A streak of black light shattered the combined attack of over ten powerful figures.
The person who made the move was no ordinary individual.
Everyone was shocked and their hearts tightened as they scanned the surroundings, trying to see who had intervened.
A point of black light floated in the starry sky, surrounded by a faint mist, making it impossible to discern what was inside.
“Which Dao Friend made the move? Dare you show yourself?”
A powerful figure shouted, his voice carrying through the starry sky, ignoring the environment.
A person approached from the east.
He wore a dark cloth robe with several patches and many frayed threads.
His hair was messy, with gray at the temples.
His face was covered in stubble, giving him a wild look.
He walked with a limp, his right leg slightly shorter.
His skin was dark, and his hair obscured his face, making it hard to see his features.
“Predecessor!”
Chen Qingyuan recognized him at a glance and was overjoyed.
The limping old man walked slowly, dressed plainly, but no one dared to underestimate him. Everyone was tense, their eyes focused.
“Seems like Young Friend has encountered some trouble!”
The limping old man soon arrived in the starry sky of Baichen Star, not far from Chen Qingyuan, and turned to smile.
They knew each other?
The powerful figures frowned slightly, sensing something was off.
“What brings you here, sir?”
Chen Qingyuan quickly bowed respectfully.
“Just wandering around, happened to run into you.”
The limping old man spoke kindly to Chen Qingyuan.
“What a coincidence.”
Chen Qingyuan looked puzzled.
You’ve always been secluded in a remote corner of the Northern Wilderness. Even if you wanted to wander, you wouldn’t come to the Imperial Province!
“How should we address you, Dao Friend?”
An Old Ancestor of the Seven Cauldron Sacred Ground stepped forward, his voice deep.
Due to the old man’s attire, no one could recognize him.
A mysterious expert suddenly appearing made the powerful figures of the Imperial Province cautious. They needed to assess the situation first. After all, this was their territory, and a little delay wouldn’t hurt.
“Don’t you recognize me?”
The limping old man sighed, lamenting the relentless passage of time.
He tidied his hair a bit, tucking a few strands behind his ear, revealing his face to everyone.
The ordinary elders of various Sacred Grounds looked at the limping old man without much reaction, their faces calm.
“He looks familiar.”
The old fellows who had lived for thousands of years scrutinized him closely, finding him increasingly familiar.
“It’s him… It’s really him! He’s still alive!”
The Supreme Ancestor of the Xuanji Sect matched the old man with someone from his memory, trembling in shock and almost falling in the starry sky.
“Master Ancestor, what’s wrong?”
The elders of the Xuanji Sect gathered around, puzzled by the Supreme Ancestor’s fear.
“What’s going on?”
The cultivators were bewildered, not understanding the situation.
After a while, an Old Ancestor from a Sacred Ground turned pale, realizing something, and said in a trembling voice, “You’re still alive.”
“You wish I were dead?”
The limping old man smiled kindly at him.
“No… I meant no such thing.”
The Old Ancestor quickly explained, his eyes filled with undisguised fear.
Soon, more and more Old Ancestors guessed the old man’s identity, panicking and utterly shocked.
“Sword Immortal Changgeng!”
The Old Ancestor of the Sacred Ground of Taiyin steadied his inner fear and exclaimed.
“Boom—”
The words echoed in everyone’s ears, shaking the Imperial Province.
At this moment, the elders of various sects, who had been clueless, all showed extreme shock.
A few even collapsed on their warships from sheer terror, taking a long time to recover.
“He’s the Sword Immortal Changgeng recorded in ancient texts? No way!”
The younger generation was astonished, having read about the legendary Sword Immortal Changgeng since childhood.
“Wasn’t it said that Sword Immortal Changgeng had died? How is he alive?”
A thousand years ago, Sword Immortal Changgeng Li Muyang drew his sword to the heavens, shocking the world. Since then, he had vanished, and everyone thought he had perished from injuries inflicted by the Heavenly Dao.
