Chapter 365: Arrogant First, Humble Later
Chapter 365: From Arrogance to Humility
Southern Frontier, Myriad Poison Sect Headquarters.
Within the vast hall, several white-haired elders stared grimly at a pile of minced flesh before them, exchanging uneasy glances.
"Dragon Centipede and Huigu are dead!"
"Their Life Gu shattered beyond recovery—their souls scattered, returning to the Netherworld. Even if they reincarnate, they will no longer be the same individuals."
Shock and fury burned in the eyes of the Myriad Poison Sect elders. As overlords of the Southern Frontier, they had long grown accustomed to exploiting the various tribes and clans at will. Deaths among their disciples—let alone True Persons—were rare occurrences. Yet now, they had suffered such a devastating blow.
"...Was it the Sword Pavilion?"
"Our spy in the Sword Pavilion reported that True Person Dangmo dispatched his newly Foundation Establishment disciple here. Could he be the one who killed Dragon Centipede and Huigu?"
"Newly Foundation Establishment?"
"Impossible!"
"Not entirely impossible... Have you forgotten the Sword Pavilion's nature? 'Newly Foundation Establishment' likely means another old Foundation Establishment cultivator reborn."
"Ah, then it makes sense..."
The Myriad Poison Sect's [Life Gu] was an extraordinary technique that preserved a sliver of a True Person's True Spirit, capable of guiding their soul back in critical moments.
By all logic, even if True Person Dragon Centipede and Huigu died outside, the Life Gu should have preserved a thread of vitality, allowing them to reincarnate and potentially regain their Foundation Establishment status after a century or two. Yet now, not even their souls remained intact.
Such ruthless killing methods—aside from the Sword Pavilion, only the other three major forces of equal standing could achieve this. The elders' expressions darkened further at the thought.
"Enough. If we can't provoke them, we can at least avoid them."
"That Sword Pavilion True Person may be formidable, but he isn't a Great Sword Cultivator. With our Cult Master overseeing us, he wouldn't dare openly challenge us at Sacred Mountain."
"Let us endure for now."
"In time, once the [Ten Thousand Calamities Gu] is fully refined and the Cult Master's divine abilities reach perfection, we won't have to live under the Sword Pavilion's shadow anymore..."
One elder attempted to console the others, easing their frustration, when suddenly, he sensed something and looked toward the sect's entrance.
From afar, a sword's hum resounded!
"Clang! Clang!"
The sword's hum rolled through the air like thunder, shaking heaven and earth. The sound waves rippled visibly, distorting the very space they passed through.
Boom!
Instantly, arrays lit up around the Myriad Poison Sect headquarters as the protective mountain formation activated in response to the threat. Yet as the sword's hum faded, the array patterns trembled violently before crumbling apart, teetering on the brink of collapse!
With this breach, the Myriad Poison Sect stood on the precipice of disaster!
The elders' expressions twisted in horror as they swiftly manifested their Dao Foundations, desperately reinforcing the shattered arrays.
"What kind of technique is this?"
"[Sword Qi Thunder Sound]... Is this the Sword Pavilion's newly Foundation Establishment sword cultivator? After killing Dragon Centipede and Huigu, he dares to attack Sacred Mountain directly?"
"Such audacity! Such audacity!"
The elders' faces alternated between shock and rage—especially the one who had just claimed the enemy wouldn't dare assault their stronghold.
To their senses, it was as if a new sun had risen beyond Sacred Mountain. The sword's hum radiated like scorching sunlight, filling the heavens and shaking the cosmos. Cultivators below Foundation Establishment couldn't even survive in such an environment—merely hearing it would reduce them to dust!
"Where is the Myriad Poison Cult Master?"
High in the sky, Lü Yang merged with his sword light, each word he spoke crashing down like thunder upon the sect below.
'My mastery of [Sword Qi Thunder Sound] grows ever more refined...'
Though only the first realm of sword cultivation, its power already rivaled Lü Yang's former [Decree Mountain-Shifting Righteous Method], comparable to Foundation Establishment Dao techniques.
If he advanced further, reaching the level of [Sword Heart Clarity], it might even match an innate divine ability.
'Truly overpowered...'
No wonder sword cultivators were once peerless in battle. Like the [Heaven of Non-Existence]'s bestowed Void divine abilities, how could others compete when sword cultivators wielded an extra ability?
But then Lü Yang reconsidered: If the overpowered one is me, that changes everything.
After all, sword cultivation demanded exceptional talent and relentless effort. Setting aside mechanisms and numerical advantages, his achievements were ultimately the result of hard work and sweat!
"I am Ming He, the current Sword Seed of the Sword Pavilion, dispatched by my master to investigate the abduction of Jiangnan's common folk."
"Myriad Poison Cult Master, show yourself!"
Lü Yang spoke again, fearlessly amplifying [Sword Qi Thunder Sound], faintly grasping the essence of [Sword Heart Clarity].
At that moment—
"Young friend, this is excessive."
A voice rang out as a moon-white radiance rose from the Myriad Poison Sect, transforming into a crescent moon suspended in the heavens.
A cold, serene voice echoed forth, instantly suppressing all sword hums—not through superior sword Dao comprehension, but sheer cultivation superiority. With the might and authority of a Grand True Person, she forcibly extinguished Lü Yang's sword qi.
Then, a graceful figure emerged.
Clad in the Southern Frontier's distinctive silver-embroidered attire, she wore a pleated skirt adorned with intricate patterns. Her bare feet, fair with a rosy hue, hovered mid-air.
Yet what drew the most attention was her face—flawless, as if meticulously sculpted, beyond the realm of natural beauty.
Lü Yang, however, remained unimpressed.
After all, he knew of the Myriad Poison Sect's [Beauty Gu], a tool to refine one's appearance. Even the plainest woman could use it to become a beauty.
Scanning her briefly, Lü Yang said indifferently, "You are the Myriad Poison Cult Master?"
"Indeed, this Protector is."
The woman in white, named [Long Yue], a late-stage Foundation Establishment Grand True Person, glared coldly. "May I ask why the Sword Pavilion's True Person has come?"
"Two matters."
Lü Yang raised two fingers calmly. "First, I encountered two of your sect's True Persons on the road. I've already sent them to join the Sword Pavilion."
The words alone darkened Long Yue's expression.
"Join the Sword Pavilion?"
Throughout Jiangnan, everyone knew this was a euphemism for execution. Hearing it firsthand only deepened her humiliation!
Should I thank you for that?
"Second." Lü Yang ignored her reaction entirely. "I'm here to investigate the abduction of Jiangnan's civilians."
"The Myriad Poison Sect is a prime suspect."
"Open your gates immediately, surrender, and submit to my investigation."
His words were so domineering that Long Yue's chest heaved with rage. "Surrender? True Person Dangmo might have the right to say that!"
Who do you think you are?
"Do you truly believe killing Dragon Centipede and Huigu makes you invincible?" Long Yue let out a sharp laugh, brimming with killing intent.
"Fine! Then—"
Before she could finish, a sword hum cut her off!
Expressionless, Lü Yang activated [Tribulation Wave]'s enhancement. His mid-stage Foundation Establishment cultivation, already at its peak, instantly broke through its bottleneck.
In the next second, the sword hum ceased.
Though only for a fleeting moment, Long Yue's face froze. Her fair throat twitched slightly before her flawless features abruptly softened into a smile:
"...Then, Fellow Daoist, please come inside for a discussion."