Chapter Seventy: King Wu Judges Jie’s Seven Sins (Part 2)

Bang! Bang! Bang!

The Lion King, He Qilie, unleashed a series of frenzied slashes, but since Su Moran’s treasure was no ordinary mortal artifact and possessed formidable defensive power, the Lion King’s blade failed to inflict much damage upon it. The two combatants exchanged every conceivable technique, their duel raging for more than twenty rounds. Suddenly, Su Moran withdrew with a swift movement; the Lion King leaped into the air and flung his Skyward Tiger-head Blade skywards, then quickly drew the two savage snake-headed axes from his back. The twin axes swept out in curving arcs, aiming straight for Su Moran’s chest. Facing the oncoming axes, Su Moran remained calm; he unfurled the Hundred-Feather Wind God Fan in his hand and with a gentle flick, a storm laced with violet-gold gales surged forth to meet the axes.

With a clash and a hiss, both retreated. The Lion King saw Su Moran stagger back several steps before regaining his footing, and immediately soared through the air, catching the spinning Tiger-head Blade, and brought it down in a mighty arc toward Su Moran.

At this moment, it seemed Su Moran had grown careless. After all, the Lion King was a seasoned veteran of countless battles, his skills undiminished by age, possessing three centuries of cultivation—he could not be defeated as easily as in the earlier rounds.

Su Su gazed anxiously at her brother’s once immaculate snowy white fox robe, now tattered and worn. The Lion King’s attacks were ferocious and domineering; though they had not struck Su Moran’s vital points, the passage of his magical weapons sent razor-sharp winds slicing through the air, impossible to evade entirely. Su Moran, despite his best efforts, could not dodge them all. Yet he remained unhurried, invoking his own spell with calm composure.

“Frozen world, silver seas roaring!”

This incantation, known as the Frost Decision, had been passed down by an elder from overseas.

In an instant, countless mercury-like walls of ice sprang up at Su Moran’s feet, precisely intercepting the Lion King’s direct blow. The Lion King, his heavy strike thwarted, swiftly kicked off the ice wall, rebounding back to the ground.

He Qilie knew this spell was no ordinary magic and had already prepared his defenses. As expected, the ice walls before Su Moran shattered at once, transforming into countless shards, each as sharp as a dagger, their icy tips thrusting skyward. In the blink of an eye, the shards shot up into the sky, forming a dense rain of ice spears that swept toward the Lion King.

“Not good!”

Though the Lion King had anticipated danger, he was powerless against magic; his three centuries of cultivation were all focused on martial prowess. His divine strength was unmatched, but against spells, his body was defenseless. If only physical blows mattered, Su Moran would not have been able to withstand him for long. Thus, after fifty rounds, Su Moran, clearly outmatched in martial might, had to resort to magical attacks.

The Lion King’s pride was wounded; being forced into such a contest was a stain upon the name of the illustrious Lion King of Yangyi.

Yet as the storm of icy shards descended, the Lion King threw back his head and laughed wildly.

Then, summoning the Skyward Tiger-head Blade into his grasp, he swung it furiously. Before the shards could even approach within half an inch, they melted to harmless water, inflicting not the slightest harm.

After all, Su Moran’s own cultivation had not yet reached two centuries. Though supremely gifted, his mastery of spells could not yet unleash truly extraordinary power in only two or three hundred years.

In the very heart of the Yangyi Plains, at the center of both armies, the two opponents stood less than twenty meters apart. Su Moran was nearly drained of power, while the Lion King, having only just finished warming up, now surged with golden flames, a majestic lion roaring to the heavens, his aura so mighty it seemed to shake mountains and rivers.

By contrast, Su Moran could barely remain upright. This sight made Su Su, watching from behind, break out in a cold sweat, while Queen Feng Xiao Feng’s brow furrowed, her phoenix eyes narrowing in concern as she gripped her whip tightly. In such a situation, Su Moran was clearly at a disadvantage.

At this moment, the Lion King let out a hearty laugh: “Twelve, you’re still too young! Your uncle has gone easy on you so far. If you continue to push your luck, don’t blame me for being ruthless!”

His pride swelling, the Lion King strode forward, golden flames blazing ever brighter around him. He seemed to transform, right before their eyes, into a monstrous lion, entering the full Lion Transformation of the Yangyi. In the blink of an eye, he hurtled toward Su Moran with blinding speed.

