You Vile Man . . .
The man in black continued to weave his web of deception, taunting them with sinister glee. His voice mimicked Long Tianyun's as he outlined his scheme, "You can make a very close guess about who would be in the surviving group from the other sects... You know well how to deal with those men. You will say a lot to your men, these and these, those and those... I came up with the plan, so they must trust me the most. When you guys survive, we are already dead... No matter what you do, they won't know it."
He reveled in his sinister charade, a malevolent grin hidden beneath his mask, "They won't know that this plan is for the great future of our great clan, Long Clan! They won't know that they sacrificed so much, including all their lives, to protect the supreme dan beads, yet the supreme dan beads belong to Long Clan only! Hahahaha..."
Although the man in black's imitation of Long Tianyun's voice was not perfect, it sent shockwaves through everyone present. His final laughter was a devastating blow to their resolve.
With a single laugh, all weapons fell to the ground, and the faces of those who had been fighting turned a sickly pallor.
The disturbing reality began to sink in: if this scheme played out, the Long Clan would be the sole beneficiary. Long Tianyun, as the mastermind behind the plan, had control over the destinies of all those who followed him. And if he set them up in such a way, they would lose everything, leaving the Long Clan to reap all the rewards.
The man in black's sinister ruse had cast doubt over the alliance, and the momentum of their attacks waned. Some even began to question Long Tianyun's intentions, thinking, "Long Tianyun is quite the schemer. He suggested a plan for their own benefit. We almost fell into the trap. Now, here we are, still under his command, fighting against a formidable adversary. The longer I fight, the more I feel like a fool..."
In the midst of the chaos, Long Tianyun's anger was boiling over, and he couldn't help but wonder about the man's origins, "Where does this scoundrel come from? How does he excel at these schemes? Perhaps I'll have that idea tomorrow or someday, but when I proposed the plan, I genuinely believed it was for our collective benefit. I hadn't considered any selfish motives..."
The united front was teetering on the brink of collapse. Fueled by frustration, Long Tianyun leaped into action. As he soared through the air, his blade flashed, and he challenged the masked schemer, "Liar! You schemer! I won't let you leave today! Otherwise, you'll jeopardize the future of the eight noble clans!"
Long Tianyun's words served as a sobering reminder, rekindling the fighters' resolve, "Regardless of Long Tianyun's intentions, he hasn't enacted the plan yet. Even if he had ulterior motives, he hasn't succeeded. The man in black, he's the looming threat. Once he escapes safely, our future will be fraught with uncertainty."
The urgency of the situation was undeniable. Regardless of the truth behind the man in black's claims, their primary goal was clear: they had to eliminate this man to safeguard the secrecy of the plan.
Now, with knowledge of the potential hidden agenda of the Long Clan, they could take preemptive measures. When the time came, the Long Clan might find themselves outmaneuvered, even overthrown, if they weren't careful. Long Tianyun's cleverness was apparent, and if they continued to focus on him and let the man in black escape, they would be acting foolishly.
Self-preservation was their shared motive, as they all fought for their own interests. The question of who would ultimately gain the upper hand remained unanswered. Nevertheless, their immediate priority was clear: they had to neutralize the man in black. The secret could not be allowed to escape.
With this resolve in mind, they renewed their desperate battle against their enigmatic foe. Their determination to eliminate him intensified.
Long Tianyun's strategic acumen was undeniable. Even under the shadow of suspicion, he managed to alter the course of the battle with a few well-placed words. He didn't speak extensively, but he connected the logical dots that fueled the renewed onslaught.
The masked man in black continued to dart through the onslaught, evading their relentless attacks. However, the pressure was mounting, and his room to maneuver was shrinking rapidly. He sensed the tide turning against him and offered reluctant praise, "Long Tianyun, well done! What a scheme! A few words and you've completely changed the game. Admirable..."
As he spoke, a swift attack connected, injuring his shoulder and drawing blood. It was the first time their strikes had managed to wound him, and this sight invigorated their attacks. The men redoubled their efforts, striking fiercely.
Injured and infuriated, the man in black could no longer hold back. He unleashed his true martial arts, shrouding himself in a dark blue light. Layers of this aura radiated outward, and his sword began to sway, leading to a momentous development. A massive, fan-shaped sword mountain materialized, casting a formidable shadow over the battlefield.
High in the air, the sword mountain materialized, transforming abruptly into numerous sword breaths that burst forth like a volley of projectiles – an intense onslaught.
Each sword breath was enveloped in a vibrant blue glow with a hint of crimson, an indication that the wielder, in his fury at being wounded, was unleashing a deadly strike.
One after another, the sword breaths whizzed through the air. Five of the nearest men bore the brunt of this ferocious attack, cries of pain escaping their lips as they were struck by the sword breaths, their blood splattering through the air like a macabre rain. It was a single strike that wounded all five, with fatal consequences.
Witnessing this overpowering display of swordsmanship, Long Tianyun's eyes widened, a profound sense of anguish and despair gripping his heart. He couldn't contain his dismay and let out a thunderous scream, "Sword Breath In Blood! You are the Heartless Sword, Situ Yu! Situ Yu, you treacherous elder of the Green Mountain Sect! Disguising yourself as a member of the Cyan Cloud Sect, you cunning scoundrel!"
Realization struck several other cultivators who recognized the sword art and joined in the outcry, their anger and indignation echoing through the scene, "It's you!"
In response, the man in black laughed, his voice gratingly hoarse, "You've misunderstood me, truly... I understand you won't heed my words. It won't make a difference for me to say more. Farewell!"
With that, the sword mountain underwent a chaotic transformation. The man's longsword took flight and executed a swift turn. With a resounding sound, a massive sword breath resembling a dragon emerged, adorned with a spectrum of vibrant hues. It illuminated the dark night sky as it shot forth like lightning.
It was a fusion of man and sword – a Human-sword Mergence!
Confronted with the pinnacle of swordsmanship in the world of cultivation, everyone desperately sought to evade the impending onslaught..