420: One man, one sword, blocking your mountain gate.

"I have come."

"I have come to take your lives."

Shen Yuanmo's voice carried no trace of emotion, yet it was like an invisible heavy hammer, slamming hard into the hearts of everyone in the Taiyi Sword Sect.

All was silent; heaven and earth lost their voice.

Before the mountain gate, the tens of thousands of Taiyi Sword Sect disciples—

—each one widened their eyes, looking at that solitary figure in the sky in disbelief.

It was him!

It really was him!

The monster who, by his own power, had slain Ancestor Xuanji.

The culprit who had plunged the entire Sect into endless panic and internal strife.

He actually dared to come to their doorstep alone.

After a brief dead silence, an uproar erupted to the heavens.

"Arrogant! Too arrogant!"

"Who does he think he is? A Mahayana powerhouse? He dares to break into the mountain gate of my Taiyi Sword Sect alone?"

"Kill him! Activate the grand Formation! Tear him into ten thousand pieces to avenge Ancestor Xuanji!"

Angry roars rose one after another, as the blood of countless young Disciples boiled.

Each was filled with righteous indignation, wishing they could immediately rush up and tear Shen Yuanmo to shreds.

But the Elders and deacons who had weathered more storms did not have the slightest look of ease on their faces.

Instead, their expressions were solemn, with a hint of unhideable fear hidden deep in their eyes.

They knew better than anyone just how terrifying the man before them was.

He wasn't a madman; since he dared to come, he must have something to rely on.

"Shen Yuanmo!!!"

Jian Wuya stared deathly at Shen Yuanmo, his once heroic face—

—now distorted by extreme anger and fear, appearing exceptionally hideous.

"You killed our Sect's Old Ancestor! You disrupted our Sect's Foundation! Today you even dare to come alone to seek death! Do you really think my Taiyi Sword Sect is made of clay?!"

He roared hysterically, yet his voice carried a tremble he hadn't even noticed.

He was afraid.

From the moment he learned of Jian Xuanji's death, he had been afraid.

During this time, he was woken by nightmares every night, his dreams filled with Shen Yuanmo's indifferent eyes.

He frantically purged the Sect and used bloody methods to suppress everything, all to hide the fear in his heart.

But now, this nightmare stood right before him in the flesh.

Shen Yuanmo's gaze didn't even linger on him for a single second.

His eyes were indifferent, as if looking at mere weeds.

He simply scanned the protective grand Formation below, which was already glowing brightly with Sword Qi soaring to the heavens, and spoke indifferently:

"Taiyi Covering Heaven Sword Formation... The concept is decent, but unfortunately, there are too many flaws."

Those words caused the hearts of Jian Wuya and all the Elders presiding over the Formation to tremble in unison!

How did he know the name of the Formation!

And, too many flaws?

This was a seventh-grade top-tier killing Formation that had been passed down for hundreds of thousands of years and had slain those at the Dao Integration Late Stage; how could it have flaws?

"Playing tricks!"

Jian Wuya suppressed the unease in his heart and shouted sharply, "All Elders, hear my command! Activate the grand Formation! For me... blast him into nothing but dust!!!"

"Yes!"

The thirty-six Void Return Elders shouted in anger together, pouring their magic power into the Formation cores without reservation.

Simultaneously, three sword-shaped peaks hidden deep within the Taiyi Sword Sect's Forbidden Ground suddenly erupted with three vast, abyss-like terrifying auras.

Three old men with white hair and beards, whose auras were so ancient they seemed not to belong to this era, sat cross-legged within the mountain interiors and opened their eyes at the same time.

Their auras perfectly connected with the entire mountain-protecting grand Formation.

"Buzz—!"

In an instant, the Taiyi Sword Sect's mountain-protecting grand Formation was fully activated.

99,999 sword peaks vibrated in unison, emitting deafening sword hums.

Endless Geng Metal Sword Qi gushed from the ground, converging into a golden ocean in the sky.

Visible Law runes flowed within the ocean of Sword Qi.

Constructing a massive canopy that covered millions of miles, enveloping the entire Taiyi Sword Sect.

That terrifying Sword Intent, sharp to the extreme as if it could tear through the Nine Heavens and Ten Lands.

Powerhouses from all sides spying from ten thousand miles away via secret methods all felt bursts of heart palpitations.

"Is this the Taiyi Sword Sect's Sect-guarding grand Formation? It truly lives up to its reputation!"

"Three Dao Integration Old Ancestors personally presiding, with thirty-six Void Return experts hosting—with such a lineup, even a Great Perfection Dao Integration Late Stage powerhouse would have to die here!"

"That Shen Yuanmo is too overconfident! He's dead for sure!"

Ancient beings from top-tier forces like the Ziyang Holy Land, Tianxuan Divine Dynasty, and Beiming Palace—

—were all discussing in low voices; no one believed Shen Yuanmo had any chance of survival.

On the Wanfa Immortal Sect's void crossing divine boat, Qing Xuzi and the Myriad Laws Daoist were so nervous their palms were sweating.

"Old Ancestor Star River, this power is too terrifying! Can Elder Shen... can he really hold out?" Qing Xuzi's voice was dry.

Daoist Xinghe stared intently at the lonely figure surrounded by the endless sea of swords in the water mirror, remaining silent.

