Once his epiphany concluded, Xia Wuyang had already begun to solidify and adapt to his transformed Soul Enchantment Technique.
His next steps were to continue solidifying his control, familiarizing himself with the various profound applications of this transformed Top Level Spirit Art, and exploring the deeper mysteries of the soul.
Xia Wuyang had a persistent feeling that if he could unravel these mysteries, it would play a crucial role in his cultivation beyond the Qi Refining Stage.
No one in the Imperial Palace would have guessed that this elder Crown Prince, whom they regarded as little more than dry bones in a tomb, had not only reached the Extraordinary Realm with his Spiritual Power, but had also touched upon an even higher level of cultivation.
He hadn’t even had a few days to consolidate his gains.
「That night, in the Eastern Palace’s Lizheng Hall.」
Yun Liyue was meditating with her eyes closed, stabilizing her cultivation at the First Grade Middle Stage, when she suddenly heard a flurry of hurried footsteps outside.
The person hadn’t announced their arrival to anyone, and to come so late at night... clearly, this was no friendly visit.
Yun Liyue’s eyes snapped open. She tightened her grip on her longsword, a cold glint in her gaze as she waited for the visitor to appear.
Soon, a familiar figure appeared in her Sleeping Palace. She was an elegant woman with a severe expression, exuding a fierce aura. It was Elder Yuheng, the head of the Xuan Nu Palace’s Law Enforcement Hall and one of its highest-ranking Elders.
Her cultivation was at First Grade Perfection, and it was said she would soon attempt to break through to the Super Grade Realm. She was known for her harsh methods, and by sneaking into the Eastern Palace at this hour, her purpose was self-evident.
"Elder Yu, why come here without any announcement? You would have allowed this disciple to give you a proper welcome."
Yun Liyue’s expression was mocking as she looked at the intruding Elder Yuheng.
Elder Yuheng’s face turned cold. "This is the inner sanctum of the Eastern Palace. If I had announced myself, who knows if I would have even been allowed inside."
She paused, then got straight to the point. "Enough idle talk. Yun Liyue, on the orders of the Palace Master, I am here to retrieve the Sword Control Skill manual."
Her tone brooked no argument, implying that if Yun Liyue refused, she would attack immediately.
Yun Liyue’s expression remained calm, completely unintimidated by the Elder’s presence. "You are mistaken, Elder Yu. My master acquired the Sword Control Skill while traveling. It is not part of Xuan Nu Palace’s heritage, so how can there be any talk of ’retrieving’ it?"
"Insolence!" Elder Yuheng barked. "Since Qing Yin is an Elder of Xuan Nu Palace, everything she obtains naturally belongs to Xuan Nu Palace."
Hearing this, Yun Liyue couldn’t help but sneer. "If that’s the case, this disciple has heard that your family, Elder Yuheng, possesses many secret Cultivation and Combat Techniques. Why haven’t those been handed over to the Sect?"
"You..." The retort left Elder Yuheng speechless, at a loss for words.
Seeing this, Yun Liyue rose to her feet, her gaze as sharp as a sword as she stared at Elder Yuheng. "Furthermore, may I ask, Elder Yu—where is my master now?"
Elder Yuheng’s expression shifted slightly. "Qing Yin left the palace without permission. Her current whereabouts are unknown. We do not know where she is."
"What a convenient ’whereabouts unknown’!" Yun Liyue laughed. "When Master returned to the palace heavily injured, who was it that forced her to hand over the Sword Control Skill? And who was it that burst in while she was recuperating, leading to her disappearance? Did you really think I was ignorant of all this?"
This barrage of questions made Elder Yuheng’s expression turn ugly. "Yun Liyue, don’t you dare make such baseless accusations! Those matters have nothing to do with us. Qing Yin brought it all upon herself."
