A sect’s base of operations is, after all, no ordinary place.
The Tianyang Sword Sect is an Immortal Sect with a heritage of ten thousand years, occupying a critical strategic position.
This time, although the number of people Gu Yang brought to attack the Tianyang Sword Sect was not large, they were all top fighters. Now, defending from the mountain, even if hundreds of thousands of troops were to attack day and night, they could hold out for a while.
After all.
Any Grandmaster.
Can be considered an adversary of ten thousand.
As long as they are not exhausted.
For ordinary people to surround and suppress a Grandmaster, the difficulty is imaginable.
"Without my order, no one shall strike first. Each entrance of the Tianyang Sword Sect must be guarded by at least two Grandmasters. If one exhausts their strength, another shall take their place.
Remember, we are not here to crush the besieging army in this battle, we just need to delay time!"
Gu Yang looked at the shouting and killing at the foot of the mountain, his expression extremely calm.
Under his command, there were no fewer than ten Grandmasters, along with a group of Martial Artists following him. Although their strength did not reach the Grandmaster Realm, they were at least at the Refining Organ level.
Such a force.
Is enough to defend for quite some time.
Moreover.
The Tianyang Sword Sect was also not lacking in food and water supplies, which made it even less of a problem.
The location selection of any sect is meticulous; if there were problems with food and water sources, they would not have been chosen by the ancestors of the Tianyang Sword Sect.
"We will follow your command!"
Gu Yun and the others immediately bowed to accept the order and retreated, beginning to lead other Martial Artists in guarding every mountain pass.
The entire great hall soon emptied until only Gu Yang remained.
"This battle will depend on whether your siege is faster or if my reinforcements arrive sooner!"
Gu Yang muttered to himself.
However, though this was said, his face showed a look of full control.
Before he brought people to the Tianyang Sword Sect, he had already made the corresponding preparations. Now, barring unforeseen circumstances, the Guangyang Army should be able to arrive before long.
Once the Guangyang Army arrives.
All problems will no longer be problems.
"After this battle, there will be no more rebellious forces in Nanyang County. I shall control the land of two counties. Amongst the four counties south of Qingyun State, Nanyang County’s strength is the most formidable.
Controlling the territory of two counties, I will not need to concern myself with the remaining two!"
Gu Yang’s expression was cool.
...
"Boom!"
Inside the Iron Sword Sect, a powerful presence suddenly erupted, vast True Qi shaking the heavens, and terrifying nature’s spiritual energy converged, forming a Divine Sword that pierced into the Azure Darkness.
Everyone in the Iron Sword Sect looked up at the Spiritual Energy Divine Sword, their faces shocked.
As the Sect Master, Lv Ying, was now even more jubilant.
"The Supreme Elder has broken through!"
"This time, our Iron Sword Sect will surely rise, surpassing its past prosperity!"
Originally, when the Sword Daoist had gone to Blood Mountain Mansion, Lv Ying thought it would be a journey of no return.
Unexpectedly.
It didn’t take long for the Sword Daoist to return to the Iron Sword Sect, and upon his return, he immediately went into seclusion.
Regarding this.
Lv Ying clearly understood the intent behind the seclusion.
But the Sword Daoist had previously secluded himself for two hundred years without making a true breakthrough to Great Grandmaster. This time, the probability of a real breakthrough seemed low.
But now.
That pressure surpassing a Martial Arts Grandmaster let Lv Ying understand that the Sword Daoist had finally taken that step.
A step taken.
Was to become a Martial Arts Grandmaster.
Since ancient times.
Those who could truly reach the status of Martial Arts Grandmaster in the world were exceedingly rare.
Nowadays.
The Iron Sword Sect has produced a Martial Arts Grandmaster, how could Lv Ying not be thrilled.
After all, with a Great Grandmaster at the helm, the Iron Sword Sect would surely be the number one sect of Nanyang County, and even looking across the Nine States, the Iron Sword Sect could be among the top.
Even more important is.
That the lifespan of a Great Grandmaster is three hundred years longer than that of an ordinary Grandmaster.
Meaning.
For the next three hundred years, the Iron Sword Sect will have a Great Grandmaster in existence.
Such a mighty figure, even in death, can leave behind their legacy.
For these reasons.
The emergence of a Martial Arts Grandmaster could at least lead to a thousand years of prosperity for the Iron Sword Sect.
This.
Is the real reason why Lv Ying is so excited.
Just then.
The heavenly phenomenon did not last for long before it dispersed.
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When the Sword Daoist appeared once more in the great hall of the sect, the aura of his twilight years had completely vanished, replaced by a vibrant vitality.
"Congratulations to the Supreme Elder on attaining the Great Grandmaster, extending your life by three hundred years!"
Lv Ying immediately clasped his hands in congratulations, his face full of joy.
The Sword Daoist smiled lightly, "After two hundred years of seclusion, this old man had always been unable to grasp the essence. If not for my trip to Blood Mountain Mansion this time, breaking through would not have been so easy."
At that point,
the Sword Daoist also felt a deep sense of nostalgia.
Common folks believed that he had simply broken through to the realm of Great Grandmaster and extended his life by three hundred years.
Yet only the Sword Daoist himself knew that when he broke through to the Great Grandmaster, he had successfully cultivated the Blood Refining Chapter of the Longevity Skills.
Perfect Refining Skin!
Perfect Blood Refining!
With the success of both, his lifespan was extended by another three hundred years.
Thus,
the Sword Daoist was not merely extending his life by three hundred years, but rather six hundred years in total, equivalent to living an entire extra lifetime.
After all, a Martial Artist at the level of a blood master barely managed to live five hundred years.
Now, with a breakthrough achieved in an instant, extending his life by six hundred years was no different from living another life.
