C580 The Sword Prison

The silver mountain peak shimmered, its sword energy sternly warding off the Big Devil from the Boundless Land.

The master of the Bright Sect, Shen Feiqing, was but one of three figures Yan Qiling had surmised.

Undoubtedly, there were more secrets yet to be uncovered!

The master of this domain spoke with a seemingly gentle tone, instructing Yu Yuan to venture into the Sword Prison and liberate those confined within. His demeanor, however, brooked no refusal.

Yu Yuan's brow furrowed deeply as he gazed toward the Sword Prison, admitting, "I fear I lack the capability."

"Had you not the ability, you wouldn't have emerged in the Great Swamp," the owner, cloaked in a billowing white robe, chuckled. "Yu, I'll be frank with you. The moment Feiqing revealed the location of the Absence Relic here and you were identified as the bearer of the Divine Sword's soul, I had already set my plans in motion."

At these words, Yu Yuan's face turned pale. "Could it be... the request from the Demon Palace?"

"Your hunch is correct," the enigmatic owner confirmed.

Yu Yuan swiftly grasped that the Demon Palace's commission for Xu Zixi to visit the Desolate Swamp was indeed connected to this very master.

Such a revelation implied immense concealed power; only thus could one covertly sway the Demon Palace's decisions.

Even the Python Queen might be oblivious, simply executing her duties.

It was no surprise, then, that Tan Yuan had discerned his true identity and understood his heritage.

As Yu Yuan's arrival had been orchestrated by this master, upon standing before the mist and witnessing the suspended sedan chair, Tan Yuan must have grasped the full picture.

"If my presence here was orchestrated by someone from the Demon Palace, who then commanded Aunt Xu, could it be that the Silvermoon Queen's true form, held captive by the Demon Palace, is also involved?"

This thought weighed heavily on Yu Yuan, the realization that the mysterious power lurking within the Desolate Swamp was far more formidable than he had anticipated.

Chen Liangquan had shattered the Ghost Poisoning Array and, through bizarre means, rescued the empress's Yin God.

Likewise, this master might well possess the means to extract the Silvermoon Queen's true form from the Demon Palace's clutches, allowing the once formidable ruler of the Profound Sky Continent to reemerge in her full glory.

"Yu, resistance was never the right choice for you," the white robe rustled as its wearer drew nearer. "With the sword's sheath in your grasp and its soul within you, traversing the Sword Prison will be without peril. The ceaseless sword intent and brilliance, which keeps those unfortunate souls trapped, could offer you profound insights or be harnessed by the sheath, greatly aiding your quest."

His voice was laced with seduction as he gently coaxed Yu Yuan.

Yu Yuan stood atop the hillock, his heart and soul swaying with each word, as if drifting into a wondrous dream. Without realizing it, he found himself walking toward the hill's crest.

Yan Qiling's expression turned icy. "Isn't this a bit too underhanded?"

With a "Whoosh!" Yan Qiling unleashed a piercing whistle that cut straight through Yu Yuan's soul and jolted his consciousness.

Yu Yuan, advancing toward the hill, was suddenly struck by an intense pain in his head, snapping him out of his stupor. He fixed a sharp, cold stare on the white robe. "You tried to bewitch me with a Demonic Sound?"

"Just giving your confidence a little boost," replied the enigmatic figure in the white robe, chuckling, unfazed by Yu Yuan's ire. "Enter the Sword Prison, collect the sword intent and sword light within, and the seal will break, freeing those bound. I assure you, you'll leave the Great Swamp unscathed."

He paused before adding, "In the Fallen Moon Forbidden Area, you helped liberate numerous twisted souls and demons. You've done this before; why not do it again and bring relief to the unfortunate souls trapped in the Sword Prison?"

"You've already freed the likes of the Sky Shocking Emperor and the Green Incubus. Why not release all those who've suffered in the Boundless Land from the Sword Prison as well?"

"As for the Absence Relic incident, I'm willing to overlook it. Moreover, I earnestly hope you'll consider joining us and becoming an ally."

The master clearly held Yu Yuan in high regard.

After Yan Qiling shattered the Demonic Sound, he spoke these words with patience.

Yu Yuan was unswayed. "Kill or flay me as you wish, but I refuse to go to the Sword Prison!"

"Why would I kill you?" retorted the mysterious master, slightly vexed. "In my eyes, you're destined to be one of us! You may not grasp our actions now, but I'm confident you'll come to understand in time."

