Starting with a blind date with a female constable, you acquire the Nine Swords of Dugu.

Chapter 52: One Man Destroys an Entire Sect (10,000 words)

now,

Everyone was stunned.

Su Qingxing's face turned deathly pale instantly. He quickly walked to Gu Guanqi's side and whispered, "You'd better leave quickly, or things will get complicated!"

Gu Guanqi's pupils contracted slightly.

"He can't leave!"

At this moment, Tie Jinglan roared, "How dare you kill someone indiscriminately in front of me! You are utterly audacious and have no regard for the laws of the court! Six Doors, listen to my command! Seize this scoundrel! If he dares to resist, kill him without mercy!"

Immediately,

All the constables from the Six Doors drew their swords.

"Wait!" Tang Yu shouted, stepping forward and saying, "Chief Constable Tie, what is the Six Doors doing? Are they protecting criminals? Zhang Donglou hired someone to kill first, and Gu Guanqi sought revenge afterward. Although their methods were ill-considered, a life for a life is a matter of course!"

Tie Jinglan's gaze sharpened, and he said, "Sect Leader Tang, you say Zhang Donglou hired someone to commit murder, what evidence do you have?"

Tang Yu immediately said, "He just admitted it!"

"Who will testify?" Tie Jinglan coldly rebuked, "Is your organization here today to accuse the Left Prime Minister's son of hiring a murderer? In which word did Zhang Donglou admit to hiring a murderer? I only witnessed Gu Guanqi committing murder in public!"

Tang Yu opened her mouth, but the words she was about to say didn't come out.

He naturally understood the meaning of Tie Jinglan's threat, which was tantamount to asking him directly if he was going to block the entire mechanism door to protect Gu Guanqi.

For a time,

Master Fayuan, Master Fachen, and the others secretly thought that Gu Guanqi was far too impulsive and reckless, driving himself into a corner.

Because Gu Guanqi had no direct evidence to prove that Zhang Donglou had hired someone to kill her, and even though Zhang Donglou's previous words seemed to admit that he had sent someone to kill Gu Guanqi, in reality, his words were ambiguous and he did not directly admit it.

but now,

Gu Guanqi killed Zhang Donglou in full view of everyone.

Whether it's the Gate of Intrigue or the Valley of Medicine Kings, if they were to protect Gu Guanqi, they would be suspected of giving false testimony, which would also be tantamount to directly standing against the Left Chancellor Zhang Jiexi.

Ordinary people in the martial arts world are unaware of the power of the Left Prime Minister Zhang Jiexi, but the people present are all top figures in the martial arts world and are very clear about the power contained in the name Zhang Jiexi.

Generally speaking,

The Six Doors (a secret police agency) doesn't concern itself with江湖恩怨 (jianghu grievances), but that doesn't mean they can't intervene. Everything is subject to scrutiny; many things are like this—something is light on the surface, but heavy on the scale.

Killing someone in public can be a serious offense or a minor offense in the martial arts world.

If it were defined as a feud between martial arts practitioners, it wouldn't be a big deal. But now Tie Jinglan's attitude is to insist that Gu Guanqi committed murder in public.

"I, Su Qingxing, bear witness!"

At this moment, Su Qingxing announced loudly, "Zhang Donglou has admitted that he was the one who arranged for the Four Extremes Hall to assassinate Gu Guanqi!"

Tie Jinglan's eyes flashed with coldness as he said, "Valley Master Su, did you hear me clearly?"

Su Qingxing said coldly, "I listened carefully. If Chief Constable Tie has any doubts, then why not explain why Zhang Donglou used high-ranking positions, generous salaries, wealth, and glory to apologize?"

At this time,

Tang Yu gritted his teeth and said loudly, "Chief Constable Tie, even princes are subject to the same laws as commoners. Is the Six Doors disregarding the imperial law and protecting each other, turning black into white?"

Tie Jinglan's face darkened as he threatened, "Tang Yu, Su Qingxing, you'd better think this through. Your every word and action represents the sects behind you!"

For a moment, everyone fell silent.

Master Fayuan and the others all focused their attention on their noses and their hearts.

Although they also wanted to speak up, none of them were alone; they all had their own power bases and followers, so they couldn't act impulsively.

Tang Yu and Su Qingxing exchanged a glance.

Tang Yu sighed softly and said, "The martial world these days lacks a certain sense of brotherhood!" With that, he took out a thumb-sized gold seal from his robes and declared loudly, "This is the token of the leader of the Mechanism Sect. Today, I hereby announce my abdication before all the heroes of the martial world. From this day forward, all my words and actions will have nothing to do with the Mechanism Sect, but will represent only myself!"

