35: The Empress got jealous after stomping on the face of the Holy Land.

Boom—!

The sky had fallen.

This wasn't a metaphor; it was the actual physical scene in the eyes of the hundred thousand Disciples of the Lingxiao Sword Sect.

That giant foot, surrounded by a resplendent galaxy, obscured the sun and burst through the clouds, striking the prideful Sect-protecting Formation with despair-inducing gravitational acceleration.

"Crack!"

There was no stalemate.

The "Nine Heavens Demon-Slaying Sword Formation," which was claimed to be able to withstand a full-strength strike from a Peak Saint, was as fragile as a piece of glass stepped on by an elephant.

Billions of sword lights that were originally incomparably sharp shattered into a rain of light the moment they touched the starlight giant foot.

Immediately following that.

The giant foot landed.

*Thud!*

The nine sword Peaks that pierced into the clouds were all shortened by a section.

The Lingxiao Grand Hall atop the main Peak was directly stepped into ruins by this single foot.

"Aaaaah—!"

Countless sword Sect Elders and Disciples who were maintaining the Formation didn't even have time to scream before they were struck by the terrifying backlash force, spitting blood and falling from the sky like dumplings into a pot.

Dust and smoke billowed, blotting out the sun.

One step.

The Lingxiao Sword Sect's mountain gate collapsed, and its grand Formation shattered.

The so-called dignity of a Holy Land became a joke at this moment.

Amidst the ruins, a pathetic figure soared into the sky.

It was Sect Master Lingxiao.

At this moment, his hair was disheveled, he was covered in blood, and his originally snow-white robes had turned into rags; he no longer possessed even a shred of his former high spirits.

"Su Xuanchen!!"

His eyes were bloodshot as he let out a shrill roar, and the ancient sword in his hand, which symbolized his authority as the Sect Master, was trembling violently.

"You dare... you actually dare to destroy my mountain gate!!"

"I will kill you! I will tear your body into ten thousand pieces!!"

He had gone mad.

Thousands of years of foundation were destroyed in a single step.

Such a shock was enough to make any normal person break down.

"Sword, come!!"

Sect Master Lingxiao roared, burning his Origin blood.

The remaining Sword Qi of the entire Lingxiao mountain range converged frantically at this moment, condensing into a thousand-foot-long blood-colored giant sword behind him.

"Die for me!!"

Carrying this world-destroying sword, he rushed recklessly toward Su Xuanchen in the sky.

However.

Facing this desperate strike.

Su Xuanchen didn't even lift an eyelid.

He simply continued to hold Bai Lingxi in his arms and glanced indifferently at Sect Master Lingxiao with a look one would give an ant.

Then.

He reached out.

And grabbed.

*Hum!*

When that menacing blood-colored giant sword came within a hundred feet of Su Xuanchen, it was like a venomous snake being grabbed by its vitals, instantly freezing in place.

Immediately after.

*Crack!*

The giant sword exploded, turning into nothingness.

Su Xuanchen's slender, fair hand pierced through the sky-filling blood mist and grabbed Sect Master Lingxiao's neck without any hindrance.

It was like picking up a squawking wild chicken.

"Are these your last words?"

Su Xuanchen looked at Sect Master Lingxiao, who was struggling desperately and kicking his legs in his hand, and curled his lips in a sneer.

"Weren't you quite arrogant just now?"

"Didn't you say there would be no return for me?"

"I'm standing right here. Why don't you try to kill me and let's see?"

Sect Master Lingxiao's face turned the color of pig liver, and his hands clawed desperately at Su Xuanchen's fingers, trying to pry them open.

But that hand was like it was cast from divine iron, remaining completely motionless.

The feeling of suffocation, accompanied by the shadow of death, instantly drowned out all his madness.

Fear finally took the high ground.

"Spare... spare my life..."

He squeezed two words out of his throat with difficulty, the malice in his eyes turning into a plea.

"Su... Saint Su... I was wro—"

"Too late."

Su Xuanchen's voice was very cold.

He didn't give the other party any chance to bargain.

He turned his head and looked at Bai Lingxi in his arms, whose small face was pale and whose body was still trembling slightly.

"Lingxi, watch closely."

Su Xuanchen's voice became serious, as if he were teaching a newly enrolled student.

"This is the cultivation world."

"Truth is always only found on the edge of a sword and beneath a fist."

