An Offer of Allegiance

"Who wants to found a New Mount Shu?"

Just then, an angry shout rang out. Sword light roared across the sky, crushing countless clouds.

Formless sword light gathered into a Myriad-Sword Dharma Body, five energies held within its chest and the twin principles above its head. It was Hundred Sufferings Arhat!

He had escaped the Southern Border with Tu Yushu, then found a barren mountain to treat his injuries. Only after great effort had he barely suppressed them and kept him alive, and he had hurried here without stopping to seek that Water-Immortal Primordial Pearl.

And what did he hear when he arrived? Someone wanted to found a New Mount Shu?

His fury surged. Formless sword light billowed. Though it had neither shape nor color, every disciple present felt as if an icy sword hung behind their head, ready to fall at any moment—

"It was I!"

Fang Qing's reply was calm.

A heavenly river swept out, shielding the ruins of the Sword Qi Soaring Pavilion.

Then a Blackwater Dharma Body appeared, dragon and serpent beneath its feet, mysterious marks across its body. It faced the Myriad-Sword Dharma Body—

"A Dharma Body?"

"That's the Heavenly River Sword Art? You—you're Fang Qing? Xuan Cao's disciple—no, impossible!"

Hundred Sufferings Arhat simply could not believe anyone could cultivate a Dharma Body within sixty years. His expression chilled. "Which expert are you, sneaking into our sect under a false identity?"

Before his words had faded, the enormous Myriad-Sword Dharma Body vanished without a trace—

"No wonder you cultivate the Formless Sword. What a sneaky move—"

Fang Qing voiced his admiration. His Blackwater Dharma Body unfurled, and a dazzling river of stars appeared, covering every corner of Mount Shu.

Water vapor filled the sky. Behind him, a streak of sword light immediately emerged!

The sword