Gu Yuandao stood at the entrance of the study, watching as the provincial guards surrounded the manor while several fellow scholars from the Academy carefully gathered what remained of Lin Zaisi's "corpse."
If that could still be called a corpse at all.
One of the cultivators approached with a grim expression and cupped his hands.
"Junior Brother Gu, there's not a trace of aura left in this room... It must have been the work of a Second Grade cultivator."
He took a deep breath and continued angrily,
"We also just received word that three of our Fourth Grade brothers who rushed here have all been slaughtered as well."
"With Senior Brother Lin's death added in, the killer left behind four words, 'one,' 'group,' 'good,' and 'dogs', at each scene. Judging from Senior Brother Lin's condition, it was almost certainly the work of one of the 'Extinction Path' lords from the Demonic Sect. These maniacs revel in slaughter. They must have discovered our plans and came to deliver a warning."
"We have already sent messages to the Academy and the Master, but the other seniors are all occupied elsewhere. It will take time for them to arrive."
"To pacify this 'Seven Sects Rebellion,' for now, it seems only we can assist you..."
Gu Yuandao's face darkened as he shook his head.
The man thought he was dissatisfied with their weak cultivation and said shamefully,
"Junior Brother Gu, we are of little strength..."
Gu Yuandao immediately cupped his hands and said solemnly,
"Not at all. What I doubt is that this incident might have been orchestrated by Gu Fangchen colluding with the Demonic Sect."
No matter how he thought about it, it didn't make sense...
Why would someone from the 'Extinction Path' of the Demonic Sect suddenly appear here? And how convenient, that they targeted Senior Brother Lin and the Confucian disciples who came to help?
Though there was no direct evidence, Gu Yuandao's instincts screamed,
This had to be related to Gu Fangchen!
The man froze, staring at Gu Yuandao in disbelief before hesitating.
"Junior Brother Gu, I know the heir's seat was usurped by Gu Fangchen, and you must bear resentment, but tell me, how could that Gu Fangchen possibly summon the 'Lord of the Four-Phase Calamity'?"
He was being polite.
In truth, he almost suspected that Gu Yuandao had lost his mind.
That spoiled wastrel, at most, he could be a pawn for the Demonic Sect. How could he possibly have the qualifications to make an Extinction Path Lord act on his behalf?
Could Junior Brother Gu have been frightened senseless by the carnage?
Gu Yuandao sensed the odd looks and quickly caught himself.
"Perhaps I was overthinking it..."
Yes. Even if Gu Fangchen was formidable, could he really command one of those lunatics from the Extinction Path?
Those madmen cared for nothing, not even the interests of their own sect. Someone like the Form-Grass Sword, who was at least sane enough to reason with, was rare.
It was probably just coincidence.
He took a deep breath.
"Please, Senior Brother, pressure the Sword Pavilion through public opinion. Leave the rest to me."
"And... give Senior Brother Lin a proper burial. His sacrifice was not in vain. When the Master emerges from seclusion, we shall meet again in the Great Harmony."
The man's expression softened; he nodded emotionally.
"Very well!"
Gu Yuandao nodded too, then took flight toward the Sword Pavilion.
When he reached the gate, Sword Pavilion disciples barred his way.
"Who goes there?"
Gu Yuandao straightened his robe and spoke loudly,
"True Disciple of Yaoshan Academy, sole son of the Northern Garrison Prince's household, Gu Yuandao!"
The Sword Pavilion disciples exchanged looks, their expressions curious and amused.
Everyone knew that within their pavilion there was another heir of the Northern Garrison Prince's house. There was sure to be a spectacle today.
Gu Yuandao softened his tone, remaining courteous.
"Senior Brothers, I have come to seek an audience with my mother. Please announce me."
One of the disciples cupped his hands.
"Of course, I shall report immediately."
Gu Yuandao watched him leave, waiting quietly.
When the disciple returned, however, his expression was awkward.
He hesitated, glancing at Gu Yuandao with discomfort.
A faint sense of dread rose in Gu Yuandao's chest, though he assumed it must be another trick of Gu Fangchen's.
"Senior Brother, what is it? If there's some unexpected situation, speak freely."
He smirked inwardly. If Gu Fangchen was still acting spoiled, then by showing magnanimity, Gu Yuandao could win everyone's hearts.
