"What you saw was a Soul Power impression left by Mo Chenzi, not his Remnant Soul.
Since the Divine Sword Sect was the traitor back then, it's impossible for those guys from that sect to have truly participated in the battle. Logically speaking, there shouldn't have been any casualties. So, I suspect Mo Chenzi might still be alive.
Even besides him, most of the other members of the Divine Sword Sect should also be alive.
But why did the Divine Sword Sect headquarters turn into ruins and remain abandoned for so many years? That's something I can't figure out.
Perhaps something unexpected happened to the Divine Sword Sect during that battle, leading to their headquarters being reduced to ruins."
Sword Elder looked towards the direction of the Divine Sword Sect headquarters with a puzzled expression.
"But no matter what, the Divine Sword Sect was the internal traitor who collaborated with external enemies. There's no doubt about that.
Let's go. We're heading to the Divine Sword Sect now."
Sword Elder spoke again.
"Ancestral Teacher, if the members of the Divine Sword Sect are still alive, doesn't that mean this sect might still possess the peak strength it had in its heyday? Wouldn't that be terrifying?
Going to find the Divine Sword Sect now might be beyond our capabilities."
Ye Yunfei suddenly thought of this, expressing some worry as he spoke.
"Don't worry. On this Sword Realm Continent, besides our Tianjian Sect and the Divine Sword Sect, there are many other numerous sword sects. Even after experiencing that great battle of the past, plenty of accumulated strength remains in the Sword Realm Continent.
Once those other sword sects learn of what the Divine Sword Sect did back then, even if they retain their peak strength, they won't be able to continue standing their ground on the Sword Realm Continent.
Rest assured, our Sword Realm Continent still has some deep reserves of power. Even reduced to this state today, the Divine Sword Sect may not necessarily be able to dominate this continent."
Sword Elder spoke, and after finishing, he took a single step, instantly crossing a vast distance as he strode towards the Divine Sword Sect headquarters. Ye Yunfei hurriedly followed behind.
"For some reason, I feel your Ancestral Teacher's strength is much greater than before after coming out of seclusion this time!"
Suddenly, the Golden-Horned Dragon Silkworm spoke to Ye Yunfei.
"Indeed, I felt it too."
Ye Yunfei nodded.
"He is one of the top sword cultivators of the ancient Sword Realm Continent. Even if he's fallen, a worn-out ship still has three thousand nails – never underestimate him."
Hun Lao chimed in.
Just as Sword Elder stepped out of the Heavenly Sword Sect headquarters, Ye Yunfei immediately sensed one Remnant Soul after another appearing in many locations across the Sword Realm Continent, rising into the sky and looking towards Sword Elder.
"Heh, Sword Elder, it seems your cultivation has improved quite a bit during this seclusion."
A figure stood high in the sky in the distance, looking at Sword Elder as he spoke.
"So it's you. It's been many years since I last saw you. You should have been in seclusion, quietly recovering all this time, right?
I recall the time when you and I discussed swordsmanship in Plum Heart Sword Valley, gaining immense benefits. So many years have passed in a blink, and now when we meet again, we are both just Remnant Souls."
Sword Elder looked over, a surprised and pleased expression on his face.
So it was an old friend of Sword Elder's.
"Come, let's go to the Divine Sword Sect together."
Sword Elder said to that figure.
"Why are you going to the Divine Sword Sect?
Those guys from the Divine Sword Sect have shown no signs of life all these years. It seems the remnants that stayed behind have all been secluded, quietly resting, with no intention of contacting us. Why bother with them? Why look for trouble?
"
The distant figure was a little surprised to hear Sword Elder's words, speaking up.
"What you don't know is that this Divine Sword Sect is not simple. Back then, there was a reason involving the Divine Sword Sect for why our Sword Realm Continent suffered an invasion by external enemies.
Moreover, right now, within the Divine Sword Sect headquarters are hidden some Blade Realm blade cultivators. We must go and demand an explanation from the Divine Sword Sect."
Sword Elder said directly.
"What? Behind the invasion by external enemies in our Sword Realm Continent was the Divine Sword Sect? You mean to say the Divine Sword Sect was the traitor back then? How is that possible?"
Hearing Sword Elder's words, the figure's countenance drastically changed, revealing a shocked expression, seemingly unable to believe it.
"That is indeed the fact.
Let's go. We'll go to the Divine Sword Sect together."
Sword Elder said to the figure.
"Very well, I shall also go and see."
After a moment's thought, the figure in the distant sky nodded.
Then he transformed into a streak of sword light that billowed over, arriving instantly by Sword Elder's side.
This was an elderly man with a tall, slender build and sharp, penetrating eyes, radiating powerful sword energy.
"Young man, your strength has grown quite a bit more than before. Your Tianjian Sect has taken on an excellent inheritor!"
The old man looked Ye Yunfei up and down, a look of praise appearing as he spoke.
"Ye Yunfei is not only our Tianjian Sect's inheritor; he is also the inheritor of the entire Sword Realm. In the future, he will bear the task of revitalizing the Sword Realm."
Sword Elder spoke up.
"Indeed, such an exceptional young man must certainly contribute to the resurgence of our Sword Realm in the future."
The old man nodded.
By the time they were speaking, Sword Elder and this old man had already arrived in front of the ruins of the Heavenly Sword Sect headquarters.
At this moment, Elder Zheng and Elder Qin, leading the Sword Realm inheritors, still surrounded the perimeter of the Heavenly Sword Sect headquarters ruins, though they hadn't drawn too close and maintained some distance.
"These are all the successors our Sword Realm cultivated on the outside."
The old man, seeing the Sword Realm inheritors led by Elder Zheng and Elder Qin, exclaimed with a brightening gaze.
"Yes, they are all successors cultivated by various forces of our Sword Realm in the outside world.
