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nTranslator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio

n“There is no need for alarm if any phenomena are seen later.”

nThe disciples of the Green Mountain Sect requested that the villagers return to their homes, and the travelers return to their inns. Soon, the streets were emptied.

nOne disciple looked at the corpse on the floor, puzzled. “This disciple of the underworld has an ordinary soulfire, and his Dharma power is low. Why did he dare remain here?”

n“Who knows?” another disciple replied. “Perhaps he wanted to see our grandmaster-uncle ascend. It is a magnificent sight. Who wouldn’t want to see it?”

nSuddenly, the wind blew, and the blossoms from the trees fell onto the road.

nThe disciples raised their heads to look to the sky, and saw hundreds of swords flying from everywhere toward the mountain peaks, after which unique lights from more than ten Dharmic treasures illuminated the sky. Finally, a large lotus was ultimately ferried into the sky, reaching far into the sky in a zen-like manner.

n“Is that the dowager of the Hanging Bell Sect?”

n“The sect master of Favorless Gate!”

n“Adjutant of the Mirror Sect!”

n“The sword beams that are soaring upward in an insufferably arrogant manner. Could it be him?”

n“The brothers from Liangwang Peak have returned, and so has Elder Si of Shangde Peak!”

n“Even the powers at play have come too?”

nThe disciples were shocked into silence. If not for the great event happening today, they would not have had the chance to see so many mighty figures at the same time.

nZhao Layue ignored these matters. She picked up Yin San’s corpse and walked out of the town.

n…

n…

nMaster Meng had not left the town, but stood atop a tall tree just outside it. He was looking at the high peaks with somewhat mixed feelings.

nGrandmaster-Uncle Jingyang was extremely senior in stature. He was a disciple of Perfected Taiping, and even the sect master would respectfully refer to him as Young Master-Uncle.

nIt was said that his talent was astonishing, and he had established many unimaginable records in the cultivation world. However, he spent most of his time on the ninth peak, rarely meeting others. Even few of the important disciples of the various peaks had seen his face, much less him.

nToday, not only were the leaders of every major sect arriving, but many of the powerful masters who lived in seclusion were here as well.

nHe hadn’t expected that even the legendary Buddhist Zen master would be here.

nHe had heard that it was possible that the mighty figures of other continents were also hidden deep within the clouds.

nTruly, this was an event not seen for a thousand years.

nAnd what if those gleaming swords had come from a sword god or a blade saint?

nMaster Meng was somewhat at a loss.

nHe was a great distance away from those names, unable to approach them.

nAnd the peaks were further still.

nAs for that grandmaster-uncle, he had only heard of rumors.

nIt was said that after the sect master had risen to his current position, when mention of the elder was made, all he did was say ‘Young Master-Uncle’ before falling silent. There were too many things he could not express.

nHe knew the reason, just as everyone in the Green Mountain Sect knew, that a Master-Uncle from the discipline hall would show no respect and only grunt coldly when this Grandmaster-Uncle was mentioned.

nThe Grandmaster-Uncle was the strongest cultivator, not only in the Green Mountain Sect but even throughout the entire continent.

nBut from the day he set foot in the Green Mountains, he underwent quiet self-cultivation in the mountains, rarely seen by anyone.

nHe had not represented Green Mountain Sect at any of the Plum Flower Conferences, or sparred with the other experts in the imperial court in Zhaoge. Neither had he fought the reclusive masters of other sects. He was never seen in the secret bloody wars between the cultivation sects and the Elders of the underworld. His presence was not even seen during the three major battles against Snow Country’s cultivation experts.

nHe had done nothing else except cultivate on the long cultivation path.

nIndeed, only such a cultivator unbothered by any externalities, in control of his feelings and of his nature could reach the endpoint of cultivation, proceeding to an unimaginable realm.

nHowever, such a cultivation life… what use was he to the juniors and disciples beneath him no matter how high his cultivation level was? What did it mean to the Green Mountain Sect? What did it mean to all lives under the skies?

nNo matter how astounding he was, a legend was only a legend. It had no place in the real world, so it was best for him to leave.

nLooking at the faint outlines of the mist-covered peaks, a slight smile formed on his face.

nWhen he saw Zhao Layue carrying the underworld demon’s corpse out of the village, the bitterness in his smile disappeared. It was replaced by surprise and gratification.