However,
the Sword Daoist did not reveal these matters.
He was very aware of the significant importance of the Longevity Skills; since Gu Qingfeng had imparted them to him, should he not have Gu Qingfeng’s permission, the Sword Daoist would certainly not disclose them.
It wasn’t just a matter of integrity; it was to protect the entire Iron Sword Sect.
Otherwise, if they were to offend that person because of this, the Iron Sword Sect would be reduced to ashes in the blink of an eye.
This,
the Sword Daoist did not doubt in the slightest.
The battle at Blood Mountain Mansion had allowed him to truly witness the terrifying strength of that Martial Saint, and even now that he had broken through to the Great Grandmaster realm, the Sword Daoist still deemed himself no match for Gu Qingfeng.
The higher the cultivation,
the more one could sense the unfathomable depth of the other party.
Especially when recalling that ultimate strike which had slain the Evil Spirit, even now it made the Sword Daoist’s heart tremble with residual fear.
It was evident.
Gu Qingfeng’s strength had reached a realm so profound it was beyond the comprehension of gods and ghosts.
Therefore, even after becoming a Great Grandmaster, the Sword Daoist had no intention of becoming an enemy of Gu Qingfeng.
Pondering this,
the Sword Daoist changed the topic and inquired, "It is said that the Guangyang Prince has already led troops into Nanyang County, may I ask what the current situation is like?"
"To inform the Supreme Elder, not long ago the Guangyang Prince dispatched troops to annihilate the Pei Family and simultaneously led powerful fighters to siege the Tianyang Sword Sect.
The latest news suggests that the Tianyang Sword Sect has been destroyed, but both the court’s army and various rebel forces from Nanyang County have sent troops to jointly besiege and attempt to confine him within the Tianyang Sword Sect.
Currently, the whole of Nanyang County is in turmoil; various powers are being affected, yet fortunately, since the Supreme Elder has now attained the realm of Great Grandmaster, he will be able to ensure the safety of our Iron Sword Sect..."
Lv Ying, without hesitation, recounted all of the events.
But, as his words trailed off, he noticed that the Sword Daoist’s complexion had turned somber and unpleased.
"What did you say... The Guangyang Prince is under siege at the Tianyang Sword Sect?"
"Indeed—"
Lv Ying instinctively nodded his head.
Yet before his words were fully spoken, the Sword Daoist said in a grave tone, "Immediately gather all Iron Sword Sect disciples, and set out at once to rescue the Guangyang Prince at Tianyang Sword Sect!"
"What do you mean by this, Supreme Elder?"
Lv Ying’s face changed, and confusion that he couldn’t conceal filled his eyes. He didn’t understand why the Iron Sword Sect would get involved in this mire at such a time.
After all, the current Tianyang Sword Sect was the eye of Nanyang County’s storm, with the slightest misstep potentially implicating them.
Even if the Iron Sword Sect boasted a newly emerged Great Grandmaster, they ought not to get involved.
"I was able to break through to Great Grandmaster thanks in no small part to that Martial Saint, and I once promised that the Iron Sword Sect would obey the Guangyang Prince. Now that the Guangyang Prince is under siege, our Iron Sword Sect cannot stand idly by."
The words of the Sword Daoist caused Lv Ying’s expression to change repeatedly.
Watching the change in the other’s demeanor, the Sword Daoist continued, "You have not truly witnessed the strength of that Martial Saint; you can’t comprehend how formidable such an existence is.
Even now, after my own breakthrough to Great Grandmaster, I am but an ant before him."
"With such a powerhouse assisting from behind, the Guangyang Prince has a great likelihood of ascending to the throne. Nowadays, when Magicians dominate and Martial Artists are in decline, the emergence of that Martial Saint will surely bring about a revival of the Martial Arts."
"It is only beneficial and harmless for our Iron Sword Sect to forge a relationship with him early on."
Lv Ying fell silent at the Sword Daoist’s words.
He didn’t expect
that this Supreme Elder, having just broken through to Great Grandmaster, would speak such words.
Although Gu Qingfeng’s achievements were indeed astonishing, hearing it from the mouth of a Martial Arts Grandmaster was far more shocking.
"Very well; I shall make a trip to the Tianyang Sword Sect first; you will follow shortly thereafter leading the disciples of the Iron Sword Sect!"
The Sword Daoist didn’t waste any more time, leaving immediately after giving his instructions.
He had just achieved the Great Grandmaster status, and facing such news, the Sword Daoist couldn’t remain idle.
If the Guangyang Prince indeed perished at the Tianyang Sword Sect, and the Martial Saint was enraged, the situation could potentially lead to devastating consequences.
If the Evil Spirit of Blood Mountain Mansion were to be unleashed, it had the power to reduce an entire county of Nanyang to ruins.
And if Gu Qingfeng’s strength was even more terrifying than that of Blood Mountain Mansion’s Evil Spirit, then should something befall the direct heir of Guangyang within Nanyang County, the extent of the impact would be incalculable.
Therefore,
both in consideration of emotion and reason,
the Sword Daoist had to intervene.
And he dared not hesitate even for a moment, for fear that he might arrive a step too late.
As the Sword Daoist departed, Lv Ying’s expression shifted uncertainly, but ultimately, he gritted his teeth and decided to follow the Sword Daoist’s commands.
After all, the other party was the Supreme Elder of the Iron Sword Sect and the one and only Great Grandmaster of the sect; even as the Sect Master, Lv Ying could not defy him.
Moreover—
The words spoken by the Sword Daoist seemed reasonable to Lv Ying.
Without delay,
Lv Ying then gave orders to gather all disciples of the Iron Sword Sect, with the exception of a necessary contingent to guard the sect, and the rest were dispatched to support Gu Yang, who was entrenched at the Tianyang Sword Sect.