"Alright, you two may get back to your duties."
Once again, Lu Elder waved his hand dismissively.
Zhang Yu and the other white-robed man quickly took their leave, exiting the palace.
"The Teleportation Formation that kid provided isn't much use. Hopefully, the sword path heritage he gives us will bring some pleasant surprises.
During this time, we've already collected and organized many ancient heritages from our Sword Realm's past. But back in ancient times, the Sword Realm was the center of sword civilization throughout the entire Chaos Void Sea, the sacred land for all swordsmen under the heavens.
At that time, the Sword Realm housed numerous sword path organizations, both large and small, and possessed countless sword path heritages of different schools and styles. It was truly a brilliant array of colors, a hundred flowers blooming together.
If we can collect all the sword path heritages from the ancient Sword Realm, we will undoubtedly one day restore our realm to its former glory."
One of the elders spoke.
"We must continue to make haste during this period. Keep sending people to the various Voids to contact the Sword Realm descendants who have been developing outside over the years, urging them to return and participate in the reconstruction of the Sword Realm.
Rebuilding the Sword Realm is a grand undertaking, and it is also the inescapable responsibility of all Sword Realm descendants."
Lu Elder spoke slowly.
"But over the years, just how many branch strongholds our Sword Realm has developed outside, how many descendants... we currently have no idea. We can only rely on sending people to investigate slowly. This cannot be rushed.
Back when our Sword Realm was destroyed, the swordsmen who managed to escape went into hiding in different places. They changed their names and concealed their identities, living in extreme secrecy.
It's said that aside from two or three core elders, no one knows exactly how many branch strongholds our Sword Realm has developed outside all these years."
Another elder said.
"That is indeed the case. But if we are willing to invest time in investigating, we should still be able to find quite a few.
Because the branch strongholds developed by those escaped swordsmen surely include some organizations dedicated solely to swordsmanship, or factions whose core heritage revolves around sword techniques.
Therefore, our first avenue of investigation should be those sects and organizations specializing in the sword.
Facts have proven this direction correct, as we have already used this method to locate quite a few Sword Realm-developed sects.
Another approach is to seek out those sects possessing profound sword technique heritages, or famous swordsmen. There's also a possibility of finding our descendants there.
Of course, this truly requires time to investigate slowly. It cannot be rushed.
But regardless, we must press on to find more of our Sword Realm's external branch strongholds and summon back more descendants. Only then can we swiftly bolster the strength for our reconstruction efforts."
Lu Elder stated.
"Actually, if we could locate those few core elders, we wouldn't have to go through all this trouble.
They would certainly know exactly how many branch strongholds and descendants our Sword Realm has cultivated outside over the years."
One elder suddenly interjected.
"If we could find those core elders, of course it would be much simpler. But we've been inside the Sword Realm for such a long time now and still haven't been able to meet them. We simply don't know where to look.
By the way, do you think those core elders might have already left the Sword Realm?"
One elder asked.
"No.
Based on the information I currently possess, it's highly likely the few core elders we seek are still within the Sword Realm.
My guess is they might be in secluded cultivation somewhere hidden.
Those core elders are probably all in the state of remnant souls now. To preserve themselves for the long term, they need to frequently enter secluded cultivation."
Lu Elder shook his head.
"We just need to locate their secluded cultivation site and find a way to establish contact with them."
Lu Elder added.
"But recently, we've searched every possible place within this Sword Realm and still found nothing."
One elder said.
"The Sword Realm is a vast Major World with many secret realms and numerous accompanying Small Worlds. I estimate those core elders are likely in one such secret realm or Small World; we just haven't found it yet.
Be patient. Let's all take action during this period and thoroughly search this Sword Realm continent once more."
Lu Elder said.
"That seems to be the only way. So we can't rush it. Let's take it step by step, one thing at a time."
An elder beside him agreed.
At this moment, Zhang Yu and the other white-robed man were moving about within this vast cluster of structures.
Under Ye Yunfei's direction, the two began finding various excuses to deliberately approach the other Heavenly God-level sword path descendants.
Meanwhile, Ye Yunfei seized every opportunity to continuously employ the Puppet Soul Thread Secret Technique to control those Heavenly God-level descendants.
With Ye Yunfei's current level of Soul Power, controlling a Heavenly God using the Puppet Soul Thread technique was exceptionally easy. Often, in the blink of an eye, a descendant would be rendered immobile, their Soul Body swiftly brought under Ye Yunfei's control, turning them into his slaves.
