"What powerful Sword Intent! It seems Saintly Extermination Sovereign's Dao of the Sword has advanced further here."
"It is indeed very strong. Ordinary Ascension Realm Cultivators should be completely unable to resist it."
"In terms of the Dao of the Sword alone, he should be the strongest in the Holy Land."
The Cultivators of the Devouring Heaven Demonic Sect looked at the astonishing Sword Intent unleashed by Saintly Extermination Sovereign in the ancient mirror, discussing animatedly.
In their view, this conquest of the Kyushu Continent was a sure thing. The four Ascension Realm Sovereigns were just the beginning, with an endless stream of stronger individuals to follow. The current obstacle was merely a small interlude.
On the other side.
It's over.
Many people in the Shenxuan Sect's main hall were dumbfounded.
They were still preparing to flee.
They didn't expect the enemy to come knocking so soon.
Rumble!
The Shenxuan Sect's mountain-protecting formation barrier activated, but facing this power, it was like a praying mantis trying to stop a chariot.
At this moment, many within the Sect bore resentment towards the Demon-Slaying Sword Immortal.
Some people knew that the Devouring Heaven Demonic Sect sent out powerful individuals precisely because the Demon-Slaying Sword Immortal had killed an Elder who had defected to the Devouring Heaven Demonic Sect.
Everyone's gaze turned towards the terrifying figure in the sky, their hearts filled with despair.
When Saintly Extermination Sovereign's eyes flashed, he was about to unleash this sword completely.
The terrifying sword light shone, seemingly about to destroy this entire world.
And it was at this instant.
Saintly Extermination Sovereign suddenly felt a sword light flash and strike him. Before he could even react—
His pupils suddenly constricted.
Time, as if, solidified at this moment.
He saw a Flying Sword coming to kill him.
With a boom.
That world-destroying Dao of the Sword Divine Ability, "Six Obliteration Swords Twenty-Three," that terrifying sword shadow capable of splitting continents and severing oceans, silently dissipated.
Along with the deathly aura that enveloped the heavens and earth, it receded.
The confidence on Saintly Extermination Sovereign's face instantly froze, his eyes filled with incomprehensible terror.
The next second.
The light in his eyes instantly extinguished, and his Physical Body was annihilated.
The Flying Sword traversed thousands of miles, destroying his Physical Body with one strike, along with his Divine Soul.
In an instant, an Ascended Immortal Sovereign, turned to dust!
A gentle breeze blew, and the sky was clear.
The mountain-protecting formation's barrier glowed with a faint light.
As if that world-destroying sword strike had never appeared.
Dead silence.
The Disciples of the Devouring Heaven Demonic Sect, who had been excitedly discussing just moments ago, now gaped, their minds blank, completely unable to comprehend what had happened.
The scene in the Void Realm was clearly frozen at the moment Saintly Extermination Sovereign turned to dust and dissipated.
In their view, Saintly Extermination Sovereign's sword strike was world-shattering and awe-inspiring, truly an invincible display of power.
Calamity Sea Sovereign suddenly stood up from his seat.
In his profound, abyssal eyes, for the first time, an unconcealable shock burst forth.
He saw a Flying Sword traverse the sky, instantly killing Saintly Extermination Sovereign.
There was no flashy, earth-shattering display.
He hadn't even had the thought of rescue, and the person was already… gone!
The other two Sovereigns of the Devouring Heaven Demonic Sect also didn't know what to say at this moment. Even powerful Ascension Realm Cultivators felt fear.
The opponent's power was overwhelming; he killed their fellow Sect member right under their noses.
"What… what kind of power was that?"
Finally, someone cried out in alarm, their voice trembling uncontrollably.
"Lord Sovereign is dead?"
Another voice was filled with bewilderment.
…
Han Xuanji did not use his full power, but it was enough to instantly kill the opponent with one sword strike.
After all, his current cultivation had already reached the fifth layer of Ascension, and his Realm was slightly higher than the opponent's. If he couldn't easily suppress and kill the opponent, then his years of signing in had been for nothing.
He wanted to see what other people the Devouring Heaven Demonic Sect could send.
Daring to conquer the Kyushu Continent, presumably the Devouring Heaven Old Ancestor's strength far surpassed that of an ordinary Ascension Realm Cultivator.
The death of just one Ascended Immortal expert would not be enough to scare them away.
"After unleashing this sword, I feel much more at ease."
Han Xuanji mused.
Mortals spend ten years refining a sword; Cultivators spend a hundred years comprehending a sword.
At Han Xuanji's Realm, it was not merely a transformation of spiritual power and Physical Body; the state of mind was also crucial.
