Chapter 1358
The Crisis of the Taixu Dao Sect!
But before Ye Yang's sword light could drift far, he suddenly stopped.
At that moment, I heard sobbing behind me.
Ye Yang hovered in mid-air, slowly turned around, and once again looked at the mountain gate of the Taixu Dao Sect. His heart sank suddenly.
Previously, in the council hall, only Daoist Jinyu was grieving.
But at this moment, the sound of weeping had spread from the ancestral hall, drifting in all directions along with the clouds and mist in the mountains.
Between the halls, many disciples of the Taixu Dao Sect were dressed in plain clothes. Some knelt on the stone steps with their hands clasped together, while others held onto the pillars, their bodies trembling.
Several Taoist elders stood on one side of the mountain gate, their cries filled with despair and helplessness.
When the Azure Lotus Sword Immortal was alive, the Taixu Sect was a sacred place in the cultivation world, and no one dared to provoke it easily.
Even when disciples go out to train, they can remain safe and sound thanks to the name of the Taixu Dao Sect, and cultivators throughout the world avoid them at all costs.
But now, the main pillar has collapsed.
Once the news of the passing of the Azure Lotus Sword Immortal spreads, those forces that have been suppressed for many years will be affected.
Those petty scoundrels who covet the resources and territory of the Taixu Dao Sect will inevitably flock here.
Ye Yang knew that the cultivation world was always a dog-eat-dog world. Without a strong leader, even the largest sect was nothing but a pile of loose sand.
With the passing of the Azure Lotus Sword Immortal, although Daoist Jin Yu possessed cultivation approaching the Thunder Tribulation Dao Realm, he ultimately failed to break through and was insufficient to support the entire Tai Xu Dao Sect.
Moreover, the Taixu Dao Sect is not a monolithic entity. If external forces sow discord, divisions will inevitably arise within the sect, leading to anything from its disintegration to its annexation by other powers.
The disciples will either be slaughtered or forced to betray the sect, and the thousand-year-old foundation may be destroyed in an instant.
The devastating news of the Azure Lotus Sword Immortal's demise spread like a bolt from the blue throughout the entire Taixu Dao Sect.
"Our grandmaster... he really perished?" An inner disciple knelt on the ground, his voice trembling.
"This is it, we're doomed. With our Grandmaster gone, how can our Taixu Dao Sect still stand in the cultivation world?"
"Those forces that have been eyeing us covetously will probably come knocking on our door soon..."
"Grandmaster! How could you abandon us!"
The cries of weeping rose and fell, and the entire Taixu Dao Sect was shrouded in an atmosphere of sorrow.
Ye Yang hovered quietly in mid-air, watching this scene, his heart filled with mixed feelings.
The cultivation world is indeed cruel and ruthless, a world where the strong prey on the weak.
When the Azure Lotus Sword Immortal was alive, the Taixu Dao Sect was renowned and unchallenged. Now that it has lost its backer, these long-coveting forces will surely seize the opportunity to invade.
At that time, the Taixu Daoist sect will either fall apart or become a vassal of others.
Thousands of years of heritage, destroyed in an instant.
Sure enough, just as Ye Yang was deep in thought...
Suddenly, the sound of wind breaking came from the distant mountains.
Several streaks of light flew rapidly toward the Taixu Dao Sect from different directions.
"I heard news from the Star Ruins Ancient Road that the Azure Lotus Sword Immortal has perished, so I have come to offer my condolences!"
A burst of wild laughter came from the east, the voice full of sarcasm.
Immediately afterwards, another sound came from the south.
"The Taixu Dao Sect has occupied the spiritual veins of the Eastern Region for thousands of years. Now that Elder Qinglian is gone, it's time to redistribute them!"
"The Azure Lotus Sword Immortal stole our sect's most precious heirloom back then; today is the day to reclaim it!"
Several powerful figures appeared above the Taixu Dao Sect, each with considerable cultivation, the weakest of whom was at the Refinement of Emptiness level.
"Old man Jin Yu, your master is dead. If you know what's good for you, hand over the inheritance and control of the spiritual veins of the Taixu Dao Sect, and I may spare your lives!"
Xue Wuyai stood in mid-air, his blood-red longsword held horizontally in front of him, exuding a murderous aura.
Upon hearing the commotion, Jin Yu Dao Ren emerged, his hair standing on end in fury.
"Xue Wuyai! My master's body is barely cold, and you're already going too far!"
"This is going too far!"
Xue Wuya sneered.
"In the cultivation world, strength reigns supreme. With Elder Qinglian dead, the Taixu Dao Sect is now a no-man's land! Today, I'm determined to take it!"