Seeing this, Su Moran’s heart sank. Now was not the time to hold back; the Frost Decision had already drained much of his spiritual energy. If he lost to the Lion King at this crucial moment, Su Su and both armies’ morale would surely collapse, and the tide of battle would turn irreversibly, placing them in grave danger.

Understanding this, Su Moran straightened, his hands weaving intricate gestures. His snowy white fox robe billowed even without wind, and a whirlwind began to swirl about him, with himself at its center. Suddenly, gusts of wind swept through the battlefield, sending a chill through both armies as they stood on the grasslands.

Whoosh—whoosh—the winds howled, growing in ferocity, causing the ranks of both armies to stagger and sway.

The charging Lion King suddenly felt resistance; sensing the unnatural winds, he realized something was wrong. Just as he was about to advance and raise his Tiger-head Blade, the fierce gale surrounding Su Moran howled toward him. He Qilie braced himself, holding the Tiger-head Blade across his chest and resisting the onslaught of wind.

A short distance from Su Moran, his white robe fluttered with the wind, and the Hundred-Feather Wind God Fan hovered, spinning before him. Su Moran’s hair streamed over his shoulders, dancing in the gale as he lowered his head, chanting. In that moment, he seemed the very incarnation of the Wind God himself, turning the tide of battle with his presence. Now, the Lion King was clearly at a disadvantage, his brows knit with shock.

Amidst the furious winds, He Qilie seemed to hear Su Moran’s murmured incantation:

“Wind God’s forbidden words, Heaven’s gift of divine power!

Hundred winds dance, soaring to the ninth heaven, transforming breath into a long, whistling wind.

Stars shift, mountains and rivers topple, words reverse fate—magic without bounds.

Beneath the blazing sun, white clouds shift; atop the ninth sky, omens appear.”

The spectacle was awe-inspiring. Both armies erupted in chaos as if a hornet’s nest had been stirred, the raging winds toppling men and horses alike.

At the front of the Yangyi ranks, the sorceress Gala suddenly made her move, raising her deft hands to conjure a transparent barrier before her troops. On Su Su’s side, she too raised her delicate hand, instantly summoning a dark green shield to ward off Su Moran’s Wind God’s Forbidden Words.

…

Yet, unknown to both armies, not far away, two figures hid in the shadows, whispering in secret.

They were none other than Haodan, unable to rest easy, and Bai Ling, the mischievous junior sister from the Sect of Severance who always bullied him.

Haodan, deeply shaken, gasped, “So Su Moran’s cultivation runs so deep! Such a display—he doesn’t even spare his own allies?”

Bai Ling, seeing his expression, could not help but laugh, “So easily startled! The Qingqiu camp is in dire straits—should Su Moran lose to the Lion King, morale will collapse on one side, and by then, even Su Su’s strength will not suffice to reverse the situation.”

“But even if Su Su defeats the sorceress Gala, won’t that be enough?” Haodan asked in a grave tone.

Bai Ling smiled mischievously, explaining, “In a war of this scale, the outcome depends first on the duel between leaders. Once either commander falls, full battle erupts! If the Lion King defeats Su Moran, the Yangyi’s morale will soar. Even if Su Su bests Gala, the sorceress is merely an outsider—her victory would not count as overcoming the Lion King in the eyes of the generals. The King would remain invincible in their minds.”

“So, this entire scenario is a carefully crafted move by He Qilie—or perhaps Gala plotted it for him. Still, judging by their actions, Su Su and Su Moran clearly see through the Lion King’s trap, but have no choice but to face it head-on.”

“At present, Su Moran must defeat the Lion King, and Su Su cannot be beaten by Gala!”

Haodan felt uneasy hearing this; such cunning strategy could only come from a master tactician. The sorceress aided the Lion King in his bid to rule the Nine Yi—her ambitions were clear. Fortunately, Su Su had inherited the White Emperor’s legacy; otherwise, victory would be out of reach.

“In short, Su Su and Su Moran must defeat their opponents—the Lion King and Gala—if they wish to command the 450,000-strong army of the Nine Yi. Were open battle to erupt, it would not be what Empress Su Su desires. The carnage and casualties would be devastating; even if Su Su prevailed, she would only inherit a ravaged force, unable to recover in time to help my foster father campaign against the Grand Xia.”

Bai Ling glanced at Haodan, her beautiful eyes betraying surprise at his analysis.

“Not bad! It seems you’ve learned a lot lately!”

Pleased by her praise, Haodan could not help but smile.

