Soul Emperor Martial God

Xiao Yi, leaning against the Cold Crystal Ice Coffin, sat silently.

Unmoving, he had been sitting for several days.

His eyes were fixed on the countless Gang Winds outside the cave.

His thoughts, however, were even more chaotic than these winds.

His originally clear eyes gradually reddened.

His pale face was even more lifeless than the bones scattered around.

Not even the Sky-splitting Sword Maiden, a Supreme Strong, could do anything.

Even the experience and methods of the Sky-splitting Sword Maiden, who had lived for hundreds of years, were utterly useless.

Even the Ice Heart Holy Fruit, a Ninth-grade Heavenly Material and Earthly Treasure, had no effect whatsoever.

What could he possibly do?

At the same time, the people of the Sky-splitting Sword Sect had returned to the Sect.

The Ice Edge Conference had ended more than half a month ago.

With the help of an Extreme Realm Expert from the Snow Winged Eagle Clan, Bai Bingxue and others easily left the Extreme Cold Land.

Once out of the Extreme Cold Land and back within the territory of the Flame Martial Kingdom, Sky-controlling Flight for them was not difficult.

Returning to the Royal Capital also naturally did not take too much time.

But let's get back to the point.

As soon as Bai Bingxue and the others returned to the Sect, they immediately went to the bamboo forest.

In the pavilion of the bamboo forest, a woman in white reclined against the railing, comfortably dozing off.

She occasionally played the zither, glancing at the warm sunlight filtering through the speckled bamboo.

She looked extremely languid, not at all like a Supreme Strong of Martial Arts.

"Hmm?" The woman suddenly opened her eyes and slowly smiled, "Have you returned?"

"Finally, someone to play the zither for me again."

She talked to herself, lazily stretching.

Before long, Bai Bingxue, Zhong Wuyou and others arrived in front of the pavilion.

"Master... Senior Swordswoman."

Everyone bowed respectfully.

"Hmm." The woman nodded, then suddenly inquired lightly, "Why only the four of you?"

"Where is that Xiao Yi lad? Has he gone off on his own again?"

Zhong Wuyou straightened up and pursed his lips, "This time he's not just gone without a trace, I'm afraid not even his ashes are left, those bastards of the Sect Leader…"

Just then, ten figures leaped into the pavilion from outside the bamboo forest.

Soon, they stood before the pavilion.

It was the Sect Leader and nine elders.

Seeing this, the woman's brow slightly furrowed, a bad feeling surging in her heart.

"What happened? Tell me, Bingxue," the woman looked at Bai Bingxue.

"Yes." Bai Bingxue nodded, then recounted everything that had happened at the Ice Edge Conference.

As soon as Bai Bingxue finished speaking,

The woman flew into a rage, her bare hand slammed the desk, shattering all the utensils on it.

"Damn it."

The woman shouted angrily, her icy gaze turning to the Sect Leader and others.

"Do you realize what foolish things you've done?"

Including Bai Bingxue, everyone was shocked.

Those who truly knew the woman knew she was usually serene and composed.

This was her first outburst of anger like this.

The group of elders couldn't help but swallow nervously and lowered their heads, hearts pounding.

Only the Sect Leader, gritting his teeth, stepped forward, facing the woman directly.

"Foolish? I think we were just rectifying the foolish acts of our Senior."

"What did you say?" The woman narrowed her eyes, her teeth shining coldly, "Say that again."

The pressure from the woman was clearly not something an ordinary person could withstand.

The Sect Leader, despite his cultivation, involuntarily shivered.

But after a long moment, the Sect Leader still firmly said, "Isn't it true?"

"On the day of the great battle in the Royal Capital, Senior protected Xiao Yi and drove away Mo Han, wasn't that foolish?"

"In terms of talent, Mo Han possesses the Martial Arts Ice Crystal Martial Soul."

"In terms of prestige, Mo Han is at his peak, supported by everyone."

"The King, Medicine King Valley, Blood Mist Valley, over ninety percent of the powers in the Royal Capital, including our Sect's own group of elders."

"And Xiao Yi? What is he?"

