C1721 The Seal of the Sword Sect

In the far reaches of the extraterrestrial Ionodios, where the Deathwing Lair once stood, now rose the Starway. Space magic surged from the Starway in waves.

Whoosh!

With bright eyes and a radiant smile, Jiang Miaojie stepped out of the Starway, her face etched with panic. She had traveled from the Marsh to the Wingkind's Greenshadow Realm before making her way to Ionodios.

"Lord Taixu!"

Upon her arrival, Jiang Miaojie immediately reached out with Mind Magic to summon him.

"I'm here."

The elegant Taixu, God-King of ethereal beauty, glided over, effortlessly crossing the diverse and ornate palaces of the Otherkin to appear before her. "There's no need for alarm. I've received the news from beyond as well."

"You're already informed?" Jiang Miaojie exclaimed in astonishment.

"Yes, Duan Yisheng has been captured, and Zhongli Dapan, despite his severe injuries, is now confined in the newly established Sword Prison. The Grand Sword Immortals of the Sword Sect have been scouring the cosmos, detaining cultivators allied with our Boulderdawn. Such significant actions do not escape my notice," Taixu explained, his gaze lingering on the Starway behind Jiang Miaojie. He furrowed his brow. "However, Taishi and Tianqi have gone to meet with Soul-Capturing and have yet to return. Therefore, I've sent Hua Xin to relay a message."

"I've come from the Everlands, which are equally engulfed in turmoil," Jiang Miaojie quickly informed him.

"That's a relief," Taixu replied, his demeanor composed. After listening to her report, he nodded and added, "Han Miaoyuan has shown restraint, opting not to slaughter those sects of our kin but to imprison them instead. If that's the case, once Taishi and Tianqi return, and if Soul-Capturing can be persuaded..."

Taixu's voice trailed off thoughtfully, "Then we will rescue them."

Swoosh!

A brilliant sword light suddenly materialized from the cold, dim expanse of space, hurtling unstoppably towards Ionodios. The vast distances of the cosmos, the walls that divided realms—none seemed to impede the sword light!

Taixu's expression darkened instantly.

Above Ionodios, the disciples and elders of Boulderdawn, the members of the Merchant Association, warriors from the Shadowkin, Starborn, enchantresses, and the Star-Spawned Terrors—all were jolted by the sword light, looking up in horror.

The sword light hadn't yet arrived, but the mere will of the sword had already pierced through every barrier, including the wall of Ionodios.

Puff!

A modest hole appeared in the wall of Ionodios. Before the chaotic cosmic energy could flood in, the unkempt Sword Sect Master shot through the gap like a streak of lightning.

Boom!

Lin Daoke and the sword light plummeted, shaking the entire Ionodios to its core, with fissures spreading across the land.

Ionodios, meticulously tempered by Taishi, was as solid as a fortress, yet it lay open and vulnerable before Lin Daoke. The wall and the ground were as fragile as tissue paper, seemingly penetrable with just a touch.

Having forged his divine position into a sword, he stood with empty hands at the Starway where Jiang Miaojie had just crossed. Then, without a word, he sat down.

"Lin Daoke!"

"Sword Sect! Lin Daoke!"

The extraterrestrial experts of the Otherkin, witnessing the legendary foremost swordsman shatter the wall of Ionodios and personally enter this realm crafted by Boulderdawn and the merchants, were thrown into disarray.

In recent days, news had spread across the stars of Boulderdawn's mighty being captured and detained by the supreme powers of the Everlands.

The elite warriors and nobles of various races, seeking trade in Ionodios, were aware that a clash was inevitable.

Yet, none had anticipated Lin Daoke's direct assault!

Rumble! Rumble! Rumble!

The ear-splitting roar of battleships lifting off from plazas and canyons filled the air. The enchantress and Shadowkin fleets, not wishing to be embroiled in the conflict, hastened to depart from Ionodios.

Lin Daoke, seated on the ground, spoke with a detached tone, "No one leaves."

The battleships' roars persisted, thundering ceaselessly.

Lin Daoke's brow furrowed slightly. With a gesture, he transformed his fingers into a sword's edge and casually unleashed several slashes at the ascending warships trying to flee Ionodios.

The unrivaled sharpness of the sword light detonated among the airborne vessels. Whether it was the warships or the Otherkin warriors within, all were reduced to wreckage and scattered limbs.

"When my sect master speaks, you would do well to listen."

Wielding Rillrender, Yue Mu approached the opening like a stream of ice, stopping with a grin behind Lin Daoke, who was seated on the ground.

With his arms crossed over his chest, Yue Mu suddenly bellowed, "Henceforth, no one from Ionodios, whether of the Everlands or not, shall leave this realm!"

As he surveyed the scattered remnants of warships and the Otherkin blood raining from the sky, Yue Mu added, "Those who defy this decree will share their grim fate."

Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!

