C1539 The First Sword of the Everlands!

In the Starmoon Sect, the Moon Temple at the summit of the highest peak was bustling with activity.

Numerous cultivators, radiating ancient auras, excitedly crowded around an elder whose white hair belied his youthful face.

Tan Junshan sat cross-legged to the side, gazing up at the vacant dome of the great hall, lost in thought.

Suddenly, the throng at the temple's entrance parted, and exclamations rang out.

"Jun Chen!"

"Jun Chen has returned!"

"Is Jun Chen here to vie for the divine seat?"

As Jun Chen, the esteemed counselor of the Skyreach Consortium, clad in white and clutching a bamboo flute, strode in, the older Starmoon Sect elders stepped aside, their shouts echoing through the space.

At the heart of the temple, Duan Yisheng, the leader of the Star Sect, rose from his seat upon hearing of his son's arrival, his reaction far from elated.

"Old man, don't get worked up. It's not every day you see your son. Take a moment to calm down," Tan Junshan advised, noticing Duan Yisheng's abrupt movement.

"I've been away from the Starmoon Sect for years, and you've never once reached out to me. Now, you come to me, urging me not to pursue the divine seat and to tell Lee Sha to leave the Rainbow Ocean posthaste," Jun Chen said, approaching Duan Yisheng and Tan Junshan with an icy demeanor.

Despite the warm greetings from the surrounding Starmoon Sect elders, Jun Chen seemed deaf to their words, his gaze fixed on Duan Yisheng, his biological father. "Why?" he demanded.

"Jun Chen, this matter is beyond my control. You're surely mistaken!" Tan Junshan, unable to remain seated, stood up and explained, "I'm clueless about Lee Sha's actions. She recently requested that we send Liu Ying and several other sect Solar Spirits for extraterrestrial training. We had no idea she would return so abruptly."

With a helpless shrug, Tan Junshan added, "As for that divine seat, I'm just as in the dark as you are."

Upon hearing his words, Jun Chen finally gave him a serious look. "Duan, you urge me to abandon the idea, yet because I'm with the Skyreach Consortium, closest to the Rainbow Ocean, you have me relay a message to Lee Sha to evacuate the Rainbow Ocean. Is it truly not for your own benefit?"

"Right now, he's got his eye on me too, not letting me make a move," Tan Junshan said with an awkward smile.

"Exactly. I don't understand what the old sect master is thinking, going to such lengths to thwart Little Tan!"

A fat old man, leaning on a crutch, stamped his foot in frustration. "Lee Sha has made her stance crystal clear, and she's already taken action. What's there left to worry about?"

"The Boulderdawn Sect promised us a divine seat! Lee Sha hasn't claimed it, so it should be ours!" someone else interjected with righteous anger. "We can wait, but we will not tolerate Ji Ningshuang ascending to godhood!"

"Indeed! If she ascends, what will become of our Star Sect?"

"This divine seat must be contested for by Tan Junshan or Jun Chen! No matter what, we have to prevent Ji Ningshuang from succeeding and secure the seat through the Stardust sacred ways!"

The Moon Temple once again erupted into noisy debate.

"Silence, all of you!" Duan Yisheng, with his youthful appearance and white hair, suddenly bellowed, his face flushing with anger.

He shot Tan Junshan a fierce glare and commanded, "Regardless of your thoughts, I need you to contact Lee Sha immediately using your methods, and tell her to leave the Rainbow Ocean at once..."

"No, wait! Have her leave the Everlands immediately!"

Turning to Jun Chen, a pained expression crossed his face as he said, "I advise against competing because I don't want to see you die."

"Die? Who has the power to kill me?" Jun Chen questioned with a frown.

"You all assume that Han Miaoyuan is preoccupied with guarding the Divine Throne and can't be bothered. You also believe that Yuwen Hao won't intervene. But what about the Boulderdawn? With Gui Xu, Tianqi, and Zu Ann, and possibly even Lord Untamed from the Marsh on their side, right?"

As Duan Yisheng spoke, the urgency and trepidation in his voice were palpable to everyone present.

No one knew what he was afraid of.

Yet, after hearing his speech, everyone nodded in agreement.

They truly believed this was a golden opportunity for the Starmoon Sect.

"You guys..."

