Chapter 801: Xiao Yun!?
Five hundred Emperor Lords and six thousand Overlord Emperors attacking simultaneously with all their might—such a sight had never been seen in the history of the Tian Xuan Continent. The dazzling profound light alone illuminated the surrounding area for hundreds of miles in a stark white glare.
Beneath this earth-shaking power, the Limitless Universe Array below awakened like a wild beast roused from slumber, suddenly releasing a sky-covering profound light and then spinning madly.
"What a formidable profound array!" Yun Che's eyes were nearly blinded by the radiance. The combined force of five hundred Emperor Lords and six thousand Overlord Emperors was enough to scorch hundreds of miles of land barren. He had initially worried whether those Overlord Emperors and low-level Emperor Lords might suffer catastrophe, but surprisingly, such immense power was almost perfectly absorbed by the Limitless Universe Array. Yun Che, who was very close, did not feel too strong an impact. The Sea God Platform below merely trembled continuously, showing no signs of being destroyed or shattered.
"The Four Sacred Grounds united and prepared for a full half year—of course it's extraordinary. Otherwise, the Sea Emperor wouldn't have been confident enough to let this Demon Sword Assembly take place here," Xia Yuanba said solemnly.
But clearly, no matter how powerful the Limitless Universe Array was, it had its limits in the power it could withstand. After the attack lasted only three breaths, the light of the Limitless Universe Array reached its peak, and the tremors of the Sea God Platform began to behave abnormally. At that moment, Xuan Yuan Wentian roared, "Stop! Fall back!"
Xuan Yuan Wentian's profound strength was immense, and his voice rang out like a thunderclap in everyone's ears. All power was withdrawn almost simultaneously, and everyone scattered in all directions as fast as possible.
The Limitless Universe Array spun at extreme speed, releasing profound light straight into the sky.
In the end, with the array's rapid rotation, all that power converged to the central point—the location of the Heavenly Sin Divine Sword!
Boom!!!
Clang!!!!!
With a sound like the heavens collapsing and the earth shattering, a beam of white light shot upward, looking from afar like a giant sword of light piercing into the endless void. Amidst it was a screeching metallic clang that nearly tore eardrums.
The Limitless Universe Array, which had cost the Four Sacred Grounds immense effort, collapsed. The Sea God Platform also cracked amid violent tremors. Though it did not completely collapse, hundreds of crisscrossing fissures spread across it in just a few breaths.
Even the Heavenly Sin Divine Sword at the center of the Sea God Platform had vanished.
The four Sacred Ground masters withdrew to four opposite directions around the Sea God Platform. They paid no attention to the collapsing array or the cracking platform, instead looking up, staring at the sky above with grim and stern expressions.
Everyone else followed the gaze of the four masters and looked upward.
Under that beam of light that gathered the power of everyone present, the Heavenly Sin Divine Sword had been blasted ten thousand zhang into the sky! As that beam of profound light finally extinguished at the edge of the sky, the Heavenly Sin Divine Sword began to fall from that great height.
The entire Supreme Sea Palace fell silent. Everyone was tense, awaiting the final result of the day.
The sky remained dim, but no longer pitch black. Amid the oppressive atmosphere, only a sharp whistling sound approached from afar.
Fen Juechen, who had been sitting there like a statue, finally moved. He stared at the direction where the Heavenly Sin Divine Sword was falling, his hands clenched tightly, and his eyes, tinged with black aura, blazed with mad light.
Yun Che noticed this movement instantly and quickly sent a voice transmission: "Fen Juechen, do you want to die?!"
Yun Che's words caused Fen Juechen's tense body to stiffen. He turned his head and said bitterly, "None of your business!"
"After enduring so much torment and pain to gain your current power... is it just to throw your life away?" Yun Che said in a low voice. "Never mind that there are so many people here. Even if it were just Xuan Yuan Wentian alone, you trying to seize the Heavenly Sin Divine Sword would be nothing but wishful thinking! It would only expose everything about you!"
"Shut up! My affairs are none of your concern!" Fen Juechen's chest heaved violently, and black aura seeped from his clenched palms. But perhaps Yun Che's warning had an effect, because even though he seemed to be grinding his teeth to dust, he slowly sat back down. Only his body still trembled continuously from the immense strain of restraint.
Clang!
The Heavenly Sin Divine Sword fell from the sky with a sharp whistle, its tip downward, piercing into the Sea God Platform. Its position remained exactly at the center of the platform, almost unchanged.
From hilt to blade, its appearance was also completely unchanged. Its aura was still lifeless, devoid of any presence.
The Tian Xuan heroes gathered around the Sea God Platform exchanged glances. At that moment, the four Sacred Ground masters simultaneously stepped forward and landed around the Heavenly Sin Divine Sword.
