Run Away

It was impossible to tell how much time had passed before the howling winds gradually dissipated.

The sea of clouds bore a deep scar, and the elders and thousands of disciples had yet to regain their composure. A faint murmur of disbelief echoed among them.

"Ran… ran away?"

The soft whisper struck like a temple bell at dawn, jolting the dazed crowd awake.

The stunned elders suddenly widened their eyes, their faces overtaken by shock and awe!

In mere moments, the elders trembled uncontrollably, while the disciples erupted in thunderous exclamations!

"What a terrifying sword strike!"

"To defeat a Heaven-rank expert with a mere wave of the hand—Chief Disciple is truly formidable!"

"That sword technique… even the Palace Master might struggle to counter it!"

"Senior Sister Zhong Limeng is too strong!"

"Senior Sister Zhong Limeng is invincible!!!"

Cheers exploded as the elders and disciples crowded around her, bowing in reverence.

"Chief Disciple’s cultivation is peerless. We were needlessly alarmed—how shameful."

"Senior Sister, when did you break through to Heaven-rank? And how did you comprehend such a terrifying sword intent?"

"Senior Sister is incredible! That Lu Caiwei couldn’t even withstand a single move from you!"

"Senior Sister is my idol! Truly worthy of being the chief disciple of our Heavenly Palace!"

The crowd buzzed with pride and excitement, nearly suffocating Zhong Limeng in their fervor.

That single devastating strike had vented their collective fury.

At this moment, even if Zhong Limeng had yet to officially lead the Heavenly Palace, her prestige had reached unprecedented heights. Every disciple and elder present regarded her with both admiration and fear.

Yet Zhong Limeng blinked in confusion, still struggling to process what had happened. Instinctively, she denied their praises.

"Why do you say such things?"

"I haven’t broken through to Heaven-rank…"

Her murmur plunged the surroundings into silence.

The elders stared in disbelief.

"You haven’t reached Heaven-rank?"

"Chief Zhong Limeng can overpower a higher realm? Such talent is unheard of in a thousand years!"

"Nonsense! While geniuses who fight above their rank occasionally appear, to crush an opponent across a major realm to such an extent—this old man has never witnessed it! Chief Zhong Limeng’s aptitude is unparalleled in history!"

"Tsk…"

The heated words finally snapped Zhong Limeng back to reality.

She knew full well—

That sword strike had contained an unfathomable sword intent, far beyond her own capabilities.

Yet… she had instinctively swung the blade in defense.

Lost in thought, Zhong Limeng lowered her gaze to the sword in her hand.

Simple and unadorned, much like its owner, Yi Feng—unassuming, almost ordinary. Yet after such a fierce battle, the blade remained pristine, as if nothing had happened.

Even her and her fellow disciples’ Saint-rank swords had been shattered by Lu Caiwei’s strike. Yet this blade had cleaved through Lu Caiwei’s weapon without a scratch!

This was beyond comprehension…

Slowly emerging from her daze, Zhong Limeng stared at the sword, her pupils contracting as realization struck.

"My victory… was entirely due to this sword!"

Instantly!

The thousands around her froze, their eyes locking onto the blade.

"All because of the sword?"

"Now that you mention it… this sword cut through Lu Caiwei’s weapon! It must be of an extraordinary grade!"

"This sword is at least Heaven-rank, second-tier!"

"I’d say even higher!"

The crowd erupted into fervent discussion, their shock deepening, eyes alight with awe and wariness.

The elders could barely contain their astonishment, cautiously bowing as they inquired.

"Chief, where did this sword come from? Was that terrifying strike truly the sword’s own power?"

"Indeed! If the sword alone unleashed that sword energy… its grade must be terrifying!"

Before Zhong Limeng could respond, a few junior disciples gasped, eyes bulging.

"That sword…"

"Isn’t that the one left behind by Lord Yi Feng?!"

"Holy—!"

"So this sword is this powerful?!"

"Leaving behind a Heaven-rank sword as a parting gift—Lord Yi Feng isn’t just generous, his means are downright terrifying!"

"No, no! With such a gesture, he can’t possibly be just a Saint-rank cultivator!"

"No wonder he remained unharmed—my worries were for nothing!"

"Could it be… Lord Yi Feng is a hidden expert?"

A few murmurs of shock sent waves through the disciples and elders.

Though they hadn’t witnessed it firsthand, from these words alone, they could imagine—a supremely powerful expert had once crossed paths with Senior Sister Zhong Limeng and gifted her this sword upon parting!

A Heaven-rank second-tier (or higher) sword, casually given away?

What kind of background and cultivation level would allow for such extravagance and confidence?!

Just hearing about it left the thousands speechless!

Who exactly was this Lord Yi Feng?!

Not just the members of the Cangyun Heavenly Palace—even Zhong Limeng and those who had witnessed it firsthand were shaken to the core by this revelation. The mysterious image of Lord Yi Feng now loomed like a colossal shadow in their minds!

The Star of Clouds…

Might be far more formidable than the world could imagine!

After the great war a hundred thousand years ago, its power might have only grown!

Amidst the stunned silence, speculation ran wild. Those who had met Yi Feng trembled with belated fear.

Zhong Limeng clutched the sword with utmost care, weighed down by the pressure of its significance—yet also profoundly grateful for the fortunate encounter she had forged.

The Cangyun Heavenly Palace members now treated the matter with utmost secrecy, not daring to pry further about the sword, let alone the enigmatic "Lord Yi Feng."

In an instant, the reverence in the eyes of every elder and disciple multiplied a hundredfold.

Zhong Limeng, holding the sword, stood between two seas of clouds—as if, just as they imagined, backed by Elder Wei’s faction and supported by such an unfathomable expert, her future was beyond imagination.

The Cangyun Heavenly Palace had encountered an opportunity unseen in millions of years!

……

Tens of thousands of miles away.

An icy cavern.

Lu Caiwei lay on the verge of death, dragging herself toward the cave entrance a hundred yards away.

Her robes were in tatters, her face a twisted mix of humiliation and fury. The once-proud genius now resembled a beaten dog, her dignity in ruins.

Even if her alluring curves were faintly visible through the torn fabric, her wretched state was so pitiful that no onlooker would entertain indecent thoughts.

Finally reaching the cave, she slumped against the icy wall, half-hidden in darkness, and let out a ragged breath.

"Haah…"

Even in this remote, unknown ice cave, tens of thousands of miles from the battlefield, she couldn’t suppress the terror and resentment in her eyes, her delicate features contorted with rage.

"Why…"

"Why does that bitch Zhong Limeng also have a divine artifact?!"

As she gnashed her teeth in hatred, a voice echoed in her mind.

"Hm?"

"Why have you returned to the demon’s lair? You—"

Before the question could finish, the tone shifted to shock.

"How did you end up like this? Why is the Demon Sword broken?!"

Lu Caiwei’s fury, already at its peak, flared even hotter at the question. Veins bulged on her forehead.

"Hah!"

"And whose fault is that?! Some ‘Demon Clan legacy’ you are! You couldn’t even defeat two bitches—you lied to me!"

As Lu Caiwei’s eyes burned crimson, her mask of civility shattered entirely.