"When you are strong enough, for your enemies, even kneeling and begging for mercy is a luxury."

As his voice fell.

He five fingers suddenly exerted force.

"Crack!"

A crisp sound rang out.

Sect Master Lingxiao's neck was directly crushed, and his head slumped down limply.

The Physical Body was dead.

But it wasn't over yet.

A panicked small golden figure rushed out of Sect Master Lingxiao's corpse—it was his Primordial Spirit!

"Old Ancestor, save me!!"

The Primordial Spirit let out a shrill scream and fled frantically toward the Forbidden Ground in the rear mountains.

"Want to run?"

Su Xuanchen sneered and made a grasping motion toward the Void Realm from afar.

"Burst."

*Bang!*

That Primordial Spirit, which had just flown a short distance, was like a balloon being popped, exploding into a cloud of golden light on the spot!

Both body and Soul were extinguished!

A Pseudo-Saint Peak expert, a peerless powerhouse who was only half a step away from becoming a Saint.

Just like that.

In front of the tens of thousands of Disciples of the entire Lingxiao Sword Sect.

He was completely obliterated, like a bedbug being crushed to death!

Silence.

The whole world went quiet.

Only the sound of the cold wind howling remained.

Those Lingxiao Sword Sect Elders who had originally wanted to rush up and fight for their lives were now frozen in place as if they had been hit by a freezing technique, their swords falling to the ground with a "clatter."

The Sect Master... is dead?

Even his Primordial Spirit was crushed?

Despair spread through the crowd like a plague.

Su Xuanchen casually tossed Sect Master Lingxiao's corpse down from the high sky like trash.

His gaze pierced through layers of ruins and was cast toward the Forbidden Ground in the deepest part of the Lingxiao Sword Sect.

There, four obscure and powerful Auras were trembling frantically.

"You've been watching the show for so long, don't you plan on coming out?"

Su Xuanchen spoke indifferently.

His voice wasn't loud, but it pierced through layers of Formations and exploded directly in the depths of the Forbidden Ground.

"Do I have to flatten these few broken mountain Peaks before you're willing to show yourselves?"

Silence.

A deathly silence.

After a few seconds.

"Sigh..."

A long sigh filled with vicissitudes and helplessness came from the depths of the Forbidden Ground.

Immediately following that.

Four elderly figures slowly emerged.

This was the final foundation of the Lingxiao Sword Sect.

Four Saints!

The strongest one was even a Third-Heaven Saint!

Logically, with four Saints joining forces plus the home-field advantage, they might not necessarily be unable to fight Su Xuanchen.

But at this moment.

These four old monsters who had lived for thousands of years looked at the young man in the sky with only deep wariness, and even... fear.

When an expert makes a move, one knows if they have the skills.

That step just now.

The Law power contained in that step and that absolute control over space were definitely not something an ordinary Saint could achieve!

He was at least an Eighth-Heaven Saint, or even a terrifying existence of the Ninth-Heaven!

Fight?

Fight with what!

"Fellow Daoist Su... Saint Su, please show mercy."

The leading Saint Old Ancestor bit the bullet and took a step forward, cupping his hands toward Su Xuanchen.

He bowed very low, his posture humble to the extreme.

"It was our lack of discipline that angered the Saint; that wicked Disciple Lingxiao deserved his death."

"I ask Saint Su to stay your hand and leave some... legacy for the Lingxiao Sword Sect."

They had yielded.

Even though their mountain gate had been stepped on and their Sect Master killed.

These four old tortoises still chose the most humiliating way in order to survive and to prevent the Sect from being completely wiped out.

Kneeling and begging for mercy.

Su Xuanchen looked at these four old fellows, a hint of boredom flashing in his eyes.

He thought he could have another fight.

As it turned out, they were all spineless.

"I am a reasonable person."

Su Xuanchen restrained the killing intent on his body, and that gentle smile once again appeared on his face, though in the eyes of those four Old Ancestors, this smile was more terrifying than a demon's.

"I came this time only to take back the betrothal gift that belongs to me."

He reached out his hand, palm up.

"The tribulation crossing lotus."

"Also, that step just now consumed quite a bit of my magic power, so I have to collect some compensation for my efforts."

"I will be taking eighty percent... no, ninety percent of the resources in your treasury."

Extortion!

This was blatant extortion!

The old faces of the four Old Ancestors twitched violently, their hearts bleeding.