The disciple hesitated, then spoke quietly,
"The Young Mistress said..."
"She only has one son, his name is Gu Fangchen."
Gu Yuandao froze.
The words echoed endlessly in his ears.
For a moment, his mind went blank. No matter how he told himself that personal emotions were trivial, that he could sacrifice anything for the greater cause, at that instant, a profound and indescribable sense of loss surged through him.
Then, for a heartbeat, his face twisted.
Gu Fangchen!
What kind of spell did that brat cast on his mother?
He was the one she carried for ten months in her womb, so why had reclaiming what was rightfully his become a hopeless dream?
Lowering his head, he composed himself. When he looked up again, he was smiling as usual.
"No matter. Then please, Senior Brother, announce my visit to the Pavilion Master instead."
Mother, I have already given you your chance.
This was your choice.
Just as the disciple was about to offer words of comfort, he suddenly saw a dark cloud approaching in the distance. Thousands of cultivators were flying toward them, banners of seven immortal sects fluttering in the wind. His expression turned pale.
Gu Yuandao looked up, eyes cold as he gazed at the towering Sword Pavilion before him.
Such a lofty mountain, when it collapses, it must make quite the sight.
...
A deep hum resonated through the air.
All across Liuhua Province, the magnetic yin-yang nodes activated simultaneously. Invisible ripples spread out, connecting into a vast formation.
At that moment, every sword cultivator in Liuhua Province felt their blades tremble faintly before settling once more.
The Dragon and Serpent Rising from the Land formation, activated!
...
Yang Qing and the six other sect masters stood at the forefront, arrayed before the Sword Pavilion.
On the mountain peak above, Ning Wuzhen and Ning Songjun stood side by side. The former spoke calmly,
"Gentlemen, to come to my Sword Pavilion uninvited, what is your purpose?"
Though his tone was quiet, it rolled like thunder through the heavens, echoing across a thousand miles, deafening all who heard it.
"Uninvited?"
The Hall Master of Iron Tile Hall sneered, tossing out a letter.
"To eradicate evil is the duty of all righteous cultivators. How can that be uninvited? Pavilion Master Ning, are you not shirking responsibility?"
Ning Wuzhen caught the letter and unfolded it. Three words were written on the cover,
Dragon Subjugation Writ?
The Iron Tile Hall Master raised his voice.
"We demand that Pavilion Master Ning hand over the demonic sword beneath Dragon Hollow Lake, lest all beings suffer!"
Ning Wuzhen and Ning Songjun exchanged glances before shouting,
"Absurd! What demonic sword?"
The Hall Master retorted,
"There are both witness and evidence! Pavilion Master Ning, will you truly lie to our faces?"
He waved his hand, and an elderly man flew forward.
Ning Songjun's heart sank, his face darkening.
It was the old swordsmith.
The swordsmith bowed his head and said,
"I once heard the Pavilion Master himself say that years ago, a traitor of the Sword Pavilion forged a supreme-grade sword and cast it into Dragon Hollow Lake, using the dragon vein to suppress its evil energy. But now... the suppression is failing."
"And since the Sword Pavilion sits atop Dragon Hollow Lake, the Pavilion Master refused to relocate the sect. Moreover, a supreme-grade sword is a rarity across the ages, if the blueprints could be used to forge another, its value would be beyond measure."
He pulled out a blueprint with trembling hands.
"This is the design left behind by that traitor, the true method of forging the sword. It is genuine, one of a kind in the world."
Ning Wuzhen sighed deeply.
This old swordsmith was indeed the one most capable of recreating a supreme-grade sword.
The blueprint was likely authentic too...
But now, he was using his own creation, an unmade sword, to frame the Sword Pavilion!
The Iron Tile Hall Master spoke sternly,
"Pavilion Master Ning, this man was once of your sect. Surely, he would not lie?"
He shook his head with righteous indignation.
"For the sake of selfish gain, you Sword Pavilion people would endanger the common folk! What vile intent is this?"
"Today, we Seven Sects stand united and issue this Dragon Subjugation Writ, to seek justice for the world!"
As one, the Seven Sects drew their swords, pointing them toward the Sword Pavilion, and shouted in unison,
"We demand the Sword Pavilion drain Dragon Hollow Lake and retrieve the demonic sword!"