Intense Vengeance

Intense Vengeance . . . 

Once, this academy had predominantly been a haven for demons and practitioners of demonic arts. However, with the amalgamation of the four sacred academies, humans seeking to cultivate had also begun to wander these hallowed halls. The academy boasted an array of secret realms, each offering opportunities to enhance one's strength and skills.

As the experts within the academy caught sight of Qin Wentian, their hearts quivered with anticipation. At long last, he had returned. But could he truly contend with formidable adversaries like Huang Wudi, who currently resided here?

Among them, Huang Wudi and Huang Youdi had made this academy their temporary home. Their arrival had occurred slightly later than Qin Wentian's, leaving others pondering their true motives.

Speculations ran rampant, with many believing that Qin Wentian's beloved Qing'er, the daughter of the Evergreen Immortal Emperor and a disciple of Matriarch Ji, had sought refuge in this academy. Unquestionably, the person they yearned to capture most was Qin Wentian's cherished companion.

Huang Youdi's profound animosity towards Qin Wentian and White-eye from the White Tiger Race added fuel to the fire, propelling their relentless pursuit of Qing'er. It was whispered among the students that if Qing'er had fallen into their clutches, the unspeakable horrors they might inflict upon her could send even the boldest of souls quaking in fear.

An impending tempest of turmoil loomed large over the academy.

Indeed, Qing'er was here, hiding within its bounds. She had once traversed alongside her senior sister and the formidable warriors of the Battle Saint Tribe. However, when their relentless pursuers had drawn near, her senior sister and the tribe's warriors had chosen to remain behind, sacrificing themselves to shield her escape. News of this selfless act had fanned the flames of her pursuers' fervor, intensifying their hunt for her. Over these past few arduous days, she had been relentlessly on the run.

Deep within the academy's confines, Qing'er suddenly sensed a faint spatial fluctuation. Hastily, she moved towards it and discovered an engraving etched onto a stone. Placing her hand over it, she witnessed an ethereal image of a finger pointing in a specific direction. Her eyes sparkled with delight.

"It's a mark left behind by my senior sister," Qing'er pondered in silence, her beautiful countenance revealing a glimmer of hope. Despite her enduring beauty, the strain and fatigue of recent days were etched upon her features. The trials she had faced were clearly etched into her weary demeanor.

Yet, upon discovering the unique mark left behind by one of her senior sisters, her features relaxed, and her expression softened. Qing'er had been diligently searching for these marks during her flight. Only the disciples of Matriarch Ji possessed these secret imprints, and only they possessed the knowledge to decipher them. There was no reason to suspect that an outsider had fabricated them.

As the hours rolled on, Qing'er found herself standing amidst the picturesque mountains. A vision of beauty and grace, this maiden exuded an aura of nobility, possessed a statuesque figure, and radiated an irresistible charm. Her lineage was prestigious, and she counted herself among the disciples of the esteemed Matriarch Ji. However, the academy they once knew was now plunged into an unprecedented catastrophe.

"Senior Nie!" Qing'er hastened towards the maiden, halting before her with palpable relief. Nie Yunchang, her senior sister, was exceptionally gifted and had always looked out for her. Their fellow disciples under Matriarch Ji often compared the two of them.

"Junior Sister, are you alright?" Nie Yunchang inquired with genuine concern.

"I'm fine," Qing'er replied, softening her icy demeanor when speaking to her fellow disciples. In their presence, she emanated a comforting warmth.

"Good." Nie Yunchang nodded. Her gaze then drifted towards the horizon. "I wonder how our other fellow sisters are faring."

"They should be alright," Qing'er muttered, gazing into the heavens. Despite her reassurances, she harbored deep concerns. Was her senior sister, who had valiantly shielded her from harm, safe? It weighed heavily on Qing'er's heart, making it difficult to find solace.

A faint, mocking smile played on Nie Yunchang's lips, unnoticed by Qing'er. Turning her head, Qing'er suggested, "Senior Sister, we should change our location. This place is too conspicuous."

"Alright, Qing'er, you lead the way," Nie Yunchang agreed, her smile unwavering.

With Qing'er in the lead, her aura surged as she ventured forth. Nie Yunchang followed, emitting spatial energy fluctuations that seemed curiously potent.

Qing'er felt a growing sense of curiosity. She turned to her senior sister and inquired, "Senior Sister...?"

But before her words could fully escape her lips, she suddenly felt as if she were staring into the eyes of a stranger. Gone was the warmth and gentleness of the past; in their place, only icy fury and anger remained. It was as if Qing'er were the murderer of Nie Yunchang's father. A chill gripped Qing'er's heart as she beheld this unsettling transformation in her senior sister. She struggled to comprehend the profound hatred now etched across Nie Yunchang's face.

Was this truly the senior sister she had held in such high regard?

"Chi..." Without hesitation, Nie Yunchang summoned a surge of potent spatial energy and directed it at Qing'er. Only then did Qing'er realize that her senior sister had been preparing these spatial fluctuations in advance to launch an attack.

