Clear, ringing sword cries echoed throughout the ruined city.
Li Zhexian's group swept through like a storm scattering fallen leaves—
ransacking the city in search of Command Banners.
He held the Qinglian Sword in hand; Qian Renxue followed at his side, her gaze cold as frost, killing intent rolling off her in waves.
Under the Spirit Ability Mirage Sword Slaying Illusions—
Even those holding a key
could not escape death.
"The Clear Sky Clan has already offended me beyond redemption. Second Elder Tang Yue and Fifth Elder Tang Gang—leave them here as well."
"And those sects who defected to the Spirit Hall—since we will meet on the battlefield in the future, better to cut them down today."
...
In mere moments—
They had collected twenty Command Banners.
Among them, five sect masters did not even have the chance to crush their keys before being cleaved in half by the scythe-bearing shadows.
As for the remaining sect members—
They rushed to hide within houses.
But even so, they could not escape.
There were undead within the houses.
These sect experts lacked Titled strength.
Once encountered, the battle would be fierce—outcome uncertain.
Li Zhexian rose into the air—
Overlooking the ruined city below.
His gaze, cold as ice, swept across every street and alley.
Wherever he saw signs of battle, he swooped down like a hawk, swift and lethal.
...
Inside a narrow single-room house—
Hornet Sect Master Que Xianzhi stared at the white-clothed youth before her, face pale, teeth clenched.
"Lord Zhexian, surely you do not lack a single Command Banner."
"My Hornet Sect is willing to withdraw from the Seven-Sect Reselection. I only ask you leave me this banner so I may explore the city for an opportunity."
She had seen, among the countless treasures, a ten-thousand-year Spirit Mushroom—
capable of evolving her Martial Soul!
If she obtained that herb—
She would have hope of reaching the Titled realm in this lifetime!
For this, she was willing to give anything.
"Lord Zhexian…"
Looking at the youth's ethereal, cold features, Que Xianzhi's heroic face flushed faintly.
"If you agree… this humble woman would…"
Clang—!
Before the words finished—
A scarlet sword-light had already swept toward her.
Que Xianzhi's face changed drastically, hatred flashing in her eyes. She hurried to crush her key—
But at that moment—
A strange sword qi pierced her brow.
Her eyes turned blank.
Her movements stopped.
"W-what… was I about to do…?"
Then a chill at her neck—
Her vision spun.
She saw her own headless body still standing, blood gushing like a fountain.
At the final instant before her consciousness faded—
she remembered everything.
But it was far too late.
"Hmph."
Qian Renxue looked at the corpse coldly, displeasure in her expression.
Then she turned toward the youth beside her—whose killing intent had not yet faded—and her gaze blossomed into a smile.
"Xue'er, next one."
Li Zhexian walked the city with his sword, killing intent rising ever higher.
Corpses piled, blood stained the streets and shattered stones.
The Fire Leopard Sect Master Huo Yanbao, the White Tiger Sect Master Dai Congyun, and many others—all fell beneath his blade.
Including the Hornet Sect,
these would all have been Bibi Dong's future minions.
But unfortunately—
Tang Yue and Tang Gang had been detected earlier by Chen Xin.
Before Li Zhexian arrived, they had already crushed their keys and escaped the secret realm.
Thus—
within the ruined city—
aside from a few lucky ones who might still be hiding,
only Li Zhexian's group remained.
The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan, the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan, and the Wind Sword Sect each secured more than twenty Command Banners—
their positions among the Upper Three Sects now absolutely unshakeable.
...
Outside the secret realm—
Tens of thousands of Spirit Masters stared at the light screen, speechless at the killing aura shrouding the youth.
After a long silence, uproar erupted.
"H-his killing intent is terrifying!"
"Why can't anyone even crush their key before him?! Not even Sword Douluo Chen Xin could accomplish something like this!"
"No mercy at all—Fire Leopard and White Tiger Sects, slaughtered to the last!"
