Chapter 147

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Chapter 147: Blood Flowing Like a River

Blood flowed like a river on Canglan Mountain, a gruesome spectacle that neither the endless stretch of Liu Yun nor the verdant greenery could conceal. A mountain of corpses and a sea of blood—it was akin to a living hell on earth.

This was the final battlefield where Yóu Lìng had resolved to stake everything. Despite the forbidden formation being dismantled prematurely by the formation masters of the Imperial Palace, the spies and forces of the Black Wind Alliance and the Alien Race Hunting Hall remained undiminished.

Yóu Lìng stood unperturbed on the platform, her gaze detached as she overlooked the relentless carnage below, while Ming He refrained from advancing to strike her down.

As for the others—

They were indeed powerless against Yóu Lìng.

Their only option was to target the black-clothed men and the human race traitors.

Yet, these adversaries were no easy prey, especially with the relentless influx of the Tian Yan Tribe’s alien army.

Even as defeat loomed inevitable, Yóu Lìng did not halt the alien army’s assembly and onslaught. Instead, she appeared to fuel the chaos, watching with a cold, detached gaze.

It was as though she was sending them to their doom.

And it seemed she was determined to exact a toll from the human race, ensuring they did not claim the Tianwu Continent without sacrifice.

Indeed, the human race paid dearly.

The black-clothed men, understanding Yóu Lìng’s intentions, knew their fate was sealed.

Resigned to their probable demise, driven by a deep-seated resentment towards the human race and their own thwarted ambitions, they fought with a strategy of mutual destruction.

Even in death, they aimed to inflict as much damage as possible.

The human race had prepared for this; their cultivators and the cream of the younger generation had converged here, though some were initially oblivious.

But the sight of the grotesque, green-faced aliens, the desperate cries of the black-clothed men, and Ming He’s poised, sword-in-hand calmness, made the situation clear.

This was a stratagem devised by the Imperial Palace.

Using the world as a chessboard, they sought to cleanse the land of aliens, striving for purity.

Understanding dawned, and they plunged into the fray.

Though the human numbers on Canglan Mountain were few, especially compared to the multitudes in a city overrun by the alien army, their strength was not to be underestimated.

Once the site of the Dragon and Tiger Rankings, this place had seen the gathering of the mighty and the rise of countless prodigies, each capable of transcending their ranks, their youthful prowess once stirring the world.

But what did that signify?

The human race boasted powerful allies, but so did the alien race.

Each human race traitor, dispatched here under the Black Wind Alliance’s orders, wielded significant cultivation, further bolstered by the Blood Fury Pills.

Sacrificing their lives for a fleeting surge of power, they presented a challenge even the Imperial Palace’s schemes could not counter.

The human race could only retaliate with force; casualties were inevitable in such a conflict.

Ming He, wielding Blue Sea in her left hand and Shadow Strike in her right, darted through the throng of cultivators like a gust of wind. With each swing of her sword, she felled foes, their heads rolling in disbelief, as she moved unerringly to her next target.

On and on she went, tireless in her deadly dance.

As the heavens cycled through day and night, the slaughter on Canglan Mountain raged for two days and nights. By the third dawn, the Blood River had swelled into a sea of blood, viewed from above as a towering mound of corpses.

Even as the sun blazed overhead, its rays piercing yet tainted with a sanguine, ominous scent, the breeze carried a chill through the air.

This place, it seemed, had become a second Mass Grave.

“Ming He.” Yóu Lìng stood on the stage where the battle of the Heavenly Dragon List had taken place for the duration of the fight on Canglan Mountain. She remained there until the battle was about to come to an end, until the alien army was completely slaughtered, and until the human race traitors were pulled out one by one to be dealt with. Finally, she spoke.

The black figure withdrew her gaze, no longer watching the young man who had also stood there for two days and nights at the mountain’s peak. She looked down at Ming He, a smile still on her lips, but her eyes were cold and dark. “I will wait for you at the Blood River Hall.”

Why wait for Ming He? Everyone understood it deep down.

She was waiting for Ming He to take her life.

After all, in this vast world, only Ming He could kill her without bearing any consequences.

At that moment, Ming He was covered in Bloody Stains, yet she looked far from disheveled. Standing where the winds of change swirled, she held her long sword, its cold light shining fiercely as she swung it, beheading another foe, softly saying, “Alright.”

Yóu Lìng then smiled even more joyfully, her smile feeling genuine.

The black wolf mask remained terrifying, yet the corners of her lips were slightly uplifted with a hint of lightness. She took one last deep look at Ming He, nodded slightly, and then disappeared into the vastness of the world.

She came without a trace, and left without a sound.

The battle on Canglan Mountain finally came to an end.

