novel against the - Chapter 2012

Chapter 2012 – “The Murmurs of the Shattered Soul” (Part 2)

Yun Che had already anticipated such a situation. When the attention and gazes of the crowd suddenly turned towards him, he didn’t show the slightest sign of panic. Instead, a hint of mockery appeared at the corner of his mouth. He said, “What’s this? After forcibly taking Long Jiang’s Linbone Spirit Orchid, are you planning to silence me too?”

“Hahaha, no, no,” Helian Jue hurriedly laughed and said, “Nephew Yun, the Qilin bone Spirit Orchid may not be of much use to outsiders, but for us in the Lin Yuan Realm, it’s a crucial supreme item for our future. Since it concerns the future of the entire Lin Yuan Realm, we have no choice but to do certain things. I hope Nephew Yun won’t mention this to outsiders.”

To Yun Che, Bai Lin, Pan Xuan, and Wan Ren were not only outsiders but also enemies to some extent. However, for Helian, it was entirely different. Witnessing Yun Che’s unimaginable strength and being convinced that everything he did was for Helian Lingzhu, Yun Che had become the thigh he must firmly grasp. Even though he was in the Divine Sovereign Realm, all he could think about was how to make Helian’s lineage soar with the help of Yun Che.

This was also the reason why Yun Che remained calm. The situation had reached this point, harsh words had been spoken, and the four major forces had no way to retreat. At this moment, the last thing they wanted was for their “alliance” to crumble. As long as Helian wasn’t willing, the other three forces couldn’t make a move.

Yun Che said nonchalantly, “I have no interest in the Linbone Spirit Orchid. But the weak being preyed upon by the strong is the most fundamental law of this world. In my eyes, it’s hardly worth mentioning.”

However, he added with a hint of respect, “But when it comes to Lingzhu’s father, I can say one more thing: whoever lives or dies among you doesn’t concern me. But if anything harms Lingzhu, I will definitely not do it. Even if it has nothing to do with Lingzhu, I wouldn’t stoop to such backbiting.”

At this point, he snorted lightly, “Furthermore, is it safe to assume that those who watched from the sidelines also conspired? In that case, can His Majesty rest assured?”

Although he mentioned “His Majesty” in his words, it was actually meant for the two sects to hear.

Hearing Yun Che directly mention “Lingzhu,” Helian Jue smiled lightly. This time, his smile was exceptionally relaxed, and his features stretched out with joy. He said, “Nephew Yun, I’ve long been aware of the relationship between you and my daughter Lingzhu. I’ve already considered you as half of the Helian family. There’s no doubt about it.”

He then shifted his gaze to Long Jiang and spoke sternly, “Long Jiang, quickly hand over the Linbone Spirit Orchid! We gave you a chance earlier, but now you’re left with only two options.”

“Hand it over obediently, and we’ll leave your corpse intact. If we have to take it by force, your death won’t be as pleasant!” With Helian’s loud roar, everyone’s attention shifted away from Yun Che and focused once again on Long Jiang.

“Brother Mo, in times of urgency, prioritize protecting the princess. We can make amends later,” Yun Che transmitted his voice to Mo Cangying.

Mo Cangying’s expression not only didn’t turn ugly but showed admiration. “I understand. Brother Yun, you’re truly remarkable, swiftly pacifying the two sects into an alliance. However, I am confident that someone with a strong sense of honor like you would never do anything harmful to Sister Lingzhu, even though this…”

Yun Che shook his head slightly, “Though despicable, this is the reality beneath the surface of human nature. Brother Mo, you are a person of strong principles. Take a lesson from Long Jiang’s situation.”

Mo Cangying remained silent for a long time.

“What a bunch of despicable people!”

Dragon Xuan’s aura condensed in her hands. Faced with the suppression of eleven half-step supreme powers, her once calm and cold demeanor had long vanished.

“Think you can kill me? You’re not even worthy!”

With this low and heavy remark, it carried the immense pressure of a dragon’s soul, causing the tyrants of the Lin Yuan Realm to feel their hearts sink.

Wan Wei sneered, “They say the pride of the Dragon Clan prevents them from bowing to any creature, even in death. In my eyes, such pride is nothing but foolishness.”

“Now that you know, there’s no need for more idle talk!” Ximen Borong’s eyes gleamed with killing intent. “Kill!”

As soon as the word “kill” was uttered, Ximen Borong immediately made his move.

