Bad news travels fast, while good news stays behind closed doors.
The news that the Heavenly Sword Sect had successively lost its sect master and the Sword Tomb Elder was soon learned by all the top forces.
On top of that, large numbers of Heavenly Sword Sect disciples had fled down the mountain, making the news seem even more credible.
When Qing Chen rose as usual the next morning, spies from powerful forces had already appeared around the Heavenly Sword Sect.
The nearby mid- and small-sized forces were even more eager to make a move.
Everyone was scheming to devour the Heavenly Sword Sect, this plump piece of meat, but no one dared to be the first to take the plunge.
It was not until noon the next day, during the fiercest sunlight of the afternoon, that the Red Saber Sect, the medium-sized sect closest to the Heavenly Sword Sect, led its people in an attack.
They were the first force to test the Heavenly Sword Sect's strength.
Their fate, however, was also the most tragic.
Every member of the Red Saber Sect was killed by the people of the Heavenly Sword Sect. Not one returned, and only their dreadful screams echoed within the Heavenly Sword Sect's mountain gate.
The result of this probing temporarily intimidated the others who wanted to investigate.
But the effect of this deterrent was limited.
When the second and third waves of probing forces charged into the Heavenly Sword Sect, survivors finally managed to escape and bring back news.
The Heavenly Sword Sect had actually made complete preparations. It seemed to have known long ago that they would attack and had established a tight defense.
However, there were not many defenders. It was only because those elders were extraordinarily powerful that they caused these first