Previously on The Legendary Son-in-law of the Emperor...
Ye Xuan's clone defeated powerful invaders, securing an Immortal Treasure, but drawing the ire of unseen forces. As Ye Xuan calmly tracked down enemy connections, Tong Wuji was dispatched to punish the Hua Tian Prefecture. Facing Tong Wuji's overwhelming power, the elders of Hua Tian Prefecture fought back in desperation.
BOOM BOOM BOOM ————
countless blood-red fists relentlessly surged towards the heavens, so dense they resembled falling raindrops. Each of these strikes possessed the power to obliterate a peak Great Sage Realm expert. Nevertheless, they charged fiercely, a torrent of fury aimed at the black Saber Gang.
But upon collision with the formidable Saber Gang, the blood-red fists met their end, shattering like fragile eggs against unyielding stone, a testament to their overestimation of strength. All the fists were utterly annihilated.
"Ah————"
The ancestor's eyes blazed with pure rage, letting out continuous roars as he exerted his entire being to mount an interception. Yet, at this critical juncture, Tong Wuji's saber momentum had already ascended to the absolute pinnacle of the world. Regardless of the ancestor's myriad techniques, the intent was clear: To cleave with a single saber!
BOOM!
Despite the ancestor's furious resistance, it proved futile. His Dharma Form, along with his physical body, was directly bisected in the void by the encroaching black Saber Gang. Even as his Dharma Form collapsed, the ancestor desperately continued his barrage of attacks, attempting to negate the saber's path, but his efforts were ultimately unsuccessful.
"Ancestor!"
This devastating sight plunged the myriad powerful figures of the Hua Tian Prefecture into utter despair.
Among the onlookers was Hua Ming, the designated successor of the Hua Tian Prefecture. He was overwhelmed by a profound sense of powerlessness as he witnessed the unfolding tragedy. Having been grievously wounded by Ye Xuan in the Great Ruins, he had not yet fully regained his former strength. He had harbored hopes that with the ancestors' intervention to seize the Immortal Treasure from Zhongxuan Mountain, he might ascend against the prevailing tide, and when the Emperor Road opened, he would be among the first to reach a higher plane.
However, the current outcome left him drowning in despair. All those esteemed titles of Reserve Emperor now seemed like hollow pronouncements!
In the face of such overwhelming and true power, they were nothing more than utter rubbish!
At this precise moment, Hua Ming experienced a stark awakening to reality. Despite being recognized as a dazzling prodigy of this era, when confronted with such peerless might, he was merely an insignificant ant!
He possessed no capacity to resist whatsoever. And now, as he watched the formidable opponent poised to annihilate their very Sect, he could only stand by, helpless and resigned.
BOOM!
The third saber finally descended, impacting directly upon the heart of the Hua Tian Prefecture. In a terrifying instant, the entire sect was rent asunder, split precisely into two halves.
Within the devastated precincts of the Hua Tian Prefecture, countless lives were extinguished in the cataclysmic event. The few who managed to survive, like Hua Ming, owed their continued existence to the ancestor's desperate final efforts; otherwise, the entirety of the Hua Tian Prefecture would have been annihilated under the force of that single, devastating saber strike.
"You deserve to die!"
"Ah————"
The enraged ancestor bellowed at Tong Wuji, "This profound hatred, we of the Hua Tian Prefecture shall forever remember! The moment the Heavenly Dao suppression is lifted, your Emperor Immortal Sect will undoubtedly face utter destruction!"
Tong Wuji paid no heed to the ancestor's furious condemnation, dismissively scoffing. Heavenly Dao Suppression lifted?
Heh heh.
And so what if it were to be lifted.
By that time, he would be capable of annihilating the Hua Tian Prefecture with a mere flick of his saber. As for the possibility of Hua Tian Prefecture harboring even stronger hidden beings within the Heavenly Domain?
Apologies were not his concern. The thirteen formidable factions of his Revenge Lineage had yet to even reveal their full might. When it came to formidable backing, would Tong Wuji truly fear a minuscule entity like the Hua Tian Prefecture?
A truly powerful being never concerns himself with the futile roars of a weaker adversary.
Having unleashed his three sabers, Tong Wuji departed, leaving the Hua Tian Prefecture in smoldering ruins.
Meanwhile, on the opposing side of the Earth State, atop the highest peak within the Immortal Capital Pavilion of the Seventy-two Blessed Lands, a young Taoist stood at the precipice of a cliff. With his hands neatly tucked within his sleeves, he squinted in the direction of the Hua Tian Prefecture, murmuring softly, "So that is the Black Sky Blade technique of the Black Blade Sect; truly impressive, indeed exceptionally impressive."
His gaze then ascended towards the heavens, as if attempting to penetrate the veil of the unseen Heavenly Domain Gate, to glimpse the fabled Heavenly Domain, and to lay eyes upon the esteemed head of the Dao Xuan Sect, Zhou Xuanlin.