Ximen Borong appeared calm and mild on ordinary days, but to be able to lead the Bailin Alliance to rise so rapidly in such a short time and nearly achieve the ambition of “establishing a new dynasty,” he was by no means a simple person.

His inherent decisiveness and ruthlessness were undoubtedly greater than anyone in the Lin Yuan Realm. The moment he acted, a terrifying aura erupted around him, like the collapse of a thousand mountains, violently pushing away even the Hall Masters standing beside him. His arm, shimmering with the profound light of rock and stone, directly slammed into Long Jiang’s chest.

Long Jiang raised her arm, and the pale shadow of a dragon claw appeared, directly countering the power of rock and stone from Ximen Borong.

Facing the full-force attack of a half-step supreme power, an eighth-level Divine Master didn’t evade or retreat but met it head-on, a move that seemed like seeking death.

Ximen Boping’s gaze suddenly condensed, and the power of rock and stone on his arm became even more oppressive, as if it would pierce through her body upon impact.

However, just as they were about to collide, Ximen Borong’s expression suddenly changed.

The dragon aura released by the nearly proximate pale dragon claw suddenly skyrocketed.

This was no longer the aura of an eighth-level Divine Master; it was…

A thunderous roar echoed, and in an instant, the sand and dust filled the air. With a short flight backward, Long Jiang narrowly avoided the collision.

As for Ximen Borong, she was sent tumbling through the air by the empty air, somersaulting more than a dozen times before barely stabilizing herself. By the time she stood up, the radiance of rock and stone on her arm had dissipated almost entirely. From her arm bone to her fingers, she felt excruciating pain, trembling for a long time.

“Half-step supreme power!” A chorus of shocked exclamations resounded amidst the sandstorm.

Yun Che was not surprised; she had indeed used a profound concealment artifact to forcibly suppress her profound energy.

In other words, this was a dragon that had reached the half-step supreme power realm with only half of her life’s cultivation…?

Yun Che couldn’t fully grasp the concept of this in the Abyssal Dragon Clan, but based on his knowledge inherited from the supreme realm, the terrifying talent of this dragon girl was simply spine-chilling!

Shui Meiyin, Huo Poyun, Jun Xilei… they were undoubtedly the most outstanding talents of their generation in the supreme realm. After three thousand years, they had only reached the late Divine Master stage.

But while everyone was momentarily stunned, Long Jiang’s body was already bursting with a violent storm as she flew straight towards the southwest.

As half-step supreme powers, the dragons had an advantage over the human race. However, Long Jiang wasn’t naive enough to think that she could contend with eleven half-step supreme powers, especially when there was still…

One peak Divine Master, Kuxian.

Escaping to the exit of the Lin supreme-ruler Realm was her only chance, her only choice!

But she had only managed to escape a thousand feet before her body suddenly sank, and her speed slowed significantly…

Despite her attempts to escape the suppression of the half-step supreme power realm, Long Jiang, even with her dragon physique, couldn’t easily break free. Three Panxuan elders converged on her, their powers intertwining and forming a powerful barrier around her.

Long Jiang turned around, and behind her, a colossal dragon shadow appeared, with the roaring dragon’s head carrying the wrath of heaven, releasing a world-shaking dragon’s roar.

“Roar———”

In an instant, everyone’s movements came to a sudden halt, their pupils losing color as they experienced bone-chilling fear deep in their souls. The three Panxuan elders, who had been near Long Jiang, even fell straight from the sky.

“Ah!” Mo Cangying was shaken off from mid-air, clutching his chest, trembling uncontrollably. He could vividly feel that his soul and internal organs had been shattered in an instant.

“…?” Yun Che suddenly froze.

This was the unique Dragon supreme-ruler Roar possessed only by the Dragon supreme-ruler lineage. It had the power to instantly subdue and shrink the souls of countless beings. The stronger and purer the Dragon supreme-ruler’s soul, the greater its might.

But why…

In a distant land to the west, the faces of the four major forces that were waiting in confusion all turned pale when they were shaken by this dragon’s roar, as if it came from beyond the heavens.

“What happened?” Each of them had terrified expressions, their souls uncontrollably trembling. But under the strict orders of their sect leaders, none dared to approach for confirmation.

The awe-inspiring might of the Dragon supreme-ruler’s soul was indeed unparalleled, but it still couldn’t buy Long Jiang enough time to escape.

As she had fled several dozen miles, the terrifying pressure once again converged and bore down on her. Maddened forces, accompanied by roars, approached her from behind.

