The Vengeance Oath

"We have to wipe out the Shaoyan clan?" Ji Ning was stunned. Even though he viewed the Shaoyan clan as a great enemy, deep in his heart he too had longed for it… longed to one day destroy the Shaoyan clan, to console his mother's spirit in the heavens!

Her elder sister, her father, and so many other loved ones—the entire Yuchi clan had died at the hands of the Shaoyan clan.

Mother must have longed to destroy the Shaoyan clan. But the Shaoyan clan was too powerful, so powerful that Yuchi Mountain had never told Xiyue Commandery Princess who their mortal enemy was; Yuchi Snow had never told Ji Ning, either. This was an ancient tribe that ranked among the top ten of the entire Grand Xia Dynasty, a mighty tribe that had existed from the Primordial Fiendgod Era down to the present day. Who would dare claim they could destroy such a tribe?

Ji Ning longed for it in his heart, but he didn't dare speak of it.

But Xiyue Commandery Princess dared!

From his elder cousin's words, Ji Ning could sense that hatred, that will to achieve her goal no matter the cost.

"This was Father's longing. Father is dead, so I will accomplish it for him." Xiyue Commandery Princess gritted her teeth. "Even if it costs me my life, even if I fail, I'll still make sure I leave deep wounds on the Shaoyan clan."

"Cousin." Ji Ning couldn't help but say, "Destroying the Shaoyan clan… we can't rush this."

"Of course I know that." Xiyue Commandery Princess shook her head. "I haven't even told Grandfather about this idea, because I know that the Xiamang royal clan of the Grand Xia might have the power to destroy the Shaoyan clan, but they wouldn't do it. The Grand Xia royal clan doesn't want to cause panic and rebellion among the many tribes under their rule."

Ji Ning nodded.

For the Grand Xia royal clan to destroy a major tribe, they would need a sufficient reason. They couldn't just find a random excuse, after all, the various feudal lords of the world weren't fools. Only if the Shaoyan clan truly did something that crossed the line could the Grand Xia royal clan destroy them. Otherwise, if the Grand Xia royal clan destroyed whoever they pleased at will, how could the other feudal lords feel secure?

They would probably all raise their banners in revolt, and then this land would once again enter a great chaotic war, like the 'Primordial Fiendgod Era'.

The Grand Xia royal clan had been able to unify the world in the past precisely because many tribes had submitted to their rule. If all these tribes rose up in opposition, the Grand Xia royal clan's ending would probably be very grim.

"That's why I'm enduring. Very few people in the Grand Xia capital even know that I am called Yuchi Xiyue. I've asked Grandfather to keep it a secret, too." Xiyue Commandery Princess said, "I don't want to arouse the Shaoyan clan's vigilance. I'm looking for a chance, waiting for an opportunity. If I don't strike, that's fine. But when I do, I will either annihilate the Shaoyan clan or cripple them."

"Cousin, what do you plan to do?" Ji Ning was very puzzled. His elder cousin's strength seemed average; even the patriarch of a Celestial Immortal wouldn't dare say such a thing, would they?

"If I had your talent, I would definitely strive to cultivate with all my might, aiming to become a Celestial Immortal. Once I became a Celestial Immortal, I would naturally have all the time in the world to slowly wear them down." Xiyue Commandery Princess shook her head. "But I don't have that kind of talent. So I have to borrow strength. I have to borrow the strength of the Grand Xia royal clan."

"Borrow strength?" Ji Ning was startled.

"If the Grand Xia royal clan doesn't have a sufficient reason, then I'll find a way to create a sufficient reason." Xiyue Commandery Princess said, "I would even be willing to use my life. But I know that even if I sacrifice my life, it will still be very difficult. Yet no matter how difficult, I will still strive. I will also slowly wait, silently wait."

Xiyue Commandery Princess was like a viper of vengeance, silently waiting for the moment to strike.

"For me to destroy the Shaoyan clan in this lifetime… it's very, very difficult." Xiyue Commandery Princess's eyes flashed with determination. "That's why I will take in a husband. I won't marry out; I will take in a husband. The children I bear will follow my current publicly acknowledged surname, 'Zhi.' My children will continue to have children, generation after generation without end. The greatest goal of my descendants will be the Shaoyan clan!"

