Three days after Ye Yun's remnant soul dissipated, a thunderclap suddenly exploded in the Southern Region.
It wasn't the lingering echo of Lichun, but a wanted poster broadcast to the Immortal Realm using a Blood Fiend Hall Token—under the charge of "colluding with the demonic path, secretly hoarding evil swords, and slaughtering fellow cultivators," a bounty was placed on Ye Yun's remnant soul fragments. The bounty was so high that it could instantly elevate any third-rate sect to the status of a prominent family in the Southern Region.
Before the ink on the wanted poster had even dried, it was sent by Shadow Kill Pavilion assassins via communication talismans to the mountain gates of the Seventy-two Immortal Sects in the Southern Region.
Outside the Sky Sword Sect's protective formation, dozens of copies were imprinted with blood, the scarlet characters emitting a strange luster under the sun, like flesh-eating mouths.
"Absurd!"
Elder Qingxu crushed the wanted poster in his hand into pieces. Shreds of paper mixed with blood beads seeping from his unhealed wounds fell onto the stone steps. "Senior Ye Yun annihilated the Blood Fiend Hall three hundred years ago, and now they bite back. These petty villains have no shame!"
Su Muxue stood at the peak of Tianji Peak, Yue Zhen Sword leaning against her shoulder. The sword tassel fluttered in the mountain wind.
She gazed at the figures lingering below the mountain—there were scouts from the Shadow Kill Pavilion, sorcerers from the Ten Thousand Gu Sect, and even a few cultivators dressed in the attire of righteous immortal sects, furtively sizing up the Sky Sword Sect's defenses, their eyes glinting with greed.
"They don't want the truth," Su Muxue's voice was as cold as the bottom of a deep pool. "They want an excuse, an excuse to openly besiege the Sky Sword Sect and seize Senior Ye Yun's left-behind items."
The Blood Fiend Hall's calculation was precise.
Although Ye Yun's remnant soul had appeared and killed Xue Wushang, terrifying the petty villains, it also exposed the secret of his "remnant soul's survival." For the forces coveting Ye Yun's sword dao inheritance, this remnant soul was both the afterglow of a legend and a "treasure" containing three hundred years of sword intent.
Moreover, the wanted poster specifically noted "Ye Yun secretly hoarding the Blood Soul Sword Embryo"—this fabricated charge precisely struck the soft spot of the Southern Region's immortal sects.
After the Immortal Slaying Formation was broken three hundred years ago, the whereabouts of the Blood Soul Sword Embryo remained unknown, a sword hanging over the heads of the righteous path. Now, the Blood Fiend Hall pinned this charge on Ye Yun, solidifying his infamy of "falling into the demonic path" and inciting the sects who feared the reappearance of the Blood Soul Sword to stand against the Sky Sword Sect.
"Any news from the Profound Sky Hall?" Su Muxue turned to Elder Qingxu, who was using spiritual energy to dry a freshly received communication talisman.
The handwriting on the talisman was messy and hurried, penned by Hall Master Mofeng of the Profound Sky Hall: "The Blood Fiend Hall, in collusion with the Soul Severing Valley, attacked our hall. The foundation of the Immortal Slaying Formation has been relocated, but our mountain gate has fallen. I have retreated with the remnants to the Western Desert. Also, after the Northern Region sects received the wanted poster, three factions have announced they are severing ties with the Sky Sword Sect. Be cautious."
The "be cautious" at the end was so deeply impressed that it almost pierced the talisman, revealing the urgency with which Mofeng sent the message.
Su Muxue brought the talisman close to the candlelight and ignited it. The ashes drifted out the window with the airflow and landed on the face of a Shadow Kill Pavilion assassin attempting to climb the cliff.
The assassin grunted as the ashes burned him. Just as he was about to look up, he was pierced through the throat by a sharp sword light—it was Lin Feng leading two disciples on patrol. The youths' swords were still stained with fresh blood, but their eyes were colder than the blades.
