Zhenwu City.
More and more people were gathering here.
Anyone with half a brain could tell—this was the equivalent of grinding Wenjian Pavilion's face into the dirt. Once something was put out in the open like this, there had to be a conclusion.
The two miserable figures above the city gate stirred everyone's emotions.
"Are those two really from Wenjian Pavilion?"
"Heh! Who knows besides the sect leader of Wenjian Pavilion? But whether they are or not doesn't even matter anymore. What matters is that Zhenwu Sect has made their stance clear. The real question is how Wenjian Pavilion will respond."
"Exactly. I have a feeling the two sects are going to clash. Only a battle can settle this mess. Could it be that Zhenwu Sect is planning to rise by stepping on Wenjian Pavilion?"
…
Whispers filled the air.
Some of the speculation made people's hearts skip a beat.
Everyone understood.
Wenjian Pavilion wasn't the key anymore.
The key was those two spies—they represented Wenjian Pavilion's dignity. That's why so many were watching the gate.
The Twin Spear Sisters, Chen Xing and Chen Yue, had also arrived nearby.
Under orders from the Northern Suppression King, they had taken up residence in Zhenwu City to protect Li Ling at critical moments, so they were also paying close attention to the conflict between Zhenwu Sect and Wenjian Pavilion.
"Sis, what do we do if Wenjian Pavilion and Zhenwu Sect go to war?"
Chen Xing rolled her eyes.
"Do you even need to ask? Of course we help Zhenwu Sect. His Highness didn't send us just to protect the young lord. He's got high hopes for Zhenwu Sect. As long as the young lord's safe, we're supposed to help Zhenwu Sect too."
"If things really get out of hand, His Highness's name still carries weight."
Chen Yue's eyes widened.
"When did His Highness ever say that?"
"He whispered it to me in private. You're not dependable, and His Highness knows that perfectly well."
Chen Yue gave a sheepish smile at her sister's jab.
Off in the distance.
Qin Yun and the Southern Alliance Saintess were watching from a tall building. With their eyesight, they could see and sense everything happening here.
The Southern Alliance Saintess arched a delicate brow.
"Zhenwu Sect really acts outside the box. No wonder they were able to raise a prodigy like Saint Qin."
Her tone was light and casual. After her plan to plant spies during the test had failed, she had been preparing another approach. But before she could even act, Zhenwu Sect had shut its mountain, and now it seemed they were outright provoking Wenjian Pavilion.
Qin Yun stared coldly at her, a flicker of anger in his eyes.
"Saintess, I'm no longer part of Zhenwu Sect. Don't bring this up again. If you've got time to chat, worry about your Southern Alliance instead."
The Southern Alliance Saintess turned and met his gaze.
They looked at each other like lovers—but without the soft affection.
The Saintess chuckled first. She didn't know why, but teasing Qin Yun always felt amusing.
"My bad, Qin Saint. Don't be mad," she said with rare gentleness in her usually cold tone.
Qin Yun turned away, but in his heart he couldn't help thinking—so her name's Yiyi?
The Saintess changed the subject.
"What do you think Wenjian Pavilion will do?"
Qin Yun replied calmly,
"There'll be a fight. No doubt."
"So who has the upper hand?"
"If Zhenwu Sect dared to make this move, it means they're not afraid of Wenjian Pavilion. Not even of that 'Heartseeking Sword'."
Hearing that, a ripple passed through the Saintess's eyes.
"If that's the case, then the strength Heavenly Sword revealed in his last battle with the Thunderblade Master won't be enough. Maybe this time… we'll see that martial master who can imitate others' powers?"
Qin Yun's heart trembled, but he said nothing.
The Saintess just kept talking to herself.
"Neither the Southern Alliance nor your Demonic Sect will be made fools of for nothing."
While they spoke,
The skies in the distance began to ripple.
Several figures were flying toward Zhenwu City. In the blink of an eye, they had arrived before the city.
