Chapter 3192: The End

The power of the Celestial Sound Soul-Slayer Sword far exceeded Li Qingyue's imagination. This was understandable, as there were few sound cultivators on the Xuanling Continent, with Wang Ruyan being the only one at the Integration Stage. Li Qingyue had never faced an Integration Stage sound cultivator before. Her Dharma Idol, forged from Cold Soul Jade, possessed strong regenerative capabilities, but she hadn't expected to suffer such a significant loss at Wang Ruyan's hands this time.

Cultivators who perished at Wang Ruyan's hands typically showed no external injuries; their internal organs were shattered by sound waves.

While the first wave of the Celestial Sound Soul-Slayer Sword's attack was neutralized by Li Qingyue's Dharma Idol, the sword's materialized sound wave attack possessed immense destructive power. Other divine abilities would not have so easily destroyed Li Qingyue's Dharma Idol.

Forged from Cold Soul Jade, Li Qingyue's Dharma Idol boasted strong regenerative capabilities and was not easily destroyed.

Flames seemed to erupt from Li Qingyue's eyes; if looks could kill, Wang Ruyan would have died hundreds of times over.

"Thank you for the match," Wang Ruyan said, her tone cold.

If this had been a true fight to the death, Wang Ruyan would not have so easily destroyed Li Qingyue's Dharma Idol, as Li Qingyue would not have stood still and simply endured Wang Ruyan's attack.

What was done was done, and Li Qingyue could only swallow this bitter pill.

At that moment, a large number of cultivators from the Wang family and the Cold Flame Sect arrived. "Alright, now let's choose cultivators at the Void Refinement Stage to spar!" Li Qingyue urged.

"Senior Li, I am willing to participate and contribute my humble strength," Wang Mengshan transmitted, his sincere tone expressing great loyalty.

Wang Ruyan was about to speak when a deafening dragon's roar resounded.

They all turned their gaze towards the Nine Swords Pagoda. Wang Lihe transmitted a message to Wang Ruyan: "Ancestor, Mengli has emerged. We have obtained the legacy of True Monarch Nine Swords. There's no need for further sparring. Let's proceed as Fellow Daoist Li suggested; the legacy of True Monarch Nine Swords will be decided by the younger generation."

Wang Ruyan then spoke.

Li Qingyue frowned. Why had Wang Ruyan suddenly changed her tune? Could it be that the Wang family cultivators had obtained the legacy of True Monarch Nine Swords?

"Contact our disciples near the Nine Swords Pagoda and ask if anyone has emerged from it," Li Qingyue transmitted to Liu Yao.

Liu Yao took out her communication disk and contacted her fellow disciples. She quickly received a message, which she transmitted to Li Qingyue: "No one has emerged from the Nine Swords Pagoda. The pagoda door did open but quickly closed again, and then a dragon's roar sounded. It's likely the Wang family cultivators tried to escape the Nine Swords Pagoda but were stopped by Senior Brother Yang."

Many high-level cultivators were gathered near the Nine Swords Pagoda. If anyone were to leave, they would surely be discovered, making it impossible to act covertly under so many watchful eyes.

Li Qingyue breathed a sigh of relief. After a brief consideration, she agreed.

They returned to the vicinity of the Nine Swords Pagoda, where many unfamiliar cultivators had gathered. They were, however, blocked by disciples of the Cold Flame Sect and the Wang family, and not permitted within a thousand li of the pagoda.

The Nine Swords Pagoda began to shake violently. Not long after, its doors opened, and Wang Ruyi, Wang Xiuling, and Wang Xiulong emerged.

Li Qingyue's expression turned grim, as this sight explained everything. The Cold Flame Sect disciples wore expressions of disbelief.

"Collect!" Wang Ruyi performed a hand seal and let out a soft cry. The Nine Swords Pagoda instantly glowed brightly and shook violently. The entire pagoda then flew out from the ground, rapidly shrinking as it soared towards Wang Ruyi.

Li Qingyue's face turned ashen. She had truly shot herself in the foot this time. With her Dharma Idol destroyed, she now had no choice but to admit that if she truly turned against Wang Ruyan, they would be no match.

"Let's put this matter to rest. It's best if no one pursues it further. We're leaving." After saying this, Li Qingyue departed with her disciples, and Wang Mengshan followed them. "Let's go! We should also return!" Wang Ruyan then conjured a shimmering blue flying boat and, carrying her clansmen, departed the area.

The matter thus concluded, and news of the Wang family obtaining the legacy of True Monarch Nine Swords spread, as it was impossible to keep it a secret. However, due to the Wang family's strength, ordinary forces dared not challenge them. As for those forces with Mahayana cultivators, they had little interest in the legacy of an Integration Stage cultivator.

***

Far overseas, in a vast expanse of azure sea, the sea breezes blew.

Two streaks of light swiftly swept across the sky. Before they had flown more than ten li, the void rippled, and a colossal, golden hand materialized out of thin air, slapping the two streaks of light.

