Proud Sword Soaring Clouds

In the face of true self-interest, such marriage alliances were incredibly fragile and easily broken. He believed the Qin Family wouldn’t press the issue.

But what Song Yi never expected was that on the night before his departure, he would overhear a horrifying conversation.

The two speakers were both incredibly powerful. As it happened, Song Yi was relieving himself at the time. The Qin Family’s island was immense, spanning hundreds of li. Beyond the inhabited areas, there were vast grasslands and forests. Bored after dinner, Song Yi had wandered off by himself—no one stopped him—and found a remote spot. Just as he finished his business and was about to stand up, he heard their conversation.

"Patriarch, you can’t be serious about letting the Patriarch of the Sea Domain Song Family go, can you? He’s a Sword Emperor Powerhouse! If we offered him to the Ancestor, I’m sure that after absorbing his Essence Blood, the Ancestor’s power would reach a whole new level! It’s not easy to find a Sword Emperor!"

"What do you know? The Sea Domain Song Family’s ancestor is also a Sword Venerable. Everyone knows the Song Family Patriarch is here. If he dies, can our family withstand the wrath of a Sword Venerable?"

"What’s there to be afraid of? Doesn’t our family have three Sword Venerable ancestors? It’s three against one. How could the Song Family possibly be a match for us?" The voice sounded defiant. Hearing this, a chill went down Song Yi’s spine and the hair on his arms stood on end. Fortunately, his own power was formidable, and his aura concealment was superb. The speakers had never imagined someone would be in such a desolate place.

One of the two speakers was Patriarch Qin, Qin Zhaoran. The other was a voice Song Yi had never heard before, likely someone who served the ancestors the man had mentioned.

Song Yi held his breath and continued to listen. Qin Zhaoran said, "What do you know? Our three ancestors all broke through to the Sword Venerable Realm using unorthodox methods. Even if one cultivates the Demon Dao, one’s mental state must keep pace. Otherwise, they’ll become emotionless killing machines! They’re all in seclusion right now, so how could they possibly be a match for the Song Family’s ancestor? Don’t bring this up again. While the Essence Blood extracted from Demon Sword Masters is of average quality, it’s safe! Hmph, there are countless Demon Sword Masters among the hidden families and sects! As long as we’re not too obvious, a few deaths here and there will seem normal. The continent has many races and even more powerful Magical Beasts! But if a powerhouse like a Sword Emperor dies, it will definitely cause a massive uproar! If that alerts the other families, things will get ugly!"

The man let out a sinister chuckle. "You’re quite the schemer, Patriarch. I suppose this marriage alliance with the Song Family is just a pretext for your true intentions?"

"What pretext?" Qin Zhaoran denied.

But the man didn’t seem afraid of Qin Zhaoran and continued, "The Sea Domain Song Family has dominated the southern seas for years. They have immense wealth and formidable power. The number of Demon Sword Masters in their family must be in the thousands! Hmph, and you still claim you don’t have a brilliant scheme in mind?"

Qin Zhaoran gave a dark chuckle. "Don’t spout such nonsense again. Be careful, walls have ears..." The two of them walked off, chatting idly, while Song Yi, hidden in the grass, fought the urge to leap out and kill them both.

But he restrained himself. Killing them would be easy, but it wouldn’t solve the underlying problem. What he had heard was almost too bizarre to believe, but Song Yi also knew that not all powerful Cultivators from the Ancient Era were the type to cultivate diligently and honestly. Some spent their days researching heretical and demonic paths, always looking for a shortcut.

The East Sea Qin Family must have found a Secret Manual in some Ancient Ruins. After experimenting with it, they managed to create several exceptionally powerful experts! They’ve had a taste of the benefits and now they’re hooked!

A chill running down his spine, Song Yi slipped back to his quarters. It finally dawned on him why the family’s fleets sent to the East Sea had been inexplicably wiped out in recent years. While the Sea Race did live in the ocean, they had rarely interacted with humans since the Ancient Era. Though they shared a planet, they were practically from two different worlds. They normally went out of their way to avoid humans, so why would they suddenly start attacking them?

If it were the work of Magical Beasts, surely some word would have gotten back? The crews of those fleets were mostly composed of experienced Demon Sword Masters. Even if they ran into danger, it was unlikely that every single one of them would perish. There should have been survivors.

The conversation he’d overheard by chance had answered all of Song Yi’s questions. So, the very next day, after bidding farewell to the Qin Family and returning home, Song Yi immediately relayed the matter to the elder, Song Qi. Song Qi, already a Tier Six Sword Emperor at the time, cursed Song Yi for his foolishness, for so casually arranging his future child’s marriage. He then gave the order: the entire Sea Domain Song Family was to cease all contact with the Qin Family. All fleets preparing to sail for the East Sea were to be recalled. From that day forward, they would never again set foot in the waters of the East Sea!

Despite this, over the next decade, the East Sea Qin Family acted with growing arrogance and audacity. On many occasions, they would openly clash with Song Family fleets and abduct some of their Demon Sword Masters.

Of course, the Song Family retaliated fiercely and tightened their defenses. In recent years, they had rarely even sent fleets out to sea. In any case, the Song Family’s coffers were deep; they had enough wealth to last a century without ever leaving their domain.