Disastrous Casualties

Disastrous Casualties . . .

The Icy Horned Devilish Dragon Formation, comprised of Blood Devil Palace experts, unleashed an attack that oozed tyranny and overbearing might. Even when facing off against the immortal-ranked puppet, it proved no pushover. However, in an astonishing twist, it was sliced into two by the demon sword, leaving everyone present utterly flabbergasted. Eyes in the sky fixated on this jaw-dropping spectacle, fear welling up within them.

Mo Qingcheng had used her phoenix robe to shield herself from the relentless assault of the Icy Horned Devilish Dragon. As for Qin Wentian, emerging from the combat puppet, he wielded 'that' sword and cleaved the formidable dragon into two distinct halves.

Once more, this remarkable couple astounded all who bore witness.

"That demon sword!" Gaze after gaze remained locked onto the colossal thousand-meter blade. Currently, it emitted resplendent glimmers, featuring ancient runic inscriptions exuding an archaic aura.

"What script is this? I can't decipher any of it," Zai Yan mused as he stared at the demon sword. It was evident that the power behind the destruction of the combination formation did not solely belong to Qin Wentian. Instead, he had harnessed the sword's might. At this very moment, the demon sword appeared as if it had awakened, emanating a world-shaking force.

"The runes inscribed upon it resemble an ancient, long-forgotten script. I wonder where it originates from."

The hearts of the experts quivered. The runic inscriptions on the demon sword bore a resemblance to immortal runes. Their radiant glow illuminated the surrounding space, contributing to the awe-inspiring might emanating from the sword.

The Icy Horned Devilish Dragon formation crumbled, leaving a row of experts within it utterly annihilated. Many others fell victim to the sword's deadly qi, and their losses far exceeded those of the Violet Thunder Sect. With a single swing, Qin Wentian had claimed the lives of 80% of their experts. The earth below exhibited colossal fissures, as if nature itself sought to bury the fallen.

This battle had spiraled into sheer desperation. To date, three great combination formations of the Royal Sacred Sect had been obliterated: the Lightning Bat King, crafted from Violet Thunder Faction experts; the Icy Horned Devilish Dragon, forged by Blood Devil Palace experts; and the Demonic Ox, constructed from the Great Earth Faction's finest. The losses sustained today surpassed any the Royal Sacred Sect had ever experienced since they ascended to hegemony. This battle would undoubtedly etch itself into the annals of history.

Although the Medicine Sovereign Valley had suffered fewer casualties in comparison, the toll was still devastating. Their initial strength had been inferior to the Royal Sacred Sect's, forcing them to rely on combat puppets and join forces with the Battle Sword Faction. Now, many of those combat puppets lay in ruins, and the combination formations' offensive power proved overwhelming. This war had become an unbearable burden for both sides, pushing them to their limits.

The Royal Sacred Sect had undoubtedly underestimated the magnitude of their losses in this battle. They had initially believed their overwhelming strength would secure a swift victory and obliterate the Battle Sword Faction once and for all.

Even more astonishing was the fact that the war was far from over. Qin Wentian, radiating a white, immortal-like aura that merged seamlessly with the rune-covered demon sword, appeared as a formidable entity. As he raised his gaze toward the Royal Sacred Sect's experts, a single glance from him sent shivers down the spines of those who met his eyes. It was clear that his sword thirsted for nothing less than cleaving the heavens themselves.

A resounding hum filled the air as the demon sword danced through the ether. Qin Wentian, fueled by a surge of rage, unleashed a crushing slash aimed squarely at the ground. The surviving members of the Blood Devil Palace paled at his intent. Qin Wentian had no intentions of granting them a path to survival; he sought their utter annihilation.

"DIE!" Qin Wentian's eyes brimmed with terrifying, unrelenting killing intent. Previously, the Icy Horned Devilish Dragon, summoned by the Blood Devil Palace's experts, had relentlessly trampled upon Mo Qingcheng. Now, Qin Wentian intended to make them pay with their lives for their vile actions.

