's return, to surprise him.
She never expected he had already gone down the mountain.
Suddenly, Ye Qingchan felt disappointed.
She even felt, in some inexplicable way, that it was fate.
Young Master.
Does this mean… you and I truly have no destiny?
"Right now… I'm afraid he has already returned to the Ling Clan?"
"Oh! Did he go back with Nian Qingyun?"
Ye Qingchan sighed softly, but Liang Yi suddenly gave her a complicated look. "Nian Qingyun… is dead."
Boom!!
Suddenly, snow and ice began to fall over Enlightenment Mountain.
In the space of a breath, ancient trees froze, flowers and grass withered.
Even the mountain wind inexplicably stilled.
"Nian Qingyun… is dead?!"
Ye Qingchan's beautiful eyes shimmered with icy blue light—sadness, shock, bitterness; her emotions were complex.
She had seen Nian Qingyun, witnessed her beauty and aloof solitude.
She even admitted that the Divine Maiden of the Dao Palace was indeed a good match for the Young Master.
But…
Whether she lived or died had nothing to do with her. At most, she felt some confusion and a bit of lament.
She was just very worried. The Young Master right now must be… very heartbroken.
Even though Ling Xiao repeatedly said their union was merely a sect alliance.
But…
From Ye Qingchan's understanding of the Young Master, if he was unwilling to do something, who in this world could force him?
Suddenly, Ye Qingchan turned and rushed down the mountain at extreme speed.
She needed to find the Young Master, stay by his side, and tell him… I am still here.
Young Master!
The fog rises thick, Qingchan… loves you from a place where no one sees!
Only after Ye Qingchan's figure had gone far into the distance did the Tai Xuan Dao Sovereign's figure appear beside Liang Yi, his cold gaze fixed on the retreating graceful silhouette.
"Dragon General… that aura…"
"Another… Reincarnator? Truly a time of great contention. But…"
"Dragon General, did you also sense it? Why does that aura feel somewhat… familiar?"