Chapter 923: World Turmoil, Can Yue Immortal City Senior Brother

"The Seal of Sainthood Foundation is real and exists..."

"Spirit Refiners, come to the Sky City and find me..."

"My name is Ba Zun An..."

This resounding echo spread across all regions of the Five Domains.

Almost everyone in the Spirit Refining Realm, whether at the Acquired, Innate, Dao-Severing, or Tai Xu stages, heard these words. They were spoken plainly, without any archaic language, making them easy for all to understand.

The message succinctly highlighted the most tantalizing treasure, effortlessly stirring desires in the hearts of everyone in the Spirit Refining Realm.

Just as some still doubted the authenticity of the voice's claims, the final line, "My name is Ba Zun An," dispelled countless uncertainties.

The Eighth Sword Immortal?

Indeed, only the legendary Eighth Sword Immortal could broadcast his voice across the entire Five Domains. He had not fallen after all.

Since these were the words of the Eighth Sword Immortal, they were essentially beyond doubt!

The voice even carried the power of the Saint Emperor.

Under these brief, undefended, and overlooked circumstances, no one could intervene to block its transmission.

"So, this was your ultimate goal..."

Dao Qiong Cang halted before the shattered Dragon Pearl, silently gazing at the Saint Emperor's power that had briefly shone brightly before dissipating into nothingness, and he sighed.

He had not understood why Ba Zun An had set up such an elaborate scheme, and with the interference of the Saint Emperor's power, he couldn't foresee it through heavenly divination.

He had thought it might be for "revenge," "testing," or "venting"...

Regardless, Dao Qiong Cang had done everything in his power to stop it.

In the final moments, he even considered mutual destruction, intending to shatter the Dragon Pearl and the lingering regret of the Demon Emperor Hei Long together, regardless of Ba Zun An's plans.

But in the end, he was a step too late.

The idea of total annihilation was sound, yet there was always a sequence to actions.

Perhaps, if he had first thrown the "Nine Arrows Nail God Array" at the Dragon Pearl and then used his Saint Thought Phantom to pursue the Demon Emperor Hei Long's lingering regret, it would have been a better choice.

But Dao Qiong Cang knew he excelled at planning, not at swift, successful strikes.

If he had chosen that path, the Dragon Pearl might have shattered prematurely, potentially foiling Ba Zun An's plan.

More likely, his Saint Thought Phantom would fail to catch up to the Demon Emperor Hei Long's lingering regret, allowing a seed of resurgence to take root in the Sacred God Continent.

"An open scheme, then?"

Dao Qiong Cang chuckled self-deprecatingly.

With the battle concluded, his Saint Thought Phantom, along with the Ten Epochs Holy Spirit Array, slowly faded into the skies above Yun Lun Mountains, leaving only a silent sigh of admiration.

"Ba Zun An, as expected of you..."

In the East Domain, including the Dong Tian Jie and its one hundred and eight realms, Ba Zun An's voice echoed through every corner.

At that moment, countless sword cultivators, sword wielders, and even those who revered the sword path but had turned to spirit refining out of necessity, were stirred, buzzing with excitement.

"Sword God above, what did I just hear? Is that the voice of the Eighth Sword Immortal?"

"Heavens, what on earth happened in Dong Tian Wang City? Wasn't the Eighth Sword Immortal said to have fallen decades ago? I still remember the legends of that battle—outside the Dead Futu City, the Seven Sword Immortals, led by Hua Jian Xian, beheaded the three traitors and upheld the glory of 'the strongest sword path.'"

Someone spoke with fervent passion.

"Bullshit! Ba Zun An mastered the nine great sword techniques. There had to be foul play in what happened back then—otherwise, the Eighth Sword Immortal wouldn't have fallen so easily. And even if he did, the strongest sword path belongs to our elder You Tu!"

This was clearly a die-hard fan of the Eighth Sword Immortal.

"Heh, the strongest sword path is You Tu? He's been missing for ages! Look around—today, you can still casually mention You Tu, but Hua Jian Xian... no one dares say his name outright anymore. What does that mean? Use that thick skull of yours to think!"

Someone sneered in response.

"It means you're a traitorous pile of crap who abandoned your faith! You Tu must have already achieved sainthood—he just doesn't care about us devout sword cultivators using his name. He's kind, the best elder of the sword path! As for the others? Look at Hua Jian Xian—his power grew, and so did his temper... Oh, now we can't even call him by name? How noble!"

The die-hard fan of the Eighth Sword Immortal spoke with the same fiery temperament as in his youth, his words dripping with sarcasm, barely containing his anger.

But as soon as he said this, others who were a bit more level-headed turned pale with shock.

"Shh, you can keep worshiping the Eighth Sword Immortal, but don't belittle the other Sword Immortals. Hua Jian Xian is formidable, after all."