"Behind me, I have Grandfather. I am his only family. Even if I die, I will ask Grandfather to take care of the Zhi clan for me." Xiyue Commandery Princess said, "Grandfather is a Celestial Immortal Patriarch of the Grand Xia royal clan. With his protection, the Zhi clan will surely grow stronger. The day the Zhi clan itself produces a Celestial Immortal Patriarch, or the day the Shaoyan clan is destroyed, only then will my Zhi clan truly restore the name 'Yuchi'."

Ji Ning took a deep breath.

The hatred contained in his elder cousin's words made even Ji Ning's heart tremble.

Yes.

His elder cousin and he were different.

He was a son of the Ji clan, so his mother, Yuchi Snow, hadn't even mentioned their enemy. His own hatred for the 'Shaoyan clan' hadn't truly sunk into his bones. But his elder cousin was a daughter of the Yuchi clan. Uncle Yuchi Mountain had raised her from a young age, had her train in cultivation, and told her about the Yuchi clan's past glory.

Although Yuchi Mountain hadn't told her who the enemy was, he had been silently training all along, wanting to rebuild the clan, and also longing to become strong enough to take revenge.

Yuchi Xiyue had been watching her father silently. She knew that her father's longing was to rebuild the Yuchi clan and take revenge! He buried his revenge deep in his heart, but his daughter could sense the hatred he had been suppressing. And so, she wanted to fulfill his wish—rebuild the tribe and take revenge!

"Yes." Ji Ning's heart suddenly trembled.

"Uncle is the only surviving man of the Yuchi clan. His hatred must be very strong. My elder cousin also hates the Shaoyan clan. And my mother?"

"Grandfather and the others all died. Didn't Mother hate them?"

"But she married Father, entered my Ji clan, never mentioned this matter, and never showed it in front of me. Perhaps in secret, she too would grieve and hate for her father, her loved ones." Ji Ning suddenly felt a pang of pain in his heart. His mother had never passed this hatred on to him precisely because she didn't want him to seek revenge.

She was worried he would be like an egg dashing itself against a rock!

"Mother, you worried about your child. But now, your child is still locked in opposition to the Shaoyan clan."

"This is fate!"

"Mother, if your child were merely an ordinary unparalleled genius, it might be difficult for me to take revenge. But I am not! I have received the legacy of the Primordial Chaos Fiendgod, Daoist Threelives. In the future, I will easily be able to obtain Immortal-ranked treasures, even Pure Yang treasures. My divine ability is one of the top ten most terrifying divine abilities in the Three Realms. I have every hope of becoming a powerhouse who can roam the Three Realms freely. Destroying the Shaoyan clan… I can completely accomplish it, completely!"

Ji Ning's eyes flashed with determination.

"Cousin." Ji Ning looked at his elder cousin.

"Little brother." Yuchi Xiyue looked at her own little brother, speaking softly, "I've never spoken these words before. Seeing you, everything that was pressing on my heart just came pouring out. Besides Grandfather, you are my only family."

Ji Ning nodded. "Rest assured, Cousin. Becoming a Void-level Earth Immortal presents no obstacle to me at all; it's a smooth, unimpeded path! Even undergoing the tribulation to become a Celestial Immortal… although it will be difficult, I will still accomplish it. I will definitely accomplish it. Dealing with the Shaoyan clan isn't your burden alone; it's mine as well. The Shaoyan clan and I are already locked in a life-and-death struggle. It's either them or me!"

"Little brother." Yuchi Xiyue felt a warmth in her heart.

Although they both understood how incredibly difficult it was to survive the tribulation and become a Celestial Immortal, neither of them would speak of it now.

At least, they, as brother and sister, had their resolve.

"We'll join hands, the two of us, and destroy the Shaoyan clan." Ji Ning held his elder cousin's hand.

"Yes, we'll join hands and destroy the Shaoyan clan." Yuchi Xiyue nodded excitedly. "With the two of us working together, our combined strength can cut through metal."

"United in purpose, we can cut through metal." Ji Ning nodded firmly.

On this day, at this moment.

While the Treasure Competition Assembly was still ongoing, while the Floating Cloud Immortal was still waiting on the streets intending to assassinate him, Yuchi Xiyue and Ji Ning, these two cousins, truly joined their hearts together, sharing a common enemy—the Shaoyan clan!

Pulled by two enormous azure luan birds, a celestial carriage wreathed in golden flames rose into the air, flying within Heavenly Treasures Mountain. Beside the carriage were some attendants, and surrounding them was a large group of golden-armored imperial guards.

