Chapter 804: 萧云?

Five hundred Emperors and six thousand Overlords launched a full-force attack simultaneously—a sight unprecedented in the Azure Cloud Continent. The sheer burst of profound energy alone illuminated the surrounding hundred miles with a blinding white light.

Underneath this earth-shattering power, the Boundless Heaven-Earth Array below, like a beast awakened from its slumber, suddenly unleashed an overwhelming torrent of profound light and began spinning furiously.

"What a powerful profound array!"

Yun Che's eyes were so dazzled he could barely keep them open. The combined might of five hundred Emperors and six thousand Overlords was enough to lay waste to an area hundreds of miles wide. He had initially worried that the Overlords and lower-level Emperors might be harmed, but to his surprise, such immense power was almost perfectly absorbed by the Boundless Heaven-Earth Array. Yun Che, who was standing very close, felt no significant impact. The Sea God Platform below merely trembled continuously, showing no signs of destruction or cracking.

"The Four Sacred Grounds spent half a year preparing for this together, so it's naturally extraordinary. Otherwise, the Sea Emperor wouldn't have confidently allowed this Devil Sword Convention to take place here," Xia Yuanba stated solemnly.

However, it was clear that even the powerful Boundless Heaven-Earth Array had a limit to the force it could withstand. After just three breaths of continuous bombardment, the array's light reached its peak intensity, and the tremors of the Sea God Platform became erratic. At this moment, Xuanyuan Wentian roared, "Cease! Retreat!!"

Xuanyuan Wentian's profound energy was incredibly potent; his voice resonated like a thunderclap in everyone's ears. All the profound energy was withdrawn almost simultaneously, and the cultivators dispersed in all directions at top speed.

The Boundless Heaven-Earth Array spun at an extreme speed, releasing profound light that shot straight into the sky.

Ultimately, as the profound array spun rapidly, all this energy converged towards its center—the location of the Heavenly Profound Devil Sword!

CLANG!!!!!!!!

With a colossal, earth-shattering clang, a beam of white light shot skyward. From a distance, it looked like a gigantic sword of light piercing into the endless void. Amidst this, a resonant clangor, loud enough to tear eardrums, echoed.

The Boundless Heaven-Earth Array, which had cost the Four Sacred Grounds immense effort, collapsed. The Sea God Platform also cracked amidst violent tremors. Although it didn't completely collapse, thousands of intersecting cracks appeared within a few breaths.

Even the Heavenly Profound Devil Sword, previously at the center of the Sea God Platform, had vanished.

The Four Sacred Masters retreated to four different positions around the Sea God Platform. They paid no attention to the dispersing profound array or the cracking platform, instead lifting their heads to gaze at the sky with solemn and stern expressions.

Everyone else also followed the gaze of the Four Sacred Masters, looking towards the sky.

Under the profound light that had just condensed everyone's power, the Heavenly Profound Devil Sword was propelled tens of thousands of feet into the sky! As that profound light finally extinguished at the edge of the firmament, the Heavenly Profound Devil Sword began its descent from that immense height.

The entire Supreme Ocean Palace fell silent. Everyone looked nervous, awaiting the final outcome of the day.

The sky remained dim, but no longer completely dark. In the oppressive stillness between heaven and earth, there was only a sharp, whistling sound approaching from afar.

Fen Juechen, who had been sitting like a statue, finally stirred. He stared in the direction the Heavenly Profound Devil Sword was falling, clenching his hands tightly. His eyes, tinged with black aura, glowed with a frenzied light.

Yun Che immediately noticed his movement and quickly transmitted a message: "Fen Juechen, do you want to die?!"

Yun Che's words caused Fen Juechen's tense body to stiffen abruptly. He turned his face, saying resentfully, "None of your business!"

"You've endured so much torture and pain to gain your current power... is it just to foolishly throw your life away?" Yun Che said gravely, "Not only are there so many people here, but even if it were just Xuanyuan Wentian, your attempt to seize the Heavenly Profound Devil Sword would be utterly delusional! It would only expose everything about you!"

"Shut up! My affairs are none of your concern!" Fen Juechen's chest heaved violently, and wisps of black aura seeped from his clenched fists. However, perhaps Yun Che's warning had an effect; though he seemed to be grinding his teeth to dust, he slowly sat back down, his body still trembling uncontrollably under immense internal torment.

CLANG!!

With a piercing whistle, the Heavenly Profound Devil Sword descended from the sky, its tip pointing downwards, and pierced into the Sea God Platform. Its position remained almost perfectly at the center of the platform, virtually unchanged.

Its appearance, from hilt to blade, was also completely unchanged. Its aura remained desolate and devoid of presence.

The cultivators of the Azure Cloud Continent, scattered around the Sea God Platform, exchanged bewildered glances. At this moment, the Four Sacred Masters simultaneously stepped forward, landing around the Heavenly Profound Devil Sword.

