Chapter 6288 - 6290
The
next morning, Kai woke up refreshed, while Chen Wanqing was still lying in bed, too weak to move.
Kai, leading Long Zhan and twenty elite warriors from the Heavenly Dragon lineage, set off for the Demon Realm.
Yun Xi, Yun Yao, Ming Li, and Liu Qianqian all wanted to go with him, but Kai refused.
“I’m enough on my own,” he said calmly, yet with an undeniable confidence. “You stay in Yunxian City and guard the home.”
Yun Xi was somewhat unwilling, but she knew Kai was telling the truth.
With Kai’s current strength, there weren’t many people in the Fourteenth Heaven who could stop him.
“Then be careful,” Yun Xi cautioned.
“Okay.”
Kai, along with Long Zhan and the others, transformed into streaks of light and disappeared into the horizon.
Jiang Xuelan stood on the city wall, watching their departing figures, her brows slightly furrowed.
She had wanted to go with them, but Kai hadn’t allowed it.
Jiang Xuelan turned and walked down the city wall.
Yunxi stood on the city wall, watching Jiang Xuelan’s retreating figure, and suddenly asked, “Do you like Kai?”
Jiang Xuelan paused, but didn’t turn around.
“Whether I like him or not, does it matter?”
Yunxi was taken aback.
Jiang Xuelan’s voice was very soft, as if she were talking to herself: “I’ve lived for tens of thousands of years, I’m long past the age of romance. My mission is to rebuild the Ice God lineage, everything else… is unimportant.”
She continued walking forward, disappearing around the corner of the city wall.
Yunxi stood there, watching that aloof figure, a strange emotion welling up inside her.
That woman was far more lonely than she had imagined.
The Demon Realm was thirty thousand miles north of Yunxian City, a desolate land shrouded in black mist.
The sky here was always gray, the sun obscured by thick clouds, with only a few pale rays occasionally piercing through the gaps.
The ground was barren, with only charred rocks and cracked earth.
The air was filled with a stench of sulfur and decay, making one want to vomit.
After entering the Demon Realm, Kai and his group slowed down noticeably.
Not because of any resistance, but because of the eerie silence.
An unnatural silence.
“Mr. Chen, something’s wrong,”
Long Zhan whispered. “There are usually many low-level demons wandering the outer edges of the Demon Realm, but we haven’t seen a single one after walking for so long today.”
Kai nodded .
He sensed it too.
This Demon Realm seemed to have been emptied out by something.
“Keep going,” he said calmly. “Whatever tricks they’re playing, we’ll settle this today.”
The group continued deeper into the area.
After walking for about another hour, a huge valley appeared ahead.
Towering black cliffs lined both sides of the valley, and a wide passage ran through the valley floor. At the end of the passage, a massive stone gate could be vaguely seen.
The stone gate was carved with ferocious dragon reliefs, its two enormous eyes inlaid with blood-red gems, emitting a faint red glow in the darkness.
“That’s the lair of the Demon Dragon lineage, Dragon Abyss Valley.” Long Zhan’s voice was a little tight. “Dragon Abyss is named after this valley.”
Kai looked at the stone gate and suddenly smiled.
“Dragon Abyss Valley? The name is not bad. Unfortunately, after today, this place will be renamed.”
He took the lead and walked towards the valley.
Long Zhan and twenty elites from the Heavenly Dragon lineage followed closely behind.
The group had just stepped into the valley when a rumbling sound suddenly came from behind them.
Countless boulders rolled down from the mountain walls on both sides, completely blocking their retreat.
At the same time, at the end of the valley passage, countless pairs of blood-red eyes lit up.
One after another, demon dragons emerged from the darkness.
They varied in size, the largest being a hundred feet long, and the smallest still several tens of feet long.
Their bodies were covered with jet-black scales, and dark red light flowed from the gaps in the scales, like magma from the ground. They spewed black smoke from their mouths, their eyes filled with bloodthirsty ferocity.
Leading them was the largest demon dragon.
Its body was a full two hundred feet long, and its horns were twice as thick as those of other demonic dragons. The demonic energy surrounding it was so dense that it almost solidified.
