flstandardbreds Chapter 880 Ling Qingzhu
Chapter 880 Ling Qingzhu
Endless chaos, vast and boundless, without beginning or end, without heaven or earth.
In this chaotic void that encompasses the origin of heaven and earth, there is no passage of time, no end to the boundary. Only starlight-like halos flicker and rise and fall in the darkness. Each glimmer of light is an independent, formed plane of existence, each bearing the propagation of life and the rise and fall of civilizations, quietly operating in the depths of chaos.
No one can measure the vastness of this chaos, nor can anyone count the number of planes it has given birth to. Hundreds of millions of planes are as numerous as the sands of the Ganges, some prosperous and thriving, some desolate and lifeless, some hidden in the depths of chaos, and some destroyed by the turbulent flow of time and space. The endless mysteries within this chaos may ultimately remain an unsolved mystery for eternity.
In this vast and endless array of planes, one plane stands quietly in a corner of chaos, enduring countless vicissitudes, still standing tall and majestic. Its name is Tianxuan Continent.
Ten thousand years ago, the Tianxuan Continent faced a catastrophe that was enough to overturn the heavens and the earth.
Extraterrestrial demons, those evil beings from beyond this plane, surged into this peaceful world like a tidal wave, leaving devastation and destruction in their wake.
At a critical moment of life and death, the Ancestor of Symbols appeared out of nowhere. With his supreme power, he united the eight ancient masters and all the powerful forces in the world to launch an earth-shattering battle to the death in the heavens.
In the end, the talisman ancestor sacrificed himself to forcibly suppress the arrogant Demon Emperor in a dimensional rift outside the Tianxuan Continent, completely severing his connection with the Demon Realm and cutting off the Demon Emperor's path to return to Tianxuan.
The catastrophe has ended, and the dust has settled.
For ten thousand years since then, the Tianxuan Continent has enjoyed unprecedented stability and peace. The threat of extraterrestrial demons has completely disappeared, and all races have recuperated and thrived, with numerous sects and civilizations flourishing like never before.
Dao Sect, Yuan Sect, Jiutian Taiqing Palace... one super sect after another rose during this period, and countless geniuses emerged, pushing the glory of this world to new heights.
However, stability has always been the longest-lasting illusion in the world.
Time flows on, and years erode.
The seal, personally laid down by the Ancestor of Symbols, has remained unshaken for millennia, but beneath it, endless darkness and despair have never ceased to seep in and retaliate.
The demon leaders who were once suppressed by the combined forces of the Ancestor of Symbols and the ancient powerhouses are gradually breaking free from the shackles of time, their bodies and origins.
They lurked in the darkness, awakening in the silence. A chilling aura, like a silent plague, was quietly seeping from the cracks in those sealed lands, permeating every corner of the Tianxuan Continent along the veins of space.
On the surface, it was still a time of peace and prosperity, with numerous sects and factions, and still a seemingly indestructible and harmonious world.
However, only a very few people know this, and only the mysterious forces of Heaven are silently issuing warnings.
This seemingly peaceful Tianxuan Continent is actually fraught with danger.
A storm, far surpassing the catastrophe of ten thousand years ago, is quietly brewing. The shadow of the alien demons has already shrouded the sky, awaiting only the right moment to completely tear away that thin layer of disguise and unleash a world-destroying calamity.
……
Tianxuan Continent, Eastern Xuan Region.
This place stands majestically in the eastern part of Tianxuan, a vast and boundless region with continuous mountain ranges resembling a coiled dragon. Numerous top sects have taken root here, their lineages spanning millennia, their profound heritage unfathomable.
On the border of the Eastern Xuan Domain, within the jurisdiction of the Nine Heavens Taiqing Palace, there is a secluded valley called Illusionary Mist Spirit Valley. The valley is filled with spiritual herbs, occasionally inhabited by exotic beasts, and perpetually shrouded in mist, isolating it from the outside world's noise. Very few outsiders venture there, making it a secret place designated by the Nine Heavens Taiqing Palace for disciples to conduct trials and gather spiritual herbs.
At the heart of the valley, a clear spring meanders, its water so clear you can see the bottom. Exotic flowers and rare herbs bloom in profusion along the banks, their fragrance delicate and refreshing, drifting across the entire valley on the breeze. Amidst the light mist, a slender figure stands quietly beneath the cliff, her posture graceful and elegant. Though still somewhat immature, she already possesses an extraordinary beauty.
The girl wore a plain white dress with very faint cloud patterns embroidered on the hem. It was so clean that it was not stained with a speck of dust. Her jet-black hair was simply tied up with a jade hairpin, and a few strands of hair fell down beside her cheeks, which made her skin look even whiter and whiter than snow, like newly melted ice and snow.
Her features were exquisitely beautiful, with eyebrows like distant peaks and eyes like a cold pool reflecting the moon. Her pupils were clear yet carried a hint of aloofness. Her nose was straight and elegant, and her lips were naturally red. Her whole face was pure and otherworldly, exuding an air of aloofness and independence.
