28: A new master has come to power in Qingyun, and a new wind is blowing in the Eastern Wilderness!

"From this day forth, there is no longer a Qingyun Sword Sect in this world."

"There is only the Qingyun Branch of the Myriad Dao Divine Sect."

Chu Xuanjin's voice echoed over the deathly silent Martial Arts Field like a divine decree.

Below, thousands of Disciples clutched the warm bronze tokens, feeling the irresistible Restriction deep within their Divine Soul, and could no longer muster even the slightest thought of resistance.

Their eyes, initially filled with humiliation and unwillingness, gradually turned blank, and in the end, were replaced by an inexplicable sense of awe.

Yun Tianqing stood on the podium, watching the changes in the Disciples' expressions, his heart filled with a complex mix of emotions.

He knew that from this moment on, the Qingyun Sword Sect had truly disappeared.

But a new, and even more glorious future, was slowly unfolding.

Chu Xuanjin did not say another word.

He turned around and, leading his three Disciples, walked away slowly amidst a multitude of complex gazes.

That back, though not tall, seemed to have the entire Qingyun Sword Sect under his feet.

...

The news of the Qingyun Sword Sect changing Revered Masters swept through the entire Southern Eastern Desolate Region within a single day, like a magnitude twelve earthquake.

Surging Waves Sect.

Inside the council hall, Sect Master Xiao Polang slammed his palm against the cold iron table in front of him.

"Absurd!"

He shouted angrily, "Has Yun Tianqing gone mad? To hand over a thousand-year foundation to someone else?"

Below, an Elder in charge of intelligence wiped the cold sweat from his forehead.

"Sect Master, the news is absolutely true. The stone tablet in front of the Qingyun Sword Sect's mountain gate has been erased and replaced with the words 'Myriad Dao Divine Sect, Qingyun Branch'."

"Myriad Dao Divine Sect?" Xiao Polang frowned tightly. "Which crack in a rock did this Sect pop out from? Among the hundred Sects of the Eastern Desolate Region, why have I never heard this name?"

"This... this Disciple cannot find out either." The intelligence Elder looked troubled. "It is said that the Sect Master of the Myriad Dao Divine Sect is extremely young, and with only three Disciples, he made Yun Tianqing bow and submit."

"Ridiculous!"

Another Elder snorted coldly.

"Yun Tianqing is at least a Early Soul Transformation Stage Cultivator, how could he be scared by some greenhorn? I think there must be something fishy about this!"

"Indeed." A sharp glint flashed in Xiao Polang's eyes. "I suspect that Yun Tianqing is putting on a show! Perhaps he is severely injured, or something has happened to his Sect, so he is using this method to deter us, making us afraid to act rashly."

He pondered for a moment and then ordered.

"Immediately send a message to our 'secret agent' in the Qingyun Sword Sect and have him investigate the truth of this matter!"

"What is the background of that Myriad Dao Divine Sect! And what exactly is that Sect Master's cultivation!"

"Yes!"

...

Hundred Beasts Manor.

Manor Revered Master Xiong Kaishan, a burly man with a physique as sturdy as an iron tower, was listening to his subordinate's report.

"You mean to tell me that old fox, Yun Tianqing, took his entire Sect and defected to someone called the Myriad Dao Divine Sect?"

As he spoke, he picked his ear with his little finger, his tone full of disdain.

"That old fellow cherishes his reputation the most; how could he possibly do something that destroys his own foundation?"

"Manor Revered Master, this is absolutely true."

"Hmph, who cares if it's true or false." Xiong Kaishan stood up and stretched his limbs, causing a series of cracking sounds.

"I only know that I have been coveting the Tier 3 Spiritual Vein that the Qingyun Sword Sect occupies for a long time."

"Pass on my order: tell 'Number Three' lurking in the Qingyun Sword Sect to keep his eyes peeled. If he discovers that the one surnamed Chu is just a paper tiger, our Hundred Beasts Manor doesn't mind helping the Qingyun Sword Sect change to yet another new Revered Master!"

...

Similar scenes were constantly playing out in the major Sects and clans of the Southern Eastern Desolate Region.

As one of the overlords of the Southern Region, every move of the Qingyun Sword Sect tugged at the nerves of countless people.

Countless overt and covert orders flew like snowflakes toward the spies planted inside the Qingyun Sword Sect.

In a secluded utility courtyard at the back of the Qingyun Sword Sect.

A Utility Disciple who was chopping wood flickered his eyes and, taking advantage of the fact that no one was paying attention, quietly slipped into a thatched hut.

He took out a communication jade talisman from his bosom; it was of the standard issue of the Surging Waves Sect.

He was the secret agent planted here by the Surging Waves Sect for over a decade, codenamed "Sea Snake".

He injected spiritual power into the jade talisman, about to transmit everything he had seen and heard today, as well as his guess that the "Myriad Dao Divine Sect was all show and no substance," back to his Sect.

But the moment his Divine Thought touched it, and the thought of "betrayal" arose.

Hum!

The bronze token he had just received in his bosom suddenly became hot.

An indescribable burning pain, like a red-hot branding iron, was branded directly onto his Divine Soul!

"Ah!"