On her left and right sides, the sands below were cut at a rapid pace, and with incredible speed, two figures surged forward from behind her. Along with the burst of sand, these two figures, carrying the fury of a sandstorm, charged towards her from the front.

The Sand-Traveling Art of the Wanren Sect!

Boom!

While she could contend with any one person head-on, she couldn’t possibly withstand the combined power of two. Under the tremendous strength of the two Wanren elders, Long Jiang was sent tumbling back, flying several miles in an instant. Behind her, Helian Jue and Wan Wei had long been ready, and they thunderously attacked her from the rear.

Long Jiang struggled to maintain her balance, but only a dragon shadow shielded her back.

Boom!

Dragon bones were incredibly sturdy, and even the combined efforts of a country lord and a sect master couldn’t produce the sound of broken bones. Long Jiang’s body soared through the air, twisting and turning, and her pale dragon claw, following the swift motion of her arm, expanded in an instant, reaching thousands of meters and crashing down from above.

The dragon claw covered the ground, forcefully sending Helian Jue, Wan Wei, and the two Wanren elders crashing into the quicksand below.

However, at the same moment she attacked, Ximen Borong and Zhai Kexie had also charged in. Their bodies, filled with the power of rock and stone, were like falling meteors, crashing heavily onto Long Jiang.

Boom! Boom!

Long Jiang was blasted several miles away in an instant. On the gray-white hood covering her head, crimson bloodstains rapidly spread.

Mo Cangying finally regained his senses. Suppressing the lingering fear that had yet to dissipate, he stood up. As he lifted his head, he saw Yun Che floating in place, staring fixedly in one direction, his eyes clearly in a dazed state.

He quickly flew over to Yun Che’s side and asked, “Brother Yun, are you okay?”

“…,” Yun Che remained unresponsive.

“Brother Yun?” Mo Cangying reached out and waved his hand in front of Yun Che’s eyes.

“…,” Yun Che’s gaze finally returned, and he forced a smile. “I’m fine. I guess I was just a bit disoriented by that dragon’s roar. What happened?”

Mo Cangying said, “That dragon’s roar was indeed terrifying. I never expected that the Dragon supreme-ruler’s soul could be so intimidating. It reminded me of…”

Yun Che’s expression suddenly changed as he looked in the direction of Long Jiang. “Could it be that she’s not a Chi Long but…”

Boom!

Another earth-shattering explosion echoed, and everyone’s attention was drawn back to the battlefield.

In the distant sky, a deafening roar shook the eardrums almost to the point of shattering. The full force of seven half-step Divine Masters’ annihilating power was unleashed, converging in front of Long Jiang.

After the earth-shattering explosion, a mournful dragon’s roar followed.

The pale dragon shadow before Long Jiang completely shattered, breaking through her final protective dragon energy. A cluster of blood mist that couldn’t be stopped by even the thickest hood burst out wildly. Long Jiang’s body, like withered leaves in a sandstorm, flew far away and fell onto the now-stabilized quicksand.

If it were only one opponent, she could have won; with three, she had a good chance of escaping unharmed. With five, she might have been able to hold out until Lin Shen arrived… But this was eleven people.

Her grey-white wide robe cracked open, revealing the pure white silk garment underneath. A gust of wind swept by, causing the hood that had completely concealed her head to suddenly shatter. Her long hair scattered, revealing the true face she had been desperately hiding.

Gasps and exclamations erupted, and even Helian Kuai, who was slowly approaching in the front, was taken aback and took a step back.

It was a face so terrifying that anyone who looked at it would have nightmares.

Her neck and skin were as white as snow, pure and lustrous like jade. But on this snowy skin, there were two terrifying marks.

The marks were pitch black in color, one stretching from her forehead to her right jaw, and the other from her left jaw to her right eyebrow. Both marks were about an inch wide and had twisted shapes, resembling two intertwining black centipedes.

Against the overly white and luminous skin, these two horrifying marks stood out even more.

She slowly raised her head, and the naturally parted long hair allowed these two frightening marks to be fully visible in the sight of everyone.

Trickles of blood flowed from the corner of her lips, forming pools in the dry sand below.

Yun Che, who could only see her profile from his direction, was still able to see these horrifying marks, and his brow furrowed deeply.

Ordinary injuries could easily be healed by the resilience of a dragon’s body and the power of half-step Divine Masters. However, it was apparent that this was the result of the erosion from the Abyss Dust and couldn’t be remedied.

