Chapter 44: Heavenly Punishment Descends, Ten Thousand Swords Rise in a Tide

The two words "I do not know" fell into the firmament.

The Upper Realm fell silent for an instant.

Then, the Golden Sea churned.

A palm, large enough to block the sky, reached out from behind the rift; the patterns on its palm resembled mountains and gullies, carrying the momentum to suppress an entire realm, and slowly descended toward Tian Duan Cliff.

This was not Thunder.

Nor was it a technique.

This was a verdict.

It seemed that the Upper Realm, merely by casually pressing down, could flatten all resistance in the Human Realm.

On Tian Duan Cliff, many soldiers turned deathly pale.

Even many Sword Cultivators found their swords trembling in their hands.

Xie Wuya roared: "Ten Thousand Swords Formation, rise!"

Thirty thousand Sword Cultivators drew their swords simultaneously.

Sword light surged like a tide, rising layer by layer from the Nine-Layered Sword Ring.

Xie Tingxue's Qingxue Sword Formation unfolded in response, its ice-white Sword Qi protecting the army camp and commoners at the cliff base.

Chen Shanhe raised his blade and roared: "Northern Garrison Army, raise shields!"

The outer army formation responded with a thunderous roar.

Jiang Che stood at the very front, the Green Bamboo Sword pointing skyward.

His Sword Vein surged.

A river of green light shot into the clouds, merging with the Ten Thousand Swords Formation into one.

The giant palm descended.

The Sword Tide met it.

Boom!

Heaven and Earth shook.

The mountain walls on both sides of Tian Duan Cliff shattered instantly, countless rocks falling into the abyss.

The first layer of the Sword Formation broke immediately.

Hundreds of Sword Cultivators vomited blood and collapsed.

Lin Xiaoman was blasted out of the wooden shed in the History Camp; the first thing he did upon getting up was pick up his ledger.

His hands shook terribly, yet he still wrote:

"Heavenly Punishment first falls, first layer of Sword Formation broken, three hundred seventy-two Sword Cultivators injured, forty-nine dead, none retreated."

The second and third layers of the Sword Formation lit up in succession.

Xie Wuya's beard and hair flew wildly, with layers of sword shadows behind him.

This Pavilion Master of the Sword Pavilion used his own body as the formation core, forcibly holding back the downward pressure of the giant palm.

Blood oozed from his mouth, yet he laughed loudly: "I have practiced the sword for eighty years; only today have I truly delivered a sword strike to the heavens!"

The Sword Pavilion Disciples roared in unison.

Xie Tingxue slashed her sword at the gaps between the giant palm's fingers.

The Clear Snow Sword light, like a single line of cold brilliance, actually carved a tiny crack into the giant palm.

A sound of mild surprise came from the Upper Realm.

"The Sword Dao of this realm has actually revived to this extent."

Jiang Che said nothing.

He was waiting.

The giant palm was too strong; a direct clash would only grind the Ten Thousand Swords Formation down layer by layer.

He had to find the node connecting it to the rift in the Upper Realm.

The Green Bamboo Sword trembled slightly.

His Sword Vein was also searching.

Suddenly, Jiang Che saw a golden chain pattern on the wrist of the giant palm.

That was the point of power transmission.

Jiang Che took a single step forward.

Xie Wuya shouted: "Sword Master!"

Jiang Che said: "Hold for ten breaths!"

Xie Wuya laughed: "Twenty breaths will do!"

Jiang Che transformed into a streak of green light, ascending against the Sword Tide into the sky.

The pressure of the giant palm was like a mountain; for every foot he rose, a new bloodstain appeared on his body.

Xie Tingxue saw him ascending alone and followed without hesitation.

Jiang Che turned back: "Go back!"

Xie Tingxue said: "Stop wasting words."

The two, one green and one white, charged to the base of the giant palm.

Countless golden thunder patterns erupted from the palm, turning into thunder snakes that tore and bit toward them.

Xie Tingxue unfolded her Clear Snow Sword Intent, blocking the flanks for Jiang Che.

Her shoulder was instantly pierced by the lightning, yet she made no sound.

Jiang Che gritted his teeth and thrust the Green Bamboo Sword at the chain pattern.

Within the Upper Realm, someone let out a cold snort.

"Ants."

The chain pattern erupted with golden light, blasting Jiang Che backward.

But in the instant of being blasted back, Jiang Che suddenly brought his left hand's fingers together like a sword and pressed them onto the spine of the Green Bamboo Sword.

He spoke in a low voice:

"Senior."

"Lend me that bit of drunkenness."

The lingering scent of wine from the dream suddenly ignited.

Jiang Che's eyes instantly became wild and unrestrained.

It was not the Sword Spirit resurrecting.

Rather, he had finally truly learned that sense of freedom.

The Green Bamboo Sword thrust out once more.

This time, it was no longer just steady.

Nor was it merely defensive.

It also held the madness of cutting through Heaven while drunk.

The sword tip pierced into the chain pattern.

Crack.

The giant palm shook violently.

Seizing the opportunity, Xie Tingxue slashed into the same point with her sword.

The green and white twin swords joined forces.

The chain pattern shattered.

The giant palm, losing its power connection, was violently thrust upward by the Ten Thousand Swords Formation.

On Tian Duan Cliff, thirty thousand Sword Cultivators roared in unison:

"Rise!"

The Sword Tide surged backward.

The palm that blocked the sky was forcibly severed at three fingers and retreated behind the rift.

Golden blood fell from the sky, turning to fire upon hitting the ground.

Xie Wuya shouted urgently, "Clear Snow Array!"

Xie Tingxue turned and descended, forcing herself to endure her injuries, transforming her snow Sword Intent into frost to seal the fire of the golden blood.

The first Heavenly Punishment was broken.

Tian Duan Cliff echoed with earth-shaking cheers.

But Jiang Che did not smile.

He looked up at the rift.

From the depths of the Golden Sea, a figure far more terrifying than the giant palm slowly rose.

That figure was draped in sun, moon, and stars, wore a high crown, and looked down upon the Human Realm.

"I am the Heavenly Patrol Envoy of the Upper Realm."

"Jiang Che of the Lower Realm."

"Do you dare to enter Heaven and fight?"

Xie Wuya's face changed drastically.

"No! He wants to lure you away from the Sword Vein!"

Jiang Che gazed at the Heavenly Patrol Envoy.

The opponent's intent was clear.

If he left Tian Duan Cliff, the Sword Vein would lose its formation pivot.

Yet if he did not accept, the second and third Heavenly Punishments would continue to smash down upon the entire Human Realm position.

Jiang Che fell silent for a moment, then suddenly smiled.

"Enter Heaven?"

He raised his sword and pointed it at the rift.

"No need."

"Here, I can still cut you down."