Xuanquan Ancestor struggled for a long time, yet he could not lift the Heaven-Sundering Axe. Eventually, he released his grip and stepped back, his expression stern. This moment made one thing clear to all the onlookers.
Xuanquan Ancestor was far less powerful than the Sword Master of the Dao.
Although everyone had already assumed as much, witnessing the stark disparity firsthand was still shocking.
How profound must the Sword Master of the Dao's cultivation realm be?
At that moment, the blade of the Heaven-Sundering Axe began emitting bursts of sword qi. The qi struck the platform's surface, sending shattered stones flying in all directions, forcing the crowd to retreat in fright.
Emperor Xie, now fully conscious, appeared conflicted. His entire being seemed hollow and detached, leading others to believe he was simply scared witless.
As everyone focused their attention, they saw two lines of text etched into the platform before the axe.
"Whosoever lifts this axe shall inherit its legacy!"
These eight words left many holding their breath, their excitement palpable.
A senior elder stepped forward immediately, eager to attempt lifting the Heaven-Sundering Axe.
Meanwhile.
Gu An had returned to the outer sect city. Standing at the edge of the Heaven Mending Platform, he watched as cultivators lined up to test their strength against the axe. His lips curled into a faint smile.
The Heaven-Sundering Axe was forged from the North Sea Nether Iron, tempered over a million years. Without the use of spiritual energy, even a Mahayana cultivator would find it unbearably heavy. Furthermore, Gu An had imbued the axe with his mana and sword intent.
Only a Loose Immortal or above could lift this axe.
There was no one within the Tai Xuan Sect capable of such a feat. Gu An wasn't intentionally making it impossible; he planned to observe over time and eventually identify a worthy successor for the axe.
This period of trial and observation would also serve another purpose—giving him time to eradicate the Seven Stars Spirit Realm.
The Heaven-Sundering Axe was one of the nine great inheritances of the Seven Stars Spirit Realm. Passing it prematurely to a disciple of the Tai Xuan Sect would only invite trouble.
The death of the Demon Master had already granted Gu An an additional 6,300 years of lifespan—a massive gain.
The Demon Master's bones still rested beneath the Heaven-Sundering Axe, unscathed by the destruction. The fact that the bones hadn't turned to ash indicated their immense value. Gu An wasn't in a rush to retrieve them; with the Heaven-Sundering Axe pinning them down, no one could take them.
After watching for a while, Gu An turned and left.
On his way out, the disciples were still enthusiastically discussing the Sword Master of the Dao, unaware that the legendary figure had just walked past them.
Xuanquan Ancestor approached Emperor Xie with a solemn expression. "Come with me."
Still drenched in blood, Emperor Xie snapped out of his daze and nodded without resistance.
Three Purities Mountain.
At the edge of a cliff, Li Ya was practicing his swordsmanship. The heavy North Sea Sword in his hand moved with such grace and precision that it stirred the wind. Compared to years ago, his strikes now carried a refined elegance, devoid of any clumsiness.
Under a nearby tree floated the soul of the Li Family Ancestor. His gaze was fixed on the horizon, his brows furrowed as if deep in thought.
When Li Ya finished his practice, he turned to the ancestor, a proud smile on his face.
"Well, Ancestor, what do you think? Hasn't my sword technique reached the pinnacle of simplicity and elegance? If I unleash my sword intent, even I can't imagine the destructive power. Next time I meet An Hao, I might not lose."
The ancestor ignored him, lost in his own thoughts.
Annoyed, Li Ya walked up and waved a hand in front of him. "What are you staring at? I'm talking to you!"
"Be quiet. I'm observing a battle," the ancestor snapped.
Curious, Li Ya asked, "What level of battle?"
"Body Fusion Realm," the ancestor replied dismissively.
Hearing this, Li Ya lost interest immediately. He lifted his North Sea Sword and said, "What's there to see? This era belongs to the Profound Heart Realm and Mahayana Realm. Body Fusion Realm? That's nothing. I'll reach that level sooner or later."
"I've decided to leave the mountain!"
