Ch. 1565 - Sage Heaven God-Empire’s Silence

When the name Sage Heaven God-Empire was mentioned, the elders fell silent.

Back when the True Martial Sacred Ground was at its peak, the Sage Heaven God-Empire and True Martial Sect were bound by marriage. The empire’s princess had married their Sacred Lord. The two powers were truly like family.

But times changed too quickly. For reasons unknown, True Martial Sacred Ground was destroyed, and the Sage Heaven God-Empire kept its distance, severing all ties with the newly rebuilt True Martial Sect.

“Who’s going to the Sage Heaven God-Empire to borrow money?” an elder asked.

Wang Hengzhi let out a long sigh. “I’ll go.”

“Sect Master, let me go instead,” the Second Elder said.

Going to borrow money meant lowering themselves and begging, becoming the junior in the relationship. And even then, there was no guarantee the Sage Heaven God-Empire would lend anything. Their connection to True Martial Sect had long been broken.

“I can’t let our sect be destroyed,” Wang Hengzhi said. “I’ll give up dignity and even my life if I must.”

“But the Sage Heaven God-Empire is far from here,” another elder said. “The Ancient Dragon God-Empire only gave us three days. We don’t even have enough time for a round trip.”

“We still have the Thousand Thought Tome,” Wang Hengzhi replied. “It can perform spatial traversal using thought resonance. We can reach the Sage Heaven God-Empire in less than an hour.”

The Thousand Thought Tome was one of the few precious artifacts left behind after the fall of the old True Martial Sacred Ground.

“Let’s try contacting them with the tome first,” the Great Elder suggested. “See if they’re even willing to acknowledge us.”

Everyone agreed.

Because of the tension with the Ancient Dragon God-Empire, the entire sect was swallowed by unease.

…

Xiao An’an pushed Xu Zimo’s wheelchair back to her mountain residence.

Much of True Martial Sect lay in ruins. There were few livable places left, so her peak housed many disciples. She and Deng Linyu were close friends, and the latter helped her push Xu Zimo’s chair up to a courtyard halfway up the mountain.

“An’an, you’re going to be dragged down by this cripple for your entire life,” Deng Linyu said bitterly. “With your talent, you might become a Grand Emperor someday.”

Xiao An’an simply smiled without arguing. “Sister Deng is much stronger than I am.”

“I’m going to become a very powerful cultivator,” Deng Linyu declared, clenching her fists. “I’ll drive out every bad person who bullies us.”

“I’m going back to train. I want to reach the Imperial Meridian Realm as soon as possible.” She waved and hopped down the mountain.

Xiao An’an settled Xu Zimo in place, making sure he still had a heartbeat before she relaxed. She wiped him down gently. He had not been bathed in so long that he already had a strange odor.

By the time she finished caring for him, night had fallen. She sat cross-legged on the mountainside and began cultivating.

As soon as she started, the world reacted. Endless sword intent burst from her body. She became like a heaven-piercing divine blade, sharp enough to cut down everything.

Sword intent surged wildly. Stones rolled, trees snapped, and even the air cracked around her. She cultivated through the entire night.

At dawn, when violet light rose in the east, she finally drew the sword intent back into her body. Instantly, she looked like a gentle, delicate girl again. Her personality stood in stark contrast to the terrifying power she practiced.

Xiao An’an glanced at Xu Zimo in the wheelchair.

“You must be hungry,” she murmured.

She ran down the mountain to prepare hot porridge, gently pried open Xu Zimo’s lips, and fed him spoon by spoon. Only after he finished did she make food for herself.

Her life was simple. Other than caring for Xu Zimo, she trained alone, or sometimes Deng Linyu came to visit.

A few days passed.

Wang Hengzhi and the elders wore dark expressions. They had used the Thousand Thought Tome to contact the Sage Heaven God-Empire, but received no response.

Now they stood at the sect gate as the dragon ship of the Ancient Dragon God-Empire descended once again. Thunder boomed, the heavens trembled, and draconic might flooded the area.

Ocean Dragon Prince stood atop the ship in his dragon robe, full of aggression.

“The three-day limit is up. Have you gathered the protection fee?”

“Ocean Dragon Prince, could you grant us a few more days?” Wang Hengzhi asked helplessly.

“I’m not here to do charity,” Ocean Dragon Prince said coldly. “If you don’t have it, then get out.” He waved his hand dismissively.

Wang Hengzhi and the others turned pale.

Unable to hold her anger, Deng Linyu snapped, “This is our True Martial Sacred Ground’s ancestral land! Why should we leave?”

“Why?” Ocean Dragon Prince sneered. “Because my fist is bigger. Got a problem with that?”

He swung his arm.

Countless dragon-serpents erupted into the sky, filling the air as they encircled the entire True Martial Sect. There were at least a hundred of them, dense enough to trigger anyone’s phobia.

“Damn it,” Deng Linyu growled. “I’m not afraid of you. If it’s a fight you want, I’ll fight!”

“Kill them,” Ocean Dragon Prince ordered, his eyes glowing red. “Today is the day True Martial Sect is wiped out. Let this be your lesson for offending me.”

The dragon-serpents roared forward, shattering the void.

“Quick! Activate the formation!” Wang Hengzhi shouted.

True Martial Sect was too weak. The elders weren’t afraid of the dragon-serpents, but their few dozen young disciples couldn’t possibly withstand them.

…

Thunder cracked as the protective formation activated, blocking the dragon-serpents outside. But no one felt relieved. The formation was weak; it could only hold for a short while.

Once it broke, the slaughter would begin.

“Sect Master, what do we do?” someone asked.

“If we die today, I’ll die first,” Wang Hengzhi said, resolute and tragic.

Everyone stared at the formation. After ten minutes, cracks covered its surface. The dragon-serpents grew even more violent, boiling with rage.

With a sharp crack, one corner of the formation shattered. The serpents poured in like a raging flood.

The entire sect tensed.

At that moment, a thunderous blast exploded through the sky.

A loud voice roared:

“Who dares commit evil here?”

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