"Peak Master, this can't go on like this." Elder Qingxu looked at the body that had fallen off the cliff, his brows furrowed into a knot. "There are at least a hundred cultivators gathered below the mountain now, half of them are here for 'Ye Yun's remnant soul.' They don't dare to attack the mountain directly, but they circle around like flies, and will eventually find a flaw in the Soul Locking Array."
What was more troublesome was that unrest began to appear within the Sky Sword Sect. Some elder deacons discussed in private, believing that the "sword artifacts left behind by Ye Yun should be handed over to appease the public anger." Some even proposed to "cleanse the sect" and completely sever ties with Ye Yun.
When these words reached Su Muxue, she was wiping the Yue Zhen Sword by the cold pond. Upon hearing them, she lightly dipped the sword blade into the pond, and the splashing water happened to land at the feet of the gossiping deacon, scaring him so much that his face turned pale, and he dared not speak further.
But Su Muxue knew that once the seed of doubt was sown, it would grow wildly, nourished by fear. She could silence public opinion with her sword, but she couldn't quell the cowardice in people's hearts.
As night fell, the cold pond suddenly rippled.
Su Muxue tightened her grip on the Yue Zhen Sword and turned, only to see a wispy figure slowly emerging from the pond—it was Ye Yun's remnant soul, even more ethereal than three days prior, as if a gust of wind could scatter it.
"Senior!" Su Muxue quickly curtsied, her voice filled with unconcealed urgency. "How could you..."
"They used 'Soul Gathering Incense' to lure me out," Ye Yun's voice was more ethereal than mist. The wispy figure's fingertip pointed towards the mountain below. "Those people lit incense made from the earth of ten thousand graves mixed with the bone powder of wronged souls outside the mountain gate. My remnant soul is drawn by this resentment. If I don't come out, I will eventually be locked down by their talismans."
Su Muxue's heart sank.
Soul Gathering Incense was a forbidden technique, requiring the slaughter of countless lives to refine. The righteous path in the Southern Region had long expressly forbidden it. Now, someone dared to use it publicly, clearly fearless (due to backing).
"The wanted poster was issued jointly by the Blood Fiend Hall and the 'Myriad Immortal Alliance.'" Ye Yun's wispy figure flickered slightly, as if enduring great pain. "The leader of the Myriad Immortal Alliance, Zhao Chang Geng, was my fellow disciple brother three hundred years ago. During the battle of the Immortal Slaying Formation, he was injured by the Blood Fiend Hall Master, and his Dao heart was damaged. He actually began to harbor resentment towards me, believing I deliberately left him with the injury..."
So that's how it was.
The Blood Fiend Hall could mobilize forces throughout the Southern Region, with the Myriad Immortal Alliance pushing the flames from behind.
Zhao Chang Geng used Ye Yun's "crimes" to eliminate rivals, while the Blood Fiend Hall took the opportunity to fish in troubled waters. Both got what they needed, but pushed the Sky Sword Sect into the center of a storm.
"Senior, you must leave quickly." Su Muxue abruptly drew her sword, the tip pointing into the depths of the pond. "I will activate the pond's 'Annihilation Array,' which can temporarily block your aura. Go to the Northern Region to find Ye Chen. We will hold the line here!"
Ye Yun's wispy figure shook its head. Its pale fingers lightly touched the Yue Zhen Sword, and a soft glow immediately spread across the blade. "My remnant soul was destined to dissipate anyway. Forcing it to remain will only bring more trouble. Do you think they truly care about me? No, they are after the foundation of the Sky Sword Sect, after the 'Sword Vein' beneath the cold pond."
Su Muxue's pupils suddenly contracted.
The Sword Vein was the lifeblood of the Sky Sword Sect, hidden in the deepest part of the cold pond, containing the purest sword dao spiritual energy of the Southern Region. Three hundred years ago, Ye Yun could fight the Blood Fiend Hall single-handedly precisely because he could draw upon the power of the Sword Vein. This matter was only known to successive sect masters, yet Ye Yun exposed it now—
"Zhao Chang Geng secretly learned the 'Pulse Seeking Technique' back then." Ye Yun's voice carried a hint of a sigh. "He knew about the Sword Vein's existence long ago but was always wary of my sword intent and dared not act. Now that my remnant soul is about to dissipate, he naturally intends to make his move."
