Chapter 0: The Exiles (6)
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One disciple from each sect stood off against one another, testing the waters.
Let it be known, if too many people rushed in at once, it would undoubtedly be a blasphemy to the spirit of fair combat.
The Heavenly Sword Sect, holding itself as the leader of the seven great sects, prided itself on following the rules.
But what they faced just now was beyond their wildest expectations.
That bandage-wrapped girl in the black dress had secretly set up a bizarre formation that everyone else didn’t even see coming.
Anyone caught in this formation would suffer the same injuries as she did.
And while the “Mediterranean” guy was immune to the effects, with everyone effectively held hostage, he couldn’t act against her either. One slip-up, and it could lead to the demise of the Heavenly Sword Sect.
In desperation, Ling Xiaozu and Luo Ying teamed up to break the core of the formation.
Though Mu Xunqing had set up the strange formation first, such actions had no precedent. They couldn’t point fingers and claim she broke the rules right away.
However, the simultaneous intervention of the sect leader and the inner door’s top disciple sent a clear message to the onlookers: the Heavenly Sword Sect was all in to counter this bandaged girl.
Because everyone knew all too well what would happen if they didn’t.
To the outside world, it looked like Mu Xunqing was single-handedly overpowering the Heavenly Sword Sect. No matter how they countered in the end, on the surface, they had lost spectacularly.
Yet, that “Mediterranean” guy just wouldn’t take a hint.
After the two of them destroyed the formation’s core, he should’ve made a quick retreat; that would’ve left a chance for redemption for both sides.
But no, he was still thinking about attacking that girl! Naturally, the Cold Moon Witch didn’t take that well.
What no one from the Heavenly Sword Sect, including Ling Xiaozu, anticipated was that with just two sentences, the Cold Moon Witch completely crushed the fighting spirit of the “Mediterranean” guy.
Even the sword he controlled, mind you, severed its connection with its master at that moment.
Such a blow could be fatal for a cultivator.
From then on, that “Mediterranean” fellow might never cultivate again, dropping from the lofty position of an inner door disciple to an utterly ordinary person.
For a moment, the Floating City was eerily quiet, save for the soft rustling of clothes fluttering in the brisk wind.
The Cold Moon Witch was as unbothered as an iceberg.
Her team, the Extermination of Immortals, didn’t show any signs of disdain or joy over their little win.
Their expressions and gazes remained steadfast and resolute, just as they had been from the start.
People like this were genuinely terrifying.
Even more so was the sight of such a large group maintaining their composure in one place.
One must say, the strictness of the Cold Moon Witch as their leader and her formidable commanding presence were indeed beyond what an average person could achieve.
As she observed her comrades, besides Luo Ying, most bore injuries, particularly a sword wound on a shoulder that rendered them temporarily unable to wield their weapons. Left-handed fighters were rare, but who could withstand continuous bl**d loss?
It was safe to say the Heavenly Sword Sect had lost its combat capability.
Ling Xiaozu completely retracted his earlier contempt for the Cold Moon Witch.
If it weren’t for the injuries of his disciples, continuing to clash with the Extermination of Immortals might have led to a real bloodbath—where everyone but Luo Ying might perish.
Reluctantly, he decided to shelve the plans for a showdown with the Cold Moon Witch.
He wouldn’t sacrifice all his disciples just to achieve his goals.
He was a righteous man, with a sense of restraint, and he felt he had to live up to the prestige of the Heavenly Sword Sect.
Just then, the Cold Moon Witch slowly rose, hovering in the air, the morning light casting a golden glow across her form.
The bizarre formation of “hurt others and harm oneself” that Mu Xunqing had unleashed, had instilled a newfound awe among those who previously didn’t comprehend the real power of the Extermination of Immortals.
Especially in the minds of the Great King of the Split Land and Gongsun Ding.
The Bull Head fancied himself a lord of a city, with nearly ten thousand strong troops at his command. Although he had made plenty of mistakes before, this time his admission of guilt was exceedingly sincere. He thought perhaps the lady would overlook his missteps, realizing he still had some value.
