CHAPTER 383: CHAPTER 383: THAT SWORD, THAT PERSON

The dynasty had collapsed. For hundreds of thousands of miles, there was no sign of life, only desolation, with a giant sword scar marking the land.

Jiang Ni’er’s emotions gradually stabilized, but her complexion remained pale and her eyes cloudy. Dense beads of sweat dotted her forehead, as if she had experienced a terrible ordeal.

After a long time, Chen Pingping activated the Reincarnation Mystery: The Past. In an instant, he returned to bygone days.

A terrible battlefield centered around the Heavenly Phoenix Imperial Dynasty. Numerous formidable enemies were making their move, their figures covering the sky and overwhelming the land as they attacked from all directions. Roars, bellows, and slaughter filled the heavens and the earth. Before long, skeletons piled up in layers, blood flowed like rivers, and the rich scent of blood drifted through the air.

"Kill! Capture the little princess alive, and you’ll be rewarded with a damaged Sacred Soldier!" a voice came from the left.

"My Spirit Vein, my Spirit Vein..."

"Hahahaha! Heavenly Phoenix Imperial Dynasty, this time you’re definitely done for!"

Countless formidable enemies were involved—some out of old grudges, others for profit. Chen Pingping saw the figures of the Divine Clan’s powerhouses. They stood above the clouds, unleashing powerful skills.

「On another battlefield.」

The Headmaster of the Academy had already reverted to his old age. His vitality was waning, his face sallow, and his deeply sunken eyes stared fixedly ahead, as if a terrifying presence lurked in that direction. After a while, he turned to look at Lin Yuexin. Seeing her body emanating Divine Brilliance, her black hair fluttering, appearing like a goddess, the Headmaster said with bitterness, "Go! This slaughter has nothing to do with you."

She was Lin Yuexin, and yet she was not Lin Yuexin. She was that person from the cycles of Reincarnation. She had awakened. The Heavenly Phoenix Imperial Dynasty was besieged, and the slaughter continued for a full year. She only emerged after winter came. Perhaps it was because of Lin Yuexin’s feelings for the Headmaster, or perhaps she wanted to see the "Big Shot" behind this slaughter. She had followed the Headmaster all this time, yet never took action.

"Actually, this slaughter has nothing to do with you either," Lin Yuexin said.

"Indeed!" the Headmaster responded helplessly.

"Those ’Big Shots’ decided to act, so the fate of the Heavenly Phoenix Imperial Dynasty was already sealed. They couldn’t survive. It was karma. But you are different," Lin Yuexin said, looking at him.

"I don’t understand Reincarnation, nor do I understand karma, but I know that I am the Headmaster of the Academy." His aged body trembled slightly, and his cloudy eyes suddenly burst with a sharp light as he forcefully burned his Life Essence... He stepped forward, one step at a time.

Behind him, Lin Yuexin’s voice came, "Why do I feel sorrow?"

The old Headmaster did not answer. Watching the boundless battlefield, he roared, "The Divine Souls of the Human Clan are inexhaustible! One day they will bloom like the rising sun, and you all will become wandering spirits, just like those dying here today!"

BANG!

At the end of the boundless battlefield, a colossal finger pressed down, directly obliterating the old Headmaster. Everyone was shaken.

Lin Yuexin frowned slightly and glanced in that direction, then turned and left the battlefield. She felt sorrow.

「Towards the Heavenly Phoenix Imperial City...」

A year had passed since the slaughter began. The Emperor was dead, the dynasty was in internal turmoil, feudal lords had rebelled, and many powerful officials had fled the empire. The Princes who once vied for the throne were nowhere to be seen. Only tens of thousands of soldiers remained, along with a slender figure: the little princess.

Today, she wore no beautiful dresses. Instead, she was clad in thick armor and a heavy helmet, her entire body encased, with only her dark eyes exposed, watching the battlefield. The scent of blood wafting through the air seemed to tell her what was about to happen. For days, the generals behind her had advised her to leave, droning on with a multitude of reasons, but Lan Xiuzhi refused to listen.