Qin Yun and the Saintess narrowed their eyes, gazing in that direction.
And not just them—
Everyone was watching.
The leading figure was an old man with white hair and indifferent eyes. He held no sword, yet there was a faint, dominating sharpness radiating from him, stinging the eyes and making it hard to look directly at him.
Someone recognized him.
"It's Wenjian Pavilion's Grand Elder—Heartseeking Sword Gu Changhe!"
"He really came out of seclusion! This is huge!"
Eyes widened across the crowd, hearts pounding wildly.
Ranked 14th on the Heaven-Man List, an absolute legend.
People had speculated he might show, but most thought it unlikely. They assumed Wenjian Pavilion's sect leader and a few other Heaven-Man realm experts would handle things.
But now…
They'd guessed wrong. Zhenwu Sect—or rather, Heavenly Sword—carried more weight than anyone imagined.
Along with Gu Changhe came Sect Leader Tang Qiu, another Heaven-Man realm expert, and several Origin Core realm cultivators—an overwhelmingly powerful lineup.
Under the gaze of all,
Gu Changhe and the others slowly approached Zhenwu City's gate.
They looked up at the two miserable figures. Gu Changhe's face was calm and indifferent, but Tang Qiu's pupils shrank in fury.
He had personally sent those two to Zhenwu Mountain, even giving them careful instructions—if they brought back the Zhenwu inheritance and the secrets of the Zhenwu Sword Stele, they'd be hailed as heroes of Wenjian Pavilion.
But now, seeing them like this…
The two spies were overjoyed to see Tang Qiu, but didn't dare show a trace of it.
In front of the gate,
Several figures walked over.
At the lead was Xiong Shi, followed by several newly appointed Protectors.
Xiong Shi stared at Gu Changhe and his group, his muscles tense, but he didn't flinch as he walked forward. The Protectors felt their scalps tingle, but clenched their teeth and followed. When one eats a lord's bread, one stays loyal to the lord—now was not the time to retreat.
"Senior Gu, Sect Leader Tang," Xiong Shi greeted, neither servile nor overbearing.
Tang Qiu glared.
Gu Changhe turned his gaze on Xiong Shi, unleashing an oppressive force. Xiong Shi barely managed to hold his ground by using a calming technique created by Ning Qi.
A flicker of surprise flashed in Gu Changhe's eyes, then vanished. He spoke plainly.
"You say these two are spies?"
Xiong Shi took a deep breath, not backing down.
"I'd like Senior Gu to confirm it. You may not recognize them, but I'm sure Sect Leader Tang does."
The crowd was stunned.
This Zhenwu Sect Discipline Elder was bold—he was talking back to a top-15 legend on the Heaven-Man List!
Qin Yun clenched his fist in his sleeve as he watched his second senior brother.
Tang Qiu's anger surged.
He was just about to speak—
Gu Changhe cut in, expressionless.
"Tang Qiu, do you recognize them?"
Tang Qiu stiffened. Faced with the spies' hopeful gazes, he decisively shook his head.
"No."
Gu Changhe looked at Xiong Shi and took a step forward.
"He says he doesn't."
Xiong Shi felt the pressure intensify. Gritting his teeth, he said:
"What Sect Leader Tang says may not be true. Our Zhenwu Sect has the Heart-Seeking Platform. We can verify their identities before the entire world!"
Gu Changhe shook his head indifferently.
"Too much trouble."
The moment he said "trouble," a flash of sword light blinked—
And two headless corpses appeared atop the gate.
Xiong Shi smelled blood. His pupils contracted as he saw the two heads floating beside Gu Changhe.
Everyone felt a chill on their scalp.
Gu Changhe gave a sidelong glance—not at anyone in particular, but everyone felt the chill deep in their bones.
His cold voice echoed:
"I think it's easier to ask Heavenly Sword. He might know who they are."
Even the others from Wenjian Pavilion didn't dare say a word.