The more Perfected Heavenly God slaves Ye Yunfei subdued, the more freely he could move within this area.
Ye Yunfei observed that the majority of those busily going about various tasks in this region were Heavenly Gods.
As for the Sovereign God-level sword path descendants, while they occasionally appeared, most of the time they were secluded in their own cave-dwellings, immersed in cultivation.
"Hmm?
This guy is a traitor."
The moment Ye Yunfei used the Puppet Soul Thread Secret Technique to control yet another Perfected Heavenly God's Soul Body, he immediately learned that this Perfected Heavenly God was a traitor.
"Master, actually, I had already secretly followed my master in defecting to the Blade Realm. My master, me, and my other fellow disciples all now belong to the Blade Realm and have secretly begun cultivating blade techniques.
A Blade Realm elder sent us back to the Sword Realm with the purpose of sabotaging it from within.
Since we have cultivated the orthodox sword path heritage of the Sword Realm and bear the identity of Sword Realm descendants, it's convenient for us to operate within the realm.
Of course, from now on, I will only act upon your commands, Master."
This Perfected Heavenly God stood before Ye Yunfei, speaking respectfully.
"Finally, I've found a traitor."
Ye Yunfei broke into a smile.
He had subdued many Heavenly Gods before without spotting a single traitor until now, finally encountering the first one.
"Find one traitor, and you can follow the vine to find the rest. First would be this fellow's master and his martial brothers."
Hun Lao chuckled.
"Indeed."
Ye Yunfei nodded.
"His master is a Second Level Sovereign God, hailing from the Third Void. He's a core elder of a sect there called the Red Rainbow Sect. I suspect there must be even more traitors within that sect. I'll need to find time to visit the Red Rainbow Sect in the Third Void."
Ye Yunfei stated.
"Now, take me to your master."
Ye Yunfei instructed the Perfected Heavenly God.
"Understood."
The Perfected Heavenly God replied respectfully. Then, carrying the Phantom Tower with him, he set off to find his master.
His master, a Second Level Sovereign God, spent most of his time in secluded cultivation after arriving in the Sword Realm.
The Sword Realm was inherently a Major World dominated by sword energy and sword laws. Any swordsman arriving here would find it an exceedingly suitable place for practicing the sword. Progress in this Major World was much faster compared to other worlds outside.
Soon, the Perfected Heavenly God arrived at a small nearby mountain peak, landing outside the entrance to a cultivation cave-dwelling.
"Master, your disciple has an important matter to report."
The Perfected Heavenly God announced clearly.
"Han Hao, what brings you to see me?"
A voice sounded from inside.
"Master, Elder Lu sent me to find you. He asked me to deliver some spirit pills and a cultivation technique jade slip to you."
Han Hao said.
"Really?
That's wonderful! Come in quickly."
Hearing Han Hao's words, the voice from inside the cave-dwelling became tinged with pleasant surprise.
With a resounding boom, the main door to the cultivation cave swung open immediately.
Han Hao walked in respectfully, and Ye Yunfei saw an elder seated cross-legged inside, emanating rolling waves of sword light. His gaze was sharp as a blade.
"This fellow has indeed cultivated blade techniques—Blade Realm blade techniques. He truly is a traitor."
Ye Yunfei sensed the elder's aura and let out a cold sneer.
Having devoured the Soul Bodies of Blade Realm blademasters before, Ye Yunfei was no stranger to their techniques. In fact, Ye Yunfei himself had cultivated some Blade Realm blade methods.
By consuming those souls, he could inherit the various blade path heritages they had cultivated, along with their lifetime of insights and understanding regarding the blade.
"Where are the pills and the technique jade slip?"
The elder fixed his gaze on Han Hao and asked, clearly expectant.
The next moment, the elder discovered all sorts of strange thoughts and notions suddenly rising within his heart. Simultaneously, over 2,700 Soul Power weapons materialized abruptly in his Soul Sea, accompanied by a massive surge of invisible, fine threads clattering in and twisting their way towards his Soul Body.
A small sword instantly pierced through all his defenses, hacking repeatedly at his Soul Body.
"What is going on?! Who dares ambush me?!
Han Hao! How dare you! You have the audacity to collude with an outsider to attack me!"
The elder was both shocked and enraged.
The various Soul Power martial arts and Heart Power martial arts employed by Ye Yunfei had instantly and overwhelmingly suppressed his Soul Sea and Soul Body, inflicting immense agony. Glancing up, he saw a cold sneer on his disciple Han Hao's face and immediately realized this must be connected to his disciple.