…

But to return to the day before—

Bai Ling had taken Haodan away, in truth to protect him.

After awakening at the Shang residence, she had meditated to recover from her injuries. Her soul had been gravely wounded; if not for Su Moran’s intervention, she would not have recovered in a year or more.

Thus, while healing, she waited for Haodan, but many days passed with no sign of him, leaving her anxious. Having once traveled the mortal world with her master Lu Ya, she understood the ways of the world. Secretly, she slipped into Yi Yin’s residence and used the Nine Heavens Sect’s secret art of Tracing Sight to discover Su Su, Su Moran, and Haodan’s whereabouts, as well as the identity of their mysterious savior. She also learned that enigmatic Master Li had visited the Shang residence, and that two great immortals from the Celestial Realm—Guang Chengzi, first disciple of the Chan Sect, and the Grand Master of Xuandu—had descended to the mortal world. Including herself, the most mischievous fairy of the Three Realms, the immortals of all three Celestial Sects had visited Shang. After piecing together the events, she quietly focused on her recovery.

Once fully healed, Bai Ling rode the clouds to the heavens, heading straight for her master, the Lord of Severance, at the Palace of the Sacred Vulture. Though ostracized by many for betraying her sect, she retained a special status and made her way unimpeded to the palace, where she knelt for a long time.

Time in the heavens flowed differently. Perhaps moved by his beloved disciple’s persistence, the Lord of Severance, Lingbao Tianzun, spoke through the door: “A thousand years apart, and now you return in distress. Do you admit your faults?” His words still carried the note of deep affection.

“Disciple admits her faults! The mortal realm is in chaos, the Eastern Emperor has returned, but I have not forgotten my original resolve, nor do I wish to implicate my sect. The karma of a thousand years—I am willing to bear the consequences!”

Lingbao Tianzun pressed further, “Foolish child! Now that your memory has returned, why not seek your dream-lover instead of your master?”

“Master, you know the answer already,” Bai Ling replied, though separated by the door, certain of her master’s enduring love.

“For a hundred years I taught you, but it was not worth a single smile from the Heavenly Emperor of yore? A thousand years ago, when the gods of the East warred, you took two sacred treasures and left the sect against all warnings. The others mocked and cast you out—why persist in your devotion to Donghuang Taiyi? This is what I, your master, have never understood.”

Bai Ling answered candidly, “Matters of the heart are hard to explain. If I could, why would I come to confess today?”

“He has not awakened, nor knows who you are, yet you are willing to defy the heavens with him. Is it worth it?” Lingbao Tianzun sighed.

“It is! If I had not regained my memories, perhaps he would have borne this karma alone. But after this tribulation, remembering how he risked his life to save me a millennium ago, I feel these thousand years were but a desperate survival. If I do not protect him in this lifetime, I will be forever indebted!” she said, her voice full of conviction.

Lingbao Tianzun, unable to refute her, smiled wryly: “Foolish child! Had you not gone to that battlefield, his fate would not have changed. Do you understand?”

“What of it? In the end, he could not bear to part from me, though he would not admit it!” Bai Ling insisted.

The Lord of Severance could only sigh at his disciple’s courage and recklessness.

“Enough! I have always wondered why fate must entangle you thus. Why must the heavens tie themselves to you!”

Bai Ling smiled, “Master, I come today with another matter of great importance, but I leave it to your judgment.”

Hearing this, Lingbao Tianzun’s ears pricked up, suspecting the gravity of the matter. The palace doors opened, and Bai Ling entered. Whatever she discussed with her master, no one knew.

When she next descended to the mortal world, she went straight to the Nine Yi and took Haodan with her.

To return to the main thread: On that day, Bai Ling and Haodan discussed the chaos in the Nine Provinces, analyzing the hidden schemes behind the current situation. After a night of conversation, Bai Ling had gained new insight, though for certain reasons, she could not reveal the entire truth to Haodan.

She harbored her own private wish—to protect him in this life.

Though Haodan had long suspected the deeper plot, Bai Ling’s guidance convinced him to proceed cautiously, step by step, to draw out those behind the scenes. Thus, the two agreed to secretly aid the Nine Yi in quelling their internal strife, and only then make further plans.

On their journey, Bai Ling never revealed her secret past to Haodan. The fact that she had recovered her memories was known only to her master; even Lu Ya was unaware.

Who knows what Bai Ling truly felt? If she were to tell Haodan everything now, would it be too soon?

How the story unfolds next—let us wait and see.