After a long conversation with Zi Yun True Immortal, Ling Chen bid farewell and returned to the Wuchen Courtyard.
Through Zi Yun True Immortal, Ling Chen also learned some of the facts about the dramatic changes that took place three months ago.
At that time, the Saint Witch Religion had indeed launched a surprise attack. A large number of Saint Witch Religion experts had suddenly assaulted the Divine Intent Sect in the middle of the night, leading to a bloody massacre.
If there hadn't been an inside collaborator, the Divine Intent Sect, renowned as the foremost sect in the Martial World, would never have had its mountain gates breached so silently, its heartland invaded, all without its knowledge.
It was under these circumstances that the Divine Intent Sect was caught off guard and suffered heavy losses.
The person currently rumored in the Jianghu to be the collaborator was Ling Chen's mother, Liu Xiling, the Saintess of the Saint Witch Religion. But this was obviously not the truth. Ling Chen suspected that Ye Nantian, after betraying the Sect, had then smeared his mother with this malicious slander.
His mother had formerly been the Saintess of the Saint Witch Religion. With such rumors spreading, most of the Righteous Path martial artists in the Martial World would undoubtedly believe them, and very few would suspect the true mastermind.
It's too difficult to learn the truth from Ye Nantian's mouth. Ling Chen frowned, realizing that despite his suspicions, he lacked the power to confront the suspected perpetrators.
Moreover, thinking about this now was looking too far ahead. He first needed to overcome his current crisis. It wasn't yet his turn to go looking for trouble with others; trouble would find him on its own.
He had gained much from today's battles. Next, he planned to digest his insights and gains to improve his Swordsmanship and Cultivation.
「Three days later.」
The news of Ling Chen's battle with Yun Tianhe quickly spread throughout the Divine Intent Sect, then rapidly throughout the Wind Country, and even the entire Five Kingdoms' Martial World.
Everyone had originally thought the fallen Ling Chen had re-emerged with extraordinary talent and strength, defeating Yun Tianhe, who was one of the Four Great Genius Disciples of the Divine Intent Sect in the past.
The news of Ling Chen being ambushed and his Cultivation completely ruined had only recently spread. Yet, in the blink of an eye, Ling Chen had achieved such a dramatic reversal. His name once again resounded throughout the world.
For a time, Ling Chen became a hot topic of enthusiastic discussion throughout the entire Divine Intent Sect and even various parts of the Wind Country.
At an inn in a town at the foot of Divine Intent Sect's mountain, two men and a woman were seated by a window. The leading figure was a haggard old man in his sixties, his eyes closed as if asleep. He wore a purple robe and had a white Jade Badge hanging from his waist.
A Purple-robed Elder, in the major sects, was a symbol of power; only those who had reached the Great Master level were qualified to wear a Purple Robe.
Next to the old man were a young man and woman. The man, in his mid-twenties, was handsome and suave, dressed in blue, with a Treasure Sword at his waist. His sharp aura was contained, but he still possessed the intimidating edge unique to a swordsman.
The last person was a sixteen or seventeen-year-old girl in plain clothes. Her attire was exceedingly simple and elegant, yet she seemed to drift like mist. Apart from her black hair, her entire complexion was snow-white. Her face was exceptionally beautiful, but her skin lacked any hint of blood, making her appear unnaturally pale.
Her ethereal, icy beauty was captivating, yet so intimidating that people dared not gaze upon her directly. Her expression was cold and indifferent, making it impossible to discern whether she was happy or sad, worried or joyful.
Such beauty was truly rare in the world.
"Junior Sister Ruo Yan, your little fiancé's achievements have been quite remarkable recently," the man in blue slouched in his seat, the very picture of nonchalance.
"Drawing too much attention at such a critical time isn't necessarily a good thing," the girl replied coldly. "He might just be playing with fire."
"I'm afraid he's already playing with fire. I don't know what heinous act he's committed to incur such wrath. Even Ye Nantian, the Sect Sword Leader, is willing to disregard his dignity and wants to kill him directly."
The man in blue straightened up, his gaze fixed on the girl's delicate face. "Junior Sister, did your father send you to the Divine Intent Sect with me to break off the engagement with this Ling Chen fellow?"
