188: Shen Lian is a villain, but he keeps his promises.

"Why, why did you do this?"

Xiao Chen endured the sharp pain in his chest and questioned Sima Zhou.

Sima Zhou sneered, "Because from the beginning, I never intended to let you leave. What do you think you are, daring to challenge the Peak of Swordsmanship? To think that a mere three thousand years would be enough to heal it, what a joke."

"Bah!"

Wu Aozhou cursed loudly upon hearing this.

"I respected you so much, thinking that the Sword Dao Legend was a noble and upright gentleman. Even after being trapped for these three thousand years,

I had no complaints, but I never expected that Sword Emperor Sima Zhou would be such a complete villain!"

Hearing their curses, Sima Zhou's expression remained calm: "Curse, curse, curse all you want, because in half an hour, you will also turn into a Broken Sword in the Sword Tomb."

Clear Moon's pupils constricted violently upon hearing this: "What do you mean by that?"

Sima Zhou: "It seems you really don't know the origin of this Sword Tomb. You wouldn't really think that every Broken Sword here is a sword I used in my pursuit of the Sword Dao, would you?

In fact, every Broken Sword here is formed from ants as foolish as yourselves. You thought my appearance was to make these Broken Swords resonate?

Wrong, they are merely recalling the memory of being controlled and killed by me, trembling in fear!"

Upon hearing this, the three felt their scalps tingle.

Every Broken Sword and broken weapon scattered across the Sword Tomb was actually formed from people like themselves?

"Sima Zhou, why are you doing this to us!" Clear Moon questioned sharply, "For these three thousand years, we have diligently guarded the Chess Sword Pavilion as agreed,

never daring to be negligent in the slightest, yet you are so ruthless towards us. Is it just because of that initial provocation?"

"Of course not."

Sima Zhou's smile gradually became twisted.

"To become a part of this Sword Tomb also requires certain qualifications. Every single one of them was an outstanding talent in cultivation in their time, with a promising future."

"And how could I, the Southern Domain Sword Dao Legend, be surpassed by later generations? So I set a trap, luring them, including you three, to challenge the legendary Sword Emperor,

Once I defeated them, they had to become Grand Elders of my Chess Sword Pavilion. Besides restricting their range of movement,

all the peerless Cultivation Techniques I hid in the Hidden Sword Pavilion were open to you.

The purpose was to make them my nourishment once their cultivation advanced by leaps and bounds, for me, Sima Zhou."

"You are truly deranged and beyond redemption!"

Clear Moon glared hatefully at Sima Zhou's afterimage.

Sima Zhou, however, was unconcerned: "The path of cultivation is filled with countless dangers and unknowns. Only by going higher and becoming stronger,

can one cope with any future changes. Blame yourselves for being too naive, willingly deceived by me.

If you had been calmer back then and hadn't challenged me, how would you have ended up in this situation?"

Xiao Chen gritted his teeth: "So, the so-called Southern Domain Sword Dao Legend ascended to the Peak in this manner?

Ha, what a huge joke. Once your deeds are exposed, it will be the greatest disgrace in the history of the Southern Domain!"

"Don't worry, that day will never come."

Sima Zhou's expression gradually returned to calm.

"Mortal ants lack the ability to distinguish right from wrong. Their perception of right and wrong is very shallow; they will unconditionally worship the idol they have set in their hearts.

Even if they know a bit of the truth, they will self-hypnotize and convince themselves with a myriad of reasons, as they will not accept the sudden collapse of the faith they have worshipped for tens of thousands of years.

This is human nature. As early as when I embarked on the path of cultivation, I had already seen through these ants at the bottom.

The truth is not important to them; they only believe the scattered words they see. Moreover, do you think I would be foolish enough to spread this secret?"

Clear Moon gave a bitter smile: "So all these years, it was just our wishful thinking. The Sword Emperor I respected is actually such a person."

Sima Zhou: "Actually, you could have lived a little longer. I gave you a chance,

but you didn't cherish it and chose so-called freedom. So you can only become a part of this Sword Tomb,

and your lifelong cultivation will be transported to my main body to continue achieving my Sword Dao legend."

With that, the blood thread between Sima Zhou's fingers suddenly snapped.

Immediately, the three felt as if their hearts were being tightly constricted by a rope, the pain almost making them faint.

"Endure it, don't die so quickly. I greatly appreciate the sight of ants struggling desperately before death, hehehe hahahaha..."

Just as Sima Zhou burst into maniacal laughter, an arrogant voice came from outside the Sword Tomb.

"What right does an ant have to mock another ant? After listening to so much of your nonsense, I can only say one thing!"

The next moment, a swirling sword light flashed past from outside the Immortal Cave, directly severing the bloody spiritual thread between Sima Zhou's fingers.

"The Southern Domain Sword Dao Legend is nothing but a complete joke!"

As the words fell, Shen Lian stood proudly before the three.

"Shen Lian!"

Clear Moon, freed from her restraints, looked at the figure blocking the way with joy.

"Who are you!"

Sima Zhou, not expecting this turn of events, immediately looked at Shen Lian with extreme vigilance.

"Shen Lian, remember this name. After your Clone is destroyed by me, I will slaughter everyone in the Chess Sword Pavilion, leaving no one behind."

His arrogant demeanor and wild tone all indicated that the atmosphere was about to reach a desperate point.

Sima Zhou frowned, staring intently at the man before him, while Sword Qi began to rapidly condense within his body.

"That kid still speaks in such a punchable way, but this time, I can only say, well said!"

The more Wu Aozhou looked at Shen Lian, the more pleasing he found him, especially his tone when confronting Sima Zhou, which gave him an inexplicable sense of satisfaction.

"What confidence do you have to say such a thing?"

"The name Shen Lian alone is enough for you to never forget until your death!"

"You, deserve to die!"

As his voice fell, Sima Zhou directly pointed a sword, tearing through the Void Realm and shooting straight for Shen Lian's vital point.

"Sword Emperor's move..."

Shen Lian raised his hand, transforming Yin and Yang Qi, skillfully absorbing the killing intent, instantly absorbing and neutralizing the incoming Sword Qi.

"Nothing more than that!"

A single provocation instantly ignited boundless killing intent in Sima Zhou's Clone.

"Angering Sima Zhou? Can you bear the consequences?"

"A mere small Clone dares to boast before Shen Lian. Let me see your full strength, to see if it's worth me giving you a second glance!"

Sima Zhou slowly closed his eyes. Instantly, sword hums echoed throughout the Sword Tomb, all appearing before him, and the Grand Harmony Sword Intent emanated forth.

"Go!"

With a flick of his sword finger, ten thousand swords instantly merged to form a boundless, surging wave of Qi, stabbing towards Shen Lian.

"Void Concealment · Absorption!"

Unexpectedly, the infinite Sword Intent, upon approaching, was completely absorbed into his body by Void Concealment.

In an instant, Sword Qi surged around Shen Lian, and true essence poured out from his dantian sea.

"Not good!"

Upon seeing this, Sima Zhou immediately felt an extreme killing intent pressing down on him, making his mind tremble.

"Raging Sea Returning Flow!"

With a thunderous palm strike, the Eight Desolations were shattered, and heaven and earth wailed.

Sima Zhou didn't even have time to let out a scream before he was instantly shattered into dust by the doubled Sword Qi.