CHAPTER 549: CHAPTER 533: MYSTERIOUS AND CHANGEABLE_1

The great war in the Imperial Capital had concluded, albeit in failure for the three major powers. However, this did not signify the end of the invasion’s repercussions; its true impact was only just beginning and threatened to completely reshape the continent’s future.

"Second Ancestor, something terrible has happened!"

Within the Saint Heaven Institute, its principal, clad in a golden robe, streaked across Changkong, landed at the foot of an ancient peak, knelt, and cried out in anguish.

This peak was known as Saint Sword Peak. It stood incredibly steep, soaring into the clouds like a peerless blade poised to cleave heaven and earth. In the mage-primary Saint Heaven Institute, it undoubtedly held a unique existence.

"Come in!"

A resonant voice, carrying a sharp Sword Intent that sent continuous ripples through the Void, emanated from the mountaintop.

Having received permission, the principal hurried in, clutching a pile of shattered jade. His aged face was etched with boundless sorrow and fear, as if he had encountered something truly terrifying.

The mountain’s interior boasted beautiful scenery, filled with sword grass that exuded a sharp aura. Fierce winds reveal resilient grass; despite the howling mountain gales, these seemingly fragile sword grasses stood unyielding, straight and tall, embodying the pride and indomitable spirit of a swordsman.

At the mountain’s summit, Booker, clad in a grey robe, sat cross-legged on a large stone, his eyes closed. His seemingly slender figure possessed an imposing aura, like a majestic God Mountain, grand and boundless. Above his head floated a battle sword, radiating the power of the Primordial Sword Dao, its boundless sharpness capable of shaking the cosmos. It seemed as though any living being before this figure could be transfixed by a single sword strike.

As a powerhouse from the same generation as Seeker the Elder, he had successfully broken through to the Primordial Great Emperor Realm when the second wave of worldly Fortune descended.

"Principal Wen, why the panic?" Booker opened his eyes; they blazed with a brilliant sword light, as radiant as stars.

The principal’s surname was Wen, his given name KeRong.

"Second Ancestor, the Old Ancestor’s... his Soul Jade has shattered!" Wen KeRong cried out in anguish, kneeling on the ground and raising the broken jade shards above his head.

Initially, upon hearing the report from the elder overseeing the Soul Jades, he hadn’t believed it and had severely reprimanded the elder. The Old Ancestor, fallen? What kind of joke was that? It was merely an assault on the supposedly vulnerable rear, the capital of the Qin Dynasty, garrisoned by only two Ancient Great Emperor realm martial artists! Even if they couldn’t win, escaping shouldn’t have been a problem, right?

Only when he followed the elder to the hall where the Soul Jades were kept and saw the shattered fragments strewn across the floor did he finally believe it.

At that moment, he was utterly stunned, as if plunged into an abyss, a bone-chilling cold gripping his entire being.

Seeker the Elder had truly fallen!

Not only him, but all the experts who had gone to the Qin Dynasty’s Saint’s Court had also perished.

It was no exaggeration to say that the Saint Heaven Institute’s peak combat strength, a foundation built over seven eras, had been almost entirely wiped out in this single battle.

"What?"

Booker, whose expression had been relatively calm, changed drastically upon hearing Wen KeRong’s words. A terrifying aura erupted uncontrollably from him. This aura carried an ancient presence! This aura bore a murderous intent capable of slaughtering through ages! This aura, with its terrifying and unparalleled Sword Intent, threatened to annihilate everything!

The sky above Saint Sword Peak shattered instantly, creating a chasm thousands of miles long, as if a prehistoric catastrophe had descended, causing countless disciples of the Institute to tremble and fall prostrate.

"Is the strength of the Qin Dynasty’s Saint’s Court truly so terrifying?"

After a long while, Booker managed to stabilize his emotions, his face extremely grim. He was also aware that Seeker the Elder had united the three sacred lands to attack the Qin Dynasty’s capital, an action he supported. After all, the Qin Dynasty’s Saint’s Court was fully engaged in a war with the Ten Thousand Demon Saint’s Court and the Beidou Palace. With most of their forces tied down, it had seemed the perfect opportunity to heavily damage the Qin Dynasty’s Saint’s Court.

Now that Seeker the Elder had fallen, the experts from the other two major powers were unlikely to have fared any better.

Four Primordial Great Emperors! Fifty martial artists at or above the Ancient Great Emperor realm!

