C1716 The Newly Opened Sword Prison

In a world beyond our own, belonging to the Starborn, there was a city with a building of considerable value. Beneath the hazy starlight, an elderly man, clearly of Starborn descent, was nestled comfortably in a recliner with a blanket over his legs. He held a book written in the Starborn language, occasionally reaching for exotic fruits and fine wines from a nearby table, thoroughly enjoying the moment.

Outside the wall, in the Star Sea, nine radiant stars shone with an intoxicating glow. Arranged like petals of a flower, their soft light seemed to soothe restless souls.

In his younger days, the old man had disguised himself as a Starborn and wandered the neighboring Star Rivers. With Tan Junshan's assistance, he had acquired property on this star and would retreat here for vacations when he sought respite from his usual affairs.

Over the years, as the Boulderdawn, the Chamber of Commerce, and the Starborn grew more amicable, he found no further need to conceal his true identity. Revealing himself as a human and exuding the presence of a Starmoon Sect cultivator, he was not only accepted in this little world known as Aiqera but also held in high esteem.

Yet, preferring solitude and uninterrupted peace, he chose to maintain his original guise.

Abruptly, three streaks of sword light appeared from a distant Star River, piercing through Aiqera's wall in a mere instant and advancing directly into the heart of the realm.

"The Sword Sect!"

"The Grand Sword Immortal!"

The Starborn inhabitants of Aiqera wailed in despair, as if facing an apocalypse. The mightiest among them was but an eighth-level warrior, and this star was a mere speck within the vast territories of the Starborn.

The old man, still clutching his book, sighed deeply as he watched the sword lights hurtle towards him. Aiqera was hardly significant enough to warrant the attention of three Unbound Grand Sword Immortals from the Sword Sect; any one of them could effortlessly obliterate it. Without a doubt, they had come for him.

Sure enough, Yue Mu, known as Rillrender, soon arrived in his courtyard with a smile playing at the corners of his mouth. Observing the unrefined potted plants and scattered stones, Yue Mu bowed respectfully and addressed him, "Senior Duan, I have been instructed to respectfully request your company."

Whoosh!

With the Starborn's concealment lifted, Duan Yisheng, the youthful-looking Master of the Star Sect, made his appearance.

He glanced over Yue Mu's shoulder and caught sight of Lu Hongpeng, known as the "Sword of Seven Emotions," whose presence seemed to extinguish all humanity, and Xue Jiu, the "Skyshear." Duan Yisheng frowned and remarked, "Quite the impressive gathering!"

"Rillrender" Yue Mu was ranked ninth, "Skyshear" Xue Jiu eighth, and "Sword of Seven Emotions" Lu Hongpeng fifth. All three were renowned Grand Sword Immortals of the Sword Sect.

The arrival of three out of the Nine Great Sword Immortals filled Duan Yisheng's heart with a sense of foreboding.

As a cultivator in the middle period of the Unbound Stage, he realized that escaping the current predicament would be a daunting challenge.

What puzzled him was the swiftness of their approach.

"Do you expect me to clean up Aiqera?"

Xue Jiu, whose rank was above Yue Mu's, appeared to heed Yue Mu's words closely. His sword light transformed into clouds, weaving through the skies of Aiqera, targeting several individuals.

These targets, despite their low bloodline levels, possessed extraordinary talents and the potential to become ninth-level Starborn warriors in the future.

To Xue Jiu, the strongest individual on this star was inconsequential, as there was no chance for further advancement to the ninth level.

The threat he perceived came from those who had merely shown potential and the hope of reaching the ninth level, surpassing the threat posed by the star's current strongest.

"Let's not resort to a massacre in Aiqera. I will accompany you willingly," Duan Yisheng sighed.

"Mm, my orders were simply to escort Elder Duan to the newly established Extraterrestrial Sword Prison," Yue Mu replied with a smile, indicating no desire for conflict. "As long as the Elder does not resist, we shall refrain from drawing our swords. Our Sect Master has instructed us to honor the Elder's contributions to the Everlands."

"Very well, I'm curious to see this new Sword Prison for myself," Duan Yisheng said, accepting his fate with equanimity. He knew that with the combined forces of these three, using his status as the Master of the Star Sect to spare Aiqera from harm was the best outcome he could hope for.

The Grand Sword Immortal, a fierce lover of battle, dispatched three of his best at once. Yet, he was no match for them.

Surrender seemed the only option.

"Please, come forth!"

...

Simultaneously.

In a separate little world beyond our own, "Shatterblade" Van Heqing, "Frostflower Blade" Su Qingmo, along with Sages Lingxu and Huanmiao, combined their efforts to 'invite' Zhongli Dapan of the Forgeroses to the Sword Prison.

"Scram!"

