"How did the Heavenly Turtle Token end up in your hands?"
Deep within the Divine Sword Sect headquarters, Mo Chenzi stared at the Heavenly Turtle Token hovering above Sword Elder's head, a flicker of barely-concealed panic hidden in the depths of his eyes.
At that very moment, Sword Elder activated the Heavenly Turtle Token above him.
With a resonant hum, scene after scene of moving images began to emerge from the token, flickering and shifting in the air beside him.
In those images, one could clearly see a prosperous, peaceful, and harmonious Sword Realm Continent. Suddenly, a vast army forcefully breached its way in from the outside. In a short time, this invading force smashed through layer after layer of the continent's defenses and swept across the land like a raging tide. Countless sword cultivators of the Sword Realm Continent were drowned in the vast ocean of invaders before they could even comprehend what was happening. In a frighteningly short span, the continent suffered catastrophic losses, with innumerable sword cultivators slaughtered before they could mount a proper defense.
Yet, not a single sword cultivator retreated in the face of the fierce invaders. Soon, all drew their longswords, and countless swordsmen threw themselves into bloody combat.
Astounding scenes of battle erupted across the continent.
Sword cultivators soared into the skies, their blades releasing towering glows of sword light that seemed to set the heavens ablaze. From one swordsmanship sect after another, massive formations of sword aura erupted upwards.
As every sword cultivator on the continent ignited with astonishing fighting spirit and unleashed formidable power, the situation was swiftly stabilized.
Though the invading force was immense and powerful, they gained little ground against the countless sword cultivators' desperate resistance.
Thus, the conflict between the two sides fell into a deadlock.
KILL!
Countless sword cultivators roared with frenzied rage at their enemies, the sound shaking the skies.
Some were covered in horrifying wounds, their hair, clothing, and shoes utterly soaked with their own blood and that of their foes, reduced to crimson figures. Yet, they did not retreat a single step, advancing forward until the moment they fell, their mouths still crying out for blood.
As one wave of sword cultivators fell, another immediately rushed forward to take their place, succeeding each other in a nearly seamless succession.
The sheer number of invaders was overwhelming. Many sword cultivators faced encirclement by multiple enemies, fighting until their strength was exhausted.
Some fought madly, their energy draining severely. In the midst of combat, they would suddenly expend the last of their strength, their vital essence spent. Their swords still held in a posture of attack, they would suddenly freeze, their bodies going limp as they collapsed.
At that moment, every Remnant Soul gathered around the Tianjian Sect headquarters ruins stared intently at the battle scenes flowing from the Heavenly Turtle Token, trembling uncontrollably.
These Remnant Souls were all veterans of that bitter war. The scenes before them were their own firsthand experiences. Witnessing them again, each Remnant Soul grew more agitated, more furious, unable to suppress the welling of murderous intent and overwhelming sword light. Some roared along with the echoes from the past.
Kill! KILL!
Shouts for slaughter quickly arose, one after another, shaking the heavens and the earth.
"The battle that destroyed the Sword Realm Continent in ancient times... it was truly gruesome," the Golden-Horned Dragon Silkworm exclaimed, his heart pounding.
Right at that moment.
"Quick, look! Why are some of the sword cultivators ambushing their own comrades?"
Suddenly, someone pointed at the images from the Heavenly Turtle Token and cried out in shock.
"Right! Who are those guys?"
"They look like sword cultivators, they wield longswords... but why are they sneaking attacks on their own people from behind?"
"Traitors! Back in that war, our Sword Realm Continent did indeed harbor rats within our walls!"
...
All the Remnant Souls began seething with anger, pointing at the projected scenes and letting out roars of fury.
For everyone saw clearly that amidst the chaotic battlefield in those images, there were sword cultivators secretly attacking their own comrades.
"Everyone, try to identify those traitors! Quickly!" someone shouted.
"I can't make them out! These bastards seem to have deliberately concealed their true appearances and Soul Body auras. Based on these images alone, we simply can't identify them. Unless we could return to that battlefield, perhaps then we could see their true faces and feel their Soul Body auras."
After straining to identify them for a moment, they found it impossible. The sword cultivators who were secretly attacking their own had masked their true visages and spiritual presence.
"Sword Elder was right. During that ancient war, our Sword Realm Continent was indeed betrayed from within."
