Chapter 800: Demon Sword Assembly 4
"Having obtained the Heavenly Sin Divine Sword by chance, our Tian Wei Sword Domain once harbored selfish intentions, wishing to privately explore the secrets of the demon sword. However, its blade bore an overbearing and unparalleled seal that we could not break even with the full strength of our Sword Domain. It seems heaven itself decreed that the secrets of this demon sword should not be monopolized by one individual, but should be shared among the world's heroes for the benefit of our Tian Xuan's profound way!"
"Hahahaha, well spoken, Sword Master Xuanyuan." Heavenly Lord Yemei Xie laughed loudly. "If this demon sword truly conceals the secret of Divine Profound, then upon its unveiling today, all the assembled heroes of the world shall benefit. The level of our Tian Xuan Continent's profound way will break its limits, achieving an unprecedented leap. At that time, the millions of Tian Xuan will no longer fear the covetous gaze of the demon beings from the Huan Yao Realm. This will not only benefit the profound way, but the entire continent, becoming a glorious event to be sung for ten thousand years."
The covetous gaze of the demon beings from the Huan Yao Realm? Yun Che's eyes darkened, and a cold, disdainful smile curled on his lips.
If he had never returned to the Huan Yao Realm, he would have believed, like all Tian Xuan residents, that the Four Sacred Grounds had been shielding Tian Xuan Continent from the threats of the Huan Yao Realm, and that they deserved the name "Sacred Grounds."
But what he had heard and seen in the Huan Yao Realm was the complete opposite!
Sea Emperor Qu Fengyi's expression remained cold and still as water, utterly unruffled. Huangji Wuyu also did not chime in; he lifted his head slightly and said blandly, "The sun is half-eclipsed, the yang energy is gradually dispersing. The time is almost upon us. Let us prepare to begin."
Xuanyuan Wentian nodded slowly, his body rising gradually. He announced in a clear voice, "The Thirteen Stars in Conjunction, a celestial phenomenon that occurs on average once every three thousand years. In another half a quarter-hour, this celestial phenomenon will manifest. At that time, the entire continent will be plunged into darkness, with yin energy blotting out the heavens. And that will mark the moment when the demon sword's seal is at its weakest in these three thousand years!"
"The profound formation below is called the Wuji Qiankun Formation, completed by our Four Sacred Grounds after months of effort. It possesses no offensive capabilities itself, but it can gather all the profound energy that flows into it and concentrate it into a single point, striking the Heavenly Sin Divine Sword at the formation's center!"
"I see," Yun Che murmured. So this was how they planned to gather the strength of all the world's powerhouses—by relying on this peculiar profound formation.
The sky grew darker and darker. When he looked up, the blazing sun was already half-eaten away.
And as the eclipse passed the halfway point, the rate at which the darkness fell accelerated sharply. Though it was still mid-morning, it felt as if dusk was descending.
Xuanyuan Wentian observed the sky, nodded slightly to the other three sacred masters, and declared in a loud voice, "The time is near! Now is the moment for us to gather all our strength and unlock the secrets of the demon sword together! Even though this sword was obtained by our Tian Wei Sword Domain, I, Xuanyuan Wentian, swear by the name of Sword Master: if the seal on the demon sword is broken and the secret of Divine Profound is revealed, the Tian Wei Sword Domain and the other Three Sacred Grounds will not hoard it. All those who participated in unsealing the demon sword shall share in it!"
"The words of Sword Master Xuanyuan are unquestionably true and weighty!"
From the seats of the Fenghuang God Sect, Feng Zukui slowly rose. Among the powers outside the Four Sacred Grounds, the Fenghuang God Sect had the most say, and within that sect, none was more powerful than Feng Zukui. "The celestial phenomenon of the Thirteen Stars in Conjunction is about to appear. What should we do?"
"Very simple," said Xuanyuan Wentian. "I ask everyone to rise from your seats and come to this Wuji Qiankun Formation. Gather your profound energy completely, holding nothing back. When the Thirteen Stars align and the world is shrouded in utter darkness, listen for my command. Then, blast all your profound energy into the formation. The Wuji Qiankun Formation will converge it into a single, overwhelmingly powerful force—no matter how strong the demon sword's seal may be, with the combined power of all the heroes of the world, we are sure to break it in one blow!"