Across the five regions, crimson fireworks shot into the sky, soaring high alongside the blazing sun. In an instant, they burst forth with light, shaking the heavens and echoing across the land, each sound ringing in the hearts of the cultivators, causing them to leap with joy.

Ming He understood that every burst of fireworks represented a city; when they illuminated the sky, it meant that those cities were free from danger, filled with peace again, free of aliens and human race traitors.

Though they were crimson like the aliens, though the air around her flowed with shocking red, as she looked at the fireworks in the sky, Ming He found that they radiated a unique brilliance.

It was a celebratory, dazzling red, not the bloody crimson of slaughter.

The boy’s gentle voice called down from the mountaintop once more, “The next matters will be handled by Qin Ling.”

Qin Ling was the ancestor of Qin Huang Mountain, who was reportedly recuperating there after having exhausted his energy while extracting the Heavenly Horn Scorpion poison from many prodigies. He was at risk of dying at any moment.

Now that the Lord of the Central Region had said this, Qin Ling naturally wouldn’t face any danger.

It seemed that the Heavenly Horn Scorpion poison was probably another trap set by the Imperial Palace for the Black Wind Alliance.

Some cultivators looked at Ming He, who stood bloodied yet upright, their eyes flickering with fluctuations of emotion.

They felt she truly deserved this honor.

Their eyes held brightness and respect.

“Ming He, I have something to say to you.” The boy’s gentle words continued to drift down with the breeze.

Ming He felt a wave of dizziness; the next moment, the world before her changed form. The blue sky above her was clear and vivid, white clouds twirled around her, birds flitted across the mountains, and the sun blazed fiercely.

She was still on Canglan Mountain, but she now stood on its peak.

Yet, she had already attained the seventh stage of the Heaven Origin realm, become a successor of the Tianwu Continent, and comprehended the realm of sword spirit, yet she was still unaware of the power she had just witnessed.

Both she and Gong Shu held the same cultivation in the Earth Emperor Realm, but with a mere wave of his hand, he had transported her without a moment to react.

A chill ran through Ming He’s heart, reminding her of the notion that there were always others beyond others and realms beyond realms. She raised her gaze to the young man before her, the Lord of the Central Region, the master of the Imperial Palace, and a powerful ally at the peak of the Earth Emperor Realm.

When she looked at him, her heart felt a wave of astonishment.

At the waist of Canglan Mountain, an old man in coarse robes had appeared before the group of cultivators, his powerful aura sharp, yet his eyes were warm and dignified, showing no trace of his recent near-death experience.

He stood on the mountainside, just in time to catch a glimpse of the blood-colored figure of Ming He flashing past in the air.

Recalling how his little Chu Yi Qing had looked at him with disagreement and a chill in her eyes after waking up, he couldn’t help but shiver, instinctively bowing deeply and offering a respectful greeting. “I bid you farewell, young leader.”

The heavens acknowledged her and set the stage for her rise, so he could not remain idle.

Even if compelled, this time, it was undeniably the human race that had failed her.

Thus, under the title of an Earth Emperor Realm expert, he would elevate her to the highest and most exalted position.

After all, the Imperial Palace would soon issue a decree, proclaiming her identity across the entire Tianwu Continent and restoring all the glory that rightfully belonged to her.

“Farewell, young leader.” Xia Fengye exchanged a glance with her brother Xia Bufan, and both bowed in unison.

As the most outstanding disciples of the younger generation from the Shanhai Sect, they were far from ignorant.

“Farewell, young leader.” The other cultivators, witnessing this, hesitated for a moment before bowing deeply, their gestures filled with reverence and sincerity.

Even those who had been unaware could now piece together the situation by observing the expressions and actions of the ancestor of Qin Huang Mountain and the Xia siblings.

Ming He was the young leader of the human race.

Thus, everything that had transpired before was merely her trial as the young leader.

Young leader.

Before Ming He, there had been one hundred and ten young leaders among the human race.

Yet, only four had been truly acknowledged by the heavens.

Mu Chen was the fourth.

As for whether Ming He had earned the heavens’ recognition, the cultivators present already had their answer, recalling her earlier feats.

To slay an Earth Emperor, coupled with the recent disturbances at Sword Demon Mountain, she was undoubtedly the fifth.

The fifth young leader of the human race, recognized by the heavens, the inheritor of the Tianwu Continent.

The significance of this was beyond their comprehension.

For Mu Chen, the heavens had nearly shattered his spirit, yet they were willing to bestow their fortune upon Ming He. Why?

Was it due to the schemes of those two from the Imperial Palace?

Only then did everything begin to make sense.

The respectful voices of the cultivators echoed to the mountaintop, reaching Ming He’s ears.

