An Oversight

"You lost."

Qin Lian's voice echoed across the grounds.

He himself...

Was indeed somewhat surprised.

From the information he had gathered, he already knew this was an elder whose vitality had entered its decline, so his strength should not have been particularly great.

But however far he had declined...

He was still a Third Grade expert.

An existence who would count as a pillar in any major sect or powerful faction.

Yet the outcome had actually been decided within a few moves of their first exchange.

This gap...

Was greater than he had expected.

"Weaker than I expected."

The thought crossed his mind.

Even Qin Lian reacted this way, let alone the others watching nearby.

When that sword pressed against Li Xiu's throat with inconceivable speed, Xiao Qing, who had still harbored a trace of dissatisfaction with Qin Lian as a Heaven Ranking Grandmaster, suddenly felt his pupils contract.

"What a fast sword!"

Had he faced that strike, he absolutely could not have blocked it either!

"A Third Grade expert who has formed a force mantle, someone worthy of being called a grandmaster... defeated just like that?"

Liu Xu, the senior sister and peak master of Cloudmist Peak, was visibly moved as well.

At last, she realized that she really had "picked up" her position as peak master through sheer luck.

"Grandmaster Qin... actually possesses such strength!?"

Compared to the two relatively young Third Grade experts, Xiao Hong had a more seasoned eye. "Defeating a fellow Third Grade expert in a few moves... even compared with Second Grade Divine Intent, he can hardly be considered inferior, can he?"

No wonder Senior Brother Yuan and Sect Master Li both placed such high hopes on him.

None of them had doubted that Qin Lian would ultimately win.

How could someone who could slay a Black Ranking grandmaster be inferior to a Third Grade grandmaster whose vitality was on the decline?

But in their view, even if Qin Lian could win, it should have followed a fierce exchange of at least thirty or forty moves, perhaps even fifty or sixty, before he seized an opening when Li Xiu could no longer sustain his True Qi and secured victory in one stroke.

For the outcome to be decided in practically one or two breaths, as it had been now, was truly astonishing.

"So this is the strength of a grandmaster who can ascend the Heaven Ranking?"

Li Xiu looked at the sword's edge pressed against his neck, capable of taking his life at any moment, his expression bitter.

He seemed to age several years all at once. "Losing to a powerful expert like Grandmaster Qin... I have no grievance with this defeat..."

Qin Lian withdrew his sword and gave a slight nod.

"My apologies."

Only once he withdrew his sword did the people behind Li Xiu finally dare to approach and support him.

"Father..."

"Master."

Li Xiu waved a hand, then cupped his hands to Qin Lian in salute. "Thank you for showing mercy, Grandmaster Qin. I will relinquish the Heavenly Splendor Treasure Tree and lead everyone away at once."

With that, he led everyone aside.

As for those people...

Having seen that even the elder and master they considered immensely powerful could not withstand a single exchange with Qin Lian, they naturally no longer had the courage to resist and fight to the death.

Especially with dozens of Cloudmist Peak experts watching like hungry tigers behind Qin Lian.

Drawing a sword and advancing despite knowing death was certain was not bravery, but stupidity.

"Take over Heavenly Splendor Mountain."

Qin Lian likewise waved a hand and gave the order.

"Yes."

The people of Cloudmist Peak answered and swiftly ascended Heavenly Splendor Mountain.

Many disciples now looked at Qin Lian with an added awe much like that of the Qin Family's people.

Though Qin Lian's slaying of the Blood Demon Zuo Qiudao and ascent to the Grandmaster Heaven Ranking had brought Cloudmist Peak tremendous glory, they had not witnessed that battle themselves.

Things heard secondhand always carried a sense of unreality.

But today...

A Third Grade grandmaster failing to last even a few exchanges against Qin Lian was a solid fact laid out before their eyes.

His strength now had a tangible manifestation, naturally winning the complete conviction of everyone in Cloudmist Peak, who had already respected him.

Before long, Heavenly Splendor Mountain had changed hands.

Cloudmist Peak's disciples and stewards took over the passes and key routes, completing their blockade of the mountain.

Qin Lian, meanwhile, came beneath the Heavenly Splendor Treasure Tree.

Although this treasure tree had lived for several centuries, it could hardly be called lush. Its crown covered only a dozen or so square meters, and it stood merely around six meters tall, looking rather small and delicate.

Several dozen slightly orange-yellow, pear-shaped fruits already hung from its branches.

"Heavenly Splendor Fruit. Six years ago, I came to Spirit Radiance Commandery on the sect's behalf to oversee its purchase. A single fruit cost a hundred thousand taels."

