"Who would have thought that even after Justin Shang's death, he could still stir up such a storm?" Jason Chu shook his head inside the Swordmaking House. "These supreme sects—they flaunt righteousness, but in truth, they're not so different from the Demon Sect."
Jason's divine sense had followed Sarah Qin as she approached, allowing him to overhear everything discussed in the Shushan main hall. While he still bore a pure heart after all these years of cultivation, he was no longer naive. Jason could easily see through the machinations at play.
"All the schemes and disputes between the major powers are ultimately about self-interest," he murmured. "The Demon-Suppressing Sect and the Langya Sword Sect uniting with others against Shushan was inevitable. Even if there were no Justin Shang, as long as Shushan grew weak, they'd find someone else—Victor Shang, Vernon Shang—to serve as their excuse."
"But poor Sarah is bound to be disappointed…"
Sensing her approaching once again, Jason glanced toward the restricted area of the Swordmaking House. His memories drifted back to the Sword Washing Pool hundreds of years ago, where he had slain a dragon and received the Sword Demon's legacy. Even then, he had realized that the once-invincible legend had long since fallen.
For years, Shushan's leaders believed the Sword Demon had intervened, but those events were simply Jason's actions, misinterpreted. Sarah now hoped to invite the Sword Demon out of seclusion, but how could a long-deceased man respond?
As he mused, Sarah arrived above the Swordmaking House and flew directly toward its depths.
"Sword Demon Ancestor, the 42nd Sect Leader of Shushan, Sarah Qin, pays her respects."
"Today, Shushan faces a grave crisis. In three days, six supreme sects will form the Seven-Sect Alliance to attack the Shushan Sword Sect."
"We have received word that they will send a Grand Elder from the Heavenly Gate Stage to infiltrate us."
"I respectfully ask the Ancestor to come forth and protect Shushan."
Sarah's peerlessly beautiful face held a solemn expression as she addressed the empty space with utmost reverence. In her hand, she held an ancient token engraved with the character for "sword," which she slowly extended forward.
The ancient token exuded a supreme pressure, bearing the marks of ancient years. It was the Golden Seal of the Shushan Sword Sect.
From afar, Shushan's strongest cultivators watched, their hearts filled with hope.
Unfortunately, Sarah's voice faded into silence like a stone sinking into the sea, with no response in return.
One breath.
Two breaths.
…
Time passed, yet the silence remained unbroken.
"It seems the Sword Demon Ancestor has declined to respond."
The Shushan elders felt a tremor of dread. None had expected this outcome.
"The Ancestor may be reclusive, but he isn't devoid of compassion or loyalty," August Xia speculated, sighing. "It's likely that after intervening several times, he's too burdened to assist us further."
"If that's the case, we'll have to call upon other Ancestors," he added with resignation.
"Poor Sarah… She hasn't given up yet," Ryan Xia muttered, frustration etched on her face as she watched Sarah standing resolutely in the distance, humbling herself as she pleaded. It pained her to see how much pressure Sarah bore, and she cursed the other sects for their callousness.
The very sects, like the Demon-Suppressing Sect and the Langya Sword Sect, that Caspian Qin had once saved were now the ones turning their backs on Shushan.
"Sarah, return," the Grand Elder advised through a voice transmission. "We should regroup and consider other strategies."
Yet Sarah did not move; instead, she slowly knelt in mid-air. She was fully aware that the best chance to avert this crisis lay in enlisting the Sword Demon's support.
The other Ancestors guarding the Demon-Suppressing Tower and Abyssal Gate were either drained, their strength severely diminished, or simply lacked the power to command true deterrence.
Sarah believed that this unprecedented coalition of sects would involve more than a single Grand Elder from the Heavenly Gate Stage. Only the presence of the Sword Demon could dissolve the threat at hand.
As Sect Leader, she had no choice but to shoulder this responsibility.
"Such a stubborn child," sighed Ryan Xia, feeling both admiration and sorrow. "Given another five hundred years, she wouldn't be inferior to Caspian Qin…"
"But I don't think it's that the Sword Demon Ancestor is unwilling—it's that he's simply unable to help," Ryan lamented, clenching her fists, as did many Shushan elders. They hated their own weakness, realizing that they had left this monumental task to a young Golden Core cultivator.
Jason could sense Sarah's actions and shook his head in quiet exasperation. He transmitted a message to her directly: "Sarah, let it go. You won't be able to call forth the Sword Demon."
The Sword Demon had long since perished; it was impossible for her to summon him. However, seeing her persistence, he couldn't bring himself to tell her outright for fear it would be too harsh a blow.
Sarah's face fell slightly at hearing Jason's message. She had convinced herself that Jason was the Sword Demon's disciple, so his transmission seemed, in her mind, to carry the Sword Demon's intention.
"I've been too stubborn," she murmured, biting her lip, her heart heavy with disappointment. Now, she had no choice but to seek help from the other Ancestors.
"It's really not a big deal. How about… I help you resolve this?" Jason's voice was calm, though he could sense Sarah's disheartened state.
The so-called crisis that Shushan viewed as catastrophic was, to Jason, hardly significant.
In his eyes, Sarah's appeal to the Sword Demon was essentially a plea for his intervention. The idea of facing a Grand Elder from the Heavenly Gate intrigued him, and, besides, he had grown quite comfortable within the Swordmaking House, which he considered home. If the other sects came to disrupt his peace, it would indeed be troublesome.
Hence, he volunteered to help.
"No!" Sarah's startled response was immediate.
Her heart warmed at Jason's offer, but it also filled her with worry. She feared he might attempt something reckless, unaware of the magnitude of Shushan's predicament.
"Shushan is facing more than just one Grand Elder from the Heavenly Gate," she cautioned him quickly. "Don't worry about me. Shushan is stronger than you think. Since the Sword Demon Ancestor is unwilling, we can still seek help from other Ancestors."
To underscore her point, Sarah vanished from sight.
"This girl…" Jason shook his head and chuckled as he sensed her hasty departure. He shrugged, letting go of his intent to intervene.
Within Shushan, his only connection was with Sarah. He had no real attachment to the others. Were Sarah truly in danger, he would act without hesitation. However, Shushan's general crisis was of little concern to him.
He knew Sarah well enough to understand that while she was resolute, she was not impulsive. Her firm refusal was both a caution against his potential rashness and a sign that she had other plans in place. Jason chose to trust her judgment.
"Shushan Sword Sect must possess deep foundations to have endured for so long," he mused. Indeed, Shushan's long existence suggested profound reserves of strength. Despite his years of signing in at Shushan, Jason hadn't fully explored the extent of its legacy, as his curiosity had always been tempered by his preference for peace.
With Sarah gone, the cultivation enthusiast in him reawakened. He resumed his secluded practice, aiming for a breakthrough to the Heavenly Gate Stage.
…
Three days later.
Hundreds of immortal peaks floated above Shushan, now encircled by radiant barriers of powerful arrays, exuding auras of great strength.
"The appointed time has arrived, Shushan Sword Sect! Surrender Justin Shang immediately!"
Beyond the mountain gate of Shushan, powerful figures clad in varying attire unleashed their presences, filling the air. Among them were Heavenly Sovereigns from the Longevity Stage.
A man with a dark expression, clad in a purple and gold Daoist robe, stepped forward from the clouds, pointing down at the Shushan Sword Sect with arrogant disdain.
This book is provided by FunNovel Novel Book | Fan Fiction Novel [Beautiful Free Novel Book]