As the stalemate between Ye Yun and the others eased, the golden light that had suffused the area gradually receded with the dissipation of the celestial anomaly.
Following this, a figure of exquisite grace descended gracefully, none other than Xing Wu, who had successfully completed her task.
Upon her arrival, she immediately sought out Ye Yun, her voice laced with concern. "I'm done here. Are you alright?"
Ye Yun chuckled faintly, raising an eyebrow. "Rest assured, guarding this place was a breeze."
"Good. Thank you for your hard work," Xing Wu nodded, gazing at him with a smile.
This scene left Zhao Wangsheng, who was standing nearby, utterly mesmerized, his gaze fixated on Xing Wu. He didn't recognize her identity but was utterly captivated by her beauty and aura.
Seeing that the two had exchanged greetings, Zhao Wangsheng couldn't help but exclaim, "Remarkable, Elder Ye! Is this the 'immortal companion' you spoke of? She's truly breathtaking."
"And her presence… it's unlike anything I've ever witnessed."
He spared no praise for Xing Wu. In fact, he felt that no amount of extravagant language would be an exaggeration when describing her. Her aura reminded him so strongly of the Heavenly Dao Palace Master he had once seen…
Upon hearing this, Xing Wu glanced at him before turning her attention back to Ye Yun. "And who is this?"
Ye Yun promptly explained, "He's an old friend from the Mortal Dust Mountain. We met in the Sea of Illusions, and he helped guard this place with us earlier."
Previously, he might not have considered Zhao Wangsheng a friend, but after this ordeal, things had changed.
Zhao Wangsheng quickly chimed in with a smile, "I am Zhao Wangsheng, an Elder from the Mortal Dust Mountain."
After listening, Xing Wu appraised him for a moment before nodding. "From Mortal Dust Mountain… I see."
Having confirmed his identity, she didn't say anything further. She then turned her gaze towards the onlookers in the distance and asked in a calm voice, "And them? Were they planning to cause trouble?"
"Uh… you could say that," Ye Yun nodded. If these individuals were given the chance, they certainly wouldn't behave.
Upon receiving confirmation, Xing Wu's eyes narrowed, and her gaze fell upon them. A strange chill washed over many, making them instinctively want to flee.
Noticing this, Ye Yun seemed to understand something and asked with surprise, "You don't mean to…"
Before he could finish, a killing intent flashed in Xing Wu's eyes. She then raised her jade-like hand, conjuring sharp blades resembling black cloth from her palm. These were unmistakably the techniques of the Abyss race: the Black Soul Blades.
"Go!"
Instantly, over a hundred Black Soul Blades shot out, slicing through the crowd like reapers.
At this moment, the expressions of the cultivators who had harbored any hopes of escaping drastically changed, and they turned to flee. However, their speed was no match for the Black Soul Blades, which offered no chance of resistance.
*Swoosh! Swoosh!*
Blood splattered wherever the Black Soul Blades passed, and agonized screams echoed incessantly. Many were cleaved in half, struggling desperately in their final moments before their cries quickly faded into silence.
In a mere instant, the area that had been teeming with people was now littered with pools of blood and the gruesome remains of the fallen. The overwhelming stench of blood, coupled with such ruthless execution, unsettled even the True Saint realm powerhouses from Mortal Dust Mountain. Unlike the battlefield, this was a one-sided massacre, far more brutal.
Simultaneously, they felt a sense of lingering dread. Had they not stood on the right side, they likely would have been among these mangled corpses.
After dispatching the crowd, Xing Wu's killing intent subsided. She smiled and turned to Ye Yun. "What were you about to say just now?"
Ye Yun coughed lightly and said with resignation, "It's nothing. Killing them was the right thing to do." Ultimately, those individuals had brought their demise upon themselves. He, having once been a young man under a red flag, was hesitant to engage in widespread slaughter unless provoked, as with the Black Demon Sect in the past. Today, these people had merely run into Xing Wu, and it was their misfortune, a case of "men die in pursuit of wealth, birds die in pursuit of food."
Meanwhile, Zhao Wangsheng, having witnessed Xing Wu's earlier display, couldn't help but swallow hard. "Are those… Abyss race techniques? Who exactly are you?" Such sharp and bloody methods were clearly not the work of an ordinary individual. Had he not known she was Ye Yun's immortal companion, he would have fled immediately. Based on her brief display, Zhao Wangsheng was absolutely certain that he would perish if he faced her.
Hearing this, Xing Wu turned her head and glanced at him casually before revealing her name. "Xing Wu. You must have heard this name before, yes?"
Her words struck Zhao Wangsheng and those around him like a thunderous explosion, leaving them stunned. It was Zhao Wangsheng who finally reacted. His eyes widened as he asked incredulously, "You mean… the Sword Emperor of Night?"
"That's right. It's me." Xing Wu didn't try to hide it, nodding frankly. Since Ye Yun had allowed her to stay, she could trust him, and there was no point in concealing her identity.
However, for Zhao Wangsheng, this was overwhelmingly shocking. He swallowed hard and then looked at Ye Yun, seemingly seeking confirmation. "She… she really is the Sword Emperor of Night, Xing Wu?"
Seeing his reaction, Ye Yun shrugged. "Yes, the genuine Xing Wu. Surprised?" He smiled as he said this, finding a peculiar satisfaction in this form of subtle bragging.
Once again receiving confirmation, Zhao Wangsheng, despite his disbelief, could no longer deny it. "It… it is a bit overwhelming. Please, let me have a moment to compose myself…" Zhao Wangsheng took several deep breaths, desperately trying to calm his turbulent emotions. After a while, he inhaled deeply and then approached Xing Wu, his excitement barely contained. "So you are the Sword Emperor of Night! I've long admired your reputation! I never imagined I would have the honor of meeting you in person today!"
Seeing his profound awe, Xing Wu couldn't help but smile. "It seems my reputation still holds some sway after all these years."
"More than some! Your renown has shaken the world throughout the ages!" Zhao Wangsheng exclaimed enthusiastically. "From the past to the present, you have always been an idol for sword cultivators!"
"Someone like me, I've dreamed of meeting you." At this moment, he appeared like an ardent fan encountering their beloved celebrity. Despite his age, he seemed utterly childlike.
Xing Wu listened with a faint smile, offering a word of praise. "You certainly know how to speak."
"Not at all, I'm merely stating the truth," Zhao Wangsheng replied with a grin. He then seemed to recall something, looking at Xing Wu and then at Ye Yun, marveling. "I truly never imagined that Elder Ye would have such an empress as his immortal companion."
"It's no wonder that even after Elder Xu and Elder Ye engaged in dual cultivation, you still didn't agree to be together back then." Zhao Wangsheng spoke these words truthfully, causing both Xing Wu and Ye Yun, on either side of him, to freeze.
Just as Ye Yun had anticipated, his "wife," Xing Wu, was now smiling at him. "Is that so? You engaged in dual cultivation with someone else? Having so much fun while I was away?" Although her voice was gentle, Ye Yun could distinctly feel a murderous aura emanating from it, capable of shattering his very soul. He could easily imagine Xing Wu's anger: *I've been relentlessly hunted outside because of you, and you've been playing around with other women behind my back?*
At that moment, Ye Yun could only offer Zhao Wangsheng a heartfelt thought: *Damn you, Zhao Wangsheng! You think you can play tricks on me, huh!*