In the forbidden area of the Sword Sect, within a secluded canyon that Shadow Guard had previously reported to Orion, a grim scene unfolded.
Ling Yunfeng, pale and wounded, staggered deeper into the valley, blood dripping from his abdomen and leaving a crimson trail behind him. Although he had narrowly escaped the grasp of Li Sandao and Yuan Zuozong, he was grievously injured, and even the most potent medicines he had consumed barely made a difference. The wounds inflicted by the Martial Saints were far too severe to be easily healed.
"Damn it…" Ling Yunfeng cursed through gritted teeth, his body growing increasingly weak as blood continued to flow. However, more than the physical pain, what shocked him the most was the realization of the strength that the seemingly insignificant King of Zhenbei, Orion, commanded—two Martial Saints in his service!
Finally, after what felt like an eternity, Ling Yunfeng reached the end of the canyon. His eyes lit up with determination as he gazed upon the cave sealed by a massive boulder. This was the retreat of the Sword Sect's ancestor, their last hope.
Ignoring the agony from his wound, Ling Yunfeng quickly performed a series of complex incantations. The surrounding spiritual energy, once calm, suddenly surged violently, forming a tornado that slammed into the boulder, shattering it into dust.
As the dust settled, the figure of an ancient, skeletal man sitting cross-legged in the darkness became visible. His body was covered in cobwebs, and his eyes were closed, giving the appearance of someone long dead. Yet, Ling Yunfeng did not dare to hesitate and immediately knelt before the old man.
"The seventh-generation leader of the Sword Sect, Ling Yunfeng, pays his respects to the ancestor!" he called out, his voice echoing in the silence.
There was no response, just an eerie stillness. Yet Ling Yunfeng remained kneeling, his blood pooling on the ground, unwavering in his posture.
After a long pause, the old man, who had seemed lifeless, suddenly stirred as a faint aura began to emanate from his withered form. The blood that had spilled from Ling Yunfeng's wound began to levitate, drawn towards the old man, who absorbed it into his body. Slowly, the deathly pallor of the old man's face started to fade, regaining some vitality, though it still retained a ghastly hue.
If Ling Yunfeng had dared to look up, he would have seen that the old man's eyes, once closed, were now open, shining with an eerie brilliance. The depths of those eyes were filled with profound, inscrutable laws, enough to entrance any who gazed into them.
After a moment, the supernatural phenomena surrounding the old man began to dissipate, replaced by a sharp, murderous intent in his gaze.
"Why have you summoned me?" The old man's voice rasped, like rusted iron scraping together. "If this is not a matter of utmost importance, the consequences will be... dire."
Despite the harshness of the voice, Ling Yunfeng remained composed, though a cold sweat broke out on his forehead under the weight of the old man's gaze.
"Ancestor, I beg your forgiveness for disturbing your cultivation," Ling Yunfeng began, his voice trembling slightly. "But the situation is dire. An army has attacked the Sword Sect, slaughtering our disciples. They seek to annihilate us completely, leaving no trace of our existence."
The old man's anger slowly subsided as he noticed Ling Yunfeng's grievous wounds. Rising slowly from his seated position, he walked over to Ling Yunfeng, his voice calm but with an underlying current of violence.
"An army dares to attack the Sword Sect? Is it the Zhou Dynasty?" The question was asked in a deceptively neutral tone, but the old man's aura radiated danger.
"No, Ancestor," Ling Yunfeng quickly corrected, panic rising in his chest. "The current emperor of the Zhou Dynasty is my granddaughter. She would never attack our sect. The enemy is a rebel named Orion!"
Upon hearing this, a cruel gleam flashed in the old man's eyes. "Orion…" he muttered, and as he did, the entire cave began to tremble, stones tumbling from the walls.
Ling Yunfeng, mustering his courage, cautiously asked, "Ancestor, have you... broken through to that realm?"
The old man let out a long, sorrowful sigh. "Time and fate... they play their cruel tricks. The Sword Sect was founded for the purpose of gathering the resources needed for my cultivation, to help me reach the peak of Martial Saint and beyond. I was on the verge of stepping into the realm of the Great Emperor."
His voice trailed off, filled with regret. "But now, because of this calamity, I have been forcefully pulled back. The opportunity to become the Martial Emperor... lost."
As the old man's words echoed through the cave, his disappointment was palpable. For the Sword Sect, this battle had now become more than just survival—it was a matter of fate itself.