The other powerful figures also sneered:
"Jin Yu, do you really think you, a mere Nascent Soul cultivator at the peak of your cultivation, can protect the Taixu Dao Sect?"
"Those who understand the times are wise; by handing over the inheritance, we can ensure the continuation of the Taixu Daoist lineage."
"Otherwise, today will be the day the Taixu Dao Sect is destroyed!"
The disciples of the Taixu Dao Sect were ashen-faced, their despair evident in their expressions.
These people usually feared the reputation of the Azure Lotus Sword Immortal and dared not act rashly.
Now that the Azure Lotus Sword Immortal is dead, his true, ferocious nature has been revealed.
Jin Yu Daoist gripped the Qingping Sword tightly, knowing he was no match, yet he still stepped forward:
"Even if I die in battle today, I will never allow you to tarnish my master's reputation!"
Jin Yu Dao Ren roared, his hands gripping the Qing Ping Sword so tightly that the veins on his hands bulged.
Although the Qingping Sword lacks the innate Dao power of the Azure Lotus Sword Immortal, it still retains the Daoist charm of a thousand years.
The lotus patterns on the sword glowed faintly, making his plain clothes flutter, exuding a dignified and righteous aura.
"You won't listen to reason, so you'll have to suffer the consequences! Since you're courting death, I'll kill you first, and then raze the Taixu Dao Sect to the ground!"
Bloodless's eyes flashed with killing intent, and his blood-red longsword suddenly unleashed a blood-red blade aura several meters long.
"Ancestor, be careful!"
Several elders of the Taixu Dao Sect shouted in unison and summoned their natal treasures.
In an instant, the sky was filled with rosy clouds, the Daoist aura flowed, and several ancient longswords soared into the air.
Transforming into streaks of light, they intertwined to form a massive sword net, blocking Jin Yu Dao Ren's path.
"boom!"
The crimson blade energy collided with the sword net, producing a deafening roar. The shockwave swept in all directions, snapping the ancient pines on both sides of the mountain gate in half, sending shards of rock flying. Several elders shuddered, blood trickling from the corners of their mouths, clearly injured by the residual force of the blade energy, but they still held on tightly, not retreating an inch.
"kill!"
Seeing this, the powerful figures behind Xue Wuyai no longer hesitated. They all summoned their Dao artifacts and unleashed their innate divine abilities, charging towards the disciples of the Taixu Dao Sect.
These people are all leaders of various sects, and their cultivation level is at least at the early stage of Void Refinement. Their strength should not be underestimated.
"Disciples of Taixu, follow me to battle!"
At Jin Yu Dao Ren's command, he drew his Qing Ping Sword and created several blue lotus sword flowers. In a flash, he engaged Xue Wuya in battle.
The Qingping Sword moved nimbly and gracefully, each strike carrying the Daoist essence of the Azure Lotus. Sometimes it was as gentle as flowing water, sometimes as sharp as thunder, relentlessly suppressing Xue Wuya's blood-red longsword.
The Taixu Daoist disciples below also reacted one after another.
As a sacred place with a thousand-year history, the Taixu Dao Sect has a profound heritage. Even if these people came prepared, they could not conquer it in a short time.
A cultivator in the mid-stage of the Void Refinement realm was besieged by two Elders of the Void Realm. His body was already covered in wounds, and his natal artifact was shattered. He could only flee in a sorry state.
Xue Wuyai grew increasingly alarmed as the battle progressed. He had assumed that with the death of the Azure Lotus Sword Immortal, the Taixu Dao Sect would be in disarray and could be easily defeated with a single move. However, he never expected that the Golden Rain Daoist's strength far exceeded his expectations.
In addition, the Taixu disciples were fearless and coordinated perfectly, and before long, his breathing also became disordered.
"hateful!"
Xue Wuyai roared and suddenly activated all his cultivation. The blood-red longsword burst out with a dazzling red light, and ferocious blood patterns appeared on the blade.
A crimson sword aura, condensed with all his Dao power, suddenly erupted, several times stronger than the previous sword aura, carrying a world-destroying force, and blasted towards Daoist Jinyu.
Jin Yu Daoist's expression changed, and he dared not be careless, raising the Qingping Sword high above his head.
"boom!"
The sword light flashed in an instant. As expected of the sword of the Thunder Tribulation Dao Ancestor, Xue Wuyai cried out in pain. No one saw clearly how the opponent made his move before he was severely injured by the sword.
But suddenly, at this moment, thunderclouds rolled in the sky, and a palm that blotted out the sun, carrying the power of the nine heavens, slammed down directly towards the protective array of the Taixu Dao Sect.
"Nine...Nine Heavens Ancestor?!"
Someone recognized the old man and exclaimed in disbelief.
