Chapter 85: The Mountain Rain Approaches

The Divine Sword Sect is nestled within the vast, boundless mountains in the far east of the Great Yuan Dynasty.

Its seventy-two main peaks, like massive bluestone swords thrusting straight into the clouds, are shrouded in thick spiritual mist all year round.

Before the mountain gate, ten thousand strands of Sword Qi transform into crisscrossing rainbow lights, faintly outlining the "Nine Heavens Sword Formation" that has guarded the Sect for a millennium.

On this day, the sky is overcast, and dull thunder rumbles within the rolling black clouds, as if signaling that a storm is about to sweep across this thousand-year-old Cultivation Holy Land.

Suddenly, the Void Realm outside the Divine Sword Sect's mountain gate ripples slightly, and two figures emerge, stepping forward one after the other from the rolling sea of clouds.

Walking in front is a young man with a cold expression and flying black hair.

He stands with his hands behind his back, appearing to take each step very slowly.

Yet, with each step, he covers vast distances, and golden runes and Chaos True Essence faintly flicker around him.

Following half a step behind him is a middle-aged man wearing dark gold Sect Master robes, with a refined face but hollow eyes—it is none other than the Divine Sword Sect Leader, Sect Master Lin Wuwen.

"Who goes there? This is a restricted area of the Sect; trespassers will be killed!"

The two Core Disciples guarding the mountain sense the fluctuations in the Void Realm, instantly summoning their Flying Swords and shouting sternly into the air.

However, when their gazes land on Sect Master Lin Wuwen, their expressions change drastically. They hurriedly retract their Flying Swords and kneel in terror: "Disciple pays respects to the Sect Master! We did not know the Sect Master had arrived; we deserve death!"

Sect Master Lin Wuwen remains expressionless, not even raising an eyelid, as if the two standing before him are merely stone statues.

He simply follows Chu Chang stiffly, his posture resembling that of a servile attendant.

The two mountain-guarding Disciples sneakily raise their heads, exchanging a look of shock.

"The Sect Master… why is he half a step behind that young man? And that man's attire—he seems to be just an unremarkable Outer Sect Disciple?"

Chu Chang ignores the suspicious gazes of the mountain-guarding Disciples. He looks up at the main peak piercing the sky, a cold smile curling the corners of his lips.

"Sect Master Lin Wuwen, issue the order. Tell all Elders and Disciples of the Divine Sword Sect to assemble at the main peak Sword Platform within half an incense stick of time. Say that… there is a matter of rebellion concerning the life and death of the Sect to be announced." Chu Chang says indifferently.

"Yes, Master." Sect Master Lin Wuwen's voice is stiff and hoarse.

The next moment, Sect Master Lin Wuwen takes a deep breath, and his Middle Stage Purple Mansion Realm cultivation erupts.

An oppressive, blood-colored Sword Intent soars into the sky, transforming into a massive sound wave that instantly spreads to every corner of the Divine Sword Sect.

"Divine Sword Sect, heed this order! All Elders, true transmission, inner, and Outer Sect Disciples are to assemble at the main peak Sword Platform within half an incense stick of time! Those late by a hundred breaths will have their cultivation crippled and be expelled from the Sect!"

The Sect Master's decree, like rolling thunder, rumbles ceaselessly.

In an instant, the seventy-two main peaks shake simultaneously, and countless rays of sword light shoot into the sky, converging densely toward the main peak Sword Platform.

The main peak Sword Platform, carved from a single massive piece of profound steel, is a thousand feet wide. Thousands of broken swords belonging to fallen Elders of past generations are stuck along its edges, exuding an aura of grim Killing Intent.

With the Sect Master's decree issued, in just a short moment, the Sword Platform is packed with a dense crowd.

"What has happened to the Sect Master today? He actually used the golden decree to issue the order; could it be that an external enemy has invaded?"

"Judging by that tone, it's full of Killing Intent. Could it be that an Elder was secretly colluding with an external enemy and was discovered by the Sect Master?"

"Look! Who is that person standing beside the Sect Master? Why is he wearing the attire of an Outer Sect Disciple, yet he stands side-by-side with the Sect Master?"

Countless Disciples whisper and point.