Yet, she paid no heed. Instead, her gaze remained fixed on the young man before her, her eyes wide with a mix of astonishment and confusion.

The figure before her was clad in flowing moon-white robes, his silver hair cascading freely in the wind, exuding an air of untethered freedom. His features were undeniably striking, and his aura was profound and unfathomable—every inch of him radiated the presence of a powerful ally.

The only thing that seemed out of place was her pallid, paper-white complexion and bloodless lips.

As a gentle breeze swept past, her body trembled uncontrollably.

It was no wonder, then, that during the two days and nights on Canglan Mountain, she had stood motionless, taking no action.

Maintaining her position at the mountaintop to oversee the situation and command respect must have been the only thing she could manage at that moment.

Yet, even in such a state, she had somehow found the strength to bring herself here.

Ming He felt a chill run through her heart once more.

Moreover, she had never imagined that the Lord of the Central Region, the leader of the human race and the authority of the Imperial Palace, would be a woman!

Being a woman herself, Ming He would never look down on her own kind, but since Qin Chu Yi had not explicitly mentioned the Lord of the Central Region’s gender, she had assumed he was male.

“I am a girl. Are you surprised?” The youth smiled faintly, her face pale yet radiant, with sunlight falling upon her, blending seamlessly with her form.

When she smiled, Ming He felt as though a bright moon was illuminating a clear spring, or like snowflakes gently settling on a pine tree. Her relaxed demeanor, standing between heaven and earth, was a breathtaking sight in itself.

Yet, she was unmistakably a girl.

Though she dressed as a young man of the human race, wearing a moon-white robe typically reserved for males, her bodily features clearly revealed her true gender.

“It’s just a robe. I wear it this way because I like it,” the youth said, lifting her head with a soft smile. Her gaze toward Ming He was warm, with a hint of amusement:

“On the Tianwu Continent, only strength matters. The Sword Master is renowned throughout history, and the Soul Ancestor possesses unparalleled grace. Their fame stems solely from their immense power and their valiant efforts to protect the human race. It has nothing to do with the Sword Master being male or the Soul Ancestor being female.”

“Isn’t strength the measure of worth in your world?” the youth asked, her smile deepening as she looked at Ming He.

Ming He paused, feeling both astonished and unsurprised. They must have known by now that she was not Su Ming He.

Since they already knew she wasn’t Su Ming He, they likely had some understanding of her origins—perhaps even played a role in it.

Ming He recalled the chaos of her original self when she first arrived in this world, the sudden appearance of Qin Chu Yi from Liu Yun, and the Star Lock within the ancient cave dwelling. Her expression grew complex.

“You’re mistaken,” the youth said, her voice gentle and soothing.

“Su Ming He truly died from her own madness, with no signs of external interference. Qin Chu Yi’s search for the Star Lock at Liu Yun Sect was simply part of her life’s path, inevitable.”

“As for you—your arrival in this world, taking on Su Ming He’s identity, is no coincidence. But it wasn’t orchestrated by the Imperial Palace.”

Not orchestrated by the Imperial Palace.

Ming He’s eyes darkened momentarily. If not by the Imperial Palace, then it must be…

She looked up and saw the youth nod slightly, her heart trembling.

If not by the Imperial Palace or the human race, then it could only be the will of heaven.

Why would heaven do this?

She didn’t voice the question, but her eyes shimmered with curiosity.

Why bring her from her original world to this one, granting her Su Ming He’s identity, and even… a portion of the storyline that shaped her understanding of this world?

Ming He was no fool. By now, she realized that the novel she had read about the Dragon Hero Su Yu was likely a narrative implanted in her by heaven.

After all, she had never read novels before.

Moreover, it seemed neither the Imperial Palace nor the youth before her had any knowledge of the story in her mind.

“Perhaps it’s because you are destined to be the master of the Star Lock,” the youth said.

“The Star Lock was forged by harnessing the power of the entire Tianwu Continent. The Sword Master, the Soul Clan, the Sea King… they fused countless treasures into it, even merging their own fortunes, creating this unparalleled spiritual artifact from ancient times.”

“It is the key to the human race’s victory over foreign clans.”

The Star Lock, embodying the brilliance of the world, naturally stood on the side of light. Thus, its master must also be the brightest pearl among the vast sea of humanity.

Ming He was the pearl it had chosen.

Existing in darkness yet yearning for the light—this was the essence of Ming He.

“At first, we were unaware of your arrival. It was only when the Zichan Cave emerged, when the Star Lock officially recognized you as its master, and when the sound of heaven and earth echoed across the realm, that the Imperial Palace truly acknowledged your existence.”

The sound of heaven and earth.