Her aura was aloof and otherworldly, like an ice lotus on a snow-capped mountain peak, pure and indifferent, untouched by worldly dust. Even when she stood there quietly, she blended into the beautiful scenery around her, yet she also created her own serene and cold world, making people dare not easily desecrate her.
She held a slender white jade longsword in her hand, its blade lustrous and gleaming with a faint luster; it was the sword of a direct descendant of the Taiqing Palace.
rustling --
Deep in the tranquil wilderness, a few faint rustling sounds of branches and leaves suddenly came from the dense forest, extremely soft, mixed with the breeze and animal calls.
Upon hearing the voice, the girl in white's aloof expression hardened slightly. A hint of wariness flickered in her already clear, cold eyes, but she showed no fear. Her slender fingers slowly tightened their grip on the lustrous white jade longsword in her hand, her fingertips touching the hilt, and the Taiqing spiritual energy surrounding her quietly receded.
The next moment, she moved, her steps seemingly ethereal and leisurely, as light and slow as clouds and breeze, without the slightest urgency. Yet with each step, she was already several feet away, seemingly slow but actually fast, graceful yet carrying astonishing speed, heading straight towards the source of the sound.
As soon as the girl reached the bushes and her aura stabilized, the bushes in the forest suddenly exploded!
A giant, jet-black python suddenly sprang out. Its body was as thick as an adult man's waist and several meters long. Its black scales gleamed with a cold, eerie light, and its armor was as hard as iron. A dark red bloodstain appeared on its head, and its scarlet forked tongue flickered in and out. Its cold, vertical pupils were fixed on the white-clad girl in front of it, and a fierce aura emanated from her.
This black-scaled giant python is a unique monster found only in this area. Its cultivation has reached the minor completion stage of the Shaping Realm. It has a powerful body and domineering venom, making it an extremely troublesome ferocious beast in this region.
The girl stood before the giant python, her petite and slender figure a stark contrast to the enormous creature. Yet, her expression remained aloof, her eyes calm and unwavering. Her hand gripping her longsword was as steady as a mountain, and her vital energy flowed slowly around her. She was fully prepared for battle, showing no sign of backing down due to the beast's ferocity or the suppression of her cultivation level.
The black-scaled giant python roared furiously, a foul wind swept through, and its thick tail swept across with the force to shatter mountains, sending rocks flying and destroying vegetation.
Although the girl's aura was weaker than that of the giant python, her movements were as light and agile as a feather, ethereal as a startled swan soaring through the sky. She seemed to dodge leisurely, but each time she avoided the violent attacks at the last second, leaving no blind spots.
The white jade longsword in his hand unleashed a series of cool sword flowers, the sword's momentum elegant yet extremely sharp. Though the sword energy was thin, it was incomparably sharp, constantly attacking the gaps in the giant python's scales, driving it into a frenzy.
The giant python roared and suddenly opened its blood-red maw, its venomous fangs gleaming eerily, before lunging to bite.
Just as her weakness was exposed, the girl's eyes turned cold, and her figure suddenly darted sideways like a startled swan, using the momentum of her fall to suddenly exert force in her wrist—
The longsword, like a pure white streak of light, pierced straight into the giant python's throat and passed right through it.
The giant python's massive body suddenly froze, convulsing violently, and blood gushed out. The girl slashed her sword horizontally, unleashing a burst of sharp sword energy, and the enormous python's head was completely severed, rolling to the ground.
Blood mist splattered as she sheathed her sword and stood still, her white robes still spotless, except for a few drops of blood hanging silently from the tip of her sword, falling silently into the forest.
"As expected of Young Palace Master Qingzhu, she can kill a demon beast that has reached the Lesser Completion of the Creation Realm with only a half-step Creation Realm cultivation. Through this experience, her proficiency in the Taiqing Sky-Wandering Step has also improved. With such talent and combat ability, our Nine Heavens Taiqing Palace has a worthy successor."
A gentle female voice slowly rang out from the forest. With a gentle rustling of her robes, a female elder dressed in a light blue Taoist robe walked out slowly, her eyes filled with admiration and satisfaction as she looked at the young girl.
Ling Qingzhu sheathed her sword and lowered her hands, her expression still aloof. She bowed slightly and said, "Elder, you flatter me. This is my duty. As the young master of the Nine Heavens Taiqing Palace, I should cultivate more diligently. Otherwise, how can I talk about revitalizing the sect and living up to the expectations of my master and elders?"
"Alright, no need to be modest." The female elder chuckled softly, her gaze gentle. "This training has been quite successful. This desolate mountain is not a place to linger. Qingzhu, let's return to the Nine Heavens Taiqing Palace first."
"Ah."
Ling Qingzhu nodded slightly, responding with a single word. Her expression remained indifferent, and she said nothing more. Only her clear, cold eyes gazed at the distant horizon, lost in thought.
Just as the two were about to set off, the entire sky suddenly began to tremble and collapse.
