Volume One: The Cloudy Immortal Palace Chapter Thirty-Eight: Return to the Palace

Chapter Thirty-Eight: Return to the Hall

In the silent vastness of space, rifts in the void crisscrossed like a spider’s web. The surrounding stars had long since become mere motes of dust in the universe. The battle of the Immortals was earth-shattering; with every gesture, a trace of immortal might pressed down, leaving those of lower realms utterly defenseless.

At this very moment, a dozen or so figures stood within this boundless void—these were the Immortal Yunmiao and his companions, along with the Night Envoy. One party fought for the disciples of their hall, the other for the so-called counter-artifact. Thus, they laid down their arms, prepared to negotiate a trade.

The Voidlight Sword, a celestial blade radiating a sharp white gleam, was crafted by an exceptional swordsmith. Yet, rumors claimed the sword was a natural creation, born of a stone sword embryo, and that the swordsmith merely chanced upon it.

Regardless, this sword was every bit the treasured weapon its reputation suggested. It held the mysterious power to cleave through space, able to strike down enemies from billions of miles away, and had drunk the blood of a great immortal before.

“Hall Master, the Voidlight Sword is so precious. Are you really sure you—” As the sword was being handed to the Night Envoy, Cheng Bing could not help but show a tinge of regret.

“There is nothing more precious than a human life, not even the Voidlight Sword,” replied Yunmiao Immortal, not looking at Cheng Bing, but gazing resolutely ahead.

The surrounding elders were all inwardly shaken by these words. Zhou Hao, Yu Nan, and the others, now being returned to Yunmiao’s side, also felt a surge of admiration for their hall master. He truly valued their lives above all else!

“Nothing is more precious than a human life... nothing is more precious than a human life...” Zhou Hao repeated the phrase, as if an inner voice was telling him that protecting those he loved was his true calling.

“I will not let any of you come to harm. Never again. I will remember this lesson—to protect those I love and who love me is the most important thing in life,” Zhou Hao silently vowed.

Yun Fang, Yu Nan, Su Qing, Cao Shuang... these people had become the vital threads of his existence within this vast immortal domain. Unbeknownst to him, he had grown attached to them, just as anyone would yearn for kinship, love, and friendship. These bonds were worth risking everything to defend, provided he had the strength—enough strength to face any challenge.

“Heh heh, so this is the Voidlight Sword!”

At last, without any unexpected turns, Zhou Hao and Yu Nan returned to Yunmiao’s side. Yet Su Qing remained immobilized beside the Night Envoy, who eyed the Voidlight Sword greedily and reached for it.

Szzzt!

The Night Envoy’s black hand was instantly repelled by the sword’s radiant white light, spraying a dozen drops of bright blood through the void. Alarmed, the Night Envoy staggered back several steps before daring to approach the sword again.

“Heh heh, indeed, a counter-artifact made to restrain our Night Palace. But today, no matter what, you will be subdued by us!” the Night Envoy muttered, paying no heed to those around him.

He produced a mirror from thin air—one side white, the other black—then pointed the black side at the Voidlight Sword. A dark gleam reflected from the mirror, and in a flash, the sword’s white aura vanished, transforming it into an ancient, rough-hewn black stone sword.

To be precise, it was a sword embryo, with a blunt, unsharpened blade, plain and unremarkable—just as the rumors described: a natural stone sword, formed by fate itself.

“He used that mirror to suppress the sword’s aura? But why didn’t he use it when he fought me earlier?” Yunmiao Immortal frowned, perplexed.

“Collect!”

With a sweep of his sleeve, the Night Envoy stored the stone sword away, finally turning his gaze upon Yunmiao and his companions.

“Yunmiao Immortal, now it’s time to hand over the stone tablet, isn’t it? You wouldn’t abandon another disciple to her fate, would you?” The Night Envoy yanked Su Qing in front of him, sneering coldly.

“Su Qing!”

Elder Li Qionghua, seeing her beloved disciple in the hands of a fiend, could barely restrain her fury and might have drawn her sword on the spot had she not controlled herself.

“Don’t worry, Elder Li. I will bring your disciple back,” Yunmiao Immortal assured her softly.

“Thank you, Hall Master,” Li Qionghua replied with a nod.

The next moment, Yunmiao Immortal summoned Zhou Hao and whispered a few words in his ear. Then, looking coldly at the Night Envoy, he said, “You can have the stone tablet, but I’m wary of your tricks. Only I will remain here to make the exchange.”

“Heh heh, so cautious, Yunmiao Immortal. No matter, to us, the counter-artifact is worth far more than a few lives!” the Night Envoy replied smugly.

Yunmiao then ordered the seven elders to swiftly escort Zhou Hao and Yu Nan away to Yunmiao Hall, while he stayed behind alone to negotiate with the Night Envoy.

“Su Qing, we’ll be waiting for your return!” Zhou Hao and Yu Nan called out in unison to the distant figure, but Su Qing could only look on helplessly, unable to speak.

“Heh heh, now there are no more interruptions. You can hand over the stone tablet in exchange for your disciple, can’t you?” said the Night Envoy.

“The stone tablet is here. As you know, its importance is beyond measure. The words ‘Great Sun Palm’—you know exactly what they mean,” Yunmiao replied, producing a dark stone tablet the size of two palms, inscribed in gold with the words ‘Great Sun Palm.’

During his whispered conversation with Zhou Hao, Yunmiao had asked about the tablet, and upon learning Zhou Hao carried it, had taken it from him for the exchange.