Suddenly, a piercing whistle and the sound of breaking wind came from outside the mountain gate.
Su Muxue looked up and saw dozens of black figures streaking past the protective formation's light screen like bats, holding talismans that shone with green light—it was the Myriad Immortal Alliance's "Spirit Erosion Talisman," specifically designed to counter spiritual energy formations.
"They're making their move!" Elder Qingxu's roar came from the west. "Peak Master, the Myriad Immortal Alliance has joined forces with the Shadow Kill Pavilion and are forcibly breaking the formation!"
Ye Yun's wispy figure looked at Su Muxue, its eyes calm but carrying immense power. "Remember, the Sword Vein can be broken, but the hearts of the people cannot scatter. The foundation of the Sky Sword Sect has never been the spiritual energy hidden underground, but the swords held in hand, the people standing here."
He raised his hand and waved, and the water in the cold pond suddenly surged, forming a water curtain that enveloped his wispy figure. At the same time, the Yue Zhen Sword flew out automatically, its hilt landing in Su Muxue's hand. The inscription on the blade, "The sword remains, the Dao remains, the land is at peace," suddenly lit up, illuminating Tianji Peak as if it were broad daylight.
"Using my remnant soul as a guide, I will borrow the power of the Sword Vein to open a path for you." Ye Yun's voice came from within the water curtain, carrying a power that seemed to pierce through time and space. "Tell Ye Chen that the key to the Sword Vein lies within his bloodline. If the Southern Region truly falls into despair, have him... destroy it."
As the last word fell, the water curtain suddenly exploded, turning into points of light that merged with the Sky Sword Sect's protective formation. The light screen, which was covered in cracks, instantly became resplendent with golden light. The Spirit Erosion Talismans that struck the screen melted away like snow meeting fire.
A cry of surprise and pain came from outside the mountain gate, clearly injured by the rebounding force of the light screen.
But Su Muxue knew this was only temporary. Ye Yun using his remnant soul to activate the Sword Vein was akin to drinking poison to quench thirst; the brighter the light screen, the faster the source of the Sword Vein was consumed.
"Go!" Su Muxue tightened her grip on the Yue Zhen Sword and turned to Lin Feng and the others who had rushed over.Take the disciples affected by the Gu through the secret passage from the back mountain and rendezvous with the Profound Sky Hall in the Western Desert!
"
"What about you, Peak Master?" Lin Feng asked anxiously. "We'll stay and defend with you!"
"I must stay here and guard the last foundation of the Sword Vein." Su Muxue's gaze swept over the young, determined faces, and she suddenly smiled, her smile devoid of fear, only bearing a sword-like sharpness. "Tell those outside, if they want to touch the foundation of the Sky Sword Sect, they must first ask the Yue Zhen Sword in my hand!"
She raised her hand, and the Yue Zhen Sword let out a clear sword cry that pierced through the light screen and echoed throughout the Southern Region.
"Senior Ye Yun has left the mountain gate. The affairs of the Sky Sword Sect are my sole responsibility, Su Muxue! Anyone who dares to take one step past this formation will be killed without mercy!"
The clamor outside the mountain gate instantly fell silent.
A moment later, an old and sinister voice echoed, carrying a grating laugh. "Peak Master Su has quite the audacity. Since that old scoundrel Ye Yun has fled, then use your head to pay off his debts!"
It was Zhao Chang Geng, the leader of the Myriad Immortal Alliance.
Immediately following was a chorus of approving shouts, the clash of swords, and the sound of talismans whistling through the air. The Southern Region's night was completely ignited by the flames of war.
Su Muxue stood at the peak of Tianji Peak, the Yue Zhen Sword pointing towards the heavens. She could feel the power of the Sword Vein rapidly draining away, like the end of a legend three hundred years ago. But she did not retreat a single step.