An unfathomably deep fissure cleaved the earth, and those unfortunate enough to come into contact with the demon sword's glow were brutally lacerated. As the sword descended, over 90% of the remaining survivors met their gruesome end. The Blood Devil Palace faction within the Royal Sacred Sect had been utterly decimated.

It was a devastating reckoning for them. After all, it was Qin Wentian's very hand that had once torn apart the Pill Emperor Hall, and now the Blood Devil Palace dared to treat Mo Qingcheng with such cruelty? Their fate was even more dire than that of the Pill Emperor Hall.

Today, Qin Wentian repaid his vengeance in full.

The demonic energy surged, and the demon sword was raised once more. The surviving Blood Devil Palace experts wore looks of despair. Would Qin Wentian continue the slaughter until not a single one of them remained?

"WHY AREN'T YOU ACTING YET?!" The surviving Blood Devil Palace members shouted at Zai Yan and the others. Their combination formation's manifestations remained intact, but they stared dumbfoundedly as Qin Wentian dispatched them.

Should they act? At this point, who dared to make contact with the runic glow emanating from the demon sword?

"The power of the demon sword is undoubtedly formidable, but I'm certain it's only a temporary surge. If we join forces and kill Qin Wentian, the demon sword will become nothing more than a lifeless object," Zai Yan declared, his eyes shimmering with greed. The demon sword was unquestionably an immortal-ranked treasure of exceptional caliber.

Qin Wentian raised his gaze to those in the air, and after a moment, he ascended as well. Strangely, the demon sword felt less burdensome than before. He pointed it toward the heavens, and the immortal radiance surrounding him was so brilliant that it seemed to dim the very sky.

The manifestations gazed at him with trepidation. Meanwhile, Zai Yan and the Core Faction's experts, though enveloped in their combination formation's manifestation, commanded others to act on their behalf. They remained motionless, indifferent to the casualties suffered by the other factions. Regardless of the Great Earth Faction, the Battle Sword Sect, or any other sect within the Royal Sacred Sect, as long as they retained their hegemonic status, countless powers would vie for the opportunity to ascend to the ranks of the nine great sects.

And so, the Core Faction watched from the sidelines, content to delegate the fighting to others.

Another resonant hum filled the air.

In this climactic moment, the battlefield crackled with tension as Qin Wentian, wielding the demon sword, surged forward, his eyes locked onto Shang Ying, the leader of the Grand Shang Faction.

"RETREAT!" Shang Ying, known for his natural caution, understood the precariousness of their situation. The formation they had created boosted their attack and defense immensely, but it came at the cost of reduced speed and maneuverability.

The demon sword swept through the air, its blade slicing the very fabric of reality. Shang Ying bellowed in anger as the manifestation of their power launched a desperate defense against the onslaught.

But all their efforts proved futile in the face of the overpowering runic light emanating from the demon sword. Shang Ying had no choice but to rapidly disengage from the combination formation. As the sword cleaved through their defensive structure, it left destruction in its wake, claiming countless lives among the experts of the Grand Shang Empire.

Qin Wentian continued his relentless advance; his thirst for vengeance unabated.

"DISPERSE, RETREAT SEPARATELY! We'll regroup after he exhausts his strength." Zai Yan, recognizing the dire circumstances, issued the command. Their only option was to withdraw temporarily. Qin Wentian couldn't maintain this level of exertion indefinitely.

Upon hearing Zai Yan's orders, the experts from the various combination formations scattered, fleeing in different directions.

Qin Wentian's cultivation was weaker, and he couldn't match their speed. He paused in mid-air, brandishing his sword once more, slashing at the fleeing experts. Those who couldn't escape fast enough met a swift end in the air.

Soon, the experts of the Royal Sacred Sect had vanished, leaving behind only those too grievously wounded to flee.

