The Spirit Jade Sect's disciples stubbornly resisted the pressure while peering through the sect-protecting formation at the white-robed sword immortal outside.
Fortunately, the sect-protecting formation shielded them from part of the spiritual power pressure. Otherwise, the vast majority would have been forced to their knees, unable even to crawl back up.
"How dare this man come alone to provoke our Spirit Jade Sect!"
"Don't be afraid, Junior Brother Liu. The sect master and elders are all here. He won't be able to stir up any waves."
"What powerful Sword Intent! Hiss, thank goodness we have the sect-protecting formation."
The disciples chattered, finding amusement amid their suffering, but the Spirit Jade Sect's higher-ups were thoroughly enraged by this arrogant act.
This was the Spirit Jade Sect's very gate! Someone had come onto their own territory and bullied them to their faces. If this could be tolerated, what could not?
The Spirit Jade Sect's higher-ups were so furious that their hair stood on end, their expressions twisted with rage.
The elders and the ancestor were all within the sect, yet someone still dared to press down upon their gates with his pressure. This was naked provocation. If they did not teach him a lesson, others might think the Spirit Jade Sect had no one capable!
The elders moved with their anger. Almost simultaneously, several streaks of golden light shot out together, heading straight for the gate.
"Who dares run wild at our Spirit Jade Sect!"
"Arrogant scoundrel, you're courting death!"
King Realm elders flew out together, unleashing their terrifying pressure at the same time toward the white-robed sword immortal outside the gate.
Hearing the shouts and curses from the Spirit Jade Sect's higher-ups, the white-robed sword immortal outside the sect-protecting formation-Lin Xuan-remained expressionless. He casually drew his sword and unleashed an earth-shaking strike at the gate barring his way, showing no mercy.
Fourth-level Sword Intent erupted at that moment. The terrifying Sword Intent swept through like a force crushing rotten wood, charging with crushing weight and the might of ten thousand horses straight toward the Spirit Jade Sect's gate.
The sword light filling the sky converged into one place, becoming a giant sword of spiritual power in Lin Xuan's hand. It slashed furiously down upon the Spirit Jade Sect's sect-protecting formation, which had operated without incident for over a hundred years!
No one could stop this strike.
Vast might bore down like a collapsing mountain. Countless Spirit Jade Sect disciples witnessed this apocalyptic scene with their own eyes, unable even to react. They stared with eyes wide and mouths open, their expressions blank.
The splendor of that strike alone was enough to shatter the courage of the Spirit Jade Sect's countless disciples. Its utterly dazzling impact, together with the fourth-level Sword Intent contained within the giant sword of spiritual power, left them all frozen on the spot. Some weaker disciples were even severely injured from glimpsing the Sword Intent, coughing up blood then and there.
"How dare you!"
"You dare attack our Spirit Jade Sect's sect-protecting formation!"
The King Realm elders, whose strength far surpassed the disciples', were both shocked and furious. Their gazes upon the white-robed sword immortal seemed ready to strip his skin, tear out his bones, and devour him raw.
This outrageously bold man had practically delivered a vicious slap to every one of their faces!
He had attacked without a word. Did he intend to wage war against their sect?
Such provocation... he was setting himself on a course to fight their Spirit Jade Sect to the death!
And so, beneath the angry, astonished, and stunned gazes of everyone in the Spirit Jade Sect, the giant sword of spiritual power slashed straight down, striking the sect-protecting formation squarely.
Crack-
Crack-
Before the elders' eyes, which nearly split with fury, the sect-protecting formation...
Cracked.
Dense cracks spread rapidly like a spiderweb on the verge of disintegration, revealing themselves above the Spirit Jade Sect disciples' heads. Amid a chorus of snapping and crackling, the formation finally collapsed, scattering into glittering fragments across the sky.
Stunned!
Countless disciples and elders all became as unresponsive as people in vegetative states at that moment.
Utterly stunned!
The sect-protecting formation that the Spirit Jade Sect took such pride in had been broken just like that?
And shattered with a single sword strike, at that!
Who exactly was this man?
Wasn't his strength far too terrifying?
Another streak of golden light shot out then. It was the Spirit Jade Sect's sect master, who had arrived belatedly.
The pain of losing his son had already plunged him into anguish. Now someone had come to provoke them, trampling the Spirit Jade Sect's dignity underfoot. Yet this man was far too powerful. Even without fighting him, the terrifying Sword Intent permeating the air alone told the Spirit Jade Sect's sect master that he was absolutely no match for him.