Behind her lay the gates of the Sky Sword Sect, the corpses of her fellow disciples, and the final entrustment from Ye Yun's remnant soul before its dissipation.
Before her lay the greed and malice of the entire Southern Region, the conspiracy of the Blood Fiend Hall, and the ambition of the Myriad Immortal Alliance.
She took a deep breath, channeling spiritual energy into the Yue Zhen Sword. The starlight on the blade intertwined with the firelight outside the mountain gate, illuminating her pale but resolute face.
"The Sky Soaring Sword Formation, commence!"
The remaining disciples of the Sky Sword Sect drew their swords simultaneously. Sword lights shot into the sky, weaving a new net of swords within the light screen. This time, there was no protection from Ye Yun's remnant soul, no power reinforcement from the Sword Vein, only their own flesh and blood and sword intent.
The sword net collided with the incoming talismans, emitting a deafening roar. Su Muxue watched as her disciples fell one by one, saw the golden light on the screen gradually dim, but she held her long sword tightly, never retreating.
She recalled Ye Yun's words—The sword remains, the Dao remains, the land is at peace. She realized that the supposed peace of the land was never protected by legends, but by generation after generation, upholding the oath of 'the sword remains, the person remains' with swords and blood.
When the first rays of dawn pierced through the smoke once more, Su Muxue leaned against the stone wall by the cold pond, the Yue Zhen Sword planted in the soil before her, supporting her almost broken body.
The protective formation's light screen had disappeared, and the clamor outside the mountain gate had gradually subsided—not because the enemy had retreated, but because there were not many people left standing in the Sky Sword Sect.
She looked down at the cold pond. The water was black as ink, the Sword Vein's spiritual energy depleted, leaving only a bottomless, deathly silence.
Suddenly, a slight tremor came from underground.
Su Muxue looked up abruptly. The surface of the water in the center of the cold pond began to spin, forming a small vortex in which a faint red light flickered.
Was it the Blood Soul Sword Embryo?
She struggled to stand, only to find her spiritual energy completely depleted. Just then, a communication talisman flew out from her embrace and ignited in the air, revealing Ye Chen's handwriting:
"Received the Heavenly Soaring Token. Leading Northern Region cultivators south. The sword remains, wait for me."
Su Muxue looked at the words and suddenly burst into laughter. As she laughed, tears traced their way down her cheeks, dripping onto the blade of the Yue Zhen Sword, splashing into fine water droplets.
She reached out and grasped the sword hilt, raising the sword again. Sunlight fell on her face, and also on the inscription on the blade.
"Good." she said softly, her voice hoarse but firm. "I will wait for you."
Outside the mountain gate, Zhao Chang Geng looked at the silent Sky Sword Sect, a triumphant smile on his lips. He waved, signaling his disciples to stop the attack, and his eyes gleamed with confidence.
"No rush." he said with a laugh to the Blood Fiend Hall elder beside him. "Let her hold on a little longer. When that brat Ye Chen arrives, we'll catch them all in one net, and send them to reunite in the underworld."
The Blood Fiend Hall elder let out a sinister laugh, a laugh filled with the thirst for blood.
Little did they know, in the vortex deep within the cold pond, the red light was slowly rising.It wasn't the Blood Soul Sword Embryo, but an ancient long sword covered in cracks—it was the deputy-sword "Yue Zhen" that Ye Yun had used three hundred years ago to seal the Sword Vein. It was now breaking free as the Sword Vein withered.
On the hilt, a small inscription was carved, one that no one had ever seen before:
"The broken sword remains, the spark is not extinguished."
The storm in the Southern Region had just begun. And the sword of the Sky Sword Sect had not yet broken.
Chapter 16: [Immortal Realm Wanted]
As the water ripples of the cold pond completely subsided, Ye Yun's remnant soul had become almost transparent. He looked at Su Muxue's blood-stained white robe. His bamboo staff tapped the bluestone slab three times. A muffled vibration came from the bottom of the pond, and a dark golden light vein crawled up the rock wall, condensing into a half-incomplete jade talisman at Su Muxue's feet.