His tone turned serious as he declared his intentions.
The ancestor didn't look away, replying casually, "Then go."
Encouraged, Li Ya turned and started walking away.
"Wait, where are you going?" The ancestor finally snapped out of his thoughts and called after him.
"Back to the Tai Xuan Sect!"
"Still worried about your junior brother Gu? What kind of spell has he cast on you?" the ancestor grumbled, his tone filled with disappointment.
Without turning back, Li Ya replied, "This isn't about Junior Brother Gu. The Tai Xuan Sect is in trouble, and I must return to help. The world is in chaos—if I stay here practicing in seclusion, what kind of man am I? What's the point of the Tai Xuan Sect nurturing me?"
With that, he leaped off the cliff.
The ancestor didn't chase after him. Instead, he remained where he was, pondering Li Ya's words.
Eventually, a smile appeared on his face.
"That brat has finally grown up."
The news of the Sword Master of the Dao killing a mysterious great demon with a single swing spread rapidly across the cultivation world. When it reached the front lines, it boosted the morale of all the sects fighting on the battlefield.
According to Xuanquan Ancestor's assessment, the mysterious demon killed by the Sword Master of the Dao was undoubtedly at the Mahayana Realm!
The fall of a Mahayana-level demon was undoubtedly a significant boon for humanity.
Great Jiang Dynasty, in a grand hall.
"Hahahaha! Our Tai Xuan Sect truly reigns supreme. The Sword Master of the Dao can crush a Mahayana-level cultivator with a single axe. His cultivation must be approaching mine!"
Seated at the head of the table, Xuan Tianyi burst into hearty laughter.
Beside him, Liang Canghai stroked his beard with a smile. Although Xuan Tianyi's words were arrogant, no one could deny that the Sword Master of the Dao's actions were an immense blessing for humanity.
Other cultivators from various sects nodded in agreement, their expressions filled with admiration. Everyone present, the weakest among them at the Profound Heart Realm, discussed strategies against the Mahayana-level and Profound Heart-level demons.
Even Tai Xuan Sect's Sect Master Lü Baitian wasn't qualified to enter the hall, as the topics discussed were reserved for those operating at the highest levels of power.
Since the outbreak of the Great Demon Catastrophe, spies from the demonic factions had infiltrated human ranks.
Some humans, corrupted by demonic influence, sought refuge among the demons in exchange for survival. These betrayals only made the already dire calamity more complex.
A senior cultivator from the Profound Heart Realm spoke up, "Why not summon the Sword Master of the Dao to the front lines?"
This suggestion was met with widespread agreement. Many believed that the Sword Master of the Dao's presence would greatly reduce the pressure on them.
A veiled woman dressed in black responded, "We don't even know the true identity of the Sword Master of the Dao. He has only been seen protecting the Tai Xuan Sect. We cannot compel him to act, nor can we pressure him with public opinion."
This woman was Su Xin Fairy, an elder of Tai Xuan Sect.
Her calm words earned a round of nods.
Another cultivator added, "There is speculation that the Sword Master of the Dao mastered the Demon Shadow Divine Art and might hail from the Thousand Autumn Pavilion. Perhaps he has turned from his dark path and now avoids revealing his true face. If this is the case, it would be inappropriate to request his intervention."
Liang Canghai interjected, "The Sword Master of the Dao has acted before, notably during the Nine Nether Path's resurgence. I am confident he will act again when the time is right. However, he likely has his own considerations. Let's not forget that we are still in the dark about the true strength of the Demon Emperor, the Demon Master, or the enigmatic Demon Ancestor. The Sword Master of the Dao may also be waiting for clarity on these matters."
The reasoning struck a chord with the group, who shifted their discussion toward the Demon Emperor and the Demon Master.
An elderly Taoist from Three Purities Mountain suddenly spoke, "Could the demon killed by the Sword Master of the Dao have been the Demon Emperor or the Demon Master?"
The room fell silent as everyone frowned in thought.