The tribulation crossing lotus was one thing.

But ninety percent of their resources?

How would the Lingxiao Sword Sect survive in the future? Would the Disciples have to live on nothing?

"What? Do you have an objection?"

Su Xuanchen raised an eyebrow, and the galaxy behind him surged again, with a terrifying pressure weighing down like a mountain.

"No! No objection! Absolutely no objection!"

The leading Old Ancestor trembled in fear and hurriedly took out a perfectly sealed jade box from his robes, offering it with both hands.

"This... this is the tribulation crossing lotus!"

"As for the resources... I will have people move them immediately! Right away!"

"Very good."

Su Xuanchen nodded with satisfaction and with a casual wave, he drew the jade box into his hand.

He opened it to look.

A purple lotus flower, crystal clear throughout with faint lightning swirling around its petals, lay quietly in the box.

An Eighth-Grade Saint Medicine, the tribulation crossing lotus.

It was finally in his hands.

"Also, there's one more thing."

Su Xuanchen put away the jade box, glanced at the ruins below, and then at the four Old Ancestors.

"How did Sect Master Lingxiao die?"

The four Old Ancestors were stunned and looked at each other, cold sweat pouring down their foreheads.

This was a trick question!

"He... he was killed by Saint Su..."

"Hmm?"

Su Xuanchen's gaze turned cold.

The leading Old Ancestor instantly had a flash of inspiration and slapped his thigh hard.

"I remember now!"

"Sect Master Lingxiao died in battle after exhausting his strength while resisting an invasion by Extraterrestrial Demons!"

"He is a hero! He is the pride of my Lingxiao Sword Sect!"

"Yes, yes, yes! He died in battle!"

The other three Old Ancestors also caught on and hurriedly echoed.

Face?

What was that?

As long as they could send this god of slaughter away, they wouldn't just say Sect Master Lingxiao died in battle; they would even say he choked to death if they had to!

" good, Very aware."

Su Xuanchen clapped his hands and turned to look at Bai Lingxi in his arms, who was already dumbfounded.

"Did you learn?"

"As long as your fist is big enough, you can turn black into white."

Bai Lingxi nodded blankly.

Today's lesson had left an indelible impact on her young heart.

At the same time, it made her desire for power reach its Peak.

"Let's go."

Su Xuanchen didn't waste any more words.

Since he had the items, there was no need to kill all these chickens that could lay eggs.

After all, one should plan for the long term.

When the Su Family ran out of money in the future, wouldn't it be wonderful to come and "borrow" some more?

*Hum!*

The starlight path unfolded once again.

Su Xuanchen took Bai Lingxi and left gracefully under the watchful eyes of countless people filled with awe and fear.

Leaving behind only a devastated Lingxiao Sword Sect and four old fellows who wanted to cry but had no tears... Tianyan City, Su Family.

Su Xuanchen returned very quickly.

From the time he left to his return, less than half an hour had passed.

When that starlight landed in the rear mountain palace, Su Jingyuan, Su Tieyan, and the others were still in the front courtyard discussing how to "collect the remains" from the Lingxiao Sword Sect.

Inside the palace.

Gu Lingshuang was sitting by the window, holding the list full of medicinal ingredients, lost in thought.

She didn't believe it.

She didn't believe Su Xuanchen could actually get the tribulation crossing lotus from the Lingxiao Sword Sect.

She knew the stubborn tempers of those Sword Cultivators; they would rather break than bend, and they wouldn't hand over their Sect's treasure even if they died.

Su Xuanchen's trip would likely involve a fierce battle.

"Sigh..."

She sighed, and a trace of worry unexpectedly rose in her heart.

Right then.

*Clang!*

The door was pushed open.

Gu Lingshuang subconsciously looked back.

She saw Su Xuanchen walking in with large strides, wearing that smug smile that made her teeth itch with hatred.

"Wife, I'm back!"

"How was it? I didn't make you wait long, did I?"

And behind him.

There was also a young girl wearing a tattered palace dress, who, though a bit disheveled, could not hide her peerless beauty.

Bai Lingxi.

Gu Lingshuang's gaze froze the moment she saw Bai Lingxi.

It was an instinctive intuition.

Like a lioness in her territory suddenly seeing another female creature trying to invade.

Her gaze instantly became sharp.

An invisible sense of pressure emanated from her.

"Who is she?"