Duan Yisheng's finger came perilously close to Tan Junshan, Jun Chen, and several of the more vociferous elders. "You know nothing!"

"How many years has Lee Sha been alive? What does she know? How could she silently step into the Everlands to disrupt the Sword Sect's Path to Godhood prepared for Ji Ningshuang?"

"Do you think Lin Daoke is dead?!"

With those words, Duan Yisheng gazed at the Sword Sect with a mix of reverence and silent entreaty.

He knew that Yuwen Hao, Lin Daoke, and Han Miaoyuan, all from the Starmoon Sect, could hear and see what was happening here, given their proximity to the Sword Sect, Ebon Star, and Sunlit Order.

His statement was a declaration of his stance.

And his silent plea...

He was imploring Lin Daoke for leniency.

He was entreating the Sword Sect's Master for more time to expel Lee Sha from the Everlands as swiftly as possible.

He was uncertain whether his posturing and efforts would bear fruit.

...

At Skyreach Peak.

The Ape and Zhao Yafu fell silent mid-conversation.

Upon seeing an unexpected full moon hanging over the Rainbow Ocean, the Ape quickly realized what had transpired.

"Snow, I must leave ahead of you."

He called out across the canyon.

"I've finished as well."

The Astral Tiger responded immediately. The formidable and majestic tiger emerged from within and inquired, "Lord Untamed, has something happened in the outside world?"

"The Master of the Moon Sect has unexpectedly returned, intent on thwarting Ji Ningshuang's ascension," the Ape said, shaking his head with a wry smile.

"That young lady has only lived for a few centuries. She likely hasn't witnessed Mr. Lin wield his sword. Perhaps she hasn't even heard of his legendary exploits," the Astral Tiger said, his eyes reflecting a hint of compassion upon mentioning the Sword Sect. "It's tragic that she reached her peak with such unique blood."

"Master, is Senior Lin really that formidable?" Zhao Yafu asked, astonished.

Throughout her life, she had never encountered any tales of Lin Daoke's deeds. It was only in recent years that she learned of a legendary figure within the Sword Sect named Nie Qingtian, who had slain numerous Otherkin in the extraterrestrial realm, causing them great distress.

Yet, she remained unaware of any significant accomplishments or exceptional qualities attributed to Lin Daoke. "Mr. Lin refrains from drawing his sword because Nie Qingtian alone is sufficient; his intervention is unnecessary," Astral Tiger said with deep-seated respect. "Before Nie Qingtian ascended to godhood, who do you think deterred the various extraterrestrial races on behalf of the human race in the Everlands?"

"And who else could make Bertain exercise caution, with his pervasive and penetrating dark will?"

"Surely, it's due to our Hall Master?" Zhao Yafu inquired, puzzled.

"Her? Most of the time, she's preoccupied with managing the cosmic giant beasts," the old Ape explained, patting the young girl's head. Turning to Astral Tiger, he continued, "I'll try to convince Gui Xu and Tianqi to relinquish their grip. Lee Sha's brash entrance into the Everlands, especially as a peak Otherkin warrior, and her audacious meddling in Sword Sect affairs, is bound to lead to trouble..."

He sighed, "Of all the people she could have antagonized, she had to choose Lin Daoke."

Moonfang Tiger nodded in agreement, "Better to collide with Mr. Han than to cross paths with Mr. Lin."

...

The Land of Terror, with its silver peaks reminiscent of Shadow Mountain, symbolized Youyu's domain.

Lee Sha, she's quite the character," Yuan Qingxi, in his Lunar Spirit form, remarked as he stood behind Youyu, gazing out at the Rainbow Ocean and the full moon above. "Does she truly believe she can return in high spirits after breaking free from the Everlands, elevating the bloodline of the Moonlit Wanderers to the tenth level, and rallying the Moonlit Wanderers and some Moonfiends?"

"She's likely felt the weight of oppression from the three upper sects for far too long. Now that she's vindicated herself, she's emboldened to reveal her mixed heritage openly, hence her rashness."

Yuan Qingxi gazed at Lee Sha and Lee Yupan within the full moon as though he were looking at the dead.

"Master, today we may be fortunate enough to witness Mr. Lin draw his sword."