"Hahahaha, so that's it! This old man always thought it would be an immensely difficult task, so much so that the Four Sacred Grounds had to invite all the heroes of the world. But it turns out to be this simple!" Feng Zukui laughed heartily, his entire frame shooting into the air. "Fenghuang disciples, hear my command! Follow me to the Sea God Platform!"
At Feng Zukui's order, all the members of the Fenghuang God Sect flew over, landing on the Wuji Qiankun Formation. Feng Xue'er glanced at Yun Che's position, hesitated for a long while, then could only follow behind Feng Hengkong.
With the Fenghuang God Sect leading the way, the powers of the other seven nations naturally followed suit. With subtle gestures from the four sacred masters, all members of the Four Sacred Grounds also rose from their seats and flew to the Sea God Platform.
In the blink of an eye, the seats around the Sea God Platform were mostly empty. More than six thousand profound practitioners, representing the highest echelons of Tian Xuan Continent, were now hovering above the Wuji Qiankun Formation.
But three people still remained seated, unmoving.
Yun Che, Xia Yuanba... and Fen Juechen!
These three, the only ones left, naturally looked extremely conspicuous.
No dark clouds blocked the sky, but the daylight had already dimmed significantly. The round sun was nearly seventy percent obscured by black marks. Between heaven and earth, all was silent and lifeless. Even these powerful profound practitioners felt a heaviness in their chests.
It was then that Xuanyuan Wentian turned his gaze toward Yun Che and suddenly asked, "Palace Master Yun, are you perhaps not interested in the demon sword and the secret of Divine Profound?"
Xuanyuan Wentian's single sentence drew everyone's attention sharply to Yun Che.
If it had been anyone else, they would surely have been scared pale in an instant. But Yun Che had long anticipated that he might pull this stunt. He smiled faintly and replied, "It's not that this junior is uninterested. However, I am injured, so my heart is willing but my strength falls short."
"I see." Xuanyuan Wentian nodded, then changed his tone and said with a smile, "I have heard that your master is the Duotian Old Man. The Duotian Old Man's profound cultivation had already seized the very essence of heaven and earth ten thousand years ago. By now, it must surely have reached a level beyond imagination. I heard that Elder Ye Shi of the Sun Moon Divine Palace inadvertently offended your master and was burned to nothing by a mere firefly-sized flame from him. Such power is truly unheard of, shocking the world and stunning the ages. If your master were present today, breaking the demon sword's seal would be as easy as turning one's hand. There would be no need to trouble the entire Tian Xuan profound world."
"Even if he considered it beneath him to act, just letting us catch a glimpse of the legendary Duotian Old Man would be the greatest fortune of a lifetime."
Only Yun Che could hear the mockery and sarcasm dripping from Xuanyuan Wentian's voice.
The matter of the "Duotian Old Man" being exposed to Xuanyuan Wentian was now set in stone. And Xiao Yun's disappearance was definitely the work of Tian Wei Sword Domain... Before, he had been about eighty percent sure; now it was a hundred percent!
"My master never involves himself in worldly affairs!" Yun Che replied calmly, his tone flat.
"Heh, what a pity." Xuanyuan Wentian shifted his gaze to Xia Yuanba. "Nephew Xia, are you also uninterested in the secret of Divine Profound?"
"Of course I'm not interested." Xia Yuanba folded his arms across his chest, unmoved, a faint aura of killing intent still lingering around him. "If I want to achieve Divine Profound, it will take me at most a hundred years. Why would I need some secret of Divine Profound... especially when its very existence is uncertain."
At these words, everyone present was astounded. Even the four sacred masters were visibly shaken. To claim that he could achieve Divine Profound by his own power within a hundred years—such an arrogant boast was something not even the four sacred masters dared to utter. After all, in the ten-thousand-year histories of the Four Sacred Grounds, not even the old monsters who had lived for two or three thousand years had ever truly touched the Divine Profound realm.
"Hahahahaha!" Huangji Wuyu, who had been calm all along, threw his head back and laughed. "Yuanba, no one has ever dared speak such wild words. Your words may not offend Sword Master Xuanyuan, but they look down on all the heroes of the world. Still, this Sacred Emperor finds them exceedingly pleasing, hahahaha..."
