The Heavenly Wandering Sword

Chapter 28

This announcement was met by a few moments of stunned silence before the crowd exploded with shouts of indignation as well as surprise. “How dare they? How could the Thousand Swords go so far?” A few of the Sect Masters from the various different sects looked at each other, some turning red in their face.

“Does the Thousand Sword Sect really believe they can just demand such a thing from us?” Kang Wu the Sect Master of the Steel Fang Sect said, his aura activating while Zhen Yi Mu the Thousand Sword Sect Master simply looked at him with disinterest. “A bunch of second and third grade sects truly believe that they are in a position to say no? Newborn calves don’t fear tigers.” He laughed as Wan Yu the Hidden Elder floated up and killed Kang Wu with a single punch. “This is the difference between spirit realm and ancient immortal realm. Who else has an opinion on this?” Zhen Yi Mu smiled at the others darkly.

The various Sect Masters as well as their Hidden Eldars all floated up in a burst of spiritual energy. “Zhen Yi Mu, murdering another Sect Master simply because he has an opinion? How outrageous.” Lao Yang the Sect Master of the Skysoul Sect called out. “We must make our stand now against them, other wise the history of all of our sects will be destroyed.” The other Sect Masters all nodded their head in agreement, the spiritual force in the arena growing bigger and bigger. The Thousand Sword Sect Master laughed. “Do you truly think that Elder Wan is the only one here that can take care of you?”

At a single gesture, the four other Elders of the Thousand Sword Sect stepped out and began channeling their spiritual energy. The protection arrays that had been cast began to glow a red instead of the previous light blue as the various opposing Sect Masters and Elders felt themselves being pinned to the ground. “Zhen Yi Mu what are these tricks you are using?” Chen Muyang the Sect Master of the Bloody Fist Sect roared out. The Thousand Sword Sect Master just laughed as he floated down to where the various others were held down by spirit energy. “Do any of you think that you can break out of a Dao level array?”

Array Master Huang sat in the same booth as the Alchemist Master Zi along with the Governor who were all guests of Jing Wu Die in the Imperial booth. “Master Huang, are you able to dispel the array?” Master Huang shook his head. “Perhaps if given another 100 years I would be able to. A Dao level array, I’m afraid that unless someone is in the Dao Immortal realm or even higher, it would not be possible. A Dao level array is created with a Law of the universe. Even then, it would require someone that Universal Law itself would not be able to stand against.”

Lady Bai looked at this scene and gasped, her hands covering her mouth in shock. Li Jian looked at the array and just raised an eyebrow, it was only a Dao array after all. The Thousand Sword disciples descended upon the array with their spiritual force powered. “Today is the day that all the Sects of Baiyang city are united are one flag. The Thousand Sword Sect will be all that will be allowed. In the future, the martial arts world of Baiyang will have only one sect with all the resources.” Zhen Yi Mu floated down to where the various Sect Masters were restrained by the formation, his sword drawn. “I never expected any of you to submit. Your deaths were preordained the moment you stepped foot into this competition.”

Lady Bai looked at this and turned her head to Li Jian. “Li Jian, please, do something.” Li Jian looked at her and shook his head. This was still the affairs of mortals, and he did not intend to interfere. After all, if the others were too weak, then it is exactly as how the martial arts world is; the strong eat the weak. Lady Bai looked at the scene in front of her. “Li Jian, you know that if the Thousand Sword Sect can do this, then that means the rule of the capitol will no longer mean anything in Baiyang. That means, my brother and my sister, there is very little chance of them walking out of here alive.” Li Jian sighed softly. “Sister Bai, what happens if I step in? Do I oppress the Thousand Sword Sect? Do I wipe them out then? Do I give their powers to the others sects? Or do I take over as the supreme power of Baiyang City? Where does it end?”

Lady Bai looked at him sadly. “Brother Li, do those questions have any meanings when the lives of thousands of people will be affected by this? Someone like Ling Feng will never be able to rise when his Sect is absorbed. His dreams of cultivation and higher promotion will be crushed, and it will end here.” Li Jian sighed again. “Is cultivation such a desirable goal? I think it is much more appealing to live a simple, peaceful life.” She gave him a sad smile and shook her head. “That is your choice then, but I know that I cannot simply stand by.” She stood up and smoothed down her dress before leaning down and kissing his cheek. “This will most likely be farewell. I know you have your reasons but please understand, I have mine.”