Deep within the desolate desert, Zhongli Dapan roared, unveiling his colossal Divine Visage.

Activating the "Ancient Echoes of the Void" mantra, he halted time and tore open the fabric of space, revealing numerous blade-like fissures.

With a Divine Visage resembling an ancient barbarian deity, Zhongli Dapan, with his unmatched physical might, shattered the multiple walls imposed by the four assailants!

Amidst a downpour of blood, he effortlessly ripped through the wall, transforming into a crimson beam of light that soared towards the boundless Star River above.

The intense vital energy warped the celestial magnetic fields, spawning colossal storms.

Zhongli Dapan's breakout was nothing short of spectacular.

A vast River of Swords, adorned with countless azure blossoms, left only specks of blood on Zhongli Dapan's towering Divine Visage.

With skin and bones as resilient as divine crystals, the formidable Zhongli Dapan turned and clenched his fist, smashing it into the sacred bell summoned by Lingxu and Huanmiao.

With a resounding clang, the bell plummeted like a meteor into the little world he had fled.

The earth trembled, revealing an enormous crater, as Lingxu grunted, choosing to remain in the little world without immediate pursuit.

Lingxu seemed aware that the Way of Heaven was blocked even in the extraterrestrial realms, and that other powerful allies awaited Zhongli Dapan.

Zhongli Dapan, having reached the pinnacle of the Unbound Realm and honed his body to surpass even the ancient evilkind, fearlessly engaged in battle. Against four cultivators of his own realm, he miraculously carved a bloody swath to freedom.

A blazing red sun burst forth, illuminating the darkened starry sky and revealing everything in stark detail. It was he who had been expelled from the Forgeroses, and now Han Yue, the junior brother he had always scorned, stood before him—tall and lean.

"I knew it was you!" Zhongli Dapan bellowed in fury.

Unfazed, Han Yue responded with a stoic expression, "You seized the position of sect master, and I accept that. I am indeed not as powerful as you. But your decision to align Forgeroses with the Boulderdawn Sect and the Chamber of Commerce, placing our sect in the midst of such turmoil, is something I cannot condone."

"Mr. Qin, I appreciate your intervention."

Aware that he was outmatched, Han Yue turned towards the red sun and addressed Qin Luo.

"Brother Zhongli, I am simply carrying out my orders, and I ask for your understanding. Rest assured, I will only wound you enough to ensure your compliance in returning to the Sword Prison," Qin Luo said, his voice tinged with regret.

Boom!

A deluge of sunfire burst forth from the crimson sun, instantly engulfing the space where Zhongli Dapan stood, submerging him in the searing solar blaze.

Soon after, the news that Zhongli Dapan had been grievously wounded and captured alive traveled from the extraterrestrial realms to the Everlands.

...

"What?"

Jun Chen, the chamber of commerce's leading counselor, was stunned upon learning that Duan Yisheng had been 'invited' by the three Grand Sword Immortals of the Sword Sect to the extraterrestrial Sword Prison.

"Zhongli Dapan has also been taken to the Sword Prison, severely injured," came the report.

Feng Zhong paced restlessly around the multifaceted crystal ball.

"This is likely just the beginning," he muttered.

Shi Jing'er's brows knitted with concern as she contemplated the fate of the chamber of commerce and its allies.

"History is repeating itself. Those who are defiant or refuse to align with them are being imprisoned in the Sword Prison. The ones being detained are individuals with high standing in the Everlands who have not committed heinous acts, or those who still hold value," Zhou You mused, his eyes narrowing as he remembered a time shrouded in darkness.

"Those who have committed misdeeds and contributed nothing to the Everlands won't be 'invited' to the Sword Prison; they will be summarily dealt with."

Zhou You was well-acquainted with Han Miaoyuan's methods. Having spent many years in the Sword Prison, he knew the enforcer of the Everlands' laws hadn't changed his ways in eons.

Ding Ling!

The pendant around Shi Jing'er's neck emitted a delightful sound. She tuned in to it and suddenly spoke, "Yu Yuan, Zu Ann has advised that those remaining in the Everlands should either swiftly depart from the Moonfall Sanctuary and the Marsh or head to his Skyreach Peak."

Yu Yuan felt a surge of warmth in his heart. "I didn't expect Zu Ann to offer his help at this time."

He then inquired, "Does he know about the return of my Lunar Spirit?"

"He's not only aware," Shi Jing'er responded, "but Han Miaoyuan is also in the know, courtesy of Wei Zhuo and the Root of the Lunar Meridian."

"Lunar Meridian!"

Feng Zhong was momentarily taken aback. It was unexpected that the Root of the Lunar Meridian in the Everlands was also involved.

The ability of the Root of the Lunar Meridian to harness the power of the Bloodbrawlers suggested that Youyu and Xuanli might also lend their support!

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