Since the dissolution of that illusionary cloudscape, those gathered outside Julong Mountain had been waiting in silent anticipation.

Shui Lingbo tossed the Haoyang Mirror back to Xuan Taiji, who made no further attempt to pry into the mountain cavern.

Real Person Linglie was likewise grim-faced, lost in unspoken thoughts.

It was not only the trio of Long Ruo, Han Nishui, and one other who had failed to emerge. Yan Feibai and Ge Hanyun were also nowhere to be seen.

This situation could not help but cause deep concern.

The crowds below the mountainside had not dispersed either. They all gazed upward, necks craned, waiting.

It seemed they were all anxious to know who would ultimately inherit the legacy of the Nine-Nine Dragon Shadow Sword. Barely half an hour had passed when the entire Julong Mountain suddenly began to shake.

Xuan Taiji’s brow twitched as he looked toward the mountain peak. Almost instantly, he discerned that the source of the tremors lay within the upper reaches of the Dragon Gate Cavern.

"How strange! First, a spatial tear, and now the mountain shakes. What exactly is happening inside? Could there be a fight going on in there?"

A voice drifted from nearby—that of a Seventh Rank martial cultivator who had recently emerged from the cave.

Xuan Taiji shot a cold glance in that direction before withdrawing his gaze; the speaker had voiced the very confusion in his own mind. Judging by the intensity of the shaking, neither party involved in the confrontation could be below the Seventh Rank.

Just then, his junior brother Shen Huai, standing at his side, suddenly spoke: "I recall that fellow disciples Han and Li had a quarrel with Qian Tian Demon King Sect's Zong Shou a few days ago. And Long Ruo of the Lingyun Sect also held some dissatisfaction toward Zong Shou. If a fight truly erupted inside, it likely involves these four!"

Xuan Taiji was slightly startled, and Shui Lingbo abruptly clenched both fists, sweeping a questioning glance toward He Xueying. She, too, frowned slightly and gave a small nod.

Hearing this, Real Person Linglie let out a short, sharp laugh: "How could that be? My sect's Long Ruo, even if dissatisfied with Zong Shou, would not reach the point of murder. Furthermore, with the Elder Longying present, how could he allow those three to succeed? Long Ruo, as the chief direct disciple of my sect’s third generation, why would he be so unwise?"

"That's hard to say!"

Another laugh sounded, this one from the other side. Standing tall and straight was Su Chen of the Hanshan Sect. Shaking his head, he said, "The person they cast aside turns out to be an unparalleled genius, capable of not only strengthening his father's foundation but also obtaining a Martial Saint's inheritance. If it were me, I would feel unbalanced too. A slight lapse in one's state of mind can lead to resentment and misplaced anger. Besides, this location is separated by hundreds of worlds. If Martial Saint Longying needed to divert his attention elsewhere, an opportunity might not be out of the question."

Shui Lingbo let out a soft snort inwardly, thinking that if Zong Shou met with any misfortune, she would ensure every single person from the Lingyun Sect here perished! Then, she would march straight to the Cloud Palace!

While feeling worried and hesitating about whether to forcefully penetrate the mountain peak, she suddenly felt a shift in her heart and calmed down. Her expression returned to a gentle smile as she looked toward the summit.

She mused that this boy had grown frighteningly strong. But with such innate talent and power, it would be hard to keep him hidden any longer.

However, now that the Martial Saint Longying was backing him, there was no need for further secrecy.

Real Person Linglie, oblivious, coldly stated, "Junior Nephew Su, do your words have any basis? If this is reckless slander, my Lingyun Sect will certainly seek out your sect elders to demand an explanation!"

Su Chen pulled at the corners of his mouth, giving a disdainful smile. The disciples of their Sword Sect had never feared anyone, much less the Lingyun Sect, which could only cling to a remote corner, at the very fringe of a Holy Land.

It was precisely at this moment that a look of surprise appeared on Xuan Taiji’s face: "Uncle-Master Linglie, you say Zong Shou indeed possesses the Twin Veins and the Barrier of Heaven and Man? Has this been verified?"

Real Person Linglie, not grasping his meaning, frowned and replied, "How could this be false? Long Ruo personally tested this individual’s constitution..."

Before he finished speaking, Zhao Yanran lightly nodded her head, her eyes alight with a strange smile: "It is indeed true! I was present then as well. Zong Shou is confirmed to have the Twin Veins and the Barrier of Heaven and Man. As for whether he is a remnant soul body, this disciple does not know. But even then, Zong Shou had already achieved Sword Dao Sentience. When I was on equal footing with him, two realms above in cultivation, I was still defeated."

Real Person Linglie grew even more perplexed, so he focused his spiritual sense and probed toward the mountain peak. Inside, there were thousands of cracks, and his soul sense entered with unexpected ease.

Xuan Taiji gasped, "If that is truly the case, then it is truly terrifying..."

Saying this, he suddenly turned around and addressed Jin Wuhui: "Junior Brother Wuhui, I recall you conversed with Zong Shou just before you entered. Are you on good terms with him?"

Jin Wuhui, who had been worried until now, looked surprised by the question: "That is true! His temperament is quite agreeable to mine, though he is quite annoying because he always tries to snatch things from me. Why do you ask, Senior Brother?"

