42: Chapter 42 Choice

However, before Sect Master Qin Jinghan could even react, Ancestor Qin Zhenyue had already issued his orders!

"Pass down these orders:"

"First, effective immediately, the Sword Pavilion is to seal its mountains and activate the 'Myriad Swords Over the Heavens Array' to its highest level. Recall all Disciples and Elders currently traveling or on missions outside."

"Second, take inventory of the treasury, distribute Medicinal Pills, Spirit Stones, and swords, and prepare for a long-term defense and a fight to the death."

"Third, notify all first-rate and second-rate forces affiliated with our Sword Pavilion... Whether to fight or surrender is their own decision; the Sword Pavilion will neither force them nor blame them. However, those willing to live or die with our Sword Pavilion may enter the mountain gates to defend against the powerful enemy together."

"Fourth," Ancestor Qin Zhenyue's voice suddenly turned sharp. A soaring Sword Intent erupted from his body. Although it was not aimed at anyone, it made the air in the entire main hall seem to solidify.

"Everyone in our Sword Pavilion, from myself and Poyue, down to the lowest Utility Disciple, must swear the 'Sword Heart Oath'—as long as the sword remains, the person remains; if the sword breaks, the person dies! If the Sect survives, I survive; if the Sect perishes, I perish! Absolutely no surrender, absolutely no cowardice!"

"If the Imperial Dynasty wants to destroy our Sword Pavilion, they can try. But they must pay a bloody price! They must use the corpses of their own Imperial Dynasty elites to pave the road for trampling over our Myriad Sword Mountain!"

"Our Sword Pavilion will use the swords in our hands to tell this world—some backbones cannot be broken! Some Legacies cannot be extinguished!"

As his voice fell, there was no more hesitation or uncertainty in the main hall.

All the Elders stood up solemnly, their eyes burning with resolute Battle Intent and the proud light belonging to a Sword Cultivator.

"We respectfully obey the Old Ancestor's decree!"

"As long as the sword remains, the person remains; if the sword breaks, the person dies!"

"As long as the sword remains, the person remains; if the sword breaks, the person dies!"

...

Seeing this scene of impassioned fervor, Sect Master Qin Jinghan felt a chill shoot straight up his spine!

He truly could not understand.

Are you all crazy?

Can you still not see the situation clearly even now? Have you all practiced swordsmanship until you've lost your minds?

What Sword Intent?

What Sword Heart?

Can they be more important than your own lives? Can they be more important than the lives of those thousands of ordinary Disciples?

"It's over! The thousand-year Legacy of the Sword Pavilion, I never expected it to be destroyed in my own hands!"

Sect Master Qin Jinghan understood clearly in his heart.

If they submitted to the Imperial Dynasty, although they would be required to disband the Sword Pavilion, at the very least, their Legacy would still exist.

But if they were to resist the Imperial Dynasty,

He was certain that the Imperial Dynasty would absolutely not let them go and would inevitably completely sever the Legacy of their Sword Pavilion!

Unlike the Sword Pavilion,

Inside the Wuji Holy Land on the other side,

They had still not made a decision even now!

Unlike the resolute tragedy within the Sword Pavilion's main hall, the main hall of the Wuji Holy Land was filled with an almost solidified anxiety and the exhaustion that comes after endless disputes.

They had been arguing and discussing for two whole days.

One side advocated for submission, while the other advocated for resistance; neither side could convince the other.

The Holy Land's Sect Head, two Old Ancestors of the Celestial Realm, and over a dozen core Elders all had weary expressions.

There was no help for it.

It was mentally exhausting...

One must know that what they were discussing was not some trivial matter, but a major issue concerning their own survival.

If one thing went wrong, their lives would be gone!

How could they not be mentally exhausted?

Among them, the pro-war faction believed that the Wuji Holy Land had a deep foundation, possessed a protective mountain array, and combined with the affiliated forces under their command, they might not be unable to contend with the Imperial Dynasty.

If they just surrendered and disbanded like this, where would they put their faces?

And how could they face their ancestors?

The pro-submission faction, however, repeatedly emphasized the overwhelming strength displayed by the Imperial Dynasty and the terror of the current Emperor.

They believed that,

Stubborn resistance would only lead to a dead end, and it would be a meaningless destruction.

