In the void, a patch of red clouds swept rapidly in from the north.
Within these red clouds were the visitors from the Purple Sun Sect. The one leading them was Grandmaster Shuiyue. On either side of her were a one-eyed Elder and a silver-haired Elder. From the looks of it, their status was second only to Grandmaster Shuiyue's, appearing as her deputies.
Behind them followed over a thousand fully armed Purple Sun Sect enforcement disciples. From their formation, it was clear they were all warriors of the Earth Spirit Realm without exception.
Among this thousand-strong force, ten captains in golden robes led the way. Each was at the seventh level of the Spirit Realm, possessing considerable strength.
Jiang Chen's Heavenly Eye Divine Pupil shot out a light as he gazed from afar, instantly identifying the newcomers.
With a flick of his hand seals, an army of millions of Sword Birds moved instantly, bursting down from the clouds, blotting out the sky like a meteor shower.
"Form the formation!"
At Jiang Chen's mental command, the millions-strong army of Sword Birds, led by the Golden-Winged Sword Birds, deployed the Eight Desolations Spirit-Gathering Formation over the Shangyang Kingdom's sky.
Jiang Chen took the lead, standing at the formation's forefront.
Two Golden-Winged Sword Birds, dangling the captive father and son, Wu Tan and Wu Hong, circled before him, clearly intended as a show of force to the Purple Sun Sect arrivals.
Gouyu felt a slight shock at the imposing display of the Purple Sun Sect. However, when her gaze lingered on Jiang Chen's face and she saw his calm and composed expression, she couldn't help but feel greatly reassured.
In that moment, an overwhelming sense of safety arose—as long as Jiang Chen was present, no matter how powerful the opponent, there was nothing to fear.
As for Huang'er, she remained serene and composed as always. Beneath her cloak, not a trace of emotional fluctuation was visible, as if the grand display of the Purple Sun Sect simply didn't exist.
This quietly surprised Gouyu. It seemed this Miss Huang'er, despite her delicate and frail appearance, could remain so steady in a critical moment like this.
With that thought, Gouyu felt a touch of self-reproach and silently encouraged herself.
Xue Tong and the other four attendants were also mounted on Golden-Winged Sword Birds, forming a line behind Jiang Chen. This kind of formation was something they had never witnessed in their lives. They felt a mix of nervous tension and overwhelming excitement.
Their thoughts were similar—their young master wasn't afraid, so what reason did they, as attendants, have to be scared?
Just thinking about being able to follow their young master and stand toe-to-toe with powerful experts of the Purple Sun Sect on their own turf... that experience alone would be enough to savor for the rest of their lives.
"Grandmaster Shuiyue, save us father and son!"
Wu Tan was suspended in the air, helpless. Seeing the reinforcements from the Purple Sun Sect arrive, he was overjoyed and cried out for help repeatedly.
Wu Hong also shouted, "Three Elders, I, Wu Hong, have been utterly loyal to the Purple Sun Sect..."
"Silence!" A flash of fury passed through Grandmaster Shuiyue's beautiful eyes.
The traces of time on Grandmaster Shuiyue's still-charming face were not very obvious, but at this moment, her anger was displayed very clearly.
She didn't care at all about the life or death of the father and son, Wu Tan and Wu Hong.
In her eyes, there was only Jiang Chen, and in her heart, only one thought: to kill Jiang Chen!
"Everyone, this thief Jiang Chen has somehow left the Undying Spirit Mountain. His cultivation must have improved further. We must join forces and ensure we slay this little villain right here before his formation. If we let him escape again, it will be even harder to kill him the next time we meet!"
The one-eyed Elder let out a cold laugh, murderous intent surging on his aged face. "This brat has challenged my Purple Sun Sect time and again. If we don't kill him today, where is the dignity of us Purple Sun Sect Elders?"
The other silver-robed Elder also nodded grimly. "We must kill this brat!"
All three were Elders of the Purple Sun Sect, powerhouses of the ninth level of the Spirit Realm. Grandmaster Shuiyue had the highest cultivation, approaching the peak of the Spirit Realm, only a single step away from the title of Spirit King.
The other two were roughly equal in strength.
This time, the three great Elders arriving together was a force second only to the Patriarch Zhuiyang acting personally.
If Patriarch Zhuiyang hadn't been in closed-door cultivation this time, given his hatred for Jiang Chen, he wouldn't have hesitated to come personally.
However, three great Elders, bringing with them a thousand elite enforcement disciples—this lineup was already powerful enough.
Grandmaster Shuiyue raised her elegant brows, a killing glint flashing once more on her beautiful face. "Jiang Chen, the heavenly soldiers of my Purple Sun Sect have arrived. Today is the day of your death!"
"Heavenly soldiers?" Jiang Chen burst into loud laughter, his tone suddenly turning frigid. "A mere Purple Sun Sect, ignorant of the vastness of heaven and earth, dares to claim they are heavenly soldiers? Fine! Shuiyue, in the Undying Spirit Mountain, you oppressed me multiple times. Today is perfect to settle all accounts with you!"
The one-eyed Elder let out a long whistle and raised a great axe in his hand. The axe shimmered with a bloody aura, appearing exceptionally savage.
"Jiang Chen, as a sect disciple, you openly invade a secular kingdom! Even with ten mouths today, don't even think about leaving alive!"
"Invade?" Jiang Chen laughed out of extreme anger. "When your Purple Sun Sect invaded the Eastern Kingdom, slaughtered the Medicine Hall, and destroyed my Jiang Clan, did you ever consider whether that was an invasion? You started it first, and now you won't let me finish it? Stop wasting your breath. It's actually best that you've come to deliver yourselves to death; it saves me a trip to the Purple Sun Sect!"
"Arrogant!"
The one-eyed Elder was named Elder Longluo. The great axe in his hand was called the Dragon-Slaying Battle Axe, also a ninth-refined spirit artifact.
"Grandmaster Shuiyue, this old man requests to fight."
Grandmaster Shuiyue's beautiful eyes moved slightly, and she nodded. "Elder Longluo, be careful of this brat's numerous tricks!"
The one-eyed Elder Longluo waved his great axe, locking onto Jiang Chen from a distance. "Little villain Jiang Chen, do you dare fight this seat in single combat?"
The powerful spiritual energy of the ninth level of the Spirit Realm, vast and domineering, surged out without reservation, like a flood breaching its dam.
"Ninth level of the Spirit Realm!"