Xiyue Commandery Princess and Ji Ning sat together in the celestial carriage. The Whitewater Hound was lying to one side, while Little Qing was coiled around Ji Ning's arm.

Earlier, when Xiyue Commandery Princess had tugged Ji Ning to sit in the celestial carriage, some of the female soldier attendants had objected, worried that Ji Ning might try to assassinate the Commandery Princess. But the Commandery Princess had insisted, so naturally they had no choice.

"In the capital, it's very common to invite talented geniuses to ride together in a carriage." Xiyue Commandery Princess sent mentally. "If I were to invite a genius, would I have me sitting in the celestial carriage while you flew alongside on the ground? That would be too disrespectful to an unparalleled genius, right?"

Ji Ning could only smile helplessly.

"Don't stay at the Yinglong Guard headquarters. Although it's safe, there are too many people and eyes there; the Shaoyan clan's Yinglong Guards will definitely be watching you. Every move you make will be discovered. It's better to stay at my Yan Estate. No one will dare to harass you there." Xiyue Commandery Princess sent mentally.

"Hmm." Ji Ning nodded.

Although his original plan was to stay at the Yinglong Guard headquarters, 'Yinglong Divine Mountain,' during his time in the Grand Xia capital—it was an absolutely safe place, after all, Yinglong Divine Mountain was even a bit taller than the Heavenly Edict Hall, and the military force hidden within Yinglong Divine Mountain was terrifying beyond measure; even a Celestial Immortal Patriarch wouldn't dare to cause trouble there.

But plans changed. He had met his elder cousin, and he was going to a royal estate of the Grand Xia royal clan; it would naturally be extremely safe as well.

"These golden-armored imperial guards, two of them are Immortals?" Ji Ning sent mentally.

"Little brother, your perception is truly formidable. Right, of these one hundred golden-armored imperial guards, ninety-eight of them are Primal Daoists, and two are Loose Immortals. They are absolute elites of the Grand Xia royal clan's imperial guard. They were originally bestowed upon Grandfather, and Grandfather ordered them to follow my commands. This time, I only brought two squads. Each squad consists of one Loose Immortal and forty-nine Primal Daoists, capable of forming a Dao-soldier grand formation. With two squads working together, even a few dozen Loose Immortals would find it difficult to break through." Xiyue Commandery Princess sent mentally.

Ji Ning was amazed.

The Grand Xia royal clan truly acted with extraordinary style.

"At that time, I only need to dispatch a single squad to destroy that Snowdragon Mountain of yours." Xiyue Commandery Princess's eyes flashed with a sharp light. "I'll have Grandfather inform the Anchan Northmont clan in advance. The Anchan Northmont clan definitely won't say a word. A sect that doesn't even have an Earth Immortal or a Loose Immortal—wiping them out is not a big deal."

Ji Ning nodded. Earlier, in the pavilion, they had also discussed how Yuchi Mountain had been killed by people from Snowdragon Mountain. He had already killed Yu Tong and Shui Yi. Only one Dong Qi remained, on Snowdragon Mountain. He hadn't dared to go fight on Snowdragon Mountain before, because he was being hunted by the Shaoyan clan; once surrounded, he would be finished.

Wiping out Snowdragon Mountain? It was somewhat troublesome for Ji Ning.

But for Xiyue Commandery Princess, it was much easier.

"Why isn't he coming out yet?" The Floating Cloud Immortal, who had been waiting on the street for a long time, frowned. He had already been waiting here for quite a while.

Swoosh.

Suddenly, a blue-robed attendant emerged from the Heavenly Treasures Mountain headquarters and quickly sent mentally, "Senior, Ji Ning has come out. But he's with Xiyue Commandery Princess."

"Xiyue Commandery Princess?" The Floating Cloud Immortal was stunned.

Almost instantly, a few breaths later, the supremely beautiful and noble celestial carriage, pulled by two divine azure luan beasts and wreathed in golden flames, appeared. A green-robed woman and Ji Ning were sitting together inside, with the Whitewater Hound lying beside them. Behind them was a group of golden-armored imperial guards emanating powerful auras.

"This, this…" The Floating Cloud Immortal was completely stunned. "Two divine beasts, azure luans? A hundred golden-armored imperial guards? How… how am I supposed to assassinate him now?"