Even he couldn't help but feel a sense of reverence when speaking of Lin Daoke.

Youyu's gaze was detached. He didn't respond to the question or glance at the full moon; instead, his focus was fixed on the Rainbow Ocean, curious about the decision Yu Yuan would make.

He was eager to see if Yu Yuan had undergone any change in his humanity in this lifetime.

...

Yu Yuan held the Dragon Slaying Stage in his grasp.

He first examined the suspended full moon, and the scent it emitted informed him that the leader of the Moon Sect had infused the moon's rare treasure into the Moonlit Wanderers' holy weapon, transforming the treasure and nearly elevating it to the status of a Divine Artifact.

A Divine Artifact was suspended overhead, with Lee Sha's real body presiding within it.

The Lee Sha before him was an authentic, pinnacle tenth-level Otherkin Blood Warrior.

Yet, Yu Yuan harbored little fear.

The recently ascended Dragon Slaying Stage had become one of the mightiest Divine Artifacts in existence, far surpassing the full moon.

Moreover, the Solar Spirit within him possessed a power comparable to that of a Monster Lord.

His Solar Spirit, forged from the Sunsorrow of the Abyssal Leviathan and the lifeblood of various races, combined with Grec's blood crystal, afforded him a distinct edge when confronting extraterrestrial Otherkin.

As soon as he resolved to act, knowledge pertaining to the Moonlit Wanderers' lineage spontaneously surfaced within the Solar Spirit.

"Are you planning to strike me?"

Lee Sha smirked with a hint of scorn as she watched Yu Yuan draw nearer. "Have you thought about the repercussions? Is it the backing of Taishi, Gui Xu, or Tianqi that emboldens you? You dare because you believe I won't kill you, right?"

"Kill me? I'd like to see you try."

Yu Yuan ceased his banter. Clutching the Dragon Slaying Stage in one hand, he amassed spiritual energy, remnant soul, and vitality in the other, while calling forth the Baneblade Bloodhell, ready to unleash Nie Qingtian's "Moonfall Strike".

The Moonfall Strike is a formidable weapon against Lee Sha, the Moonfiend, and the Moonlit Wanderers.

His Solar Spirit had recently achieved a breakthrough, confirming that the bloodline of the Moonlit Wanderers would surely be suppressed by the "Moonfall Strike."

"You'll regret this."

Lee Sha sneered, crossing her arms over her chest in a gesture that dared Yu Yuan to make the first move.

"Alright."

Ji Ningshuang suddenly rose to her feet and in an instant was at Yu Yuan's side. She gently touched his arm and, looking into his eyes, she said, "In the future, as long as it's not against our Sword Sect, I will draw my sword for you as well."

Yu Yuan was taken aback.

Turning her head, she earnestly addressed Lee Sha, "Despite the challenges, I still hope you survive, so that one day I can personally seek your guidance."

Lee Sha was momentarily stunned.

"He's here."

She abruptly looked up, her gaze piercing through the clouds and twilight, fixating on the direction of Euwrea.

She was watching the Sword Sect!

A sword light beyond description shot forth from the Sword Sect, racing across the sky at a speed that eluded both sight and soul.

The sword light, resembling a long rainbow, was composed of nothing but pure spiritual energy, devoid of any impurities and lacking any discernible sword's will.

Yet, its emergence captured the gaze of all the mightiest beings in the Everlands, watching as it traversed from the Sword Sect over two continents to hover above the Rainbow Ocean.

Then, it targeted the full moon.

With a slash, the sword light struck the full moon, unleashing countless beams that instantly turned Lee Sha, the Silvermoon Queen, and Yue Fei—who had just fused with her soul—into a mist of blood.

The Lee Sha before Yu Yuan displayed a look of horror, severing the spiritual connection to her real body in a desperate attempt.

Ji Ningshuang shook her head gently, "It's futile."

The sword light, having obliterated the full moon, descended straight down, piercing through Lee Sha's head.

In an instant, the tenth-level Blood Warrior of the Moonlit Wanderers disintegrated into numerous shards.

Her spiritual sense, embedded within her flesh, bloodline chain, and every drop of her blood, was obliterated by the sword light.

The Divine Artifact, the real body of the peak warrior, and the bloodline chain were all obliterated by a single stroke of the sword.

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