They've been back in the Sword Realm for a while now. You can't just be finding out about this now?
I didn't know these inheritors had returned because I have been in seclusion all this time."
Sword Elder replied.
"I became aware earlier."
The old man said.
"Since you knew, why didn't you stop them?
Given the current situation and strength of our Sword Realm, allowing these Sword Realm inheritors to return to the Sword Realm is tantamount to actively exposing them!
Over the years, the Blade Realm has always been searching for our forces and cultivated inheritors outside. It's only because they were in an extremely concealed state that they weren't found.
But now, by actively returning, they have voluntarily revealed themselves, which will inevitably attract people from the Blade Realm hunting them down.
Why didn't you intervene and stop them when you saw these Sword Realm inheritors return?"
Upon hearing the old man's words, Sword Elder immediately asked, his tone full of blame.
"When I saw so many Sword Realm inheritors returning, I did immediately think of this.
Originally, I intended to show myself and drive them away. But later, the Divine Sword Sect's Grand Elder Mo Chenzi suddenly appeared, supporting those returning Sword Realm inheritors.
Mo Chenzi overrode all dissenting opinions, demanding that we not interfere with the actions of these Sword Realm inheritors. So, in the end, we had no choice but to let them be and not interfere.
You also know Mo Chenzi's personality, temper, and strength – we are simply not qualified to intervene."
Upon hearing Sword Elder's questioning, the old man hurriedly replied.
"As I suspected! It's Mo Chenzi's doing! This traitor is utterly detestable!"
After hearing the old man's words, Sword Elder spoke through gritted teeth, his voice dripping with hatred.
"Sword Elder, you mean Mo Chenzi is a traitor? That can't be, right?
Oh, by the way, Mo Chenzi is inside. You can ask him directly."
The old man spoke again.
"I came here precisely to demand an explanation from him."
Sword Elder said.
"Mo Chenzi, get out here!"
Sword Elder's gaze pierced into the depths of the Divine Sword Sect headquarters ruins as he let out a great roar. A wave of sound crashed forward like a raging tide.
*Bzzz! Bzzz!*
The next moment, a large number of formations rose from within the ruins of the Divine Sword Sect headquarters, blocking Sword Elder's sonic assault.
"The surface of these Divine Sword Sect ruins looks like nothing remains, but who would have thought the ancient sect-suppressing formations are still preserved?"
The old man couldn't help but sigh in admiration.
"It's Tianjian Sect's Sword Elder, and also... Mo Wudao. It has been a long time for both of you."
A moment later, a voice came from within the Divine Sword Sect headquarters. Following it, an elderly figure dressed in a golden robe slowly materialized, standing high above the Divine Sword Sect headquarters ruins, his gaze looking outward.
"It's him!"
Ye Yunfei's heart stirred upon seeing the golden-robed old man, immediately recognizing his aura.
He was precisely that dark golden light spot that had previously escaped from Lu An's Soul Sea and fled back into the Divine Sword Sect ruins.
"So, it's indeed this Divine Sword Sect's Grand Elder causing trouble!"
Looking at the golden-robed old man, Ye Yunfei's gaze turned icy, filled with murderous intent.
"At such a young age, why are you showing killing intent upon seeing me? Such lack of manners from a youngster."
No sooner had Ye Yunfei revealed his killing intent than the golden-robed old man's gaze fell upon him, displeased.
"Mo Chenzi, drop the act and come clean with us.
All these years I've been investigating who exactly betrayed our Sword Realm back then. I truly never imagined it was your Divine Sword Sect.
And even now, your Divine Sword Sect still intends to continue causing destruction on our Sword Realm Continent.
Mo Chenzi, the Divine Sword Sect owes me an explanation.
No, I should say you owe an explanation to all the wronged souls who died tragically in that battle on our Sword Realm Continent."
Looking at Mo Chenzi, Sword Elder asked in a deep, resonant voice.
His words were loud, carrying like a wave in all directions over great distances. Rolling echoes reverberated over the continent.
"What?
Sword Elder, you're saying the ones who betrayed our Sword Realm Continent back then were the Divine Sword Sect? Is this true?"
"The Divine Sword Sect was actually the internal traitor that colluded with external enemies?!"
...
Sword Elder's words were like throwing a huge rock into a still lake on the Sword Realm Continent, instantly setting the entire land boiling. Shocked voices erupted everywhere.
"Go!
We'll head for the Divine Sword Sect right now!
If they were truly the traitors back then, we must make them pay a fitting price!"
"That great battle back then wreaked havoc on our Sword Realm Continent. I long suspected there must have been a traitor on the inside. Could the Divine Sword Sect truly be the traitor?
If so, we absolutely cannot let them off the hook!"
...
One by one, Remnant Souls soared into the sky across the Sword Realm Continent, roaring in anger, rushing towards the location of the Divine Sword Sect headquarters.
Soon, numerous Remnant Souls arrived around the Divine Sword Sect headquarters ruins, revealing their forms one after another.
These were all the Remnant Souls left behind from the ancient Sword Realm Continent, every single one of them emanating dense bursts of sword light.
"Sword Elder, what is the meaning of this? You want to frame our Divine Sword Sect?
Our Divine Sword Sect has always regarded the safety of the Sword Realm Continent as its core interest. During that invasion by external enemies, all members of our sect—every sword cultivator from top to bottom—actively participated in defending.
And precisely because of that battle, our Divine Sword Sect suffered grievous losses. Even our headquarters were destroyed, reduced in the end to these ruins. This is something witnessed by everyone.
Now, without any evidence, you try to frame our Divine Sword Sect—for what purpose?"
Mo Chenzi, upon hearing Sword Elder's questioning, turned angry with a furious expression, instantly agitated as he raised his voice.