Su Qingxing also took out a thumb ring and said, "Tang Yu is right, the martial world always lacks a bit of loyalty. This is the token of the Valley Master of Medicine King Valley. I will also give up my identity as Valley Master. Today, I will stand up for justice and act as this witness!"

Tie Jinglan's face was cold as he said, "Gentlemen, this is not a game. You can't just say whatever you want!"

Su Qingxing snorted coldly and said in a low voice, "Tie Jinglan, are you really not going to give me any way out?"

Tie Jinglan said coldly, "People always have to pay the price for their recklessness and ignorance. Killing the Left Prime Minister's son in front of me is tantamount to ruining my future and showing him absolutely no respect for me! I advise you to mind your own business!"

Su Qingxing said in a deep voice, "Tie Jinglan, Medicine King Valley and the Mechanism Gate aren't pushovers. If things really escalate, we can make things difficult for you too!"

"Alright, alright," Tie Jinglan said, "Very good. Since you want to be witnesses, fine. Let's proceed according to procedure now!" With that, he waved his hand and said, "First, take down the murderer, Gu Guanqi. As for Su Qingxing and Tang Yu, take them away as well..."

"Wait a moment!"

at this time,

Gu Guanqi suddenly spoke up, saying to Su Qingxing and Tang Yu, "Aunt Qing, Sect Leader Tang, I appreciate your kindness, but you don't need to concern yourselves with this matter. Don't take your remarks about abdication seriously."

Su Qingxing quickly whispered, "Guanqi, don't give up. With Tang Yu and me going to the yamen with you, public opinion will stir up. Even if Medicine King Valley and the Mechanical Gate operate outside, as long as we're in Yunzhou, Tie Jinglan won't be able to control everything..."

Gu Guanqi shook his head slightly and said, "I don't like to leave my fate in the hands of others. Since I dared to kill Zhang Donglou, I'm not afraid of the consequences!"

Tang Yu said urgently, "Hero Gu, you..."

Gu Guanqi waved his hand and said, "Whether you step down or not, your positions remain the same. You can't just say you represent an individual and then act as one. There's no need to drag the Mechanism Gate and Medicine King Valley into this. Today's events have nothing to do with you."

"Watch the game!" Su Qingxing's expression was solemn.

Gu Guanqi turned slightly and said nothing more.

Before Tang Yu and Su Qingxing could say anything more, Master Fayuan said softly, "Sect Leader Tang, Valley Master Su, Master Gu has already said so much. If you say anything more, it will only put pressure on him."

Su Qingxing sighed and slowly withdrew.

Tang Yu shook his head helplessly and stepped back.

at this time,

In the center of the square,

Tie Jinglan looked at Gu Guanqi and said, "Looking at you now, you seem to be a sensible person. However, I don't understand why you made such a foolish mistake just now, ruining your promising future for the sake of pride. Why bother?"

Gu Guanqi sneered, "My future is not for you to decide."

Tie Jinglan said coldly, "Do you think you still have a future?"

Gu Guanqi said calmly, "I don't know if I have a future, but you probably won't live to see it."

Having said that, Gu Guanqi drew his sword.

this moment,

Tie Jinglan's pupils contracted, and he was secretly delighted.

Originally, with the Medicine King Valley and the Mechanism Gate protecting Zhang Donglou, it would be very difficult for him to completely destroy Gu Guanqi. He could only imprison him first and then slowly take action. Who knows, it might actually be possible for Gu Guanqi to turn the tables.

but now,

Gu Guanqi actually resisted arrest and committed murder in public, so the case can be sentenced to death without any room for maneuver.

He can now give the Left Chancellor an explanation.

"Take it down!"

Immediately, Tie Jinglan roared and drew his sword.

The moment the blade was drawn, a dazzling cold light burst forth from the sheath, and a layer of pale blue true energy flowed across the blade, rippling out like water.

He is a grandmaster and a member of the Tie family. His martial arts skills are inherited from the Tie family's unique techniques in Tianzhou. His swordsmanship is sharp and his internal strength is profound. He ranks among the top of the thirteen grandmasters in Yunzhou. With the addition of other experts from the Six Doors and the Tingchao Sword Sect present, they will surely be able to defeat Gu Guanqi.

however--

He had only pulled his knife halfway out.

Gu Guanqi's sword was already drawn.

Before the sound of the Autumn Water Sword being drawn could reach the ears of the crowd, a flash of sword light had already bloomed in the sky above the square.