Everyone watched the group walk toward Zhenwu Mountain, completely silent, eyes full of shock.
The Southern Alliance Saintess said nothing for a long time, then finally praised:
"What a Heartseeking Sword—seeks truth in the heart, be it his own or others'."
Qin Yun said nothing.
Everyone understood.
Gu Changhe clearly didn't care to make things hard for Xiong Shi.
This was laying his cards on the table. No time wasted.
Whether those two were spies didn't matter.
If Heavenly Sword said they weren't—then they weren't.
But if they weren't…
Then Zhenwu Sect would have to pay the price.
Everyone trembled slightly. They knew something big was coming.
As Wenjian Pavilion's group faded into the distance, the crowd finally snapped out of their daze.
After just a moment's hesitation, a few bold martial artists followed.
Heartseeking Sword and Heavenly Sword.
Two legendary swordmasters at the peak of the Great Yan Dynasty.
If they fought—
It would be a once-in-a-generation clash.
Xiong Shi let out a long breath. Qi Force flowed through his body again and again before the stiffness finally faded.
The pressure from Gu Changhe had been immense. Even without direct targeting, it was unbearable.
He couldn't help but worry, but when he thought of his senior brother's calm face, he steadied his heart.
"Let's go. Back to the mountain!"
Figures flashed toward Zhenwu Mountain.
…
Gu Changhe walked with hands behind his back up the stone steps of Zhenwu Mountain. He had white hair but steady steps, looking like a well-preserved village elder—if you ignored the two floating heads beside him.
He strolled like he was walking through his backyard.
"This mountain isn't bad. It may not match the famous peaks of the Great Yan, but it has a natural charm. What do you think about setting up a Wenjian Pavilion branch here in the future?"
He said it offhandedly.
Tang Qiu bowed slightly, eyes gleaming with pleasure.
"Your judgment is sharp. Some people once said Zhenwu Mountain was like a divine sword from the heavens. Looking at it now, there's some truth to that. As a branch location, it might produce many talented sword cultivators for Wenjian Pavilion."
The group reached a fork in the road.
To the left were still the stone steps, while on the right, steps made of bluestone glimmered with a faint greenish glow. Song Cheng stood guard there with over a dozen disciples.
When they saw Gu Changhe and the others walking leisurely toward them, accompanied by two floating heads, their hearts clenched with fear.
But Gu Changhe paid Song Cheng and the others no mind. His eyes sparkled with divine light and a trace of surprise.
"That's the Heaven Ascension Steps?"
Tang Qiu nodded repeatedly and explained the mysteries in detail.
Gu Changhe praised,
"Quite ingenious indeed. Good for tempering disciples' willpower and mindset. So the rumors in the martial world were true. These Heaven Ascension Steps—maybe we can take them back."
Hearing this, Song Cheng and the others glared in fury, but the overwhelming pressure made it impossible for them to speak.
The other side completely treated them like air, making shameless remarks about everything on Zhenwu Mountain, as if it were all already in their pocket.
Gu Changhe stepped onto the staircase.
He had come here a little angry.
But after arriving at Zhenwu Mountain, especially after seeing the mountain and the Heaven Ascension Steps, he wasn't angry anymore.
Originally, he had no reason to strike against Zhenwu Sect, but now, Zhenwu Sect had given him the opportunity—everything was justified, and even the Great Yan court couldn't interfere.
The imperial attitude toward conflicts between martial sects had always been ambiguous. They required a just cause—no senseless attacks allowed, to prevent large-scale chaos. But at the same time, they didn't want martial sects to be too harmonious. They needed internal strife.
He ascended all the way.
The disciples guarding the mountain were like they'd been petrified—unable to speak or move—only able to watch them leave while listening to their unbridled commentary with furious hearts.
Until—
In the distance, a sword stele came into view.
The characters "Zhenwu" glowed strikingly on its surface. At first glance, it looked ordinary, but a closer look revealed wild, flowing strokes. Stare long enough, and you'd feel divine swords soaring into the sky.
