Chapter 99

Elder, even if the Sword Gate's strength is not as great as it was three hundred years ago, with the five veins gathered and your Hundred Breath Heavenly Realm, can we not stand up to the Wind Spirit Sword Sect?" Han Muye asked in a low voice.

With such a favorable situation, why would the sect master Jin Ze choose to self-destruct his sword?

Hearing Han Muye's words, the Sword Pavilion Elder shook his head and said, "Among the Nine Sects of the Western Border, which is the strongest?"

Which is the strongest?

The Nine Sects of the Western Border, with the Nine Profound Sword Gate ranking in the middle to lower tier, the top three sects each have a Heavenly Realm expert and several semi-Heavenly Realm experts.

The third of the Nine Sects, the Taiyi Sword Sect, has its Grand Elder Tu Sun Shi, the first sword cultivator of the Western Border.

The second of the Nine Sects, the Shangyang Demon Sect, is led by its sect master Li Mubai, who governs the Western Border's demon path and is a great Heavenly Realm cultivator.

Both of these sects are extremely powerful, but they are still unable to challenge the Lingdao Sect, the first major sect of the Western Border.

The Lingdao Sect, with its sect master Wan Hua Zhenren, a true cultivator of the Daoist path, is the only one in the Western Border to have reached the third level of the Heavenly Realm's Yuan Ying stage.

The Lingdao Sect is also the leader of the Western Border's Daoist path, and all cultivators of spells and techniques look up to it, considering it a holy land.

Although the rankings and power of the Nine Sects of the Western Border are constantly changing, the top three have remained unchanged for a thousand years.

The Daoist path, the demon path, and the sword cultivators have reached a balance of power.

Could it be that the Prairie Fire Sword Technique is also related to the Lingdao Sect?

Han Muye felt a chill in his heart.

The Lingdao Sect, as the dominant force in the Western Border, is not something the Nine Profound Sword Gate can challenge.

"Elder, is the Prairie Fire Sword Technique related to the Lingdao Sect?" Han Muye couldn't help but lower his voice and ask.

If it is indeed related to such a major sect, it's no wonder Su Yuan was so serious in his instructions.

Even the rebellion of the Sword Gate's Grand Elder Tao Ran back then would have a reason.

Grand Elder Tao Ran must have rebelled to avoid implicating the sect.

The Sword Pavilion Elder shook his head and said, "If it were truly related to the Lingdao Sect, our Nine Profound Sword Gate wouldn't have lasted this long."

"However, the Lingdao Sect has always been an ally of the Wind Spirit Sword Sect, which is known for cultivating both spells and sword techniques."

"Grand Elder Tao Ran cultivated the Prairie Fire Sword Momentum, but the Wind Spirit Sword Sect invoked the Lingdao Sect to issue a Daoist decree, forbidding him from using Prairie Fire for the rest of his life."

"Grand Elder Tao Ran fought three experts of the Wind Spirit Sword Sect, not daring to use Prairie Fire. The sect master then announced his expulsion from the Nine Profound Mountain, which made the Lingdao Sect's experts back off."

The Sword Pavilion Elder sighed lightly and handed a broken sword to Han Muye.

It was a bronze-colored ancient sword, already broken, with only a foot of its blade remaining.

This was the sword of the Grand Elder Mu Teyang of the Tai Ling Sword Sect.

It was severed by the Sword Pavilion Elder.

"Do you think why Mu Teyang was blocking the way?"

"He was just waiting for the Wind Spirit Sword Sect."

"I cut him down to avoid ultimately facing the Wind Spirit Sword Sect, but left the Tai Ling Sword Sect's experts on the side."

The Nine Profound Sword Gate and the Wind Spirit Sword Sect are in conflict.

Behind everything, there is the Lingdao Sect, a massive entity.

All the schemes revolve around such a major sect.

Sect Master Jin Ze would rather self-destruct his sword than face a major sect like the Lingdao Sect.

"Then, why did the sect master want Elder Su Yuan to use the Prairie Fire Sword Technique?" This was the question Han Muye most wanted to know.

Hearing Han Muye's question, the Sword Pavilion Elder pondered for a moment and said in a low voice, "Young man, why do you need to worry about these things so much?"

"You are just a small sword observer in the Sword Pavilion, and I have also lost the divine soul sword I condensed over sixty years."

"Do we still have much to do with the sect's major affairs?"

"Wouldn't it be better to return to the Sword Pavilion to eat meat and drink wine?"

"Or, isn't it better to be like Huang Zhenxiong, with a wife and children, and a warm bed, rather than seeking immortality?"

Han Muye could not refute this.

The Sword Pavilion Elder's divine soul sword, condensed over sixty years, at the Hundred Breath Heavenly Realm, had slain the Grand Elder of the Tai Ling Sword Sect.