Gu Guanqi rose gracefully, his white robes fluttering in the wind, soaring away like a celestial being, untouched by any dust. Sword energy swirled around him, condensing into a faint silver-white halo that enveloped him entirely.

Sunlight pierced through the sword energy, refracting into a seven-colored halo, like an immortal descending to earth, surrounded by a sacred radiance.

A celestial being descends from the heavens.

The sword light seemed to fly in from beyond the heavens, utterly devoid of any earthly concerns.

The sword's movement appeared slow, as if it were merely drawing an elegant arc in the air, but in reality, it was incredibly fast, so fast that no one present could capture the true trajectory of the sword's edge.

Tie Jinglan's pupils shrank sharply as he sensed an unprecedented threat of death.

His sword was still in its sheath. He only had time to frantically pour his inner energy into the blade, causing a bright blue light to emanate from the edge as he attempted to draw it to meet the attack.

But the sword had already fallen.

"laugh--"

A soft sound, like tearing silk.

Tie Jinglan's sword aura crumbled the moment it touched the sword light. The azure true energy on the blade dissipated instantly, like water being sliced ​​by a sharp blade, turning into countless points of light that vanished into the air.

His swordplay was as fragile as paper before this sword strike.

He couldn't even see how the sword tip broke through his protective aura.

Then I felt a chill in my chest.

Then, a sharp pain came from my chest.

He looked down—

The tip of the Autumn Water Sword had already pierced his chest, penetrating from the left side of his heart, and the tip emerged from his back, drawing out a trickle of blood.

Blood flowed down the sword, dripping onto the bluestone ground with a soft, ticking sound.

Tie Jinglan's eyes widened, and she murmured, "You really dare to kill an official..."

The knife in his hand fell to the ground with a clang and bounced twice on the ground.

Gu Guanqi quickly sheathed his sword, the Autumn Water Sword being pulled from Tie Jinglan's chest, leaving a thin line of blood.

Tie Jinglan's body swayed, then fell straight backward.

"boom--"

A dull thud followed, sending dust flying.

Tie Jinglan lay on his back on the ground, his eyes wide open, the shadows of the clouds in the sky reflected in his pupils. Blood was gushing out from a bloody hole in his chest, quickly staining a large area of ​​his robes red.

Even in death, his right hand remained in the posture of holding a knife, his five fingers spread out as if grasping something unseen.

The entire room fell silent.

Everyone found it hard to believe.

The impact of killing Tie Jinglan was far greater than the impact of Gu Guanqi killing Zhang Donglou.

After all, killing Zhang Donglou still leaves room for maneuver. It can be seen as revenge, or as paying for a life with a life. After all, although Zhang Donglou is the son of the Left Chancellor and has a noble status, he is ultimately not an official of the imperial court.

But Tie Jinglan is different.

Tie Jinglan is the chief constable of the Six Doors, a fourth-rank official appointed by the imperial court.

Killing an official is tantamount to rebellion.

This is an ironclad rule, a matter of the court's reputation, and there is no room for leniency.

For a time,

Masters such as Tang Yu and Master Fayuan were so shocked that they stepped back.

They were all men who had seen it all, having killed countless enemies to reach their current positions, yet none of them had ever considered publicly executing a fourth-rank official of the imperial court.

This is no longer a matter of courage; it's madness, a crime punishable by the extermination of nine generations of one's family.

And this time,

Behind the numerous Six Doors constables

Pei Ji, the leader of the Tingchao Sword Sect, and Elder Deng Wufeng exchanged a glance.

They both saw the same thought in each other's eyes—

The Tingchao Sword Sect has found its lifeline!

If they were to assist the government in capturing or killing Gu Guanqi now, their Tingchao Sword Sect would instantly gain an invincible shield.

In a short time, any martial arts sect that dared to make a fuss about the Chaojian Sect would be branded as Gu Guanqi. After all, Gu Guanqi had come with the various martial arts sects, and the identities of each sect instantly became sensitive.

Immediately,

Pei Ji shouted, "Gu Guanqi has murdered an official and rebelled! Disciples of the Listening Tide Sword Sect, heed my command! Follow me to slay the traitor!"

Pei Ji's voice, amplified by his internal energy, resounded like thunder across the plaza, echoing throughout the entire Tingchao Sword Sect.

Before the words were finished—

"Whoosh—"

Behind the square, the doors of the Tingchao Sword Sect's main hall suddenly burst open.