How terrifyingly powerful must the Qin Dynasty’s Saint’s Court’s hidden strength be to annihilate such a formidable force, giving Seeker the Elder not even a chance to escape?

"Second Ancestor, the Old Ancestor cannot die in vain! We must avenge him!" Wen KeRong declared murderously, still kneeling.

"Rest assured, I will." BoZhong stood up and, after a moment’s thought, issued a stern command, "First, dispatch men to the Qin Dynasty’s Saint’s Court to gather intelligence. Then, send envoys to the Lin Family Holy Clan and the Golden Tripod Inn to seek an alliance."

Hesitating for a second, he looked towards the war-torn south, a chill flickering in his eyes as he spoke ominously, "As for myself, I will head to the Ten Thousand Demon Saint’s Court..."

Before he could finish speaking, BoZhong had transformed into a streak of sword light and vanished.

"Yes, Second Ancestor!" Wen KeRong responded with a respectful salute.

He knew why BoZhong was going to the Ten Thousand Demon Saint’s Court, but it no longer mattered. As long as they could avenge Seeker the Elder, what did it matter if they had to dance with wolves?

...

"Qin Dynasty’s Saint’s Court, the Lin Family vows to never exist under the same sky as you!"

In the northern part of the Middle Region, within a level-nine mustard seed world, ten Spirit Mountains, where Dao Rhymes coalesced, hung suspended in the air. Countless palaces and pavilions were scattered among them; they shone with dazzling treasure light, and the world was filled with clusters of beautiful spiritual flowers. Myriad powerful Lin Family clansmen were either listening to elders preach the Dao, seeking the Dao alone in mountain streams, or discussing the Dao in groups of three or five. Such a scene was akin to stepping into an Immortal Realm.

Suddenly, an enraged voice erupted from one of the mountain peaks, shattering the tranquility. It fractured the sky for thousands of miles around, and a murderous aura swept through the world, dyeing the heavens red.

The entire mustard seed world trembled.

The myriad Lin clansmen felt as if they had been plunged into an icy cavern, their hearts filled with terror. They recognized the voice’s owner: the Lin Family’s other Ancestor at the Primordial Great Emperor Realm.

"Issue the order! The entire Lin Family is to enter a state of battle readiness! All disciples, stewards, and elders currently traveling outside the clan must return immediately!"

The rage-filled voice, carrying an endless killing intent, reverberated through the heavens.

...

"Issue the order: sever all business dealings with the Qin Dynasty’s Saint’s Court!"

"Issue the order: all powerful individuals from every branch across the continent are to return to headquarters immediately!"

The headquarters of the Golden Tripod Inn was a magnificent ten-thousand-story pagoda, so majestic that its apex surpassed countless famous mountains and great rivers.

This command emanated from the very top floor, echoing across a territory spanning ten thousand li, causing countless beings to tremble.

Severing all business ties! For the Golden Tripod Inn, known for its love of money, this was an unprecedented move.

...

"A storm is brewing again."

In the Ninth Saint’s Court, EastQuest sat upon a jade chair, holding an intelligence report. His gaze was profound, his face expressionless.

Let there be chaos! The more chaotic, the better!

...

"HAHAHA!"

"Heavenly Tribulation, you are ultimately inferior to me!"

"So what if there’s no life force left? So what if it’s all taboo heavenly lightning? With my three-foot green steel sword, can I not still carve a bloody path?"

In the East Border, outside the Imperial Capital, Li Bai threw his head back and laughed boisterously, his sword pointing towards the Heavenly Tribulation. His slightly pale face was filled with mockery.

He laughed, laughed at the injustice of the Heavenly Tribulation—why had it unleashed nine bolts of taboo heavenly lightning?

He laughed, laughed at the impotence of the Heavenly Tribulation; even after unleashing nine bolts of taboo heavenly lightning, it still couldn’t kill him!

He laughed – a wild, unrestrained laugh, a laugh that scorned the Heavenly Tribulation, a laugh of triumph, like one who has weathered the storms and reached the distant shore!

After a moment, Li Bai regained his composure, sheathed his sword, and flew towards the Imperial Capital.

After he departed, the Chaos Green Lotus vanished, revealing the corpse of Emperor Ancestor. His face was ashen, his eyes fixed on the heavens in death, filled with unyielding resentment and unwillingness.

High in the Ninth Heaven, the thunderclouds continued to roil, refusing to disperse for a long time, they too seething with unwillingness.