“Wipe… wipe us out? They… they’re planning to team up against our Heavenly Sword Sect?”
The disciples of the Heavenly Sword Sect were all struck with shock and fear.
The Gu family and the Soul Refining Sect alone would’ve been bad enough, but now the Gu family and eleven renowned sects were united, how could they not be terrified?
The enemy’s lineup was simply too formidable!
How could the Heavenly Sword Sect possibly withstand such a coalition?
Even Lin Yun was jolted by the situation.
He knew he had grudges with the Gu family and the Soul Refining Sect, he’d even considered the worst-case scenario: those two teaming up against him and the Heavenly Sword Sect, yet even then, he didn’t think it’d be a total catastrophe.
As for the Seven Stars Sect, though Lin Yun had killed their sect leader, they shouldn’t have traced it back to him, logically, they wouldn’t wage war on the Heavenly Sword Sect over it.
Even in the worst case, if the Seven Stars Sect joined them, that’d be three factions, which Lin Yun figured was the upper limit.
But the Qingyuan Sect, Demon Subduing Sect, Shadowless Sect, Shifang Sect, Juling Sect…
These nine additional sects, Lin Yun hadn’t dreamt they’d join in too!
The Heavenly Sword Sect Leader was seasoned and battle-hardened, though inwardly shaken by the enemy’s array, he maintained a calm exterior.
Looking at them, he spoke steadily, “Qingyuan Sect Leader, Demon Subduing Sect Leader, Shadowless Sect Leader, and the other six sect leaders, it seems my Heavenly Sword Sect has no deep enmity with you, please don’t get involved, there’s no need for you to wade into this mess.”
Among the sects, minor grudges were common due to their competitive nature, but the Heavenly Sword Sect truly had no major feuds with these others.
The Demon Subduing Sect Leader spoke up, “Though we’ve no great enmity with your Heavenly Sword Sect, we can’t just watch you grow stronger and trample us underfoot, while that prodigy of yours hasn’t fully matured, we must strangle him in the cradle.”
The Shadowless Sect Leader added, “If you must blame someone, blame your sect for producing such a prodigy, he’s too dazzling, we’ve no choice but to act.”
Lin Yun’s performance in the Wanhua Tournament had been too brilliant, stoking their fear and unease, solidifying their resolve.
The Heavenly Sword Sect members’ faces grew even grimmer at this.
The Sect Leader roared, “You so-called righteous sects, famed in the martial world, yet you collude in such despicable acts, aren’t you afraid of the world condemning you? Aren’t you worried about ruining your sects’ reputations?!”
Most of these sects had no deep grudge with the Heavenly Sword Sect, ganging up to destroy it over a prodigious disciple was plainly dishonourable.
The Gu family head sneered, “Sect Leader of the Heavenly Sword Sect, save your breath, our Zhutian Alliance has united, your few words won’t break us apart, last time we attacked your sect, you somehow survived, today, no matter your tricks, you won’t escape this doom!”
“Gu family head, you’ve got the nerve to say that, have you forgotten the treaty you signed after failing to attack us last time?” the Sect Leader said, his gaze icy.
A chilling fury surged across the Gu family head’s face, “Ever since your Lin Yun took the initiative to strike my Gu family, stealing our One Thought Clarity Tower, that treaty was void! Even if my Gu family didn’t act today, these eleven renowned sects alone would be enough to annihilate you!”
At the east gate of Xingwu City.
The spot where the Gu family and eleven sects intercepted the Heavenly Sword Sect was close to the city gate, so monks entering and exiting, along with the gate guards, quickly noticed the commotion.
“What’s happening over there? There’s the aura of over a dozen Tribulation Realm experts! And a spatial lockdown too!”
People looked up in unison.
The land beyond the gate was a boundless plain, monks could see far, everyone instantly spotted the situation several dozen kilometres away in the sky, though the space was locked, it was still crystal clear.
“That’s the Gu family head, and… all eleven renowned sect leaders except the Heavenly Sword Sect, they… they’ve surrounded the Heavenly Sword Sect’s ship! What’s going on?”
“It looks like they’re teaming up to attack the Heavenly Sword Sect! Good heavens, this is earth-shattering news!”
The monks at the gate erupted in uproar.
The Gu family and each renowned sect were famous powers in the Xingwu Empire, a battle between them was explosive news!
The city guards on the wall quickly reported the situation.
Mo Qing, still at the gate, witnessed it too.
“They… they’re planning to move against the Heavenly Sword Sect?” Mo Qing clenched her fists, a deep unease welling up inside.
She knew full well that if the Gu family and eleven renowned sects joined forces against the Heavenly Sword Sect, it’d be a calamity, an utter disaster!
And she was powerless to help, the space was locked, she couldn’t even get close.
…
In the distant sky.
“What do we do? What now?” Lin Yun’s mind raced for a solution.
He knew how dire the situation was!
Fighting was out of the question, they’d be crushed!
Use the Super Void-Breaking Pearl to shatter the spatial lock, then take the Sect Leader and others on his top-tier ship to flee?
There might be a slim chance, but even if they escaped, you could run from the monk but not the temple, if the enemy couldn’t catch them, they’d head straight for the Heavenly Sword Sect, with the Sect Leader’s character, he’d never hide and let them slaughter the sect, he’d surely return to fight!
Lin Yun stepped forward, shouting sternly, “Gu family head, esteemed sect leaders, I’ve joined an Immortal’s sect, are you sure you want to touch me, to touch the Heavenly Sword Sect? Do you know the consequences? Killing an Immortal’s disciple, can you bear the fallout?!”
His voice boomed like a ringing bell, echoing through the clouds.
Lin Yun knew a fight would be a one-sided massacre, to avert this crisis, he might have to invoke an Immortal to intimidate them.
The sect leaders’ faces shifted slightly, this was indeed their greatest fear.
The Gu family head laughed, “Haha, don’t try to scare us with an Immortal’s name, you’ve only just left the city, how could you have already apprenticed? If an Immortal descends to save you today, then we’ll talk! If not, you’re as good as dead!”
On the ship.
“It seems their killing intent is set, no words will sway them now,” Elder Mei said, her face pale.
Though the Sect Leader remained outwardly calm, a flicker of helplessness crossed his ashen face.
“Lin Yun, our Heavenly Sword Sect is powerless, we can’t protect a genius like you.”
The Sect Leader looked at Lin Yun, sending a mental message:
“Lin Yun, you have the Super Void-Breaking Pearl and Thousand Miles Vanishing Talisman, the moment they strike, use them to escape! Don’t hesitate for a second!”
His resolute voice echoed in Lin Yun’s mind, kept secret from the enemy by the transmission.
