That golden longsword was a divine weapon of the Divine Sword Sect, one of its Sect-Defining Treasures.
“You few… you’ve done well!
Back when that traitorous disciple Zhou Duantian turned on me, you clearly could have stepped in to stop him. Instead, you colluded with him, allowing him to betray his master and assassinate his own benefactor.
Furthermore, you followed Zhou Duantian in colluding with the Blade Realm, bringing calamity upon our Sword Realm Continent.
Have you forgotten the final decree left behind by our founding Patriarch, which commanded that our Divine Sword Sect should guard and protect the Sword Realm Continent for all generations?
And what have you done instead?
What have you all done?”
Gan Qingyang’s gaze swept over those several Elder Lords, his voice scathing as he reprimanded them.
Back in the day, Gan Qingyang and these Elder Lords were of the same generation within the Divine Sword Sect, and all held positions of similar status as Elders.
After Zhou Duantian became Sect Master, he treacherously ambushed and murdered Gan Qingyang in secret, and these several Elders eventually all rose to become Elder Lords of the Divine Sword Sect.
Hearing Gan Qingyang’s words, the complexions of those Elder Lords turned slightly uncomfortable.
They certainly knew of the final decree left by the sect’s founding Patriarch, but having already chosen to stand on the same side as Zhou Duantian, why would they care about such things now?
“You old fool surnamed Gan! Who says we’ve forgotten the final decree left by our founding Patriarch?
Isn’t our Divine Sword Sect flourishing even now?
Even if every other sword sect on this Sword Realm Continent were destroyed, our Divine Sword Sect would still stand tall forever upon this land.
The Sword Realm Continent will become the exclusive domain of our Divine Sword Sect. We are the sole rulers of this continent.
It is precisely due to my decisions that our Divine Sword Sect has risen to such heights today!”
Zhou Duantian glanced back, speaking coldly.
“Zhou Duantian, you backstabbing traitor who deceived your master and betrayed your ancestors! Your retribution will surely come!”
Upon hearing Zhou Duantian’s words, Gan Qingyang gnashed his teeth in fury.
“Act quickly! Destroy this old fool’s Remnant Soul. Don’t let him hold us back!”
Zhou Duantian barked a sharp command at those Elder Lords.
“Elder Gan, forgive our offence!”
Those Elder Lords steeled themselves, then shot into the air, charging toward Gan Qingyang and the other Remnant Souls.
“If possible, save Elder Gan.
I was on very good terms with him back in the day. He is different from the other members of the Divine Sword Sect.
He is a man of great righteousness, and what’s more important, he was murdered by Zhou Duantian.
If we can rescue him, then we will gain another powerful asset to use against Zhou Duantian.
He knows the Divine Sword Sect inside and out. That alone will greatly aid us in dealing with them.”
At this moment, Ye Yunfei received a Sound Transmission from Sword Elder.
“I understand, Elder Ancestor.”
Ye Yunfei nodded.
Then he stamped his foot, activating the Five-Element Changes of the Realm-Stabilizing Dragon Vein Formation. Varied and numerous transformations surged forward with a deafening roar, charging toward Zhou Duantian and those Elder Lords.
Immediately after, Ye Yunfei pointed a finger. An overwhelming torrent of Sect-Defining Treasures whistled through the air, all converging their attacks on the Divine Sword Sect headquarters.
“Senior, find a way to escape. I’ll cover you.”
Ye Yunfei sent a Sound Transmission to Gan Qingyang’s Remnant Soul.
“Thank you, young man!”
Upon receiving Ye Yunfei’s transmission, Gan Qingyang’s Remnant Soul felt his spirit surge. He replied immediately.
Then, leading a large group of other Remnant Souls with him, he moved swiftly, charging toward the outside of the Divine Sword Sect headquarters.
“Old fool surnamed Gan, trying to flee?
Think again!”
Zhou Duantian instantly noticed the movements of Gan Qingyang and the other Remnant Souls. He let out a cold laugh.
Then he took out a Formation Flag and hurled it behind him with force, stabbing it into the Gengjin Sword Formation that enveloped the Divine Sword Sect headquarters.
Instantly, the Gengjin Sword Formation erupted with even more dazzling golden radiance.
Gan Qingyang halted his steps, immediately ordering the other Remnant Souls to stop as well.