The moment it saw Long Zhan, a complex emotion flashed in its eyes.
“Long Zhan, long time no see.”
Its voice was low and hoarse, with a metallic quality.
Long Zhan looked at it, his eyes filled with hatred: “Long Yuan.”
Long Yuan’s gaze shifted from Long Zhan to Kai.
A hint of apprehension flashed in Long Yuan’s eyes.
He had witnessed Kai’s power; his combat strength was enough to instantly kill a second-grade True Immortal cultivator.
Such strength was beyond his ability to deal with.
Moreover, it seemed that Kai’s cultivation had increased again; even a third-grade True Immortal cultivator might not be a match for him.
” Kai, I know you are very capable,”
Long Yuan’s voice was low, “but this is the Demon Realm, my territory. No matter how strong you are alone, can you defeat my thousands of demonic dragons?”
The demonic dragons behind it simultaneously let out a low roar, the sound waves shaking the valley.
Kai glanced around at the densely packed demonic dragons, a slight smile playing on his lips.
“A thousand? Quite a few. But…”
He raised his hand, purple chaotic power gathering in his palm.
“For me, quantity is meaningless.”
The moment he finished speaking, he moved.
A purple sword beam, like lightning, ripped through the darkness of the valley.
With the first strike, the ten demonic dragons at the forefront were struck and torn to shreds like paper.
With the second strike, demonic dragons attempting to ambush from the mountainside were cleaved in two, black blood cascading down like a torrential rain.
With the third strike, Kai transformed into a purple streak of light, plunging into the horde of dragons.
His speed was too fast for the naked eye to follow.
Wherever the sword light passed, demonic dragons fell in droves, like wheat being harvested.
One sword, ten dragons.
Ten swords, a hundred dragons.
In just a few breaths, nearly half of the thousand demonic dragons were slain.
The remaining dragons finally collapsed.
They roared in terror and scattered, fleeing desperately into the depths of the valley.
Kai didn’t pursue.
He sheathed his sword and turned to look at Long Yuan.
Long Yuan’s face had turned deathly pale.
It knew Kai was strong, but it hadn’t expected him to be this strong.
Thousands of demonic dragons hadn’t even lasted an incense stick’s time before Kai.
This kind of strength was beyond its ability to contend with.
“Long Yuan,” Kai’s voice was calm, “I’ll give you a chance. Kneel down, and I might spare your life.”
Long Yuan’s body trembled slightly.
It looked at Kai, then at Long Zhan, a struggle flashing in its eyes.
Then…
it slowly knelt down.
The massive dragon body lay prostrate on the ground, its head bowed, its voice hoarse: “I… surrender.”
Long Zhan watched this scene, a complex emotion welling up inside him.
He hated Long Yuan.
He had hated him for countless years.
But when Long Yuan actually knelt before him, he found that he didn’t feel the satisfaction he had imagined.
“Long Zhan…” Long Yuan’s voice was low, “I know you hate me. But I was forced to side with the Demon Clan.”
Long Zhan’s expression changed: “Forced?”
“Do you think I wanted to be a lackey of the Demon Clan?”
Long Yuan’s voice carried a hint of bitterness, “Back then, the Heavenly Dragon lineage was suppressed by the God Clan and was on the verge of extinction. If I hadn’t side with the Demon Clan, the Heavenly Dragon lineage would have been wiped out long ago. At least… at least after sidelining with the Demon Clan, the bloodline of the Heavenly Dragon lineage could continue.”
Long Zhan’s fists clenched so tightly they cracked.
“You still have the nerve to say that? After you sidelined with the Demon Clan, how many members of the Heavenly Dragon lineage did you kill?”
Long Yuan was silent for a moment.
“I killed those who refused to submit. If I hadn’t killed them, the Demon Clan would have wiped out our entire clan. I had no choice.”
A trace of pain flashed in Long Zhan’s eyes.
He knew that what Long Yuan said made some sense.
Back then, the Heavenly Dragon lineage had indeed reached a dead end.
