C1716 The Newly Opened Sword Prison

In a distant corner of the universe, within a world belonging to the Star Race, an elderly member of the Star Race was nestled comfortably in a chair inside a grand building in the city. Under the faint glow of the stars, he was wrapped in a warm blanket, engrossed in a book written in the language of his people. Beside him, a table held an array of exotic fruits and fine wines—a testament to his contentment.

Outside the protective barrier of this realm, nine stars shone brilliantly in the starry sea, their light soothing enough to calm the most restless of souls. These celestial bodies were arrayed like the petals of a flower, their gentle radiance offering solace.

In his youth, the old man had disguised himself as a Star Race clansman and wandered the neighboring star seas. With the assistance of Tan Junshan, he had acquired property on this star and would occasionally retreat here for a vacation. Over the years, as the Divine Soul Sect, the Chamber of Commerce, and the Star Race grew closer, there was no longer a need for him to conceal his true identity.

Now, he could openly present himself as a human and exude the aura of a practitioner from the Silver Moon Sect. In this quaint domain known as the Ring Nebula Realm, he was not only accepted but also held in high esteem.

Yet, he preferred solitude, wishing to maintain his peace without the intrusion of the Star Race's mighty. Thus, he chose to live as he always had.

Abruptly, three beams of sword light streaked across the sky, swiftly piercing through the barrier of the Ring Nebula Realm. They advanced with unerring purpose.

"Sword Sect!"

"Great Sword Immortal!"

The inhabitants of the Ring Nebula cried out in despair, as if facing an apocalypse. The mightiest among them was but an Eighth Level warrior, and in the grand scheme of the Star Race's domains, this star was insignificant.

The old man, still clutching his book, sighed deeply as he watched the sword lights hurtle directly towards him. It was clear to him that the Sword Sect had not sent three Unrestrained Stage Great Sword Immortals for the Ring Nebula—it was hardly worth such a formidable response. Any Great Sword Immortal of the Unrestrained Stage could effortlessly obliterate it.

Without a doubt, they had come for him. And indeed, they had.

Yue Mu, known as the Heavenly Water Sword, landed in the courtyard with a smile playing at the corners of his mouth. He surveyed the unrefined potted plants and scattered stones before bowing respectfully. "Senior Duan, I've been tasked with requesting your company on a journey."

With a whoosh, the Star Race's concealment dissipated, revealing Duan Yisheng with his youthful visage, now in his full regalia as the Master of the Star Sect.

Duan Yisheng's brow furrowed as he took in the sight of Lu Hongpeng, known as the Sword of Seven Emotions, and Xue Jiu, the Moving Cloud Sword, standing behind Yue Mu. "This is quite the assembly," he remarked.

Yue Mu, the Heavenly Water Sword, was ranked ninth, while Xue Jiu's Moving Cloud Sword held the eighth spot, and the Sword of Seven Emotions wielded by Lu Hongpeng was fifth. All three were renowned Great Sword Immortals of the Sword Sect.

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

As someone in the Middle Period of the Unrestrained Stage, he realized that escaping this formidable gathering would be a daunting task.

He couldn't help but wonder... why so sudden?

"Do you expect me to cleanse the Star Ring Realm?" he asked.

Although Xue Jiu outranked Yue Mu, he seemed to heed his words. His sword light transformed into a moving cloud, weaving through the clouds of the Star Ring Realm's sky, already targeting several individuals.

These targets, despite their low lineage, possessed exceptional talent and the potential to become Ninth Level warriors of the Star Race.

To Xue Jiu, the strongest being on this star was inconsequential, as there was no chance for further advancement to the Ninth Level.

The individuals he sought to eliminate were merely those who had shown potential and the hope of ascending to the Ninth Level. He deemed them a greater threat than the star's current strongest.

"Please, refrain from a massacre in the Star Ring Realm. I will accompany you willingly," Duan Yisheng sighed.

"Mm, my orders were simply to escort Senior Duan to the newly established Outer Sword Prison," Yue Mu confirmed.

Yue Mu nodded with a smile, indicating that there was no need for a dramatic confrontation. "As long as the elder does not resist, we will certainly refrain from drawing our swords. The Sect Master has instructed us to honor the elder's contributions to the vastness of the cosmos."

"Very well, I shall see for myself what this new Sword Prison is like," Duan Yisheng replied, composed and understanding that the trio's combined effort meant that he could leverage his status as the leader of the Star Sect to spare the Ring Nebula from any fallout. This was a favorable outcome.

Facing the Great Sword Immortal, who relished battle and had dispatched three of his followers, he knew he was outmatched. It was best to comply gracefully.

"Please, this way."

...