Because at this moment, the Gengjin Sword Formation permitted neither entry nor exit.
If they tried to force their way through, they risked being shredded to pieces, their souls scattered by those terrifying golden sword beams.
“Zhou Duantian, I was the one who taught you how to use this Gengjin Sword Formation back then. I never imagined you would now use it against me.
Retribution… this is my retribution!”
Gan Qingyang said through gritted teeth.
“Hahaha…
Old fool surnamed Gan, why bother with so much nonsense?
As my master, you constantly opposed me at every turn. This is indeed the retribution you deserve.”
Zhou Duantian laughed heartily.
“What are you all waiting for?
Move quickly! Destroy this old bastard surnamed Gan and wipe out the Remnant Souls of him and all those other relics.
This is no time for hesitation. Once this old fool surnamed Gan escapes, he’ll turn around and aid our enemies, joining forces with outsiders against our Divine Sword Sect!”
Zhou Duantian’s gaze fell upon those Elder Lords and the other high-ranking members who remained defending the headquarters, his voice icy.
Of course Zhou Duantian could see that those Elder Lords and the headquarters defenders had actually been hesitant all along, not truly committed to acting against Gan Qingyang and those Remnant Souls.
After all, Gan Qingyang had once been a core Elder of the Divine Sword Sect, wielding high status and authority. Moreover, Gan Qingyang was virtuous and respected, treating others with kindness, and had shown favor to many high-ranking members in the past, making it difficult for them to muster the resolve to move against him.
“That’s right! If he escapes, he will undoubtedly turn around and help outsiders attack our Divine Sword Sect!”
Hearing Zhou Duantian’s words, those Elder Lords and the other high-ranking members finally made up their minds. The looks they directed at Gan Qingyang and the other Remnant Souls sharpened, turning fierce.
“Young man, attack the Gengjin Sword Formation now! Cover my escape!”
Seeing the killing intent flare in the eyes of those Divine Sword Sect leaders, Gan Qingyang understood that the last thread of old sentiment between him and these former comrades was now severed. He sighed, then sent a Sound Transmission to Ye Yunfei.
“Very well, Senior. I shall employ every means at my disposal to attack the Gengjin Sword Formation!”
Ye Yunfei gave a firm nod.
Then he pointed a finger. An overwhelming torrent of Sect-Defining Treasures came crashing over, slashing down upon the Gengjin Sword Formation protecting the Divine Sword Sect headquarters. The sounds of metallic clashing rang out incessantly, echoing across the entire continent.
Simultaneously, a vast number of Earth Dragons soared into the air, forming a massive Earth Vein Formation that lunged forward with a resounding boom, crashing into the Gengjin Sword Formation.
“I’ll lend you my strength!”
Shoudi Laoren shouted loudly, then stamped his foot. Instantly, countless rocks and earth shot skyward from the Sword Realm Continent, forming one tall, thick earthen wall after another. These walls gathered together, hurtling with tremendous force toward the Divine Sword Sect headquarters high in the sky.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
One tall, solid earthen wall after another pummeled the Gengjin Sword Formation in an endless stream, instantly being shredded apart by the numerous golden sword beams.
But those shattered earthen walls promptly reassembled themselves and launched fresh attacks against the Gengjin Sword Formation, over and over in an endless cycle.
The most potent attacks, however, came from the Sect-Defining Treasures that Ye Yunfei was controlling through the Earth Vein Formation.
A dense flood of treasures, like a starry river pouring down, battered the Gengjin Sword Formation in an unending barrage.
Some Divine Sword Sect members and Blade Realm cultivators who had failed to retreat back into the headquarters in time were caught in these devastating attacks, their bodies blown apart before they could even scream, their physical forms and Soul Bodies both vanishing into nothingness.
“You think only your Divine Sword Sect has a Gengjin Sword Formation?
Try facing our Tianjian Sect’s Sect-Defending Formation!”
Sword Elder watched the Gengjin Sword Formation, a cold smile playing on his lips. His figure flashed as he retreated back into the Tianjian Sect headquarters.
Inside, he sat cross-legged in a specific location and formed hand seals with both hands.