Gu Lingshuang stood up, her gaze locked onto Bai Lingxi, her tone so cold it seemed like it would freeze the air.

She didn't look at the jade box in Su Xuanchen's hand containing the tribulation crossing lotus.

Nor did she ask about the situation at the Lingxiao Sword Sect.

At this moment.

In her eyes, the young girl timidly hiding behind Su Xuanchen was the greatest "enemy."

This sudden surge of emotion even gave her a fright.

She was an Empress!

She should have the whole world in her heart and be the sole sovereign.

How could she be like an ordinary woman, getting... jealous because her man brought back a beautiful woman?

No!

This isn't jealousy!

Gu Lingshuang frantically denied it in her heart.

This is a reasonable vetting of family members as the Mistress of the Su Family!

Yes! It's a vetting!

Bai Lingxi was frightened by Gu Lingshuang's gaze.

That look was too terrifying.

It felt as if she could see through her Soul with a single glance, giving her an urge to kneel and worship.

Is this... Saint Su's First Wife?

So strong! So beautiful!

"Sister... I..."

Bai Lingxi shrank her neck and subconsciously hid further behind Su Xuanchen, her innocent large eyes full of terror.

Su Xuanchen looked at this scene, and the corners of his mouth couldn't help but twitch a few times.

A Shura Field?

Is it starting already?

He hurriedly took a step forward, standing between the two women, a mediating smile plastered on his face.

"Ahem, Lingshuang, don't be so fierce."

"It's not good to scare the little one."

He pulled Bai Lingxi out and introduced her openly:

"This is Bai Lingxi, the Imperial Princess of the Yunlan Dynasty."

"She also possesses the Supreme Yin Sacred Body."

At this point, he paused, glanced at Gu Lingshuang's increasingly darkening face, and bit the bullet to add another sentence.

"Also... she is the second Mistress of the Su Family I've just decided on."

"Which means she is your... younger sister."

Boom!

The air seemed to be ignited.

Gu Lingshuang stared fixedly at Su Xuanchen, her gaze seemingly saying: You bastard, you sure moved fast!

How long has it been since you went out?

Not only did you snatch the items, you also snatched a wife on the way back?!

"Younger sister?"

Gu Lingshuang sneered, her gaze sweeping over Bai Lingxi's figure, which was although youthful, already beginning to show its curves; the jealousy in her eyes almost turned into something physical.

"Su Xuanchen, do you think because my cultivation is sealed, I'm easy to bully?"

"Do you think that by bringing back a Supreme Yin Sacred Body, you can replace me, this 'useless person'?"

"How could that be!"

Su Xuanchen hurriedly pleaded his innocence.

"In my heart, you will always be the First Wife! You will always be the true master of the Su Family!"

"Lingxi... she's also here to help expand our Su Family's lineage!"

"Look, a Supreme Yin Sacred Body, what a great talent!"

"And..."

Su Xuanchen suddenly stopped joking and handed the jade box he had been holding to Gu Lingshuang.

"Compared to this, I think you should care more about what's inside."

Gu Lingshuang was stunned.

Her gaze finally fell on that jade box.

That familiar Aura, that was... She snatched the jade box and opened it.

Purple light instantly illuminated the entire room.

A lotus flower entwined with lightning bloomed quietly.

The tribulation crossing lotus!

It really was the tribulation crossing lotus!

Gu Lingshuang's hand trembled violently.

She looked up at Su Xuanchen, her eyes full of disbelief.

"You... you really got it?"

"The Lingxiao Sword Sect... gave it to you?"

Su Xuanchen shrugged, looking completely nonchalant.

"They gave it."

"They even very enthusiastically insisted on giving me ninety percent of their resources as travel expenses."

"It was hard to refuse such kindness, so I reluctantly accepted."

Gu Lingshuang: "..."

Like I'd believe you!

You definitely beat them into submission!

But... she looked at the tribulation crossing lotus in her hand, then at the mountain of various Saint Medicines piled up nearby.

"heavenly tribulation fruit, nine heavens divine thunder liquid, Taiyi Fine Gold..." these were all the items she had written on the list earlier.

Not a single one was missing.

Everything was laid out right here.

In just half a day.

This man had really gathered everything she needed.

Gu Lingshuang's heart beat violently and uncontrollably.

The jealousy that had just risen was instantly drowned out by a more complex and intense emotion.

Touched?

Perhaps.