"He is just a sudden genius emerging from a small place like Northern Mountain County."

"With everyone rallying behind Mo Han, but Senior, you stubbornly chose to expel him."

"Let our Sky-splitting Sword Sect stand against the entire Flame Martial Kingdom."

"Is this not foolishness?"

The Sect Master repeated phrase after phrase, his tone becoming increasingly agitated and even icy.

"Presumptuous!" the Great Elder yelled coldly from the side.

"Sect Master, do you realize what you are saying right now?"

"When was it your turn to question the decisions of your seniors? How dare you speak so presumptuously in front of your elders?"

"I am very clear." The Sect Master shouted agitatedly.

"What exactly are you clear about?" The woman could no longer conceal her rage, and she delivered a slap through the air.

The Sect Master was directly sent flying, coughing up fresh blood and collapsing to the ground.

"If you really understood, would you commit such a foolish act, Xiao Yi..." the woman said coldly.

The Sect Master, however, voraciously interrupted, "Stop feeding me those illusory Martial Arts True Intent."

"Martial Arts True Intent belongs to the Heavenly Extreme Realm."

"But, Heavenly Extreme Realm— who can truly achieve it?"

"Our Sky-splitting Sword Sect has had countless brilliant predecessors over many years, yet who has ever reached it?"

The Sect Master's eyes were filled with a fierce desire as he stared at the woman, "Heavenly Extreme Realm, oh Heavenly Extreme Realm."

"Did the Old Sect Leader reach it? Did the Sky-splitting Sword Demon?"

"Even you, senior, do you have the confidence to say you will definitely achieve it?"

"You…" The woman was momentarily at a loss for words.

The Sect Master passionately retorted, "Even you dare not claim to certainly reach it, so on what grounds do you say that Xiao Yi will?"

"In the end, Mo Han is the greatest hope of our sect."

"Do you really want to see the sect destroyed on your watch, senior?"

"The foolish one, the mistaken one, is you."

The Sect Master, trembling, pointed at the woman.

The woman was silent, her icy expression complicated by inner turmoil.

"Was I wrong?" the woman murmured to herself.

"I was wrong, indeed I was wrong."

The woman suddenly sighed deeply.

"Master." Bai Bingxue hesitated, wanting to say something.

The woman waved her hand dismissively, saying forlornly, "From 15 years ago, I was mistaken."

The woman shook her head, stood up, and turned to leave.

The Sect Master scoffed.

The woman suddenly turned back, "These words today, are they for the sake of the sect, or for the sake of Bai Mohan? You know full well."

The Sect Master scoffed, "Yes, I am doing this for Mohan."

"I am his master; I should give him the best, I should do everything for him."

"And what of it?"

"Xiao Yi is dead, dead!"

"Senior, you have no choice; eventually, the sect will always fall into Mohan's hands."

"When Mohan returns, the sect will offer him the best, and the entire Flame Martial Kingdom will give him the best."

"It won't be long before even the Eldest Prince of the Ice Martial Kingdom is under his feet."

"Mo Han will become a legend across the entire Flame Dragon Continent."

Upon hearing these words, the woman shook her head and walked away on her own.

Beneath that stunningly beautiful face, was a chill wrought from utter disappointment.

From behind, the Sect Master and others laughed heartily, "Send out the orders; let the whole sect celebrate."

"Announce throughout the Royal Capital to welcome Mohan back to the sect."

"Yes," replied the group of elders in unison.

The expressions on Zhong Wuyou and others' faces turned extremely grim.

...

Night fell, the moon shone brightly and stars were sparse.

Inside the sect's shrine deep within the bamboo forest,

The woman stood with her hands behind her back, looking at the numerous Spiritual Tablets in front of her, lost in deep thought, looking utterly forlorn.

"I promised my master to preserve the sect."

"But now, is the sect to be destroyed by my hands?"

"If 15 years ago, I had been harder hearted, today's disaster would not have occurred."

"If only…"

The woman spoke despairingly to herself, shaking her head, knowing there were no ifs.

The woman suddenly turned her head, looking towards the distant horizon outside the sect's shrine.

"If only… you could come back, I would give you everything."

...