A year ago, Seven Stars City had been destroyed in a single catastrophe, leaving the entire mountain city in ruins.
After more than a year of rebuilding, few traces of the devastation remained on the surface.
But Seven Stars City had suffered too many casualties. Even after considerable numbers of people had been transferred from other large cities in Seven Stars Province, it still seemed rather desolate.
To fully restore its former bustle, it would need at least a hundred years of quiet recuperation.
Qiu Hanyan stood before the Heaven Reaching Great Sword, gazing down over the magnificent landscape, a trace of loneliness hidden in her eyes.
A year ago, the Qiu Bai Families had still been vying for power, both openly and in secret.
She had thought such competition would benefit the Dao Sword Palace's development. She had never expected Qiu Junshan's upheaval to drive the Dao Sword Palace into a dead end.
"Time to switch!"
Qiu Shengshui's voice came from behind her.
All the Dao Sword Palace's elite had been wiped out. Now, its clanspeople could rely only on Qiu Shengshui, Qiu Hanyan, and the Heaven Reaching Great Sword on the mountaintop.
Once, the Heaven Reaching Great Sword had always been controlled by the Great Sword Master. Now Qiu Shengshui and Qiu Hanyan took turns.
"I can still... hold on for a few more days," Qiu Hanyan said, shaking her head.
"Don't push yourself. Even the Great Sword Master stopped every three hours and rested every five. This thing drains too much mental strength," Qiu Shengshui urged.
When the Dao Sword Palace had flourished, there had usually been no need to use this sword. The presence of its powerful cultivators had been enough.
Now, things were no longer as they had been. The Dao Sword Palace was like