Tang Qiu and the others were stunned.
It was their first time seeing the Zhenwu Sword Stele.
A mysterious power enveloped it from afar, preventing them from seeing its true essence. Yet even the surface signs alone were enough to leave them shocked.
For the first time, Gu Changhe's eyes grew serious.
After a long moment, he praised,
"What a Heavenly Sword Master. Truly remarkable."
"Such a pity."
He shook his head again.
No one knew what he was regretting—was it that the Heavenly Sword Master wasn't a part of Wenjian Pavilion? That the Zhenwu Sword Stele had appeared in the wrong place? Or something else entirely?
"Tang Qiu, what do you think would happen if the Zhenwu Sword Stele was paired with our Wenjian Pavilion's Sword Inheritance Tower?"
Tang Qiu's eyes lit up, his voice excited.
"In less than a hundred years, Wenjian Pavilion would become the number one sacred ground for sword cultivation in Great Yan!"
Gu Changhe laughed.
"Good."
A calm voice rang out from the distance—
"Unfortunately, Senior Gu's wish won't come true. The Zhenwu Sword Stele belongs to our Zhenwu Sect."
Luo Wentian had received the signal passed on by Xiong Shi and arrived at the mountain gate with a group of disciples. His expression was still relatively calm, but the other elders and disciples were furious.
Especially Zhuang Chen—his chubby little face trembled as he muttered to himself:
"This shameless old fart... just wait till I master swordsmanship. I'll move your entire Sword Inheritance Tower here and fulfill your dream for you! Of course, in our Zhenwu Sect's daydream, not yours!"
He turned, wanting to grumble to Li Ling—only to realize he wasn't there. Tilting his head, he remembered Li Ling had told him in secret—today was the day he trained swordsmanship with the Heavenly Sword Master.
Suddenly, it hit him.
Gu Changhe was already at their doorstep. That meant the Heavenly Sword Master would probably show up too. Would Li Ling be brought out by him personally? That would be so freakin' cool!
Just thinking about it made him a little envious.
Gu Changhe raised his eyes and swept his gaze across Luo Wentian and the others.
Each of them felt an overwhelming sense of pressure.
But Gu Changhe quickly looked away—he didn't see anyone he wanted to see.
He ignored Luo Wentian.
He'd talked to Xiong Shi because the man barely qualified.
Now—
He didn't think Luo Wentian was even worth a conversation.
Gu Changhe clasped his hands behind his back and gently stepped forward. With each step, he ascended into the air, floating higher than the Zhenwu Sword Stele. The two spies' heads floated alongside him.
He looked toward the depths of Zhenwu Sect, and his calm voice echoed across the mountain:
"Heavenly Sword Master, come out and face me."
The voice started softly, but quickly surged like thunder, shaking the land in all directions.
Luo Wentian and the others trembled, alarm flashing in their eyes.
Once Gu Changhe released his aura, he became terrifying—like a divine sword unsheathed. Sword intent crisscrossed in the air, threatening to tear space itself apart.
They had no doubt—if they were caught within it, they'd be shredded to pieces in an instant.
At the foot of Zhenwu Mountain.
The martial artists had all stopped in shock, staring up at the figure standing atop the Zhenwu Sword Stele.
That alone said it all.
"Is the battle about to start?"
No one expected Heartseeking Sword to be this domineering and direct—no room for negotiation at all.
Even the Southern Alliance Saintess looked serious now. Though she was a rare genius, compared to these long-established monsters, she still had a long way to go. Even in the Southern Alliance, someone like Gu Changhe was a towering figure.
Everyone watched.
Waiting for that cold, black-robed Daoist to appear—the very same direction where the Heavenly Sword Master had once emerged.
But they were destined to be disappointed.
One breath.
Five breaths.
Ten breaths.
…
Gu Changhe's echoing challenge gradually faded, yet the Heavenly Sword Master still did not appear.