“Heh heh, yes, the Great Sun Palm was the peerless immortal art of the Solar Lord, the original domain lord of the Sun and Moon Domain. The world believes it lost, and even we of the Night Palace have never obtained a complete version. To think you stumbled upon a part of it—fortunate, yet unfortunate, for without the means to cultivate it, you cannot defeat me with such an invincible art!” said the Night Envoy.

“The tablet is before you. Release my disciple and it is yours—agreed?” Yunmiao asked.

“Heh heh, do you mean you want me to release her first, then hand over the tablet? That’s hardly fair to me,” the Night Envoy retorted.

“If not, why should I trust you not to turn on me after you have the tablet? With your strength, you could easily kill me now, especially since I no longer have the Voidlight Sword,” Yunmiao replied, shaking his head.

“If I really wanted you dead, would I waste words with you? Give me the tablet and I will release your disciple and not harm you further. The Night Palace acts for profit, not senseless slaughter,” the Night Envoy replied.

“If your Night Palace is so righteous, why did you assassinate our disciple a hundred years ago? Who would believe your words?” Yunmiao asked coldly.

“Your so-called genius was disobedient, so we had to use extreme measures. Besides, I didn’t kill him—he self-destructed. I only reclaimed his soul,” the Night Envoy replied dismissively.

“Such conduct is monstrous! How I regret my lack of strength; otherwise, I would have slain you to honor my disciple’s spirit!” Yunmiao declared.

“If you want to kill me, go ahead—if you’re strong enough, I’ll welcome the challenge anytime. Heh heh heh!”

“Enough, let’s trade. Release Su Qing and I’ll give you the tablet immediately.”

“I tire of bargaining—this tablet is worth more than thousands of geniuses’ lives!”

With that, the Night Envoy shoved Su Qing forward. She raced over, and Yunmiao Immortal pulled her to his side, keeping a safe distance from the Night Envoy.

“Here is your tablet!” Yunmiao struck out with his palm, sending the Great Sun Palm tablet flying through the void. The Night Envoy darted after it at once; to him, this counter-artifact was beyond price. If he succeeded in bringing it back to the Night Palace, his status would soar.

Second only to the lord himself!

Whoosh!

Yunmiao and Su Qing became a streak of light, speeding toward Yunmiao Hall.

In the dark cosmos, the Night Envoy now held the stone tablet, laughing with glee as he fondled the palm-sized artifact, unable to put it down.

“Voidlight Sword, Great Sun Palm—now, with these two counter-artifacts, I no longer need to scour these small realms for genius souls. I can even venture to the Grand Luo Domain. Heh heh heh!”

Dark mists surged, lightning flickered, and the Night Envoy wasted no time as he sped off into the starless depths of space.

Within Yunmiao Hall.

All the elders were assembled. Yunmiao Immortal and the two vice hall masters sat in the seats of honor, and below them knelt the three disciples—Zhou Hao, Yu Nan, and Su Qing.

“These past two days have been hard on you three. This peril was my fault as hall master—I failed to foresee the calamity that befell you,” Yunmiao Immortal sighed.

“No, Hall Master, you are not to blame. The Night Palace is too insidious and treacherous. To freeze an entire star for their own selfish ends is truly monstrous!” Yu Nan said bitterly.

“Indeed! The Night Palace slew my Yang’er, then abducted Nan’er. I only regret my own weakness, unable to take revenge myself! Today, Hall Master risked a priceless treasure to save Nan’er—my gratitude knows no bounds!” Elder Yu Longtian wept bitterly. Heaven had given him little talent, but had compensated him with two gifted children—only to snatch away his pride and joy, his eldest son. Reflecting on his life, he saw only sighs and sorrow, the caprice of fate laid bare. Now, this aged elder only wished for his daughter’s peace and safety—for an old father, nothing is more precious than his child’s happiness.

“The Night Palace’s latest attack was unexpected. Their true aim is the souls of genius disciples across the domain—more importantly, they seek artifacts that counter their immortal arts, these so-called counter-artifacts. We must be ever-vigilant against them in the days to come,” Yunmiao Immortal said gravely.

“What’s more, in only a few years the Immortal Hall Tournament will begin. Only the top three will earn the right to enter the Grand Immortal’s Abode and compete for destiny—a chance all dream of. You three are the most outstanding of Yunmiao; use your remaining time to train diligently!” With that, Yunmiao turned the conversation to the tournament, seven years hence.

...

Night fell. In the resplendent hall, only two figures remained—one pale as frost, the other watching over him with deep concern.

“Brother, you... in today’s battle you must have injured your very core. Seeing you force yourself like this, I truly despise my own weakness, still unable to take that last step and ascend to Immortal!” Yun Fang said with guilt.

“It’s not your fault. Ascending is not achieved overnight—it depends on fate and talent. I believe you will become an Immortal yet. Don’t blame yourself,” Yunmiao replied with a faint, gratified smile. Looking at his equally white-haired younger brother, his heart ached.

This gifted brother had once been the pride of their sect, raising a golden immortal disciple at a young age. Yet the heavens were merciless—at the height of his glory, everything was taken from him. His disciple was slain, he suffered mockery, and though his strength remained, it did not grow. That blow had robbed him of joy... until the arrival of the new disciple, Zhou Hao.

But today, he had nearly lost this new disciple as well. In terms of responsibility, Yunmiao could not escape blame, for he saw clearly that Yun Fang and Zhou Hao’s bond was no less than that with Yu Yang.

Coughing suddenly, Yunmiao Immortal spat blood, his face growing even paler.

“Brother!” Yun Fang cried out in alarm, hurrying to support him and leading him into a secret chamber to tend his wounds.

At dawn, when the first rays of sunlight touched the small world of this immortal land, the sword training square was once again filled with more than three hundred bright, youthful figures standing in perfect rows. And among them, Zhou Hao stood proudly.