"Who goes there?"Cheng Yaojin bellowed sternly from the walls.
"Is this the Great Yi Dynasty? Is Emperor Yi present?"
The female cultivator looked directly at the city wall, her gaze falling upon Yi Tianxing, and asked aloud.
"It is. And who are you?"
Yi Tianxing replied, a glint of curiosity in his eyes.
He was certain—he had never seen this woman before. Yet, she was a pure sword cultivator, with considerable cultivation. He could sense that she had already forged her life-bound sword.
"Disciple of the Shushan Sword Sect, Li Qingping. I greet the Emperor."
She bowed respectfully. Her tone carried deference.
Among human cultivators, Yi Tianxing's name was legendary—a symbol, a spiritual pillar, a cornerstone of the human race. Unless one bore a grudge, none dared show disrespect.
"So, a disciple of Shushan. What brings you to White Crow City?"
Yi Tianxing nodded slightly.
The Shushan Sword Sect wasn't just any sect—it was one of the Seven-Star Sects, a realm-defying sacred land. Backed by Dao Platform Realm experts, their status was untouchable.
Within the sect, how many such experts existed was a guarded secret, even to its own members. But outside, none doubted its overwhelming strength. Should they ascend to Eight-Star status, it would be only natural.
A disciple from such a sect carried great prestige and considerable influence.
"It was Junior Sister Xuerou who asked me to seek you out, hoping you might help her."
Li Qingping said gravely.
"Xuerou?" Yi Tianxing frowned, and a figure flashed through his mind."Do you mean Chen Xuerou?"
"So the Emperor does remember her!"
Li Qingping's eyes lit up. She could tell from his tone—they truly knew each other.
"Indeed, it's Junior Sister Chen Xuerou. She once said she was acquainted with you, but many in the sect didn't believe her. It's great to know it's true! She's in danger now, and we ask for your help."
Her voice was filled with urgency and hope.
Yi Tianxing's expression shifted slightly.
Of course he remembered Chen Xuerou—they had met during the Great Calamity and gotten along quite well. They'd faced hardship together, and he'd long held fond memories of her.
But with the sudden merging of the myriad worlds, not just Zhao Ziyan and the others, but even Chen Xuerou had been swept away.
Some were abducted by powerful beings; others were scattered across Eternal World's realms. As a Heaven's Favored, her fortune ensured she'd eventually rise.
Joining a Seven-Star Sect like Shushan was no surprise.
She must have been treated as a Heaven-blessed genius, receiving rare resources, careful cultivation, and rising swiftly in power.
In fact, it was Chen Xuerou who had once gifted Yi Tianxing the Wordless Heavenly Tome. He had meant to return it to her, but the world's sudden upheaval had made that impossible.
Over the years, the tome had become immensely useful to him.
At times, he had even considered fusing it into the Hongmeng Heavenly Emperor Pagoda as an Open-Heaven artifact. But because it belonged to her, he never did.
He had never forgotten Chen Xuerou.
"What happened to her?"
Li Zhilin asked anxiously. He too remembered her well—one of the rare old acquaintances from before the Eternal World.
"When the God-Demon Battlefield opened, our sect sent young disciples to train. We hoped to kill Eternal Night devils and earn merit. But suddenly, we were ambushed by a group of white-robed women—all True Spirit Realm cultivators. We were outmatched and trapped in a valley, defending ourselves with a sword formation."
"I had been hunting a fierce beast and wasn't with them at the time, so I escaped. Then I remembered Junior Sister Xuerou once mentioned knowing you, so I came to ask for help."
Li Qingping explained quickly.
"Where is this valley? Lead the way."
Yi Tianxing made no hesitation.
With a wave of his hand, a magnificent war chariot appeared—a massive Nine-Dragon Chariot, pulled by nine ancient dragon progeny, each with terrifying might.
These were beasts on par with top-tier prodigies, yet now they were mere beasts of burden.
Yi Tianxing stepped onto the chariot and pulled Li Qingping aboard. He then turned back and said:
"I'll go ahead. Bring White Crow City and follow. Alert me if anything happens."
"Understood, Emperor."
Zhuge Liang nodded respectfully.
Roar!!
The nine dragon sons roared in unison, each with a different pitch, and charged into the sky.
A radiant streak of light shot through the void.
Their speed far surpassed even Li Qingping's earlier sword-flight technique.
"This way."Li Qingping pointed, guiding their course.
On the way, Yi Tianxing asked more about Chen Xuerou.
Li Qingping replied candidly:
"Emperor might not know this, but Junior Sister Xuerou didn't follow the path of the sword. Instead, she chose one of the Shushan Sect's rare techniques—a pure energy-cultivation path. She dislikes conflict and chose to practice the ancient scripture, the Ice Jade Immortal Sutra, which allows her to cultivate the Ice Jade Immortal Body."
🔹 Ice Jade Immortal Sutra – Ancient cultivation scripture that creates the Ice Jade Immortal Body. Grants:
Immunity to all poisons
Resistance to evil
"Ice-skin jade-bones" beauty and mystical power
"Her fate diagram is unique, called the Immortal Willow Purification Vase. It can condense Immortal Dew into healing rain, capable of reviving the critically wounded."
🔹 Immortal Willow Purification Vase (命图) – Can produce Immortal Dew, which has miraculous healing power, capable of regrowing flesh and bones, and reviving the dying.
"In the sect, she's called the 'Ice Jade Immortal.' She's loved by all."
Li Qingping's tone carried no jealousy—only admiration.
It made sense. Sword cultivators were fierce, but their recovery methods were lacking. After battle, they often needed long rest, and sword qi could damage their own bodies.
Someone like Chen Xuerou was invaluable.
Her compassion only made her more beloved.
And although she disliked battle, her actual strength was nothing to scoff at.
"These white-robed attackers—do you think they're from that rumored group that kidnaps female cultivators?"
Yi Tianxing asked.
"Not sure. But they were terrifying. No emotion in their eyes—only cold killing intent. Were it not for our sword formation, we'd be dead already."
"How much farther?"
"Right ahead."
Before they knew it, a massive valley came into view.
"That's the place, Emperor! Please, hurry! Junior Sister is inside!"
Li Qingping called out, her face full of urgency.
Yi Tianxing gave the valley a meaningful glance, then looked at Li Qingping again and said:
"So this is the place, is it?"
"Of course! I'm sure of it!"
She replied firmly.
"Good. Then why don't you lead the way?"
Yi Tianxing's words hadn't even faded when—he suddenly grabbed her arm, swung it around, and hurled her directly into the valley.
Without a shred of hesitation.
"Your Majesty! What are you doing? Are you mad!?"
Li Qingping screamed as she flew through the air, completely powerless to resist.
Her face was filled with shock and rage, her eyes brimming with disbelief.
She stared back at Yi Tianxing as if asking:
Why? Why did you throw me?!
Her expression couldn't have looked more innocent.