After listening to Helian Lingzhu's account, Helian Jue fell silent for a long while, "Someone like this actually appeared in this remote, impoverished place."
He could not fathom the implications of Yun Wuji's sudden arrival in the Qilin Abyss Realm. A man with the appearance and strength of someone far above this lowly domain, the only thing truly worthy of his attention seemed to be the last Qilin.
The sudden appearance of this man was so suspicious that Helian Jue could not even entertain the idea of currying favor with him to improve the situation of his Dynasty. This was his nature. He did not take risks and was content to guard his throne until his death.
"I am speaking the truth, Royal Father," Helian Lingzhu said, "Ninth Senior Brother can testify to this. He was there as well."
She did not want her father's usual short-sightedness to affect their relationship with Yun Wuji.
"Your Majesty, that man was extremely powerful. He was far stronger than anyone I have ever seen in my life," Mo Cangying said, careful not to look at Helian Lingzhu, so as not to catch her infatuated expressions.
"A Half-God," Helian Jue muttered in a low voice, though he was not very surprised by Helian Lingzhu. He had already guessed as much.
"Your Majesty, he was not only a Half-God," Mo Beichen spoke at that moment. "That man's aura was countless times stronger than Lord Guardian Ancestor."
"...Are you sure?" Helian Jue abruptly stood from his throne. The composure he had barely maintained shattered. The only guarantee for his life had been the protection of his Ancestor. Now, realizing that this strange man might be even stronger, panic began to rise within him.
...
Yun Wuji opened his eyes, and a small lump of abyssal dust slowly rose from his body. Standing upright, he muttered with a smile, "Interesting indeed."
Comprehending the power of extinction proved slightly more difficult than he had anticipated, which delighted him. There was finally something to entertain him. According to his initial estimation, it would take him twenty percent more time to achieve his goal.
He could afford that. Time was not an issue for him. He still had hundreds of years before any serious calamity struck in the Abyss. More importantly, he still possessed the Eternal Heaven Pearl, which contained enough energy to last for a long time and was continuously recovering even more.
The energies in this world were far higher than those of the Primal Chaos, making the recovery of the Eternal Heaven Pearl in the Abyss countless times faster than it had been there.
"Come in." Removing the barrier around his room, Yun Wuji used a wisp of his profound energy to open the door. Behind it stood three people.
Helian Lingzhu, Helian Jue, and Mo Beichen.
"Sorry for bothering you, supreme one," Helian Jue said the moment they stepped inside, immediately bowing in a perfect ninety-degree angle. "This little king was not able to welcome you from afar. I hope that the supreme one can forgive my sins."
"You have saved this little king's daughter. This is our Dynasty's blessing. This little king is willing to do anything to show his endless gratitude."
He was the Emperor of this Empire, yet he had come personally to greet Yun Wuji. He already believed he was showing his utmost sincerity by doing so. However, upon seeing Yun Wuji in person and sensing the calm yet terrifying aura radiating from him, his courage evaporated, and his demeanor became dozens of times more servile.
Helian Jue was certain that Mo Beichen's words were not wrong. This man was indeed many times more powerful than his Guardian Ancestor.
Yun Wuji was used to people crawling at his feet, either out of fear or to curry favor. With just one glance, he knew this man fell into the latter category. He did not feel disdain or disgust at such behavior. This was a cruel world where the strong literally fed on the strong, and dignity and pride had no place.
Normally, Yun Wuji would not feel the slightest repulsion at someone like this, but after reading about him in the novel, he found himself especially disgusted by this man.
He spoke dismissively, "You do not have to. I only agreed to come here because I had no other place in mind. Even if you were to give me your entire empire's treasury, it would not be enough for me to even bother taking it."
"I do not like to be disturbed. During my stay here, do not come bothering me," he added, not giving the pathetic emperor a chance to respond.
Helian Jue's heart sank, a wave of disappointment washing over him. At the same time, he felt that Yun Wuji's attitude was natural. To people of his caliber, it was normal to look down on a little empire, just as he looked down on the remote corners of the Qilin Abyss Realm.
"This little king will not bother you again. If you need anything, please inform me. I will do everything in my power to fulfill it," he said, bowing once more as he walked out of the room, still bent in respect.
"She can stay. I will tell her if I need anything," Yun Wuji said, pointing at Helian Lingzhu.
Compared to her father, Yun Wuji was far more interested in her. After all, he had not saved her earlier just out of the goodness of his heart.
