The distorted evil qi exploded fiercely on the distant horizon along with the rising morning sun.

The sunlight faded, the blood light rampant.

The air was filled with a mix of bizarre sharp sounds, thundering booms that threatened to shatter eardrums and churn brains.

The large barrier of the Nanwu Sword Sect's array was opened, and demonic ghosts fell like a sudden downpour. The ripple upon ripple of the transparent barrier made the islands of the Sword Sect seem as if they had sunk to the ocean floor.

Looking up, the sky was nowhere to be seen.

A beautiful young woman slightly raised her head, watching the chaotic scene in the distance, her brows slightly furrowed, yet she continued to sit still on Luoxia Bamboo Island deep within the Misty Sea, unmoving.

She wore a vermilion brocade robe so ordinary that it couldn't be more ordinary. Her face was dreamily exquisite, her figure voluptuous and full, yet her expression was as cold as snow. Any man who was still a man would undoubtedly be captivated by her flawless body the moment they saw her.

A young man awakened to love would be mesmerized by her enchanting face that could satisfy any fantasy; an old man seasoned in battle would fixate on the bosom and hips that would linger in their thoughts before bed.

But immediately, no matter what kind of man, they would be repelled by her demeanor that kept people at a thousand miles away.

If someone still disbelieved and wanted to get close, they would be cruelly pierced by the thorns of this flower.

She had many titles.

The first beauty of Southern Wu, the daughter of the Sword Sect Leader, Innate Water Profound Root, and a genius Array Master.

She was Yu Xuanwei.

...

Yu Xuanwei's brows furrowed even tighter, but even the frown carried a beauty that moved the heart like Xizi holding her heart.

She frowned because things were far beyond her expectations.

The Great Elder had sought her out before he left, discussing with her for a long time about "what to do in case all top fighters of the Nanwu Sword Sect were dead".

First, she would open the door behind her to check if her father, the Sword Emperor Shui Bo, was still alive.

If he was, Shui Bo Sword Emperor would make the decision.

But... this hope was actually slim.

The blood Shui Bo Sword Emperor used to determine the "Third Palace" was far too risky; it was demon blood directed towards the divine soul.

During this time, Swordmaster Kuye repeatedly experimented with elixirs and decoctions to "repair the divine soul" and "remove the divine soul poison", and secretly sent them to Luoxia Bamboo Island every few days, hoping to increase the chances for Shui Bo Sword Emperor to break through.

However, others did not know, but Yu Xuanwei knew... as early as last year, the decoction she left in the secret room's "food entrance" hadn't been touched since.

In other words, either Shui Bo Sword Emperor had been immersed in some peculiar state for a whole year, or... the worst-case scenario had already happened.

Shui Bo Sword Emperor was already dead.

However, she had never disclosed this news to the outside.

Part of the reason why Nanwu Sword Sect, and even Southern Wu, could still hold on was because of the "Shui Bo Sword Emperor in secluded retreat on Luoxia Bamboo Island".

If the news of "Shui Bo Sword Emperor's demise" leaked out, morale would likely collapse beyond recognition in an instant, and defeat would follow like a landslide.

Secondly, she would lead the elite from the sect to quickly withdraw from the Nanwu Sword Sect, then head south to the wilderness to search for the ancient teleportation array recorded in the Sword Sect Chronicles.

The "list of elite seeds in the sect" was given to her by the Great Elder.

As for the teleportation array, it was said that the other side of the teleportation array was where the Nanwu Sword Sect originated. The first sect leader of Nanwu Sword Sect also came from that side, which is why they brought mysterious and comprehensive cultivation techniques like the Profound Sword Scripture and the Chi Qiu Ring-Head Sword Array.

Unfortunately, the teleportation array had been damaged for reasons unknown for a long time. Fortunately, some details about the array were recorded in the Sword Sect Chronicles, and coupled with years of research by the sect leader's lineage, by her time... she was confident she could repair it.

But ah...

She did not expect that, after the Great Elder and others went to keep the appointment at Konglan Mountain, the Puppet Sect took advantage of the situation and launched a surprise attack.

'What happened?'

'The Great Elder is careful in his actions. He would definitely wait for a significant presence of Crimson Palace aura at Konglan Mountain before going to the appointment; otherwise... he wouldn't have gone.'

'The Puppet Sect should also know that a surprise attack is meaningless, fighting on foreign terrain would only increase their casualties.'

'Our sect is at a disadvantage in battles with the Puppet Sect; complete defeat is only a matter of time. If the Puppet Sect wanted victory, there is no need to be so impatient.'

'This trickery is pointless.'

Yet this unreasonable event happened regardless.

Yu Xuanwei watched the distance, deep in thought. She needed some time to quickly make a decision.

Whether to do nothing, play the empty fortress strategy, go to support, or quickly find the elite and quietly leave with them.

But in the next moment, all her considerations were interrupted.

Because outside the array of Luoxia Bamboo Island, a person suddenly appeared, a person enveloped entirely in pitch-black heavy armor, from whose visor seams blood-colored wisps were streaming.

As soon as that person appeared, shadows grew behind him, transforming into slender paper figures with the swish of the wind, forming lines of red and green-clad men and women. In front of these paper figures was a beauty in white clothes.

Only the beauty's face was as pale as paper.

Clearly, it was a paper figure.

At this moment, a buzzing voice came from behind the pitch-black heavy armor: "Dear niece, this seat has already reached you. This move placed on the mortal world's chessboard is called 'General'. Why don't we lay down our arms?"

Yu Xuanwei stared coldly at him, saying, "Gu Huangzi?"

Gu Huangzi made no attempt to hide, nor did he waste time, directly saying, "Whatever seeds your Sword Sect has, take them all, we will flee south, this seat knows where the ancient teleportation array is."

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