With that, the white robe soared across to the far side of the hill.

Whoosh!

Chen Qingyan, once imprisoned, seemed to be propelled by the white robe as she soared from the far side of the mountain, swiftly crossing the peak to the side visible to Yu Yuan.

Adorned in an elegant light green dress, Chen Qingyan appeared like a celestial being. Her brows were slightly knitted, her form ensnared by strands of golden lightning.

It had been a long while since their last encounter. Chen Qingyan, who had been at the early phase of the Penetrating Stage, had now advanced to its latter stages. She seemed to be on the cusp of condensing her Yin God.

Still youthful, with her extraordinary talent, the Sword Sect saw her as the most promising prospect of her generation.

Suspended in the air, wrapped in golden lightning, her eyes sparkled without a hint of fear. Instead, they were bright and animated as she greeted Yu Yuan with a smile tinged with surprise, "Were you deceived into coming to the Great Swamp?"

Observing Yu Yuan, now noticeably taller and more striking in appearance, she was awash with astonishment.

Back in the Jade Peak Mountain Range, despite his modest cultivation level, Yu Yuan exuded an air of mystery. He often regarded her with the kind of gaze one reserves for a junior, which she found both peculiar and intriguing.

Following the events in Chilly Wind Valley, upon her return to the Sword Sect, Yu Yuan would often cross her mind during her moments of respite from training.

Subsequently, she had deliberately sought out information about him within the sect. The more she learned, the more astounded she became, and her interest and concern for him deepened.

She was well aware of the pivotal role Yu Yuan played in the Absence Relic, followed by his exploits in the Ember Waters, the Crack Archipelago, and the "Plague Deity" title bestowed upon him by the Babel Chamber of Commerce...

Even she, radiant as she was, couldn't help but admire Yu Yuan's knack for stirring up excitement and his incredible fortune.

Without the backing of any major sect, he had ventured into perilous territories, not only surviving but also achieving breakthrough after breakthrough. He had secured the Evil Cauldron, the "Starry Behemoth's" Giant Beast Amber, reaping immense benefits.

Now, as she beheld him once more, the once-distant young master of Darkmoon City had ascended to the late period of the Profound Break Stage.

The robust Qi and blood emanating from his body, the fortitude of his physical form, and the extraordinary fluctuations of spiritual energy within the Yellow Court Little World left Chen Qingyan utterly astounded and filled with wonder.

"I truly wish there were no need for such measures."

In the midst of their silent exchange, before Yu Yuan and Chen Qingyan could even exchange greetings, the enigmatic master of the house let out a sigh of resignation.

With a crackling sound, strands of golden lightning, resembling diminutive serpents of spirit, sparked as they shot into Chen Qingyan's eyes, ears, and nostrils, racing towards her flesh, bones, and the very core of her soul.

Her face, a visage of unparalleled beauty, contorted in excruciating pain. She attempted to scream, but no sound escaped her lips.

"Master!" Tan Yuan cried out in alarm.

Shen Feiqing, Zhao Jie, and Du Jing all showed signs of distress.

Chen Qingyan's mentor was none other than the late-stage Great Sword Immortal of the Sword Sect, ranking even above Van Heqing. Known for fiercely protecting his own and exacting vengeance, his methods were infamously ruthless and merciless.

The very thought of him sent a shiver down the spines of even the audacious Shen Feiqing, Tan Yuan, and Zhao Jie.

Moreover, aside from the Great Sword Immortal, Chen Liangquan, who was aligned with them, had already sent a message urging leniency.

Chen Liangquan was one of their own, deeply trusted and esteemed by their host.

"Yu Yuan, if you refuse to enter the Sword Prison, she will perish before your very eyes," the master in the white robe stated with a detached tone. "I'm aware that Loong Tianxiao's fate is of little concern to you. Yet, from the moment you entered this place and heard her voice, your heart began to beat differently."

"I know you care about her, about her well-being, don't you?"

As he spoke, more golden lightning disappeared into Chen Qingyan's body.

After a prolonged silence, Yan Qiling finally spoke in a gentle whisper, "Yu Yuan, she truly is on the brink of death."

"I will go to the Sword Prison," Yu Yuan declared firmly.

"That's more like it," the master in the white robe said with a smile.

"She comes with me!" Yu Yuan insisted.

"If you can manage it, take her with you. I'll leave that to you," the master consented.

"Agreed!"