Groups of Tingchao Sword Sect disciples, dressed in light blue outfits, filed out in unison, their movements precise and their steps steady and powerful.

Holding longswords that gleamed coldly in the sunlight, hundreds of them rushed to the square and formed ranks, their sword tips all pointing at Gu Guanqi in the center of the square.

Swords flashed like a forest, and killing intent soared to the sky.

Pei Ji drew his sword.

He drew a long, silver-white sword from his waist, and with a light step, his figure landed in the sword formation like a white shadow.

Deng Wufeng followed closely behind, his broad, heavy sword already drawn, the black strips of cloth wrapped around the blade fluttering in the wind. He was like a moving iron tower, exuding a powerful aura.

The disciples of the Listening Tide Sword Sect shouted in unison, their voices shaking the heavens: "Slay the traitors! Slay the traitors!"

The voices of hundreds of people converged and echoed in the square, making people's eardrums hurt.

People from all the martial arts sects remained silent.

this moment,

None of them dared to mention the matter of attacking the Listening Tide Sword Sect.

Because Gu Guanqi publicly killed an official, the charge of treason has been established. The Tingchao Sword Sect immediately sided with the constables of the Six Doors to condemn Gu Guanqi. Anyone who dares to attack the Tingchao Sword Sect at this time is an accomplice of Gu Guanqi.

Who can bear the crime of exterminating nine generations of their family?

Even Su Qingxing and Tang Yu, who had been speaking up for Gu Guanqi, quickly retreated, both of them startled by Gu Guanqi's actions.

"This child... he's really gone mad!" Su Qingxing said in a deep voice, "How could he be so impulsive, so reckless?"

She originally thought that Gu Guanqi would take the initiative to go to the Six Doors with Tie Jinglan, and she was still planning how to operate. She never expected that Gu Guanqi would kill Tie Jinglan directly.

Tang Yu said in a low voice, "Now, none of us can help him. The only thing we can do is stand still and prevent other factions from making any moves. Alas, in this situation... we can only hope that he can escape!"

"That's the entire Listening Tide Sword Sect, all by himself..."

"But there's nothing we can do about it, isn't there?"

Su Qingxing remained silent.

At the same time—

In the square, after his initial shock, Lu Lin, the commander of the Six Doors, slowly loosened his grip on the hilt of his sword and looked at Gu Guanqi, who was alone facing hundreds of people from the Listening Tide Sword Sect. A meaningful smile appeared on his face.

then,

He hurriedly ran to Kou Huaizhi's side and said, "Governor Kou, this place is dangerous. I must escort you away first!"

Kou Huaizhi was slightly taken aback, then said, "Commander Lu, I think you should immediately order the Six Doors to arrest the rebels!"

Lu Lin hurriedly said, "Governor Kou, your safety is of utmost importance. If anything happens to you, I will be held accountable even with ten thousand deaths!"

After saying that, he didn't care whether Kou Huaizhi agreed or not, and dragged Kou Huaizhi out of the square.

A group of attendants from the state government surrounded the two men and quickly withdrew.

Kou Huaizhi was speechless. He said in a low voice, "Doesn't your Eastern Depot faction have a grudge against Gu Guanqi? Why don't you take this opportunity to kick him when he's down?"

Lu Lin replied in a low voice, "If I could, I'd rather Gu Guanqi live. Zhang Jiexi wanted to smear the Chief Eunuch, and now, whether Gu Guanqi lives or dies, Zhang Jiexi is already embroiled in controversy. Why should I help him?"

Kou Huaizhi chuckled, "In battles for reputation, it's rare for your Eastern Depot to win!"

Lu Lin said, "If Gu Guanqi survives, I'd like to make a deal with you."

……

"Execute the traitors! Execute the traitors!"

The shouts of hundreds of Tingchao Sword Sect disciples merged into a wave of sound that exploded in the air above the square, making people's eardrums hurt.

Swords flashed like a forest, and killing intent surged like a tide, rushing from all directions toward the white figure in the center of the square.

Gu Guanqi, alone, with only a sword.

He walked towards them.

His steps were neither hurried nor slow, as if he were strolling leisurely in a garden.

"kill--"

The first group of Tingchao Sword Sect disciples rushed forward, their longswords flashing as they formed a dense net of sword light that enveloped him.

Gu Guanqi drew his sword.

The Autumn Water Sword drew an arc in the air, its light as sharp as a bolt of lightning, its sword energy crisscrossing.

"Hiss hiss hiss—"

A series of muffled thuds as sharp blades pierced flesh.