The crowd looked at each other.
"What's going on? Did the Heavenly Sword Master leave the mountain?"
Qin Yun's heart tensed.
In front of Zhenwu Sect's gates, some disciples began to get nervous too.
"Why hasn't the Heavenly Sword Master come out yet?"
But when they saw their own sect master calmly watching Gu Changhe, their panic slowly subsided.
Gu Changhe slowly opened his closed eyes.
He looked coldly at Zhenwu Mountain, Zhenwu Sect, and the Zhenwu Sword Stele.
"Very well. Looks like it's been so long since I made a move that the world has forgotten me." He sighed, but the killing intent spreading through the air made even those far down the mountain shiver.
Sword intent mixed with murderous intent—the air itself became a death trap, ready to shred all things.
From within Gu Changhe's body, a sword cry echoed. Then, countless swords seemed to roar together, resounding through the heavens.
All sword cultivators struggled to control their swords—but the blades still trembled, as if in reverence.
What was Heartseeking Sword?
It questioned the heart of the sword, used the sword to walk the path, the truest and most sincere sword under heaven.
Everyone was stunned.
Gu Changhe raised a finger. Dazzling sword energy gathered and slashed toward the ground beneath the Zhenwu Sword Stele.
If the Heavenly Sword Master didn't dare show himself—
Then he'd destroy the Zhenwu Sword Stele!
…
In the rear mountain.
A large and a small figure were training in the forest.
The little Daoist was diligently practicing swordsmanship. The black-robed old Daoist stood coldly by, occasionally correcting his form or using twigs and leaves to demonstrate sword intent.
Li Ling didn't dare glance at the Heavenly Sword Master beside him, but in his heart, he held boundless admiration.
Every training session yielded huge progress. Being able to keep up with Zhuang Chen was largely thanks to the Heavenly Sword Master's teaching.
If only he weren't so cold—Li Ling would've loved to train with him every day.
Suddenly—
A thunderous shout rang from the mountain gate:
"Heavenly Sword Master, come out and face me!"
Li Ling instinctively looked toward the sound, eyes wide.
He could just barely make out an old man in white sword robes standing in midair atop the Zhenwu Sword Stele.
He was furious—this was a huge disrespect to the Heavenly Sword Master!
But then it hit him.
This man was extremely powerful. Considering everything that had happened recently, he could guess the man's identity.
"Rank 14 on the Heaven-Man List—Gu Changhe!"
His breath caught.
Then—pain flashed across his face. A strand of sword qi had struck his wrist.
"Practice."
Two cold syllables made Li Ling straighten immediately.
Still, his thoughts drifted toward the front mountain.
Gu Changhe had arrived—would the Heavenly Sword Master face him?
The thought thrilled him.
If the Heavenly Sword Master brought him along—that'd be so badass!
But the cold voice sounded again, breaking his thoughts:
"The Heavenly Sword Technique is swordplay, sword intent, and sword dao. Every move you learn is part of the Heavenly Sword Technique."
Li Ling engraved the words in his heart and tried to comprehend them seriously.
He knew the Heavenly Sword Master hated interruptions. He'd suffered for it before. Once sword practice started, it wasn't allowed to stop.
He obediently finished his practice.
Finally—
He couldn't help but ask,
"Heavenly Sword Master, are we really not going over?"
Gu Changhe was a legendary powerhouse. Li Ling could already feel the intense energy waves from the mountain gate, and the killing intent in Gu Changhe's voice—it was clear as day.
The Heavenly Sword Master's gaze was icy cold.
"Today I'll teach you another sword move. Watch closely."
Li Ling's eyes widened.
Somehow, the sword in his hand was already in the Heavenly Sword Master's hand.
With a casual swing—
No blazing sword light, no world-shaking sword intent—just a simple strike into empty space.
In the Seeking Dao Courtyard, Ning Qi opened his eyes and smiled faintly, glancing at both the rear mountain and the gate.