Invisible spatial ripples surged wildly with unstoppable force, the void twisted and shattered, and dark spatial gaps spread across the sky like a hideous spider web. The extremely violent spatial turbulence roared down, as if the entire world was collapsing.
A terrifying pressure swept across thousands of miles, engulfing the entire desolate mountain range. Ancient trees snapped with a crash, rocks shattered and flew everywhere, and the earth trembled violently.
"Such a powerful aura! What... what is going on?! Such terrifying spatial fluctuations are probably beyond even the Palace Master's capabilities!"
The female elder's expression changed drastically, and she gasped in shock, her eyes filled with horror for the first time.
Almost instinctively, she dove in front of Ling Qingzhu, her Nirvana Realm Yuan Power erupting outwards, instantly creating a cyan light shield to protect the girl behind her.
But faced with the terrifying shockwaves originating from the arrival of another dimension, her defenses were as fragile as paper.
With only a trace of insignificant residual spatial power sweeping down, the female elder let out a muffled groan and was instantly blasted away, crashing into the distant mountains like a kite with a broken string. She coughed up blood and instantly lost the ability to resist.
Upon witnessing such a horrifying scene, even Ling Qingzhu's usually calm and composed emotions were in turmoil.
Although she was rigorously trained as the young master of the Nine Heavens Taiqing Palace sect from a young age, and her temperament far surpassed that of her peers, she was still only an eleven-year-old girl.
Faced with this cataclysmic phenomenon, the cool demeanor on her face finally faded, and a hint of panic and helplessness flashed across her eyes.
The spatial fluctuations crashed down like a tsunami, leaving her no strength to dodge. She was locked in place by the terrifying power and unable to move.
At this critical moment, a seemingly ordinary, warm jade talisman at her waist suddenly burst forth with a dazzling brilliance. The runes surged with powerful primordial energy, and a thick, holy light shield instantly enveloped her.
"clang--"
The residual force of the spatial turbulence slammed into the light barrier, causing the jade talisman's light to flicker violently and dim considerably in an instant, yet it ultimately withstood the aftershocks of the spatial turbulence.
Ling Qingzhu was fortunate enough not to be directly killed, but the impact that had not completely dissipated was still irresistible.
Her slender, delicate body was violently thrown into the air, tracing a pale arc before crashing heavily against the hard mountain wall, and then slid softly to the ground.
Blood spilled from the corner of his mouth, and his usually cold and aloof eyes slowly closed as he lost consciousness and fell into a coma.
"Traversing between dimensions and forcibly opening dimensional rifts is truly no easy feat. Luckily, I was well-prepared, or I would have been seriously injured."
"I wonder where we are now..."
Amidst the swirling spatial currents, Xiao Ling murmured to himself, then took a step, his aura surging, and stepped directly out of the chaotic void.
The dimensional portal behind him, which had been forcibly torn open, quickly twisted and collapsed after losing its support, but closed completely in an instant, as if it had never existed, leaving only spatial ripples in the air that had not yet dissipated.
As soon as Xiao Ling regained his footing, before he could even calm the surging energy within his body, his senses instinctively expanded, instantly taking in the entire scene within several miles.
Ignoring the scattered and fleeing monsters, in the mountains below, a woman's figure was slammed into the depths of the dense forest. Although she was severely injured and her aura was weak, at least her life was not in danger.
Not far away, below the mountain wall, a slender figure in white was rapidly falling into the deep mountain ravine.
Xiao Ling quickly discerned that the person who fell off the cliff was only at the peak of the Great Dou Master in the Dou Qi Continent. If such a body were to fall straight to the bottom of the cliff, it would surely perish on the spot.
Recalling the violent spatial turbulence he had caused by tearing apart the plane, Xiao Ling's expression changed slightly, and he instantly understood that these two people were clearly affected by the aftershocks of his crossing over.
"It seems I've inadvertently harmed someone else." Xiao Ling clicked his tongue in a low voice, his brows furrowing slightly. "Never mind, this matter started because of me. I've only just arrived in Tianxuan Continent, so it's best to be more restrained. If someone dies right after my arrival, I'm afraid that plane's embryo will hold a grudge against me."
The next moment, almost in the blink of an eye, Xiao Ling's figure transformed into an almost illusory stream of light, instantly traversing several meters and appearing precisely below where the girl had fallen.
He reached out and gently but firmly pulled the girl's soft body into his arms, lifting her up steadily.
When Xiao Ling looked down and saw the face of the person in his arms, he couldn't help but raise an eyebrow slightly, secretly surprised, and murmured to himself,
"Is this appearance for real? Are all the people in Tianxuan Continent this good-looking?"
The girl in his arms was only eleven or twelve years old. Her features had not yet fully developed, but she was already exquisitely beautiful. Her skin was as white as snow, and her delicate face showed some weakness. Even in her unconscious state, she could not hide her otherworldly aura.
Upon closer inspection, her appearance, compared to Xun'er of the same age, was equally beautiful and equally stunning. (End of Chapter)