"What do you mean?" Zu Wei's spirit looked bewildered, frightened, and anxious. Before her stood nine divine-faced Creator Immortal spirits, leaving her dizzy.
She couldn't fathom why he possessed the elusive Nine Souls Talent.
That was supposed to be exclusive to the Nine Yin Soul Sea!
Then it struck her. Though this celestial slave's body was broken, his spirit must be whole and intact...
"What do you think I mean?" The nine Yun Xiaos spoke in unison, their soul swords pressing against her spirit. There was no need to remove her veil; even in spirit form, she was a celestial beauty with a sacred face and aloof demeanor, like a proud peacock—a born judge.
She looked inherently superior, carrying an air of privilege.
"I... I don't know..." Zu Wei's spirit stammered, her eyes filling with tears, about to cry.
At that moment, her heart collapsed into despair; gone was her former aloof and cold indifference.
Like a female general pulled off her horse and thrown into the mud, her armor stripped away, all aura gone.
"You don't know? I'll make you know."
Yun Xiao's nine swords pressed down sharply. His voice was cold and contemptuous: "Kneel!"
"Ugh!" Zu Wei finally understood. Her pupils widened, her face twisted, tears bursting from her eyes.
Of course, this was just her spirit.
Outside, people saw Zu Wei utterly defeated, immobilized by Yun Xiao's Prison Warden Sigil, unable to move. She wept bitterly in mid-air, her whole body trembling, her face filled with grief and despair.
From her hair to her toes, she radiated shame; she had completely collapsed.
"She just lost, didn't she? Crying so hard—anyone would think Lil Yun did something awful to her! That scumbag...!" Feng Yao was the first to notice the battle here. Yun Xiao defeating his opponent didn't surprise her.
She knew Yun Xiao; once he took action, the battle was as good as won.
"Wow...!" Hai Qing paused, puzzled as she watched Zu Wei's tears of humiliating collapse. Shaking her head, she said, "Maybe she was too proud to accept the fact that she lost!"
"How dull." Feng Yao rolled her eyes, then shouted loudly, "Zu Wei has been utterly defeated! Everyone, press the advantage! Wipe them out! Spare those who surrender!"
Her words shook the battlefield, pulling many geniuses absorbed in combat back to reality.
"Senior Sister Zu Wei...!"
Mu Zixiao, Mu Zhilu, and the others saw Zu Wei held in Yun Xiao's grasp like a helpless chick. The proud scion of the Ancestral Land, now sobbing like a quail. Their faces turned pale; their minds shattered.
Hai Qing was merely someone the Mu brothers tried to befriend; Zu Wei was their true goddess. Seeing the goddess of their hearts reduced to this, rage surged within them, yet their hearts grew cold—for they themselves were no match for Zu Wei.
Even Zu Wei had been subdued by Yun Xiao. Their 100 disciples were already outnumbered and outmatched. What hope did they have of breaking through?
"Strike while the iron is hot! Take them down!" Feng Yao's cold words made those in the Carefree Windy Clouds faction sense the scent of a great victory. They all joined the crushing battle.
"Beat the dog while it's down!"
The opposing side collapsed; their fighting spirit was close to shattering entirely.
"Truly a mad dog!"
People cursed and sighed. From an ordinary perspective, it was hard to admire Yun Xiao. They could admit he was fierce and wild, but they'd never think he was doing something wise.
The curses were unending. Yet, some couldn't help but envy the kid deep down.
"This boy is really something. Enjoying blessings on the spot without considering the future. With his crippled body, to desecrate the spirit of such a heavenly beauty—even if he dies, it's worth it."
"Just for that, he earns a bit of respect."
"But—"
Even some powerhouses from the Heavenly Deity Alliance looked at the Ancestral Land with deep confusion.
"Empyrean Emperor Mu," the Great Dream Lord said, her face still filled with resentment. She glanced at Empyrean Emperor Mu beside her, whose face was ashen like pig liver. Biting her lip, she asked, "Why does this kid know the Three Ancestral Swords and Law of Heaven's Order? And he's using them so well?"
Yun Xiao had conquered Zu Wei. It was an undeniable fact that none present could change.
But the Great Dream Lord's doubts drew even greater attention from the powerhouses.
Empyrean Emperor Mu's eyes narrowed. Gritting his teeth, he said, "Yes, that's right. He's using the core secret arts of our Ancestral Land..."
"Could this celestial slave be a defector from the Ancestral Land?" the Great Dream Lord asked in astonishment.
"As far as I know, there's no such person in our sect." Empyrean Emperor Mu shook his head.
If Yun Xiao truly possessed such extraordinary talent, he wouldn't be unknown within the Ancestral Land.
If he were ordinary, he couldn't have accessed our two secret arts. It didn't add up.
From what he knew, Empyrean Emperor Mu believed it was unlikely that Yun Xiao came from the Ancestral Land. But he couldn't be sure.
He spun around, eyes scanning the other Ancestral Land powerhouses.
They met his gaze, equally puzzled.
"Does anyone know why this boy can wield the Three Ancestral Swords and Law of Heaven's Order?" Empyrean Emperor Mu demanded. "If anyone knows, speak up now. Your punishment will be lighter."
He suspected someone might have trained this celestial slave but was afraid to admit it.
"Empyrean Emperor Mu, only a few can access both the Three Ancestral Swords and Law of Heaven's Order," an old man reminded him. "If someone had guided this boy, they wouldn't deny it."
"Then where did he learn them?" Empyrean Emperor Mu's frown deepened.
The old man pressed his lips together. "When the Grand Assembly of Myriad Sects ends," he said gravely, "the truth will come out."
His words made it clear—they wouldn't spare Yun Xiao.
"Hmm!" Empyrean Emperor Mu turned back coldly, fixing his gaze on the solitary Ice Cloud Valkyrie Queen in the distance. He called out, "Your Harmony Divine Palace's celestial slave has stolen our Ancestral Land's core secrets. Do you admit it?"
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