“Hmph, no wonder she wrapped herself so tightly,” Helian Kuai sneered as he took several steps forward. Obviously, he felt embarrassed by his previous retreat.

“This is the first time I’ve seen someone whose facial features were eroded first instead of their body,” Wan Wei commented with curiosity.

“She’s not a Chi Dragon!” Suddenly, Ximen Borong spoke up. “She’s a Primordial Dragon!”

The terrifying dragon’s roar had already given everyone a sense of foreboding, but now, with Ximen Borong’s words, their expressions darkened even more.

Chi Dragons and Primordial Dragons were both part of the dragon race, but there was an immense difference between them.

Primordial Dragons… they were the supreme dragons who inherited the bloodline of the Dragon supreme-ruler! They were the pinnacle of the dragon race, and they were the only race outside of the Six Divine Nations that had the qualifications to participate in the Conferred supreme-ruler Battle!

The strength of Primordial Dragons was known throughout the Abyss. However, their vulnerability was equally well-known—the difficulty they faced in reproducing.

This led to the Primordial Dragon lineage being extremely rare. It was said that there were currently less than ten Primordial Dragons in existence.

Naturally, this meant that the death of any Primordial Dragon would cause a massive shock not only to the Primordial Dragon lineage but also to the entire dragon race.

It was an entirely different concept from the death of a Chi Dragon.

“Heh…” Long Jiang slowly stood up, and her long hair, which had fallen down, partially covered her horrifying cheeks. “Now that you know I’m a Primordial Dragon… if you dare to touch me, the entire Lin Yuan Realm will accompany me in death!”

She was showing weakness with these words, but there was no way to shake the resolve of these cunning old foxes, who were driven by greed.

Because at this point, no matter who the opponent was, she had to be killed.

If they released her, her revenge afterward would be world-shaking.

If they killed her, they could blame the Sandstorm Rock and Abyss Knights as “gifts from the Abyssal Emperor.” Even if the disaster spread to the Lin Yuan Realm, they might still escape unscathed.

What they were dealing with was not just any opponent, but a Primordial Dragon. The term “half-step Divine Master” might suggest a certain level of power, but in reality, it was essentially the pinnacle of Divine Masters. However, many profound experts would never reach this level, and they would forever be confined to the realm of Divine Masters. Therefore, this quasi-tier served as a consolation for those who had reached the pinnacle of Divine Masters but couldn’t quite break through to the half-step Divine Master realm. It gave them the illusion of touching the realm of “Divine Destruction” as they shouted “half-step Divine Master.”

The existence of this realm was undoubtedly a testament to the great desire of Divine Masters for the half-step Divine Master realm.

However, such desires couldn’t deter the Primordial Dragon, especially when her name contained the words “Dragon supreme-ruler”

“Back off? Hehe, it seems you still don’t understand the situation,” Ximen Borong chuckled. But before he could finish his laughter, he launched an attack.

Clang!

A brilliant defense formed, radiating intense profound light in front of Long Jiang. However, it could only repel Ximen Borong’s power but not completely nullify it.

As Ximen Borong made his move, the Chief of the Bai Lin Hall, who had been following closely, also attacked. A massive stone pillar struck Long Jiang’s left arm directly.

Long Jiang’s protective profound energy was already weak, and under this attack, her left arm bent and the sound of dragon bones shattering was like thunder.

From behind, Bai Lin Sect’s Bai Liang Hall Leader and three others had also arrived. Even though Long Jiang was obviously severely injured, they still unleashed their full strength, leaving nothing in reserve. Wherever their power touched, they crushed the sand sea beneath, spanning dozens of meters.

Long Jiang barely managed to raise her right arm, and with a roar, her dragon shadow displayed a resolute and tragic scene.

Boom!

The flow of sand in the desert dozens of kilometers behind Long Jiang was instantly cleared, revealing a terrifying void. Her body could only withstand a brief moment before being carried away by the shattered dragon shadow.

The disciples of the Wan Ren Sect immediately followed suit, and three stone pillars pursued closely behind. They solidified into three giant stone spears, piercing through Long Jiang’s body ruthlessly, passing through her back, and lifting a cloud of bloody mist.

“Ah!”

Despite the relentless onslaught, Long Jiang’s will remained unbroken. She glared at the old foxes with a deep sense of hatred, and her bloodied face twisted in agony.

Suddenly, Yun Che’s body trembled, and he clutched his chest tightly.

“Brother Yun, what’s wrong?” Mo Cangying asked, concerned.