He screamed, his whole body convulsing violently as he fell to the ground.

A fear originating from the depths of his Soul completely overwhelmed him.

He felt that as long as he dared to have even the slightest thought of disloyalty again, his Divine Soul would be burned into nothingness by that invisible karmic fire!

Betrayal means death!

This thought, like the deepest brand, was carved into his bones.

He struggled to climb up from the ground, looking at the communication jade talisman in his hand, his eyes becoming incredibly complex.

After a long while.

He took a deep breath, picked up the jade talisman again, and injected spiritual power.

A message was transmitted out by him.

"The Sect is safe and sound, do not worry. The Myriad Dao Divine Sect has Divine Might like the ocean, and Sect Master Chu has the bearing of an Immortal. Being able to merge into the Myriad Dao Divine Sect is the good fortune of our Qingyun, and also the good fortune of the Eastern Desolate Region. Where my heart belongs, is the Myriad Dao."

...

Surging Waves Sect, Council Hall.

Xiao Polang looked at the message transmitted back by the jade talisman in his hand, and he was completely stunned.

"Bearing of an Immortal? Good fortune of the Eastern Desolate Region? Heart belongs to the Myriad Dao?"

He muttered to himself, feeling that his brain was not quite working.

"This... this was sent back by 'Sea Snake'?"

The intelligence Elder was also full of confusion.

"Uh... yes, Sect Master. The Divine Soul mark on the jade talisman cannot be wrong."

"He defected?"

"Impossible! 'Sea Snake's' wife and children are all still in our Sect!"

Xiao Polang's expression was uncertain.

He did not know what had happened at the Qingyun Sword Sect.

But he knew that the matter was definitely not as simple as he thought.

...

Half a month later.

The news crossed thousands of miles of mountains and rivers and finally reached the Blazing Fire Sect.

Inside the Sect Master Hall, Lie Shan sat cross-legged, his face still somewhat pale.

The backlash from the shattering of the precious mirror that day had caused significant damage to his Origin.

"Sect Master."

A tall Elder with an aura as deep as an abyss, at the Mid-stage Soul Transformation, walked into the hall.

"I have found out clearly."

"Speak." Lie Shan opened his eyes, his voice hoarse.

"The youth who killed the Third Elder that day is named Ye Chenfeng. He and his Revered Master, a young man who calls himself 'Chu Xuanjin', have appeared at the Qingyun Sword Sect."

"Qingyun Sword Sect?" Lie Shan frowned.

"Yes." The Elder's expression became a bit strange. "And, just half a month ago, the Qingyun Sword Sect Sect Master, Yun Tianqing, announced in front of all the Disciples... that they were merging into a Sect named 'Myriad Dao Divine Sect', becoming its affiliate."

"And the Sect Master of that Myriad Dao Divine Sect is precisely that Chu Xuanjin."

A trace of confusion flashed in Lie Shan's eyes.

"Myriad Dao Divine Sect? What is that? When has the Eastern Desolate Region ever had such a Sect?"

"Never heard of it." The Elder shook his head. "But this matter is definitely not baseless."

Lie Shan fell silent.

He remembered the terrifying existence who, from across the Void Realm spanning thousands of miles, shattered his Sect-protecting treasure with a single blow that day.

And he thought of this mysterious Myriad Dao Divine Sect that had suddenly popped up.

Could there be any connection between the two?

"The Third Elder's cultivation, although only at the bottom among our Sect's Elders, was still a genuine Nascent Soul Late Stage."

The Soul Transformation Elder said in a deep voice.

"The one who could kill him is definitely no ordinary person. Furthermore, that Ye Chenfeng looks to be no more than twenty in bone age."

Lie Shan's heart sank abruptly.

A twenty-year-old Nascent Soul Sword Cultivator?

This can no longer be described as a Genius.

This is a Prodigy!

"Sect Master, this matter is likely inseparable from that mysterious existence who destroyed the Soul-Chasing Mirror."

"I know." Lie Shan's voice carried a trace of weariness.

He stood up and paced back and forth in the hall.

The fire of revenge and the fear of the unknown were battling crazily in his heart.

After a long while.

He stopped his pace, a flash of determination in his eyes.

"Grand Elder!"

"Subordinate is here!" The Soul Transformation Mid-stage Elder bowed and replied.

"You personally go to the Qingyun Sword Sect."

Lie Shan's voice was cold and grave.

"Do not alert anyone, just observe from the shadows."

"I don't care if that Myriad Dao Divine Sect is a Dragon or a snake; I just need you to find out one thing."

He stared at the Grand Elder, enunciating every word.

"What on earth is that Chu Xuanjin's background!"

"If he really is that old monster, our Blazing Fire Sect... will temporarily set this grudge aside!"

"If he is only bluffing..."

Lie Shan's eyes, murderous intent boiled again.

"Then the fury of our Blazing Fire Sect will burn him, along with that so-called Myriad Dao Divine Sect, into ashes!"

"Subordinate, obeys!"

The Grand Elder bowed to receive the order, turned around, transformed into a streak of firelight, and disappeared outside the hall.

Lie Shan watched the direction he left in and slowly clenched his fists.

A larger storm was quietly brewing above the sky of the Eastern Desolate Region.