The shocking turn of events left the experts from the Medicine Sovereign Valley and the Battle Sword Faction utterly flabbergasted. They stared at the young man, a formidable demon sword in his hand, with a mix of awe and trepidation.

The old ancestor of the Battle Sword Sect fixed his gaze on the young man, his eyes wide with wonder. This youth seemed on the brink of invincibility, despite not having fully matured yet.

"Young one, you will undoubtedly surpass all the geniuses in the history of our Royal Sacred Region, reaching heights never before achieved. The Royal Sacred Sect will merely serve as a stepping stone on your path. I eagerly await the day when your radiance outshines even the constellations in the sky," the old ancestor whispered in his heart. He couldn't help but recall the first time he met Qin Wentian. Back then, he had sought to take Qin Wentian as his disciple, only to be rebuffed. At the time, he had seen the youth as a fascinating junior. Now, he recognized the profound potential within him. He knew that one day, the light emanating from Qin Wentian would surpass even the brilliance of the stars.

Amidst this moment of reflection, two formidable auras descended from the heavens. These two immortal-ranked experts descended and stood above the rest.

The Sacred Emperor and the Medicine Sovereign, though they hadn't witnessed the battle firsthand, were acutely aware of the outcome due to their powerful perceptions. The expression on the Sacred Emperor's face soured considerably.

"Undying old freak, have you ventured beyond the realms of this world? Where did you acquire your immortal art?" The Sacred Emperor's voice held a cold edge. He had ascended to immortality before the Medicine Sovereign and was more familiar with this realm of cultivation. However, faced with the Medicine Sovereign's overwhelming might, he found himself at a disadvantage. The immortal art that the Medicine Sovereign had cultivated far surpassed his own.

In the midst of this tense standoff between the Sacred Emperor and the Medicine Sovereign, words hung heavily in the air like an impending storm.

"What does this got to do with you? I can't do anything to you, and you can't do anything to me," the Medicine Sovereign retorted, his voice as cold as a wintry gale. This was the unspoken truce that had kept them from meddling directly in mortal affairs. Both sides understood that intervening would only lead to mutually assured destruction. If the Sacred Emperor acted against the experts of the Medicine Sovereign Valley, the Medicine Sovereign could retaliate in kind against the Royal Sacred Sect. It was a delicate balance, one that hinged on both leaders remaining alive.

"Let's end things here," the Sacred Emperor declared, his voice devoid of emotion. He glanced down at Qin Wentian and the members of the Battle Sword Faction below. "The members of the Battle Sword Sect have rebelled against my Royal Sacred Sect. They are all sentenced to death."

Xu Cang's eyes blazed with defiance as he retorted, "Your Royal Sacred Sect initiated this conflict, seeking to kill us, and yet you deny us the right to defend ourselves?"

The Sacred Emperor snorted dismissively. In his heart, he knew that when he uttered, "Let's end things here," he had effectively conceded defeat. Today, within the Royal Sacred Sect's own territory, the Medicine Sovereign Valley had managed to extract the members of the Battle Sword Faction safely. It was a glaring stain on the Royal Sacred Sect's history.

"Retreat," the Medicine Sovereign ordered, and their forces began to withdraw. Qin Wentian, his body bearing the immense strain of the battle, stood upon the Xuanwu puppet. The once-mighty demon sword, its glow fading, reverted to its smaller form and was safely stowed by Qin Wentian. He then closed his eyes and sank into a deep slumber.

"Wentian!" Mo Qingcheng rushed to his side.

"Don't worry, his body is exhausted from the intense battle. The power he wielded far exceeded his current cultivation level. Let him rest," the Medicine Sovereign reassured her. Mo Qingcheng nodded, choosing to sit quietly beside Qin Wentian as their forces retreated.

Word of this epic battle quickly spread throughout the Royal Sacred Region, creating a seismic stir unlike anything seen before.