Chapter 825: Matters of the Yin Family

Crouched beneath the black umbrella were none other than Elder Yin of the Sun and Moon Pavilion and his four adopted sons, whom Chu Liang had previously encountered in Python Belly City.

After escaping from Python Belly City, Elder Yin had kept the Sun and Moon Pavilion running, developing it into a small immortal sect. Chu Liang had even bumped into him again during the Assembly of Immortal Sects, though he never expected their paths to cross again in a place like this and under such circumstances.

Since they were at least acquaintances, Chu Liang called out to the Whale-Riding Immortal, "Esteemed Senior, I know these people. Let's help them out."

The Whale-Riding Immortal glanced back without a word and quietly expanded the range of the Yang Qi Severing Banner, bringing Elder Yin's group under its protective aura.

Chu Liang immediately tossed out his Demon-Binding Rope, tied all five of them into a neat bundle, and continued forward, letting the rope float behind him like he was dragging a sack of oversized luggage.

The light of the Ultimate Yang was truly like a blazing sun. The closer they got, the more intense it became. By the time they reached the final stretch, even the Whale-Riding Immortal was feeling immense pressure.

Fortunately, they were only one step away. He gave a low shout, quickened his pace, and thrust the Yang Qi Severing Banner forward!

Boom!

It felt as if a barrier had been blocking their path. With that one push, he broke through, and the obstruction disappeared.

The rest followed close behind, each one crossing over in quick succession.

Before them stood the towering main gate of the Heavenly Palace, over a hundred zhang tall. It was pristine and hallowed, untouched by even a speck of dust.

The palace walls were likely enchanted artifacts, refined through sacred rituals and radiating formidable power. The blinding light that shone outward appeared to be a protective mechanism of the Heavenly Palace of the Sword Domain.

Only when they reached the area directly in front of the gate did they finally step out of the blinding light. Chu Liang and the others didn't rush in right away. Instead, they took a moment to wake up the members of the Sun and Moon Pavilion.

The members of the Sun and Moon Pavilion must have thought that with the Heavenly Palace so close, they could grit their teeth and push through. Unfortunately, they overestimated what their cultivation could handle. By the time their foundational qi was drained and they tried to retreat, it was already too late. One by one, they collapsed and lost consciousness. If they hadn't crossed paths with Chu Liang, the entire group would have perished here.

Waking them up wasn't difficult. A small infusion of foundational qi was enough for them to recover on their own.

The eldest, Yin Guang, was the first to open his eyes. He muttered, "Young Hero Chu... you saved us?"

As the strongest among the Sun and Moon Pavilion and still in his prime, he regained consciousness even before Elder Yin.

"Elder Brother Yin," Chu Liang asked, "why did you come to this place?"

The Divine Ruins were well-known among cultivators, but without at least seventh-realm cultivation, no one would dare get close.

Those with weaker cultivation who stepped into the Divine Ruins could die from something as simple as a gust of wind or a grain of sand.

"

Haaaaaa...

" Yin Guang let out a long sigh and shook his head helplessly. "Father insisted on bringing us to find the Heavenly Palace of the Sword Domain. We tried to talk him out of it, but he wouldn't listen."

After hearing a brief explanation, Chu Liang understood. No wonder Elder Yin had reacted so oddly when he first saw the Dustless Sword.

𝒇𝒓𝒆𝒆𝙬𝒆𝒃𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝙡.𝒄𝓸𝒎

It turned out he also knew that a sword imbued with the Dao essence of the Cloud of Determination was the key to entering the Heavenly Palace of the Sword Domain, and he knew more about it than Chu Liang did.

The location of the Heavenly Palace of the Sword Domain had been a closely guarded secret, passed down through Elder Yin's family. He had dreamed of exploring it his entire life, but his cultivation had never been strong enough.

Recently, sensing that he was reaching the end of his lifespan, he made up his mind to bring his sworn sons here no matter the cost.

A little later, Elder Yin, Yin Kuo, Yin Tian, and Yin Laosi all regained consciousness, and Chu Liang's group finally learned the full story.

Elder Yin looked around and let out a long sigh. "I was obsessed with this matter for half my life, only to realize today how mistaken I was. If not for Young Hero Chu, my death alone would have been fine, but I nearly dragged all my sons down with me."

"Father, we have no regrets following you," Yin Kuo declared loudly.

Elder Yin shook his head and turned to Chu Liang's group. "You likely don't yet know the true reason I came to this place. Allow me to tell the tale. All of this began because..."

...

It turned out Elder Yin came from a prestigious lineage. Their ancestor was the first Dao Master of the Cloud of Determination, the very first ancient sword cultivator to enter and return from the Heavenly Palace of the Sword Domain.

That Dao Master was known for his fierce hatred of evil and his tireless efforts to slay demons and eradicate devils. Thus, he was given the title "the Devil-Expelling Sword."

The Whale-Riding Immortal murmured in surprise, "So you're a descendant of the Devil-Expelling Sword..."

He had once explored a tomb with Daoist Yan and Di Nufeng, and it had belonged to the very cultivator known as the Devil-Expelling Sword.