"Those two Clear Sky elders… they escaped fast. Otherwise…"
"For the first time, the Clear Sky Clan has been removed from the Upper Three Sects!"
"Hiding for ten years, wanting to shock the world—only to lose all face!"
"Hahahaha! Zhexian's actions… utterly satisfying!"
Seeing Li Zhexian and the others unharmed—and even sweeping the secret realm clean—
Dugu Bo laughed long and loud:
"If it were up to this old man, I would've flooded the whole city with poison long ago!"
"Even if they escaped the secret realm, they'd still die!"
He landed heavily.
The surrounding crowd retreated in panic as though facing a god of death.
...
At the Clear Sky Clan seats—
Tang Yue and Tang Gang, who had initially been bitter at being forced out before even fighting Li Zhexian, felt unwilling.
But seeing that keys were utterly useless before his sword—
They felt icy terror along their spines and were grateful to have escaped alive.
"Second Elder…"
Third Elder Tang Cang grit his teeth and said:
"I believe… I believe that was Qian Daoliu who intervened just now!"
"What?!"
Tang Yue's expression instantly changed.
All resentment from losing the Upper Three Sects position was instantly replaced by fear.
"Withdraw!"
"…Leave the plaza immediately!"
"Li Zhexian's hatred toward Spirit Hall is far greater than ours!"
"There may be more changes to come!"
"We must distance ourselves and observe!"
Tang San lifted his head and glanced once at Li Zhexian—who stood in the screen looking down on all things—then silently followed the elders.
He originally wanted to ask, "Did you help me gather the ore?"
But in this situation…
It was obviously not the time.
...
"Your Holiness…"
Yue Guan and Gui Mei looked toward Bibi Dong.
"The Seven-Sect Reselection has concluded."
Bibi Dong lifted her slender hand slightly, expression indifferent.
Beneath the jade hair ornaments—
A pair of deep purple eyes narrowed faintly.
Once Li Zhexian knew the houses contained Spirit Hall undead—
would he choose to stay in the city and purge them?
"Hmph. That brat is abnormally sensitive to the aura of decay."
"Perhaps…"
"He has already detected the corruption invading his body."
She tapped her finger lightly on the armrest of the throne.
Her expression remained as calm and still as a lake.
The corrosion of decay—
was only one part of her plan.
If he found out, he found out.
The more important matter was—
"Li Zhexian… I want you to help me complete the Eighth Trial of the Rakshasa God."
...
Inside the secret realm—
To avoid Bibi Dong's surveillance—
Li Zhexian and the others stepped into a house.
"Seniors, the remaining enemies in the city are no longer a threat. You may leave first."
Chen Xin and Feng Bailong exchanged glances.
"You said the two black-robed men of the Sacred Dragon Sect are the Ghost Leopard and Devil Bear—hidden inside houses."
"Zhexian, can you handle this alone?"
Li Zhexian smiled:
"They've yet to appear—they must be restricted by the houses."
"If we searched one by one, we'd waste endless time."
"As long as I don't provoke them, it should be fine."
Ning Fengzhi paused in thought:
"If we all leave, leaving you alone in the secret realm—won't Bibi Dong become suspicious?"
"She will."
Li Zhexian answered without hesitation.
He slowly raised his head—
Looking toward the waning moon in the dark-purple sky.
His gaze was like a sword—
As though piercing through the secret realm, meeting a pair of deep violet eyes beyond.
"I am not certain…"
"Whether Bibi Dong sent us into the Rakshasa Secret Realm merely for the corrosion of decay—
or if she has another trap prepared."
"But if I stay here… it is exactly what she desires."
Li Zhexian tightened his grip on his sword.
"She wants to use this place to harm me."
"And I want to use this place—
to temper my blade, and seek the Blood of a God."
Inside the house—
Chen Xin, Feng Bailong and the others crushed their keys one after another.
Dark-purple Spirit Power enveloped them.
At the final moment before they vanished—
their voices echoed:
"Zhexian, be extremely careful..."
...
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