"Yes, senior!" Before her father could respond, Helian Lingzhu's face brightened.
...
A dark haze was covering the Boulder Profound Sect. In the main hall, everyone was silently staring at the dark-faced Sect Master, Zhai Kexie.
Zhai Kexie was the second strongest person in the Qilin Abyss Realm, after Mo Beichen, aside from the hidden Ancestors. He had the reputation of being talented and wise and took great pride in his son, Zhai Liancheng, who was the most gifted among the younger generation. But a few days ago, this beloved son had been killed.
The most frustrating and heart-wrenching part was that even after discovering who had killed his son, he could do nothing about it.
Because the enemy was far too strong.
This was the fourth time they had gathered to discuss how to deal with Yun Wuji. According to spies they had within the Helian Dynasty, he was mostly staying in his palace, cultivating.
Of course, they were not planning to take revenge on him. That would be an extremely foolish notion. What they were discussing was how to handle him in order to resolve their enmity. After all, if he were ever to suddenly descend upon them, nothing could stop him from razing their sect to the ground.
"Sect Master, the information says that he has only been allowing that lass Helian Lingzhu to stay close to him. From this, it can be seen that he is very interested in the fairer sex. How about we send him some women?" One of the elders spoke cautiously. "It would be better if we sent the young miss."
"...Send Yue'er to him?" Zhai Kexie glanced at the elder who had suggested the idea. He was not against sacrificing his daughter to preserve his sect and gain the potential support of a powerful figure like Yun Wuji. Heck, if he could, he would not mind sacrificing ten thousand daughters.
He was hesitant, however. If his daughter could be worthy of his interest, what if sending her caused that man to perceive it as them looking down on him?
BOOM!
Suddenly, just as they were discussing, three powerful auras enveloped the entire sect grounds. Each aura was vast and boundless, pressing down on everyone like a mountain of immense weight.
...
"As expected of me, I guess?" Yun Wuji suddenly opened his eyes and let out a light chuckle.
He had been curious about why the thread of fate had guided him to save Helian Lingzhu, so he had used his free time to deduce the reason. Just now, he had found it.
It turned out that if he stayed here, trouble would come find him very soon. After defeating them, more troubles would follow, and as he crushed them, his reputation would spread. At some point, women drawn to his power would come looking for him.
It seemed that one of them was the Sword Immortal Hua Qingying.
Yun Wuji was amused by it. It seemed that no matter which world he was in, he was fated to have women seeking him out.
"Senior Yun Wuji!" Helian Lingzhu greeted him quickly as he walked out of the room, stretching his back.
"Don't call me senior. It makes me sound very old," Yun Wuji said casually, glancing at her. He was only a little over three hundred years old, and this woman was probably older than him. "It's boring staying cooped up in a room the whole time. Follow me, let's go for a walk."
Helian Lingzhu followed behind him, her eyes fixed on his back. She opened her mouth to speak, but closed it again, unable to find anything to say.
"It seems that despite your Helian Dynasty being the only empire in this realm, you guys are very weak," Yun Wuji suddenly took the initiative to speak. "Otherwise, you as the princess wouldn't have faced that situation earlier."
"Yes," Helian Lingzhu said, lowering her voice dispiritedly. "But we weren't always like this. In the past, we used to be the absolute rulers of this realm. No one dared to look down on us."
"All forces decline after reaching their peak. That is the natural order," Yun Wuji replied casually, glancing around. He did not forget to add, "Of course, there are exceptions, like me."
"Senior..." Helian Lingzhu did not know what to say.
"Call me Yun Wuji," Yun Wuji interrupted. "Do you want to become stronger?"
"Y-Yun Wuji..." Helian Lingzhu muttered his name slowly, blushing, before answering his question. "Yes! I do! I want to become stronger!"
Yun Wuji suddenly said, raising his head and looking in a certain direction. "It seems the troubles I have been waiting for have come. We will continue this talk later."
"???" Helian Lingzhu followed his gaze in confusion.
BOOM!
A few moments later, three oppressively powerful auras enveloped the entire capital city, suffocating everyone.
"Yun Wuji, came out!" A cold voice rang from above, reverberating across the city.
'It's show time, I guess?' Yun Wuji took off into the sky and stopped before three stern-looking men. "Are you looking for me?"
The three men wore shining silver armor with the symbol of the Pure Land on their chests. One of them frowned as he stared at Yun Wuji. "Are you Yun Wuji?"
...
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