Xiao Hong looked at the fruits, seemingly recalling the past.

But he knew perfectly well that these fruits should essentially all belong to Qin Lian.

Otherwise, the sect master would not have specifically assigned Qin Lian to lead Cloudmist Peak's people in the assault on Spirit Radiance Commandery.

As for his purpose in coming here...

After examining them, Xiao Hong finally said, "Judging by their development... these Heavenly Splendor Fruits will ripen one after another within the next few months... these will ripen first, likely within the next few days, while these will take a little longer..."

He explained them to Qin Lian one by one.

Only at the end did he add, "From here on, I leave the Heavenly Splendor Treasure Tree's safety in your hands, Grandmaster Qin."

"I will personally remain here to guard it."

Qin Lian answered.

Having completed his task, Xiao Hong tactfully departed.

As for Liu Xu and the others, they had not come near the Heavenly Splendor Treasure Tree at all.

While Qin Lian's party secured the Heavenly Splendor Treasure Tree, the Pure Yang Sword Sect's main force, led by Song Huangting, had likewise charged straight to Ten Thousand Swords Manor.

Along the way, no one from Ten Thousand Swords Manor dared to stop them.

The occasional fool who failed to grasp the situation was swiftly defeated, or even killed, by Mu Xingchui and the others accompanying Song Huangting.

The party reached the manor's main hall with barely any resistance.

As soon as they arrived, a stern shout rang out from within, aged yet full of vigor.

"Ye Wuji, as a member of this manor, you actually sold out its interests and colluded with outsiders to target its other members!? How can you face the ancestors of Ten Thousand Swords Manor!?"

Along with that voice, an old woman leaning on a cane strode out.

"Ye Xiuyun?"

Ye Wuji halted at the sight of her.

The oldest living member of the Ye Family, she was eighty-six this year and had once been a Divine Intent grandmaster who had attained the Second Grade.

At her age, however, even a great grandmaster who had established their grand presence, let alone a Divine Intent grandmaster, could easily be beaten to death by a young Third Grade expert.

But as he recalled Ye Xiuyun's unstinting support for Ye Yingxiong over these past few months, his expression gradually turned cold.

"How can I face the ancestors of Ten Thousand Swords Manor? You should probably ask that fine nephew of yours, Ye Yingxiong! If he hadn't stirred up internal strife, how could our Ten Thousand Swords Manor have ended up torn apart like this?"

"Impudence! Ye Hui died from cultivation deviation, leaving Yingxiong as the strongest person in the manor. In these turbulent times, only the strong can uphold the manor's prestige. What is wrong with him taking on its heavy responsibilities?"

Ye Xiuyun glared at Ye Wuji. "Could a Third Grade like you, who hasn't even entered the Heaven Ranking, possibly hold Ten Thousand Swords Manor together? If you truly cared about the manor's future, you should have willingly handed over the position of manor master then, rather than inciting others to oppose Yingxiong to the bitter end!"

She rebuked him loudly. "Your stubborn refusal to let go of the manor master's authority is the true culprit behind the manor being torn apart!"

"What high-sounding words! I am the heir to Ten Thousand Swords Manor! If Ye Yingxiong truly cared about the manor's future, he should have helped me complete the succession. With the divine sword in my hand, condensing Divine Intent is only a matter of time!"

Ye Wuji declared in a ringing voice.

"Wretch!"

Ye Xiuyun slammed her cane heavily into the ground, cracking the stone slabs. "That Demon Sword killed your father, killed your second uncle-how many people has it killed? And you still think you can rely on it to turn heaven and earth around!? Utter wishful thinking! If you don't abandon that Demon Sword, all of Ten Thousand Swords Manor will be buried alongside you!"

"I already intend to offer the Heavenly Extreme Sword to Supreme Elder Song Huangting of the Pure Yang Sword Sect! You needn't trouble yourself! If you withdraw now, you can still spend your remaining years in peace at the manor. Otherwise... blades have no eyes, so don't blame me for being disrespectful!"

"Offer it to Song Huangting?"

Ye Xiuyun's gaze passed over him and landed on Song Huangting and the others from the Pure Yang Sword Sect who had entered with Ye Wuji. "So he really did use that Demon Sword to persuade you to interfere in the affairs of our Ten Thousand Swords Manor?"

"Grandmaster Ye, further words are pointless. Have Ye Yingxiong come out and fight me. The victor will control Ten Thousand Swords Manor, and the loser..."

Before Song Huangting finished speaking, he seemed to sense something and frowned. "No! I can't sense any powerful presence inside the hall. Ye Yingxiong isn't in there!?"