It was the undying battle-will and persistence left behind by the swordsmen who fell in this realm. They sensed the projected Blade Intent from the great figure of the Blade Realm—the breath of a mortal enemy carved deep into their very souls.
Thus, at this moment, countless residual Sword Intents were stimulated, awakened!
"All swords defend!"
A battle cry rang out. In an instant, countless ethereal Sword Intent phantoms converged like rivers flowing into the sea, forming a torrent of Sword Energy that was pure to the extreme, tragic to the extreme. Defying the heavens, it rushed upwards and crashed headlong into that devastating grey blade radiance.
This was the combined strike of many remnant wills of the Sword Realm, the unwilling resentment and fury of countless fallen swordsmen spanning the ages.
"Vermin that should have long turned to dust dare crawl out and oppose me? All of you, be destroyed!"
A roar erupted from within that grey blade radiance.
It then erupted with a sky full of domineering blade-light, instantly extinguishing many of the Sword Intent phantoms.
But an even greater number of Sword Intent phantoms emerged from different locations across the great earth below, dense and thick like locusts, shooting skyward. They gathered together and charged at that grey blade radiance, disregarding their own survival.
"All of you be destroyed!"
Under the onslaught of the densely packed Sword Intent phantoms, that grey blade radiance was actually forced back a distance, then issued an angry roar.
"If you think you can cross realms and slay the heir of our Tianjian Sect, dream on!"
At this moment, an elder in white robes slowly appeared amidst the ruins of the Tianjian Sect's headquarters. It was Sword Elder. His gaze fell upon that grey blade radiance as he spoke coldly.
The moment his voice faded, with a *hong* sound, a thick, brilliant, and dazzling sword beam shot skyward from the ruins of the Tianjian Sect headquarters, aiming to slay that grey blade radiance.
"So it's the lingering souls of the Tianjian Sect. If it were the Tianjian Sect at its peak, I might have had some reservations. But the Tianjian Sect today is not worth mentioning in my eyes—merely a bunch of lost ghosts."
That grey blade radiance let out a contemptuous cold laugh.
"The heirs of our Sword Realm are not so easily bullied."
At the same time, in different locations across the Sword Realm continent, some powerful remnant phantoms emerged. Their gazes all turned to that grey blade radiance, and one after another, they uttered words of refusal to yield. Then, one brilliant, dazzling sword beam after another shot towards the sky, all aimed at slaying that grey blade radiance.
Countless sword beams soared into the sky and converged together, forming a vast ocean of sword radiance. They surged toward that grey blade radiance, and a continuous series of thunderous collisions erupted.
The Blad Dao energy contained within that grey blade radiance was too terrifying, too domineering. But the number of sword beams appearing in the Sword Realm was truly immense, surging forth without end, advancing wave upon wave as they smashed against that grey blade radiance.
Many sword beams exploded instantly, vanishing without a trace. But those behind did not retreat; like moths drawn to a flame, they continued to charge towards that grey blade radiance.
Some sword beams contained rather weak energy, so weak that they were shattered into nothingness before even getting close to the grey blade radiance.
This behavior was akin to a suicidal charge. Yet Ye Yunfei saw not a single sword beam show the slightest hesitation. All exerted their full strength, attacking the blade radiance at their fastest speed.
Ye Yunfei understood in his heart—each sword beam contained the remnant soul or Soul Power imprint of some ancient swordsmen that had lingered to this day. Once these remnant souls or imprints were destroyed, they would vanish completely, scattered into dust.
Watching the dense sword beams that had already covered the entire sky, Ye Yunfei's eyes involuntarily reddened. His hands clenched into fists, even trembling violently.
Ye Yunfei also yearned to charge into the sky and attack that grey blade radiance. But immediately, vast amounts of sword energy and Sword Laws descended upon him, pressing his body to the spot, rendering him immobile.
Ye Yunfei understood. This was some of the Sword Realm's predecessors stopping him from taking action. With his current strength, he was simply no match for that grey blade radiance.
Hong... Hong...
A collision beyond words erupted above the Sword Realm. There was no dazzling rain of light, only the most primal slaughter of will and power.
Dense and continuous, the sword beams crashed against that grey blade radiance, then exploded one after another like dazzling fireworks.
The Sword Intent lamented, shaking the entire world.
"Damned! These lost ghosts really aren't afraid of scattering into nothingness. Just like back then, even in death they're still a bunch of stubborn brutes."
The projection of the great figure from the Blade Realm clearly hadn't expected that the Sword Realm, reduced to ruins long ago, could still erupt with such a tenacious and powerful counter-attack.
