Zhang Sanfeng’s expression was grim... he was silently gauging the true might of Ye Wen’s latest move. From the powerful sword aura that shot skyward, nearly brushing past his own face, he knew that if Ye Wen unleashed this move at full power, perhaps even he could not emerge unscathed.

Glancing at the others around him, he saw that everyone’s face was exceptionally strained. Only now did they truly understand the caliber of the person they had intended to hunt down. If they had managed to surround Ye Wen back then, it would have been no blessing for them—it might have spelled disaster.

However, they had overestimated Ye Wen’s current strength. They assumed his power was fixed at what they had already witnessed, absolutely refusing to believe he could have made such a significant leap in just a few short years. Perhaps no one could have predicted that Ye Wen still contained the undigested essence of numerous heavenly treasures within his body.

Coupled with his dedicated cultivation in the Penglai Immortal Realm, and the fact that mastering the Hun Tian Bao Jian lacked the myriad bottlenecks found in their own cultivation methods, this allowed Ye Wen’s power to surge dramatically within a mere few years, enabling him to unleash the terrifying might of the Myriad Sword Art. Wang Pan’s lips trembled, and he suddenly looked toward Patriarch Zhang Sanfeng beside him, asking curiously, “If Patriarch and Headmaster Ye were to fight…” As soon as these words were spoken, everyone turned their gaze to this foremost figure in the cultivation world, hoping to hear an answer from his lips. Perhaps they secretly hoped Zhang Sanfeng would declare, “I could defeat him easily!” Such words would offer some comfort, as it would mean Zhang Sanfeng stood firmly on their side.

Yet, Zhang Sanfeng frowned, contemplating for a long stretch without speaking. Only after a moment did he finally say, “If Ye Wen expends all his fighting strength after unleashing this move, then I can defeat him! But if he retains any reserve power…” At this declaration, everyone's face turned exceedingly grim.

Although Zhang Sanfeng did not finish his sentence, they could largely surmise his meaning: if he retained any reserve power… then even if he wasn't outright defeated, winning would be impossible. Never mind that these esteemed righteous masters above were staring blankly at the scene below. From Ye Wen’s attack, Zhang Sanfeng understood one thing: the Shu Mountain Sect intended to utterly destroy their opponents!

He had originally planned to intervene and mediate once the situation seemed stable, but with the grand spectacle Ye Wen had orchestrated, it was unlikely the Emei Sect would accept any truce… Just as this thought crossed his mind, he saw Ye Wen below lift a finger lightly. The thousand-plus flying swords surrounding him instantly erupted in sword light, then surged toward the heavens in unison! The multitude of flying swords converged mid-air, then turned, hurtling directly down toward the Emei Sect Headmaster, Daoist Tianxing.

Daoist Tianxing had retreated to the main entrance of the grand hall, his entire body slack with shock, staring blankly upwards at the ten thousand swords that seemed capable of blotting out the sun and clouds. The Seven-Star Sword floating beside him no longer radiated the divine flames it had previously. Daoist Tianxing had invoked the Metal power of the White Tiger of the North, attempting to condense a protective shield around himself to ward off Ye Wen’s terrifying blow.

Yet, he held no confidence that his efforts would suffice. “Will… Emei be utterly destroyed?” At this moment, a strange calm washed over him, extinguishing the arrogance and near-overwhelming anger he had felt earlier. In his newfound sobriety, Daoist Tianxing suddenly felt that everything he had done previously was the root cause of his current predicament, tracing even further back to the moment the Emei Sect began its ascent under his leadership, planting the seeds of today’s doom.

“Karma loops, retribution is inescapable. Truly, one reaps what one sows…” He barely finished uttering those words before feeling the Western Metal power surrounding him instantly shattered, and then, he knew nothing more. In the eyes of the onlookers, the endless swarm of flying swords descended upon the Emei main hall like a vast plague of locusts.

A continuous, thunderous roar followed, and the resulting shockwaves sent everyone stumbling, unable to maintain their footing. The entire Emei Golden Summit seemed subjected to ceaseless bombardment; the very mountain began to shake violently. Those with weaker cultivation immediately tumbled head over heels; if the observers hadn't been extraordinary individuals, injuries would have been unavoidable.

