The Unparalleled Sword Emperor
Chapter 1657 - 1654: Chaos in Descent of Interest Rates!

Chapter 1657: Chapter 1654: Chaos in Descent of Interest Rates!

When Yejian Qiu arrived at this place, Lin Bai had already slaughtered over three hundred Yangshen Realm experts here, and the Donglan Sword Sect was the last to arrive.

As Lin Bai gazed upon Yejian Qiu for the first time, his eyes instinctively searched beside him, but Jian Ruohan was nowhere to be found.

Lin Bai had originally planned to find an opportunity to meet Jian Ruohan. Previously, in Starry Sky City, due to some friction with the Donglan Sword Sect, Lin Bai had visited several times but was always turned away.

Now that he was in the Wanxing Secret Realm and had managed to encounter Yejian Qiu, he was surprised not to see Jian Ruohan by Yejian Qiu’s side!

Yejian Qiu was initially startled by the corpses strewn across the ground. He quickly recognized that all of them were Yangshen Realm experts from the Seven Major Sects, with most of them from the Fenxin Sect and the Saint Seal Sect, and fewer from the other sects.

Yejian Qiu swiftly regained his composure, looked at Lin Bai, and asked, "Where is my junior sister? Do you need to report this to Dongfang Bai, the Junior Sword Venerate?"

"You!" Lin Bai’s eyes flashed with killing intent as he took a step forward.

Zhang Jianxing and Lin Luo hurriedly stopped Lin Bai, worried that he might lose control and annihilate the strong practitioners of the Donglan Sword Sect as well!

"Hmph!" Yejian Qiu coldly snorted, flicked his sleeves, and began to leave.

"Stop! If you don’t reveal Jian Ruohan’s whereabouts today, you won’t be able to leave!" Lin Bai glared at Yejian Qiu and spoke coldly.

Yejian Qiu turned back and glanced at Lin Bai, then asked in a cold voice, "I can tell you my junior sister’s whereabouts, but before that, I must ask you a question..."

"I already asked you back in Starry Sky City!"

"Who are you...?"

Yejian Qiu’s sharp gaze pierced directly into Lin Bai’s eyes!

Lin Bai’s expression changed dramatically at Yejian Qiu’s question, and he fell into a moment of silence.

Yejian Qiu spoke in a frosty tone, "Why are you so interested in my junior sister?"

Lin Bai remained silent.

"What’s wrong? Speechless now? Ha!" Yejian Qiu sneered and turned to leave.

This time, Lin Bai didn’t stop Yejian Qiu.

As Yejian Qiu had said, why would Dongfang Bai be so interested in Jian Ruohan?

It didn’t make sense.

After taking a few steps, without turning his head or glancing back at Lin Bai, Yejian Qiu coldly uttered, "My junior sister has left!"

Lin Bai asked curiously, "Left?"

Yejian Qiu shook his head and replied, "Yes, she left right after seeing you. She left Starry Sky City directly, and I don’t know where she has gone. Perhaps she returned to the Donglan Sword Sect. Or maybe... back home."

"Her whereabouts, I do not know."

Yejian Qiu shook his head and spoke.

After saying this, Yejian Qiu departed.

Upon hearing that Jian Ruohan had left, Lin Bai’s heart inexplicably ached.

This pain was like a blade slowly cutting open his heart, agonizing and unbearable.

"Why!"

"Since you recognized me, why didn’t you come and find me!"

"Why did you leave, why did you run away..."

"Why didn’t you come to see me!"

Lin Bai’s eyes showed signs of panic as he murmured to himself, "Do you not want to see me, or do you not dare to see me..."

Yejian Qiu left with the Donglan Sword Sect warriors, while Lin Bai stood frozen, lost and bewildered.

Zhang Jianxing whispered, "Brother Dongfang, you’ve slaughtered so many elders of the Seven Major Sects in the Wanxing Secret Realm. Although this place is a trial ground where life and death are determined by fate..."