The seven or eight disciples at the forefront fell to the ground simultaneously, a thin line of blood running down their throats, blood gushing out. They hadn't even seen how Gu Guanqi drew his sword; they only saw a flash of white light before they knew nothing more.

Gu Guanqi continued forward without stopping.

More disciples surged forward.

He swung his longsword repeatedly, each strike felling a group of people. Wherever the sword light passed, weapons shattered, and blood mist filled the air.

The disciples of the Tingchao Sword Sect were as fragile as paper in front of Gu Guanqi. Before they could even unleash their sword moves, Gu Guanqi's sword energy had already sliced ​​through their throats.

Blood stained the bluestone ground.

The bodies lay scattered haphazardly in the square.

Gu Guanqi's white clothes were splattered with blood, his face was expressionless, and his gaze was calm to the point of being indifferent.

His pace remained steady and unhurried, his rhythm never wavering.

With each step, a flash of sword light appeared.

With each flash of sword light, a group of people fell.

He walked towards Pei Ji step by step, leaving behind a trail of corpses and blood.

At this time,

Pei Ji stood behind the sword formation, staring expressionlessly at the white figure.

His hand gripped the hilt of the sword at his waist.

It was a long sword that was entirely silver-white, with a slender blade and a thin, cicada-wing-like edge. The blade had natural water-like patterns, as if the veins of a river were engraved on it.

It was the very sword he had washed in the river for thirteen years.

Pei Ji slowly drew his sword.

The moment the sword was drawn, a terrifying sword intent emanated from his body.

This sword intent surged from his body like a tide, spreading in all directions. Wherever it passed, the air seemed to thicken, as if one were in deep water, making it difficult to breathe.

At the edge of the square,

Master Fayuan clasped his hands together, his brow furrowed, and said in a deep voice, "Amitabha, Pei Ji's swordsmanship... has broken through!"

Tang Yu's face darkened, and he said, "Master, if you were to face him, could you win?"

Master Fayuan said in a deep voice, "Outside, I can win; here, I will surely lose!"

As soon as this word comes out,

Tang Yu and Su Qingxing were both ashen-faced, filled with despair.

Pei Ji broke through the enemy's defenses at the last minute and had the advantage of playing on home ground. Even Master Fayuan, the number one expert in Yunzhou, admitted that he would lose. In addition, there were hundreds of disciples of the Tingchao Sword Sect and many other experts.

With only one sword, Gu Guanqi had absolutely no chance of survival.

at the same time,

On the plaza, the sword intent grew stronger and more powerful.

It no longer emanated solely from Pei Ji, but began to resonate with the surrounding天地 (heaven and earth). The air began to move, not by wind, but by an invisible force stirring it, as if an invisible wave was appearing above the square.

The waves surged and the tides roared.

That is the ultimate martial art of the Listening Tide Sword Sect—the Listening Tide Sword Intent.

Legend has it that the founder of the Listening Tide Sword Sect watched the tides on the riverbank for thirty years before finally comprehending the way of the sword. The sword strikes like the tide, its intent as vast as the martial world; a single strike is like a ten-thousand-acre wave crashing down, unstoppable.

At this moment, Pei Ji's Tide-Listening Sword Intent was even more terrifying than the legends.

His sword intent was no longer merely mimicking the tides, but truly resonated with some kind of power in the world. That power was vast and boundless, as if the will of a great river had been condensed into the sword in his hand.

"No wonder..." Pei Ji murmured, "No wonder my sword can't be cleaned properly. I've been washing it in the river for thirteen years, but it's still filthy."

He raised his head, his gaze piercing through the crowd and landing on the white figure in the distance.

"It turns out, I had long forgotten that a swordsman's actions should be unwavering, charging forward without hesitation. Where the sword points, the heart follows. Why look back? Why be burdened with worries?"

"Because I was afraid of Tang Yu and Fa Yuan, I chose those underhanded methods, which led the Tingchao Sword Sect to its current state."

"But the root of all this lies not with Tang Yu, nor with the Dharma connection, but with me."

"My sword heart is tarnished, my Dao heart is impure."

"today……"

His gaze suddenly turned sharp, like a sword being drawn from its sheath.

"Today, with this sword, I will wash away the last speck of dust from my heart!"

Before the words were finished—

Pei Ji moved.

Rushing towards Gu Guanqi,

Then, the sword fell.

When that sword fell, it was as if an invisible river was hanging upside down in the sky.

The shimmering waves and the ebb and flow of the tide created a scene that was both illusory and real, making it difficult to distinguish between an illusion and reality.