The Nine Heavens Ancestor is a veteran cultivator in the Thunder Tribulation Dao Realm of the cultivation world. He has been famous for a long time and is also a close friend of the Azure Lotus Sword Immortal.
The two had a very close relationship.
Now that the Azure Lotus Sword Immortal has just passed away, the Nine Heavens Ancestor has unexpectedly appeared at this moment.
Everyone assumed he had come to mourn the Azure Lotus Sword Immortal or to help the Taixu Dao Sect overcome its difficulties.
A glimmer of hope flashed in Jin Yu Dao Ren's eyes.
"Junior Jin Yu greets Senior Jiu Tian. Senior's arrival, could it be to offer condolences for my master?"
However, the Nine Heavens Ancestor ignored Jin Yu Daoist's bow.
"Mourning? Qinglian is dead. What's there to mourn about a dead man? I've come today to retrieve the inheritance of the Taixu Dao Sect!"
These words struck like a bolt from the blue, hitting everyone present hard in the heart.
"Senior, what...what did you say?"
Jin Yu Daoist was startled.
"You and my master were close friends. My master's body is barely cold. How can you be so heartless?"
"Closest friend?"
"The Azure Lotus Sword Immortal has always been arrogant and self-important. Has he ever truly taken me seriously?"
Xue Wuyai and the others were also stunned. They never expected that the Nine Heavens Ancestor would suddenly appear and even attack the Taixu Dao Sect.
In an instant, their fear gradually dissipated, replaced by a hint of smugness.
With the intervention of the Nine Heavens Ancestor, a cultivator at the Thunder Tribulation Dao Realm, the Taixu Dao Sect is destined for destruction.
At that time, they might be able to get a share of the profits.
"Senior Jiutian is wise!"
Xue Wuya forcibly suppressed his injuries, stepped forward, and bowed to the Nine Heavens Ancestor.
"The Azure Lotus Sword Immortal has committed numerous evils and deserves to die. The Taixu Dao Sect should also find a new master. This junior is willing to follow you, senior, and help you take down the Taixu Dao Sect!"
The Nine Heavens Ancestor coldly glanced at Xue Wuyai. "You? You dare to follow me? Once I take over the Taixu Dao Sect, you will be the first one I kill, as a warning to others!"
Xue Wuyai's smile froze instantly. He trembled with fear and quickly lowered his head, not daring to say another word.
He secretly regretted his words, realizing he shouldn't have spoken out of turn and offended a cultivator at the Thunder Tribulation Dao Realm; it was practically courting death.
The Nine Heavens Ancestor ignored Xue Wuyai and turned his gaze back to the Taixu Dao Sect. The power of the lightning tribulation around him erupted once more, and a terrifying pressure swept across the entire area.
The disciples of the Taixu Dao Sect knelt down one after another, trembling all over, and did not even have the strength to raise their heads.
"Jin Yu, if you know what's good for you, hand over the inheritance and control of the spiritual veins of the Taixu Dao Sect, and I may spare your lives. Otherwise, I will wipe out the Taixu Dao Sect today, leaving not a single one alive!"
The voice of the Nine Heavens Ancestor was icy cold and carried an unquestionable majesty.
Jin Yu Daoist gripped the Qingping Sword tightly, his eyes filled with grief and despair. He knew that the Nine Heavens Ancestor was a cultivator at the Thunder Tribulation Dao Realm, with incomparably powerful strength. He was no match for him at all, and even the Taixu Dao Sect's sect-protecting formation probably couldn't withstand his attack.
"Senior, if you wish to seize the inheritance of the Taixu Dao Sect, you must die!"
A resolute glint flashed in Jin Yu Dao Ren's eyes as he raised Qing Ping once more.
"Even if I have to fight with all my might, I will never let you tarnish my master's hard work!"
"Stubborn to the end!"
The Nine Heavens Ancestor's eyes flashed with killing intent. He raised his hand and pointed, and a purple-gold lightning tribulation power erupted, blasting towards Golden Rain Daoist.
At the same time, the power of the tribulation lightning around him spread out, enveloping the entire Taixu Dao Sect.
"boom!"
The Taixu Dao Sect's protective formation was instantly activated, and golden light shields enveloped the entire mountain gate, attempting to withstand the attack of the lightning tribulation power.
However, as expected of a veteran Thunder Tribulation Ancestor, the Nine Heavens Ancestor's strength was too formidable, and he only needed one strike.
The protective array of the sect's formation trembled violently, the runes gradually dimmed, and cracks appeared.
"Snap! Snap!"
After several crisp sounds, the protective shield of the sect's protective formation shattered, rendering the formation completely ineffective and dissipating into countless specks of light in the air. (End of Chapter)