Winds and Clouds Surge, Another Change Arises!
Seeing the boy's provocation, the Sword Sect Old Ancestor's face twitched violently, and his Killing Intent surged even higher!
However, after weighing the pros and cons, he ultimately abandoned his plan to take action there.
Cao Ming is right.
It was Zhou Qingyan who provoked first, it was the Sword Sect that aggressively set up a deadly trap, and it was Zhou Qingyan who arrogantly said she would "give me three moves"...
Ye Li's counterattack, though extremely fierce, was flawless in terms of the rules!
Moreover, Cao Ming represents the official will of the Xianjing Continent.
If I were to act recklessly today, not only would the probability of killing Ye Li be extremely low, but the Xuanming Sword Sect would also face the wrath of the Nine Luminaries Division and even the entire Xianjing Continent government!
The sect's millennia-old foundation was destroyed in an instant.
That furious rage, enough to burn away reason, was temporarily suppressed in the face of the cold, cruel reality and Cao Ming's imposing presence, turning into a knot of resentment and frustration that almost tore his heart and lungs apart.
There's no need to tear each other apart here; we can settle the score later.
His gaze fell back on Zhou Qingyan, who was barely breathing in the deep pit.
The image of Yue Qing's mangled flesh resurfaced uncontrollably, overlapping with the horrific state of Zhou Qingyan before him. Truly, fate is cruel!
He struggled to suppress the raging Sword Intent emanating from him.
The Sword Sect Old Ancestor cupped his hands towards Ye Li below, his movements stiff as a puppet, a forced smile barely gracing his face, and said:
"I was in a moment of haste and offended you greatly. I hope General Ye will forgive me."
"Our sect's sword master... is outmatched in skill, and today's defeat can be considered a fitting end, a test of her character. We are truly grateful for your guidance during this Sword Sect!"
Every word he uttered revealed a hint of resentment and humiliation.
"..."
Ye Li abruptly withdrew his gaze and let out a barely perceptible sigh.
If I had known that old Deng was so patient, I should have been more ruthless earlier.
It can only be said that Prefect Cao was too concerned and acted a little too soon.
Most likely, the stability of the situation in the prefectures and counties prevents them from rashly eliminating such a powerful force...
He shook his head slightly, his Golden Eyes returning to their original dark color, and the boiling blood energy around him calmed down.
He then, without even glancing at Zhou Qingyan, whose life or death was unknown in the deep pit, and ignoring the Sword Sect Old Ancestor's forced smile and the group of elders and disciples whose faces were ashen, simply spoke indifferently:
"You can simply take action now. What I said earlier still applies to you."
Having said that, he turned around and walked straight back to the High Platform, his black robe brushing against the broken and blood-stained bluestone beneath his feet. He walked steadily through the mess and deathly silence, step by step.
Wherever he went, the surviving disciples of the Sword Sect retreated with their heads down as if avoiding a plague, their eyes filled with deep fear, all traces of their previous mockery and disdain gone.
Looking at the imposing Ye Li, the Sword Sect Old Ancestor's resentment deepened. "..."
Ye Li, you'd better pray that Cao Ming will stay by your side and protect you!
Given the chance, the Sword Sect will make this fiend pay a bloody price!
"..."
Cao Ming stared expressionlessly at the Sword Sect Old Ancestor, who was breathing heavily. The imposing official aura emanating from him slowly receded, but an invisible pressure still enveloped the entire area.
He slowly spoke, "In that case, the Old Ancestor shall handle the follow-up matters of the ceremony himself."
He then smiled and looked at the boy on the High Platform, saying:
"Let's go, Ye Li, come back to the manor with me."
Even though he tried his best to suppress it, he couldn't hide the laughter in his voice.
How could they possibly hold back!
There are only a handful of geniuses from the Nine Luminaries Division who can defeat a seventh-level Dao Evolution Realm cultivator head-on, even in the entire Great Sheng Nine Luminaries Division. It's incredible that such a talent could be born in his unknown Xianjing Continent!
If properly nurtured, he might just become a genuine garrison general within the Great Sheng territory, suppressing many Outer Domain forces and making them unable to raise their heads!
The supreme being of the Immortal Realm... Cao Ming dared not even dream of that realm.
But the young man before us undoubtedly has the right to dream a little!
"Alright."
Ye Li nodded slightly, and the remaining Magic Power flowed slowly through his body.
The Spiritual Platform Divine Iron deep within his mind trembled continuously, but his thoughts drifted elsewhere.
Without any evidence of guilt.
With this matter settled, there is indeed no need for me to stay in the Xuanming Sword Sect any longer.
We need to get back to Longtan as soon as possible for some simple and enjoyable time.
Countless gazes, each with its own distinct character, converged upon him from all around, leaving the representatives of the various Mountain Gate with a mixture of shock and complex emotions.
What was shocking was that this champion of the Jade Mountain Refinement possessed terrifying combat power that could overpower Zhou Qingyan.
The complicated situation is that with such a subordinate general in the Nine Luminaries Division, the future Xianjing Continent may shift from the current dynamic balance back to a situation where one entity dominates.
At that time, their respective factions will likely have to make concessions because of the other side's existence... Thinking of this, a bitter feeling inevitably arises in their hearts.
Fortunately, they regained much of the face they had lost in the Sword Manual after this battle.
After all, when someone embarrasses themselves in a way that surpasses everyone else's, the others, no matter how much humiliation they have suffered before, will feel a little comforted by it.
This is the simple truth that happiness is built on the suffering of others.
However.
Just as Ye Li was enveloped in golden light, about to leave the bluestone Plaza that symbolized both the glory and the current shame of the Xuanming Sword Sect—
A sudden change has occurred!
Boom!!!
A sound far more muffled and ancient than any previous collision, as if a roar from the depths of the earth, suddenly resounded from the depths of the Xuanming Sword Sect Forbidden Grounds!
Immediately afterwards, the entire Sword Sect Divine Mountain began to shake violently like never before, as if it were completely collapsing!
Countless palaces and pavilions trembled violently, and rocks tumbled down!
In everyone's perception, a mighty, surging Sword Intent, like a giant dragon awakening, soared into the sky from the Forbidden Grounds area deep within the Sword Sect!
The Sword Intent shone brightly like the sun and moon, and a faint pressure swept across the heavens and earth, its essence even faintly overshadowing the two Venerables present!
A dazzling brilliance tore through the clouds, pierced the Firmament, and instantly dyed the entire world with a deep, heavy azure hue!
"Tai... Taiyuan?!"
The Sword Sect Old Ancestor abruptly turned his head to look in the direction of the Forbidden Grounds, his forced smile completely freezing, turning into utter astonishment and disbelief!
He gasped in shock, his voice even trembling!
Not only the Old Ancestor, but all the elders and disciples of the Sword Sect, and even Cao Ming and others, were stunned into place by this sudden and terrifying phenomenon and the vast and ancient Sword Intent, unable to move!
The place where countless horrified and astonished gazes converged was none other than the core Forbidden Grounds of the Xuanming Sword Sect, the place that had created countless heroic legends!