The assault came swiftly, leaving Qing'er little time to react. How could she have foreseen such an act from Nie Yunchang? It had never crossed her mind that her senior sister would launch a ruthless assault against her.

Even now, Qing'er's face remained etched with bewilderment. She was utterly confounded by the situation unfolding before her.

Throughout their time together, Qing'er had always sensed a certain distance between herself and her senior sister, Nie Yunchang. But she had assumed that with time and her unwavering sincerity, the walls separating them would crumble away.

"Senior Sister... why?" The question escaped Qing'er's lips, and she still referred to Nie Yunchang with that honorific title. She couldn't fathom why her senior sister was doing this.

"Why?" Venomous hatred danced in Nie Yunchang's eyes. She began to laugh maniacally, her laughter resonating through the surroundings. The warmth that once graced her smile had given way to unbridled coldness, and her beautiful countenance twisted with malice.

"I hail from an emperor-ranked power, my ancestor is an immortal emperor. While he may not rival your father, the Evergreen Immortal Emperor, who reigns over an entire immortal empire, he remains an immortal-emperor ranked expert. My status is extraordinary, and my talents are exceptional. I've been the pride of the heavens since my youth, basking in endless glory. My growth was hailed as legendary within my clan, and after receiving Master's tutelage, my standing only rose. I was like the moon among stars, a princess held in high esteem by all. Even my ancestor personally guided my path."

Nie Yunchang's tone dripped with icy contempt. Every individual who entered the sacred academy was seen as a legend in their respective clans. They were the supreme heaven's chosen, regarded as dragons and phoenixes among mortals. Nie Yunchang was no exception.

"I never disappointed my clan. Even under Master's guidance, I continued to shine brightly. All my fellow apprentices adored me. The time Master devoted to mentoring me exceeded that of our peers. Everything affirmed my innate extraordinariness, and my destiny appeared set on a path of greatness."

Nie Yunchang continued, her words reaching Qing'er's ears as she bore the brunt of the spatial energy assaulting her. It was ravaging her body's interior, weakening her defenses, but her determination to understand her senior sister's motives remained unshaken.

Was this driven by jealousy?

"But all of that changed when you appeared. You're an innate immortal king, and your cultivation path faces no bounds until you reach the immortal king realm. For most, that's the pinnacle. Yet, for you, it's just the beginning. You possess innate talent in spatial energy, and you're the most cherished daughter of the Evergreen Immortal Emperor, the object of countless geniuses' affections. Once you entered our sect, all the apprentice sisters doted on you. You even won our master's favor, surpassing me by far."

Nie Yunchang continued her tirade, recounting facts Qing'er was acutely aware of. Qing'er had sensed Nie Yunchang's lingering discontent on these matters, but she had believed that their bond was strong enough to overcome such issues. Moreover, she thought that even if Nie Yunchang felt jealous, it would never drive her to these extreme actions.

The intensity of the confrontation between Nie Yunchang and Qing'er escalated, the air crackling with raw emotion. Nie Yunchang's eyes burned with fury, and her voice reverberated with a potent mix of anger, betrayal, and heartbreak.

"Naturally, I can understand all of this. The immortal realms are vast, and there will always be someone more dazzling than you. Among our fellow disciples, there are those more talented than me, yet they showered me with love and care. Your existence wouldn't have affected my promising future, but everything I had or could have had was destroyed in this sacred academy—all of it, destroyed by you...!" Nie Yunchang's voice roared, her eyes freezing cold as if she desired to tear Qing'er into a thousand pieces.

"Because of Huang Shatian, many targeted you. Our fellow sisters protected you out of concern, but how could you drag everyone into this battlefield? They had no connection with your lover Qin Wentian, the Southern Phoenix Clan, or any of it. They had their own lives, yet because of you, many of our fellow sisters are now dead."

Qing'er gazed at Nie Yunchang, her heart heavy with sorrow. How could she not be sad? Her heartstrings were being torn asunder. It was true, the entire conflict involving the Southern Phoenix Clan, Qin Wentian, the White Tiger Race, and the Nine-Emperors Immortal Empire had ignited because of her. She had been the catalyst for all this turmoil.

The people from the Southern Phoenix Clan, Thousand Transformations Immortal Sect, and even the Askheart Temple—none of them were familiar with her. Yet, they stood unwaveringly with Qin Wentian in battle, willingly embracing her cause. She had come to consider them friends, comrades who would stand together to face death.

"Absurd! You've emerged unscathed. HOW CAN YOU BE FINE?!" Nie Yunchang laughed hysterically. "Do you know what it was like for me after I was captured? They stripped away my pride, subjected me to humiliation, and took everything from me. My life was shattered. All because of you!"

Qing'er's heart ached as she gazed at Nie Yunchang, overwhelmed with self-loathing. Guilt swirled within her, and tears welled up in her eyes. "Senior Sister, I'm sorry..."

"Sorry?" Nie Yunchang sneered, her smile devoid of warmth. "Can your apologies reverse what's been done? Despite the torment I endured, I chose to live on. Right now, I loathe them all, and I yearn to tear them apart. But I loathe you too. That's why I promised to deliver you to them. It's why they eventually released me!"