This was the experience of the spectators gathered at a distance. Those Emei disciples closer to the impact zone fared far worse. As Ye Wen’s thousand-plus swords crashed down, the explosions scattered not just kinetic force and strong winds, but also infinite strands of residual sword qi.

Many Emei disciples were struck down before they could react, their lives extinguished before they even registered what had happened. Only then did the Emei disciples realize they too were in mortal danger. Wails of misery erupted as they scrambled to utilize whatever means they possessed to flee.

Alas, their reaction was far too late. As the bombardment intensified, the scattering sword qi became terrifyingly dense. Many, upon turning around, were instantly bisected by four or five streaks of qi; the unluckiest were cleaved into fragments by dozens of sword qi streams before they could move an inch.

Such carnage made those watching from the sky unable to bear looking any longer. Some closed their eyes and sighed deeply, while others simply turned away. The crowd gathered around the plaza also realized that their position was not absolutely safe.

They fled far away while the devastation hadn't yet reached them. Even the Shu Mountain contingent utilized several flying sword masters to ascend into the air. As they rose, they caught sight of Zhang Sanfeng and his group.

Seeing these masters, even though they found the scene at Emei pitiful, not a single person dared to rush down to offer aid. These new arrivals immediately moved even further away, none daring to step forward at this moment to accuse Ye Wen of mercilessness or total destruction, lest the Headmaster’s gaze suddenly shift toward them. The deafening roar lasted for a considerable time.

When the smoke and dust finally settled and the noise ceased, a great deal of debris still hung in the air. The onlookers could not clearly discern the state of the Emei Sect, but the sheer destructive power instilled a tremor in all their hearts, ensuring no one dared utter a single negative word about the Shu Mountain Sect. “The Emei Sect… is finished this time…” This was the most frequently whispered sentiment, even among members of major sects.

Zhang Sanfeng, however, noticed that Yu Shuang below watched the scene with an expression that was half-joy, half-worry. He surmised that the Qingcheng Sect Leader saw the collapse of Emei as an opportunity for his own sect’s development, yet the rise of the Shu Mountain Sect as a powerful neighbor meant Qingcheng’s own future was precarious. Hence, that conflicted expression.

Meanwhile, Xu Xian opened his mouth slightly and said to Ning Ruxue, “I never expected Senior Brother’s Myriad Sword Art to possess such formidable power. If this is the case, who in the world remains Senior Brother’s equal?” As one of the most senior figures in the Shu Mountain Sect, Xu Xian was naturally familiar with the Myriad Sword Art, though he rarely practiced it himself. He also understood the degree of monstrous cultivation required to wield the Myriad Sword Art with the terrifying effect Ye Wen just displayed.

He knew his own Chunyang Zhizun Gong was marvelous in its utility, but it did not possess the powerful innate vital energy regeneration capability of Ye Wen’s. If he attempted such a display, he would likely only manage one strike before becoming helpless prey. In contrast, the Thousand Flaws Fading Light Sword that Ning Ruxue had developed over the past few years might suit his style better.

With the sword-riding and mind-focusing techniques Ye Wen had taught him, Xu Xian had managed to devise several powerful new moves, though they were not yet fully perfected. Zhou Lei, enveloped by the sword light surrounding the group, gasped and asked, “Headmaster Ye… that move… could it possibly be…” She glanced at Wang Bing and Zhao Lin beside her, and seeing them nod in agreement, Zhou Lei confirmed, “Isn’t that the Myriad Sword Art? Good heavens, truly worthy of the Shu Mountain Sect—they actually possess the Myriad Sword Art?

It couldn't be another trick Headmaster Ye pulled after playing a game, could it?” “It shouldn’t be,” Wang Bing replied with a hint of uncertainty. “Judging by Headmaster Ye’s demeanor, this must be the signature art of the Shu Mountain Sect, likely a long-inherited technique. Perhaps it’s just a coincidence…” “Is that so?” Zhou Lei wasn't entirely convinced, but she quickly shrugged it off.