Now, no one doubted this fact.
"Indeed, we harbored rats. It seems that in that ancient war, there must have been collaboration between the traitors and the invading outsiders—a coordinated attack from within and without. That's the only explanation for how they shattered our continent's defenses so swiftly. Otherwise, we wouldn't have been pushed into such a passive state so quickly."
"Those traitors are utterly despicable! They are the chief culprits responsible for the destruction of our Sword Realm Continent!"
Some shouted in rage.
"We must root out these traitors and punish them severely!"
The more they watched the images of those sword cultivators attacking their own, the more furious their emotions became.
"Sword Elder, it seems you were right. Back in that ancient battle, our Sword Realm Continent indeed harbored betrayers."
Elder Qing Jianzi let out a sigh as he spoke.
"Now, everyone believes me," Sword Elder said, pointing a finger.
The Heavenly Turtle Token above his head trembled slightly, then transformed into a streak of sword light so fast it seemed instantaneous, shooting back into the depths of the Tianjian Sect headquarters and vanishing from sight.
"I never imagined your Tianjian Sect had obtained the Heavenly Turtle Token left behind by that legendary Turtle Elder."
A Remnant Soul remarked.
"After the Sword Realm Continent was destroyed, I spent years searching for a Heavenly Turtle Token," Sword Elder began. "I was certain the token would have recorded various scenes from that great war. Ultimately, persistence was rewarded, and I found one. From the scenes it recorded, I am certain the primary reason our Sword Realm Continent was so easily breached and ultimately destroyed was because of traitors within our own ranks."
"So that's how it was."
"In truth, over the years, I've often wondered why our once prosperous and thriving Sword Realm Continent was destroyed so readily by an external force. Was the enemy too strong, or were we too weak? Now it seems a crucial factor was internal betrayal."
"Judging from the images from the Heavenly Turtle Token, many of our sword cultivators in that ancient war... died by the hands of their own people."
A distant Remnant Soul sighed as he spoke.
"Fellow comrades, if we wish to continue confronting the Blade Realm, or even hope to rebuild the Sword Realm Continent in the future, one thing we absolutely must do is root out the traitors. Otherwise, the consequences will be endless."
Sword Elder declared.
"You speak truth, Sword Elder. We must pull out these weeds from our garden. As long as they remain, our Sword Realm Continent can never truly stand against the Blade Realm, and the dream of reconstruction will be distant."
Hearing Sword Elder's words, many surrounding Remnant Souls nodded in agreement.
"Fellow cultivators, do you see now that my ancestor is speaking the truth?"
Ye Yunfei took a step forward, pointing a finger at Mo Chenzi amidst the Divine Sword Sect ruins.
"The traitors of our Sword Realm Continent are right here before our very eyes! It is the Divine Sword Sect! Even now, blade cultivators are hidden within their headquarters!" he proclaimed loudly. "Let us join forces, charge in, find those blade cultivators, and then the Divine Sword Sect will have no excuses left!"
"Sword Elder, at this point, I do not deny our Sword Realm Continent harbored traitors."
Mo Chenzi suddenly spoke out, his voice ringing.
"But hearsay proves nothing! Why must you insist on slandering our Divine Sword Sect as the traitors? Your Tianjian Sect, wielding its influence as a bludgeon, seeks to force this accusation upon us! I will never accept it! In the past, your Tianjian Sect oppressed our Divine Sword Sect at every turn on the Sword Realm Continent. I see even now, you remain overbearing bullies, taking things too far!"
"Even a junior brat from your sect dares to disrespect me so! It seems this is your Tianjian Sect's style, from the top down."
"Very well! From this moment on, our Divine Sword Sect and your Tianjian Sect stand irreconcilably opposed!"
"Fellow comrades," Mo Chenzi's gaze swept across the other Remnant Souls, cold and sharp. "The conflict between our Divine Sword Sect and the Tianjian Sect is beyond reconciliation. From now on, we are hostile factions. I urge you all not to involve yourselves."
"If anyone dares to stand with the Tianjian Sect and bully our Divine Sword Sect, then do not blame us for turning hostile."
"As for the label of traitors... without evidence, you can dream of pinning that crime on our Divine Sword Sect's shoulders."