As Ming He heard those words, her mind drifted. Back then, she had been in seclusion at Liu Yun Sect, and in a moment of clarity, she had comprehended the Great Path. Yet, she hadn’t understood its significance and had dismissed it.

So, did the Imperial Palace notice her back then?

“Yes,” the youth affirmed with a nod. “The foreign races recognize that a human genius capable of summoning the sound of heaven and earth is not to be underestimated, so they must eliminate you. Naturally, the human race understands this as well.”

“From that moment on, you have been within the sight of the Imperial Palace. They likely know more about your past and origins than you do yourself.”

“Being within the sight of the Imperial Palace—”

Ming He murmured softly, her mind immediately recalling those faint gazes that seemed to gather between heaven and earth, the sense of support she felt during her first experience of Sword Flight, and the shadow that watched her from the darkness after the Imperial Palace issued its wanted notice.

It turned out it wasn’t just her illusion; there truly were people protecting her, acting as Guardians of the Path.

“Then, is it the human race that set this game against me, making the world my enemy?” Ming He raised her gaze, her voice trembling and hoarse.

She understood that the human race sought to eliminate the traitors lurking in various sects, cities, and families of the Black Wind Alliance, aiming to completely eradicate the foreign races and establish a clear and open Tianwu Continent.

She also realized that the Heavenly Horn Scorpion poison was merely a Misty Egg thrown out by the human race. The Imperial Palace had known from the beginning that she was not Su Ming He, and they naturally also knew that she could not possibly be the long-voice guardian of the demon race.

Knowing this, yet choosing to play along—was she merely a pawn, a bait?

Deep down, Ming He already knew the answer; she simply sought confirmation.

She had clarity of heart and would not be disheartened by this, but she still desired to know.

The youth looked at her deeply, then lowered his gaze and spat out a mouthful of blood. “Actually, it doesn’t count as that.”

She gently raised her hand to stop the young woman dressed in green from infusing spiritual energy into her, looking at Ming He seriously and solemnly: “The human race has never intended to use you as bait. They never have.”

Ming He was taken aback, and as she glanced around, she noticed for the first time that there was indeed a young woman dressed in green standing at the peak of Canglan Mountain, her expression gentle but her complexion just as pale.

Between their gazes, there was a deep affection, their relationship evident without words.

That young woman dressed in green must be the formation master of the Imperial Palace.

Suddenly, Ming He recalled the Battle Formation she had seen in Chang Gui City, and as her mind wandered, she heard the youth’s gentle and solemn voice.

“You should now understand that Liu Yu’s actions were not merely out of revenge for her son, right?”

“I understand,” Ming He nodded. Liu Yu had no murderous intent toward her.

Since she had not collaborated with the Black Wind Alliance, then Jiang An…

Ming He’s gaze quivered. Her connection with Jiang An began with the battle against Kuang San in Tianwu City; if Liu Yu fought for the human race, then her son…

“Jiang An is not dead!” She raised her gaze, her expression determined, though her heart still harbored many uncertainties.

“Yes,” the youth confirmed with a nod. “Jiang An cannot tread the Spiritual Path for cultivation, but with the Three Thousand Paths, if he cannot cultivate the Spiritual Path, does that mean he cannot pursue other paths?”

“Jiang An is a member of the Nine Heavens Pavilion.” The youth’s voice rang like thunder, stirring up a storm in Ming He’s heart.

The Nine Heavens Pavilion.

It was a hidden existence protecting the human race.

Jiang An was a member of the Nine Heavens Pavilion.

Ming He closed her eyes, recalling the day when Song Guanting had transmitted information about Jiang An to her—the second son of the Jiang Clan, infamous since the age of fourteen, falling in love with Qin Chu Yi at nineteen.

The year he fell in love with Qin Chu Yi was also the year she encountered Qin Chu Yi.

So, had they already begun laying the groundwork so early?

Ming He opened her eyes, her gaze intense as she looked at the woman dressed as a young man across from her. She was the ruler of the Imperial Palace, the Lord of the Central Region, known as Fu Yao, with a name that meant "carefree."

"From the age of fourteen, he began to secretly harm the talented individuals of the human race to supply the Nine Heavens Pavilion with practitioners."

Since he had to remain hidden, he could only operate under the guise of the dead.

"At nineteen, he fell in love at first sight with Qin Chu Yi, a strategic move for the future."

"We do not know what path you will take in the future, but since the Star Lock recognized you as its master and the heavenly path brought you into this world, you are destined to be enemies with Yóu Lìng."

"Yóu Lìng—"

Fu Yao gave a bitter laugh, blood trickling from the corner of his lips: "The human race has wronged her, and the Imperial Palace fears that she might use her methods against you. We cannot protect you openly, so we must lay down hidden strategies in advance."