Yun Che remained silent, his hand still pressed firmly against his chest. What could be causing this sudden and inexplicable pain?

His heart felt as if it were being ruthlessly stabbed by something.

Meanwhile, Long Jiang fell once again into the sea of sand. She struggled to stand, but this time, she could only manage to prop herself up with one arm before falling back down.

Her once pristine grey robe and the white silk beneath were now stained a shocking crimson by the dragon’s blood.

Ximen Borong, Wan Wei, Zhai Kexie, and Helian closed in slowly this time, but none of them were eager to strike the final blow. Long Jiang’s injuries were severe, and even though she was a Primordial Dragon, there was no hope of her escaping now.

When the prey was already in their grasp, it was only natural for the hunters to start becoming more composed. They didn’t want to be the ones to deliver the final, fatal blow.

“Leader Ximen,” Zhai Kexie said, “since Long Jiang was brought here by your Bai Lin Sect, it should be your responsibility to deal with her.”

“Exactly!” Wan Wei added with a deep voice. “If it weren’t for your Bai Lin Sect bringing her here, the Dragon Bone Spirit Orchid would already be in our hands. There’s no need for this much trouble!”

“Heh, isn’t it a bit late to say that now?” Ximen Borong sneered. “Who should take care of Long Jiang is quite simple. It should be the one who did the least earlier.”

Hearing this, Helian Jue hesitated. He was about to argue, but the glares from Wan Wei and Zhai Kexie made him swallow his words.

“It is indeed as you say,” Wan Wei said. “Your Helian family only had one person contributing earlier. The final blow should naturally be yours.”

With the pressure from the others, Helian Jue had no choice but to step forward. He looked at Long Jiang, who was lying in the sand, her body mangled and bloody. She was in no condition to resist any longer.

Without hesitation, Helian Jue raised his hand, gathering profound energy. His attack was meant to end Long Jiang’s life and retrieve the Dragon Bone Spirit Orchid. It was a cruel end to a fierce battle that had raged across the desert.

Just as Helian Jue was about to strike, something unexpected happened. Yun Che, who had been silent all this time, suddenly cried out in agony. His body convulsed, and he collapsed to the ground, clutching his chest.

Everyone turned their attention to Yun Che, their faces filled with shock and concern. The sudden turn of events had taken them all by surprise, and the focus of the situation shifted away from Long Jiang for the moment.

Naturally, it should be entrusted to all of you.
“Indeed, that’s the fairest way,” Zhai Kexie agreed without hesitation. “Helian Jue, the glory of obtaining the Qilin bone spirit orchid is yours.”

The three parties instantly formed a united front. Helian Jue had no choice but to yield. He gritted his teeth and, instead of taking action, he turned and commanded, “Ku Xian, kill her!”

As both sects and the alliance pressured Helian Jue simultaneously, Ku Xian knew this moment would come. Without any surprise or emotion, he calmly responded, “I shall obey the Lord’s command.”

Mo Cangying turned away, sighing heavily. “It’s tough on the Master… I hope this won’t lead to any trouble.”

“…,” Yun Che remained silent.

His heart continued to ache, and an inexplicable restlessness festered deep within his soul. No matter how hard he tried to calm himself, it wouldn’t go away.

What’s going on…

What’s really going on?

Ku Xian instantly appeared in front of Long Jiang. Her gray robe was stained crimson, as was the vast expanse of sand beneath her.

Ku Xian averted his cloudy old eyes, unable to look directly at her. He softly chanted, “The Lord’s orders cannot be violated; you shouldn’t have come here.”

Long Jiang slowly raised her head…

Ku Xian thought she had something to say, so he didn’t lower his raised hand, giving her a chance to speak. However, he heard her mutter dreamily:

“Chaotic clouds, scattered winds, brushing past the bright smoke.”

Ku Xian: “??”

“…!!” Yun Che suddenly looked up, and within his Sea of Souls, it felt like a thousand thunderbolts were exploding.

[The Ancestral Dragon is the Abyss that bears the bloodline of the Dragon supreme-ruler However, the term “Dragon supreme-ruler” is an exclusive supreme name from the era of the supreme-rulers. In later generations, no dragon dared to misuse the title “Dragon supreme-ruler” In a previous passage, Yun Che had complained about how the Dragon supreme-ruler Realm dared to name themselves and identify as “Dragon supreme-rulers,” whereas the Abyssal Dragon Clan would never be so disrespectful.]