The sword intent, however, poured down on Gu Guanqi like a flood bursting its banks.

at the same time--

More than a hundred disciples of the Tingchao Sword Sect attacked simultaneously.

They hurled their longswords with great force, their movements perfectly synchronized. A hundred swords flew out of their hands, tracing hundreds of silvery-white paths through the air, their blades whistling as they cut through the air.

The longswords did not fly haphazardly toward Gu Guanqi, but were drawn by Pei Ji's Listening to the Tide Sword Intent, like a hundred fish swimming into a great river, shooting toward the same direction and the same target.

A hundred swords flew together, their light like a river.

The scene was both spectacular and terrifying.

Guided by Pei Ji's sword intent, a hundred longswords converged into a silvery-white river of swords, vast and surging. Wherever the swords passed, the air was torn apart, the ground was plowed with deep furrows, and gravel flew and dust billowed.

Pei Ji's sword fell at that moment.

His sword intent merged with the hundred longswords, and his single sword strike was the embodiment of a hundred swords. His sword momentum was the course of the entire sword river.

The Sword River surged forth like a mighty river, crushing towards Gu Guanqi with overwhelming force.

this moment,

Tang Yu and Su Qingxing both understood why Master Fayuan said he would lose to Pei Ji here.

Such a sword,

Losing is normal.

……

on the square,

Gu Guanqi killed several disciples of the Tingchao Sword Sect with a single sword strike. Then, as he moved forward, he looked up at the vast river of swords surging towards him, feeling the sword intent that was like a ten-thousand-acre wave pouring down.

His face remained expressionless.

He gripped the Autumn Water Sword tightly in his hand.

Then, he drew his sword.

Fifteen Deadly Swords.

In an instant, time seemed to stand still in the entire square.

The will to die has arrived.

That is the breath of the end of all things, the feeling of life coming to an end, the state of all existence returning to nothingness.

The sword light emanated from the Autumn Water Sword.

That beam of light was unlike any sword strike Gu Guanqi had ever unleashed before.

This sword is black.

Pure black, deep black, a black that seems capable of devouring everything.

The black light burst forth from the sword tip, spreading through the air like a crack. Wherever it passed, light vanished, sound vanished, presence vanished—everything vanished.

It headed towards the River Sword.

When this sword struck, everyone present saw a completely different scene.

Some people see the autumn wilderness, the grass and trees withered and yellow, a desolate scene between heaven and earth. The wind blows from afar, stirring up a few withered leaves, which then slowly fall.

That was a scene of everything withering away, a process of life heading towards its end, an irreversible decay.

Like flowers blooming and fading, like the sun rising and the moon setting, like the changing of the seasons.

Some people see a mountain, an eternal solitude, an eternal silence.

Some people saw only night, a night without stars or moon.

Some people saw it as a peaceful final rest for the deceased.

Everyone present witnessed a different scene at that moment.

But all the images point to the same thing.

That is the end.

Everything has an end.

Flowers will wither, leaves will fall, people will grow old, rivers will dry up, and seas will recede.

This is death!

With a single thrust of the sword, time seemed to stand still.

It seems that everything in heaven and earth has come to an end!

this moment,

The black sword light and the silver sword river met in mid-air.

There was no earth-shattering fanfare.

The moment the black sword light touched the silver sword river, the sword river formed by a hundred longswords began to dissipate and vanished without a trace.

The moment those longswords touched the black sword light, the luster on their blades quickly dimmed.

One hundred longswords, without exception.

The next moment, the Sword River vanished.

Hundreds of longswords fell to the ground like rain.

Pei Ji's pupils suddenly contracted.

He saw the black sword light and felt the will of death.

He wanted to dodge, to parry, to do anything to stop that sword strike—

But he couldn't do it.

Before this sword, it seemed that any struggle was futile, and any resistance was futile.

The black sword light pierced through the barriers of space and ignored the passage of time, like an irreversible destiny, stabbing towards Pei Ji's throat.

Pei Ji's Listening to the Tide Sword Intent shattered completely at this moment.

He could only watch helplessly as the black light drew closer.

Getting closer.

Getting closer.

"laugh--"

A soft sound, like a sharp blade piercing leather.

The tip of the Autumn Water Sword pierced Pei Ji's throat.

The black sword light vanished in an instant, as if it had never existed. The Autumn Water Sword returned to its original form, its silver-white blade reflecting Pei Ji's aloof face.

Pei Ji's body stiffened.

He looked down at the sword blade piercing his throat, then looked up at the young face on the other side of the hilt.

