Chapter 886: Heavenly Sword, Parting Ways (1/2, requesting monthly votes)

"Qi Ba Jiu Daren has once again fallen into slumber. The matter of the Sixth Elder of Blazing Fire Sect's death cannot be concealed for long; war is already a certainty. We can wait no longer.

If that's the case, we can only start by carving up Heavenly Sword Sect first, seize their resources, then prepare for war against Blazing Fire Sect!

Fortunately, there's still the line we've hooked through the Fifth Huang Nu — having her act directly on behalf of Extreme Ice Sect is admittedly difficult, but as long as she finds a way to stall Blazing Fire Sect for a period of time, it should be fine."

The war against Blazing Fire Sect became a foregone conclusion the moment Qi Ba Jiu Daren killed Blazing Fire Sect's Sixth Elder; the only difference was merely when full-scale war would begin.

The Extreme Ice Sect Master had originally planned to seize the moment and declare war right then, but Jianmu Laoren suddenly appeared and meddled, causing Extreme Ice Sect severe losses — full-scale war could only be postponed.

Best to stall until our Extreme Ice Sect has swallowed Heavenly Sword Sect whole, devoured them clean, and then turn around to deal with Blazing Fire Sect.

But this is only the ideal scenario. What exactly to do still requires watching how things develop.

Gathering his thoughts, the Extreme Ice Sect Master quickly began arranging various matters for Extreme Ice Sect — summoning the remaining Elders and preparing subsequent responses.

As for Fang Yue himself, he was in the room next to the tail, practicing sword and martial arts.

The Heavenly Sword in his hands was like a docile little deer, not daring to act up in the slightest.

With the sheepskin scroll ahead and Qi Ba Jiu behind, that Heavenly Sword didn't know what rotten luck spanning eight lifetimes had brought it — running into these two ancestors.

Fighting back was hopeless; it could only obediently obey.

I wonder if Heavenly Sword Sect still has a way to take me back from this guy...

The Heavenly Sword had only just thought this when it suddenly heard Fang Yue murmur something as if to himself.

"The sword is slow."

The Heavenly Sword was instantly startled, hurriedly exerting every trick it had, fully cooperating with Fang Yue's sword practice.

Comparing oneself to others is enough to kill one with frustration.

Recalling the wonderful days at Heavenly Sword Sect, it felt it was currently in hell.

But the sheepskin scroll's uniquely terrifying aura suddenly appeared, instantly suppressing all its thoughts.

It made its own aura plummet sharply, striving to reduce its own presence, as if saying — Big Sister, hello!

【Whoosh whoosh whoosh! What're you talking about, this little sword-sword is still very well-behaved, you know!】

L-little sword-sword?

The Heavenly Sword nearly failed to catch its breath.

But very soon, someone stood up for it.

"What little sword-sword? That sounds terrible. I'm still going to use this sword to kill enemies in the future — don't just make up nicknames."

Big Brother is mighty!!

The Heavenly Sword was instantly thrilled; it truly didn't want to go into battle forever saddled with such a title.

But then it felt a wave of sorrow — it, the dignified Heavenly Sword, had fallen to the point where even its nickname was casually mocked by others.

【It IS little sword-sword! It IS little sword-sword! I'm going to call it little sword-sword! If you're not happy, I'll just eat it!】

Heavenly Sword:!!!

It was instantly so frightened its sword body gave a shudder, nearly kneeling down to Big Sister Sheepskin Scroll.

When Big Sister and Big Brother argue, don't involve the innocent bystander!

Although the Heavenly Sword could not speak, the sheepskin scroll was sharp-eyed and immediately noticed its trembling sword body.

【Look! Little sword-sword itself likes this nickname! Other people's Heavenly Sword and the nickname little sword-sword — a perfect match, made for each other! Is it your place as a human to meddle? Hmph hmph!】

Fang Yue: This...

Fang Yue said nothing more. Since the Heavenly Sword itself didn't object, there wasn't much for him to insist on. Besides, this nickname was something only the sheepskin scroll would call it; others wouldn't know at all.