Suppressed by the God Clan, if they hadn’t found a backer, the Heavenly Dragon lineage might have truly been wiped out.
But that doesn’t mean what Long Yuan did was right.
“Mr. Chen,” Long Zhan turned to Kai, “I want… to handle this myself.”
Kai glanced at him and nodded.
“This is a family matter of your Heavenly Dragon lineage; you decide for yourself.”
Long Zhan walked up to Long Yuan and remained silent for a long time.
Then, he spoke.
“Long Yuan, I won’t kill you.”
Long Yuan looked up, his eyes full of surprise.
“But you must take us somewhere.”
“Where?”
“The lair of that demonic cultivator behind you.”
Long Yuan’s body stiffened.
“That demonic cultivator… has already run away.”
His voice was low. “Three days ago, he suddenly disappeared. Before leaving, he took all his belongings, leaving nothing behind.”
Kai frowned: “Ran away?”
“Yes.”
Long Yuan nodded. “He left in a hurry, as if he was frightened by something. I asked him why, but he wouldn’t say. I guess it’s because of Ning Zhi’s departure.”
“Ning Zhi left several days ago and hasn’t returned since.”
Even Ning Zhi couldn’t defeat Kai; how could that demonic cultivator dare to remain in the Demon Realm?
“Take me to see,” Kai said.
Long Yuan led the group through the valley to a grand hall deep within the Demon Realm.
The hall was quite large, but it was now deserted. The doors were wide open, and the interior was a mess, clearly hastily emptied.
Kai entered the hall and looked around.
A faint trace of demonic energy remained in the air, but it was so faint as to be almost imperceptible.
He walked to the deepest part of the hall, looked at the empty space, and suddenly laughed.
“You ran fast.”
He raised his hand, and purple chaotic power condensed in his palm, transforming into a ball of purple flame.
The flame landed on the floor of the hall, instantly spreading and engulfing the entire hall.
The purple firelight illuminated the gray sky of the Demon Realm, dispelling the surrounding darkness completely.
Kai turned and walked out of the hall without looking back.
“Let’s go. Home.”
Long Zhan glanced at the burning hall, then at Long Yuan kneeling on the ground, and remained silent for a moment.
“Long Yuan, I won’t kill you. But from this day forward, you and your people are forbidden from ever setting foot on the territory of the Heavenly Dragon Clan again. Otherwise…”
He didn’t finish his sentence, but the meaning was clear.
Long Yuan lowered his head: “I understand.”
Long Zhan turned and followed Kai away.
Behind them, the purple flames were still burning, reducing the once invincible palace to ruins.
On the way back to Yunxian City, Long Zhan remained silent.
Kai walked beside him, not disturbing him.
He knew Long Zhan needed time to process what had happened today.
His enemy, whom he had hated for countless years, knelt before him begging for mercy.
But when the time for revenge finally came, he discovered that what the other party had done was not simply evil.
“Mr. Chen,” Long Zhan suddenly spoke, “Did I make a mistake by not killing Long Yuan today?”
Kai thought for a moment and shook his head.
“There is no right or wrong, only choices. You chose not to kill him; that is your decision. As long as you don’t regret it, you’re not wrong.”
Long Zhan remained silent for a long time.
“I don’t regret it.” His voice was soft, yet firm, “But I won’t forgive him either.”
Kai patted his shoulder: “That’s enough.”
The group quickened their pace, flying towards Yunxian City.
Behind them, the black mist of the Demon Realm gradually dissipated in the purple flames.
For the first time, the land shrouded in darkness revealed its original colors:
grayish-white rocks, cracked earth, and faint green glimpses in the distance.
Three days later, Kai and his group returned to Yunxian City.
At the city gate, Yun Xi, Chen Wanqing, Yun Yao, Ming Li, Liu Qianqian, and Jiang Xuelan stood waiting.
Seeing Kai’s figure appear on the horizon, Chen Wanqing was the first to rush forward.
” Kai!” she cried, throwing herself into his arms and hugging him tightly. “You’re back!”
Kai patted her back and smiled, “It’s not like we’re going to war, what’s there to be nervous about?”
