With a single command from the Sect Master of the Heavenly Sword Sect, all disciples swiftly formed a sword formation.
At that moment, four elders at the peak of the ninth level of the Divine Transformation Realm arrived by the Sect Master's side.
Centered around the Sect Master, the Heavenly Extinction Sword Formation of the Heavenly Sword Sect took shape.
"If you insist on being this domineering, don't blame us for showing no mercy."
"Elders, join me in slaying this man."
"The rest of you, focus all your efforts on killing Chen Yunxuan and Ye Zhiqiu."
"Let’s see if he can still save these two!"
Hearing this, Chen Chang'an smiled. It seemed he was being underestimated?
"Numbers… don’t always guarantee victory."
Before his words faded, a terrifying sword intent surged into the heavens, instantly enveloping the entire Heavenly Sword Sect.
Chen Chang'an's sword intent caused every sword within the sect to spiral out of control—except for those wielded by the Sect Master and the four elders, who barely managed to restrain their own blades. The rest now hovered and circled around Chen Chang'an.
"You… you also cultivate the sword path?"
The Sect Master's face twisted in disbelief. Never had he imagined that Chen Chang'an was a swordsman—and worse, a Sword Emperor!
Since when had another Sword Emperor emerged? Why had he never heard of this before?
"You just tried to kill us, didn’t you?" Chen Chang'an asked with a faint smile.
"Senior, we—"
The Sect Master was truly panicked now. Against a Great Emperor, they might have stood a slim chance with the sect’s sword formation.
But facing a Sword Emperor whose sword intent was this overwhelming? What hope did they have?
Ancestor… only the Ancestor can suppress this Chen Chang'an now!
BOOM!
Suddenly, an astonishing sword intent erupted from the forbidden grounds of the Heavenly Sword Sect.
This sword intent clashed violently with Chen Chang'an’s.
Sensing it, the sect members’ faces lit up with relief.
"The Ancestor!"
"It’s the Ancestor!"
"We’re saved!"
"Salvation is here!"
The presence of the Heavenly Sword Emperor reignited hope in every disciple.
As long as the Ancestor intervened, he would surely pull them from the brink of destruction.
"Who dares cause chaos in my Heavenly Sword Sect?"
A figure shot into the sky, his overwhelming sword intent charging straight toward Chen Chang'an.
When the Heavenly Sword Emperor laid eyes on Chen Chang'an, his brows furrowed.
A Void Comprehension Realm cultivator, yet capable of such sword intent?
Even my own sword intent can barely match his?
"A mere Void Comprehension Realm cultivator, yet wielding sword intent of this caliber?"
"No wonder you dare stir trouble in my Heavenly Sword Sect."
"Your talent is remarkable—don’t dig your own grave."
"Will you kneel and accept me as your master?"
The Heavenly Sword Emperor’s words left everyone dumbfounded.
What? The Ancestor wants to take him as a disciple right off the bat?
Have centuries of seclusion addled his mind?
This man is here to wreck the sect, and despite his apparent cultivation level, his strength is monstrous!
Couldn’t you at least assess the situation first?
"Take me as your disciple?"
"Are you certain you’re qualified?" Chen Chang'an couldn’t help but laugh at the man’s audacity.
"HAHAHA!"
"What? You think a mere Void Comprehension Realm brat is beyond the reach of a Sword Emperor?"
"Your sword intent is formidable, but in a real fight, you’re no match for me." The Heavenly Sword Emperor roared with laughter, his face brimming with arrogance.
The Heavenly Sword Emperor was a sword fanatic, a madman—and utterly confident in his power.
In his eyes, no one below the peak of the Great Emperor Realm could rival him. No one.
"Ancestor!"
"This man killed Senior Brother Xie and sought to slaughter us all! You must uphold justice for us!" the Sect Master shouted.
Senior Brother Xie?
For a moment, the Heavenly Sword Emperor drew a blank. Who is Senior Brother Xie?
After a pause, he recalled—ah, one of his descendants.
"You mean Xie Yunfei?" the Heavenly Sword Emperor asked, frowning.
"Yes, exactly!"
"Why did you kill him?"