At the very front of the Sword Platform, more than a dozen Sect Elders with profound auras—the lowest being Golden Core Late Stage, and three even reaching the Early Stage Purple Mansion Realm—look at the two people on the platform with grave expressions.

"Senior Brother Lin, I do not know why you have gathered the entire Sect today. What is the reason?"

The speaker is Grand Elder Zhao Wuji, an expert at the Early Stage Purple Mansion Realm.

He wears a white robe, his white hair flowing, and he possesses the bearing of an immortal, but his shrewd little eyes flicker with an imperceptible trace of shock and panic.

Because he discovers that Sect Master Lin Wuwen looks a bit strange today.

Not only is his aura somewhat stiff, but it also faintly exudes a Death Qi that makes him feel oppressed.

More importantly, Sect Master Lin Wuwen is actually standing behind that Outer Sect Disciple named Chu Chang!

Chu Chang surveys the dense crowd of Sect Disciples below, as well as the dozen or so Elders with varied expressions, his face showing no fear.

"Grand Elder Zhao, there is no need to rush."

Chu Chang takes a step forward, hands behind his back. With the amplification of his Chaos True Essence, his voice clearly enters the ears of everyone present.

"Today, I have gathered you all here for one purpose: to settle accounts with the rebels and reorganize the Divine Sword Sect!"

As soon as these words are spoken, the entire crowd erupts in an uproar!!

"Presumptuous! You, a mere Outer Sect Disciple, dare to spout nonsense on the Sword Platform!"

A Golden Core Stage Teaching Elder cannot suppress his anger, pointing at Chu Chang and shouting sternly, "The Sect Master is here; how can we allow a mere fledgling like you to spout nonsense here? Left and right Enforcers, take this madman down for me!"

Several Law Enforcement Hall Enforcers in black immediately step forward, their True Essence surging as they prepare to act.

"Retreat."

Sect Master Lin Wuwen, who has been standing woodenly behind Chu Chang, suddenly speaks, his voice ice-cold and bone-chilling, without a trace of warmth.

The Enforcers stiffen, stopping dead in their tracks. They look at each other, at a loss.

Grand Elder Zhao Wuji, seeing this, frowns even deeper. He looks at Sect Master Lin Wuwen and says in a deep voice, "Senior Brother Lin, what is the meaning of this? This boy is just an Outer Sect Disciple who is disrupting Sect order and slandering Elders here. Why do you protect him? Could it be that you have been held hostage by this evildoer?"

Grand Elder Zhao Wuji's words are meant as a probe.

But he could never have imagined that the Sect Master Lin Wuwen before him is no longer a living person, but a walking corpse completely obedient to Chu Chang.

Chu Chang sneers, takes out the blood-colored secret letters he previously searched from Sect Master Lin Wuwen's Storage Pouch, and tosses them into the air.

Swish!

The secret letters are shattered by True Essence in the Void Realm, transforming into countless massive golden light screens, projecting every word and every seal on the letters clearly and unmistakably above the Sword Platform!

"Everyone, look closely."

Chu Chang points to the light screens in the Void Realm, his words piercing the heart: "This is the good work done by the Elders you usually look up to, those who appear so lofty and immortal!"

Above the Sword Platform, a deathly silence instantly falls.

All the Disciples look up, staring fixedly at the light screens in the Void Realm, reading the shocking words.

"…Deliver five hundred high-quality blood offerings… The obtained Divine Soul blood marrow is to be split fifty-fifty…"

"Xiao Family… Iron Sword Sect… Zhao Family…"

As the text on the light screens continues to flash, the Disciples' expressions change from confusion to shock, and then from shock to anger and fear!

"This… how is this possible? Are the Xiao Family and the Zhao Family not the affiliated cultivation families of our Sect? How could they… how could they collude with others to hunt down our Sect's Disciples and Loose Cultivators?"

"Heavens! My younger brother went missing in the forbidden area outside the city three years ago, and the Sect said he died at the hands of a Yao Beast. Could it be… could it be…"

"Look at that seal! That is Grand Elder Zhao Wuji's personal seal! And the signatures of the Second Elder and Fourth Elder!"

Boom!

The entire Sword Platform instantly explodes into chaos.