"This is the 'Vein Stabilizing Talisman,' it can temporarily stabilize the Sword Vein's spiritual energy." Ye Yun's voice was weaker than a candle in the wind. "My 'Seven Stars Soul Suppressing Array' set up three hundred years ago still has a contingency plan. If you embed the jade talisman into the sword platform at the peak of Tianji Peak, the mountain gate will be safe for three months."
Su Muxue took the jade talisman. Her fingertips touched the cold patterns on its surface; it was the core of the protective formation, drawn with Ye Yun's lifeblood. She suddenly knelt down, her forehead touching the bluestone slab. "If Senior leaves, how will the Sky Sword Sect fare?"
Ye Yun's remnant soul was silent for a moment. The wispy figure leaned down, and the bamboo staff lightly tapped the top of her head. A gentle sword intent surged into her limbs and bones through her Baihui acupoint. Su Muxue suddenly saw a half-exposed sword tassel from the sleeve of the remnant soul—it was the Ice Silkworm Silk Tassel she had personally woven when she first entered the sect. Ye Yun had kept it all along.
"Three hundred years ago, I leveled the Blood Fiend Hall, not to turn the Sky Sword Sect into a turtle shell hiding within an array." The remnant soul's voice carried a smile, but concealed an undeniable power. "The sword must be unsheathed, and people must move forward. You hold the Yue Zhen Sword, and the disciples of the Sky Sword Sect stand behind you. That is enough."
Before the voice fell, a deafening bell suddenly echoed from outside the mountain gate—it was the Myriad Immortal Alliance's "Immortal Gathering Bell" for summoning all sects. Nine rings of the bell meant that all cultivators in the Southern Region had to answer the call. Immediately after, an old voice pierced through the clouds, carrying hypocritical compassion:
"Senior Brother Ye Yun, it has been three hundred years. Why hide within the mountain gate? Zhao Chang Geng, in his name as the leader of the Myriad Immortal Alliance, guarantees that as long as you hand over the Blood Soul Sword Embryo and cripple your own cultivation, I will spare the lives of everyone in the Sky Sword Sect."
Su Muxue looked up sharply. She saw hundreds of figures suspended in the sea of clouds outside the protective formation. The elder leading them, dressed in purple robes and holding a whisk, was precisely Zhao Chang Geng, leader of the Myriad Immortal Alliance. Behind him were not only elders of the Myriad Immortal Alliance, but also the Valley Master of the Soul Severing Valley, Old Bone of the Ten Thousand Gu Sect, and even the sect masters of a few neutral immortal sects were present—clearly, this wanted poster had already woven a net covering the entire Southern Region.
Ye Yun's remnant soul slowly turned, its wispy figure flickering slightly in the morning light. He did not look at Zhao Chang Geng, but his gaze seemed to pierce through the crowd, landing on the neutral sect masters cowering behind. "Before the Immortal Slaying Formation three hundred years ago, who said, 'The sword heart is the Dao heart, better to break than to bend'? And who held my sword tassel, crying, 'I want to follow Senior Brother Ye to slay all the demons in the world'?"
A commotion arose in the crowd. Several sect masters' faces turned pale, and they instinctively took half a step back.
Zhao Chang Geng's expression darkened. He fiercely waved his whisk, and three purple lightning bolts struck the protective formation. "Ye Yun! Stop Bewitching the Masses with Heretical Words! You colluded with remnants of the Blood Fiend Hall and secretly hoarded the Blood Soul Sword Embryo; the evidence is ironclad! If you do not surrender today, do not blame us for joining forces to break the formation and level the Sky Sword Sect!"
"Ironclad evidence?" Ye Yun's remnant soul laughed, the sound echoing through the valley with bone-chilling coldness. "You hide the Blood Fiend Hall's 'Blood Guiding Talisman' in your sleeve, and insert the Soul Severing Valley's 'Spirit Erosion Needle' in your hair bun, yet you dare to speak of 'ironclad evidence'?"
