Chapter Fifty-Nine: The Looming Battle at the Floating Jade Sword Pavilion

“Did you see the two leading figures over there?”
As she spoke, Ling Yan pointed toward the white-haired elder with eyes blazing in fury—the Lord of Heaven’s Wrath—and the distinguished middle-aged scholar beside him, Lord of Heaven’s Blaze.
“I see them,” Bai Mu murmured, voice trembling as he replied, “The aura emanating from those two is overpowering. Even though we’re separated by the breadth of the courtyard, I can still feel their invisible pressure.”
While the two whispered quietly, the notoriously irascible Lord of Heaven’s Wrath had already begun to curse loudly.
“You two ignorant youngsters! You stand before the two Holy Sons of the Abyssal Shrine and remain unmoved—do you truly hold our shrine in such low regard?”
His voice boomed like thunder, the force behind it striking Bai Mu’s eardrums with pain. Bai Mu instinctively wanted to step back to avoid the brunt of it, but behind him stood the Sword Pavilion, protected by an enchanted barrier. A careless touch might trigger its mechanisms, leaving him caught between a rock and a hard place.
With no other option, he mustered all his cultivation to withstand the bell-like assault, sweat streaming down his face.
Ling Yan, however, remained composed.
Though she endured the same sonic impact as Bai Mu, her expression betrayed nothing. As the tirade ended, she replied with calm grace, “How could we ever dare disrespect the renowned Lord of Heaven’s Wrath?”
“In the past, you single-handedly vanquished the two demons of Mount Gou Lou, and fought on the shores of the Drowned Waters, driving the aquatic tribes into chaos. These achievements alone are enough for us juniors to admire for a lifetime!”
Heh.
Hearing such praise from the beautiful maiden before him, Lord of Heaven’s Wrath allowed himself a rare smile, and the aura of intimidation eased a little, granting Bai Mu a measure of relief.
“Young lady, you’re so well versed in my trivial exploits of yesteryear—how could you, at your age, know such details?”
“Indeed!”
The younger Lord of Heaven’s Blaze laughed heartily, “Young lady, I saw how you calmly responded under my second brother’s pressure—your strength must be extraordinary. May I ask which sect you hail from?”
Hmph.
Bai Mu could not help but sneer inwardly.
These two, famed as two of the four Holy Sons of the Abyssal Shrine, do not even recognize the daughter of the Heavenly Emperor standing before them. Truly, their eyesight has faded with age.

As for Ling Yan herself, she was even more bemused.
To think that she, the daughter of the Heavenly Emperor, was trapped atop Floating Jade Mountain, despite frequent visits to the Abyssal Shrine to spar with the Battle Goddess’s daughter. Yet these two Holy Sons had no inkling of her identity—how amusing.
“You two only smile and say nothing, what do you mean by that?” Lord of Heaven’s Blaze pressed, still intrigued.
“Oh, nothing!”
Ling Yan hurriedly replied, raising her voice to explain, “Neither of us intend to trespass against the Abyssal Shrine, nor do we covet the divine weapons hidden in your Sword Pavilion!”
“Then why did you enter the rear mountain of Floating Jade without permission?”
Lord of Heaven’s Blaze continued his questioning, though his temperament was far kinder than his second brother’s. Despite the interrogation, his tone was gentle, fostering a sense of peace.
Just a few words, yet Bai Mu’s impression of him improved significantly.
Summoning his courage, Bai Mu responded, “Senior, we entered the rear mountain unannounced in search of the Battle God. It was indeed presumptuous, and I offer my apologies to all elders and disciples of the Abyssal Shrine.”
“You seek my master?” Lord of Heaven’s Blaze echoed with curiosity.
By rights, the Battle God Fan Xian had hidden himself away at Flying Immortal Cliff behind Floating Jade Mountain ever since his legendary victory against the demon tribes on Pimudi Hill thousands of years ago.
In recent centuries, he had been in seclusion, cut off from the world—nearly a thousand years had passed without him appearing in public. Most believed the Battle God had ascended, and news of him had become scarce.
Yet this youth, barely fifteen or sixteen, comes seeking Fan Xian by name—his intentions were hard to grasp.
But when Lord of Heaven’s Blaze’s keen gaze fell upon Bai Mu’s abdomen, he suddenly smiled in realization.
“I understand now why you seek my master!”
Huh?
Bai Mu exchanged a bewildered glance with Ling Yan, struggling to comprehend the wild logic of this famed Holy Son.
Nevertheless, Bai Mu asked politely, “Senior, you only glanced at me—how can you discern my purpose for coming to Floating Jade Mountain?”
“Of course!”
Lord of Heaven’s Blaze answered with pride, “I noticed a faint trace of ancient sword energy leaking from the phantom cauldron within your abdomen. It’s subtle, but my eyes cannot be deceived.”

“If I’m not mistaken, you’ve suffered an invasion of ancient sword energy, and seek my master to learn the highest sword arts, so you may control the recurring outbursts within you—am I right?”
“Yes, precisely!”
Bai Mu responded eagerly, “Since you understand my purpose, might I trouble you for an introduction?”
“Keep dreaming!”
At that moment, the long-silent Elder Heaven’s Wrath erupted in anger.
“My master is no ordinary man—he is the greatest Battle God of antiquity! How could a nameless junior like you demand to see him?”
“Moreover, I find your talent mediocre, your looks unimpressive, and your character utterly lacking.”
“In our esteemed Abyssal Shrine, there are younger talents far superior to you. What makes you think you deserve my master’s sword teachings?”
Heaven’s Wrath!
Ling Yan no longer addressed him with the honorific of Holy Son, instead boldly calling his name before all the disciples of the Abyssal Shrine.
She had always respected the four Holy Sons, for they were disciples of the Battle God Fan Xian and renowned figures in the wilds.
Yet Heaven’s Wrath’s behavior was intolerable!
To criticize Bai Mu’s talent and appearance was understandable.
But to disparage the character of someone he had never met—this was beyond the pale.
“How dare you!”
Heaven’s Wrath, hearing his name spoken so brazenly by a maiden of sixteen or seventeen, was so furious his beard quivered. The waves of his aura surged toward Ling Yan, locking onto everything within two meters, as if ready to strike at the slightest provocation.