Chapter 1649: Chapter 154: The Cause of Decline
Zhou Yan looked at that incomparably enchanting yet cold-faced woman, a playful smile tugging at the corner of his lips.
The Bishui Sword Sect really couldn’t be considered a large Sect.
But Zhou Yan knew the Sect’s foundations were still extremely deep. Back in the era he had lived through, this had been a renowned Sect. After the chaos of those years, the Sect had remained standing, and later, with Gu Xi’s help on top of that—how could a Sect like this truly fall?
Not to mention, the Bishui Sword Sect itself specialized in the Sword Dao. Its Sword Dao was fierce and ever-advancing; in every aspect of sheer power, it absolutely couldn’t be compared to other Weapons.
Moreover, in terms of Sword Dao inheritance, because of Gu Xi’s relationship with Zhou Yan, the Bishui Sword Sect’s foundations in the Sword Dao were exceedingly strong.
A Sect like this—so long as it didn’t court its own death—how could it degenerate into a small Sect, even to the point of facing annexation?
At first, Zhou Yan had assumed something external had gone wrong, or that they had run into the suppression of an extremely powerful enemy, leading to their forceful Destruction.
But he hadn’t expected that the problem would actually lie within the Sect itself.
If he hadn’t met this enchanting woman, perhaps Zhou Yan would still have thought the Bishui Sword Sect was merely lacking in Qi Fortune.
But after seeing this enchanting woman, Zhou Yan knew the Bishui Sword Sect’s decline was no accident—it was inevitable.
Yes, inevitable.
With a so-called "Elder" of the upper ranks like this, the fact that the Bishui Sword Sect hadn’t already fallen could only be attributed to it being shrouded in immense Qi Fortune.
"What, you’re not going to act? Are you planning to rebel against the Sect?"
Seeing that these female disciples not only failed to seize Zhou Yan but were actually apologizing one after another, the enchanting woman’s face instantly became extremely ugly, and her scolding voice grew even louder.
However, while scolding, her eyes kept darting around, clearly trying to grasp some particular timing.
With movements like that, how could Zhou Yan not understand?
The Blood Nether Saint Son was dead; when the small one dies, the old one will definitely appear. Especially a Saint Master capable of adding a strand of his own Soul Power onto the Blood Nether Saint Son—there was no way such a man would let the Blood Nether Saint Son’s death slide.
And this enchanting woman was most likely frightened of the Blood Nether Saint Lord’s ruthless retaliation, so she was in a hurry to sever all ties with Zhou Yan.
The enemy of one’s enemy is a friend. As long as the Bishui Sword Sect stood opposed to Zhou Yan, then the Blood Nether Sacred Land would have no reason or pretext to make a move against the Bishui Sword Sect.
The idea itself was decent, but such a simple scheme truly had no use in front of Zhou Yan.
"Elder—"
"Elder, the Heavenly Mechanism Saint Son was—"
"Insolence! Fine, very good. Since you refuse to act, then on behalf of the Bishui Sword Sect, I hereby expel you from the Sect! You may get lost now!"
The enchanting woman said coldly.
In that instant, all the female disciples around Zhou Yan turned deathly pale, their bodies trembling uncontrollably.
"Hold it."
Zhou Yan spoke up suddenly.
Only then did he stroll out unhurriedly, his gaze meeting that of the enchanting woman, his eyes indifferent, not revealing the slightest hint of aura.
As if everything that was happening was nothing but fleeting clouds to him.
"What, you think you get to meddle in the Bishui Sword Sect’s affairs?"
A clear trace of mockery appeared on the enchanting woman’s face, and deep within her eyes, a strong killing intent flickered, though it had yet to erupt.
Zhou Yan knew she was waiting—waiting for an opportunity, for a moment when a Disciple or important figure of the Blood Nether Sacred Land appeared.
Once that opportunity came, she would immediately strike ruthlessly, to avenge the "Blood Nether Saint Son."
In that way, she could directly shift all responsibility and preserve the Bishui Sword Sect.
"That’s right, I do intend to interfere with the Bishui Sword Sect’s affairs. As for those disciples, you have no right to expel them from the Sect. You also have no right to represent the Bishui Sword Sect."
"And you... what the hell are you supposed to be?!"
After Zhou Yan spoke lightly, his tone suddenly deepened, his cold voice full of disdain.
"Presumptuous—"
The enchanting woman was enraged. She immediately extended a finger and tapped toward the Void, where a Light Saber suddenly appeared.
The Light Saber thrust straight at Zhou Yan.
"Swoosh—"
The Void let out a sharp sonic boom of compressed air; the speed of this strike actually exceeded the speed of sound.
But in Zhou Yan’s eyes, this speed was merely "not bad," nothing more.
And for that level of "not bad," Zhou Yan didn’t even need to dodge, because he, Zhou Yan, was once the Emperor Qi Sword Body.
Emperor Qi Sword Body—ten thousand swords submit!
To display the Sword Dao in front of Zhou Yan was like brandishing an axe in front of Guan Gong—simply making a fool of oneself, courting death.
Zhou Yan didn’t even bother to look at the trajectory of that incoming strike. The moment the Sword Light reached him, a strand of his will quietly spread out.
"Buzz—"
The Light Saber trembled at once, as if its will had been altered, and it reversed course to strike at the enchanting woman instead.
The enchanting woman’s alluring body shuddered, her face filled with disbelief and terror; clearly, she hadn’t expected such a scene.
However, since that strike had been unleashed by her, in her panic she immediately connected her Soul to that Sword, reestablishing contact with it, and then forcibly recalled the Light Saber.
But the consequence of forcing it back was that her face turned deathly pale in an instant—obviously, she had suffered backlash and was wounded.
Others might not see it, but how could Zhou Yan fail to notice?
"You dare provoke the Bishui Sword Sect—"