"If only it were as simple as breaking off an engagement." She sighed. "My father is adamant about not dissolving the marriage contract with Ling Chen. I initially thought his lost Cultivation would be an opportunity to break off the engagement, but then he defeated Yun Tianhe, who was just as famous as him. Now my father definitely won't agree."
"The Heavenly Void Palace Master is making this too difficult," grumbled the Swordsman in Blue. "You only met Ling Chen when you were children; you don't even know what he looks like now. What if he's grown into a big fatty? Are you still going to marry him?"
"I came with you this time: one, to watch your match with the Big Disciple of the Divine Intent Sect, and two, to assess that guy. Don't worry, I'll find his shortcomings and then find an excuse to annul the engagement.
"I, Xu Ruoyan, cannot simply marry a stranger; it must be someone who satisfies me."
A flash of brilliance passed through the young girl's beautiful eyes, and a radiant smile emerged on her face.
"Well said. As your Senior Brother, I support you."
The Swordsman in Blue finally smiled. "You are the jewel of our Sky Void Palace. With so many talented young men in the palace, surely they surpass this insignificant Ling Chen?
"Besides, the Divine Intent Sect is in decline now, and Supreme Sky Feather has also fallen. Your marriage to this Ling Chen no longer holds any meaning. Given his current status, he is not worthy of you at all. I believe the Heavenly Void Palace Master simply doesn't want to break the engagement made with Supreme Sky Feather, hence he disagrees with your request to annul it.
"People of status value their reputation, after all. I believe that after some time, when the Heavenly Void Palace Master thinks it through, he will definitely agree to your request."
"Let's hope so."
The young girl gave a slight nod and said no more.
Wuchen Courtyard.
Ling Chen wielded his Long Sword, moving like a White Dragon emerging from water. His strikes flowed one after another, sometimes fast, sometimes slow, truly resembling a real dragon—exhaling mist and clouds, its movements fluid and unpredictable.
ROAR!
Suddenly, a dragon's roar resounded, clear and loud. Ling Chen's Sword Light faintly took the form of a dragon as it rapidly slashed out.
Wherever it passed, a strong wind gusted, and leaves rustled, fluttering down.
Dragon Seeking Sword Technique - Fourth Style, Seeing Dragon in the Field!
These three days, Ling Chen's Cultivation had progressed very smoothly. His Cultivation reached the peak of the Seventh Realm, and his Swordsmanship had also made breakthroughs. It wasn't just this move, Seeing Dragon in the Field; his Thirteen God's Gate Swords and other Swordsmanship techniques had also improved.
If he could cultivate to the Martial Master Realm and achieve external True Qi emission, the power of this move would undoubtedly rise to another level. Even if he didn't reach the Martial Master Realm, if he could master the second transition of the Ling Tian Sword Scripture, he could also display the true essence of this sword strike.
However, either of these would take time, and not a short period at that.
However, the path of martial arts ultimately required progressing step by step; one could not solely pursue speed.
Previously, Ling Chen's Cultivation speed had already been astonishingly fast—progressing from nothing to the Warrior Seventh Level in just three months. In the eyes of ordinary people, this was undoubtedly incredible. Now, however, more than speed, he needed stability.
"Ling Chen, the Vice-Head orders you to the training field."
Just as Ling Chen was deep in thought, a Deacon Disciple suddenly entered the courtyard and reported to him.
The Vice-Head? Ling Chen couldn't help but feel puzzled. Why is Ye Nantian looking for me? Could he be plotting something?
"People from the Sky Void Palace are here: Sky Heart Swordsman Feng Piaoliu, and the daughter of the Heavenly Void Palace Master, Xu Ruoyan," the Deacon Disciple continued.
"Feng Piaoliu, Xu Ruoyan?"
Ling Chen had only heard of the former by reputation, but the latter's name stirred an inexplicable ripple in his heart.
The daughter of the Heavenly Void Palace Master, Xu Ruoyan... isn't she the fiancée he had only met once? What could be her purpose in coming to the Divine Intent Sect at this time?
Ling Chen shook his head and sheathed his Long Sword. It's pointless to overthink. I'll have to go and see for myself to find out.