Gu Guanqi stood right in front of him, the two of them no more than three feet apart.

His white robes were stained with blood, but his face was as handsome as jade.

Pei Ji looked at Gu Guanqi,

Blood spilled from the corner of his mouth and dripped down his chin.

Then, his eyes lost their color, and all his life vanished.

at this time,

"Crack, crack, crack—"

Centered on Gu Guanqi and Pei Ji, fine cracks appeared on the bluestone ground.

The cracks spread outwards like a spider web, from the center to the periphery, from sparse to dense, and in an instant, they spread to a radius of several feet.

"Sect Leader, Senior Brother!"

A heart-wrenching scream shattered the silence.

Deng Wufeng's eyes were bloodshot, and he was like a mad beast. He swung a broad heavy sword at Gu Guanqi. The entire heavy sword was covered with a layer of dark golden light, and the blade trembled slightly, emitting a low hum.

Deng Wufeng's arms were bulging with veins and his muscles were bulging as he raised the heavy sword high.

He didn't use any fancy moves with this sword strike; he simply slashed down.

Before the heavy sword arrived, the wind from it had already swept through the air.

The sword wind was like an invisible wall, carrying an overwhelming force, pressing down from above.

Wherever it passed, the air was torn apart with a sharp whistling sound.

Gu Guanqi raised an eyebrow slightly.

He quickly pulled the sword from Pei Ji's throat and then swung it to strike him.

The moment Pei Ji's body fell, the Autumn Water Sword, like a soft whip, drew an arc in the air, its spine striking the heavy sword precisely.

"when--"

A deafening clang of metal striking metal, like a resounding bell, echoed across the square.

Wherever the sound waves passed, many people felt a sharp pain in their eardrums and instinctively covered their ears.

Deng Wufeng felt an incredibly powerful internal force surging from the sword.

That internal force was as deep as an abyss and as heavy as a mountain.

His entire right arm went numb instantly, and he was thrown backward by the force of the impact. His feet left the ground, and he flew in an arc through the air for more than 30 feet before crashing heavily into a stone pillar behind him.

"boom--"

The stone pillar cracked in response, and the upper half collapsed with a loud thud, crashing to the ground with a muffled roar.

this moment,

Many disciples of the Tingchao Sword Sect were stunned.

Deng Wufeng stood up quickly and roared, "He's all alone. There are so many of us, we can wear him down! Kill him!"

in an instant,

The disciples of the Listening Tide Sword Sect rushed out to fight.

Hundreds of people shouted in unison, their voices shaking the heavens.

The sound blended with the chimes, the river breeze, and the water vapor, creating an overwhelming momentum.

As the disciples of the Listening Tide Sword Sect charged forward, they rapidly changed their footwork, weaving in and out to form a sword formation that surrounded Gu Guanqi.

Gu Guanqi lightly touched the ground with his feet and flew away.

Sunlight streamed down from behind him, bathing his figure in a golden halo.

He thrust his Autumn Water Sword forward, its tip pointing towards the sword formation. His robes fluttered in the wind, and his long hair flew, making him appear like a banished immortal descending from the heavens.

A celestial being descends from the heavens.

He seemed to transform into a ray of light.

The light fell straight down from the sky at an incredible speed, like a shooting star streaking across the heavens, leaving a silvery-white trail behind it.

Sword energy gathered around him.

Then it swept out wildly, densely packed.

In an instant,

He charged into the sword formation.

Immediately, blood splattered.

The disciples of the Tingchao Sword Sect were covered in sword wounds, and blood was falling like rain.

The silvery-white light spread in all directions, enveloping everyone within a radius of several feet.

After the light faded, a pit about ten feet wide appeared on the ground, its walls as smooth as a mirror, as if it had been cut by something extremely sharp.

Deng Wufeng stood there, his eyes still open, his pupils filled with terror and resentment, but he was already lifeless.

immediately,

A bloody gash appeared on his neck, and then he collapsed to the ground!

Gu Guanqi drew his Autumn Water Sword, and the blade drew a wisp of blood from Deng Wufeng's throat, its crimson gleaming in the sunlight.

He turned around and glanced at the Tingchao Sword Sect disciples who were still charging towards him.

Then, he charged into the crowd with his sword.

The Autumn Water Sword in his hand transformed into a silver-white lightning bolt, each swing raising a cloud of blood mist. Sword energy crisscrossed, sword light like a bolt of lightning, exploding into crimson flowers of blood amidst the crowd.