With those words, she walked out with a sense of acceptance. She went into the Imperial booth and looked at her siblings. “Brother, Sister, we cannot just stand by and let this happen. The Purple Pavilion will not just accept this, and neither should the Imperial family.” Jing Wu Die nodded while Jing Hong stood up, her hand on her blade. The three of them walked out onto the field. “Sect Master, the Imperial family feels that you have gone too far.” The three floated up in a burst of spiritual energy to confront the Sect Master. Zhen Yi Mu just snorted at them. “The Imperial family believes they still have a say in Baiyang City? Crown Prince, I will give you some face and let you walk out of here right now. But since you dared to speak out against the actions of the Thousand Sword Sect, then let the two women beside you stay as tribute. Do not believe the Imperial family has the means to stand against the Thousand Sword Sect.”

Jing Hong wasted no time and simply drew her sword, charging up towards the Sect Master who held out a hand, creating a spiritual shield in front of him with an amused smile. Jing Hong forced her sword essence into her blade and thrusted it forward into the shield, a large crack appearing in it even as she was forced back. “Seems like the princess has some talent.” The Sect Master frowned as he hastily erected a new force field but this time Jing Hong dealt a powerful slash that sent a gust of flames to erupt from her blade and pierce right through the shield. “What sort of martial art is that? Princess if you give me that martial art I will let you and your family leave here safely.”

Jing Hong simply stared at him expressionless. “Phoenix Sword Art Third Move, Immortal Sword.” Her aura overwhelming the air, her body was covered by a layer of fire hot enough for the spectators to each feel the massive temperature change. Stabbing her sword forward, she pierced right through the spiritual shield put forth by the Sect Master and moved right through, her blade cutting through the left arm of the Sect Master. However, a Sect Master was still a Sect Master. With a burst of speed, he brought his blade forward so that her blade only slashed over his left arm while his own blade sprang forward. Jing Hong dodged the attack elegantly and twisted in midair. This time her sword was aimed right at his chest and sped towards him faster than the eye can blink.

The next moment, she was flying towards the ground, crashing onto the ground hard enough to crack the stone platforms that served as the arena. Wan Yu stood there in front of the Sect Master and smirked. “Spiritual realm and you truly believe you can sever the sky?” He drew his own sword and struck forward with a fierce slash of glowing blue. “Your power levels are no match for the Thousand Sword Art.” He laughed as the power of the slash sent Jing Hong flying.

“Sister!” Jing Wu Die gritted his teeth. The Hidden Elder was indeed powerful but he had no choice. Summoning his own sword, he charged towards the Hidden Elder, his sister Lady Bai beside him with her own sword drawn. The two attacked at the same time, their swords aimed at his chest but Elder Wan just simply smacked their sword thrusts away and sent them flying down into the arena. Lady Bai rose up slowly, coughing blood as she glared at the approaching Elder. “The Imperial family are only flies in the eyes of the Thousand Sword Sect.” He grinned as he powered up his sword, the violent aura of a wolf behind him. Jing Wu Die could only stare at the Thousand Sword Elder as he stepped forward, his violent spiritual force leaving foot prints from his boots with each step into the marble floor. “Perhaps I will gain the title of Dragon Slayer after I kill the Emperor.” The Elder laughed again as he advanced step by step forward. “Perhaps you can pray, little Crown Prince. Pray that one of the deities up in Heavens Palace has the slightest bit of care for your life.”

“Crown Prince, before you die I just want you to know that your sister will be taken care of. They will be given to the top disciples of the Thousand Sword Sect so you can die with assurance.” Jing Wu Die stared with hatred at the Thousand Sword Sect Master who landed beside Elder Wan. “I hope you have a good rest Crown Prince.” Jing Hong struggled to get up, her hand desperately gripping the handle of her sword to prop herself up while Lady Bai stared at the sight of her brother helplessly injured in front of the Thousand Sect Elders. “It cannot just end like this.” She whispered quietly.

With a loud crash, the array that had oppressed all the Sect Masters and Elders of the other sects was destroyed in a single instant. Elder Wan and Sect Master Zhen both began looking around for the source of the array destruction.

Li Jian walked through the smoke towards the Sect Master and the Elder. Lady Bai looked up and smiled, reassured that he had decided to make a move. She knew that he would intervene. “By threatening the life of the Crown Prince and the two Princesses, you have forced me to intervene. You will pay the price for that.” Li Jian was furious that his low key life had been so disrupted. His eyes glowed with trails of Dao force, his aura becoming more and more furious with every step. Kon Wang stood beside him and shook his head. “Master is losing his temper again.”