The wounds in one's heart were far more shocking and difficult to heal than those on the body.
"Cough, cough..."
Amid the ruins of the sect's main hall, Xuan Tianba forced himself to remain standing despite his grievous injuries, his face pale as paper.
Beside him, Old Ancestor Xuan Mang was in no better condition.
The blood covering his body had dyed half of it red, and his aura had weakened to its absolute limit.
"Sect Master, our vitality has been severely damaged. What should we do now?"
A surviving elder's voice was hoarse and choked with sobs, filled with endless bewilderment.
Xuan Tianba forcibly suppressed his roiling qi and blood, his gaze sweeping over the despairing faces below.
"There's no need to worry. Now that the demon has been eliminated, the Xuanba Sword Sect is safe."
"As long as we still draw breath, the Xuanba Sword Sect can rise to glory once more."
"Old Ancestor sacrificed himself for the Dao and bought us a chance at survival. We cannot let their sacrifices be in vain!"
His words were like the evening drum and morning bell, stirring a faint ripple in the dead-silent lakes of the survivors' hearts.
That was right. They were still alive. As long as they lived, there was hope.
But nearly all of the sect's top combatants had been wiped out, and Old Ancestor Xuan Chen, who had reached the Peak Divine Sect Realm, had fallen.
Even the sect master and Old Ancestor Xuan Mang had suffered grievous injuries. No one knew how long it would take them to return to their peak.
With the Xuanba Sword Sect in such a state, if another crisis emerged, could they withstand it?
Just as sorrow and gloom hung over everyone, a frail figure appeared before them.
"Cough... cough,