nEveryone in the world was watching the mountain peak except her.

nShe was so young; how was her heart so serene?

nShe was indeed a talented young woman, worthy of the secret attention the entire Green Mountain Sect had on her.

nSuddenly, his smile disappeared, and he looked back at the peak.

nJust as he said, those who were qualified to gaze at the peak were all looking there.

nIt was as if the clouds surrounding the peaks were being moved by a giant shapeless hand. It was being violently swept up, gradually revealing the deep blue sky.

nThe shapes of faint silhouettes were forced out from deep within the clouds. They saluted the Tianguang peak of the Green Mountain Sect in apparent calmness but were, in fact, feeling somewhat embarrassed.

nFurther away, two shadows floating amid cold flames quickly sped backward, appearing to be in a sorry state.

nMaster Meng could guess that one of them was probably a High Priest of the underworld, but who was the other person?

nThe Green Mountain array had not mounted an attack. There was laughter echoing from Tianguang Peak, but then there was an emergence of forbidding sword intent.

nThat sword intent swept out like a wave toward the peak’s surroundings.

nA sword beam arose from the cliff, like a forced response, and floated away.

nOnly when the sword beam reached fifteen hundred kilometers, coming to the western sea, did the sword intent from Tianguang peak slowly subside.

n“The sect master has attacked!” cried Master Meng in surprise.

nThere were few in the entire continent who required the sect master’s use of Heaven Bracing Sword.

nWas the cold light above the western sea the sword of the sword god?

n…

n…

nNo matter what had happened, even though these world-moving figures were making one appearance after another, they had no effect on the ninth peak.

nThe lone peak remained silent, seemingly unbreathing.

nSuddenly, the heaven and earth changed color, and a dozen bolts of lightning ripped apart the blue sky, as dozens of heavenly lightning crashed towards the lone peak!

nBefore the lightning that contained the power of heaven and earth could touch the peak, they were slashed to bits, turning into blue smoke.

nIt was because a sword beam had appeared from the peak.

nNo one knew if this strike was stronger than the Heaven Bracing Sword from before.

nIt was not only Master Meng; even the mighty figures that were fifteen hundred kilometers away could not tell.

nThe sword beam produced by the lone peak appeared to have no might.

nIt was a strike, a very simple one that casually slashed at the sky.

nYet the heavenly lightning was extinguished upon contact.

nThe sword beam continued to travel upward.

nThere was a ripping sound.

nFine rifts opened in the azure sky.

nImmensely thick light, like gold and jade, flowed out of the rifts, scattering as they met with wind, illuminating the entire continent.

nA sword to slice the heavens?

nWhen mighty cultivators described in the ancient texts ascended, they relied on their own body and cultivation to bitterly resist the heavenly lightning until they ended up passing their final test. After the heavenly lightning came to a rest, a light would scatter down like celestial fairies strewing flowers down. Only then could one see the path to heaven ascension.

nToday, Grandmaster-Uncle Jingyang had not waited for the lightning to strike twice, and instead took the initiative to attack with his sword.

nCould it be that he wanted to use his own sword to force open a path to heaven?

nWhat boldness! What confidence!

nMaster Meng was astonished. His complexion turned pale and his lips trembled.

nThat owner of the sword beam from the western sea, as well as the experts watching the event at Green Mountain Sect, were filled with speechless awe.

nAbove the lone peak, the sword beam continued heading straight for the heavens.

nThe winds whistled, and the thunder rumbled incessantly.

nThe sword beam took no notice of anything, with the sole goal of heading upwards.

nIf it were said that the heaven and earth wanted to give one last test to the ascending cultivator, it could be said that the sword beam’s response was of complete indifference.

nThe power of the heaven and earth fought with the sword intent. The mist of the mountains had long dispersed, and finally, the ninth peak of the Green Mountain Sect appeared for the first time. However, no one paid notice to it because everyone was captivated by the light from that sword beam.

nThe sword beam got closer and closer to the sky.

nThe rift in the firmament got larger and larger, as the light pouring out turned increasingly dense. It made the world turn even brighter.

nBe it the houses in the town or the caves between the mountain peaks, they were covered in a layer of golden light, making them truly resemble an immortal paradise or a divine country.

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