Following Yue Mu's entrance, "Shatterblade" Van Heqing, "Sword of Seven Emotions" Lu Hongpeng, "Frostflower Blade" Su Qingmo, and "Skyshear" Xue Jiu also made their descent.

Together with Yue Mu, five Grand Sword Immortals of the Unbound Stage stood vigil behind Lin Daoke.

While Lin Daoke remained seated in quiet contemplation, they stood guard, encircling the Starway of Ionodios.

"Senior Taixu, I presume?"

With a casual smile, Yue Mu regarded the strikingly handsome Taixu God-King and spoke with due courtesy, "Here's the situation. Our Sect Master, recognizing Yu Yuan's generous gift of the sword radiance from the River of Swords in the Glimmerdrift Nebula to the Sword Cave, has chosen not to slay the innocent nor act rashly."

He gestured towards the Starway, "This passage remains open to you."

Then, pointing to the slowly mending wall, he continued, "Anyone wishing to cross this barrier, be they from Boulderdawn, the Merchant Association, or Otherkin warriors here to aid you, will be granted passage."

"Our Sect Master is present, eagerly awaiting the arrival of all your formidable extraterrestrial forces, including Taishi, Tianqi, and the enigmatic Soul-Capturing God-King."

"To sum up, from this moment forward, Ionodios is open for entry but closed for departure!"

Yue Mu articulated the Sword Sect's intentions on behalf of Lin Daoke.

The Sword Sect had marshaled its might to converge the powers of Boulderdawn and the Chamber of Commerce within Ionodios.

Lin Daoke had even permitted several God-Kings from Boulderdawn to enter Ionodios from across the cosmos, untroubled by the prospect of their presence becoming known.

As Han Miaoyuan's most formidable weapon, Lin Daoke, with his sword in hand, was determined to keep the Boulderdawn and the Everlands apart.

The news of the Sword Sect's blockade of Ionodios spread like wildfire across the Star River, leaving all the extraterrestrial otherkin experts in utter disbelief.

...

In the Everlands, atop Fiendpeak.

Yu Yiyi materialized at the summit, flanked by the Sky Fiend, Indigo Wraith, White Walker, Stormcrowned Emperor, Hei Xun, and other titans of the Boulderdawn.

Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!

Tens of thousands of Bane roamed freely—some resembled ghastly fiends with fangs, others were as elegant as scholars, some giggled like mischievous young girls, while others were akin to Chebus and white bears—a diverse and menacing array.

The Bane meandered between the peaks, their souls eternally linked to the hidden cauldron within the mountain, drawing strength from the Soul Nexus inscribed upon the peaks.

From high above, Fiendpeak was the epicenter of chilling winds, with the malicious devil souls swirling around it like a treacherous ocean deep.

Yu Yiyi, as graceful as a well-bred lady, stood at the pinnacle. Utilizing the Crucible of Evil and the Myriad Demons Circle, she could discern the encircling Thunder Sect cultivators, who were now inching closer, unable to resist the pull.

"Those who trespass on Boulderdawn territory will face the consequences!"

Hei Xun, hands clasped behind his back, squinted at a familiar cultivator. With a furrowed brow, he declared, "Lu Ji! I remember you—you once visited Ionodios to trade for a lightning crystal. To think you've now stooped to being Wei Zhuo's henchman! Old Lady Qiao was your Thunder Sect's leader, and after Wei Zhuo killed her, you still had the gall to join them!"

Lu Ji, previously concealed in the shadows and reluctant to emerge, now stepped forward, compelled by Hei Xun's direct challenge.

He surfaced on a barren hillock, clad in a robe etched with numerous lightning runes, his eyes betraying a sense of shame. "Sect Master Wei has ascended to become the Thunder God of the Everlands, proving that his sacred way is the true Way of Heaven. The Thunder Sect, Obsidian Thunder Sect, and Tempest's Edge were always one; our past disagreements were nothing more than leaderless dragons at odds with one another."

"From the moment Sect Master Wei forged the divine seat with his thunderous might, he became our leader, the supreme cultivator whom all three factions must obey."

Lu Ji locked eyes with Hei Xun and declared, "Our ancient traditions hold a rule: should Big Sister Qiao ascend to divinity, the cultivators of both the Obsidian Thunder Sect and the Thunder Sect would pledge allegiance to her. Alas, she did not succeed."

"Therefore, you cannot fault me, nor can you fault anyone else. Such is our unyielding law."

With these words, any lingering guilt within the hearts of those cultivators who had once been faithful to Rong Xun was dispelled.

Many others voiced their agreement, asserting that since Wei Zhuo had achieved godhood, their allegiance was justified.

"The Master is on his way."

Yu Yiyi whispered to Hei Xun.

Hei Xun let out a soft sigh, murmuring, "Without the God-Kings present, I fear he alone may not be able to hold the Terror Claws at bay."

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