But little did he know, the lady had built herself a solid base over the last few hundred years.
Even the most ordinary member of her group wielded strength on par with a great demon residing in a cave. The formation that almost led to the annihilation of the Heavenly Sword Sect had opened his eyes while sending shivers down his spine.
What’s more, Cold Wind City had also long pledged allegiance to the lady.
In other words, he was not an essential piece in her grand game.
Clearly, he had to pledge his unwavering loyalty, casting aside all thoughts of rebellion, for the lady to consider taking him back as a valued aide rather than a discarded pawn.
Gongsun Ding was equally flabbergasted.
He had witnessed the prowess of the Extermination of Immortals when he followed Li Ying Tian to assault Cold Wind City. Just two twin sisters had managed to push them back!
Now, with the Cold Moon Witch directly involved, he gained a glimpse of the true power of the Extermination of Immortals.
At this moment, he firmly recognized the foolishness of Li Ying Tian’s actions against the Cold Moon Witch. Back then, Li Ying Tian had completely forgotten his duties as the sect leader of Thousand Bird City.
He had abandoned all the people of Thousand Bird City.
Thus, heaven had made the final choice for Thousand Bird City.
“Ling Xiaozu, from this day forth, the affairs of Thousand Bird City shall be managed by the Extermination of Immortals. What do you think?”
As soon as the Cold Moon Witch finished her sentence, a fragrant breeze wafted through, laden with a flurry of pink petals that danced before everyone.
“Divine omen!”
“This is surely a message from the heavens!”
“Your Majesty, the Queen, is truly a sage!”
“With the Queen’s blessings, Thousand Bird City will surely enjoy fair weather and ample harvests!”
“May the Queen be blessed!”
“May the Queen be blessed!”
Amidst the flower rain, the residents of Thousand Bird City knelt, their fervent attitude akin to parched earth receiving nourishing dew, or withered trees greeting spring once more.
An omen, an actual omen!
The entire scene was one of shock.
And at that moment, a gigantic shadow appeared behind the Cold Moon Witch.
This figure sat cross-legged atop a blooming lotus, bald-headed, and surrounded by a halo of sunlight that shimmered with radiant gold.
His eyes were slightly closed, hands resting in front of him, left palm up beneath the right, fingers curled in a gesture of flower picking.
As the crowd stood in awe, words failing them, this monk-like figure clad in a red-and-white robe suddenly opened his eyes.
A deep voice echoed like the resounding harmony of bells and drums.
“Great Free Heaven rejoICES, all beings find joy. Great Free Heaven becomes angry, all beings suffer. Those with shame shall enter hell. Like a mighty flood, it quenches the earth. All beings are indeed creations of the Great Free Heaven.”
Ling Xiaozu staggered back two steps, unable to articulate his overwhelming fear.
“That’s Great Free Heaven! The Dao of Heaven and Humans, the Great Free Heaven!”
In that moment, even the injured disciples of the Heavenly Sword Sect couldn’t help but kneel, reciting the verses the Great Free Heaven was chanting.
How could an escaped demoness pull this off?
But as the resonating chants grew louder, Ling Xiaozu found his knees giving way as if weighted with lead, slowly descending.
“Master! Master!”
Luo Ying desperately propped herself up with the hilt of her sword, loudly calling out to him.
Suddenly, Ling Xiaozu jolted awake.
“About the matters of Thousand Bird City, the Heavenly Sword Sect will never intervene again.”
“Boom!”
With a thunderous clap, the Great Free Heaven shut his eyes and slowly vanished into the air.
The rain of petals continued, yet for some reason, a few petals bore faint traces of bl**d.
The Cold Moon Witch smiled, twirling her fingers, as at that moment,
On the earth approaching winter, flowers bloomed vibrant, and green shoots sprouted anew.
All the residents of Thousand Bird City laid their hands to the ground, praising this miraculous sight they had never witnessed before.
……
P.S.: Afternoon tea is here! Please vote! The final sprint begins!
