We Pay Our Respects to Your Excellency

"Choose you? Look at the wretched state you're in now—neither human nor ghost. Only now do I realize the wisdom of our master." Dugu Wei sneered coldly.

"Enough talk, Dugu Wei. Step aside. I’ve long sensed someone lurking in the shadows, so I deliberately conserved the power of one final sword strike. But after this, the Sword Sect will have to rely on itself from now on." Qing Ming Sword Venerable cut off their exchange.

His life force was draining away. He could delay no longer. Before death claimed him, he would clear the final obstacle for the Sword Sect.

The Sword Demon watched silently as Qing Ming Sword Venerable raised his sword, his gaze profound and utterly fearless.

"Elder Supreme, you cannot kill me," the Sword Demon said calmly, as if stating a simple fact.

Qing Ming Sword Venerable snorted. "I can sense you’ve reached the Half-Step Heavenly Venerable realm. But today, I will teach you one truth: a half-step difference is still a difference—"

Thud!

"Elder Supreme!!"

Dugu Wei and the others gasped in shock, their faces twisted in disbelief as a gleaming divine sword pierced through Qing Ming Sword Venerable’s chest from behind.

The blade had emerged from his back, as if it had grown from his very body.

And the one standing behind him was none other than... Meng Yan!

Meng Yan’s face was contorted with madness and ecstasy, his entire body trembling with excitement. "Hahaha... DIE!"

Boom!

With his last ounce of strength, Qing Ming Sword Venerable turned and struck Meng Yan with a palm strike.

Meng Yan coughed blood as he was sent flying, his meridians and internal organs utterly shattered—his death was certain.

Yet, his face remained twisted in maniacal glee.

"Sword Demon... my lord! I’ve fulfilled my duty... hahaha—"

"Traitor!" Dugu Wei roared, slashing out with his sword and obliterating Meng Yan on the spot.

The others frantically tried to save Qing Ming Sword Venerable.

Weak and desperate, the elder shouted, "Stop wasting your energy! My death is inevitable. Dugu Wei, summon the Emperor Demon Sword—now!"

With that final command, Qing Ming Sword Venerable’s life force extinguished completely.

Dugu Wei had no time for grief or rage. He knew their only hope was to summon the Emperor Demon Sword and sacrifice his own life to unleash its power against the Sword Demon.

When the Emperor Demon Sword was sealed, the sect’s predecessors had left a hidden mechanism—a way to briefly break the seal and call upon the sword. Only the sect’s successive leaders knew the method.

Dugu Wei raised his hand to the heavens and bellowed in fury, "Sword—COME!"

The Sword Demon remained motionless, his cold gaze fixed on them.

Seconds ticked by.

Dugu Wei’s arm stayed raised, but the Emperor Demon Sword did not appear. The silence was deafening.

"Sword—COME AGAIN!" he roared once more.

Still, nothing. His arm grew stiff, yet the sword refused to answer.

"What’s happening?! Where is the Emperor Demon Sword?!" Dugu Wei raged.

The Sword Demon finally spoke. "No need to waste your breath, Senior Brother. The Emperor Demon Sword will not come. It belongs to me—and only me."

"You—you did this?!" Dugu Wei shuddered, his blood running cold. "Your goal was the Emperor Demon Sword all along?!"

In that moment, despair truly gripped him. The Sword Sect had only two trump cards: the Elder Supreme and the Emperor Demon Sword. Now, both had failed.

Meanwhile, the Sword Demon’s forces boasted a Half-Step Heavenly Venerable, two late-stage Heavenly Monarchs, and hundreds of Celestial Realm experts.

The disparity in power was overwhelming.

The Sword Demon nodded. "The Sword Sect is a rotting relic. Nothing here is worth preserving—except the Emperor Demon Sword."

"Kekeke... Well said, you little demon. I quite agree. But your attempt to steal the Emperor Demon Sword? That, I do not like."

A sinister, mocking laugh suddenly exploded across the sky.