Above, the dark rift that had obscured all light began to slowly recede, revealing a corner of the blazing sun. Increasingly brighter light shone down, dispelling the darkness and oppressive stillness between heaven and earth.

"It seems we've succeeded." Looking at the silent, motionless Heavenly Profound Devil Sword before him, Huangji Wuyu said calmly.

"Indeed, the seal has been broken," the Sea Emperor Qu Fengyi affirmed with a slight nod.

Although their voices were low, everyone heard them clearly. What perplexed them was that the main purpose of this sensational Devil Sword Convention in the Azure Cloud Profound Realm was to break the seal on the Heavenly Profound Devil Sword, and now that the seal was broken, there was no sign of joy in the words or expressions of the Four Sacred Masters.

"Looks like it was all for nothing," Xia Yuanba whispered to Yun Che, his face full of schadenfreude. The Holy Emperor and Sea Emperor had personally declared the seal broken, so it must have been. Yet, the unsealed Heavenly Profound Devil Sword remained lifeless, no different from before... implying that it was likely just a dead sword, completely devoid of the "Profound Godly Secret" they had imagined.

"Brother Huangji, why don't you examine it first?" Xuanyuan Wentian suggested, raising a hand.

Huangji Wuyu replied, "The Boundless Heaven-Earth Array wasn't solely the power of my Sacred Land. To ensure fairness, let's all four of us examine it together."

"That would be best!" Ye Meixie and Qu Fengyi nodded.

The Four Sacred Masters simultaneously took a step forward, then extended their hands, placing them on different parts of the Heavenly Profound Devil Sword. Four streams of profound energy, from the strongest cultivators in the Azure Cloud Continent, surged into the sword, meticulously scanning every inch of its interior and exterior.

After a moment, the four withdrew their hands, then simultaneously let out a sigh.

"It appears we've wasted our efforts," Huangji Wuyu said, placing his hands behind his back, his face devoid of expression.

"Oh well, we were prepared for this possibility, though it's still a bit regrettable," Qu Fengyi commented indifferently.

"An incredibly sturdy seal, unlike anything seen before, yet it merely sealed a dead sword. It's a pity for all the long preparations," Ye Meixie said, not as composed as Huangji Wuyu and Qu Fengyi, with a hint of displeasure between his brows.

He glared at Xuanyuan Wentian: "Sword Master Xuanyuan, you solemnly assured us that a great secret was hidden within, and even if not a Profound Godly Secret, there would be considerable gains. Now, all we've obtained is a useless dead sword! Don't you think you owe us, and these profound practitioners from the Seven Nations who traveled so far, an explanation!?"

At Ye Meixie's words, Huangji Wuyu and Qu Fengyi also looked at Xuanyuan Wentian. Although their expressions and gazes remained calm, they showed no intention of softening Ye Meixie's statement, clearly indicating their own growing resentment... Had it not been for Xuanyuan Wentian's solemn guarantee, why would they have willingly spent such a long time, effort, and resources to prepare for this Devil Sword Convention together?

They could have accepted the immense cost if no Profound Godly Secret was found after breaking the seal. However, to gain absolutely nothing, only unsealing a dead sword, meant all their efforts had been completely wasted... Even as Sacred Land Masters, they simply could not let it go.

Their words were not suppressed, and everyone heard them clearly. It was now clear to all that this grand event, which had shaken the Azure Cloud Continent, involved all the experts from the Four Sacred Grounds, and summoned all the top profound practitioners from the Seven Nations, had ultimately amounted to nothing...

Or rather, it was just a joke!

Xuanyuan Wentian tilted his head back, closed his eyes, and sighed deeply: "This outcome is truly unexpected, and it fills me with great shame. All three of you witnessed the anomaly of the Eternal Night King, Ye Mufeng, back then. That's why, after acquiring the Heavenly Profound Devil Sword, I was absolutely certain it contained a profound secret. It appears I was too naive."

"Perhaps Ye Mufeng's transformation a millennium ago wasn't due to this Heavenly Profound Devil Sword. Or perhaps, the secret within the Heavenly Profound Devil Sword was consumed by the seal over these past thousand years... After all, the terror of that seal is something all three of you have personally experienced."

Xuanyuan Wentian sighed again, opened his eyes, and said with an earnest expression: "Alas, whatever the reason, today's outcome is entirely due to my misjudgment. Therefore, I will certainly provide the three of you with an explanation... How about this: within thirty days, I, Xuanyuan Wentian, will personally visit the Sacred Land, the Ocean Palace, and the Divine Palace, bringing ten catties of Violet Vein Divine Crystals as an apology."

Hiss...

The words "ten catties of Violet Vein Divine Crystals" stunned all the forces from the Seven Nations, causing them to gasp in surprise. Even members of the Four Sacred Grounds were secretly astonished.

