Chapter 1554: I I'm Dead?

The hundreds of thousands of cultivators present were all stunned. They could've imagined the old man saying anything, but what had come out of his mouth was truly beyond their imagination.

Ruling the world? Unifying everyone? Whether cultivators from the Central Continent or from Celestial Heaven and Northern Dipper, none of them had ever imagined that someone would genuinely attempt to rule the world.

The three regions had been fighting one another since ancient times. With the Immortal Demonic Sea standing between them, to truly unify the three into one and rule all under heaven would require far more than timing and favorable terrain. It would require power that was truly unrivaled in this world.

Did the old man... really possess such power?

The two First Rate Sect Leaders from Celestial Heaven, the First Rate Sect Leader from Northern Dipper, and Gong Tianxin all felt a trace of doubt arise in their hearts.

Inside the Void Immortal Sword Sect, Li Wuwang could not help but let a trace of mockery flash through his eyes when he heard those words. "So he's an ambitious schemer, lying low for years, only to dream of dominating the world the moment he attains the Dao."

He was very familiar with this kind of person, because he himself had once been much the same. The difference was that this man sought to rule the world, while Li Wuwang had only ever wanted to secure a place for sword cultivators.

The First Rate Sect Leader from Northern Dipper manifested in the void and cupped his hands toward the elder. "May I ask how you are addressed?"

"I go by the title Wuxiang. I have cultivated in seclusion in the Immortal Demonic Sea for many years and founded the Wuxiang Divine Sect." Wuxiang smiled faintly. "However, for many years, I felt my cultivation was still far from sufficient, so I acted with great restraint. My subordinates followed the same path. None ventured into the cultivation world, and thus our reputation never spread."

The Wuxiang Divine Sect?

The crowd truly had never heard of such a sect, but when they heard that he had cultivated in seclusion in the Immortal Demonic Sea, they immediately understood.

The Immortal Demonic Sea was unimaginably vast, larger even than Celestial Heaven, Northern Dipper, and Central Continent combined. Even First Rate Sect Leaders could not possibly know every corner of it. A figure who had lain dormant there for years had clearly been waiting to astonish the world in a single move.

And now, he truly had.

"So it is Daoist Wuxiang..." said Northern Dipper's First Rate Sect Leader. "You may not fully grasp the implications of ruling the world, Daoist Wuxiang. Even if we were willing to assist you, the one from the Desolate Academy would certainly step in to stop it."

"And don't forget Kunlun Sword Sect's Li Changsheng," added one of Celestial Heaven's First Rate Sect Leaders calmly. "If you cannot get past him, you cannot rule the world either."

Wuxiang chuckled softly, his tone brimming with confidence. "How could I not be aware of your concerns? But rest assured, whether it is the one from the Desolate Academy or Li Changsheng of the Kunlun Sword Sect, even if the two join forces, they may not be my match. Now, as long as this reckless fellow from the Void Immortal Sword Sect fails his breakthrough, this world will belong to me."

The crowd was astonished. Some believed his words; others did not.

The Desolate Academy's master and Li Changsheng together still wouldn't be his match? Was his cultivation truly that terrifying?

"Are you a second-transformation immortal? If so, on what basis do you believe you can contend with the Desolate Academy's patriarch and Li Changsheng?" asked the First Rate Sect Leader from Northern Dipper.

Wuxiang smiled and replied, "I am indeed only a second-transformation immortal. But I have refined a spiritual treasure. Dealing with the two of them is no difficulty at all. That said, I am not so arrogant as to underestimate them. If the two sword cultivators were to join forces with the Desolate Academy's master, then even I would have to temporarily avoid their edge. That is precisely why I have come today."

After a pause, he continued, "I have lain dormant in the Immortal Demonic Sea for many years. Though I have not personally traveled the world, my divine sense has occasionally roamed the eight directions. Sword cultivators only refine techniques, not destiny, yet they pride themselves on being extraordinary. Such beings should not exist in this world. It is only because your methods have been too lenient that they have grown so rampant."