Everyone turned to see a majestic figure materializing in the void.

"Junior Brother Gu?!" Dugu Wei and the others gasped in shock.

None had expected Gu Qingfeng to return at such a critical moment.

"Junior Brother Gu! You are the Sword Sect’s last hope—RUN!" Dugu Wei urged desperately.

"Run? Gu Qingfeng, I planned to hunt you down after wiping out the Sword Sect. But since you’ve delivered yourself to me, today I’ll exterminate you all at once!" the Sword Demon said icily.

Dugu Wei and the others were frantic. They could die here—but the Prodigy Son must not. As long as he lived, he would eventually ascend to the Heavenly Venerable realm, and the Sword Sect could be rebuilt.

Transforming into streaks of light, they rushed to block the Sword Demon and his demonic horde, buying time for Gu Qingfeng.

"Junior Brother Gu! Activate the Heavenly Teleportation Array now! We’ll hold them off!"

"None of you will escape today!"

"Junior Brother Gu, hurry—"

"SHUT THE HELL UP!" Gu Qingfeng’s roar shook the battlefield, his face twisted in fury.

In a flash, he appeared beside them, his arrogant gaze sweeping over friend and foe alike.

"What’s all this racket?! Daring to raise your voices in my presence—do you all have a death wish?!"

His words left everyone—enemies and allies alike—stunned into silence.

There were clearly only two factions standing in opposition, so why did it feel like a third one appeared the moment you arrived?

"Gu...Gu Qingfeng, have...have you fallen into demonic madness again?" Dugu Wei asked instinctively, noticing Gu Qingfeng's expression—identical to when he had first come into contact with the Emperor Demon Sword.

Gu Qingfeng exploded at the question. "Demonic madness, demonic madness! Is that all you ever think about? The real demon is standing right in front of you, and you can’t even see him!"

Dugu Wei and the others glanced at the Sword Demon, who had remained calm the entire time, then back at Gu Qingfeng, who now looked like a wrathful ghost or an Asura.

Honestly, at this point, it was hard to tell who was the real demon.

"Enough, I can’t be bothered to waste words on you. Dugu Wei, where is the Emperor Demon Sword?"

Dugu Wei froze for a moment before realizing Gu Qingfeng was addressing him. At the mention of the Emperor Demon Sword, his expression darkened as he shook his head. "I don’t know."

"You don’t know?!" Gu Qingfeng immediately turned to the Sword Demon, his face twisting into a savage grin. "Seems like you’re the one behind this, huh?"

"Do you also seek to rely on the Emperor Demon Sword to defeat me?" the Sword Demon replied calmly.

"Keh keh keh... You’ve got a sense of humor, don’t you? As if I’d need the Emperor Demon Sword to crush you?"

The Sword Demon remained unfazed by Gu Qingfeng’s arrogance. "Gu Qingfeng, I admit you’re a prodigy. With three sacred physiques perfected, you’ve attained power rivaling a Heavenly Monarch at such a young age—even Yan Mengdie was no match for you. But do you truly believe you alone can defeat all of us demonic beings and save the entire Sword Sect?"

As he spoke, his demonic subordinates, ever perceptive, stepped forward in unison. Their overwhelming auras erupted like a towering mountain, pressing down on Gu Qingfeng, Dugu Wei, and the others.

Dugu Wei and his companions paled under the crushing pressure, their hearts sinking to the depths.

But just then, a maniacal laugh shattered the oppressive atmosphere.

"Keh keh keh... Who told you insects that I came alone?" Gu Qingfeng threw his head back in wild laughter. "My men, show yourselves!"

With a sweeping gesture, hundreds of figures materialized out of thin air!

The moment they appeared, their combined presence darkened the heavens.

Among them were over a dozen Heavenly Monarchs and hundreds of Celestial Realm experts.

The massive crowd dropped to their knees in unison, their voices thundering like a storm.

"We pay homage to the Supreme!"

The deafening proclamation struck like lightning, shaking the hearts of all who heard it.

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