The main hall of the Abyssal Burial Palace was called the Abyss Hall.
The entire hall seemed to stand on the edge of a bottomless abyss. Beneath one’s feet was not brick or stone, but a single expanse of obsidian.
The ground reflected the faint blue cold flames on the dome above. Walking upon it felt as though one were stepping through empty void.
Towering pillars rose to the ceiling on both sides, their surfaces coiled with carvings of pitch-black flood dragons. The dragons’ eyes were set with dark red gemstones, flickering uncertainly in the dim light of the cold flames.
At the end of the hall stood a flight of nine steps.
Each step was forged from abyssal black iron, its edges inlaid with white bones. The bones gleamed like jade, emitting a faint, chilling glow in the darkness.
At the top of the steps stood a throne.
It was carved from a single block of Nether Profound Stone, entirely black. The backrest rose sharply like a blade, while each armrest bore the sculpted head of a ferocious beast.
Seated upon the throne was a woman.
She wore a black robe adorned with dark purple patterns that flowed like surging currents from the depths of an abyss.
Her collar was slightly open, revealing a stretch of neck as pale as translucent jade and a pair of delicate collarbones.
Beneath them, an ancient dark red curse mark coiled out from her robe like burning vines, stark against her frost-pale skin.
Her long hair cascaded like a silver river of stars, refined like frost and snow, each strand shimmering with a cold, silvery light as it fell over her shoulders.
And then there was her face… a beauty so bewitching it robbed others of words.
She was the Palace Master of the Abyssal Burial Palace… Ye Yaoyue.
Standing at her left and right were two stunning women, her sword attendants.
On the left stood Dugu Lengyuan, and on the right stood Jiang Sushuang.
Her fingers were long and fair, her nails painted a deep crimson that matched her lips. Her fingertips lightly tapped against the forehead of the beast head.
Tap… tap…
Slow. Light.
Yet in the vast, deathly silent hall, that faint sound was endlessly magnified, striking against the hearts of everyone present.
Hundreds of stewards and disciples knelt prostrate in the hall.
Their foreheads pressed to the ground, their backs tense like drawn bowstrings.
No one dared to lift their head. No one dared to speak. Even their breathing was suppressed to the faintest whisper, and some could not stop their bodies from trembling slightly.
“Still not found?”
Four simple words. Her white hair stirred slightly, her dual pupils lowered.
Every heart in the hall tightened. No one dared to answer.
The Young Master had been missing for 9 years.
Until now, there was neither sight of the living nor trace of a corpse.
Every time, the Palace Master would erupt in fury… sometimes even killing a few people to vent her anger.
After a short while, Dugu Lengyuan spoke, “Palace Master, we have even searched the territories of the righteous path. There is still no trace of the Young Master.”
At this point, aside from the two sword attendants, no one else dared to utter a word.
In truth, Dugu Lengyuan felt it was better that that useless Young Master had disappeared. Keeping him would only drag the Abyssal Burial Palace down.
Moreover, that useless Young Master had once secretly watched her bathe. If not for the Palace Master’s sake, she would have long since torn him to pieces.
Ye Yaoyue’s face turned cold as she let out a faint snort, “Do you wish for my brother never to be found?”
Dugu Lengyuan dropped to one knee, “This subordinate would not dare!”
Ye Yaoyue said expressionlessly, “Then go search as well. If you cannot find him, do not return.”
“Yes!”
With Ye Yaoyue in the midst of her anger, Dugu Lengyuan naturally did not dare to argue.
Jiang Sushuang shook her head slightly. This girl… why insist on speaking at a time like this?
“Get out, all of you. Find him for me. Whoever finds him will be rewarded with Earth-grade Top-quality techniques and 10,000 gold.”
“Yes!”
All the stewards dispersed in a rush, quickly organizing manpower to continue the search.
“You two, stay.”
In the hall, a cripple and a blind man both trembled.
There was no need to call their names. They knew she meant them.
These two had been the original host’s lackeys… extremely obedient and loyal, specializing in helping him abduct women and commit various evils.
“Palace Master, please give your orders!”
The cripple and the blind man knelt low, not daring to breathe loudly.
Ye Yaoyue slowly descended the steps and stopped before them.
At that moment, their hearts nearly ceased beating, afraid they might be crushed underfoot in the next instant.
“My brother is missing. You cannot escape responsibility. For the sake of your years by his side, I have spared your lives until now. Within one year, if you do not find him, bring me your heads.”