The Heavenly Sword seemed to want to argue for itself, but soon felt the sheepskin scroll Big Sister's "kind" gaze.

It instantly didn't dare move. In silence, the matter was settled.

It, the dignified Heavenly Sword, possessed countless earth-shaking, ancient-and-modern supreme titles.

Yet now it had become a mere... little sword-sword.

Big brothers of Heavenly Sword Sect, when will you come take me home...

The Heavenly Sword couldn't help tilting its blade forty-five degrees toward the sky, its tip faintly moist.

"Whoa! Sheepskin scroll, look! My swordsmanship has improved again! This is cold qi leaking outward! But I didn't do anything just now — this means I've unconsciously mastered the Empty Ice Sword Art to a realm beyond the mundane!"

【Really?! Really?! Let me see, let me see, ah! Fang Yue, you're amazing! The tip really is all moist!】

"Of course! Watch me continue dancing with the sword — how's this sword flourish? Do I have the bearing of a Sword Saint?"

【Oh oh oh oh! That's the vibe, that's the vibe! Expression, even colder! Sword art, even sharper! Just like that! Just like that! Hold onto that feeling — you'll be the next Sword Saint!】

"Heh heh, naturally. With the Heavenly Sword in hand, every time I dance with the sword, I feel vast amounts of sword intent pouring into me, my swordsmanship advancing a thousand miles a day! Reaching the pinnacle of Sword Dao is only a matter of time."

【Go for it! Big brother who dances with swords! Don't worry about little sword-sword over there — with me keeping it in line, it absolutely won't dare act up! In the future, you'll be the Sword Saint, and I'll be the Saint Scroll! Two Saints combined, invincible under heaven!】

Heavenly Sword:...

End me. Quickly.

Tired. Don't want to live anymore.

Heaven above, how did I end up with these two guys?

Where are the people of Heavenly Sword Sect? Come take me home ahhhhh!!

Heavenly Sword Sect, Jianmu Lin.

All the disciples within Heavenly Sword Sect were trembling as they knelt in Jianmu Lin.

Because the oldest sword in Jianmu Lin — that rust-mottled golden ancient sword — had just now suddenly shattered.

And this meant...

Heavenly Sword Sect's final guardian, Jianmu Laoren — that existence still shrouded in mystery to this day — had fallen.

Jianmu Laoren had just gone to Extreme Ice Sect to demand the return of the Heavenly Sword and seek justice, and the very next moment, he was gone.

Anyone with half a brain could guess that it was definitely that Supreme Sect Master Qi Ba Jiu of the Extreme Ice Sect who defeated Jian Lao and killed him.

"Heavenly Sword Sect… its end is near."

Even the Elders of the Heavenly Sword Sect were now all downcast, their eyes drained of the slightest glimmer.

There was no helping it — on the surface, the strongest person in the Heavenly Sword Sect was the Sect Master who wielded the Heavenly Sword, and behind the scenes, the strongest was Jian Lao of Jianmu Lin.

Now that these two had both perished, and the whereabouts of the Heavenly Sword were unknown, the future of the Heavenly Sword Sect was self-evident.

"All disciples of the Heavenly Sword Sect, hear my command. The Sect Master was brutally killed outside, and Jian Lao has subsequently perished. The Heavenly Sword Sect's strength is now weaker than ever before; it exists in name only and will become fish and meat in the eyes of the other sects, free for them to plunder. To preserve the sect's lineage, I order all of you disciples, effective immediately, to scatter and dissolve, to leave the Heavenly Sword Sect. Without receiving a secret order from the sect, you are never to gather again!"

After a long silence, the sect Elders, after conferring secretly for a while, arrived at a conclusion.

This conclusion left every disciple present stunned.

They never could have imagined that the Heavenly Sword Sect, one of the most powerful sects in Jingcheng just a day ago, would fall to such a state a single day later.

All of this changed too quickly — no one had time to react.

(End of this chapter)