The one who had argued against the fan was also frightened, stammering, "You... you're beyond reason!" With that, he flicked his sleeve and stormed off.

After all, if such words provoked a saint and brought down holy punishment, even he might be implicated.

Of course, the half-saints had better things to do and wouldn't waste holy punishment on such insignificant pests.

Still, the sword cultivators across the East Domain's realms were utterly astounded by the shocking news of "Ba Zun An's return" and "the Seal of Sainthood Foundation's existence."

Ba Zun Jie.

As one of the one hundred and eight realms under the Sword God Heaven in the East Domain, Ba Zun Jie had a different name over thirty years ago—Dong Yue Jie.

But with the rise of Can Yue Xian Cheng, which seemed poised to inherit the mantle of "Zang Jian Zong" as the premier sword cultivator force in the East Domain, "Dong Yue Jie" had fully transformed into a gathering place for the Eighth Sword Immortal's most ardent followers, collectively renamed in honor of their most revered figure—Ba Zun Jie!

In Ba Zun Jie, at Can Yue Xian Cheng.

This was an immense city spanning ninety-nine million eight hundred and eighty-one thousand li, vast and boundless, formed by connecting nearly a hundred counties from the former Dong Yue Jie.

The one who accomplished this feat was a self-proclaimed nominal disciple of the Eighth Sword Immortal, named Xiao Kong Dong.

He was also the current senior brother of Can Yue Xian Cheng and widely recognized in the East Domain as the top devotee of the Eighth Sword Immortal.

Can Yue Xian Cheng was structured into nine main sections, each a primary city corresponding to one sword technique.

Those who practiced Illusion Sword Technique lived in "Illusion Sword City"; those who practiced Nine Sword Technique lived in "Nine Sword City"... and so on, including "Ten Thousand Sword City," "Boundless Sword City," "Heart Sword City," "Formless Sword City," "Emotion Sword City," "Ghost Sword City," and finally, "Hidden Sword City."

Can Yue Xian Cheng welcomed multiple beliefs.

For example, residents of "Emotion Sword City" not only admired the Eighth Sword Immortal but also idolized the world's top swordswoman, Rao Yao Yao, though their devotion to her was slightly less intense.

"Ghost Sword City" had the smallest area and population, for one reason: Hua Chang Deng specialized in "Ghost Sword Technique," and he was the very one responsible for the "fall" of the Eighth Sword Immortal.

Notably, among the nine main cities of Can Yue Xian Cheng, the strongest was not "Illusion Sword City," which corresponded to the Eighth Sword Immortal's primary technique, but "Hidden Sword City."

Hidden Sword City was home to a large number of ordinary people, elders, youths, and even the disabled with missing limbs…

Without exception, they all carried swords.

The swords were of low quality—some wooden, some mere twigs, and others even using their own fingers as swords.

Yet in the East Domain, this was the city no one dared to provoke.

Because among the nine great sword techniques, "Hidden Sword Technique" was the most difficult to master, the least practiced, and seemingly the weakest in combat.

Anyone wanting to learn "Hidden Sword Technique" was either foolish or had already mastered the other eight and sought to follow in the Eighth Sword Immortal's footsteps.

And almost no one in Can Yue Xian Cheng was a fool.

Thus, in Hidden Sword City, a saying circulated:

"You can't mess with normal people, you can't mess with elders missing limbs, and you absolutely can't mess with those kids who look easy to bully… The first are geniuses, the second are hidden masters, and the last are once-in-a-lifetime prodigies!"

"A city full of talents, where even the street sweepers are hidden masters!"

That described Hidden Sword City perfectly.

At that moment.

In Hidden Sword City, within an ordinary courtyard, the gate was pushed open.

A lame old man, missing his left arm and carrying nine peach wood swords on his back, hurried in, hopping awkwardly toward the main hall.

His lack of composure drew frowns from the child and old woman playing chess under the parasol tree nearby, as well as the young man sweeping leaves.

"Xiu Yuan Ke, Hidden Sword Technique hides your energy, your form, your intent. How many times has Senior Brother told you? Don't show your emotions, yet here you are, so anxious?"

The child's youthful voice rang out.

He picked up a black piece and placed it on the board with a snap, the sword energy shaking leaves from the parasol tree and making the young man sweeping pause, his lips parting as if to speak, but he held back.

As he restrained himself, the young man seemed to hear Senior Brother's patient guidance:

"A hidden sword wielder hides their nature—joy and anger unseen, sorrow and fear unshown… Silent for a decade, then a strike that shocks the world."

I'll endure… So, the young man took a deep breath and continued sweeping leaves without a word.

The old woman withdrew her gaze, smiled slightly, and made her move without speaking.

The one called Xiu Yuan Ke, the armless lame old man, grumbled, "You lot must have hidden yourselves sick with Hidden Sword Technique. Our teacher has revived and returned—such a huge event, and you're still hiding it? Hide until you're in your coffins?"