Liang Canghai's expression grew serious. "This is a possibility we must confirm. Whether it was the Demon Emperor or the Demon Master, the death of either would be a significant advantage for our plans. Right now, our fear of the unknown power within the Demonic Lands is causing us to act cautiously, which is unsustainable in the long run."
Xuan Tianyi spoke up, "I'll return to confirm it myself. I'll be back by tomorrow at the latest."
No one objected. As the Tai Xuan Sect's sole Mahayana-level cultivator on the surface, Xuan Tianyi's return to the sect made sense.
Even Liang Canghai, as the leader of their alliance, agreed. Without delay, Xuan Tianyi departed.
Dusk, Tai Xuan Sect, Outer Sect City.
Xuan Tianyi arrived at the Heaven Mending Platform, his presence drawing the attention of countless inner sect disciples.
Many had gathered in the outer sect city, either to witness the Heaven-Sundering Axe or to comprehend the sword intent within its vicinity. Most of the inner sect disciples had heard Xuan Tianyi lecture before and recognized him instantly.
A hush fell over the crowd as they turned to stare. Even the outer sect disciples, sensing the shift in atmosphere, followed their gazes.
Xuan Tianyi strode directly to the Heaven-Sundering Axe.
A disciple attempting to lift the axe was nudged aside by a friend. Turning, the disciple froze upon seeing Xuan Tianyi. He quickly stepped back, bowing in respect.
Xuan Tianyi acknowledged the gesture with a slight nod and took two steps forward, stopping before the axe.
His eyes narrowed as he studied the inscription on the ground.
Such domineering sword intent!
Even without touching the axe, Xuan Tianyi realized he was no match for the Sword Master of the Dao.
This revelation deepened his curiosity. The Sword Master of the Dao was undoubtedly not a cultivator nurtured by the Tai Xuan Sect. His protective stance toward the sect likely stemmed from using it as a cover.
Xuan Tianyi's gaze shifted to the Demon Master's white bones, scrutinizing them with his spiritual sense.
More cultivators gathered, whispering among themselves. Soon, even the outer sect disciples learned that the figure standing before them was Xuan Tianyi, the sect's first disciple!
Excitement rippled through the crowd.
Was the renowned Xuan Tianyi about to challenge the legacy of the Sword Master of the Dao?
Despite Xuan Tianyi's growing reputation, many disciples still revered the Sword Master of the Dao more, simply because of his enigmatic nature.
Suddenly, Xuan Tianyi's brows furrowed, and his expression turned to one of fear.
These bones were not from a Mahayana-level being.
They belonged to something far beyond that—someone at the Nirvana Realm!
Xuan Tianyi had traveled across the seas, encountering Nirvana-level cultivators, demons, and even immortals.
The Sword Master of the Dao had killed a Nirvana-level demon with a single swing?
Could the Sword Master of the Dao be an immortal?
Determined, Xuan Tianyi reached out and gripped the handle of the Heaven-Sundering Axe.
Heavy!
That was his first impression.
At that moment, Xuanquan Ancestor and Lu Lingjun arrived nearby, watching curiously.
Lu Lingjun herself had attempted to lift the axe before and failed. She was eager to see if Xuan Tianyi would succeed.
Xuan Tianyi tightened his grip and exerted all his strength, but the axe didn't budge.
A flash of defiance crossed his eyes.
Boom!
A terrifying aura erupted from him, forcing the crowd to retreat. The entire Heaven Mending Platform trembled violently, as if about to split apart.
Everyone stared in shock.
What level of cultivation could produce such power?
Spiritual energy burst forth, creating shockwaves that ruffled Xuan Tianyi's robes.
Bending lower, he poured every ounce of strength into lifting the axe.
Yet, the Heaven-Sundering Axe remained immovable.
"How is this possible?"
Bloodshot veins filled Xuan Tianyi's eyes as frustration overwhelmed him.
Admitting inferiority to the Sword Master of the Dao was one thing, but failing to lift his weapon? That was something he couldn't accept.
His eyes widened further, and his aura surged again. Strange blue runes appeared along his neck, pulsating with a sinister light.