Simultaneously, in a secluded pocket of the heavens, "Shattering Sword" Van Heqing, "Green Flower Sword" Su Qingmo, Spirit Void Taoist, and the Ethereal Spiritual Master were collectively persuading Zhongli from the Ancient Desolate Sect to visit the Sword Prison.

"Get lost!"

Deep within the desolate desert, Zhongli bellowed, manifesting his colossal dharma form. He activated the Desolate True Spell, halting time and tearing open numerous white rifts in the fabric of space.

Like an ancient barbaric deity, Zhongli, with his unmatched physical might, shattered the multiple barriers imposed on him by the four assailants. Amidst a shower of blood, he ripped through the dimensional wall, transforming into a blood-colored streamer that soared towards the boundless starry sea.

The intense blood energy distorted the magnetic fields of space, igniting colossal storms. Zhongli's breakout was a spectacle of immense magnitude.

A vast river of sword light, adorned with innumerable green blossoms, could only leave specks of blood on Zhongli's towering and formidable dharma form. With flesh as resilient as armor and bones like divine crystals, Zhongli turned and clenched his fist, smashing it into the sacred bell summoned by the Ethereal Spiritual Master.

The bell resounded like a gong, plummeting like a meteor into the small world he had fled to. The earth tremored, revealing a massive crater, and the Spirit Void Taoist, with a stifled grunt, remained in the small world, making no immediate move to pursue Zhongli.

The Spirit Void Taoist seemed to be aware that another formidable ally awaited Zhongli outside of the heavens. Zhongli, having reached the pinnacle of the Unrestrained Stage and honed his physical body to surpass even the ancient Fey, showed no fear in the face of four fellow Unrestrained Stage cultivators. He bravely carved a bloody path through their ranks.

But then...

A crimson sun burst forth, casting light upon the dim starry sky, revealing Han Luo, the Junior Brother he had always scorned, standing tall and lean before him.

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

Unperturbed, Han Luo replied with a stoic face, "I accept your claim to the Sect Master title, as I am truly not as powerful as you. But your decision to align the Ancient Desolate Sect with the Divine Soul Sect and the Chamber of Commerce, drawing us into such turmoil, is something I cannot condone."

"Thank you, Sect Master Qin."

Acknowledging his own disadvantage, Han Luo turned to the blazing sun and addressed Qin Luo.

"Brother Zhongli, I'm merely acting on orders. I ask for your understanding. Rest assured, I will only inflict serious wounds to ensure your compliance in returning to the Sword Prison," Qin Luo said with a note of regret.

Boom!

A deluge of Sun Essence Fire erupted from the fiery sun, instantly engulfing the space around Zhongli in a maelstrom of solar flames.

Soon after, word spread throughout the Vast Expanse that Zhongli had been captured, severely wounded.

...

"What?"

Jun Chen, the chamber's foremost guest, was stunned upon learning that Duan Yisheng had been coerced into the Sword Prison by three Great Sword Immortals from the Sword Sect. The news hit him like a thunderbolt.

"Zhongli, too, has been taken to the Sword Prison in his injured state," Fong Zhong muttered, pacing restlessly around the multifaceted crystal ball.

"This is likely just the beginning," Shi Jing'er mused, her brows knit with concern for the chamber's allies and those who had joined their ranks.

"History is repeating itself. Those who are defiant or refuse to align with them are being locked away in the Sword Prison. The ones imprisoned are either highly respected in the Vast Expanse without a record of heinous acts or those who still hold value," Zhou You reflected with narrowed eyes, haunted by the memories of those oppressive days.

"Those who have committed evil acts and made no contributions to the Vast Expanse won't be summoned to Sword Prison; they'll be promptly eradicated instead."

Zhou You was intimately familiar with Han Miaoyuan's modus operandi. Having spent many years confined in Sword Prison, he was well aware that the individual responsible for establishing the rules of the Vast Expanse hadn't changed them in millions of years.

Ding Ling!

A delightful sound emanated from the pendant hanging from Shi Jing'er's neck. After tuning in to it, she abruptly announced, "Yu Yuan, Zu Ann has advised that anyone remaining in the Vast Expanse should either quickly depart from the Fallen Moon Forbidden Area and the Great Swamp or head to his Ascension Mountain Range."

Yu Yuan felt a surge of warmth at the thought of Zu Ann extending a helping hand during such times.

He immediately inquired, "Is he aware that my Yin God has returned?"

"He's not just aware; he also mentioned that Han Miaoyuan is in the know, courtesy of Wei Zhuo and the Yin Meridian," Shi Jing'er responded.

"Yin Meridian!"

Fong Zhong was momentarily taken aback. It was unexpected that even the origin of the Yin Meridian in the Vast Expanse was getting involved.

The Yin Meridian's ability to harness the power of the Ghost Wizard Sect suggested that Youyu and Xuanli might also lend their support to the cause!

​