Although disbanding was humiliating, at least it could preserve a spark of their Legacy, and the Disciples and Sect members would be able to survive.

Time passed minute by minute amidst this endless arguing and growing panic.

Finally,

Late in the night of the second day, with less than six hours remaining before the deadline set by Wang Chen.

An Elder in charge of intelligence and external liaison stumbled into the main hall.

"Report! Just received... received a transmission from the west! The Sword Pavilion... the Sword Pavilion has decided to fight to the death! They have sealed the mountains! They have taken an oath! Among their vassal forces... only a small half have chosen to... follow!"

This news,

Was like the final straw that crushed the already crumbling psychological defense of the Wuji Holy Land's pro-war faction.

The Sword Pavilion.

That Sword Dao Holy Land, known for its uprightness, unyielding nature, and powerful combat strength, had actually chosen the most extreme road with the least room for maneuver—a fight to the death!

And looking at the other side's behavior of sealing the mountains and taking an oath,

It was clear that they had no confidence at all in resisting the Imperial Dynasty; they had already embraced a heart determined to die!

This meant that the west of the Imperial Dynasty was about to turn into a purgatory of blood and fire.

And after the Imperial Dynasty dealt with the Sword Pavilion, they in the east would have to face the full fury and military might of the Imperial Dynasty alone!

Some people might ask why they didn't form an alliance?

Form what, exactly...

One was on the east side of the Imperial Dynasty, and the other was on the west side, separated by an endless distance; how could they form an alliance?

They hadn't even met yet, and the three-day time limit would have already passed; how could they form an alliance?

"Forget it... forget it!"

The Sect Head of the Wuji Holy Land spoke at this moment.

His eyes were bloodshot and filled with deep exhaustion and pain, his voice hoarse and carrying endless desolation.

"Pass on my order..."

"The Wuji Holy Land... is willing to submit to the Imperial Dynasty. Tomorrow, I will personally go to the prefecture city... to report our self-disbandment."

The moment the order was given, the entire main hall fell into dead silence.

Whether they were the pro-war faction or those who advocated for submission, everyone now wore a look of humiliation and sorrow.

A ten-thousand-year Holy Land, disintegrated in a single day; this kind of impact is hard to comprehend for those who have not experienced it personally.

And the news of the Wuji Holy Land choosing to surrender spread immediately.

In the east of the Imperial Dynasty, the final psychological pillars of the various Sects and Gangs that were originally wavering, watching from the sidelines, or even secretly colluding in an attempt to band together for warmth, collapsed with the submission of the Wuji Holy Land.

Even the Wuji Holy Land, which had a ten-thousand-year Legacy and a deep foundation, had surrendered.

What capital did they, these first-rate and second-rate forces, have to resist?

"Let's surrender..."

"Let's disband..."

"As long as the green hills remain..."

"Sigh, I finally managed to become the Sect Head, I never expected the School to be gone in the blink of an eye..."

Similar situations were constantly playing out across all parts of the east of the Imperial Dynasty.

One Sect and Gang after another, at the final moment, all hung up notices of disbandment.

With this,

The Jianghu forces in the east of the Imperial Dynasty were all pacified.

And Wang Chen, who was in the Imperial Palace,

Naturally saw all of this through the Power of Imperial Fortune of the Imperial Dynasty.

Looking across the entire Tianxuan Dynasty, only the Sword Pavilion in the west was a place where the Power of Imperial Fortune was still relatively stagnant!

"I imagine that once the Sword Pavilion and other forces are resolved, and the Power of Imperial Fortune of the Imperial Dynasty is completely unified, I will be able to directly achieve a Breakthrough to the Dharma Image Realm!"

Wang Chen could feel it.

At this moment, the Power of Imperial Fortune of the Imperial Dynasty was already very powerful; logically, it should have already been able to allow his strength to advance further.

However,

Because there were still forces within the Imperial Dynasty that had not submitted, the Power of Imperial Fortune remained somewhat scattered and could not be completely unified!

Wang Chen did not hesitate.

He had already given them a chance, but they did not cherish it, so they could not blame him.

Immediately, Wang Chen waved his hand.

An imperial edict formed from the Power of Imperial Fortune directly tore through the Void Realm and flew toward the Guard Battalion outside the city...