Being stubbornly deluded was the most terrifying predicament on one's path to cultivation.
Simply comprehending the Dao was, after all, lacking something.
This time, by slaying the invading Demonic Path Cultivator, Han Xuanji could feel his Sword Intent strengthen by several points, and his Dao of the Sword Realm seemed to loosen further.
He had already reached the Realm of Sword Intent Transforming into a World, which was the Realm of a Sword Immortal.
But that did not mean he had reached the peak of the Dao of the Sword.
In fact, when he signed in at the Qinglian Sword World for the Qinglian Sword Sutra, it expounded that the Realm of a Sword Immortal could be further divided into six Realms.
And he had only reached the first Realm, the Heaven-Deriving Realm.
The next Realm was the Myriad Manifestations Realm.
He had traveled a considerable distance in the first Realm, and this time, he made further progress.
He seemed to have touched the edge of the Myriad Manifestations Realm.
…
Shenxuan Sect.
It wasn't until that Sword Intent completely disappeared that everyone's taut nerves finally relaxed.
Han Xuanji resolved this crisis without appearing.
But people still began to leave the Sect, even in groups. Some aristocratic families and Guest Elders fled.
In their opinion, the crises that followed would only increase, not decrease.
Han Xuanji's previous statement had already been publicized: the powerful individuals who came this time were merely vanguards, and more powerful individuals would descend later. Most crucially, there was also a terrifyingly powerful individual far surpassing the others.
Han Xuanji was completely unconcerned by this.
Xuan Weizi, however, was quite concerned.
When these people wanted to cooperate and join in, they spoke with solemn vows.
Now that disaster struck, they fled very quickly.
He had secretly recorded these people and forces.
Even if he didn't retaliate in the future, he would no longer accept them!
Moreover, he would inform the forces friendly with the Shenxuan Sect of these people's names.
However, he still planned to ask Han Xuanji if he had any instructions.
The enemy they faced this time far surpassed all previous ones.
The next day.
Xie Liuyun arrived at the Shenxuan Sect. He found Li Taiqing and others, and the few of them were conversing.
"For safety's sake, why don't you all follow me back to Kunlun first?"
Xie Liuyun, fearing they might misunderstand, quickly explained:
"It's not that I don't believe in Senior Han's strength, but rather I'm afraid that when existences of this level clash, the residual power could affect you all."
"Also, the Sect has decided to send aid to assist Senior Han."
Li Taiqing first frowned, then pondered for a while.
He realized that what Xie Liuyun said made perfect sense.
Although they felt Han Xuanji's strength was unfathomable, the Devouring Heaven Demonic Sect was by no means an enemy that could be easily dealt with.
Their staying in the Shenxuan Sect would not only be unhelpful but might even become a burden.
"However, there's no need to go to Kunlun. I can go to the Qinglian Sword World."
Li Taiqing then said.
"If the enemy invades, I can still witness Master's demeanor."
Lu Fan, however, muttered:
"I think you all are overthinking it."
Everyone looked at him, puzzled.
Lu Fan said:
"Elder Han… he might not just sit back and do nothing."
"Moreover, this is a calamity that everyone in the Kyushu Continent needs to face. Why should we all rely on him alone?"
Lu Fan was indignant.
Xie Liuyun's expression brightened, and he said:
"Indeed."
"The Devouring Heaven Demonic Sect's target is the entire Kyushu Continent; all Sects are involved."
"All living beings should contribute."
"However, the Demonic Path and the Yao Race probably can't be counted on."
Upon hearing this, Li Taiqing also spoke:
"If the four Holy Lands of Central Continent don't manage such a matter, then they truly wouldn't deserve the name of Holy Land. The Buddhist Sect of West Continent also cannot remain aloof, and the various aristocratic families of North Continent should also contribute."
…
Time slowly flowed by.
Several months passed in the blink of an eye.
During these past few months, Han Xuanji continued to sign in and cultivate, his rhythm undisturbed in the slightest.
He would occasionally guide his Disciples and also observe the situation of the Devouring Heaven Demonic Sect.
Just as he thought.
The Devouring Heaven Demonic Sect naturally would not stop their plan due to the demise of one Ascended Immortal expert.
On the contrary, it caused the arriving forces of the Devouring Heaven Demonic Sect to become even stronger. Han Xuanji could sense several auras, stronger than the one who unleashed the sword that day, quietly arriving.
At this moment, they were lurking overseas.
They were no longer as impulsive as before.
Clearly, Han Xuanji's sword strike had provided sufficient deterrence.