The Ethereal Domains

Chapter 979: Reason to Kill

Chapter 979: Reason to Kill

Reason to Kill . . .

Cha Eun Xiao had a strong aversion to seeking vengeance through the hands of others. It didn't align with his understanding of heroism and honor. As a result, he didn't wish for these men to meet their end at the hands of Xuan Bing.

As Cha Eun Xiao began to speak, Xuan Bing raised her hand to halt him. She then turned to Bai Bufan and spoke with a cold, unwavering tone, "Do you believe I am being unreasonable by not showing you mercy? I distinctly recall that when I visited your sect, I requested that you seal off your sect for three years. Do you remember this?"

Bai Bufan nodded and replied, "Yes, I remember."

"Then, let us set aside the recent humiliation," Xuan Bing said with a trace of annoyance. Her gaze became stern, filled with an underlying threat. "Consider this: a group of your men has arrived at this location. Don't you think this shows a lack of respect? You, along with the entire Saint Sunlight Sect, have never truly heeded my words, have you?"

Despair filled Bai Bufan's eyes as he contemplated the dire situation.

"I've already sacrificed one of my own to seek reconciliation," he thought, "but she still finds a new pretext for violence. She simply refuses to relent."

"She is resolute in her intention to kill us," he concluded, "and she will use any reason to justify it."

Bai Bufan had good reasons for bringing his men outside their sect. The Shadowless Assassin had been relentlessly killing their disciples, and the leadership couldn't simply let this murderer escape. They had finally located and injured the assassin and felt compelled to finish the job. Bai Bufan and his men had come to this place to eliminate Han Bingxue, who was both a sworn enemy of Wu Huitian and a close friend of Xiao Monarch. Saint Sunlight Sect had a duty to kill him too.

Under normal circumstances, they had every reason to be here.

However, Bai Bufan knew that no matter what he said, it would be futile. Xuan Bing would not approve of their actions.

Thus, he stood there, feeling a cold dread wash over him. After the recent demonstration of Xuan Bing's power, he knew that even if all eighteen of them combined their efforts, they would be incapable of defending against a single strike from Xuan Bing.

Xuan Bing was a force to be reckoned with, and her strength exceeded their expectations. Even if they attempted a group assault, it was doubtful they could even scratch her. To stand a chance against Xuan Bing, they would likely require the combined might of the seven most formidable elders of Saint Sunlight Sect.

But with their current group of seventeen, it was a hopeless endeavor. Their desperation grew as they realized that even launching a coordinated suicide attack would likely result in their failure to inflict any harm on Xuan Bing.

In the Qing-Yun Realm, might was right, and Cha Eun Xiao realized the truth of this adage. Power ultimately dictated the rules, and their powerlessness was evident in their inability to counter Xuan Bing's overwhelming might.

Xuan Bing took a deep breath, and the sight of her inhaling the crisp air sent shivers down their spines. Her black robe billowed in the wind, creating an ominous aura.

Silver snakes materialized in the sky, heralding the arrival of lightning. At her command, thunderclaps would resound in the vicinity.

She murmured softly, "I am just a woman."

Bai Bufan and the others were bewildered by her statement. They didn't understand its significance.

Cha Eun Xiao and even Xuan Bing herself couldn't fully comprehend why she was compelled to eliminate these individuals, knowing it could tarnish her reputation.

In truth, the explanation lay within her own words.

"I am just a woman," she had said.

Regardless of her formidable strength, she was, at her core, a woman.

She couldn't permit harm to befall the man she loved.

To her, there was nothing more vital than protecting her beloved.

In the past, when Xuan Bing had stood against the formidable sects of the realm, it was for the very same reason. And now, facing these men, she was driven by the same motivation.

"I cannot allow any threat to his safety," she thought resolutely, her heart aflame with determination. "I will eliminate any danger that might harm him in the future. I would even face the consequences on his behalf."

For her beloved, she was willing to go to any lengths.

The wind picked up its intensity, causing Xuan Bing's robe to ripple fiercely. With a sudden, powerful gesture, she extended her arms, and an explosion of dark fog resonated outward, expanding over hundreds of meters.

"Die!" Xuan Bing leaped into the air, and simultaneously, countless bolts of lightning from the clouds above descended like a furious storm, shaking the entire world.

Desperation pushed Bai Bufan to shout, "Form the array!"

In this dire moment, he had no alternative. Recognizing the futility of calming her wrath, he sought a slim chance of survival by resisting. He knew it was a desperate endeavor, but it was preferable to simply waiting for death to claim them.

However, he was too late.

Xuan Bing issued a thunderous shout, her voice echoing from an undetermined source. "Beauty in the world; ice to the cloud!"

Swiftly, she surged forward. The dark fog in the atmosphere underwent an abrupt freeze, transforming into a massive expanse of black ice. It locked down the entire space, turning the lightning into jade-like bolts.

This was the manifestation of the fully unleashed Ling Xiao Ice Art.

But just as the world was about to witness the horrifying culmination of Xuan Bing's wrath, a commanding voice pierced the air.

"Stop!" Cha Eun Xiao cried out, his voice fraught with uncertainty. He wasn't sure if he could halt her, but he knew that if Xuan Bing executed her deadly intent, it would instigate a war between Misty Cloud Palace and the three factions.

In her efforts to protect him, she had created an energy shield. Understanding the gravity of the situation, Cha Eun Xiao felt compelled to intercede, not only for the men facing her wrath but also to spare Misty Cloud Palace from a devastating conflict.

In his perspective, the recent conflict may have been an issue of wounded pride, significant but not insurmountable. Bai Bufan had earnestly made an effort to make amends. He had even struck down Zhao Xingnan with a single palm strike, signifying a sincere act of atonement. Saint Sunlight Sect had shown a considerable level of respect to Xuan Bing.

Xuan Bing, too, was aware of this. It was why she hesitated momentarily.

The last few words she spoke were directed at herself. She needed that brief pause to resolve to commence a massacre. She did not want to involve the women of Misty Cloud Palace in the chaos for the sake of her beloved.

Furthermore, she was aware that taking the lives of men who had humbly submitted to her would tarnish her mental state, which was currently on the verge of perfection. She recognized the potential detrimental consequences this act would have on her inner equilibrium.