"If a member of the Black Blade Sect has already attained such formidable power, then Second Grandfather, just how elevated is your true realm?"
"And regarding that Ye Young Master, who exactly is this individual, and what is his true identity?"
"What profound meaning does Emperor Ye truly embody?"
These were the inquisitive thoughts swirling within the mind of the young Taoist, Zhou Ye. He grasped only one certainty with absolute clarity: When it concerned Ye Xuan, he absolutely could not intervene or attempt to obstruct him.
Otherwise, there would only ever be a single, inevitable outcome.
Death.
He recalled a past instance where he had compelled his half-retired Master to perform a divination, an act that nearly resulted in his Master's premature demise. This harrowing experience had driven home the reality of the situation even more profoundly.
Therefore, this so-called 'Immortal Treasure Struggle' held no real significance in his eyes. Regardless of how the conflict unfolded, the ultimate victor would invariably be Ye Xuan.
Why had the Mysterious Woman of Yuhua from the Yuhua Immortal Sect fallen just short of acquiring the Dark Immortal Body yet refrained from dispatching any forces to seize the Immortal Treasure from Ye Xuan? It was simply because the Yuhua Immortal Sect understood that they could not afford to provoke Ye Xuan at this critical juncture.
Zhou Ye had therefore advised his close friend, Duan Qingcang, the heir apparent to the hidden Qingtian Divine Sect situated in the Heavenly State, that it was most prudent for him to refrain from any intervention.
Yet, judging from the current outcome, perhaps Duan Qingcang did relay the message to the Sect, but it was quite clear that the Qingtian Divine Sect had absolutely no intention of letting this golden opportunity slip through their fingers.
And the result was plain for all to see: the ancestor Shi Pojun of the Qingtian Divine Sect met his demise at Zhongxuan Mountain.
This was an outcome the Qingtian Divine Sect had never, ever foreseen.
However, this turn of events might just be enough to bring his friend back to reality, to make him comprehend certain undeniable truths, and subsequently cease his incessant provocations against Ye Xuan.
This was precisely what Zhou Ye had hoped for.
That, in itself, was sufficient.
Naturally, if this particular friend insisted on a path towards self-destruction, then there would be nothing further to discuss.
A sudden grin stretched across Zhou Ye’s face as he declared, "Now, in this entire vast Xuanhuang Great World, is there anyone who would dare cross our Young Master Ye?"
"Relying on some supposed ties with the Twin Emperors, believing the entire world should revolve around your clique?"
"What a bunch of utterly shameless fools."
————
With the calamitous fall of the Hua Tian Prefecture, the entirety of the Nine States within the Xuanhuang Great World, and even regions far beyond, such as the Xuanhuang Continent, the Qilin Continent, and others, were all observing with bated breath.
At this precise moment.
Zhongxuan Mountain, within the Ancient Battlefield.
Tong Wuji made his return to deliver his report.
Ye Xuan gazed up towards the heavens, a subtle smile gracing his impeccably sculpted features: "Tsk, tsk, it seems I've managed to offend quite a number of you, haven't I?"
"No matter. Whether you intend to pay a visit to my Emperor Immortal Sect, or if I must personally come to you, the choice is yours."
The persistent Divine Senses, now privy to Ye Xuan’s words, found themselves faltering in their resolve.
To be frank, the complete annihilation of so many of their most exceptional cultivators was an utterly unacceptable loss for any Sect.
They could perhaps stomach the loss of an Immortal Treasure, but the demise of such a vast number of their Sect's most powerful individuals was simply beyond contemplation.
Yet, at this critical juncture, they remained utterly baffled as to how Ye Xuan had achieved such a feat; consequently, they dared not gamble with such immense stakes.
Thus, this deep-seated animosity would have to be harbored in secret for the time being.
They had already borne witness to the catastrophic fate that befell the Hua Tian Prefecture.
Should they press further, recovery would be an insurmountable challenge.
And so, one by one, the Divine Senses quietly withdrew their prying attention.
None dared to continue their intrusive surveillance of the Ancient Battlefield any longer.
The ancient adage, striking once to avert a hundred blows, served as a profound lesson here.
The grim fate of the Hua Tian Prefecture, horrifically displayed before their very eyes.
Regardless of the depth of their respective Sect's foundations, they simply did not possess the audacity to initiate a full-scale war under such dire circumstances.
"Huh?"
"There are still a few more foolish souls eager to court death."
Ancestor Qiankun, who had been diligently collecting spoils from the fallen bodies, looked up towards the sky with a hearty laugh and inquired, "Master, might I suggest allowing this old servant to handle them?"
Ye Xuan casually waved a hand, dismissing the idea. "No need. They are planning to deploy the Great Emperor Immortal Soldiers."
Ancestor Qiankun let out a disbelieving chuckle: "Tsk, tsk. They love to play games but can't afford the consequences; how truly amusing."