"It’s nothing!" Xuan Taiji smiled faintly. "This child is someone worth befriending, Junior Brother. You should interact with him more often. It seems our Cloud Realm has produced another astonishing, peerless genius! Your friend will undoubtedly become a figure of immense stature in the future..."

The moment the words fell, Real Person Linglie’s face turned utterly pale.

In just a few breaths, the entire peak of Julong Mountain was covered in countless spiderweb-like fissures, spreading outwards.

Then, it began to collapse entirely, with countless rocks tumbling down. The entire upper 3,000 zhang seemed as if it had been violently planed away. The dust and smoke scattered, but as soon as it began to spread, it was dispersed by a fierce, mighty gale.

Several figures stood erect amidst the ruins. Zong Shou propped himself up with his sword, barely managing to remain standing. Blood constantly spilled from his mouth, yet his gaze remained cold and calm, his killing intent soaring to the heavens. Dripping from the purple sword blade were beads of fresh blood.

Opposite him, Han Nishui and Li Yuandan were both utterly battered. Long Ruo’s nascent soul had already returned to his physical body, blood oozing from his mouth.

The crowd below the mountainside, having barely managed the falling stones, looked up again with bewildered expressions.

"That is Lingyun's Long Bi! And Han Nishui from the Shangxiao Sect!"

"I recognize the other one too—it's Li Yuandan from the Danling Sect!"

"Is that youth perhaps that recently enthroned Demon King of the Qian Tian Sect? Although he allegedly cannot cultivate, his methods of command and military strategy are said to be superb..."

"Who among these people obtained the Nine-Nine Dragon Shadow Sword?" Initially curious about who had gained this tenth-grade, earth-shattering Saint Spirit level sword technique, they soon sensed that the atmosphere was wrong. The martial cultivators could only watch from the ground. All Soul Masters above the Soul Manifestation Realm rose into the air on their artifacts, flying high above to look down from a distance.

Xuan Taiji sighed then, casting a look of complex emotion toward Real Person Linglie: "Your sect truly has cause for regret, to have let such a figure slip away without taking him as a disciple."

The surrounding Eighth Rank powerhouses also looked toward Real Person Linglie with strange expressions—some with pity, others with schadenfreude.

Some secretly felt fortunate that the opportunity for a sect to rise had been so carelessly wasted by the Lingyun Sect, cast out the door. Perhaps this was Heaven's will, unwilling to see the Lingyun Sect prosper. Shen Huai frowned and shook his head slightly: "I had previously heard that Senior Master Long Ruo of your sect possessed great dignity and lofty character, and I was inclined to build a relationship. Seeing this now, his reputation and reality do not align. Such a petty person, driven by personal grievance, resorting to such despicable acts—it is truly deceiving the world! I, Shen Huai, am ashamed to be counted among such company..."

Real Person Linglie was already deeply depressed, and hearing this, he felt even worse. His aura fluctuated, and he suddenly spat out a mouthful of blood.

Su Chen let out another light laugh: "What an unfortunate coincidence, I was indeed correct. I wonder, Real Person Linglie, when will you seek out my sect elders for an explanation?"

Xuan Taiji was helpless; Su Chen was not his sect brother, so he could not control him. He could only glare fiercely at his junior brother.

Shen Huai remained unperturbed. The Haoxuan Sect was like this; they spoke whatever was in their hearts, driven by righteous spirit.

Although Long Ruo and the other two were in a sorry state, if they had harbored ill intentions, they would have already been ejected by the cavern's restrictions! Zong Shou had inherited the Nine-Nine Dragon Shadow Sword; how would he have the leisure to trouble them? The truth between them was plain to see!

Previously, they had shown some courtesy to Long Ruo, but now, they were willing to afford him not a shred of face!

Shui Lingbo, whose nature was never to let an advantage go, certainly wouldn't let this pass now. She spoke with a mocking tone: "I heard this boy's father, Zong Weiran, had some ties with your Lingyun Sect! He once saved several of your disciples, is that correct? I recall Yanran mentioning that this boy still possessed one of your highest-grade Lingyun Jade Tokens. Truly worthy of the righteous path's great sect, Lingyun Sect! When others humbly seek your favor, you decisively kick them away, kicking them while they are down. Seeing that others might still prosper without joining the Lingyun Sect, you couldn't stand it and tried to kill them. This demeanor—our Cang Sheng Dao's Three Sects and Four Gates truly fall far short."

As she spoke, she inwardly thought that such an entertaining event should happen more often. Coming here this time was truly worthwhile.

Real Person Linglie's face flushed a deep purplish-red, looking utterly repulsive. He gripped his fists so tightly they cracked, wishing he could unleash a punch to silence Shui Lingbo forever, but knowing full well he was no match for this woman.

Shui Lingbo saw this and let out a cold laugh, leisurely unfurling her red umbrella: "What? You want to fight? You committed such an act yourself, and now you forbid others from speaking of it? What a pity. A genius who achieved Sword Dao Sentience at fourteen, breaking through the Human Barrier single-handedly—not only did you let such a talent slip through your fingers, but you made him an enemy..."

The more she spoke, the happier she became. Such outstanding talent had ultimately fallen into the hands of the Cang Sheng Dao.

Shui Lingbo suddenly knitted her delicate brows and looked downward, seeing that Zong Shou’s figure was moving again.