Demon Sword Sect's Undercover

Daoist Zhi Xuan felt a hint of unease growing in his heart. In his impression, Hou Niao was not someone who would be so ambiguous and evasive, either bluntly admitting fault or firmly refusing, never wavering with a façade of arrangement.

"Senior Brother, are the people you found reliable? Can we contact them now?"

Jue Mingzi resolutely said, "Absolutely reliable. I saw the item when it was brought, and it indeed relocated the Sword Tomb Cave Heaven. However, we can't contact them now; we had agreed to cut off all communication for safety reasons. Rest assured, you said they might find a way to bring out the Sword Tomb Cave Heaven, which is possible, but to achieve that in such a short time is absolutely impossible."

Zhi Xuan shook his head, unable to say more. This matter was arranged by this Senior Brother Yuqing, and he found the people to do it. But now, it seems somewhat improper?

Offering treasure in exchange for treasure didn't achieve the intended purpose; instead, the other side gained the advantage. Now it's their turn—if the Sword Sect can't produce the flying swords, that's one thing. But if they do, where could he find someone willing to destroy a century of cultivation just to possess a flying sword?

When it comes to one's own Daoist Path, even if they are as close as father and son, there's no room for negotiation.

Things have developed into a mysterious and puzzling situation.

The setting up of the array was very slow—even a Daoist sect like the Sword Sect, which is not very specialized in formations, shouldn't be this slow. This somewhat reassured Zhi Xuan and Jue Mingzi.

But no matter how slowly it's arranged, there comes a moment when it's properly set up. Hou Niao, standing high on the Heavenly Altar, said, "Master Xu, you may take any sword from the Sword Tomb to entertain the guests."

Upon hearing this, Master Xu departed, while Hou Niao gestured, "Disciples eligible to receive a sword from the Sword Sect, please enter."

A hundred or so disciples from the Sword Sect entered, half Golden Core and half Foundation Establishment. In truth, at least several thousand disciples in the Sword Sect needed flying swords. All were eagerly waiting, but such things could never be easily distributed. Over time, it would become an expected benefit, diminishing the desire to strive.

There must be a selection process. Only disciples who perform well, have strong abilities, and sufficient achievements will have opportunities. This is the operation secret of the sect's power.

Hou Niao cupped his hands towards the observing cultivators, "The Sword Sect bestows swords, everyone can have a share. Those interested, please step forward. But I need not elaborate on the rules; without cultivating their sword in the Purple Mansion, one may not be able to take away these treasures. Such is the nature of flying swords, I ask for your understanding."

This was not much practical good news for the Daoist sect cultivators present. Unlike those treasures, acquiring a flying sword and inviting others to join the Sword Sect is almost impossible for the Buddhist Sect or Daoist Sect to accept.

Even though Zhi Xuan and Jue Mingzi were mentally prepared, they still had no real plan to cope with this situation. They couldn't find cultivators willing to participate in this event.

Still, dozens of cultivators gleefully ascended the Heavenly Sword Platform. They were from small Daoist sects affiliated with the Demon Sect, which inherently had no conflict with the Sword Sect. Their internal sect atmosphere was open, filled with aspirations for the Sword Dao. Or they felt no future in their main Dao and were willing to explore other possibilities.

It's also possible these small Daoist sects wanted to establish a connection with the Sword Sect. Direct contact between higher-ups is awkward, but establishing a link through disciples learning the sword art is natural. Ultimately, it involves only one or two disciples, limited to this single occurrence at the Dushan ceremony.

Daoist Zhi Xuan's face turned somewhat grim. He realized the Daoist Sect's arrangements seemed ineffective in this grand ceremony. The Sword Sect quietly turned the tide without notice, and all the Daoist Sect's efforts seemed to be in vain, like making a wedding dress for others?

The key person in this is Hou Niao. After all these years, this guy has grown very fast and is increasingly troublesome.

He painstakingly forced Yue Duo to another direction, thinking all was settled, but the shadow of the Sword Sect remained. A countryside Sword Sect is still a Sword Sect, equally difficult to deal with.

"We must prepare for the aftermath if the Sword Sect really does present the flying swords. Otherwise, we might just be here to make a fool of ourselves."

Master Xu's actions were slow, but he eventually returned to the Heavenly Sword Platform. He didn't cancel the sword bestowal under some excuse, as the Daoist Sect had hoped, but naturally walked into the array. It was then that Zhi Xuan and the Daoists of the Three Pure Ones system finally realized that the Sword Sect's flying swords weren't lost!

Hou Niao smiled as usual, "In that case, forgive my inadequacy."

Master Xu took out a sword scabbard, a replica of the Qingkong Sword Scabbard, with the universe within, capable of carrying flying swords for a short time.

He tossed the sword scabbard into the air, pointed with his hand, and at once, a torrent of steel sprayed forth—dozens, then over a hundred... Cultivators witnessing thought there would be at most dozens of flying swords. When the sword swarm actually galloped on the Heavenly Sword Platform, they realized the scale of this sword grant was as high as over three hundred.

Over three hundred streams of light surged back and forth in the sky, eager to break free, seeking their freedom, but could not break through the mana barrier arranged on the platform. This is the greatest weakness of unclaimed flying swords; they lack a mana source.

More than two hundred cultivators sat cross-legged on the Heavenly Sword Platform, motionless. Now was not the best time to retrieve the flying swords. They needed to wait until the swords calmed down, no longer frantic, before establishing a connection.

After a thousand years of waiting, these boundless spirited flying swords frolicked around, reluctant to be calm, resembling a rushing sword river, where even Gao Xuan's treasure halo paled in comparison.

The entire area below the Heavenly Sword Platform erupted in great cheers, those from the sword cultivators. The number of flying swords was far beyond what they imagined, meaning that if one works hard, there will undoubtedly be opportunities, no longer needing to pretend to be sword cultivators...

Jue Mingzi's face was livid. He hadn't expected this? Such a vast number of flying swords could only prove one thing—the Sword Tomb Cave Heaven was safe and sound.

"Could we have hidden a fake Cave Heaven? Was the real small Sword Tomb world hidden elsewhere by them?"

He was still looking for excuses for his mistake, but Zhi Xuan was no longer interested in this issue. "Senior Brother, right now, the most important problem is how to cut ties between this incident and us? They will surely suspect us, but if there's no evidence, it can only remain suspicion! We can't have any handles for them to hold onto!"

With hatred, Jue Mingzi said, "There won't be any connection, nor is it our people. The Anchor Chain cultivator will take the blame, and it won't be found..."

The intention to embarrass the Sword Sect during the ceremony completely failed. Their offering didn't meet expectations due to various reasons, while the Sword Sect's sword bestowal exceeded imagined scale. This exchange and the covert and overt fights with the Sword Sect during the ceremony were seen by the discerning, giving the various Daoist sects on the Continent an impression of the Sword Sect's untouchable strength, greatly benefiting their alliance, leaving the Daoist Sect powerless.