“He stands at the pinnacle of Sword Dao, while we are mere mortals at the foot of the mountain, only able to look up at his back.”
The core elders of the Dongli Sword Sect trembled uncontrollably, looking at Sword Immortal Changgeng with reverence, as if seeing a deity.
“A thousand years ago, he fought the will of heaven on Purple Cloud Mountain in the Imperial Province, shaking the world. Though he lost, it was an honorable defeat. To this day, Purple Cloud Mountain retains the supreme sword intent of the Sword Immortal, benefiting countless Sword Dao cultivators for life.”
A powerful Sword Cultivator who had witnessed the battle on Purple Cloud Mountain spoke, his soul deeply imprinted with the image of Sword Immortal Changgeng, worshiping him eternally.
“Feng Yuan’an of the Beast Taming Sect, pays respects to the Sword Immortal.”
A powerful figure stepped forward and bowed.
“Xu Feng of the Listening Rain Tower, greets the Predecessor.”
Another person saluted.
“Nine Extremes Sect…”
Many powerful figures hidden in the shadows revealed themselves, respectfully cupping their hands in salute.
“How is such a great figure connected to Chen Qingyuan?”
Earlier, the Sword Immortal had clearly greeted Chen Qingyuan, leaving many puzzled.
“Old Chen, that guy, actually knows such an existence.”
Zhangsun Fengye and Zhangsun Qian were dumbfounded.
“Unbelievable, Amitabha.”
Daochen Buddha’s child was stunned for a long time before regaining his composure, murmuring with hands clasped.
The battle a thousand years ago had shown the world’s powerful figures just how terrifying Sword Immortal Changgeng’s strength was. It was no exaggeration to say that even a peak Great Vehicle cultivator would struggle to withstand a single strike from the Sword Immortal at his peak.
Who in the world would dare disrespect someone who dared to battle the Heavenly Dao?
Sword Immortal Li Muyang’s presence here was no coincidence; he had come specifically.
He was Chen Qingyuan’s protector.
The Red-Dressed Girl in the Sky Abyss had once guided Li Muyang on his path, owing him a great favor. The cause and effect of the Qing Sect couldn’t make Li Muyang serve, but he did all this for the Red-Dressed Girl.
“Greetings, everyone.”
Li Muyang symbolically cupped his fists in return.
The atmosphere became awkward, with the powerful figures unsure how to proceed.
“May I ask, Sword Immortal, what brings you here?”
The old man with a cane from No-Dao Cliff took a deep breath and mustered the courage to ask.
“These guys are my young friends. I can’t let you old bastards bully them.”
The Sword Immortal was straightforward, openly stating his intention.
“This…”
Hearing this, the powerful figures of the Imperial Province were stunned, looking at each other in dismay.
This was a tricky situation!
But the Emperor’s weapon fragment was of immense significance; how could they easily let it go?
The starry sky of Baichen Star fell silent, the atmosphere heavy.
In a distant corner, Yu Chenran, who had rushed from the Northern Wilderness, witnessed the scene and was dumbfounded.
“That brat Qingyuan is so familiar with Sword Immortal Changgeng.”
Yu Chenran hadn’t expected the emergence of the Emperor’s weapon fragment, nor that Chen Qingyuan’s participation in the Hundred Veins Banquet would cause such a commotion. So, after receiving Chen Qingyuan’s distress signal, he had rushed over without delay.
With the Academy’s capabilities, they naturally knew that Sword Immortal Changgeng was secluded in the Northern Wilderness and had even sent experts to contact him, only to be turned away.
“Let’s watch the show for a bit before revealing myself.”
Yu Chenran steadied himself, hiding in the shadows to observe.
With the Sword Immortal’s words, the powerful figures of the Imperial Province felt even more troubled, suppressing their fear of the Sword Immortal and secretly discussing their next move.