"Sword Pavilion disciples, face the enemy!"
The tolling bells inside the Sword Pavilion Mountain Gate echoed, growing ever louder. One by one, Foundation-Stage Cultivators shot out on their Flying Lights, attempting to mend the cracks in the Mountain Protection Grand Array.
But how could the invading Saint Sect Zhenren possibly allow that?
In an instant, each displayed their unique Abilities. The moment the Saint Sect Zhenren entered the Array, they immediately unleashed all sorts of techniques to defile and destroy it.
The entire Sword Pavilion instantly descended into chaos.
"What in the world is going on!?"
Among them were many Perfected Persons who, having been in seclusion, were completely unaware of the situation outside. Their first reaction upon seeing such a drastic change was—
"Where is the Demon-Vanquishing Perfected?"
Similar questions rose one after another within the Sword Pavilion.
After all, if the Demon-Vanquishing Perfected were still here, presiding over Zenith Cliff and suppressing the world with his sword, not even the Saint Sect Zhenren would have dared to attack so brazenly.
What on earth had happened?
"Patriarch Ye!"
A Perfected Person from the Sword Pavilion, unaware of the inside story, immediately rushed to Ye Shaoying's side. "Has the Demon-Vanquishing Perfected gone into seclusion?" he asked. "Hurry and ask him to come out!"
"Indeed!"
Another Perfected Person from the Sword Pavilion agreed, his tone tinged with complaint. "The Demon-Vanquishing Perfected was too careless. To suddenly go into seclusion without saying a word…"
These few simple words made Ye Shaoying press his lips together, an unreadable emotion on his face. But this was not something that could be hidden. Steeling himself, he forced the words out through gritted teeth. "The Demon-Vanquishing Perfected… has betrayed the Sword Pavilion. He also wounded the Exorcist Zhenren. Fellow Daoists, do not pin your hopes on him any longer!"
As soon as he spoke, a dead silence fell.
Every Perfected Person of the Sword Pavilion who heard this froze on the spot, staring blankly as if they had heard something utterly incomprehensible.
'The Demon-Vanquishing Perfected betrayed the Sword Pavilion?'
'What kind of joke is this!'
However, everyone understood Ye Shaoying would never make such a claim lightly. So, no matter how much they wanted to disbelieve it, they knew it was probably true…
And so, the next question arose:
'What should we do?'
The Demon-Vanquishing Perfected had betrayed the Sword Pavilion and wounded the Exorcist Zhenren. Didn't that mean that now, the Sword Pavilion lacked even a single cultivator at Foundation Establishment Perfection?
Only now, seeing the bewildered looks on the faces of so many Perfected Persons, did Ye Shaoying truly appreciate for the first time just how much influence the Demon-Vanquishing Perfected had wielded within the Sword Pavilion. Before, everyone had considered him stuffy and aloof—the odd man out.
But now, he was gone.
For a moment, no one knew how to respond.
Because before, the answer had always been "let the Demon-Vanquishing Perfected handle it." Now that he was gone, the weight of all his responsibilities came crashing down on their heads.
Only then did many of the Sword Pavilion's Perfected Persons realize with a jolt just how much they had always relied on their own "number one Sword Cultivator under Heaven."
Unfortunately, it was too late.
BOOM!
Outside the Sword Pavilion Mountain Gate, the combined efforts of the Saint Sect Zhenren widened the crack in the Array until it was forcibly torn open into a gateway.
"The time has come!"
Only then did Xiang Ye's figure finally appear, his face alight with excitement.
"Well done, fellow Daoist! You have contributed greatly to this invasion. Once we plunder the Sword Pavilion's treasury, you may choose any three items you wish!"
'Invading the Sword Pavilion!'
'This was something countless Interim Sect Leaders of the Saint Sect had dreamed of but never achieved. Yet now, he had done it. The feeling was utterly exhilarating!'
'Even better, the Demon-Vanquishing Perfected has gone to the Pure Land, so I don't have to worry about any trouble from them. They're in no position to come support the Sword Pavilion. As for the Dao Court… hmph, they're nothing but watchdogs, guarding their own little patch of land. They're even less likely to interfere. This time, I'm going to make a killing!'
'The resources I need for Seeking Gold might just be here!'
At this thought, Xiang Ye grew even more impatient. He shot forward even faster than Lü Yang, disappearing into the Sword Pavilion in the blink of an eye, ready to begin his plunder!
'Everything is in chaos now…'
Lü Yang, meanwhile, was in no hurry. Seeing the chaos erupt, he withdrew his Abilities, concealed his figure, and silently descended from his Flying Light.