Two painful screams rang out as the two streaks of light plummeted from the sky, crashing heavily onto the ground. They revealed a tall, slender young man in black and a graceful young woman in a golden dress. Both possessed cultivation at the early Void Refinement Stage.

Before they could react, the void above them rippled. A golden flash appeared, and a colossal, golden pagoda materialized out of thin air, spewing a golden glow that enveloped them and drew them into its depths.

A golden light shone from a low mountain peak, revealing a short, stout man in golden robes. With a single gesture of his hand, the golden pagoda rapidly shrank and flew into his palm.

"Two more human cultivators at the Void Refinement Stage captured," the golden-robed man muttered to himself, "I can almost go back and report." He was overflowing with joy.

His figure blurred and vanished. If any human cultivators above the Void Refinement Stage had been present, they would have recognized this as a unique divine ability of the Lizard Clan.

High-level cultivators of the Lizard Clan were capturing human cultivators, seemingly intending to use them for some purpose, but not taking their lives.

***

Qinglian Island, Qinglian Peak.

Wang Ruyan sat in a green stone pavilion, listening as Wang Ruyi reported the situation. Wang Qingcheng had returned to the Cangyuan Mountain Range to act as Wang Yulan's protector.

After eliminating Yang Hao, they ascended to the top of the pagoda together, broke through the restrictions, and obtained the legacy of True Monarch Nine Swords.

While True Monarch Nine Swords traveled the Qianyuan Continent, he offended the Ancient Dome Clan. He fought fiercely with several Integration Stage cultivators from the clan, killing a descendant of one of their Mahayana cultivators. After the incident, he was hunted by the Ancient Dome Clan and forced to flee the Qianyuan Continent.

He crossed the seas and finally reached the Thousand Spirits Continent. There, he entered the Thousand Spirits Grotto-heaven to seek treasures and obtained the Southern Brightness Blazing Fire Sword. However, on his way out, he encountered an Integration Stage cultivator from the Yin魅 Clan. After a bloody battle, True Monarch Nine Swords eliminated his enemy but also contracted a strange poison and died from its effects. Fortunately, having performed soul possession in his early years, he had a clone.

His clone returned to the Xuanling Continent aboard the Ice Lion. Not long after returning, the clone encountered an enemy. After another bloody battle, the clone eliminated the enemy but also sustained severe injuries and eventually died.

Before his death, he left all of True Monarch Nine Swords' knowledge within the Nine Swords Pagoda, along with treasures accumulated over many years.

The Nine Swords Pagoda contained numerous valuable items: over seven thousand high-grade spirit stones, a batch of seventh-tier refining materials including dozens of pieces of Azure Gang Divine Jade, some sinister materials, a set of mid-grade Heaven-reaching Spirit Treasure called the Myriad Poison Banner, sword cultivation insights, and a batch of ten-thousand-year-old spirit medicines.

There were thirty-five cultivation techniques, including the "Myriad Poison True Scripture," which had twenty-four layers and could be cultivated to the late Mahayana stage.

The most precious item was a partial map of the Thousand Spirits Secret Trove. True Monarch Nine Swords had drawn this map, which recorded his route into the trove, marking dangerous locations and areas with rare resources.

If they were to seek treasures in the Thousand Spirits Secret Trove, this map would prove useful.

The only imperfection was that True Monarch Nine Swords did not possess the Heavenly Void Jade Tome. This was understandable; if every powerful Integration Stage cultivator had one, the tome would be far too common. Wang Changsheng had killed many Integration Stage cultivators, yet none had yielded a single page of the Heavenly Void Jade Tome, underscoring that obtaining it was truly a matter of luck.

Wang Mengli used illusion techniques to deceive the cultivators guarding outside the Nine Swords Pagoda, brazenly leaving and relaying the information to Wang Lihe. Only then did Wang Ruyan decisively cancel the sparring match.

"You all did very well this time," Wang Ruyan instructed. "Take good care of Young Friend Long; if it weren't for him, you would have lost your life. Another day, I will refine a protective spirit talisman for you." "Yes, Ancestor," Wang Ruyi readily agreed.

"Ruyi, tell your ancestor honestly," Wang Ruyan asked gently, "do you like Young Friend Long? I've noticed you've been quite close to him."

"Your granddaughter has some favorable feelings for him," Wang Ruyi said with some trepidation, "but I don't know how he feels about me." "Handle it yourself then!" Wang Ruyan replied. "I hope you find your own happiness."

Wang Ruyan advised that given Wang Ruyi's aptitude, finding a live-in son-in-law would be best, as the Wang family was reluctant to marry her off to another clan.

Wang Ruyi acknowledged, bowed, and withdrew.

Wang Ruyan took out a communication disk, imprinted it with a spell, and instructed: "Moshan, has Chuanming returned? If so, have him come here!"

"Chuanming has returned. I'll send him over right away," Wang Moshan agreed.