After all, the specifics of its origin mattered little now. She was thrilled just to witness the live, vastly more exaggerated, brilliantly spectacular, and utterly shocking version of the Myriad Sword Art right before her eyes. “I never imagined Headmaster Ye knew such a handsome and powerful move.

If I had known, I would have joined the Shu Mountain Sect long ago! If I could master sword-riding and the Myriad Sword Art, I too could be a majestic female Sword Immortal!” Zhou Lei exclaimed happily, then suddenly clapped her hands to her face, stars dancing in her eyes. “And then I could soar the nine heavens with Senior Xu, riding swords together, blissfully married and happy forever!” “…” Seeing Zhou Lei drift into her usual infatuation, the others ignored her and turned their attention to observing the aftermath below.

The smoke and dust were gradually clearing, and the scene within the Emei Sect began to reveal itself. The onlookers lowered their heads almost in unison, eager to see the results of Ye Wen’s earth-shattering ultimate technique. When the dust vanished, everyone gasped in shock.

Ye Wen remained standing exactly where he was, the patch of earth beneath his feet being virtually the only spot showing no change. Starting about ten meters ahead of him, the ground looked as if it had been entirely overturned, and this devastation spanned a massive area, not just a small patch. The area struck by Ye Wen’s infinite flying swords was reduced to nothing but churned earth; not a trace of Daoist Tianxing’s corpse, nor even the great hall that stood behind him, remained—not a single shard survived.

“Hiss! Not even a tile left?” Witnessing such terrifying power, everyone sucked in a sharp breath. Especially when they noticed that after the move, nearly two hundred of the thousand-plus flying swords lingered.

After circling once, they flew back to Ye Wen’s side, slowly revolving around him like a swarm of satellites. Although the sword light emanating from these remaining blades had grown very faint, no one felt that Ye Wen looked weak. He stood tall and distant, a faint, relaxed smile playing on his lips, as if everything he had just done required the ease of a mere finger-flick.

The experts in the sky, though aware that Ye Wen was not as relaxed as he appeared, noted the distinct impression of having reserves of power left. They simultaneously looked toward Zhang Sanfeng. Even the Wudang disciples looked toward their Patriarch with complicated expressions.

Ye Wen’s casual stance instantly shifted the pressure entirely onto Zhang Sanfeng. Perhaps sensing his Patriarch’s unfavorable mood, Wang Pan quickly interjected to divert the topic: “Although Ye Wen summoned over a thousand swords just now, it seems only about two hundred were actual physical swords; the rest were illusions formed from pure energy!” This remark succeeded in drawing everyone’s attention downward. They realized that most of the swords Ye Wen manifested had vanished after one strike, lending credence to Wang Pan’s deduction.

Only about two hundred? While numerous, this number was still within an acceptable range for them. After all, it was rumored that the Kunlun Sect possessed a complete set of flying swords, totaling one hundred and eight, corresponding to the heavenly spirits and earthly fiends, usable for array formations.

Two hundred, therefore, was somewhat acceptable. The crowd seemed satisfied with this explanation until Zhang Sanfeng suddenly stated, “No, every single flying sword Ye Wen used… was not a physical object!” “What?” At this revelation, everyone was astonished. However, the speaker was Zhang Sanfeng; everyone had a general grasp of his power level, and great cultivation inherently meant far superior eyesight.

Thus, if Zhang Sanfeng said so, it was likely true. But skepticism still lingered: “If it were in the past, such a technique, though terrifying, wasn't impossible! But with the current terrestrial energy polluted and spiritual energy scarce, how could Ye Wen summon enough spiritual energy to condense these spirit swords?” Similar techniques existed in the cultivation world—manipulating heaven and earth spiritual energy to take various forms for offense was the very principle of their cultivation.

Therefore, they weren't surprised Ye Wen could condense spiritual energy into long swords, only astonished by how he could mobilize so much of it. Unexpectedly, Zhang Sanfeng continued, “He is not mobilizing heaven and earth spiritual energy! Ye Wen is a martial cultivator.