Hidden in the shadows, Fang Chen wore a strange expression. That man likely did not know that Old Xun also possessed a spirit treasure, nor did he understand the true state of Tuxiong Star. Perhaps it was exactly as he said, years of secluded cultivation, never truly lifting the veil to take a proper look at this world. Everything was taken for granted.

Just then, laughter suddenly rang out from the direction of the Void Immortal Sword Sect. "Hahahaha! So it turns out that when the old sword immortal traveled the Immortal Demonic Sea, he once mentioned encountering a nameless First Rate Sect Leader! This person attempted to scheme for the old sword immortal's sword inheritance, but was instead seen through and had his cultivation foundation severed by a single sword strike. Only then was he able to escape! So it was you! Hahahaha!"

The booming laughter echoed across heaven and earth.

The crowd was stunned.

"So there was old enmity after all..."

"Neither early nor late, he comes just when someone is breaking through to become a First Rate Sect Leader."

"This kind of grudge should have been settled long ago. The old sword immortal has already passed away, yet he only dares show himself after reaching the second transformation..."

The crowd's impression of Wuxiang plummeted. They had thought him a deeply hidden powerhouse of vast abilities. But instead, it turned out that he had been injured by the old sword immortal back when he had been a first-transformation immortal.

Wuxiang's face remained calm, but a savage blaze ignited deep in his eyes. "Lies! Today, I'll take your dog life!"

He flung his sleeve. In an instant, countless immortal swords appeared in the void, falling toward the Void Immortal Sword Sect like a meteor shower.

The mocking jeers halted, and the crowd's hearts lurched with terror at the sight.

Any one of those immortal swords carried boundless pressure, making it hard to even breathe. Casually unleashed, they could instantly annihilate any of the Immortal Kings present!

"So this is... the power of a First Rate Sect Leader..."

"We are... far too inferior..."

Many Immortal Kings stared blankly, faint cracks appearing in their Dao hearts.

"Wang Zhenlong's path to ascension will be severed today."

"Unless the one from the Desolate Academy intervenes."

The two First Rate Sect Leaders from Celestial Heaven exchanged glances with the First Rate Sect Leader from Northern Dipper.

As the sword rain descended upon the Void Immortal Sword Sect, the corners of Wuxiang's mouth slowly lifted. He trembled slightly, not from fear, but from excitement.

Years of hatred would finally be settled today!

At that very moment, a sword intent slashed out from within the Void Immortal Sword Sect.

In an instant, the sky-filling sword rain vanished without a trace. "What trash dares act so wildly? Your sword art is half-baked, just a half-filled barrel."

As the voice echoed in everyone's ears, the atmosphere fell dead silent.

Wuxiang might have been injured by the old sword immortal in the past, but he was now undoubtedly a second transformation immortal in his own right! And yet, a cultivator from the Void Immortal Sword Sect actually dared to mock him, calling his sword cultivation half-baked!

"Who are you!?" roared Wuxiang, retreating hundreds of meters in a flash.

He stared at the Void Immortal Sword Sect in shock and uncertainty.

"Survive this sword first, then I'll tell you my name."

Another sword intent swept out.

This time, everyone felt as if they had been dragged into some kind of domain.

"This is a sword domain..." Gong Tianxin murmured.

Wuxiang's scalp went numb.

𝒻𝑟ℯℯ𝑤𝑒𝑏𝑛𝘰𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝒸𝑜𝘮

He sensed that no matter what, he could not evade the sword intent. His soul nearly left his body as he fled in panic.

Damn it! Damn it! How can the Void Immortal Sword Sect harbor such a terrifying existence!?

cursed Wuxiang, frantically pouring all his immortal essence into fleeing at maximum speed.

"Fortunately, my movement techniques are superb. As long as I escape, I can return to the Immortal Demonic Sea, cultivate for a few more years, and then come back to avenge myself!"

Feeling that the sword intent behind him had vanished, he finally let out a sigh of relief.

But then something felt wrong.

He turned around and saw countless pairs of eyes staring at him.

No, not at him. They were looking at his body. His physical body had already been pierced through by the sword intent, suspended in midair, long devoid of life.

Wuxiang stared blankly at the scene before him.

"I... I'm dead?"