The emotions of tens of thousands of Disciples completely spiral out of control at this moment. Waves of angry shouting rise one after another, and countless blood-red eyes stare in unison at Grand Elder Zhao Wuji in the front row, as well as the other few Elders whose faces have turned deathly pale.

"Grand Elder Zhao! Give us an explanation!"

"Are we Disciples of this Sect nothing more than livestock for you to Cultivate your Demonic Technique and trade for blood marrow?!"

Some Disciples whose relatives died in the forbidden area pull out their Flying Swords, roaring while trembling all over.

The few Elders standing in the front row are completely panicked. The Fourth Elder's legs are even shaking, and he looks at Grand Elder Zhao Wuji for help.

Grand Elder Zhao Wuji's face is so gloomy that it looks like it could drip water.

He stares fixedly at the projection in the Void Realm, then looks at the expressionless Sect Master Lin Wuwen standing behind Chu Chang, his mind frantically searching for countermeasures.

"That madman, Sect Master Lin Wuwen! How could he hand these secret letters to this brat? Does he want to perish together with us? No… Sect Master Lin Wuwen's appearance does not look like he is conscious at all. Could it be…"

Grand Elder Zhao Wuji is also a ruthless person. Seeing that the matter has been exposed, he decides to go all out.

"Absurd! This is simply nonsense!"

Grand Elder Zhao Wuji takes a sudden step forward, and the terrifying pressure of the Purple Mansion Realm presses down on the entire scene like a mountain, forcibly suppressing the noise of the ten thousand Disciples.

He points at Chu Chang and roars, shifting the blame: "Fellow Disciples, do not listen to the one-sided words of this evildoer! These secret letters are clearly forged by this boy using illusion techniques, a trick to split our Divine Sword Sect! As for the Sect Master… I see that the Sect Master's eyes are devoid of focus; he must have been struck by some Divine Soul secret technique of this evildoer and had his consciousness controlled!"

Grand Elder Zhao Wuji turns around and whispers via sound transmission to the other two Purple Mansion Realm Elders behind him: "Two Junior Brothers, matters have reached this point. If we let this boy continue speaking, we will all be doomed! Attack with me, grind this boy's bones to dust, and then seize back the Sect Master!"

The other two Elders are also covered in cold sweat. With their lives at stake, they do not hesitate at all, nodding in unison. Their True Essence begins to circulate wildly, ready to launch a fatal blow at any moment.

"If you want to condemn someone, you can always find an excuse."

Chu Chang looks at Grand Elder Zhao Wuji and the others who are desperate like a dog jumping over a wall, the mockery on his face deepening.

"Grand Elder Zhao Wuji, do you think that by attacking now, you can still deceive the mouths of the world? You want evidence? Then I will show you the most solid evidence!"

Chu Chang turns his head and softly utters one word to Sect Master Lin Wuwen behind him:

"Kneel."

Under the gaze of everyone, the Sect Master Lin Wuwen, who was usually unparalleled in majesty and covered the sky with one hand in the Divine Sword Sect, hears this word from Chu Chang and does not hesitate in the slightest. His knees bend, and in front of tens of thousands of Disciples of the entire Sect, he kneels down at Chu Chang's feet with a boom!

This kneeling directly shatters the last illusions of Grand Elder Zhao Wuji and the others.

"This… is the Sect Master really controlled?!"

"No, if he were struck by a secret technique, with the Sect Master's Middle Stage Purple Mansion Realm cultivation, how could there be no signs of a struggle?"

"Sect Master Lin Wuwen, tell everyone, are the letters on the light screens true?" Chu Chang looks down at the Puppet at his feet.

Sect Master Lin Wuwen mechanically raises his head, his stitched-up face appearing somewhat eerie in the sunlight. His voice spreads stiffly across the entire scene: "The letters are true. I, along with Grand Elder Zhao Wuji, the Second Elder, the Fourth Elder, and forces such as the Xiao Family and the Iron Sword Sect, conspired to use forbidden area blood offerings to refine Demonic Puppets, causing the deaths of one thousand two hundred Sect Disciples and over three thousand Loose Cultivators."

Wow!