Chen Wanqing didn’t speak, but buried her face in his chest, her eyes red.
Yun Xi walked over, looked Kai up and down, and only breathed a sigh of relief after confirming he wasn’t injured.
“How’s it going in the Demon Realm?” she asked.
“It’s resolved,” Kai briefly recounted the events.
When she heard that Long Yuan had knelt and begged for mercy and that the demon cultivator had fled beforehand, Yun Xi’s brows furrowed slightly.
“That demonic cultivator ran away? Will he come back?”
“No.” Kai shook his head. “The person behind him is Ning Zhi. Ning Zhi suffered a defeat at the Divine Palace and won’t dare to show his face again for a while. He’s gone, so that demonic cultivator won’t dare to stay in the Demon Realm either.”
Yun Xi nodded and didn’t ask any more questions.
The group returned to the City Lord’s Mansion. Long Zhan arranged for the disciples of the Heavenly Dragon lineage to rest, while he followed Kai into the council hall.
“Mr. Chen, what are your plans next?” Long Zhan asked.
Kai was silent for a moment.
“I’m going to the Fifteenth Heaven.”
The council hall instantly fell silent.
Yun Xi’s eyes lit up; she had been waiting for this day for a long time.
Jiang Xuelan’s expression didn’t change, but her fingers twitched slightly.
Chen Wanqing’s face instantly turned pale.
“So soon?” Chen Wanqing’s voice trembled slightly.
Kai looked at her, a wave of guilt washing over him.
His relationship with Chen Wanqing was somewhat absurd.
During the martial arts contest for marriage, both of them had their own ulterior motives, and neither of them took it seriously.
But over time, Chen Wanqing had developed genuine feelings for him, and he couldn’t deny his own affection for her.
Especially after that night… some things, once done, can never be undone.
“Wanqing, I have to go.”
Kai’s voice was soft, yet firm. “Yuqi was taken away by Ning Zhi, and I don’t know where she went. I suspect they might have gone to the Fifteenth Heaven. I have to find her.”
Chen Wanqing bit her lip, remaining silent.
She knew Kai was right.
Su Yuqi was his wife, the woman he loved most.
Kai couldn’t abandon her.
Yet, she still felt a deep sadness.
“Then go.”
Chen Wanqing’s voice was soft, almost inaudible. “I’ll wait for you here.”
Kai walked over and took her hand.
“I’ll come back.”
Chen Wanqing looked up at him, her eyes red, but she didn’t let the tears fall.
“I know.”
She smiled, a forced yet gentle smile. “You never break your promises.”
Kai felt a warmth in his heart and pulled her into his arms.
Beside them, Yun Xi and Jiang Xuelan exchanged a glance but remained silent.
That evening, Kai hosted a banquet at the City Lord’s Mansion as a farewell feast.
During the banquet, Yun Yao, holding a cup of wine, approached Kai.
“Young Master Chen, this cup of wine is for you.” Her voice was choked with emotion. “Thank you for saving my life. If it weren’t for you, I would have…”
“Don’t say that.” Kai took the cup and drank it all in one gulp.
Yun Yao’s tears finally fell.
“Young Master Chen, you must be careful when you go to the Fifteenth Heaven. I heard from my sister that the Fifteenth Heaven is much more dangerous than the Fourteenth Heaven…”
“Don’t worry.” Kai patted her shoulder. “I will take good care of myself.”
Yun Yao wiped away her tears, nodded, and turned back to her seat.
Ming Li also stood up.
“Mr. Chen, I’ll go to the Fifteenth Heaven with you.”
Kai glanced at him, then at Liu Qianqian sitting beside him, and shook his head.
“No.”
“Why?” Ming Li frowned. “Although my strength is not as good as yours, I can at least be of some help.”
“It’s not because of strength,” Kai interrupted him. “It’s because of her.”
He looked at Liu Qianqian.
Liu Qianqian’s expression changed slightly, and she tightened her grip on Ming Li’s hand.
Kai’s voice softened: “Ming Li, I know you want to help me. But have you thought about what will happen to Qianqian if you come with me to the Fifteenth Heaven? She’ll be waiting for you alone in the Fourteenth Heaven. Do you know what that feels like?”