Above, the black scar that had obscured all light began to slowly recede, revealing a corner of the sun. Increasingly bright light shone down, dispelling the darkness and gloom between heaven and earth.
"It seems we succeeded." Looking at the silent, motionless Heavenly Sin Divine Sword before him, Huangji Wuyu said blandly.
"Indeed, the seal is broken." Sea Emperor Qu Fengyi also nodded slightly.
Though their voices were low, everyone heard them clearly. But what puzzled them was that the main purpose of this sensational Demon Sword Assembly was to break the seal on the Heavenly Sin Divine Sword. Now that the seal was broken, the words and expressions of the four Sacred Ground masters showed no joy whatsoever.
"Seems like it was all for nothing," Xia Yuanba whispered in Yun Che's ear, looking gleeful. The Holy Emperor and Sea Emperor had personally declared the seal broken, so it must have been broken. But the unsealed Heavenly Sin Divine Sword was still lifeless, no different from before... which meant it was probably a dead sword, with none of the "Divine Xuan Secret" they had imagined.
"Brother Huangji, please examine it first," Xuan Yuan Wentian said, raising his hand.
Huangji Wuyu replied, "The Limitless Universe Array was not built by the Holy Domain alone. For fairness, let's do it together, the four of us."
"That would be best!" Ye Meixie and Qu Fengyi nodded.
The four Sacred Ground masters stepped forward together, reached out, and placed their hands on different parts of the Heavenly Sin Divine Sword. Profound energy from the strongest beings on the Tian Xuan Continent surged into the sword, sweeping meticulously through every part of it, inside and out.
After a moment, they withdrew their hands, and then sighed simultaneously.
"It seems we wasted our efforts," Huangji Wuyu said, clasping his hands behind his back, his face expressionless.
"Oh well, we were prepared for this possibility. It's just a bit regrettable," Qu Fengyi said rather indifferently.
"Such a solid seal, never seen before, yet it only sealed a dead sword. What a waste of such a long preparation." Ye Meixie was not as calm as Huangji Wuyu and Qu Fengyi; a hint of anger flickered between his brows.
He turned his sharp gaze to Xuan Yuan Wentian: "Sword Master Xuan Yuan, you once swore to us that there must be a great secret hidden within, even if not the Divine Xuan Secret, at least something substantial. Now all we have is a useless dead sword! Shouldn't you give us, and these far-traveled profound practitioners of the seven nations, some explanation!?"
Under Ye Meixie's words, Huangji Wuyu and Qu Fengyi also looked at Xuan Yuan Wentian simultaneously. Though their expressions and gazes remained calm, they did not soften Ye Meixie's accusation. Clearly, they too were filled with resentment... if not for Xuan Yuan Wentian's fervent assurances, would they have been willing to spend so much time, effort, and resources to prepare this Demon Sword Assembly together?
Having paid such a huge price, if after breaking the seal they found no Divine Xuan Secret, they could still accept it. But to gain not even a shred of reward, only to unseal a dead sword, meaning all their efforts were for nothing... even as Sacred Ground masters, they could not easily let it go.
They did not suppress their voices; everyone heard clearly. They all understood that this grand event that had shaken the Tian Xuan Continent, mobilized all the experts of the Four Sacred Grounds, and summoned all the top profound practitioners of the seven nations, had ultimately yielded nothing...
Or rather, it had become a joke!
Xuan Yuan Wentian looked up, closed his eyes, and sighed deeply: "Such an outcome is truly unexpected, and I am deeply ashamed. You three all witnessed the transformation of the Eternal Night King, Ye Mufeng, a thousand years ago. That's why, after obtaining the Heavenly Sin Divine Sword, I was one hundred percent certain that it must hide a great secret. It seems I was too naive."
"Perhaps the transformation of Ye Mufeng a millennium ago was not due to this Heavenly Sin Divine Sword. Or perhaps the secret within the sword was devoured by the seal over the past thousand years... after all, you three have personally experienced how terrifying that seal was."
Xuan Yuan Wentian sighed again, opened his eyes, and said with utmost sincerity, "Alas, whatever the reason, today's outcome is due to my misjudgment. I will certainly give you three an explanation... How about this: within thirty days, I, Xuan Yuan Wentian, will personally visit the Holy Domain, the Sea Palace, and the Divine Palace, and bring ten jin of Purple Vein Divine Crystals as an apology."
Hiss...
The words "ten jin of Purple Vein Divine Crystals" left the forces of the seven nations stunned, drawing sharp breaths. Even members of the Four Sacred Grounds were secretly shocked.