"Sword Master, this..." Several Sword Region elders simultaneously paled, wanting to speak up and dissuade him. Compensating ten catties of divine crystals to each Sacred Land meant thirty catties in total for three Sacred Lands... Although it was an apology, it was truly too heavy a price.

Xuanyuan Wendao quickly stepped forward to stop them, shaking his head and whispering, "Such an elaborate effort, yet it yielded nothing. Besides being disappointed, Father must also be extremely ashamed. Let's abide by Father's words for now; any further discussion can wait until we return to the Sword Region."

"Since Sword Master Xuanyuan shows such sincerity, let's put this matter behind us. Consider it a rare grand event that brought our Azure Cloud Profound Realm together," Ye Meixie said with a faint smile, seemingly quite satisfied with this outcome.

The outcome of the Devil Sword Convention was now clear to everyone, revealed by the still-lifeless devil sword and the words of the Four Sacred Masters. Some exchanged bewildered glances, some whispered amongst themselves, some were disappointed, others indifferent... Only Yun Che's expression grew increasingly grim and heavy.

No!

The disappointment of Huangji Wuyu, Qu Fengyi, and Ye Meixie was genuine.

But Xuanyuan Wentian's disappointment must be fake!

That fleeting glance just now... it was clearly triumph!!

What is going on? What is he planning? What was his true purpose in orchestrating this Devil Sword Convention?

That momentary look in his eyes clearly showed his goal had been achieved... What exactly did he achieve?

Yun Che's brows furrowed, and he clenched his teeth... If Jasmine were here, she could certainly give him answers, but unfortunately...

Xuanyuan Wentian turned around and addressed all the profound practitioners: "Friends from the Sacred Grounds and the Seven Nations of the Azure Cloud Continent, this Devil Sword Convention was originally intended to uncover the devil sword's secret, share it with the world, and benefit our Azure Cloud Profound Realm. However, unexpectedly, there was only emptiness beneath the devil sword's seal, with no gains whatsoever. I, Xuanyuan Wentian, am truly ashamed before all of you who traveled so far."

As Sword Master Xuanyuan spoke, no one dared to utter a sound. Everyone present, especially the profound practitioners from the Seven Nations, was utterly astonished... The high and mighty, invincible Sword Master of the Sword Region was actually a humble and unpretentious person, apologizing to them with a face full of shame!?

"..." Yun Che subtly exhaled, his unease deepening.

"However," Xuanyuan Wentian suddenly changed his tone, a mysterious, faint smile appearing on his face, "I, Xuanyuan Wentian, am still a Sacred Land Master; how could I let all of you come for nothing! Since the Devil Sword Convention ultimately yielded nothing, I shall present everyone with an absolutely spectacular show to alleviate your resentment."

"A show?" Huangji Wuyu, Qu Fengyi, and Ye Meixie all looked at Xuanyuan Wentian with considerable surprise. The surrounding profound practitioners also showed curiosity.

Xuanyuan Wentian slowly raised a hand, then clapped it down firmly. A muffled thud echoed alongside his voice, traveling a great distance: "Bring them in."

As Xuanyuan Wentian's voice spread, a surge of profound energy immediately shot upwards from below at extreme speed, clearly indicating someone had been waiting in a hidden spot beneath.

The profound energy was exceptionally powerful, and its speed was like lightning. All the Sacred Ground experts revealed expressions of shock, because the main force behind this profound energy... was clearly at the ninth level of the Sovereign Profound Realm!

In the Heavenly Sword Region, besides Xuanyuan Wentian, there were three other ten-level Sovereign Profound Realm cultivators: the Heartless Sword Attendant, the Ruthless Sword Attendant, and the Severed Emotion Sword Attendant. There were only two at the ninth level of the Sovereign Profound Realm: Grand Elder Xuanyuan Guxing and Second Elder Xuanyuan Guyun.

All Sacred Ground experts were present at the Devil Sword Convention. The Heavenly Sword Region's three Sword Attendants and its Second Elder were there, but Grand Elder Xuanyuan Guxing had not been seen.

Therefore, the identity of this person was obvious!

SWISH!!

A blur of light and shadows, and three figures appeared beside Xuanyuan Wentian as if teleporting. The leader, in a green robe, with an aged face and eyes like celestial stars, was precisely the Sword Region's Grand Elder, Xuanyuan Guxing. Upon his appearance, he nodded heavily to Xuanyuan Wentian: "Sword Master."

In Xuanyuan Guxing's left and right hands, he clutched one person each. The person in his left hand was incredibly short and stout, only three feet tall. Their hunched body was huddled beneath a crumpled black robe, with their entire face obscured. The half-hand exposed from the robe was as withered as black firewood, and an extremely unsettling aura emanated from them.

"Ghostfiend Poison Master!" A profound practitioner from Black Fiend Nation exclaimed, his voice tinged with fear.

And upon seeing the person clutched in his right hand, Yun Che and Xia Yuanba sprang to their feet as if shocked by lightning...

"Xiao Yun!!"