The Eastern Territories were once again stirring with wind and clouds.
The events that transpired within the secret realm had finally, through the mouths of those with intentions, spread throughout the entire Eastern Territories.
The Young Master of the Primordial Chaos Ancient Sect gathered a crowd to cause trouble, pursuing and hunting the Holy Son of the Ten Thousand Swords Holy Land, Ling Tian, and the Sect Master's personal disciple, Ye Xun'er, for thousands of miles. He was rescued by his elder brother Ling Xiao, who arrived in time and eliminated him effortlessly.
The Ancient Puppet Sect Young Master, Chou Yi, was ruthless and cruel. After slaughtering the Tai Xu Holy Maiden, he targeted the Yun Alliance heir, Su Yan. He was publicly executed by the Ling Clan heir, Ling Xiao.
The Yuan Yue Holy Son, Xia Chen, was vicious and malicious. Not only did he violate the Yin Fan Holy Maiden, but he also killed the Dao Palace Divine Maiden, Nian Qingyun.
In the end, Ling Xiao avenged his wife and cut him down with his sword.
All these messages conveyed one piece of information.
The Holy Sons and heirs of the major supreme orthodox sects in the Eastern Territories were mostly hypocritical, sinister villains with human faces but beastly hearts.
Only the Ling Clan heir, Ling Xiao, was upright, righteous, and a model of the righteous path!!
Across the vast sky, a nine-dragon golden carriage swept by, heading straight for the Ling Clan.
At the same time, from the Ethereal Dao Palace, the Yin Fan Holy Land, the Ten Thousand Swords Holy Land, the Yuan Yue Holy Land, and the Ancient Puppet Sect, countless powerful auras emerged from their seclusions, heading towards various parts of the Eastern Territories.
A storm of blood and rain seemed imminent.
Before the Sword Path of the Ten Thousand Swords Holy Land.
Ye Xun'er looked at the handsome young man with white hair before her, a bitter expression on her face.
"Junior Brother… are you really decided?"
"Xun'er, I don't want to lose you again. Besides, my brother is right. There are countless setbacks in this world, and only strength is the reliance to crush evil."
Ling Tian reached out and caressed Ye Xun'er's pretty face. "Moreover, my brother now… bears too much. Since I have obtained the Dantian Sea, I should… cultivate desperately. One day, I will stand shoulder to shoulder with him at the pinnacle of heaven and earth."
"But… you can cultivate in seclusion within the cave abode. Why must you go to the peak of the Sword Path?"
Tears already welled in Ye Xun'er's eyes.
For some reason, since returning from the secret realm, she felt… Ling Tian had changed.
He was gentler, brighter, and wore many more smiles on his face.
Often, he would be alone, silently lost in thought, smiling foolishly.
But… Ye Xun'er felt that his smiles weren't for her.
It was as if another figure had taken root in his heart, one more worthy of his protection, reverence, and… love.
For some reason, Ye Xun'er felt uneasy.
Although she believed she was Ling Tian's only woman and had witnessed the deep, unwavering affection in his eyes…
For some reason…
She seemed not to be the only one.
Could it be the demonic thought within the Immortal-Slaying Ancient Sword?
"The peak of the Sword Path is brimming with immortal intent and peerless pressure. Only in such a place can I calm my heart and comprehend the mysteries of that Immortal Art."
Ling Tian shook his head, but he couldn't help sighing inwardly.
He loved Ye Xun'er, but this love was insignificant, selfish, and not worth mentioning.
What was it compared to his elder brother's great love?
My brother bears the demonic thought for me, bears the sins for the entire Ling Clan, and even bears the blood debt for our mother's clan.
What reason do I have not to strive with all my might?
Brother, rest assured.
Once I comprehend the nine forms of that Immortal Art, I will stand by your side. This world shall be ruled by us two brothers!
Whoever blocks you, insults you, hates you.
I will… kill them!
Even if I slaughter the entire world and achieve a demonic body, I will not regret it.
As long as you… can be happy!
"But… Junior Brother, you are already among the top in the Eastern Territories. Besides Ling Xiao… Brother, who in the entire Eastern Territories is still your match?"
Ye Xun'er held onto Ling Tian's arm. She didn't know how long the young man would be in seclusion this time.
She only knew that a single day without seeing him felt like the chill of three autumns.
"Xun'er, the path of immortality is eternal. We… still have much time. It's just that now, I still have a Dao to uphold and a path to walk. If you love me, do not hinder me. Once I have resolved the burdens in my heart and buried the sword, what harm would there be in traveling the mountains and rivers with you?"