Under the charge of countless remnant wills of the Sword Realm advancing wave upon wave, that grey blade radiance trembled violently. Finally, it issued a resentful groan before exploding with a roar, dissipating into nothingness.
The cross-realm strike from the great figure of the Blade Realm was actually fended off by the departed martyrs of the Sword Realm, united in their remaining will.
The aftershocks of the clash slowly subsided. Silence, deathly silence, returned to the skies of the Sword Realm.
"The powerful enemy is finally repelled!"
Cries of celebration rose.
Then, those soaring Sword Intent phantoms dimmed one after another, dispersing, returning to slumber within the silent ruins.
Ye Yunfei stared blankly at this scene, his heart filled with inexpressible shock and emotion. He bowed deeply towards the ruins in all directions.
"Honored predecessors... fare your journey well! Your great kindness and profound virtue, this junior will remember it. Blade Realm... the grudge today, I have also taken note of it."
Ye Yunfei spoke slowly.
He understood in his heart that in the battle just now, many remnant souls and Soul Power imprints of ancient swordsmen in the Sword Realm had scattered to dust because of him.
At this moment, Ye Yunfei felt the burden on his shoulders grow even heavier.
Reconstructing the Tianjian Sect. Reconstructing the Sword Realm. The expectations of countless Sword Realm martyrs. And the unending enmity with the Blade Realm...
"The swordsmen of the ancient Sword Realm were famed for their unyielding tenacity and resolute will. It seems this remains true even today."
Zhou Wanqing had also witnessed the tragic scene. She fell silent for a long while before speaking.
At this moment, she, a legatee of the Wanmu Ancestral Land, also felt profound respect for those heroic souls of the Sword Realm.
"Seniors of the Sword Realm, you not only saved Young Master Ye just now, but also saved me. I will remember this grace."
Suddenly, Zhou Wanqing turned to the earth of the Sword Realm and bowed deeply.
"Let's go."
Ye Yunfei cast one last glance at this tragic land, then turned and led Zhou Wanqing away.
At the same time, in the Blade Realm.
"Damn it! One of my avatars was actually destroyed within the Sword Realm. But that boy cannot escape. I might not be able to kill him inside the Sword Realm, but once he leaves, I can continue making moves against him."
The great figure of the Blade Realm who had attacked Ye Yunfei earlier spoke unhurriedly. Then, his Soul Power continued to sense Ye Yunfei across the void.
"That fellow within the ruins of the Tianjian Sect headquarters will keep acting."
Sword Elder, clad in white robes, looked at Ye Yunfei's distant departing figure, his face full of worry.
"So I still have to find a way to protect him moving forward."
Sword Elder thought for a moment and spoke again.
"Everyone, this young man is not only the heir of our Tianjian Sect, he is the heir of our entire Sword Realm. His aptitude is excellent, and his character and will are also one in ten thousand. I believe he will be the hope for the Sword Realm's future resurgence. Therefore, we must pool our strength to protect him."
Sword Elder looked towards other parts of the Sword Realm continent and spoke in a clear voice.
"Sword Elder, rest assured. We also have high hopes for this young man. The Sword Realm will protect him."
Soon, voice after voice sounded from different locations on the Sword Realm continent, echoing through the air above the entire continent.
At this moment, Ye Yunfei and Zhou Wanqing had already left the Sword Realm via the path they came. The two sped through a spatial passageway, moving at full speed.
Both Ye Yunfei and Zhou Wanqing knew that leaving the Sword Realm did not mean their danger had passed. On the contrary, leaving the Sword Realm might put them in even more peril. Because while they were within the realm, if that great figure from the Blade Realm wanted to act against them, the remnant souls of the Sword Realm's swordsmen would undoubtedly step in to assist.
But after leaving the Sword Realm, if that Blade Realm great figure attacked them again, there would be no one to help.
"Miss Zhou, we must conceal our auras, hide our forms, and see if we can evade the perception and tracking of that old fellow from the Blade Realm," Ye Yunfei transmitted to Zhou Wanqing.
"Young Master Ye, I understand," Zhou Wanqing nodded.
Ye Yunfei and Zhou Wanqing both employed their favored concealment secret arts and also used some treasures to hide their auras to the greatest extent possible.
"Your harvest from this Sword Realm journey was quite significant," Hun Lao transmitted to Ye Yunfei.
"Yes. But from now on, I also must truly shoulder the karma of the Sword Realm," Ye Yunfei nodded and replied.
Within his consciousness, the tragic sight under the bloody sunset on the Sword Realm continent still echoed. Broken sword columns embedded in scorched earth, remnant sword souls lamenting in the void, that gaze full of expectation from the fading will of the Sword Realm, and that blade, resting with him, his heart and mind connected to its length and edge.