"A setup. This doesn't make any sense. It has to be...a setup." Shui Haoyue rejected the news, refusing to believe that the Nameless Sword Mountain's disciples would stoop so low as to kidnap and slaughter mortals.

It's not that Haoyue had blind faith in the kindness of human nature. Rather, as a faction of the righteous path, the Nameless Sword Mountain had appearances to maintain, appearances secured by strict sect laws that only suicidal invertebrates would dare to break. The oppression of mortals ranked high on that list, with public execution being the lightest sentence.

Moreover, following Qiu Chen's rise, the Nameless Sword Mountain put a stronger emphasis on righteous doctrines -- conditioning the grant of stronger cultivation methods to the accumulation of good deeds. This created a virtuous cycle where all disciples were driven to perform heroic actions and assist the common folks so they could receive mighty cultivation methods and further their own growth.

In such an environment, who would be so foolish as to lay waste to mortal lives?

Intimidation and racketeering, Haoyue could believe. But kidnapping and murder? In broad daylight? For what? These disciples were basically asking to be chopped into ten thousand pieces!

Haoyue couldn't believe it, and yet the facts spoke for themselves because the one that caught these disciples in the act...was none other than Zi Zuixian.

"If Zuixian says so, it must be true. Moreover, according to the news, those treacherous disciples are still drenched in the innocent blood of their victims. The kidnapped mortals corroborate the story, and the accused disciples...are not denying it." Haoyue's mind buzzed at this confusing situation.

Though his drunken habits and disheveled appearance didn't inspire confidence, there wasn't one soul in the Nameless Sword Mountain that doubted Zuixian's integrity. On that level, Haoyue dared say that, if Zuixian called himself number two, no one would dare to claim the first spot. More importantly, as Qiu Chen's sworn brother and the Nameless Sword Mountain's most treasured guest elder, Zuixian had nothing to gain from framing a squad of inner disciples.

Confused, Haoyue stepped out of the temple, heading towards the public execution platform where the rogue disciples were currently held, tied in spiritual chains that suppressed their cultivation.

The Nameless Sword Mountain master, Bai Renyi, faced the 8 disciples, flanked by Zuixian at his left, and the Law Enforcement elder at his right.

"Why? I don't understand. All eight of you are promising disciples of the Nameless Sword Mountain. In an era where our sect is experiencing unprecedented growth and a meteoric rise among the factions of the Yanzhou Province, why did you have to do...this?" Confused, Bai Renyi seriously asked.

His words and tone echoed the thoughts of the sect's elders and disciples, who now gathered in the hundreds around the public execution platform.

"Bai Renyi, don't play the righteous sect master card before us! Do you think we still don't know what you've been up to? You're a remnant of the Celestial--"

"Bold and insolent fiend! You've disgraced the Nameless Sword Mountain and must die for your sins!" Barely had the rogue disciples' leader started his rant that murderous rays flashed through Bai Renyi's eyes. Formless energy waves swept through the platform, blasting all eight disciples into smithereens.

But before the assembly could gawk at this summary execution, the scattered soul fragments of the dead leader reassembled, forming a Vengeful Soul that broke into a peal of laughter.

"Hahaha! Bai Renyi, you can't silence me! You're a remnant of the Celestial Hall -- the only surviving disciple of the Nameless Sword Emperor! Of Feng Jian's disciples, you were the weakest, with subpar innate talent that, despite lavish resources, made you peak at Divine Transformation!

That, in itself, is shameful enough. But following the destruction of the Celestial Hall and your master's suicide, you fled, relying on a heretical cultivation method to prolong your lifespan...by consuming the souls and Blood Energy of young talents!

The more gifted the victim, the more lifespan you gained. For 10,000 years, you've kept the world in the dark. Shifting identities and repeating these atrocities so you could prolong your miserable existence! Even after establishing the Nameless Sword Mountain, addicted to the lifespan and energies that you gained through these heinous deeds, you refused to stop -- not even sparing your own sect disciples!

Degenerate scum! No wonder the Nameless Sword Mountain's top talents always suffered 'mysterious accidents!' And here I was thinking that the White Immortal Sect played tricks to stifle our growth. But no, all along, IT WAS YOU!" The Vengeful Soul's thunderous words boomed throughout the Nameless Sword Mountain, resounding in the ears of all disciples.

Eyes stretched, jaws sank, Bai Renyi's face turned blue, with pulsing veins and burning rage twisting his face.historical

"Lies! Lies!"

"Hahaha! At this stage, you still think you can conceal your crimes? How many of our predecessors' lives did you harvest to prolong your life? Hundreds? Thousands? My father served you with steadfast loyalty. Dozens of years devoted to the sect, yet you still couldn't find enough heart in that corrupt chest of yours to spare his life! Bai Renyi, we want you dead, but before your peak Divine Transformation cultivation base, we're powerless! So, we will use the Beast Hordes to rip you asunder!

And if the Nameless Sword Mountain must perish so your vile existence can come to an end...so be it!" The Vengeful Soul burst into an explosion of foul energies, leaving behind a bloodcurdling scream that boomed throughout the sect.

Instantly, all eyes turned towards Bai Renyi -- seeking answers from the sect master. But Bai Renyi wouldn't remain the center of attention for long. The sky darkened, the earth quaked, and from the distance, all could hear reverberating bestial screams, stampedes of unthinkable size, and the flapping of gigantic birds, heading towards the Nameless Sword Mountain's borders.

Twelve colossal figures led the charge, each rippling with auras that rivaled the Void Tribulant realm, and marking the arrival...of the 29th Horde.