With a resounding boom, the radiant Sword Formation enveloping the Tianjian Sect headquarters trembled violently. Then, a vast and mighty stream of sword path energy converged, transforming into a brilliant white giant sword that soared into the sky and smashed down upon the Gengjin Sword Formation.
The Sect-Defending Formation of the Tianjian Sect headquarters could not only be used for defense but also for attack.
“Our Azure Dragon Sword Sect also has a Sect-Defending Formation!”
An Elder from the Azure Dragon Sword Sect let out a cold laugh. His figure flashed as he returned inside their headquarters.
Then, an azure Sword Formation soared into the air from the location of the Azure Dragon Sword Sect headquarters. Rolling azure sword radiance converged, forming a huge azure giant sword that shot toward the sky. It instantly pierced through space and slashed down fiercely upon the Divine Sword Sect’s Gengjin Sword Formation.
“Do you think our Trial Sword Manor lacks a Manor-Defending Formation?”
A loud laugh echoed from the direction of the Trial Sword Manor headquarters, followed by a longsword of ancient and simple design soaring upward.
This longsword was an illusion manifested by the Trial Sword Manor’s Manor-Defending Formation.
With a bang, the ancient-style longsword pierced through space, moving with extreme speed as it instantly slashed onto the Divine Sword Sect’s Gengjin Sword Formation.
“Although our Baili Clan is a minor family, our Clan-Defending Formation is not necessarily inferior to your Divine Sword Sect’s Gengjin Sword Formation!”
At this moment, another sonorous voice rang out.
Then, everyone saw, at the location of the Baili Clan headquarters, a beam of black sword radiance shoot skyward, instantly cleaving open space as it whistled through the air, directly slashing onto the Gengjin Sword Formation.
Subsequently, headquarters of one sword sect after another began to display their might. One Sword Formation after another appeared—formations that could be used for both offense and defense, rarely deployed under normal circumstances. But now, to deal with the Divine Sword Sect, every sword sect was willing to reveal their foundational reserves.
Across the Sword Realm Continent, one Sword Formation after another launched relentless attacks, ganging up on the Divine Sword Sect’s Gengjin Sword Formation in a brutal assault.
“Damned!”
Watching this scene, Zhou Duantian and the other high-ranking Divine Sword Sect members wore extremely grim expressions.
Although the Gengjin Sword Formation possessed formidable defensive power, under the combined onslaught of so many Sword Formations, it soon began to sway and shake violently. The entire Divine Sword Sect headquarters trembled fiercely, seemingly unable to withstand the force of so many formations.
Coupled with the joint attacks from the Realm-Stabilizing Dragon Vein Formation and Shoudi Laoren, the Gengjin Sword Formation looked like a small boat tossed about on raging waves, trembling continuously.
While the Gengjin Sword Formation endured these ceaseless attacks, Gan Qingyang took out a tattered, old Formation Flag and hurled it forward forcefully.
Rumble…
The Gengjin Sword Formation shook even more violently. Then, that Formation Flag actually forcibly tore open a gap in the array.
“Quick! Let’s get out!”
Gan Qingyang waved his hand, leading the other Remnant Souls as they charged toward the gap at their maximum speed.
“How is this possible?
Old fool surnamed Gan, you actually have the ability to breach the Gengjin Sword Formation!”
Zhou Duantian had initially believed that with the Gengjin Sword Formation in place, Gan Qingyang and the other Remnant Souls would have no hope of escape. Seeing Gan Qingyang actually tear open a gap in the array filled him with shock and fury.
“Traitorous disciple, I was the one who taught you how to control this Gengjin Sword Formation back then. I know it even better than you do.
Moreover, this Formation Flag of mine is the most ancient of all the Gengjin Sword Formation Formation Flags, left behind by our founding Patriarch.
Although only this one remains—the others have been lost—it is more than enough for me to force open a gap!”
By this time, Gan Qingyang, leading the other Remnant Souls, had already charged out of the Gengjin Sword Formation.
Zhou Duantian and the other high-ranking members had assumed Gan Qingyang could never break through the Gengjin Sword Formation to escape, so they hadn’t yet freed up their hands to deal with him.
They were currently pouring their energy continuously into the Gengjin Sword Formation, helping it withstand the various terrifying assaults.
Thus, by the time Gan Qingyang led the other Remnant Souls to flee through the gap, it was already too late for them to intervene and stop it.