"Later, the facts proved that our hidden strategies were indeed necessary," Fu Yao’s eyes were clouded with complexity.

After Jiang Ping began his cultivation, the human race traitors hidden within the Black Wind Alliance started to provoke Jiang An, urging him to confront the Jiang Clan, to tarnish the reputation of the Ancient Clan, and to lead him to slowly fall.

No one knew that before the age of fourteen, when Jiang Ping had not yet ventured out for training, Jiang An had already joined the Nine Heavens Pavilion and was working for them.

He truly could not cultivate the Spiritual Path, yet he held no resentment towards his parents, brothers, or clan.

When the Nine Heavens Pavilion found him, he agreed without hesitation, serving them as the legitimate son of the Ancient Clan, intentionally damaging his own reputation, secretly gathering information, rooting out the human race traitors, turning the geniuses targeted by the Black Wind Alliance from light to shadow.

The only regret was that he could save many talented humans, but he could not save his own brother.

At first, even the entire Jiang Clan did not know that he was a member of the Nine Heavens Guard.

Therefore, initially, Liu Yu truly loved him deeply, willing to do anything to protect him.

Fortunately, he was not a true disgrace of the Ancient Clan.

"But how could Jiang An possibly not be dead?" Ming He frowned; the dazzling youth in red was the one she had personally slain.

She did not notice any flaws at all.

When she had doubts at the beginning, she thought Jiang An willingly accepted death.

"Sometimes, the human race needs to make sacrifices for geniuses, but they never gamble their lives," Fu Yao’s voice was deep. "There is a classified pill at the Pill Palace called the Death-like Pill."

"This is a royal-grade pill that makes one appear dead, falling into a simulated death state. As long as the body remains, there is hope for awakening. The only cost…"

"The cost is the destruction of one’s path to cultivation, never to hope for the Human King realm again."

Simulated death sounds simple enough, but how could one conceal it from so many foreign races and the human race traitors, especially Yóu Lìng, who once was an heir of soul mastery?

The state of simulated death requires the practitioner’s strength and blood to guide it, burning through the meridians to conceal the truth and obscure the heavenly secrets, and it certainly cannot come without a price.

The Death-like Pill!

Ming He drifted into thought, a strange light flashing in her eyes, feeling both heartbroken and elated, "Then Mu Qian is also a human undercover agent?"

Questioning her heart.

Her heart told her that the white-clad youth, as bright as the moon, had a clear path of mind.

"Yes," Fu Yao knew what she wanted to ask and nodded slightly.

Indeed!

Tears glistened in Ming He’s eyes; it was indeed not an illusion.

She had always felt that the figure who escorted her all the way to the Northern Wilderness was very familiar, reminiscent of an older brother from the Floating Cloud Sect, resembling the brother who died under Mu Qian’s sword in that dark cave to protect her, Lu Xiaoliang.

Now that Ming He knew Mu Qian was an undercover agent for the human race and that her senior brothers and sisters were still alive, she understood why, when she and Qin Chu Yi had turned back that day, their remains had already been collected by Yan Qinghong, the chief disciple of the Floating Cloud Sect.

Thus, her senior brothers and sisters had also joined the Nine Heavens Pavilion, becoming the Nine Heavens Guard who operated in the shadows.

Ming He felt a heavy weight in her heart as she recalled the carefree and spirited faces from the past, her eyes tinged with a blood-red hue.

“This is a very long and intricate game,” Fu Yao said, wiping the blood from the corner of his lips. “After Elder Zheng of the Floating Cloud Sect died, Mu Qian’s life within the sect became increasingly difficult.

At that time, human race traitors, much like those who had approached Jiang An, sought out Mu Qian, hoping to recruit him as an informant for the Black Wind Alliance within the Floating Cloud Sect.

Mu Qian agreed to their demands but then approached the Sect Master of the Floating Cloud Sect, revealing the entire scheme. The Sect Master, in turn, informed the Lord of the Eastern Region.

The Lord of the Eastern Region wanted Mu Qian to serve as an undercover agent for the human race among the foreign races. After a thorough interrogation, Mu Qian agreed. Thus, the bloody scene reminiscent of the dark cave unfolded.”

“This was Mu Qian’s way of gaining the trust of the foreign races and the Black Wind Alliance, and it also served as the first trial for the young leader of the human race.”

“From Mu Qian to Jiang An, to the long-voice guardian, to your forced abandonment of the sword, to the renunciation of Swordsmanship, and finally to the comprehension of the sword spirit and the refinement of the stars—all of this was orchestrated by the Imperial Palace, a grand strategy of the human race.”

“However, the phrase ‘the whole world is your enemy’ was not part of this plan.”

“This phrase was originally a test bestowed upon you by the heavenly path; it is the true assessment of the young leader.”