Upon hearing Mo Chenzi's words, the surrounding Remnant Souls remained silent. Although Sword Elder's words had sown seeds of suspicion in their minds, without concrete proof, they truly couldn't forcibly declare the Divine Sword Sect traitors.
More importantly, the Divine Sword Sect's headquarters had also been reduced to ruins in that ancient war, left in its current sorry state. To insist they were traitors now seemed somewhat unreasonable.
Thus, for a moment, all Remnant Souls fell silent, no one daring to speak.
"Sword Elder, enough pointless talk. If you wish to fight, then fight. Our Divine Sword Sect will be your worthy opponent!" Mo Chenzi emphasized once more.
Sword Elder looked at Mo Chenzi. Though he knew in his heart that Mo Chenzi and the Divine Sword Sect were the traitors, he indeed had no effective evidence to present.
Earlier, seven blade cultivators had emerged from the Divine Sword Sect headquarters to attack. Yet, in that moment, Mo Chenzi had mobilized a hidden reserve power within their headquarters to tightly seal off a large area of space, concealing any trace of those blade cultivators. None of the other Remnant Souls on the continent could perceive their existence.
"Fellow cultivators," Ye Yunfei suddenly spoke up, pointing at Elder Zheng, Elder Qin, and the other heirs of the Sword Realm. "These are the heirs of the Sword Realm. Some belong to our Tianjian Sect, others come from various swordsmanship sects on the continent. They all witnessed those blade cultivators emerging from the Divine Sword Sect headquarters moments ago. You may question them yourselves."
"That's right!" Elder Zheng and Elder Qin stepped forward immediately, their voices loud.
"We can all bear witness. Previously, seven blade cultivators indeed charged out from the Divine Sword Sect headquarters and even killed over a dozen of our comrades."
"If the crime is fabricated, words are limitless," Mo Chenzi said, a chilling light in his eyes as he swept them over the Sword Realm heirs. "Little beast, you've long since bought these returned outsiders. They will say whatever you want them to. My position stands: unless you can present tangible evidence, you may dream of branding our Divine Sword Sect with the crime of betrayal."
BOOM!
A sense of terrifying pressure descended. In that instant, the Sword Realm heirs felt as though they had plunged into a million-year icy chasm. From their physical bodies to their Soul Bodies, they felt instantly frozen solid.
"So terrifying!"
Deep terror arose from their very Souls. None dared speak further.
"Ancestor," Ye Yunfei sent a private Sound Transmission to Sword Elder. "Among these returned Sword Realm heirs, not a single one belongs to the Divine Sword Sect. That itself speaks to the problem within that sect."
"Mo Chenzi, no matter how you twist your words, you cannot conceal the truth that your Divine Sword Sect are traitors."
Sword Elder spoke after a moment's thought. "Just wait. Your Divine Sword Sect's true colors will be revealed in time."
Sword Elder then addressed the surrounding Remnant Souls.
"Comrades, I am utterly certain the Divine Sword Sect are the betrayers of our Sword Realm. You will all come to know it sooner or later."
"Let us return for now," he then said to Ye Yunfei, before turning to leave.
"Old traitor, your time will come," Ye Yunfei glanced at Mo Chenzi, then followed Sword Elder.
Shortly after.
"Just now, I used a secret technique to probe the Divine Sword Sect headquarters," Sword Elder explained to Ye Yunfei. "Many powerful auras are hidden within. If we truly fought, we might not be able to handle them."
"Moreover, since the Divine Sword Sect are indeed the betrayers, they must have preserved a great deal of their strength during that ancient war. For now, initiating conflict with them is inadvisable."
"Unless we can persuade the other powers of the Sword Realm Continent to join us against the Divine Sword Sect, our Tianjian Sect alone may be unable to contend with them."
"Thus, we must bide our time. We can only act against the Divine Sword Sect when the moment is ripe."
"I understand, Ancestor."
Ye Yunfei nodded. "The Divine Sword Sect conceals their fangs, yet they are truly formidable."
Ye Yunfei understood that Sword Elder's reluctance to act was not merely due to a lack of evidence. It stemmed from a lack of confidence in their ability to defeat the Divine Sword Sect. Otherwise, they could have simply charged into the headquarters and dragged the blade cultivators out by force.