"You know perfectly well whether they’re baseless or not, Elder Yu." Yun Liyue’s gaze was piercing. "I do not have the Sword Control Skill. If Xuan Nu Palace wants to take advantage of this crisis to get it, then you can go find my master. Let her hand it over to the Sect personally. And there’s no reason why other Elders can hoard their own Cultivation Techniques, Combat Techniques, and Secret Techniques, but my master cannot."
Elder Yuheng laughed, her anger twisting into a smirk. "Fine, Yun Liyue. It seems you’ve chosen the hard way. A mere Second Grade Grandmaster... do you really think the Eastern Palace’s protection means Xuan Nu Palace won’t dare to touch you? That elder Crown Prince can’t even protect himself. I’d like to see how he plans on protecting you."
Qi and Blood surged around her as the oppressive aura of a First Grade Perfection instantly descended. The longsword at her waist was on the verge of being drawn.
Just at this moment, Yun Liyue suddenly moved. Her Treasure Sword leaped into the air and slashed toward Elder Yuheng.
SHING... The Treasure Sword shot through the air, fast as lightning, aimed straight for the spot between Elder Yuheng’s eyebrows.
The power contained within the blade seemed capable of tearing through anything.
"Sword Control Skill!"
Elder Yuheng’s face went pale with horror. Before she could even process what was happening, the Treasure Sword was already upon her brow. If she hadn’t dodged in that split second, her head would have been cleaved in two.
"You...! Yun Liyue! To think you broke through to the First Grade Realm in secret! Xuan Nu Palace will not let you get away with this!"
Spitting blood, Elder Yuheng fled outside, moving as fast as a lightning flash.
Before Yun Liyue could launch a second strike, Elder Yuheng had vanished without a trace.
Moments later, Elder Yuheng reached the edge of the Imperial Palace, just about to escape.
Just then, a figure abruptly appeared before her. The figure wore a cloak, their face completely obscured, making them impossible to identify.
"Elder Yuheng, why are you in such a hurry to leave?"
The stranger’s gait was unhurried, yet they exuded an aura that made Elder Yuheng’s heart race. She didn’t dare take another step.
She stopped, wary, and stared at the figure. "Who are you?" she demanded. "Do you intend to make an enemy of Xuan Nu Palace?"
"Merely righting an injustice I happened to witness."
The figure chuckled softly. Before Elder Yuheng could react, a Soul Enchantment Technique fell upon her. One moment, the beautiful, middle-aged Elder was on high alert; the next, her face was a mask of confusion, leaving her completely defenseless and unable to resist.
He cast an illusion, using it to probe her thoughts and uncover more information.
Soon, from within the illusion, Xia Wuyang learned the whole story. It turned out that after being wounded by an enemy, Elder Qing Yin had returned to Xuan Nu Palace. Instead of helping her, some of the Sect’s upper echelon decided to use the opportunity to seize her Sword Control Skill.
Several high-ranking members, led by the Mistress of the Profound Lady Palace and including Elder Yuheng herself, had even forced their way into Elder Qing Yin’s seclusion. They had tried to compel her to hand over the Sword Control Skill, aggravating her already severe injuries.
In the end, Elder Qing Yin had been forced to flee Xuan Nu Palace. During her escape, she had fallen from a cliff, and her fate remained unknown. There had been no news of her since. This was the truth behind her disappearance.
Xuan Nu Palace had publicly claimed that Elder Qing Yin had left the palace without permission, hence her unknown whereabouts. Meanwhile, they were secretly still searching for her, not only to get the Sword Control Skill but also to eliminate her for good.
When their prolonged search for Elder Qing Yin yielded no results, they set their sights on Yun Liyue.
Several of Elder Qing Yin’s other disciples had also defected, throwing in their lot with the Mistress of the Profound Lady Palace. They became her lackeys, joining in the efforts to target Yun Liyue.
Seeing this, the enemies of Elder Qing Yin and Yun Liyue naturally seized the opportunity to kick them while they were down, fanning the flames of the controversy. With Elder Qing Yin missing, Yun Liyue had become the sole target of everyone’s animosity.

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