Zhao Chang Geng's face changed drastically. He instinctively covered his sleeve. This subtle movement was seen by everyone, immediately causing an uproar.
Ye Yun's remnant soul no longer looked at him. His bamboo staff pointed south. "In my life, I, Ye Yun, have slain demons and protected the common people, and I have never wronged the Southern Region. Since you are forcing me with a 'wanted poster' today, I will go on this journey. But remember—"
His voice suddenly rose, his sword intent exploding like thunder, causing even the sea of clouds to churn. "My remnant soul can leave, but the mountain gate of the Sky Sword Sect must not be breached! Anyone who dares to touch a single blade of grass or tree of the Sky Sword Sect, I will turn into a vengeful spirit and level their immortal mansion!"
As the voice fell, the remnant soul transformed into a green light and shot through a gap in the protective formation. Zhao Chang Geng and others cried out in alarm and sacrificed their magic treasures to block it, but were shaken by the sword intent accompanying the green light, their blood and energy surging. They watched helplessly as the figure flew towards the Southern Region's extreme boundary.
"Chase!" Zhao Chang Geng, both shocked and enraged, pointed his whisk in the direction of the green light. "His remnant soul is unstable; he cannot last half an hour! Whoever can capture his remnant soul fragments, I will give them thirty percent of the Blood Soul Sword Embryo's spiritual power!"
Under the generous reward, hundreds of figures chased the green light like hungry wolves. Outside the Sky Sword Sect mountain gate, where the situation had been tense moments before, only a few neutral sect masters stood looking at each other, and the smell of blood still lingered on the ground.
Su Muxue watched the direction Ye Yun disappeared, tightly clenching the half-Vein Stabilizing Talisman. Her knuckles turned white as she suddenly heard a faint sound from behind—Elder Qingxu was emerging from behind a broken cliff, supporting over a dozen injured disciples. The old Daoist priest's wound on his left arm had reopened, his blood staining half his white robe, yet he still stood upright.
"Peak Master," Elder Qingxu's voice was hoarse. "Senior Ye... deliberately led them away."
Su Muxue did not turn back; she merely pressed the Vein Stabilizing Talisman into the groove of the sword platform. Dark golden light veins spread along the stone steps, and the Sky Sword Sect's mountain gate seemed to come alive. The sword marks on the broken cliff began to flash with faint light.
"I know." she said softly, reaching out to grasp the Yue Zhen Sword. The blade let out a clear ringing sound in the morning light. "That's why we cannot let him lead the enemy away in vain."
She turned to face the surviving disciples. Some had lost arms, some had crippled legs, but all stood straight, swords in hand, their eyes shining astonishingly.
"Lin Feng," Su Muxue's gaze fell on the young disciple. "Take ten people and use the secret passage to go to the Western Desert to find the Profound Sky Hall. Tell Hall Master Mofeng that the Myriad Immortal Alliance is colluding with the Blood Fiend Hall, and the foundation of the Immortal Slaying Formation is in grave danger."
Lin Feng knelt on one knee, his voice filled with youthful determination. "This disciple obeys!"
"Elder Qingxu," Su Muxue turned to the old Daoist priest. "Please preside over the mountain gate and use the power of the Vein Stabilizing Talisman to repair the Soul Locking Array.The disciples affected by the poisonous insects cannot wait any longer."
Elder Qingxu cupped his hands. "Peak Master, rest assured."
Su Muxue took one last look in the direction Ye Yun had disappeared. The sea of clouds there was still churning, as if hiding countless pairs of greedy eyes. She took a deep breath, held the Yue Zhen Sword horizontally across her chest, its tip pointed diagonally towards the ground—this was the posture of the Sky Sword Sect sect master summoning the entire sect.
"Sky Sword Sect disciples, heed my order!"
"Here!" From within the ruined mountain gate, a response echoed, uneven but incredibly loud.