But his slightly trembling hand still betrayed the lack of calm in his heart.

He had bet the entire Sect's future.

This battle could only be won; it could not be lost!

Before the Taiyi Sword Sect's mountain gate.

Jian Wuya stood at the core of the Formation, feeling the majestic power within his body that seemed capable of controlling heaven and earth.

His fear was swept away, replaced by endless arrogance and confidence.

"Shen Yuanmo!"

He looked down at Shen Yuanmo from above, like a deity pronouncing a death sentence.

"Now, kneel and beg for mercy, cripple your own cultivation, and perhaps this seat will consider leaving your corpse intact!"

"Otherwise, today, this place shall be your burial ground!"

Facing the terrifying sword Formation that could make heaven and earth change color, and facing Jian Wuya's arrogant shouting.

Shen Yuanmo's expression had not changed in the slightest from beginning to end.

He simply raised his head, glanced at the golden canopy composed of endless Sword Qi, and then shook his head.

"Too slow."

"What?" Jian Wuya was stunned.

"I said," Shen Yuanmo's tone remained flat, "the speed at which you activate the Formation is too slow."

"And..."

He paused, extended a finger, and waved it casually toward the Sword Qi canopy.

"Impressive on the outside, but rotten within."

"Seeking death!"

Jian Wuya was completely enraged by his contemptuous attitude and could no longer contain himself, roaring frantically.

"Sword, come!"

He suddenly performed a hand seal!

"Boom!"

The golden ocean of Sword Qi covering the entire sky instantly rioted!

Billions of Sword Qi converged into a golden sword pillar ten thousand feet thick, like a sword of judgment from a Heavenly God.

Carrying a destructive aura capable of evaporating mountains and seas and tearing the sky, it slashed down fiercely toward the top of Shen Yuanmo's head.

Where the sword pointed, the Void Realm shattered like a mirror.

This strike gathered thirty percent of the entire grand Formation's power.

It was enough to instantly kill any Dao Integration Early Stage being.

All the great experts spying on this place held their breath.

Qing Xuzi and the others had their hearts in their throats.

However, at the moment that world-destroying golden sword pillar was about to fall.

Shen Yuanmo, locked directly beneath the attack, finally moved.

He didn't bring out any Magic Treasure, nor did he perform any earth-shattering Divine Ability.

He simply slowly raised his right hand.

Then, toward that ten-thousand-foot sword pillar, he lightly threw a punch.

There was no fluctuation of magic power.

There were no Law dao rhymes.

It was just such an ordinary, simple punch.

Pure, Physical Body power.

"What is he doing?!"

"Is he crazy? Using his Physical Body to head-on resist the attack of a seventh-grade killing Formation?"

"Like a mantis trying to stop a chariot, overestimating himself!"

Countless people cried out in surprise and sneered.

Jian Wuya even revealed a cruel smile, as if he had already seen the scene of Shen Yuanmo being blasted into a bloody mist.

But in the next second.

Everyone's expressions froze on their faces.

They saw Shen Yuanmo's seemingly unremarkable punch collide violently with the tip of that ten-thousand-foot sword pillar.

The anticipated earth-shattering explosion did not happen.

Not even a single sound was made.

The scene suddenly froze at this instant.

Under everyone's horrified gazes.

That ten-thousand-foot golden sword pillar, capable of severing mountain ranges and evaporating rivers—

—the moment it touched Shen Yuanmo's fist, it was silently annihilated, starting from the tip, like ice and snow being set on fire.

Inch by inch.

It disintegrated, crumbled, turned into the most primitive golden light spots, and then completely disappeared.

The entire process took less than a single breath.

When that ten-thousand-foot sword pillar completely vanished from heaven and earth, Shen Yuanmo still hung quietly in place, not even a corner of his clothes moving.

It was as if that world-destroying strike just now was merely a breeze blowing across a hill.

Quiet.

A deathly silence.

The entire Eastern Region seemed to have lost its voice at this moment.

All the great experts spying on this place via secret methods were like ducks being choked by the neck, their mouths wide open, but unable to make any sound.

Their minds were left with nothing but a blank space.

"Wh... what just happened?"

After a long time, someone asked with a trembling voice, as if talking in their sleep.

"I... I don't know... I didn't see anything..."

"That sword pillar... just... gone?"

On the Wanfa Immortal Sect's void crossing divine boat, Qing Xuzi slumped onto the ground.

The teacup in Myriad Laws Daoist's hand fell to the ground with a "snap" and shattered into pieces.

As for Daoist Xinghe, he gripped the armrests of his chair tightly, crushing the hard profound gold wood into powder.

"Impossible! This is absolutely impossible!"

Within the Taiyi Sword Sect, Jian Wuya let out a pig-slaughtering scream, frantically rubbing his eyes, completely unable to accept the reality before him.

That was a strike that gathered thirty percent of the entire grand Formation's power!

Even a Dao Integration Middle Stage powerhouse would not dare to take it head-on like that.

How could he... how could he with one punch... "Is this what you rely on?"

Shen Yuanmo slowly withdrew his fist, finally looking directly at the sword Formation below for the first time, his tone carrying a trace of obvious disappointment.

"Too weak."