Ling Tian smiled gently. His white hair was tousled by the wind, carrying a desolate air.
For a moment, Ye Xun'er suddenly realized that the current Ling Tian… bore a striking resemblance to Ling Xiao.
Before, she had always hoped this timid, cowardly junior brother could stand tall and domineering like his elder brother.
But when that day finally arrived, why… did she miss the peace of the past?
So…
People are probably contradictory and greedy.
But in this world, how many things truly go as one wishes?
Each has their own suffering, their own obsessions.
"Junior Brother!! How could I hinder you… I'm just worried…"
"Xun'er, the day I descend the mountain will be the time to slay our enemies. So… you must also work hard."
Ling Tian reached out and ruffled Ye Xun'er's hair, a gentle, serene smile on his lips.
Then, he turned and walked towards the mountain peak without hesitation.
So similar…
Tears streamed down Ye Xun'er's face.
Even his expression was becoming almost identical to Young Master Ling Xiao's.
On the Sword Path, the wind blurred one's vision.
The sound of the Dao reverberated, unceasing for miles.
But this time, the young man who had changed into green robes encountered not a single obstruction.
Step by step, he calmly walked towards the mountain peak.
The wind lifted his green robe, tousling his white hair.
But he seemed completely unaware.
Step by step, resolute, without regret.
My Dao is the Dao of Slaughter.
I kill those who deserve killing; I protect my beloved and kin.
Even if in this life, I become the Sword Demon, I want this heaven and earth to kneel at my feet.
Boom!
A peerless, overwhelming sword intent surged. Faintly, immortal phantoms seemed to stand tall.
Finally, the young man vanished at the horizon.
Only that head of snow-white hair remained, like a demonic obsession, searing into the eyes, engraving itself on the heart, etching into the bones, captivating the soul.
"Junior Brother!! Don't worry, no matter how difficult the path you choose, I will always stand behind you!!"
Ye Xun'er bit her red lip tightly, her jade hands clenching. Finally, she turned and walked in the opposite direction.
From this day forth, the Ten Thousand Swords Holy Land fell into utter silence.
No more joyous laughter was heard, nor the figures leaning against each other on the mountain path.
Only at the end of the Sword Path, a seated figure remained, like a bedrock, eternal, weathered.
One day, when monsters emerged from ancient mountains, great rivers, and secret realms across the Sacred Dynasty, it would be… the time for the Holy Church's fall!
What?
My younger brother is a peerless sword cultivator? My pet is a Nine Heavens True Dragon? My younger sister is the master of a Holy Land? My lover is the reincarnation of an immortal? I am awesome?
The entire Sacred Dynasty knows? But I myself don't know?
Is that possible?
I just wanted to show off a little.
"Sigh."
The Ten Thousand Swords Holy Master sighed softly. Beside him, the Great Elder, Jian Nan, also had a complex look in his eyes.
"Shouldn't we be happy? Both of them… seem to have gained some opportunities on Enlightenment Mountain?"
"Yes! A heart dedicated to the sword is our Holy Land's ancestral teaching. But why… does it feel somewhat sorrowful?"
"Let it be, let it be. The Primordial Chaos Ancient Sect, hmph, they actually dared to kill our Holy Son and my personal disciple. This grudge… can it be tolerated?"
"Naturally, it cannot be tolerated. But… we still have to… wait for a certain wind."
"You mean…"
"The Ling Clan! They are destined to dominate the Eastern Territories."
At the same time, in the Central Region of the Sacred Dynasty.
Bai Ling stood in an ancient hall, her face full of grievance.
Above her, a figure in blood-red robes sat quietly in meditation.
His face seemed obscured by a bloody glow, his features unclear, but the aura emanating from him was terrifying.
"So, you went to the Eastern Territories, to Enlightenment Mountain?"
The old man's voice was hoarse, his tone betraying neither joy nor sorrow.
But it faintly gave people an extremely oppressive feeling.
"Master, don't you always say we should gain more experience? Enlightenment Mountain gathered the most elite proud talents of the entire Eastern Territories. I just wanted to see… what skills they had."
A trace of grievance showed on Bai Ling's small face as she pouted and retorted.
"Oh? And what did you gain?"
"Hmph! Just a bunch of hypocritical pretenders, that's all. Master, if there's nothing else, I'm going to go cultivate."
Having said that, Bai Ling turned to leave.
But at that moment, the blood-robed old man suddenly reached out. Bloody chains materialized out of thin air, binding her and pulling her before him. A strange blood light flickered in his aged eyes.
Bai Ling felt a roar echo in her mind, and her consciousness suddenly faded.