Ye Yaoyue issued her final ultimatum. It was clear her patience had run out.
The cripple and the blind man trembled, “This subordinate obeys! We will definitely bring the Young Master back!”
In truth, they felt wronged. Nine years ago, the Young Master had vanished without any warning.
They were only his lackeys. They could not possibly watch him every moment of every day.
But they did not dare argue. If they failed to find him, not even immortals could save their lives.
…
Yujing Province, Celestial Vault Sect.
The entire Yujing Province lay under the control of the Celestial Vault Sect.
The sect practiced the sword and was one of the Four Great Sects of the righteous path, possessing formidable strength.
The reason Murong Wanyin was called the Female Sword Immortal, with the word “female” added, was because there existed a true Sword God in this world… the sect master of the Celestial Vault Sect. This chapter was taken from novelping dot com without permission.
The sect master of the Celestial Vault Sect had sparred with Murong Wanyin many times, with wins and losses on both sides. Their strength was evenly matched.
Thus, they shared some friendship and could be considered acquaintances.
The main hall of the Celestial Vault Sect was famed for its grandeur.
Nine jade pillars carved with coiling dragons supported the towering dome. The floor was paved with white jade tiles polished to a mirror-like sheen.
A faint spiritual mist lingered in the hall year-round… it was Spiritual Energy gathered by a formation, drifting like thin gauze.
On the high platform stood a majestic purple-gold chair, its back carved with the image of a sword, exuding an overwhelming presence.
Yet at this moment, all of it was overshadowed by the red figure walking forward.
Zhong Qiongxue wore a long crimson dress… not a soft, gentle red, but a bold, blazing scarlet.
The dress was embroidered with large clusters of red spider lilies in dark gold thread, each stitch intricate and refined, the stamens adorned with tiny red gemstones.
She was exceptionally tall, nearly 1.8 meters, standing half a head taller than most women. Just by standing there, she exuded a commanding presence.
Her back was straight as a spear, her neck long like a swan’s, her chin slightly raised… not an affected arrogance, but an innate nobility etched into her very bones.
Her long black hair was tied high, secured by a red jade coral hairpin shaped like a phoenix spreading its wings.
And her face… it was the kind of beauty one would never forget after a single glance.
Unlike Murong Wanyin’s cold detachment, her beauty carried a soaring heroic aura and sharp edge.
Under her overwhelming presence, the guarding disciples in the hall unconsciously stepped back half a step, their faces paling.
Zhong Qiongxue did not even glance at them.
Her gaze crossed the vast hall and landed directly on the man seated upon the purple-gold chair.
The sect master of the Celestial Vault Sect… Yun Potian.
“Sect Master Yun, please sit!”
For Yun Potian to use the word “please” showed that Zhong Qiongxue was someone of equal standing.
The visitor was none other than Zhong Qiongxue, Sect Master of the Ziqiong Sect.
“Sect Master Yun, is there any news of Wanyin?” she asked. Her voice was not loud, yet it spread clearly to every corner of the hall.
Yun Potian gestured for tea to be served, “I have sent disciples to search throughout Yujing Province for 5 years, but there has been no news.”
Zhong Qiongxue lifted the teacup and took a sip, sighing softly, “Strange. I only went into seclusion for a while, yet she vanished from the world just like that.”
Yun Potian smiled faintly, “Sect Master Zhong need not worry. Even if Sword Immortal Murong has lost her memory, her cultivation remains. In all the world, how many could truly threaten her?”
Zhong Qiongxue nodded slightly, then asked again, “Not even the slightest clue or trace?”
Yun Potian pondered for a moment before speaking slowly, “Ye Wudu has also disappeared. The Abyssal Burial Palace is searching for him across the world. At the time of his disappearance, he was very close to Sword Immortal Murong. I do not know if it is merely coincidence.”
Zhong Qiongxue frowned slightly, thinking for a long time before asking, “Who is Ye Wudu?”
She ran through every notable figure in her mind but could not recall this name at all.
Yun Potian gave an awkward smile, “It is normal that Sect Master Zhong does not know. He is the Young Master of the Abyssal Burial Palace… Ye Yaoyue’s younger brother. However, he is uneducated and without cultivation.”
Zhong Qiongxue’s face filled with disdain, “Such a waste… how could he possibly be related to Wanyin…”