499: Chapter 499 The Sword Sect was shocked when they learned that Xiao Nianyin had broken through to the True Immortal Realm.

Tianshu Sword Sect, Sect Master Hall.

The hall was vast and deep, with four massive stone pillars supporting the towering dome, carved with battle scenes of ancient Sword Cultivators.

The light inside was dim, with only a few eternal lamps hanging from the dome emitting a faint glow, casting flickering shadows against the walls.

The air was filled with a mixture of sandalwood and Sword Qi, solemn and dignified, making one afraid to breathe too loudly.

Sect Master Shen Tianxing sat upright on the throne in the center of the Sect Master Hall.

He looked to be in his fifties, with a gaunt face, high cheekbones, and long, narrow eyes filled with sinister depth.

He wore the black Daoist robe of the Tianshu Sword Sect Sect Master, embroidered with golden sword patterns, and a white jade belt around his waist, radiating an Aura that commanded respect without anger.

His Cultivation was at the Late Stage of the Saint Realm, making him a top-tier expert in the Cultivation World. But at this moment, his brows were tightly locked, and his fingers tapped the armrest of the throne unconsciously, making a dull "thud, thud" sound.

On both sides of the hall stood the various Elders of the Tianshu Sword Sect.

Grand Elder Zhou Yunhe, with white hair and beard, had a kind appearance, but the occasional flash of sharpness in his eyes revealed that he was not as simple as he appeared on the surface.

Second Elder Han Song, burly and rough in appearance, with a pair of tiger-like eyes that were bright and piercing, was the type one could tell at a glance was not to be trifled with.

Third Elder Su Wanqing, the only female among the Elders, looked to be in her forties, still possessing charm, but her peach-blossom eyes were filled with calculation and shrewdness.

There were several other Elders, each with their own thoughts, their expressions varied.

The atmosphere in the hall was heavy, and everyone was looking at the middle-aged man kneeling in the center of the hall.

The middle-aged man was named Zhou Hai, a deacon of the Law Enforcement Hall, with a Cultivation at the Peak of Undergoing Tribulation.

He had taken twenty or thirty Disciples to track Xu Ruyu, but now he was kneeling in the hall looking dejected, his robes covered in dust, and several scratches on his face, looking utterly miserable.

His head was bowed, not daring to look at the Sect Master on the throne, his voice trembling.

"Sect Master, this Disciple is incompetent and failed to capture Xu Ruyu. Please punish me, Sect Master."

Shen Tianxing did not speak immediately, just watching him, his fingers continuing to tap the armrest.

The "thud, thud" sound echoed in the vast hall, one beat after another, striking at everyone's hearts.

"Speak."

Shen Tianxing finally spoke, his voice not loud.

"What exactly happened? With twenty or thirty of you, and the guidance of the Tracking Mirror, how could you return empty-handed?"

Zhou Hai's body trembled slightly, he swallowed hard, and spoke with difficulty: "Replying to the Sect Master, we... we did indeed track down Xu Ruyu.

He was with a woman, hiding in a valley.

We surrounded them according to the plan, preparing to strike. But..."

He paused, cold sweat seeping from his forehead.

"But what?" Shen Tianxing's voice grew a few degrees colder.

Zhou Hai took a deep breath and braced himself: "But that woman... she... she was too strong.

Before we could even get close, she released her pressure.

That pressure... that pressure..."

His voice grew quieter and quieter, until it was almost inaudible.

Shen Tianxing's brows furrowed even tighter: "What about that pressure?"

Zhou Hai raised his head, his eyes filled with fear: "That pressure was stronger than Old Ancestor Tian Jianzi!

This Disciple has never felt such terrifying pressure; it was like... like facing the might of Heaven.

The people under this Disciple's command collapsed on the spot, unable to even stand steady.

This Disciple... this Disciple almost knelt down too."

The hall fell into silence.

All the Elders were stunned.

Stronger than Old Ancestor Tian Jianzi? Tian Jianzi was a Half-step True Immortal, the oldest monster in the Taihu Clan with the highest seniority and deepest Cultivation.

If she was stronger than him, what Realm was that?

Shen Tianxing's expression changed. He stood up abruptly, his voice changing pitch: "What did you say? Stronger than Old Ancestor Tian Jianzi? Are you sure?"

Zhou Hai nodded repeatedly, his voice filled with fear: "This Disciple is sure.

Once that pressure was released, this Disciple's sword was trembling, and the spiritual power within this Disciple's body stopped circulating.

This Disciple... this Disciple didn't even have the courage to attack."

Grand Elder Zhou Yunhe frowned and spoke slowly: "What did that woman look like? Did you see clearly?"

Zhou Hai thought for a moment and said: "That woman was wearing a moon-white dress, with ice-blue long hair, her face was extremely beautiful, but as cold as ice.

When she stood there, she was like an unsheathed sword, making one not dare to look directly at her."

Second Elder Han Song slapped his thigh hard and exclaimed: "Xiao Nianyin! It's that Xiao Nianyin from the Hehuan Sect!

Ice-blue long hair, moon-white dress, cold as ice—that's right, it's her!"

The hall immediately erupted into chaos.

"Xiao Nianyin? Wasn't her Cultivation sealed? How could she..."

"I heard that she had already recovered her Cultivation when she was at Tianyin Mountain, but at most it would be the Half-step Saint Realm. How could she be stronger than Old Ancestor Tian Jianzi?"

"Zhou Hai, did you see wrong? A Half-step True Immortal and a Half-step Saint Realm are worlds apart!"

"Exactly! Even if Xiao Nianyin recovered her Cultivation, it's impossible for her to be stronger than Old Ancestor Tian Jianzi!"

Zhou Hai knelt on the ground, his face flushed red with anxiety: "This Disciple did not see wrong!

That pressure was definitely not something that could be emitted by the Half-step Saint Realm!

Although this Disciple's Cultivation is not high, I have lived for so many years and have felt the pressure of the Half-step Saint Realm before.

That woman's pressure was more than a hundred times stronger than the Half-step Saint Realm!"

The hall fell silent again.