"Sword Master!" Several elders of the Sword Domain paled and wanted to dissuade him. Compensating each Sacred Ground with ten jin of Divine Crystals, three Sacred Grounds meant thirty jin... though it was an apology, it was far too heavy.
Xuan Yuan Wentian quickly stepped forward to stop them, shaking his head and whispering, "After all this effort, it turned out to be empty. Father is disappointed and must feel deeply ashamed. Let it be as Father says. We'll discuss it back at the Sword Domain."
"Since Sword Master Xuan Yuan shows such sincerity, let this matter rest. Consider it a rare opportunity to gather the entire Tian Xuan profound world together," Ye Meixie said with a faint smile, apparently satisfied with the outcome.
The result of this Demon Sword Assembly was now clear to all, reflected in the still silent demonic sword and the words of the four Sacred Ground masters. Some exchanged glances, some whispered, some were disappointed, some indifferent... Only Yun Che's face grew increasingly dark and heavy.
No! Huangji Wuyu, Qu Fengyi, and Ye Meixie's disappointment was genuine. But Xuan Yuan Wentian's disappointment must be fake! That flash of expression just now... it was clearly smugness!!
What is going on? What is he planning? What is the real purpose behind this Demon Sword Assembly?
That fleeting look in his eyes clearly showed that his goal had been achieved... what goal had he achieved?
Yun Che's brows furrowed, his teeth clenched... If Mo Li were here, she would definitely give him the answer, but precisely at this moment...
Xuan Yuan Wentian turned around and addressed all the profound practitioners: "Friends of the Sacred Grounds and the seven nations of Tian Xuan, this Demon Sword Assembly was originally intended to obtain the secret of the demonic sword and share it with the world, for the benefit of our Tian Xuan profound world. But unexpectedly, beneath the seal of the demonic sword lay nothingness, yielding nothing. I, Xuan Yuan Wentian, deeply apologize to all who traveled here."
Naturally, no one dared to speak when the Sword Master of Heaven's Might Sword Domain addressed them. The people present, especially the profound practitioners of the seven nations, were extremely astonished... the lofty, invincible Sword Master of the Sword Domain was actually a humble, unassuming person, apologizing to them with a face full of guilt!?
Yun Che exhaled softly, his unease growing.
"However," Xuan Yuan Wentian suddenly changed his tone, a mysterious, unfathomable smile appearing on his face, "I, Xuan Yuan Wentian, am after all the master of a Sacred Ground. How could I let everyone come for nothing! Since the Demon Sword Assembly has ultimately come to nothing, I will present you all with an absolutely spectacular show to dispel any resentment."
"A show?" Huangji Wuyu, Qu Fengyi, and Ye Meixie looked at Xuan Yuan Wentian with considerable surprise. The surrounding profound practitioners also showed curiosity.
Xuan Yuan Wentian slowly raised his hand, then clapped heavily. A muffled sound accompanied his voice, carrying far: "Bring them up."
As Xuan Yuan Wentian's voice spread, a profound aura shot up from below at extremely high speed, as if someone had been waiting somewhere below all along.
The profound aura was extraordinarily strong, and its speed was like lightning. The Sacred Ground experts all showed astonished expressions, because the master of this profound force... was actually at the ninth level of the Sovereign Xuan Realm!
In Heaven's Might Sword Domain, those at the tenth level of Sovereign Xuan Realm besides Xuan Yuan Wentian included the three Sword Attendants: Wrathful Sword Attendant, Ruthless Sword Attendant, and Heartless Sword Attendant. Those at the ninth level of Sovereign Xuan Realm numbered two: Grand Elder Xuan Yuan Gu Xing and Second Elder Xuan Yuan Gu Yun.
At the Demon Sword Assembly, all Sacred Ground experts had arrived, including the three Sword Attendants and the Second Elder of Heaven's Might Sword Domain, but the Grand Elder Xuan Yuan Gu Xing had not been seen all along.
So this person's identity was obvious!
Swish!!
A flash of light passed, and three figures appeared beside Xuan Yuan Wentian as if by teleportation. The one in front was an old man in a green robe, with eyes like stars. He was indeed the Sword Domain's Grand Elder, Xuan Yuan Gu Xing. After appearing, he gave Xuan Yuan Wentian a heavy nod: "Sword Master."
Xuan Yuan Gu Xing held a person in each hand. The one in his left hand was extremely short and stout, only three chi tall, his hunched body curled under a wrinkled black robe, his entire face hidden within. Half of his withered hand exposed outside looked like black firewood, and he emitted a very unpleasant aura.
"Ghost Fiend Poison Immortal!" a profound practitioner from Black Fiend Nation blurted out, his voice full of fear.
And when Yun Che and Xia Yuanba saw the person grasped in his right hand, they shot up as if electrified...
"Xiao Yun!!"