"The Seven Major Sects have lost so many strong practitioners. Even if they don’t say it out loud, they are bound to hold resentment in their hearts!"

"After leaving the Wanxing Secret Realm, I’m heading back to the Sword Pavilion. If Brother Dongfang has no other matters, you could accompany me to the Sword Pavilion. Along the way, we can drink and debate martial arts. Doesn’t that sound delightful?"

Zhang Jianxing smiled warmly and extended the invitation.

Lin Bai could tell Zhang Jianxing’s intentions were good—he was worried that Lin Bai might become a target for the Seven Major Sects after leaving the Wanxing Secret Realm.

As Zhang Jianxing mentioned, the Seven Major Sects had lost so many Yangshen Realm experts. Even if their mouths remained silent, their hearts would undoubtedly harbor hatred.

Lin Bai smiled faintly, "Brother Zhang, I’ll surely visit the North Frost Dynasty someday, but not right now. Moreover, if I go to the Sword Pavilion with you, I may bring unnecessary trouble to your sect as well."

"Since I caused the trouble, it’s only natural that I bear the consequences myself!"

Lin Bai spoke calmly.

Zhang Jianxing shook his head and said, "If you manage to survive, come find me at the Sword Pavilion as soon as you can."

Lin Bai nodded, "Very well. If I don’t make it, then the sword at Senior Guzhou’s place—I ask that Brother Zhang take good care of it!"

Zhang Jianxing shook his head and responded, "As long as I don’t see your corpse with my own eyes, I won’t touch that sword. But if one day I do find your remains, I’ll pick up that sword and avenge you!"

"Farewell, Brother Dongfang—let’s meet again at the Sword Pavilion!"

Carrying the Demon Sword on his back, Zhang Jianxing left in a carefree manner, waving to Lin Bai with an exuberant smile just before departing.

Lin Bai smiled lightly and nodded.

"Senior Brother Lin Anyang, Senior Sister Lin Luo, thank you for coming," Lin Bai said gratefully, cupping his hands toward them. "Senior Brother, Senior Sister, you’ve helped me time and time again—I, Dongfang Bai, am endlessly appreciative. Should you require any help in the future, do not hesitate to ask!"

Lin Anyang and Lin Luo exchanged weary smiles and responded in unison, "Just try to cause less trouble, that would be enough."

Two days later, Lin Anyang and Lin Luo left the area and resumed their journey through the Wanxing Secret Realm.

But Lin Bai remained, sitting cross-legged as he began to regulate the chaotic energies within his body.

"My cultivation has progressed so much—it has actually reached the peak of the First Level of the Yangshen Realm!" Lin Bai exclaimed, startled by his discovery while circulating the Five Elements Scripture.

"I suppose it’s because I killed so many Yangshen Realm experts. During the time I lost control, in my demonic phase, I must have absorbed all those blood crystals."

Lin Bai pondered the situation and quickly arrived at the conclusion.

"But as for the demonic transformation..." Lin Bai’s expression grew grave, and his pupils shrank in apprehension as he muttered, "The Demon Heart Cultivator technique—it is an ancient, forbidden martial skill!"

"And the Demon Sword is a weapon of utmost malevolence and wickedness!"

"I used the Demon Sword to force the Demon Flower to bloom, allowing the demonic nature to devour my mind. This is not an encouraging sign!"

"Had it not been for Senior Guzhou, who suddenly stepped in and took the Demon Sword away, I likely would’ve remained in my demonic state until the moment of my death!"

"And this marks the second time I’ve used the Demon Sword to summon the Demon Flower!"

"The first time was on the Miracle Ridge, but back then, I could still control my mind. This second bout of demonic influence nearly robbed me of self-control..."

"If there’s ever a third time that I summon the Demon Flower using the Demon Sword, I might truly lose myself forever..."

Realizing this, Lin Bai found himself drenched in cold sweat!

"It seems I’ll have to refrain from using the Demon Sword to summon the Demon Flower in the future..." Lin Bai murmured with apprehension, his gaze filled with unease.