That tomb had long since turned into an unclaimed hidden realm, showing no sign that any descendants had survived.

"Haaaaaaaa!"

Elder Yin let out another sigh and remarked, "Indeed, that ancestor was a member of the Yin Family."

Back then, the Devil-Expelling Sword had yet to reach the eighth realm. It was only after entering the Heavenly Palace of the Sword Domain that he comprehended the Great Dao of the Cloud of Determination and managed to escape. Afterward, he drew a map of the path to the Heavenly Palace and left it to his sons.

He had three sons, each named with a character from his title[1]—Yin Dang, Yin Mo, and Yin Jian. He had hoped they would inherit his integrity and skill, but fate had other plans.

After the Devil-Expelling Sword fell, his three sons turned against one another over the inheritance, with the treasured map being the main point of conflict. Yin Dang and Yin Mo fought bitterly in front of their father's grave, eventually tearing the map to the Heavenly Palace in half.

With no desire to fight over it, Yin Jian was disheartened by his elder brothers' conflict and chose to live in seclusion under an assumed name.

Without their father's protection, Yin Dang and Yin Mo couldn't hold on to what he had left behind. Yin Dang was killed, and his half of the map was taken. Yin Mo, gravely wounded and on the brink of death, sought out his younger brother, who lived in seclusion, and entrusted him with the remaining half.

The Elder Yin standing before them was a descendant of Yin Jian.

Back then, they hadn't given much thought to the map left behind by the Devil-Expelling Sword. Even if the Heavenly Palace of the Sword Domain held some great treasure, they believed that if even eighth-realm cultivators couldn't obtain it, there was no chance they could either.

However, the map was then passed down to Elder Yin's father, a man driven by ambition. He set out with a group to enter the Heavenly Palace of the Sword Domain, but he never returned. That was the day a quiet resolve began to take root in young Elder Yin's heart.

Driven by the hope of finding his father, Elder Yin spent years cultivating and wandering the land, chasing the strength he would need to enter the Heavenly Palace.

But fate has never been kind to the unfortunate. While scouring distant lands for rare treasures, he was devoured by the Heaven-Devouring Python and trapped within Python Belly City. That detour stole a century from him. Deprived of resources, he didn't make any progress in his cultivation, and time passed him by until he became the Elder Yin today.

Now, with his sixth-realm lifespan nearing its end, he knew he would likely never find his father. Still, before death, he wanted to try venturing into the Heavenly Palace. His sons followed him without hesitation.

Elder Yin's story came to an end. He turned to the Whale-Riding Immortal and said, "Esteemed Senior, your might is boundless. Surely, you've come for the legendary treasure hidden in the Heavenly Palace. I still hold the other half of the map. Perhaps it may be of help. I wonder if you'd be willing to strike a deal with an old man like me?"

The Whale-Riding Immortal asked, "What do you want in return?"

"Esteemed Senior, you've saved our lives. But now that we've made it this far, we no longer have the strength to retreat," Elder Yin said. "I ask that you help my four sons leave the Divine Ruins. In return, I'll accompany you into the Heavenly Palace. Should you obtain the legendary artifact, may everything else be left to our Sun and Moon Pavilion. If not, then all other spoils will be yours. Would you be willing to accept these terms?"

"That's fair," the Whale-Riding Immortal said with a nod.

Elder Yin's adopted sons, however, grew anxious.

Yin Tian said, "Father, let me go with you. That way, I can look out for you."

"You barely escaped with your lives once already. How could I let you take that risk again?" Elder Yin said firmly. "Besides, with Young Hero Chu and the others here, your strength won't be needed."

Yin Tian was momentarily at a loss for words.

Even when Chu Liang's cultivation was beneath theirs, none of the brothers had been able to defeat him. Now, his cultivation had soared far beyond theirs, surpassing them by a clear margin.

This was the difference between a true prodigy and someone with average talent. Even in the same realm, a prodigy's cultivation was deeper, more refined, and carried greater potential. They might lag behind in rank for a short while, but their future would forever remain beyond reach.

That was why cultivators at the fourth or fifth realm were common in a sect, but a prodigy at that same stage was someone the sect would treat with utmost importance.

Yin Laosi whispered, "But Father, if you go in alone with them and they find the legendary artifact but refuse to give up the other treasures... wouldn't that put you in danger?"

In response to his concern, Chu Liang gave a light cough. "Ahem."

He stepped forward and said, "I believe you're all familiar with me to some extent. Inside the Heavenly Palace, nothing aside from the legendary artifact is valuable enough for us to abandon our morals or break our word."

The four Yin brothers looked at Chu Liang, shared a brief pause, then nodded in unison.

"That's true..."

"Young Hero Chu wouldn't be tempted by something so trivial..."

"He can be trusted with this."

With only a handful of words, Chu Liang managed to earn their agreement to cooperate. There was no proof needed.

"See that?" The Whale-Riding Immortal quietly shrugged toward the Sword Emperor. "As long as you have money, you're a good person wherever you go."

1. Devil-Expelling Sword is 荡魔剑 pronounced Dang Mo Jian. This is why their names are Dang, Mo, and Jian. ☜