Chapter 24

After reaching an agreement about their future course of actions, Yun Che and Qingyue left the isolated area and went their separate ways. Yun Che had informed Qingyue that he could not detect any more valuable treasures in the Secret Realm, so they both exited the realm after informing their respective factions.

Yun once again used the concealment technique to mask his aura to the 10th level of Spirit Profound realm, not giving any indication that he had some fortuitous encounter within the Heaven Basin Secret Realm.

Qingyue on the other hand had no such method and her 2nd level Emperor Profound realm strength was revealed to everyone. Everyone was stunned speechless. How did this heaven defying genius suddenly leap an entire two large realms? More importantly, she was now one of the strongest people in the Blue Wind Empire purely on the basis of profound strength. A 17 year old Throne – this was unbelievable!

After a week had passed, everyone else inside the Heaven Basin Secret Realm was ejected into the Heavenly Sword Mountain Range and the first phase of the reward distribution was complete.

The second phase was the opportunity to watch the 'demon sealing ritual' of Ling Kun. It did not contain any materialistic benefits, so many of the people chose not to attend that and simply left. Yun Che convinced the others from Blue Wind Profound Palace that this might contain some unknown reward, like Ling Kun giving something to those who attended at the end of the ritual, and they decided to attend.

After a few parting words with Qingyue, they both seriously nodded at each other, with Qingyue reminding him once again that she would be waiting for him to come and visit her sect. She left along with the rest of the Frozen Cloud Asgard.

Soon, the remaining people went to the Heaven's Punishment Sword, which was sealing the demon, Yun Canghai. Ling Kun started the ritual and the sword was raised, the bedraggled form of Yun Canghai appearing from beneath it.

Ling Kun began to taunt and insult Yun Canghai in various ways, relishing in the demon's agonizing screams. Yun Canghai, who was driven past his critical point, was maddened with fury and wished to kill someone among the naive and ignorant audience that was watching his misery.

Looking around, he found a tall and bulky boy sitting close enough, whose strength was only at the Elementary Profound realm. He used his profound strength and exerted a force, drawing that boy in towards himself, with the intention of killing him.

"Yuanba!" Yun Che cried out for his brother in law and best friend, leaping forward to intercept Yuanba's path towards the sealing formation. He succeeded in deflecting Yuanba, but in return got trapped himself.

As he got under the raised Heaven's Punishment Sword, Ling Kun had completed the ritual and reflexively dropped the sword upon seeing the events that had transpired. Alas, this had the effect of not only resealing Yun Canghai, but also entrapping Yun Che with him.

Before the resealing occurred, everyone could see that Yun Canghai had drawn back his arm to deal a blow to Yun Che. They knew that Yun Che was nowhere near strong enough to withstand a blow from the demon, meaning one of the two geniuses found in this tournament had died.

The people who were not very familiar with Yun Che simply heaved a sad sigh, while at the same time being somewhat happy that one of their competitors had died. On the other hand, Ling Jie, Cang Yue and Fen Juechen – Yun Che's three friends in this tournament – were shocked and devastated, all for their own reasons.

But no one was more affected than Xia Yuanba. Yuanba, who had always been weak and bullied since childhood, had very few friends. Yun Che had always been his friend since childhood, and had stood up for him repeatedly in the last year as well, after getting his new profound veins.

And this time, his dear brother in law had sacrificed himself to save a weakling like him! He had always been a burden on his family and his brother in law, but this time he had become the indirect cause of his death!

"Brother in law..." he muttered pathetically, with a blank expression. Countless thoughts were swirling around in his head – if only he had been stronger, if only he was not so weak, he could have defended himself, he wouldn't have been so much of a burden and his brother in law wouldn't have died.

At this moment, a fierce desire welled up in his heart to become stronger. He desperately wanted to gain strength, no matter what he had to do for it. It was also this spark which would lead to the awakening of his Tyrannical Emperor's Divine Veins.

The news of Yun Che's fate reached Xia Qingyue at Frozen Cloud Asgard after a few days. Everyone believed he was dead and Chu Yueli lamented that she couldn't find out more about the divine doctor from her disciple's official husband.

Qingyue was stunned to hear this series of events, and once again gratitude and guilt welled up in her heart upon learning that he did it to save her brother. However, unlike others she knew that Yun Che couldn't possibly be dead.

After all, he had a terrifyingly powerful expert from the Realm of the Gods protecting him. And even if Jasmine didn't protect him – like she didn't in the Heaven Basin Secret Realm – he had a resurrection method, which would instantly resurrect him if he died.

This meant that her husband would indeed be coming to Frozen Cloud Asgard, though it would probably take longer than previously expected.

She also learned that her brother Yuanba had mysteriously disappeared after returning from Heavenly Sword Villa. He seemed to be in a traumatic mental state, and was always thinking of getting stronger.

Having heard from Jasmine the requirements for the awakening of her brother's Tyrannical Emperor's Divine Veins, she realized that her brother was probably about to awaken his physique. This could be said to be a blessing in disguise.

Of course, this was no blessing in disguise. This was all the carefully plotted plan of Yun Che, who had activated the Sealing Cloud Locking Sun at the right moment and blocked Yun Canghai's attack.