Xiang Ye might have some knowledge of the Sword Pavilion, given their history as rivals, and was thus heading toward halls likely to contain great treasures. But how could he compare to Lü Yang, a former Sword Species with genuine insider knowledge? Among the Saint Sect People, Lü Yang was the one who best knew where the Sword Pavilion's greatest treasures were hidden!
Besides, he had an inside agent.
Descending from his Flying Light, Lü Yang quickly arrived at a secluded spot. There, an Array parted, and a graceful female figure poked her head out.
"Master… this way!"
It was Master Xiuxin!
Unlike the Yun Family's Ancestor, he hadn't used this particular Puppet in a very long time. Now, however, it was proving to be a brilliant secret weapon!
The reason was simple.
Master Xiuxin was an Honored Guest Elder of the Ye Family!
In other words, she knew the location of the Ye Family's clan territory within the Sword Pavilion and had access to their Arrays. With her help, Lü Yang could walk right in unopposed!
"Let's go. Lead the way!"
Without another word, Lü Yang slipped through the Array entrance Master Xiuxin had opened. He then changed his appearance and followed her, moving stealthily.
Before long, however, they ran into a Ye Family Zhenren on his way out to face the enemy. The man was in a frantic hurry, and his gaze immediately fell on Master Xiuxin and Lü Yang, who were moving back against the flow of people. He instantly descended and barked, "Xiuxin! The enemy is at the gates! Why are you fleeing your post?"
Master Xiuxin hurriedly tried to explain. "Elder, you misunderstand…"
"Enough!"
The Ye Family Zhenren's brows knitted together. "In this time of crisis, you disobey the family's orders. That makes you a suspected traitor!" he said coldly. "Now, come with me and atone for your crimes through valor!"
As he spoke, he was already calculating in his mind:
'The situation is perilous, and these Demons are vicious. I can't guarantee my own safety if I go out alone. It's perfect that I ran into Xiuxin. If need be, I can have her sacrifice herself to save me…'
'She's just an Honored Guest Elder, after all.'
'And so-called Honored Guest Elders are meant to do just that for the Ye Family. Even if she dies, the worst-case scenario is that I grant her status as a member of a Ye Family branch line in her next life.'
'When you think about it, it's a stroke of good fortune for her!'
While the Ye Family Zhenren was busy with his petty calculations, a figure suddenly stepped out from behind Master Xiuxin. The man tilted his head up, revealing a handsome, smiling face.
'Who is this…?'
Before he could even react, the man's appearance changed.
BOOM!
Lü Yang's figure vanished, replaced by a colossal, towering demonic shadow with three heads and six arms. Its green-fanged face stared fixedly at him!
[Heavenly Qian Captures All Phenomena]!
He had already cultivated this Second-Grade Cultivation Skill to the second stage, all thanks to Great Undertaking, who had actually remembered the instructions given to him previously.
When they met again, Great Undertaking had secretly sent him a wisp of Qi from the [Ten Thousand Martial Realm]!
Relying on this second Qi Collection, Lü Yang had finally managed to shed his [Dharma Body]. Now it was fused with his true self, able to coalesce and disperse at will. The distinction between his main body and Dharma Body was gone!
"You!?"
The Ye Family Zhenren's eyes flew wide. He had just started to speak when the three-headed, six-armed demon that Lü Yang had become seized him. His Cultivation was only slightly stronger than Master Xiuxin's, not even at the Mid-phase of Foundation Establishment. Though he struggled desperately, the demon's Mighty Power instantly suppressed and sealed him.
Immediately after, Lü Yang's Qi trace erupted in full.
"An enemy has invaded!"
"How could they be here… This is bad! Who let the wolf into our den?"
Ye Shaoying, in particular, had just scrambled back to his family's territory in a sorry state. The sight nearly made him faint with rage. There was a mole in his own house, and he hadn't even known!
Meanwhile, Lü Yang began to stroll about nonchalantly.
Behind him, the Myriad-Soul Banner unfurled, and the figure of Progenitor Tingyou emerged. For the first time, excitement showed on the Progenitor's normally placid face.
'Progenitor, the time for revenge has come.'
'The Ye Family's Perfected Lord is away. Today, we shall collect some interest.'
As the thought faded, countless Banner Spirits emerged in formation behind Progenitor Tingyou. They swarmed around Lü Yang, surrounding him like stars clustering around the moon.
"Relay my orders."
Lü Yang spoke coolly, "Slaughter the clan. Leave no one alive, not even the dogs and chickens."
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