“Do you know about Mu Chen’s past?” she asked, looking at Ming He.

Ming He nodded silently.

Mu Chen, a disciple of the Canglang Sect in the Eastern Region, was once the most celebrated genius of the Eastern Region. At the height of his fame, his brilliance even surpassed that of his own master across the five regions.

He practiced Swordsmanship but did not inherit any established legacy; instead, he created the Canglang Sword Dao. Relying on his innate talent, he studied the Sword Master’s manual and mastered the Nine Styles of Swordsmanship. His achievements caught the attention of the Sword Pavilion, which sought to appoint him as an elder. However, he first gained the recognition of the Imperial Palace and was named the young leader, becoming an unparalleled figure of his time.

Though Mu Chen’s early life had humble beginnings, he rose to extraordinary heights, unmatched by anyone of his generation.

He was the young leader of the human race, the founder of the Canglang Sword Dao, and the great hope of the human race and the Imperial Palace for the future.

They even dreamed that he would lead the human race to expel the foreign races and ultimately restore freedom to the Tianwu Continent.

Indeed, he possessed the talent and strength to achieve such a feat.

But then, he met Xin Ming Zhu.

A demonic cultivator from the demon race, she had taken over a human body and approached him with ambitions to unify the Tianwu Continent. In time, the peerless genius of the human race fell deeply in love with her.

Xin Ming Zhu, too, eventually came to love him genuinely.

However, as a demonic cultivator, her true identity was exposed, and she faced the condemnation of many.

Mu Chen personally killed her, using his own life spirit sword.

At first, they believed he had merely made a grave mistake; they still saw him as the young leader of the human race, the unparalleled future of his people.

But no one could have foreseen that in the depths of night, haunted by nightmares, he would be consumed by such regret that his hands trembled, unable to steady the life spirit sword he had once cherished.

Mu Chen did indeed come to regret his actions.

He had killed Xin Ming Zhu with his own hands, and in doing so, he himself fell into darkness, turning his blade against the human race and targeting his own comrades.

He believed that though he had killed Xin Ming Zhu, it was only because of the pressure exerted by the human race.

He sought revenge against those who had forced him to act against her.

Thus, not only did he fall into darkness, but he also coerced his fellow disciples, including the newly appointed Sect Master of the Canglang Sect, to turn against the human race.

Their first target was a powerful human cultivator, an Earth Emperor Realm expert from the Soul Clan, who had once pressured him regarding Xin Ming Zhu.

The Soul Clan exclusively practices soul mastery, and among the Myriad Races, only they are born with such exceptional talent. While others remain oblivious to the reason, Mu Chen is fully aware.

The Soul Clan’s unparalleled aptitude for soul mastery stems from their soul core.

It is, in essence, their heart.

This is the harrowing past that Yóu Lìng cannot bring herself to speak of.

To have one’s heart removed is to have one’s soul core extracted.

When the Canglang Sect cast covetous eyes upon the Soul Clan, a direct disciple of the clan, not yet known as Yóu Lìng, fled in desperation to seek out Mu Chen, believing the young leader to be their ultimate savior, only to uncover that he was the orchestrator of their plight.

She earnestly declared to the human race and the entire Tianwu Continent that Mu Chen had fallen into darkness, yet no one heeded her words.

After narrowly escaping death, she returned to find her clan in ruins, a scene of bloodshed and horror, and then she too had her soul core torn out and was discarded in a mass grave to perish.

How could she possibly hold onto her original purpose?

Yóu Lìng was the one who truly deserved to fall into darkness.

Yet, before descending into the abyss, she still informed the human race that Mu Chen had indeed fallen into darkness.

This time, the human race believed her! For they had witnessed it with their own eyes, undeniable proof.

But belief does not equate to action.

At that time, Mu Chen was bound to the human race by a deeper, more intricate connection known as a fated bond.

“After Xin Ming Zhu perished, Mu Xuan Ye led the demon race in an assault, and at that time, the human race was in disarray and no match for them.”

“The Tianwu Continent had not yet fallen to foreign hands; the human race was on the verge of being defeated by the demon race.”

“No one understood why Mu Chen suddenly succumbed to darkness, nor why he abruptly regained his senses; he offered himself as a sacrifice to halt the demon race, granting us the opportunity to suppress Mu Xuan Ye and the Star Lock, which had slipped from Mu Chen’s control, within the Zichan Cave left by the Sword Master.”

“After his sacrifice, Mu Chen’s soul did not entirely vanish, and in the depths of the Northern Wilderness, the Sword Demon Mountain emerged, where Mu Chen became the Sword Demon, oscillating between fury and lucidity.”