The Sacred Master of Huangji Sacred Domain's rare laughter prompted the Twelve True Persons and the elders of the Sacred Domain to join in, all laughing with a certain pride and contentment. If anyone else had said something similar, it would have been a joke. But with Xia Yuanba, he had the qualifications to be so arrogant and to utter such bold claims!
Just over ten days ago, when Xia Yuanba had gone into seclusion for a short time due to another breakthrough, Huangji Wuyu had said to the Twelve True Persons: Xia Yuanba would inevitably step into the legendary Divine Profound realm in the future, becoming the first in the history of the Sacred Domain!
Sea Emperor Qu Fengyi said in a deep voice, "Sword Master Xuanyuan, there is no need to say more. In today's Demon Sword Assembly, participation is entirely voluntary. If anyone does not believe in or is uninterested in the secret of Divine Profound, they need only observe from the side. No one is forcing them. The time is near—let us begin at once!"
"Very well!"
The sun was now over eighty percent obscured, and the world had grown as dark as the end of dusk. Xuanyuan Wentian raised both hands. "In another hundred breaths, the Thirteen Stars in Conjunction will descend. Everyone, gather your profound energy with all your might. Hold nothing back! When the heavens go dark, heed my command and blast all your profound energy into the formation to break the demon sword's seal!"
"Ha!"
With a thunderous roar, Xuanyuan Wentian's robes billowed and his hair stood on end. Profound energy surged around him, condensing into an overwhelming sword presence that blotted out the sky.
Huangji Wuyu, Qu Fengyi, and Yemei Xie also erupted with their profound energy. Four earth-shattering, heaven-defying auras crashed down like a divine being descending upon the mortal world, terrifying the powers of the seven nations until their faces turned ashen.
"Fenghuang disciples, hear my command! Gather your profound energy with all your might. Do not hold back even a fraction!"
Feng Zukui's profound aura ran wild, Phoenix Flame blazing into the sky. At his command, all the Fenghuang disciples also ignited their Phoenix Divine Flames, dyeing the increasingly dark sky a blazing red.
Following that, all the profound practitioners of the Four Sacred Grounds and the seven nations began to gather their energy. On the Sea God Platform, the profound energy of five hundred Emperor Lords and six thousand Overlord Emperors surged. The spectacle was not merely terrifying—it was apocalyptic. Though these energies were in a condensed state and not yet released, the pressure was so immense that even Yun Che, sitting on the edge of the Sea God Platform, felt as if a monstrous wave was crashing down on him.
Under normal circumstances, this aura, though formidable, would not have driven him back. But now, with his internal injuries, it was already too much to bear.
Xia Yuanba quickly extended an arm, shielding Yun Che. Instantly, the pressure Yun Che felt weakened by half, and his breathing began to stabilize.
The reason Xia Yuanba had not gone to the Sea God Platform was not that he had no interest in the demon sword's secret, but that he wanted to protect Yun Che. He knew the extent of Yun Che's injuries and the perilous situation he was about to face.
On the other side of the Sea God Platform, Fen Juechen had fully lifted his head. But he was not looking at anyone; his eyes, like those of a wounded wolf, blazed with a ferocity of unparalleled intensity—fixed unwaveringly on the Heavenly Sin Divine Sword at the center of the Sea God Platform.
The sky grew ever darker. The once-round sun shrank from a half-sun to a crescent, and the crescent gradually approached the verge of complete disappearance... its color shifting from blazing red to an increasingly heavy, dark crimson.
Until, at a certain moment, the last trace of dark crimson was completely swallowed by darkness.
For an instant, everything before them went pitch black. Between heaven and earth, neither sun nor moon could be seen, not even a sliver of light. The wind stopped flowing entirely, the air turned bitingly cold. The entire world became dark, grim, suffocating, and oppressive, as if they had abruptly fallen into an endless abyss of darkness.
The Thirteen Stars in Conjunction, a phenomenon that occurred only once every three thousand years, had finally descended! This was also the time when the yin energy of heaven and earth was at its peak for these three millennia.
At that moment, the Wuji Qiankun Formation on the Sea God Platform burst into brilliant radiance.
"Now!" Xuanyuan Wentian let out a roar that could shatter heaven and earth.
That roar broke the taut heartstrings of everyone present. In nearly perfect unison, the profoundly condensed energies of all those present were hurled downward in a single, simultaneous strike...