He had done what he could.

From now on, whether it's the sect's major affairs or the path of cultivation, they are no longer his concern.

To be able to live well is already a rare blessing.

Regardless of whether he truly let go or not, Han Muye could only nod at this moment.

After Han Muye bowed and left the tent, the Sword Pavilion Elder's smile slowly faded.

The aged aura around him condensed into a sharp sword intent.

This sword intent was as strong as before he had struck.

"Brat, you sure are nosy."

"Ah, if you hadn't come, I would have left the Nine Profound Mountain and the Western Border in peace."

————

Walking out of the Sword Pavilion Elder's tent, Han Muye held the broken bronze sword and headed down the mountain.

He gripped the sword hilt.

Images appeared in his mind.

The life of Grand Elder Mu Teyang of the Tai Ling Sword Sect was what countless cultivators envied.

He cultivated the strongest sword technique of the Tai Ling Sword Sect.

All resources were provided by the entire sect.

He showed exceptional talent in his youth.

In his youth, he was proud and suppressed his peers with a single sword.

His sword met the heroes of the Western Border, and he was unmatched below the Heavenly Realm.

He comprehended the three spirit sword techniques of the Tai Ling Sword Sect: Return to the Netherworld.

He comprehended the four spirit sword techniques of the Tai Ling Sword Sect: Qingyao.

He comprehended the five spirit sword techniques of the Tai Ling Sword Sect: Yangsha.

The broken sword in Han Muye's hand trembled slightly, as if in sorrow.

The sword was broken, having fallen from the rank of a middle-grade spirit weapon to a semi-spirit weapon.

Yet, there seemed to be an indescribable aura flowing within the sword.

Images flashed in his mind, showing the Tai Ling Sword Sect facing a great crisis, with Grand Elder Mu Teyang and two other elders arguing incessantly.

There were also arguments involving the demon race and the Wind Spirit Sword Sect.

Unfortunately, the memories on the broken sword were incomplete, and many images flashed by too quickly to be clearly discerned.

Han Muye infused the sword with sword qi, causing a faint spiritual light to surge on the blade.

One.

Ten.

A hundred.

A thousand.

Ten thousand.

The broken sword trembled, and Han Muye's steps halted.

In his mind, a thin, black-robed old man looked at him with a complex expression.

A bright small sword circled in front of the old man.

"Divine soul sword?"

"The sword cultivated by Gao Changgong has been exhausted, and there are still people in the Nine Profound Mountain who can condense a divine soul sword?"

"From this, it seems your Nine Profound Sword Gate has hidden quite deeply. I, Mu Teyang, do not feel wronged in my defeat..."

Mu Teyang.

The residual soul of the Grand Elder of the Tai Ling Sword Sect.

Or perhaps, a lingering obsession.

Han Muye didn't expect the sword qi to awaken Mu Teyang's residual soul in the broken sword.

However, seeing Mu Teyang's residual soul, Han Muye had many questions he wanted to ask.

"Senior Mu, I am very curious, with your cultivation and status, why would you seek a death match today?"

Seeking death.

Everyone in the Western Border cultivation world knew that the Sword Pavilion Elder of the Nine Profound Sword Gate could unleash the power of the Nine Profound Sword, reaching the Hundred Breath Heavenly Realm.

Even with profound cultivation, Mu Teyang was only at the semi-Heavenly Realm.

Facing the Sword Pavilion Elder's sword, it was no different from seeking death.

Hearing Han Muye's words, Mu Teyang fell silent for a moment, then said in a low voice, "If I could survive the Nine Profound Sword today, my Tai Ling Sword Sect would not be annexed."

Annexed!

By whom?

Han Muye was about to ask more, but Mu Teyang's residual soul shook his head and his figure dissipated.

The sword was too damaged, and Mu Teyang's residual soul was only a thread.

To awaken it again would require more sword qi and re-nourishment.

Putting the broken sword in his sleeve, Han Muye looked at the Nine Profound Sword Gate disciples sitting in the distance.

They were joyful, happy, and dreaming of the future.

Han Muye couldn't help but smile lightly.

Mu Teyang, a semi-Heavenly Realm cultivator, sought death, and the Sword Pavilion Elder, a Heavenly Realm cultivator, was willing to turn half a lifetime of cultivation into nothing.

And the sect master, the great powers of various sects, although controlling countless lives, were not free in body or mind.

In contrast, these disciples, like ants, were full of hope and dreams for cultivation and life.

"Senior Brother Han!"

Ahead, someone turned and called out in surprise.

Sun Dayong.

Sun Dayong, an outer disciple of the Nine Profound Sword Gate.