Proud Sword Soaring Clouds

Chapter 432: Chapter 306: Declaration of War

「Three days later.」

The High Priest, who had been in seclusion, emerged from her bedchamber. Unlike her previously serene and detached expression, she now radiated an endless vitality, much like the lush forest around them. Her eyes filled with immense joy. Upon seeing Ling Xiao, she gave him a deep bow.

Ling Xiao quickly stepped aside. ’She’s Ye Zi’s birth mother. How can I possibly accept a bow from her?’

"Mom, how did it go?"

It must have been the natural bond between mother and daughter, that connection of flesh and blood. It gave Ye Zi a special sense of intimacy, even without needing to speak much with her mother. It was as if being with her was the most natural thing in the world. Ye Zi had imagined it countless times before: ’If I could just meet my parents, I would let them pamper me in their arms. What incredible happiness that would be!’

But now that she was truly with her mother, that unbreakable bond of kinship was undeniable. Yet, the desire to be pampered, which had been circling in her mind, was something she was too shy to express.

This was a result of Ye Zi’s upbringing. Had she not met Ling Xiao, she would likely still be that quick-witted and wary little thief. She had drawn close to him, attracted by the natural aura of the Taoist School that surrounded him. And through everything he did—their brush with death on the snow-capped mountain, how they had supported each other through thick and thin—slowly, Ye Zi’s heart had become truly his.

The High Priest walked closer to Ye Zi and said softly, "My strength has recovered, but I’m only at the Peak Realm of a Tier One Sword Emperor. To break through to Tier Two, I’ll still need a little time!"

"Oh, that’s wonderful!"

Ye Zi cried out in delight. She was genuinely happy that her mother was so powerful, just as happy as when Ling Xiao grew stronger. In Ye Zi’s heart, Ling Xiao was the love of her life, someone she would never let go of. And her mother... now that she had found her, they had to stay together forever. No one but Ye Zi herself could possibly comprehend these feelings—her deep yearning for family, the heartbreak of the tiny girl she once was, who sat on a rock night after night, gazing at the twinkling stars and pining for the family she never knew.

And so, Ling Xiao was irreplaceable. Her mother... was irreplaceable, too.

Ling Xiao smiled. "That’s fantastic! I was worried your strength would have dropped significantly. I never expected it to be almost the same as before!"

The High Priest bade them sit and personally brewed them tea. Then, with a serene expression, she said, "Ling Xiao, I can’t thank you enough. Without you, I fear my wish would have remained unfulfilled for eternity. If that had happened, the one I would have failed the most is Ye Zi. I could never forget my hatred, but for all these years... I... for the sake of that hatred, I even neglected my own daughter!"

As she spoke, the High Priest took Ye Zi’s hand, her beautiful eyes shimmering with tears. "Thankfully, the heavens have been kind to me. They let me find my daughter. Both this and my recovery are thanks to you. So, Ling Xiao... Su Xue will never forget this kindness as long as I live!"

Even Ye Zi was hearing her mother’s name for the first time.

A smile played on Ling Xiao’s lips. "You’re being too kind, Auntie. Ye Zi is the girl I love. We’ve faced life and death together, endured hardships, and she’s even saved my life. Heh, so between us... there’s no need for thanks."

"What are you talking about?" Ye Zi chided, her face flushing crimson as Ling Xiao spoke so openly of their relationship in front of her mother.

As a woman of the world, the High Priest could easily see the affection between the two youngsters. She smiled at their exchange. "This is a wonderful thing. I... I’m very happy!"

Ling Xiao’s expression gradually grew serious. He had been pondering an issue: the enmity between the Ling Clan and the Zhe Family ran too deep. There was no hope of reconciliation.

To save his sister, Ling Su, he and Song Mingyue had killed Zhe Shixun’s most beloved grandson, Zhe Xiaoxing, in Seven-colored City. And Zhe Shixun seemed to hold considerable status even within the Zhe Family, one of the hidden clans.

The Tier Four Sword Emperor who had been tortured to death today had claimed Zhe Xiaoxing was his great-grandson. It seemed the Zhe Family was even more powerful than he had first imagined.

Then, at the Alchemist’s Ancient Ruins, he and his companions had nearly wiped out the Zhe Family’s Mercenary Corps from the Mortal World, killing one of their Sword Sect experts in the process.

The two Sword Emperors the Zhe Family had sent to Penzes City for revenge had managed to injure Thirteen and Fourteen, but they’d gained no real advantage and had been forced to flee, wounded. At this point, the feud with the Zhe Family, whether overt or clandestine, had grown too deep to ever be resolved.

Furthermore, the High Priest would certainly be returning with him. As her de facto son-in-law, Ling Xiao was obligated to help her get her revenge. Both factors combined pointed to one inevitable conclusion: a great war between the Ling Clan and the Zhe Family was coming, sooner or later.

Penzes New City had already been constructed. Ling Xiao had long since placed a vast number of Crystal Cores at key strategic points throughout the city, forming a massive Ice Blue Water Light Array. Huge amounts of grain were stockpiled within Penzes New City. Ling Xiao had even enclosed large tracts of farmland within the city walls, and numerous wells had been dug.

It was no exaggeration to say that if the Ice Blue Water Light Array were activated, Ling Xiao could guarantee that no one in Penzes City would go hungry for at least ten years. Their war provisions were incredibly abundant; the city could be completely self-sufficient.

’So,’ Ling Xiao mused, ’just how powerful is the Zhe Family? Since we’re their enemies no matter what, we might as well announce it to the world. The High Priest’s clan was tragically wiped out. It’s only right and proper that she return to take her revenge!’

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