She had only one reply: "I will defend the Imperial Dynasty."

I must wait for Pingping. He said he would come back. If one day, Pingping returns and the Heavenly Phoenix Imperial Dynasty is gone, how will he ever find me?

Lost in thought, Lan Xiuzhi suddenly smiled. Drawing the sword at her waist, she shouted loudly, "All forces, attack!"

At her command, the remaining tens of thousands of soldiers charged like wild beasts towards the battlefield ahead.

But at that moment, a terrifying sword ray slashed down from the Nine Heavens. She saw it. Everyone saw it.

The sword ray was vast, covering the entire battlefield, obscuring the sky and sun. The killing intention within it was particularly terrifying. Even before it fully descended, the experts on the battlefield below were collapsing like weeds. Tens of thousands of soldiers stood stunned. Lan Xiuzhi, too, felt herself suffocating. She had never witnessed such a terrifying Sword Dao.

Who is attacking? A Great Emperor?

She stared wide-eyed towards the vault of the sky, trying to see the figure clearly. But alas, the distance was too great, and the oppressive force of the sword ray grew ever more intense, preventing her from keeping her eyes open. Her body began to tremble, her Divine Soul dimmed, and strands of killing intention instantly pierced through her. Lan Xiuzhi’s face turned deathly pale. She coughed up mouthfuls of blood, and the sword in her hand clattered to the ground, slipping from her grasp.

Am I going to die? Such powerful Sword Dao. But I haven’t waited for Pingping yet. If he comes back and can’t find me, what will I do?

In an instant, a cascade of emotions flickered across her pale cheeks: anxiety, helplessness, despair...

ROAR!

The Dragon Veins beneath her feet suddenly bellowed. Spirit Qi condensed into a colossal head, which emerged from deep underground and swallowed Lan Xiuzhi whole. This was not an act of devouring, but the Spirit Vein saving its master.

In the end, the terrifying sword attack struck with full force, devastating the entire battlefield. Everyone, all life, and all structures of the Ancient City were razed to the ground. The Spirit Vein, which had existed for a hundred thousand years, also turned to ash and smoke under that single sword strike.

"Little girl!" Seeing this, Chen Pingping could no longer remain calm and rushed towards the depths of the earth.

Unfortunately, the Spirit Veins were shattered. Could Lan Xiuzhi still be alive? He didn’t know.

He searched for a very, very long time, nearly exhausting all his energy. Maintaining the Reincarnation Mystery for an extended period was enormously draining, and he eventually fainted.

When he opened his eyes, he saw Jiang Ni’er’s face etched with worry.

"Chen, are you alright?" Jiang Ni’er asked.

"I’m fine..." Chen Pingping managed a faint smile. He took a moment to recover, then rose to his feet and quietly observed the dreadful ruins.

When that sword strike descended, he, like Lan Xiuzhi, had tried desperately to see clearly. However, the distance was too great, and the sword ray too brilliant, making it impossible. He could only vaguely discern a tall, imposing figure with a commanding presence.

Was that the Big Shot?

WHOOSH...

A cool breeze swept past, carrying a hint of chill that touched Chen Pingping’s heart. He felt a tightness in his chest, his emotions heavy and suppressed. Only after a long time did he gradually calm down.

He looked at Jiang Ni’er and smiled, "Can you perform a divination?"

"The past? Or the future?" Jiang Ni’er asked.

"The future, please. See if that girl, Lan Xiuzhi, is still alive," Chen Pingping said.

Jiang Ni’er nodded and immediately began the divination. Above them, the tribulation quickly manifested. Chen Pingping glanced up, his mouth twitching. He had noticed that every time he asked Jiang Ni’er to perform a divination, the resulting tribulation was stronger than the last.

More than ten minutes later.

Jiang Ni’er opened her eyes, her expression pale. She shook her head, "I can’t see. A dense fog obstructs my vision."

"Then never mind," Chen Pingping said with a smile. "Let’s go back."

"Alright!"

"Don’t tell the others about this yet," Chen Pingping said.