Never mind himself-even if the ancestor came in person, he would certainly be no match!
As this thought arose, the Spirit Jade Sect's sect master nearly spat out a mouthful of blood. His face was livid as he forcibly suppressed his anger, stifled beyond measure!
The pain of losing his son, the shame of his sect's humiliation...
Was he not even being treated as a person anymore?
Holding back his fury, he called out to the white-robed sword immortal.
"Senior, our Spirit Jade Sect has neither grievance nor enmity with you. Why must you humiliate our sect like this?"
He felt deeply stifled, even wronged. He had looked at this powerhouse's face, and he clearly did not know him. They had never even met. How had they provoked a hatred worthy of exterminating their sect?
Yet, contrary to his expectations, the white-robed sword immortal he questioned not only failed to look him in the eye, but actually laughed.
Sure enough, when you're far stronger than him, he starts trying to reason with you. Laughable.
Lin Xuan raised an eyebrow as he looked at the Spirit Jade Sect's sect master, whose face was full of suppressed emotion.
"No grievance or enmity?"
He said indifferently, "Weren't you the one looking to make trouble for me? What, now that I've come to your door in person, you say there's no grievance or enmity? Heh..."
The string of questions, paired with Lin Xuan's mocking smile, made it difficult not to grow angry. The Spirit Jade Sect's sect master felt it even more keenly.
"Make trouble for you, Senior? You must be joking. How would our Spirit Jade Sect dare..."
He was only halfway through when a thought flashed through his mind like lightning, forcing him to stop short. He abruptly raised his head and stared in astonishment at the white-robed sword immortal outside.
His gaze shifted several times before finally settling into terror. At the thought of that possibility, even his voice became painfully strained.
"Senior... may I ask, your relationship with Wang Yan of the Azure Yang Sword Sect..."
Lin Xuan's tone was flat. "He is my disciple."
"Your Spirit Jade Sect certainly throws its weight around. Without asking the reason or caring who was right or wrong, you intended to go to the Azure Yang Sword Sect and seize him."
"Now that I've come in person, what, are you afraid?"
Lin Xuan wore the hint of a smile, yet there was only coldness in his eyes, and his voice was particularly mocking.
Under his indifferent gaze, the Spirit Jade Sect's sect master broke into a cold sweat!
This man was actually Wang Yan's master?
How was that possible!
He had personally investigated before. That Wang Yan was merely an ordinary disciple of the Azure Yang Sword Sect. Even Starfall Peak, where he belonged, was unremarkable and ranked near the bottom...
How could he possibly have such a powerful master?
Someone as powerful as this white-robed sword immortal should not have existed in the Azure Yang Sword Sect, or even in the entire Tangqing Empire.
The Spirit Jade Sect's sect master could scarcely wrap his mind around it. His thoughts were in chaos, and he could no longer even spare attention for avenging his son. Smiling awkwardly, he stammered as he tried to salvage the situation.
"You must be joking, Senior. This is all a misunderstanding, a misunderstanding. How would I dare ask you to give..."
"Joking?" Lin Xuan cut him off. "Who's joking with you?"
Before his words had even faded, he unleashed another sword strike, decisive and ruthless, giving the Spirit Jade Sect's sect master no chance whatsoever to explain.
He was someone who fiercely protected his own.
How could he possibly not protect his own disciple?
Anyone who wanted to kill his disciple was his enemy. When dealing with enemies, Lin Xuan had never known the meaning of mercy.
As for the Spirit Jade Sect's sect master showing weakness, ultimately, that was only because Lin Xuan's strength far surpassed his own.
If he had not been strong enough, there was no need to think to know that the Spirit Jade Sect's attitude today would have undergone a world-shaking change. Those who died could not possibly have been the Spirit Jade Sect's people; it would have been him and Wang Yan instead.
Kindness to an enemy was cruelty to oneself.
Thus, without so much as a warning, Lin Xuan brought his sword slashing straight down, swift as thunder.
No one had expected him to be so overbearing, attacking the moment he chose to, without giving anyone in the Spirit Jade Sect time to react.
"Senior, wait!"
The Spirit Jade Sect's sect master let out a heart-rending roar, but it failed to earn even a single pitying glance from Lin Xuan.
Lin Xuan did not care in the slightest.
The time limit he had given had expired. From this moment on, whether anyone in the Spirit Jade Sect lived or died was up to fate.
The sword-fell!