Then he looked down again at the Daoist scripture sent by Wuxiang Sect.
He hadn't expected Wenjian Pavilion to come today.
But—
It wasn't a big deal.
Now that he had reached the Origin Core Realm, he no longer needed the Formless Qi Body to make appearances.
Li Ling stared blankly at that sword strike, full of confusion.
But then—
This confusion transformed into pure shock.
He sensed a terrifying sword intent erupting skyward—but not from before his eyes. It came from the mountain gate!
He instinctively turned around.
And saw—after the Heavenly Sword Master finished his swing, the long-silent Zhenwu Sword Stele finally responded.
In that instant, he grasped a faint understanding.
This sword strike wasn't plain at all—it carried a supreme level of sword dao that he simply couldn't comprehend.
At this moment, that towering peak of sword dao revealed just a corner through the Zhenwu Sword Stele.
Buzz!
A light hum rose from the stele—barely audible at first—but within a breath, it became a torrential river of sound, sweeping across the surroundings.
Gu Changhe was stunned.
Everyone was stunned.
They saw it.
After Gu Changhe's sword attack, the previously inert Zhenwu Sword Stele suddenly reacted—
An unparalleled, sky-piercing sword intent burst forth, like a true dragon stretching its claws from the heavens, or a sea monster rising from the deep.
Ripples of force radiated outward from the stele.
Gu Changhe's dazzling sword qi was instantly reduced to dust, with no resistance whatsoever.
His expression changed completely—grave and serious.
Everyone's eyes widened further.
The Heavenly Sword Master hadn't even shown himself.
Yet just the sword intent from the stele was this terrifying?
Luo Wentian's eyes sparkled. He was one of the few who had mentally prepared for this.
Watching Gu Changhe's expression turn grim, he felt immense satisfaction, even the urge to laugh aloud.
The mountain guards had already informed him how arrogantly Wenjian Pavilion's people had behaved, treating Zhenwu Mountain's legacy as if it were their own treasure.
Gu Changhe's white hair whipped in the wind. He unleashed everything—his Heartseeking Sword Intent summoned myriad blades, invoking the forces of heaven and earth and transforming them into a torrent of sword qi.
Each strand of it could split mountains and rivers.
He roared:
"You've got some skill—but to think a lifeless object alone could make me retreat? Impossible!"
Fury burned within him—he felt insulted.
The Heavenly Sword Master wouldn't even show his face. That was blatant contempt.
In that case, he had to make him pay dearly.
Gu Changhe's gaze turned toward the Zhenwu Sect crowd—killing intent surged for the first time.
Only blood could cleanse his humiliation.
Countless streams of sword qi formed around him, making him look like a celestial being of the sword—his aura was terrifying beyond belief.
The sword qi targeted the entire Zhenwu Sect, howling down from above. The people at the base of the mountain felt their scalps go numb.
But Luo Wentian stepped forward, standing firm in front of the sword qi, fearless.
He had faith in Ning Qi.
Everyone vaguely heard a cold snort.
The Zhenwu Sword Stele grew ever more radiant.
Ripples of power spread rapidly, sweeping across the area—
All of Gu Changhe's countless howling sword beams disintegrated into powder in an instant.
A few leftover breezes brushed past the Zhenwu Sect disciples like a gentle wind, fluttering their robes.
"This wind… is kinda nice?" Zhuang Chen said blankly.
The others couldn't help but smile.
The onlookers at the foot of the mountain were completely dumbfounded.
This clash between peerless experts was simply too epic—
But the outcome was already clear.
The Southern Alliance Saintess had disbelief in her eyes.
"Could the Heavenly Sword Master have strength near the top ten of the Heaven-Man List?"
That was far beyond her expectations.
She had originally thought some hidden expert from Zhenwu Sect would appear to help, but now she realized something was off.
Gu Changhe was furious.
But in the next moment—his body froze.