Sect Master Lin Wuwen's personal admission is like a Nine Heavens Lightning Tribulation divine thunder exploding on the Sword Platform.

Those Disciples who were still hesitating or doubting are completely overcome with rage at this moment.

"Beasts! You bunch of beasts!"

"Kill them! Avenge our fallen fellow brothers!"

"The Divine Sword Sect has actually been ruled by this group of demonic evildoers for so long!"

Countless Disciples, their eyes red, surge madly toward the front of the platform.

"Damn it! That madman, Sect Master Lin Wuwen!"

Grand Elder Zhao Wuji, seeing that the situation is lost, can no longer suppress the Killing Intent in his heart. He sneers, his white robes billowing, and a blue Flying Sword exuding an icy aura screams out instantly, transforming into a hundred-foot-long blue sword light. Carrying the full-force strike of a Purple Mansion Realm expert, it heads straight for Chu Chang's throat!

"Little beast, even if you have heaven-defying abilities, you will die here today!"

"Kill!"

The other two Purple Mansion Realm Elders also attack simultaneously, one from the left and one from the right. Two terrifying spell lights transform into two massive firebirds, sealing off all of Chu Chang's retreat paths.

The combined strike of three Purple Mansion Realm experts is immense, causing the protective Formation around the Sword Platform to shake violently.

Facing this devastating offensive, Chu Chang simply stands in place, not even moving a step. He watches the rapidly approaching blue sword light, the corners of his lips slightly upturned.

"Sect Master Lin Wuwen, you have been raised for a thousand days to be used for this one moment."

"For me, tear them apart."

Hum!

Sect Master Lin Wuwen, who was originally kneeling on the ground, strangely disappears from the spot in an instant.

When he reappears, he is already blocking in front of Chu Chang. That Physical Body, which has undergone Demonic Fire Bone Refining and been reshaped by the Heavenly Demon secret technique as a "Heavenly Demon Reincarnation Puppet," erupts with a suffocating, terrifying Devilish Qi at this moment.

"Roar!"

A low growl, not like that of a human, emanates from Sect Master Lin Wuwen's throat. He does not dodge or avoid, nor does he summon any Magic Treasure. He simply extends those dark gold palms and brazenly grabs at that hundred-foot-long blue sword light!

Clang!

A loud sound of metal colliding.

In the shocked eyes of everyone, the Lifebound Treasure Flying Sword that Grand Elder Zhao Wuji had driven with all his might is actually grabbed by Sect Master Lin Wuwen with his bare palms in mid-air!

"This… this is impossible!"

Grand Elder Zhao Wuji's eyes are about to pop out. That is his Lifebound Treasure Flying Sword, forged from top-grade cold iron with infinite power. How could it be grabbed by someone with bare palms, and without even breaking the skin?!

"Break for me."

Sect Master Lin Wuwen's voice is hoarse, and his hands bend with force.

Crack!

That blue Flying Sword, under the kneading of Sect Master Lin Wuwen's palms—which are comparable to top-grade Magic Treasures—is as fragile as mud and is directly snapped into three pieces!

Pfft!

With his Lifebound Treasure destroyed, Grand Elder Zhao Wuji suffers a heavy blow. A mouthful of blood sprays out, and he wilts completely.

Sect Master Lin Wuwen's movements do not pause in the slightest. His figure flashes, and he instantly rushes in front of the two massive firebirds, throwing both fists out together.

Boom! Boom!

Two muffled sounds. Those two terrifying firebirds, capable of severely injuring an ordinary Early Stage Purple Mansion Realm expert, are directly blasted into scattered sparks in the sky by Sect Master Lin Wuwen's fists.

"Now, it is your turn."

Chu Chang stands in the back, coldly watching Grand Elder Zhao Wuji and the others, who have expressions of despair.

He raises his right hand, forms a sword finger, and points it at the deathly pale Grand Elder Zhao Wuji.

"Kill without mercy."

In Sect Master Lin Wuwen's hollow eyes, a strange blood-colored light flares up instantly. Like a fierce tiger descending from the mountain, carrying violent Devilish Qi, he charges fiercely toward the few Sect traitors who have long since been scared out of their wits.

On the main peak Sword Platform, a long-planned bloody reckoning finally begins.