Myth! . . .
Cha Eun Xiao was astounded by the sheer audacity of Xuan Bing. After ruthlessly dismantling Saint Sunlight Sect, she didn't pause for a moment. Her relentless path led her directly to Saint Starlight Sect, her energy flowing unceasingly as she charged into the heart of the sect. Xuan Bing had no time for conversation; she immediately commenced a brutal spree of violence.
It was a one-sided crackdown. After incapacitating several members of Saint Starlight Sect, she left behind a stark message, "From now on, be cautious! Close your gates for three years!"
The assault on Cold Moon Palace, however, proved to be less severe. This time, only a few elders suffered injuries, and no casualties occurred. It was a more favorable outcome compared to the devastation witnessed at Saint Sunlight Sect and Saint Starlight Sect.
The remaining four sects experienced a similar ordeal as Xuan Bing swept through them all, each receiving her stern warning.
But she did not stop with the seven sects; she continued her campaign by targeting the remaining two of the three great palaces, Ice Cloud Palace and Qiong-Hua Palace. In the end, she took on the two great halls, demonstrating her whirlwind-like power that engulfed the most influential forces in Qing-Yun Realm.
The two great halls had more success in resisting Xuan Bing, boasting formidable cultivators who could withstand her might. Consequently, their losses were less significant. The two palaces, both led by women, received relatively lighter treatment, as Xuan Bing did not set out to annihilate them. Among the seven great sects, Sun, Moon, and Star fared the worst, with the others enduring less severe consequences.
Cold Moon Palace, Saint Sunlight Sect, and Saint Starlight Sect had all previously joined forces to vanquish Xiao Monarch, who they successfully eliminated after a war spanning several months. Nearly half of their elite disciples had perished in the process, and countless others had sustained severe injuries.
The surviving Dao Origin Stage cultivators remained wounded for decades, while those who fared better still required considerable recovery time. These weakened conditions left them vulnerable when Xuan Bing of Misty Cloud Palace came knocking.
As she effortlessly overcame the three sects, they couldn't help but feel humiliated. They recognized that they had been fortunate Xuan Bing did not have the intent to obliterate them completely. She had undoubtedly held back, for a full-scale assault would likely have wiped them from existence.
One disciple pondered aloud, "Why is Elder Xuan Bing acting so recklessly? Challenging all the powerful forces of the world by herself…"
Xiao Mufei reprimanded the disciple, "Fool! Grand Elder Xuan Bing had disappeared, and there were rumors of her demise. As a result, everyone pressed Misty Cloud Palace but didn't truly attempt to annihilate them. The goal was to determine whether Xuan Bing had indeed perished."
He continued, "If she were still alive, she would undoubtedly return to protect her sect. If she did not appear, it would signify her death, and Misty Cloud Palace would face extinction. The outcome is clear now—Xuan Bing is not only alive but stronger than ever. She has achieved remarkable power through clandestine cultivation."
Xiao Mufei sighed deeply, "This was an utterly foolish miscalculation on our part. The great sects have brought trouble upon themselves... We have invited misfortune. However, there will be a period of peace in the martial world now."
The collective sigh of relief among those present underscored their recognition of the implications of Xuan Bing's resurgence.
Cha Eun Xiao couldn't help but be perplexed by the turn of events. On the surface, the peace among the sects was a welcome respite from the constant threats of being hunted down. It was a fortunate turn of events that might have saved their lives. However, Cha Eun Xiao couldn't shake off a lingering sense of strangeness.
He had never met Grand Elder Xuan Bing, but her reputation preceded her. Xuan Bing was known as a formidable figure in the world of cultivation. Nevertheless, her power should not have been this overwhelming, he reasoned.
Recalling the ranking list of cultivators in the Qing-Yun Realm, Cha Eun Xiao noted that one man had held the top position for an extended period. His name was Wu Fa, a renowned figure whose name was often spoken but seldom written. Wu Fa had reigned as the strongest cultivator in Qing-Yun Realm for years.
Following Wu Fa were the two lords of the great halls, whose identities remained shrouded in mystery, known to few. Subsequent to the two lords were the three great palaces. Grand Elder Xuan Bing of Misty Cloud Palace was the most powerful among them. While she was equally matched in strength with the two hall lords, her martial arts prowess was on par with the other two great figures who led the remaining two palaces.
The top ten most powerful cultivators in the realm represented ten different forces, effectively serving as a ranking of the ten most influential forces as well. There were other cultivators who were undoubtedly worthy of a place on this list, yet they lacked the backing of a powerful sect and, therefore, did not make the cut. Nevertheless, these individuals possessed genuine strength and could be considered for such recognition.
Despite all of this, Cha Eun Xiao couldn't reconcile Xuan Bing's incredible power. She hadn't merely faced one or two cultivators; she had confronted every individual from that top ten list. She challenged and created chaos within the sects, going to great lengths to confront all of these influential figures. Her journey encompassed vast distances, as she traversed a hundred thousand miles to confront and defeat these formidable individuals.
The unbelievable nature of these events left Cha Eun Xiao with a pressing question: How had Xuan Bing become so overwhelmingly powerful?