"From today on, the mountain gate will be closed, and the sword formation will be reorganized." Su Muxue's voice pierced through the dust, carrying the sharpness of the Yue Zhen Sword. "Those who have recovered will practice the 'Star River Fall' with me. Those who are still injured will be given medicinal pills by the Pill Hall. Three months later, when the Vein Stabilizing Talisman's spiritual power is exhausted, we will unsheathe our swords—"
She suddenly pointed her sword south, the sword light slicing through the sky like a meteor. "To bring Senior Ye Yun home!"
"Bring Senior home!"
"Bring Senior home!"
The roars echoed through the valley, startling the lone geese by the cliff. The voices of the young, the old, and the wounded intertwined, creating a sound even louder than the Myriad Immortal Alliance's Immortal Gathering Bell, and more resolute than the Blood Fiend Hall's order of pursuit.
The water in the cold pond rippled again, and the sword shadow at the bottom of the pond swayed gently, as if responding to this oath.
Su Muxue looked at the sword shadow, suddenly recalling Ye Yun's eyes before his remnant soul disappeared—it wasn't farewell, but an entrustment.
Three hundred years ago, he led a group of young disciples to level the Blood Fiend Hall; three hundred years later, he used his remnant soul as bait, leaving a sliver of hope for the Sky Sword Sect.
And they, the ones he had protected, would eventually take up his sword and continue to protect this land.
Outside the mountain gate, Zhao Chang Geng and his men pursued for three days and three nights but could not even touch the hem of Ye Yun's remnant soul.The green light acted like a phantom, sometimes appearing in the forbidden areas of the Soul Severing Valley, luring them to destroy their own Spirit Erosion miasma source; sometimes flashing over the Myriad Gu Sect's poison pool, causing the poisonous insects to rebel and heavy casualties.
It wasn't until the seventh day that the green light suddenly fell into the "Abyss of No Return" in the Southern Region's extreme boundary. When Zhao Chang Geng and his men arrived, they only saw the surging bloody mist at the bottom of the abyss and an Ice Silkworm Silk Tassel floating in the mist—it was deliberately left by Ye Yun.
"He must be hiding at the bottom of the abyss!" Zhao Chang Geng looked into the bottomless abyss, a greedy light flashing in his eyes. "The Blood Soul Sword Embryo must be inside! Spread my order, set up the 'Nine Absolute Soul Locking Array,' and even if we have to dig three feet into the ground, we will drag out Ye Yun's remnant soul and the Blood Soul Sword Embryo together!"
The Myriad Immortal Alliance cultivators began to set up formations around the abyss. In the bloody mist, Ye Yun's laughter could be faintly heard, ethereal and distant, as if mocking their foolishness.
And at this moment, the Sky Sword Sect was accumulating strength in silence.
At the peak of Tianji Peak, Su Muxue practiced her sword daily, greeting the dawn. The starlight of the Yue Zhen Sword grew brighter and brighter; on the Sword Tomb Plaza, the surviving disciples used broken swords to carve the names of the fallen, each carving imbued with unyielding sword intent;
By the cold pond, the Soul Locking Array repaired by Elder Qingxu glowed brighter and brighter, firmly locking the remaining poison of the Heart Corroding Gu in the West Peak.
Three months later, on a morning when the first rays of sunlight fell upon the Vein Stabilizing Talisman, the dark golden light vein finally began to fade.
Su Muxue stood at the peak of Tianji Peak, looking at the figures once again gathered outside the mountain gate—Zhao Chang Geng had returned with his men. Clearly, they had not found the Blood Soul Sword Embryo they desired in the Abyss of No Return.
"Su Muxue!" Zhao Chang Geng's voice was filled with exasperated ferocity. "That old scoundrel Ye Yun is dead. If you are sensible, open the mountain gate and surrender, hand over the Yue Zhen Sword!\
Sū Mùxuě did not answer, she merely raised her hand and grasped the Mountain Suppressing Sword. Behind her, Elder Qingxu, Lín Fēng, and all the disciples who had recovered from their injuries simultaneously drew their swords.
Sword light intertwined, forming a brilliant galaxy that illuminated the Heavenly Sword Sect's sect gate, and also lit up the sky of the Southern Region.
Senior Yè Yún, we are ready.
We will escort you home.