“Later, the direct descendant of the Soul Clan adopted the name Yóu Lìng and roamed the world as the Envoy of the Black Wind Alliance, commanding foreign races to quell the Sword Demon Mountain, and occasionally capturing innocent human prodigies to witness their demise at the hands of the deranged Sword Demon.”

“Then she would observe the lucid Sword Demon in such agony that he wished to dissipate into the void.” Yet, as long as Sword Demon Mountain stands, the Sword Demon will persist.

No one knows the reason.

“The heavenly path possesses spirit; Mu Chen is the fourth inheritor chosen by it and serves as the young leader of the human race. From the moment the coronation ceremony commenced and the Imperial Palace proclaimed it to the world, he has shouldered the heavenly path’s devotion and the fortune of the human race.”

“Should he perish, the heavenly path would collapse, the spirit would be annihilated, and the human race would splinter; not even the demon race and the Soul Clan could withstand this, much less the foreign races.”

Given the paramount importance of the young leader of the human race, he has always been subjected to the young leader’s assessment.

The assessment Mu Chen underwent differed from Ming He’s, yet its difficulty surpassed hers, as it was an assessment personally decreed by the heavenly path.

Having passed the assessment, Mu Chen naturally earned the Imperial Palace’s complete trust.

Initially, Mu Chen’s brilliance illuminated the nine heavens; who could have foreseen the calamities that would ensue?

“But Mu Chen later still…” Ming He’s brow furrowed, her confusion unabated.

“Yes,” blood once more seeped from the corner of Fu Yao’s lips, “Mu Chen indeed fell into darkness, and the heavenly path was indeed destroyed, leaving the human race teetering on the edge of collapse.”

“Yet, at the final moment, Mu Chen suddenly awakened; he ultimately prevented the human race from being annihilated at that time.”

The Imperial Palace has pondered and investigated this for many years, yet the reason for his sudden awakening remains a mystery.

When they questioned the Sword Demon, he remained silent, clearly unwilling to divulge the truth.

"The heavenly path did not completely destroy the spirit, but it was severely wounded. For a long time after that, no young leader was born among the human race."

The demon race has its Demon Lord, the demon race has its Demon Monarch, but the Imperial Palace has no Emperor.

Since the Sword Master passed away, the world has not seen another cultivator capable of overshadowing everyone else, so the position of Emperor has remained vacant.

She rules the Imperial Palace, but she cannot lead the human race.

Because of the human race’s fortune, she cannot bear that weight.

Initially, her heart was set on fighting alongside her Senior Sister against the enemies.

Fu Yao looked gently at the young woman dressed in green beside him. "But the human race needs a young leader."

They need a young leader to grow and eventually ascend to the Emperor’s position, uniting the fragmented fortunes of the human race and stirring up the Winds and Clouds of the World.

This matter requires the Star Lock.

The Four-direction Compass is an auxiliary spiritual artifact of the Star Lock.

"Until twenty-six years ago, when the Qin Clan gave birth to a prodigy, her arrival stirred the Ancient Emperor’s Tomb."

Twenty-six years ago was the time when Qin Chu Yi was born.

"At that time, I thought that perhaps the human race had finally found its young leader."

"What I didn’t expect was that six years ago, the heavenly path chose you itself," Fu Yao sighed.

"Later, when Qin Chu Yi went to the Liu Yun Sect and gave you the Moon Crescent Dagger, I knew her choice."

The Moon Crescent Dagger was originally a gift she had given to Qin Chu Yi.

Qin Chu Yi did not know what that meant; perhaps it was destined from the unseen realm.

"Ming He, you have now comprehended the realm of sword spirit. What do you think spirit is?" Fu Yao changed the subject.

Ming He blinked her eyes. "I think the sword spirit is like a child," she said honestly.

The realm of sword spirit refers to the life spirit sword, usually meant for one’s own life spirit sword.

Her life spirit sword is the Jing Ying Sword, but it is not only the Jing Ying Sword that possesses spirit.

So Ming He thinks that her other swords, like the Blue Sea and the Longquan Sword, also possess spirit.

"That’s right," Fu Yao was a bit surprised that she achieved such a peak understanding of the realm of sword spirit so quickly, but this was not the time to be surprised.

"All living beings have spirit, but not all spirits have wisdom. The heavenly path has spirit, and it is actually like a child as well."

"Because Mu Chen was severely injured, it is only natural that the choice regarding the young leader receives special attention; even if you are chosen directly by it, it is no exception."

"So everyone is an enemy…" Ming He pondered.

"Everyone is an enemy is a test that the heavenly path requires of you, but it does not have the ability to arrange it personally," Fu Yao breathed a slight sigh of relief.

