"Sword Demon, I don't want to fight you. Please stand down," the Blade Emperor said, stepping forward and brushing aside his robe. "Today, the Sword Domain must fall. We cannot allow it to rise as a fifth power amidst the chaos already engulfing the Four Realms."
Dugu Wushang glanced at the Sword Pavilion disciples, then at Fengyun Wuji, who was in critical condition, deep in recovery. With a sigh, he murmured, "Blade Emperor, do what you must."
Shing!
The Blade Emperor drew his weapon—a broad blade three inches wide. Its polished surface shimmered faintly with inner light: a true treasure of a blade.
"Old man…!" Junzilan gasped, staring at him in disbelief. In all his memories, the Blade Emperor had never drawn this blade. He had thought it was ornamental, more symbol than weapon. But now, facing this silver-haired elder, the Blade Emperor had unsheathed it.
With a casual flick of his sleeve, the Blade Emperor sent a wave of true energy surging into Junzilan's body. The energy flowed through him, healing most of his internal injuries instantly.
"All members of the Blade Domain, fall back one thousand meters! Anyone who disobeys will face immediate punishment!" His voice was low, but carried unquestionable authority.
None dared to object. Even the proud Junzilan quickly stood, glanced at the Blade Emperor, and extended his arms to hold back the others. In unison, the warriors of the Blade Domain began retreating, raising clouds of yellow dust as they moved.
"Halt!" A thousand meters out, several thousand warriors stopped simultaneously and knelt on one knee. Shing! They unsheathed their blades and stabbed them into the ground before them, eyes fixed solemnly on the confrontation ahead.
When cultivators of Imperial level or higher clash, the aftermath alone is enough to shatter ordinary masters. Even before the Blade Emperor issued a command, the Demon Lord of the Dark Domain gestured, and his black-robed warriors retreated over a thousand meters. Not satisfied, the four Demon Generals signaled again, withdrawing several hundred more meters.
Chi Shang hesitated for a moment, then began leading Fengyun Wuji away in the opposite direction of the gathering forces. But just as he moved, Dugu Wushang stopped him.
"No need. He's still healing—it's too risky to move him. Besides, when a Sword Emperor fights, their control is absolute. Our battle won't harm anything outside the intended target. You should all retreat, though. Get as far away as possible."
"Retreat, and do it in waves. If the situation turns bad, leave separately—one by one—and run like hell only when you're the last. I'll handle Fengyun Wuji myself and make sure he escapes. We can't win this. Their strength is overwhelming."
Chi Shang heard these words not aloud, but directly in his mind—Dugu Wushang had used a secret voice transmission. He gave a slight nod and cast one last glance at Fengyun Wuji, whose forehead now emitted intense white vapor.
"Follow me!" Chi Shang roared, then turned and led the group away at high speed, stopping kilometers away to observe from afar.
"Demon Lord, should we take advantage of the fact that the Blade Emperor is tied up and eliminate the Sword Domain's Ascendants?" Lei Mo whispered from behind.
"No need. They're not a real threat—just take out their leader and the rest won't matter." The Dark Domain's Demon Lord glared at Lei Mo. "Are you brain-dead? If we attack now, do you think the Blade Emperor won't notice? That old freak has been at the Imperial level for tens of thousands of years—far beyond a newly ascended Sword Emperor. He could kill us for the smallest offense, and no one would question it."
Lei Mo lowered his head and fell silent, but no one noticed the cold glint in his eyes.
Dugu Wushang slowly drew a two-foot wooden sword and said solemnly, "Please, Blade Emperor."
Jun Bupai, the Blade Emperor, said nothing. Gripping his glowing blade with both hands, he brought it down in a diagonal slash—slow and deliberate. The blade energy, just three inches wide, shimmered white as it sliced through the air.
There was no fanfare. No roaring winds. No surging aura. The slash looked like something from a novice practicing their first strike. Even the Demon Lord was stunned. This was nothing like what one expected from an Imperial-level clash.
But Dugu Wushang knew better.
This was the pinnacle of blade mastery. The attack released no energy—every ounce of force was focused into the blade energy itself. The most terrifying part: it was utterly condensed, without a single strand leaking.
Dugu Wushang's face darkened. He had fought the Blade Emperor before—they knew each other well. The Blade Emperor understood that Dugu's "Nine Swords of Dugu" could dismantle any technique. Against such overwhelming skill, flashy moves were meaningless. Only raw power could prevail.
The wooden sword looked fragile, but when Dugu struck, it felt heavier than a mountain. The tip vibrated at an imperceptible speed. As the sword advanced, it emitted crisp snapping sounds. One by one, wooden fibers peeled away from the blade. When it met the Blade Emperor's energy, the cracking turned into a steady roar.
The wooden sword shattered into a cloud of splinters.
The Blade Emperor's slash, though steady, gradually dimmed, its energy dispersing harmlessly past Dugu Wushang.
With a sigh, Dugu ran a hand across the remnants of his sword, and the splinters dissolved into dust.
"You didn't lose because you're weaker," he said calmly, "but because your weapon couldn't match mine. This isn't a personal duel. I must act. Blade Domain—engage!"
The Blade Emperor had gauged Dugu's strength. He couldn't defeat him outright, but he could stall him. That was enough.
"Go! And don't look back!" Chi Shang's eyes reddened as he shouted. He rushed northwest—but before he could move far, a sea of white robes rose ahead. Thousands of Blade Domain disciples hovered in the sky, blocking the path.
"You really thought I'd leave your escape to chance?" The Blade Emperor's voice pierced the air like ice, shattering their last hopes. "Attack!"
"Whoever moves… dies!"
The roar exploded from the northwest. A white figure streaked through the sky—Ximen Yibei had arrived.
With a single step, he descended above the ambushers. His voice cold and sharp: "I'll only say this once. Anyone who makes a move dies."
His long hair flew in the wind as he stepped into the air. Then his expression changed. Without any visible movement, a streak of blinding light ripped through the sky—so fast it seemed illusory.
Crack!
Several Blade Domain disciples were suddenly torn apart mid-air, their bodies split into pieces and falling to the ground.
"I said once. I won't say it again." Ximen Yibei's white robes flapped as he hovered, a figure of unmatched elegance—but in that moment, everyone felt only a chilling dread.
This man… is terrifying.