Streams of true energy surged forth from his body like a burst dam, pouring wildly into the Autumn Water Sword and transforming into extremely sharp sword energies that shot out in all directions.

The sword energy was like a torrential rain of pear blossoms, dense and overwhelming. Wherever it passed, weapons were broken, limbs flew, and blood and severed limbs intertwined in the air to create a tragic scene.

"ah--"

Screams rose and fell, echoing across the square.

Some disciples had their chests pierced by sword energy, some had their heads severed, some were cut in half at the waist, and some had all four limbs severed. Blood stained the bluestone ground, forming small streams that meandered through the cracks in the stone slabs.

Corpses were piled up haphazardly in the square, some stacked together, others scattered everywhere, severed limbs and dismembered bodies were everywhere, and the air was filled with a strong smell of blood.

As people fell one after another...

The disciples of the Listening Tide Sword Sect finally began to feel afraid.

The initial surge of courage vanished rapidly before the mountain of corpses and sea of ​​blood, replaced by a deep-seated fear.

The fear spread through the crowd like a plague, faster and more intensely.

"A ghost...he's a demon..."

A young disciple dropped his longsword with a clatter to the ground. His face was ashen, and his legs trembled uncontrollably. He then turned and ran away.

Once someone takes the lead, more people will follow suit.

"Run!"

It's unclear who shouted first, but immediately afterward, the entire Tingchao Sword Sect's disciples completely collapsed.

They dropped their swords, abandoned the corpses of their fellow disciples, and forgot their once-proud identities as disciples of the Tingchao Sword Sect, scrambling to flee in all directions.

Some ran towards the main hall, some towards the mountain gate, some towards the side rooms, and some even jumped over the wall.

In an instant, the square, which had been filled with the sounds of battle, was now only filled with the sounds of hurried footsteps, terrified shouts, and the occasional clang of weapons falling to the ground.

Gu Guanqi sheathed his sword and stood still.

Blood slowly slid down from the Autumn Water Sword in his hand, dripping onto the bluestone ground with a soft dripping sound.

He raised his head, his gaze passing over the layers of corpses and landing on the majestic hall.

Above the entrance to the main hall hangs a huge plaque.

The plaque bears four large characters—

"Listening to the Tide Sword Sect"

Those four characters, written with vigorous strokes and powerful lines, were personally inscribed by the founder of the Tingchao Sword Sect. They have witnessed the rise and fall of this sect through a century of trials and tribulations.

Gu Guanqi slashed down with his sword.

Suddenly, a dazzling silver-white light shone from the Autumn Water Sword. It was an extremely sharp sword aura that shot out from the tip of the sword, like an invisible giant sword, slashing towards the plaque.

"boom--"

The sword energy struck the plaque with a loud bang.

The plaque, which had been passed down for hundreds of years, shattered with a crash, splintering wood chips everywhere. It broke in two and crashed heavily to the ground, kicking up a cloud of dust.

Then, Gu Guanqi turned around.

He walked past pools of blood, past corpses, past the mess, and headed out of the square.

He walked in the wind, his clothes fluttering, and even though he was covered in blood, he still exuded an indescribable elegance and otherworldly grace.

at this time,

People from various martial arts factions remained standing at the edge of the square. No one moved, no one spoke, and they even deliberately kept their breathing quiet.

As Gu Guanqi walked towards them—

"Whoosh—"

The crowd parted to both sides like a tide, spontaneously making way for a wide road.

Whether it was the grandmasters like Master Fayuan, the renowned figures in the martial arts world, or the ordinary people in the martial arts world, at this moment, their eyes were filled with shock and awe as they looked at Gu Guanqi!

Gu Guanqi strode away.

The moment he stepped out of the square,

"Boom!"

A dull, loud thud came from behind.

Everyone turned around and saw that the majestic Tingchao Sword Sect's main hall had been split open in the middle.

The crack extends from the roof to the foundation, dividing the entire hall in two.

Tiles fell in a flurry, beams broke, walls tilted, and dust flew everywhere.

A moment later—

"boom--"

The main hall collapsed with a roar, turning into ruins.

Smoke and dust billowed into the sky, lingering over the square for a long time.

In the square, thousands of people stood still, in complete silence.

Only the river wind howled, blowing across the corpses and blood scattered on the ground, making a low, mournful sound, as if singing a lament for this destroyed sect.

"Is he human?"

"One person wiped out the Listening Tide Sword Sect!"

this moment,

There were far too many people present who were deeply shaken.

Dozens of sects and thousands of people came in a grand procession to attack the Tingchao Sword Sect.

But one person perished!