From the sound of heaven and earth to the fleeting glance at the Eastern Sky Arena, she has seen Ming He battle the shadows and heard her powerful words; in her heart, she had already determined that she would be a competent young leader.

Cultivators look within themselves.

Even with a Mu Chen, she still believes in Ming He.

Moreover, Qin Chu Yi is not Xin Ming Zhu.

She believes, the Imperial Palace believes, the human race believes, but the heavenly path does not believe; they cannot do anything about that.

The young leader of the human race is the inheritor of the Tianwu Continent, acknowledged only by the celestial laws.

The trial of being an enemy to the entire world is the assessment for the young leader.

Yet, the celestial laws did not specify the nature of this trial.

Thus, the Imperial Palace orchestrated this scenario themselves.

From Mu Qian to the Eastern Hua realm, the Blood God Wilderness, Jiang An, Shen Yue, Song Guanting, the Sword Demon Mountain, and Zhan Qing Yi, they deliberately chose Lu Xiaoliang, hoping Ming He would recognize his identity.

If she could not, harboring doubt was also acceptable.

Being an enemy to the world might merely be a superficial guise.

Therefore, Song Guanting handed Ming He a jade slip, claiming that only she could save Qin Chu Yi. Zhan Qing Yi repeatedly reminded Ming He that Qin Chu Yi was still waiting for her. Mu Qian informed her that Qin Chu Yi was in grave danger.

All their actions aimed to convey to Ming He that she must not fall into darkness, for she still had Qin Chu Yi.

She never believed Ming He would succumb to darkness, hence she was even more determined to reveal the truth.

Unable to speak directly, she resorted to subtle hints.

Cultivators seek truth within, and Ming He comprehended this well.

Thus, those hopeful gazes were sincere.

Ming He recalled the hope in Shen Yue’s eyes when she glanced back.

She said, “I’m sorry.”

Not for betraying her and disclosing her location, but for initiating the grand scheme of being enemies to the world.

Ming He remained silent.

She had initially suspected a deliberate ploy by the Imperial Palace—a trap, a test, or a means to gain trust—but she had not anticipated it was due to the celestial laws.

The trial of the young leader.

Enemies to the world.

According to Fu Yao, the trial the celestial laws intended for her was far from over.

Yet, she had already passed the test.

Was it difficult? It did not seem so.

Ming He lowered her head, silent.

Fu Yao also watched her in silence.

What she did not reveal to Ming He was the cost she and the Imperial Palace bore to satisfy the celestial laws’ trial of being enemies to the world, without crushing the youthful spirit of the young.

The Born Sword Bone and the Clear Heart of the Sword were gifts from the Star Lock to Ming He.

But they were not bestowed by the celestial laws.

The celestial laws govern the Tianwu Continent; though they currently favor the human race, as long as the Tianwu Continent endures, they will persist.

Thus, if an alien race were to dominate, the celestial laws could align with that race.

Therefore, she must seize the opportunity to harness the power of the celestial laws to secure some advantages for her young leader.

Fu Yao smiled brightly, then coughed up blood, noticing Ming He’s intense gaze. “What if I fall into darkness?”

She paused, not confidently asserting, “You won’t,” but instead, a radiant smile emerged. “Lou Qing Shang is of the Shadow Clan.”

She saw no fault in this; among the myriad races, the human race was paramount in her heart.

Lou Qing Shang was indeed innocent, but her mother was not.

Thus, if Ming He fell into darkness, she would sacrifice her life, forsaking reincarnation, using her royal power to cleanse Ming He’s soul, then offer her Lou Qing Shang’s body, and nourish it with her essence blood to forge a new human form for Ming He.

Ming He felt disoriented, oblivious to other details, only sensing something within her dissipate like mist.

She certainly did not desire her second Senior Sister’s body; she merely wished to understand her significance to the Imperial Palace and the human race.

“Ming He, Yóu Lìng still awaits you.” Fu Yao’s lips bled once more, the pain nearly unbearable.

She glanced at the sky and softly told Ming He, “The Tianwu Continent has wronged her, and the human race has wronged her; she was once the fifth inheritor chosen by the celestial laws.”

“Even if she is no longer, killing her would still incur grave consequences.” The human race has burdened her greatly, hence they will not kill her.

But this time, she seems to be courting death herself!

Otherwise, how could the Envoy of the Black Wind Alliance truly remain oblivious?

She had believed the best outcome would be to seal the smuggling routes and annihilate a group of aliens and traitors.

She had not anticipated it would proceed so smoothly, so thoroughly.

Ming He stood motionless, hesitating to speak.

Fu Yao asked, puzzled, “Do you have any questions?”

“Yes.” Ming He’s voice was low, her heart racing with anxiety, “Does Senior Sister know about this scheme?”