540: When the news spread, despair ensued!

[In the next second! Your pupils suddenly contract.]

[On the distant battlefield, Saint Heaven Immortal Emperor's figure is pierced by three black Divine Abilities.]

[That was a sneak attack by three Eerie Immortal Emperors working together.]

["No!!!"]

[Your roar tears through the sky.]

[Saint Heaven Immortal Emperor's body freezes in mid-air. He looks down at the three bloody holes in his chest, blood overflowing from the corners of his mouth.]

["Su Ming... run!"]

[Saint Heaven Immortal Emperor turns his head with difficulty, looking in your direction.]

[There is no fear in those eyes, only unwillingness and regret.]

["Run... now!"]

[Before his voice even fades, a look of ruthlessness crosses Saint Heaven Immortal Emperor's face, and in the next second, his body explodes with a bang.]

[The light from the shattering of an Immortal Emperor Dao Fruit illuminates the entire Nine Heavens Immortal Sect.]

[Saint Heaven Immortal Emperor knew what his fate would be; he would not let Nine Heavens Immortal Emperor devour his Dao Fruit.]

[Therefore, he ultimately chose self-detonation.]

[Seeing this scene.]

[Your mind goes blank.]

[Saint Heaven Immortal Emperor is dead.]

[The man who treated you as a benefactor, the powerhouse who only achieved a Breakthrough to Immortal Emperor with your help, has died right before your eyes.]

["Hahaha! Saint Heaven Immortal Emperor, you finally have your day!"]

[Nine Heavens Immortal Emperor's wild laughter carries from the distance.]

[He is shrouded in eerie power, and his aura is several times stronger than before.]

[At the same time, Sword Two's voice explodes in your ear.]

["Go!"]

[He grabs your shoulder, and sword light soars into the sky.]

["Su Ming! Now is not the time to be impulsive!"]

[Sword Thirteen also rushes over, forcibly pulling you back.]

[Your fists are clenched tight, nails piercing into your palms, blood dripping through the gaps between your fingers.]

[Reason tells you that you must leave.]

[With your current strength, it is fundamentally impossible to oppose Nine Heavens Immortal Emperor and the three Eerie Immortal Emperors.]

[Staying behind only leads to death.]

[But your emotions are screaming wildly; Saint Heaven Immortal Emperor's death is too hard for you to accept!]

["Su Ming!"]

[Sword Two's voice becomes even more stern.]

["Saint Heaven Immortal Emperor's death cannot be in vain! You must live to spread the news!"]

[These words are like a bucket of cold water poured over your head.]

[Right.]

[The opportunity Saint Heaven Immortal Emperor traded his life for cannot be wasted by you.]

[The news that Nine Heavens Immortal Emperor intends to sacrifice the Sacred Heaven Sect and the Heavenly Palace Pavilion must be spread.]

["I'll remember this."]

[You take a deep breath, and the madness in your eyes gradually subsides.]

[In its place is a chilling coldness.]

["Nine Heavens Immortal Emperor, I will settle this debt with you clearly."]

[With those words, you turn and leave.]

[Sword Two and Sword Thirteen follow closely behind.]

[And your movements are soon noticed by Nine Heavens Immortal Emperor and the others.]

["Trying to leave?"]

[Nine Heavens Immortal Emperor sneers, about to give chase.]

[But the three Eerie Immortal Emperors stop him.]

["No rush."]

[The leading Eerie Immortal Emperor's voice is hoarse.]

["Let them go. We will meet again soon anyway."]

["The sacrificial ritual for the Sacred Heaven Sect and the Heavenly Palace Pavilion is already prepared. When they go back to report the news, it will be the perfect chance to wipe them all out at once."]

[A flicker of hesitation flashes in Nine Heavens Immortal Emperor's eyes, but he ultimately nods.]

["Fine, let them live for a few more days."]

["They're all going to die in the end anyway."]

[...]

[Fifth Year!]

[You all flee at breakneck speed.]