Ming Li fell silent.
Of course he knew.
He himself had waited for Liu Qianqian in the Fifteenth Heaven. He understood
that longing, that torment, that fear of not knowing if she was alive or dead better than anyone else.
“Mr. Chen is right.” Liu Qianqian gently tugged at Ming Li’s sleeve. “Don’t go. I… I don’t want to be alone.”
Ming Li looked at her, remained silent for a long time, and finally nodded.
“Okay. I won’t go.”
Kai smiled: “That’s right. Stay with her and don’t let her be alone.”
Ming Li’s eyes reddened slightly, but he didn’t let the tears fall.
“Mr. Chen, take care.”
“Take care.”
After the banquet, Kai went alone to the backyard of the City Lord’s Mansion.
Long Zhan was standing there, looking up at the stars.
“Mr. Chen.” Seeing Kai approach, Long Zhan turned around and bowed respectfully.
Kai walked to his side and stood shoulder to shoulder.
“Long Zhan, I entrust Yunxian City to you.”
Long Zhan nodded solemnly: “Rest assured, Mr. Chen, I will definitely guard Yunxian City well.”
Kai was silent for a moment, then took out a jade slip from his robes and handed it to him.
“These are some insights I’ve gained from cultivation, along with annotations on some techniques. Take them and show them to the disciples of the Heavenly Dragon lineage. Perhaps they will be helpful to you.”
Long Zhan accepted the jade slip with both hands and carefully put it away.
“Mr. Chen, when will you return?”
Kai looked up at the sky and remained silent for a long time.
“I don’t know.” His voice was soft. “Perhaps soon, perhaps a long time. But I promise you, I will definitely return.”
Long Zhan nodded and didn’t ask any more questions.
Kai patted his shoulder and turned to leave.
Behind him, Long Zhan stood there, watching his figure disappear into the night, motionless for a long time.
The next morning, before dawn.
Kai, Yun Xi, and Jiang Xuelan stood at the city gate, ready to depart.
Yun Xi was dressed in a black outfit, her long hair tied up high, and the ghost blade hung at her waist, making her look heroic and dashing.
Jiang Xuelan was still wearing that plain white dress, her long hair as black as ink, standing quietly to the side, like a white lotus blooming in the snow.
Kai wore a simple blue robe, his Dragon-Slaying Sword hanging at his waist, looking like an ordinary rogue cultivator.
The city gate was crowded with people seeing him off.
Chen Wanqing stood at the front, her eyes red-rimmed, but she didn’t cry.
She wore a light blue dress, which swayed gently in the morning breeze, like a willow branch swaying in the wind.
” Kai, you promised me,” her voice was slightly hoarse, “you must come back.”
Kai walked over and gently hugged her.
“I promise you.”
Chen Wanqing leaned against him, listening to his strong heartbeat, feeling the warmth of his body, wanting to remember this moment forever.
“Let’s go.” She released his hand, took a step back, and smiled, “Don’t keep them waiting.”
Kai nodded, turned, and walked towards Yun Xi and Jiang Xuelan.
Yun Yao walked over and handed Kai a bundle.
“Mr. Chen, these are some immortal herbs and pills I prepared for you. You’ll need them on the road.”
Kai took the bundle and smiled, “Thank you, Yun Yao.”
Yun Yao shook her head and stepped aside.
Ming Li and Liu Qianqian stood together, hand in hand, looking at Kai.
“Mr. Chen, take care,” Ming Li’s voice was low.
“You two too,” Kai glanced at them and smiled, “Get married soon, don’t delay.”
Liu Qianqian’s face flushed red, and Ming Li scratched his head somewhat embarrassedly.
Kai laughed heartily and turned to walk towards the city gate.
“Let’s go.”
Yun Xi and Jiang Xuelan followed behind him, the three of them transforming into three streaks of light and disappearing into the horizon. At
the city gate, Chen Wanqing stood there, watching the direction they had disappeared, motionless for a long time.
Tears finally fell.
” Kai, you must come back.”