For martial cultivators, focusing on the self means not just tempering the physical body, but also because when fighting, the strength they rely on is primarily the True Qi within their own bodies. This means the energy Ye Wen used to condense those flying swords was entirely his own True Qi!” “How is that possible?” Everyone shook their heads, refusing to believe it! Even if Zhang Sanfeng said it, they found it unacceptable.

In truth, Zhang Sanfeng himself found the notion utterly bizarre. If Ye Wen possessed such power back then, why did he rely on the power of the Nine Cauldrons to flee when he first encountered him? He could have engaged in a direct, fierce battle, potentially even slaying Zhang Sanfeng outright.

Based on the power Ye Wen exhibited then, it simply shouldn't have reached this level of terror! “Could it be… the Nine Cauldrons?” Thinking it over and over, Zhang Sanfeng could not resolve the mystery and finally attributed the cause to the Nine Cauldrons, which could refine vast amounts of spiritual energy. “Perhaps he dares not use this move lightly because it depletes the spiritual energy of the Nine Cauldrons?” The more he considered this, the more plausible it seemed, and the tightly furrowed brow of Zhang Sanfeng eased slightly.

However, recalling that this single move had nearly destroyed half the Emei Sect’s mountain gate, killing its masters and countless disciples, what solution could there be? They had been so stunned by Ye Wen’s terrifying combat prowess that they had forgotten this issue. Now, everyone felt the situation was quite thorny.

Just then, Yu Shuang, who had remained silent, spoke up: “This matter was entirely initiated by the Emei Sect; they struck first. Headmaster Ye was merely defending himself. Why should we be troubled?” Upon hearing this, everyone chorused: “What Headmaster Yu says is excellent!” After witnessing Ye Wen’s terrifying strength, no one dared to seek trouble with him.

After all, nobody wanted to look up one day and see Ye Wen manifesting those ten thousand swords above their own sect, ready to crash down. It was a large-scale area-of-effect weapon capable of annihilating half a sect in one strike—certainly not something they wished to face. With their minds settled, they slowly descended.

The remaining Emei disciples had retreated far away, grouping together before the rear hall. Ye Wen’s Myriad Sword Art had not only leveled the main hall but had also destroyed a large portion of the plaza in front of it. The rear courtyard had been affected, nearly resulting in the rear hall also being eradicated.

Though these Emei disciples had narrowly survived, they did not believe Ye Wen would spare them. Even though Ye Wen stood motionless and silent, his presence felt like death approaching step by step. At that crucial moment, a young man standing at the front of the group suddenly realized: “Why is that demonic figure motionless after one strike?

Could this move have exhausted all his vital energy, leaving him completely unable to move?” The more he considered it, the more certain he became. Steelening his resolve, he felt the survival of Emei rested solely on him. He immediately formed hand seals and sent a Water Divine Dragon rushing toward Ye Wen.

Simultaneously, he waved his right hand, and a crimson ray shot out—it was the Southern Bright Fire Sword (a knock-off version) he had painstakingly accumulated and managed to acquire. With his sword and spell simultaneously launched, he inwardly believed the immobile Ye Wen could not escape this attack. Furthermore, the swords circling Ye Wen had dimming light, surely indicating that the previous blow had drained all his True Qi.

If he didn't act now, such a perfect opportunity might never arise again. However, this man had overlooked one detail: Ye Wen was not alone! As soon as his two moves were launched, a flash of green light descended sharply from the sky.

It was Ning Ruxue, who frowned upon seeing the attack. The Green Lotus Mark on her brow manifested, and the Green Lotus Sword shot out from between her brows, trailing a long green streak that directly intercepted the Water Divine Dragon. Hua Yi also moved, swinging her silken palm, and the Wood Divine Light answered instantly.

What shocked everyone the most was that this divine light split into two mid-flight—one forming wind blades, the other thunder—which struck the Southern Bright Fire Sword with a resounding boom, directly forcing the flying sword’s light to dim before it clattered to the ground. “Did you think the Shu Mountain Sect only had one person?”