Huh?
Is this really the time for questions?
The sect members exchanged bewildered glances.
Look at Chen Chang'an—he didn’t bother with explanations, just acted!
Couldn’t you at least deal with the enemy first and ask later?
"Why the silence?"
"I asked you a question," the Heavenly Sword Emperor pressed sternly.
"Well…"
With no choice, the Sect Master recounted the entire incident from beginning to end.
"You’re saying my descendant, Xie Yuyan, attacked ordinary civilians?"
"And the victims were a family of virtuous healers?"
"Good riddance!"
The Heavenly Sword Emperor’s response stunned everyone anew.
That’s your own bloodline! "Good riddance"?
Do you really care so little for kinship?
This was the first time Chen Chang'an learned the full context of the conflict.
Who would’ve thought Chen Yunxuan had such charm?
Still, the root of this disaster lay solely with Xie Yuyan. The Heavenly Sword Sect itself bore little blame.
Xie Yunfei seeking vengeance for his daughter was natural—if you kill, expect retaliation.
Chen Chang'an’s intervention was justified too; when Xie Yunfei targeted Chen Yunxuan and Ye Zhiqiu, he had no choice but to act.
One foolish girl’s actions had spiraled into this catastrophe.
Yet the Heavenly Sword Emperor’s reaction gave Chen Chang'an pause. Instead of pressing the attack, he waited to see how the Emperor would resolve this.
Chen Chang'an was no saint, but neither was he a mindless butcher. If the sect chose hostility, he wouldn’t hold back.
But if they took a different path, he’d spare them.
"He had the gall to seek revenge?"
"And you lot—what were you thinking, merely reprimanding her?"
"Have I not decreed that Heavenly Sword Sect disciples must never harm innocents?"
"If the targets were vile criminals, I’d overlook it."
"But a kind-hearted healer’s family? Annihilated?"
"And you shielded the perpetrator?"
"Just because she carried my blood?"
The Heavenly Sword Emperor’s words filled the crowd with shame.
They’d known Xie Yuyan’s actions were reprehensible—yet what could they do?
She was the Ancestor’s kin. Who’d dare execute her?
"Ancestor, but she was your—"
"The sect has rules."
"My descendants are no exception. Justice is blind."
With a cold snort, the Heavenly Sword Emperor turned to Chen Yunxuan and Ye Zhiqiu.
"Which of you is Chen Yunxuan?"
"I am."
"Good!"
"Bold. To seek justice at the Heavenly Sword Sect with just Void Comprehension Realm cultivation."
"You’ve got spine."
Then, eyeing Ye Zhiqiu:
"And you—you walk the sword path?"
"Your physique… seems unusual."
"Will you become my disciple?"
The Heavenly Sword Emperor’s erratic logic left everyone rubbing their temples in exasperation.
What's with this guy, darting around left and right, wanting to take everyone as his disciple?
"Ah!"
"Forget it."
Chen Chang'an sighed helplessly. This Heavenly Sword Emperor seemed a bit unhinged.
Moreover, he harbored no hostility toward Chen Yunxuan and Ye Zhiqiu. Though his mind might be a little off, his heart was righteous. Chen Chang'an had no intention of killing someone like him.
With a mere thought from Chen Chang'an, the floating swords around him instantly returned to the hands of the Heavenly Sword Sect members.
"Alright, stop eyeing everyone as potential disciples."
"That's my disciple. Don’t get any ideas about him."
Hearing Chen Chang'an's words, the Heavenly Sword Emperor's expression shifted. Your disciple?
You're only at the Void Comprehension Realm's first level, while he's at the Divine Transformation Realm's eighth level—yet you're his master?
Still, Chen Chang'an's achievements in the sword path were impressive, his sword intent astonishing. But it still didn’t quite fit.
"No, no."
"Both of you are too weak."
"Become my disciples, and I’ll guide your cultivation. I guarantee you’ll break through to the Emperor Realm."
Hmm?
Weak?
"You think I'm weak?"
Chen Chang'an smiled faintly, then activated his Sword Domain, enveloping the Heavenly Sword Emperor within it.
"You… this is… a Domain?"