The Beginning of the Great War

Chu Jingchen's face turned pale then green, his expression twisting in struggle for a long while before he ultimately yielded to Gu Qingfeng's domineering pressure, reluctantly kneeling and offering an apology.

"Elder... Gu, I was wrong."

Gu Qingfeng stepped forward and patted Chu Jingchen's lowered head. "To recognize one's faults and correct them is a virtue. This elder forgives you—just be more careful next time."

As he spoke, he picked up the tattered green hat from the ground and placed it back on Chu Jingchen's head.

"Alright, Old Wei, I won’t disturb your disciple’s education any longer. Lately, that little girl Ling Fei’er has been pestering me to teach her cultivation techniques. The agreed-upon time has already passed. You all carry on—I’ll go guide her training now."

With that, Gu Qingfeng departed with effortless grace.

......

Time flowed like rushing water, and in the blink of an eye, a month had passed.

During this month, the Sword Sect busily prepared for war, while Gu Qingfeng focused on his cultivation, occasionally taking time to return to the Palm World to visit Shang Xinyan and "educate" his slaves.

He had been in the Cangming Realm for less than a year, yet in this short span, his strength had already reached a level where he stood unrivaled among Heaven-Realm cultivators—a pace that could hardly be called slow.

On the path of cultivation, steadiness came first. Laying a solid foundation was paramount, so Gu Qingfeng did not recklessly chase progress. Instead, he advanced steadily, savoring life, balancing exertion with ease.

As for the looming threats from the various sects? Frankly, he felt not a shred of urgency.

A large part of his confidence stemmed from the Heaven-Sent Formation. With this formation in hand, escaping would be child’s play.

The rest came from the Demon Emperor’s Sword. If the Sword Sect truly faced annihilation, whether the sword was demonic or not, he would undoubtedly wield it in battle. Once he held that sword, what did the other sects even matter?

Thus, Gu Qingfeng remained utterly unshaken.

On this day, however, the Sword Sect’s celestial mountain, suspended high in the sky, was suddenly visited by unwelcome guests.

BOOM!

A deafening thunderclap resounded, and the heavens darkened in an instant as clouds churned violently.

From the depths of the roiling sea of clouds, the roar of a dragon echoed.

Then, the dragon’s cry grew louder, and a massive shadow emerged from the clouds, charging straight toward the Sword Sect’s celestial mountain.

The sky above the sect blackened in an instant.

Countless disciples sensed the anomaly and looked up, their faces paling in shock.

"Dragons! Nine flood dragons!"

"Look! Those nine dragons are pulling a golden ancient chariot!"

"Nine dragons drawing a chariot—isn’t that the signature mount of the Netherworld Sect’s leader, King Yan, Wang Yan?!"

Nine blood-red flood dragons spanned the heavens, their bodies like forged iron, crimson scales gleaming with terrifying power as they hauled an enormous golden war chariot through the clouds. The sight was majestic, as if ripped from the pages of history itself.

The nine dragons halted above the Sword Sect, gazing down upon the mortals below, their oppressive might enveloping the entire sect.

Just as the Sword Sect’s disciples stood frozen in shock, another disturbance arose within the clouds.

Though it was daytime, the clouds suddenly parted, and a radiant full moon rose into the sky, casting its glow alongside the sun.

Yet this moon seemed alive—slowly drifting toward the Sword Sect.

"What’s happening?! The moon is moving!"

"Is it going to crash into the sect?!"

"Wait—that’s not the moon! It’s a ship! I remember now—that’s the Moonlight Battleship of the Peerless Pavilion’s master, Duan Changsheng!"

As the "moon" drew closer, the crowd realized it was actually a warship bathed in silvery moonlight, its hull engraved with intricate Daoist runes—both breathtaking and enigmatic.

The appearance of the Moonlight Battleship seemed to signal the arrival of other forces.

A colossal divine sword split the sky, its blade embedded with countless shimmering stars, their brilliance so dazzling it forced onlookers to avert their eyes.

It was the Heavenly Sword Mountain’s leader, Jian Xinghe!

Thunder roared as arcs of lightning crackled across the sky, resembling the cries of ten thousand birds. From afar, a pool of thunder surged forward.

The master of the Thunderbolt Isle, Lei Wanjun!

The horizon was further illuminated by countless streaks of light—powerful cultivators riding their artifacts as they descended upon the scene.

In mere moments, the Sword Sect’s celestial mountain was surrounded. Yet none of the invaders dared act rashly, for the sect’s protective barrier held them at bay.

The disciples stared at the overwhelming sea of enemies, their hearts trembling with fear.

Though the Sword Sect was formidable—capable of standing against any single force in the Verdant Wood Domain—this was different. Nearly every major power in the domain had gathered here. For one sect to oppose an entire domain? Only the Sword Sect at its peak could achieve such a feat.

A month prior, Dugu Wei had already warned his disciples about the alliance of sects preparing to attack.

At the time, the disciples had been furious, swearing to resist to the death.

But now, faced with the reality of battle, many of the younger disciples felt their legs weaken, their resolve wavering.

Some even thought: Why should we risk our lives for the crimes of the Emperor’s heir? Even if he becomes an Emperor one day, what does that matter to us? It’s not like we’ll become Emperors ourselves. Wouldn’t it be better to just hand him over and end this?

As fear gnawed at their hearts, a thunderous voice boomed across the sky, shaking their very souls.

Wang Yan, leader of the Netherworld Sect, declared with imperious authority:

"Sword Sect, hear this! Your disciple Gu Qingfeng is a vile criminal who has incurred the wrath of all. Hand him over now, or we will raze your sect to the ground!"

"RAZE THE SWORD SECT!"

"RAZE THE SWORD SECT!"

A deafening chorus of voices erupted like a tidal wave, crashing against the sect’s barriers.

The disciples paled further, their fear swelling. More and more began to consider surrender—better to sacrifice Gu Qingfeng than face annihilation.

Fear was the natural reaction when outnumbered and outmatched.

Yet among them were also those whose blood burned with defiance, their eyes alight with unyielding resolve.

They knew Gu Qingfeng represented the Sword Sect’s hope for resurgence. To yield today would not only crush that hope but also brand the sect as cowards, forever scorned by the world.

Then—

A terrifying aura erupted from the depths of the Sword Sect, a force so immense it seemed capable of splitting the heavens.

Like an unstoppable divine sword, it pierced the sky, tearing through the oppressive pressure imposed by the invading forces.

Wang Yan, Duan Changsheng, Jian Xinghe, and the others tensed, their expressions darkening.

"The Sword God... Dugu Wei!"

Wang Yan’s voice was laced with caution as he fixed his gaze on the figure soaring into the sky.