An unimaginably powerful sword intent had locked onto him.
He no longer had the energy to worry about Zhenwu Sect.
Even the two floating heads beside him instantly turned to blood mist.
Some of it splashed on his robes, but he didn't even have time to care.
His eyes were full of shock and fear.
"How can there be such terrifying sword intent? Is a Sword Saint descending upon the world?!"
But he immediately tried to reassure himself:
"It's just sword intent. Without enough strength, it can't be that lethal…"
He recalled the rumor Tang Qiu had mentioned—that the Heavenly Sword Master had peerless sword intent, but was short on lifespan and lacked top-tier cultivation.
Yet just as that thought formed—
His eyes flew wide open.
Boom!
A deafening explosion tore through the skies.
Everyone instinctively looked up.
Chen Xing and Chen Yue stood like statues.
One thought echoed in their minds—
Both at the Heaven-Man Realm… how could there be such a huge gap?
In the sky—
Bolts of lightning like dragons and serpents descended without warning, diving straight into the Zhenwu Sword Stele.
Then—
Under the guidance of that unmatched sword intent within the stele, heavenly swords soared skyward.
This sight stunned everyone.
Even Luo Wentian, who had been mentally prepared, was wide-eyed with shock.
The sword stele drew lightning from the heavens, transforming it into heavenly swords!
Such a scene—unheard of.
Blades of divine sword light shimmered with faint lightning and locked onto Gu Changhe with absolute precision.
He had nowhere to run, nowhere to hide—cold sweat beaded on his forehead.
He now realized how badly he had underestimated the Heavenly Sword Master.
This terrifying existence…
Could he be on par with the Daychaser Sword King in the fight for the title of the number one swordsman in the world?
"Thirty-six Heavenly Swords!"
Someone muttered instinctively.
In his battle against the Thunderblade Master, only nine Heavenly Swords had been revealed.
Now, even without the Heavenly Sword Master showing his face, thirty-six had emerged.
The gap was enormous.
Everyone now understood—the Heavenly Sword Master hadn't used his full power back then.
Gu Changhe's body trembled.
He growled and roared, desperately summoning the forces of heaven and earth to form sword qi—trying to stop the thirty-six Heavenly Swords.
He refused to go down like this.
But it was useless.
The thirty-six swords quivered slightly—
And began to weave something profound.
In Gu Changhe's despairing eyes, they formed a strange and mighty sword formation.
Even a single Heavenly Sword was terrifying on its own—
Let alone transformed into a Heaven-Qi Sword Formation.
Ning Qi had used the Heavenly Thunder Method to draw down thunder and split it into sword qi. He only needed to expend a bit of Qi Force as a catalyst.
This was a new application he had just developed.
Gu Changhe was the first to experience it.
Heavenly Swords howled.
They engulfed the entire void where Gu Changhe stood.
Sword energy erupted from all directions.
It wasn't long before everything fell still.
Everyone stared hard into the sky.
Then—
A flash of sword light.
Gu Changhe's body split—head and torso falling separately.
The crowd from Wenjian Pavilion wailed in grief.
Another Heaven-Man realm expert soared upward, trying to catch Gu Changhe's body—
But another sword light flashed.
That expert died instantly.
Then, all of Wenjian Pavilion's people were slain.
Only Tang Qiu remained, stunned in place, trembling like a leaf.
In the rear mountain—
Li Ling stared at Gu Changhe's falling corpse in disbelief.
That… was really the fourteenth-ranked powerhouse on the Heaven-Man List?
Not even his father could've defeated him that easily.
A cold, emotionless voice rang in his ear:
"Keep practicing."
Li Ling, like a puppet, moved his sword by instinct.
After a while, his eyes filled with longing.
He raised his head and asked:
"Heavenly Sword Master, will I ever be as strong as you?"
The cold voice paused briefly, then replied—
"You will."
Li Ling smiled.
And his desire to master the sword surged higher than ever before.