[Sword Two's speed is pushed to the limit, the surrounding scenery turning into afterimages.]

[But your mind only holds that final look in Saint Heaven Immortal Emperor's eyes before he died.]

["Su Ming, don't overthink it."]

[Sword Thirteen's voice reaches you.]

[You do not speak.]

[You know Sword Thirteen is right.]

[But knowing is one thing; accepting is another.]

["We're here."]

[Sword Two's voice interrupts your thoughts.]

[Ahead, the mountain gate of the Sacred Heaven Sect is already visible in the distance.]

[You land before the mountain gate, and the gate-keeping Disciples immediately come forward to greet you.]

["Senior Brother Su! You've returned!"]

[Just then, the Grand Elder also arrives upon hearing the commotion.]

[Upon seeing you, the Grand Elder immediately asks about Saint Heaven Immortal Emperor's situation.]

["Where is the Sect Master? Why didn't the Sect Master return with you?"]

[Your throat tightens.]

["Senior... has fallen."]

[Boom!]

[These words are like a thunderclap, turning all the Disciples' faces deathly pale.]

["What?!"]

["The Sect Master has fallen?!"]

["How is that possible! The Sect Master was an Immortal Emperor powerhouse!"]

[You ignore their shock and rush directly into the Sect.]

["Summon all Elders, convene an emergency meeting immediately!"]

["Also, send someone to the Heavenly Palace Pavilion. Say I have urgent matters and request an audience with Empress Cangqiong!"]

[Your voice is cold and brooks no argument.]

[The Grand Elder dazes for a moment, then reacts instantly, quickly going to relay the orders.]

[Soon, all the Elders of the Sacred Heaven Sect gather in the main hall.]

[When they hear the news of Saint Heaven Immortal Emperor's fall, the entire hall sinks into a dead silence.]

["Young Friend Su, this... what exactly happened?"]

[The Grand Elder asks with a trembling voice.]

[You take a deep breath and briefly recount what happened at the Nine Heavens Immortal Sect.]

[When they hear that Nine Heavens Immortal Emperor wants to sacrifice the Sacred Heaven Sect and the Heavenly Palace Pavilion, the expressions of all the Elders change.]

["Madness! Nine Heavens Immortal Emperor has gone mad!"]

["He's trying to drag the entire Major Thousand Worlds into the abyss!"]

["We must evacuate immediately!"]

[The hall falls into chaos.]

["Enough!"]

[Sword Two suddenly slams the table.]

["Evacuate? To where?"]

["Since Nine Heavens Immortal Emperor dared to set this trap, he won't give us a chance to escape."]

["The only way now is to unite with the Heavenly Palace Pavilion, concentrate all our forces, and strike first before Nine Heavens Immortal Emperor can launch the sacrifice!"]

[Sword Two's words calm everyone down.]

["Sword Two, you make it sound so simple!"]

["Didn't you also try to strike first this time? And look at the result!"]

[The Grand Elder says in a heavy voice.]

[Just then, a transmission talisman flies in.]

["Elder Su, the Heavenly Palace Pavilion has replied."]

["Empress Cangqiong agrees to see you and asks that you head to the Heavenly Palace Pavilion immediately."]

[You stand up.]

["Sword Two, come with me."]

[With those words, you and Sword Two turn into two streaks of light, heading straight for the Heavenly Palace Pavilion.]

[...]

[Two months later!]

[Heavenly Palace Pavilion.]

[You and Sword Two land before the mountain gate of the Heavenly Palace Pavilion, and a Disciple immediately comes to greet you.]

["Young Friend Su, the Empress is already waiting for you. Please follow me."]

[You follow the Disciple through layers of palaces, eventually arriving before a massive palace.]

[The palace doors slowly open.]

[An exquisitely beautiful figure sits on a high platform.]

[Empress Cangqiong.]

[She is dressed in white, her temperament ethereal, like a Fairy who does not consume the food of common mortals.]

[But those eyes are as sharp as blades, as if they can see through everything.]

["Su Ming, you've come."]

...