In Can Yue Xian Cheng, there was only one city lord: Xiao Kong Dong.

Though Xiao Kong Dong taught on behalf of his master, he didn't claim the title, so he was merely the senior brother, and the others were his junior brothers and sisters.

All the ancient sword cultivators in Can Yue Xian Cheng recognized only one teacher: the Eighth Sword Immortal.

Without the Eighth Sword Immortal's approval, they didn't even dare call him "master," humbly referring to him as "teacher" instead.

But that was enough.

To live in Can Yue Xian Cheng and call the Eighth Sword Immortal "teacher" was already a tremendous honor in the eyes of many sword cultivators.

Xiu Yuan Ke burst into the main hall without lingering with the three in the courtyard.

In his view, their teacher's revival and public address across the Sacred God Continent's Five Domains was the most important event in the world.

"Senior Brother!"

"Xiao Kong Dong, Senior Brother, where are you?"

"Our teacher has revived, he's back..."

He shouted loudly, his tone a mix of joy and alarm that might sound to outsiders like "Our teacher has risen from the dead!" Naturally, this irritated the three in the courtyard.

"If you heard the voice, do you think Senior Brother Xiao Kong Dong didn't?" the old woman said calmly as she placed her piece, unfazed.

Xiu Yuan Ke froze for a moment, then snapped back, "Our teacher has revived—Senior Brother Xiao Kong Dong must be overjoyed! Joy is meant to be shared. I came early to share in his happiness. Who knows, he might be so pleased that he teaches me ‘Sword Intent’…”

"Pfft!" The child, who was drinking water, sprayed it across the old woman's face and laughed, slapping his thigh. "Xiu Yuan Ke, have you lost your mind? ‘Sword Intent’ requires the teacher's permission—Senior Brother won't teach it otherwise."

Xiu Yuan Ke roared, "But our teacher 'fell' long ago—he couldn't have spoken to Senior Brother or given permission! If this goes on, what if Senior Brother meets an accident? ‘Sword Intent’ would be lost forever! It's a vicious cycle! I, Xiu Yuan Ke, must take on the burden of revitalizing the sword path!"

"At your age..." the old woman sighed, "but I have to say, your passion is something all youths should respect."

The young man sweeping leaves gazed upward with devout eyes: "I've always believed our teacher never fell; he's been watching over me..."

The child couldn't help but slam a piece on the board: "Hey! When you say that, can you not look up at the sky?"

Amid the commotion, a figure emerged from the side courtyard.

"Who's cursing me to die?" a warm voice asked.

The four looked over to see a man approaching in a white swordsman's robe, well-proportioned, elegant, and always wearing a gentle smile.

"Senior Brother!"

"Xiao Kong Dong, Senior Brother!"

The four quickly stood and bowed, their words full of respect.

This was Xiao Kong Dong, the senior brother of Can Yue Xian Cheng.

It was he who, single-handedly, spent over thirty years building Can Yue Xian Cheng from nothing in the Sword God Heaven of the East Domain, establishing it as a top-tier world-class sword cultivator force.

Zang Jian Zong's fame came from its ancient heritage, where each successor could steadily reach the saint realm with decent talent.

Can Yue Xian Cheng's fame, however, came from… Xiao Kong Dong!

Xiao Kong Dong wasn't among the Seven Sword Immortals, but his contributions to ancient sword cultivation and the sword path were unmatched among his peers.

He possessed Ba Zun An's talent, plus the unparalleled achievements in teaching and passing on the sword path that Ba Zun An lacked.

Yet, he never took credit or acted arrogantly.

In the face of others' reverence, he always deferred, humbly responding, "This is all due to my teacher's guidance. You shouldn't thank me—thank the Eighth Sword Immortal."

"Senior Brother, our teacher has revived!"

Xiu Yuan Ke said excitedly as Xiao Kong Dong appeared.

"Our teacher never fell; I heard the voice just now," Xiao Kong Dong nodded in reply.

"Senior Brother, are you happy?" Xiu Yuan Ke clenched his fists, his old eyes burning with intensity.

"I'm very happy, truly delighted, because our teacher has finally come forward," Xiao Kong Dong smiled.

"Then..." Xiu Yuan Ke waved his arm vigorously, "since joy needs to be shared, can you teach me ‘Sword Intent’ so I can share in it?"

Swordsmen were always direct!

"..." The other three in the courtyard fell silent, wearing expressions that said, "As expected."

Xiao Kong Dong looked helpless, but his temperament was evidently excellent—otherwise, Xiu Yuan Ke wouldn't dare speak to him this way. He just shook his head and said, "I told you, all of that requires the teacher's approval. If he agrees, I could even pass on the ‘Sword Observation Canon’ to you. Unfortunately…"