"What’s with all the panic?" Swordsman Beitian’s senior sister asked.
The disciple didn’t have time to catch his breath. He immediately took out a Magical Treasure and played the video from the livestream.
It was a video he had recorded with the Magical Treasure; after all, it wasn’t convenient to pull out a cell phone at a time like this.
"Take a look," the disciple said.
They then spent some time watching the video.
After watching the video, the group fell silent.
Their first instinct was to question the video’s authenticity, but it was just too real.
Swordsman Beitian’s senior sister asked, "Where did the video come from?"
The disciple immediately replied, "It was broadcast live on the scene by a ’death-defying’ streamer."
"Then..."
Before they could ask any more questions, a terrifying wave of Curse Power erupted from the giant pit.
It gave no one a chance to react, and no one a chance to resist.
This surge of Curse Power was immense and vast, instantly engulfing several nearby mountain peaks.
Vegetation crumbled to dust and life withered away. There were no exceptions.
Those who couldn’t escape in time all perished within it. The Sword Cultivation Lineage suffered especially grievous casualties.
Of the nearby peaks, only the disciples from Swordsman Beitian’s peak had evacuated in advance, thus escaping the disaster.
But the Curse Power showed no signs of stopping; it continued to expand relentlessly.
Only then did the remaining high-level cultivators snap back to their senses.
"Quick, stop it!"
The five who were left quickly found their positions and began to form a Defense.
Five sword blades formed a pentagonal array, locking down the spread of the Curse Power. But facing such a force, they had no idea how long they could last.
Yet no matter how hard they tried, some of the Curse Power still leaked out.
It couldn’t be helped. Their Defense had been erected in a hurry and was full of holes.
If this leaking Curse Power wasn’t dealt with, it could lead to a devastating blow.
A thousand-mile dike can collapse from a single anthill.
But they couldn’t spare a single hand.
"What do we do?" Swordsman Beitian’s senior sister said anxiously.
None of them could act, yet they couldn’t just watch the Defense collapse.
An elder said, "I’ll leave my Lifebound Magical Treasure behind. It might buy us some time. I’ll give it a try."
"There are too many holes, it’s no use! And this power seems to be getting stronger and stronger. We can’t let up for a second," said Swordsman Beitian’s senior sister.
The power emanated a terrifying aura, making it impossible for them to let go.
"Senior brothers and sisters, just focus on holding the line. Leave the rest to me." A voice suddenly called out from the distance, startling them.
But when they saw who it was, they sighed.
The newcomer was none other than Swordsman Beitian. They all knew he was unable to master the Northern Celestial Seven Swords, and that his Sword Heart had been shattered.
As he was now, he was no longer on the same level as them.
Swordsman Beitian’s senior sister said, "Junior Brother, you should go and direct the evacuation. Don’t come here and cause more trouble."
Swordsman Beitian didn’t get angry. Instead, he said calmly, "Senior Sister, now isn’t the time to get emotional. You don’t fit the ’all beauty, no brains’ stereotype, so why are you being so illogical?"
His senior sister: "You... Shameless."
The elder said, "Junior Brother Beitian, stop wasting time."
Swordsman Beitian just smiled, then came forward, Stepping on Air.
Swordsman Beitian’s senior sister froze. ’Is it just my imagination? I feel like my junior brother has changed.’
’Yes, he’s definitely different. He only used to say such shameless things when he was younger.’
But in the next moment, everyone was stunned. An incredible Sword Intent suddenly radiated from Swordsman Beitian.
It was a Sword Intent they had never seen before—or rather, had never seen from Swordsman Beitian.
Then, the clouds in the sky roiled and changed as the Sword Intent soared into the air.
It gave one the feeling that the very sky was constructed from swords.
"This..." His senior sister stared at Swordsman Beitian in disbelief.
This Sword Momentum, this level of Sword Intent... it had already far surpassed their own.
’Reaching Tier Seven is just around the corner. He might even be on the verge of Entering Dao.’
’How is this possible?’
"What sword is this?" someone asked subconsciously.
"The Northern Celestial Seven Swords," Swordsman Beitian said.
He then swung his sword once. The Sword Intent that filled the sky condensed and came crashing down in a frenzy.
Countless sword phantoms materialized in every direction, plugging all the gaps in their Defense.
The Northern Celestial Seven Swords is both a single sword and a million swords.
Ten thousand swords return to Sword Intent, and the Sword Intent originates from a single sword.
This is the North Celestial Seventh One Sword.
Swordsman Beitian stood there, now possessing a true Sword Heart of his own.
His previous heart had been broken, but it was by his own choice. For how can one build anew without first breaking the old?
Now, he had the confidence and the qualifications to pursue the Sword Dao.
’All I had to do was let go of my obsession with the sword, and pick up my devotion to the "Sword".’
---
While the Sword Cultivation Lineage desperately fought to block the Curse Power, most people were focused on the livestream.
That’s right, the streamer was gone, but the broadcast was still live.
One could only say that the Magical Treasure was incredible. Not only did it maintain a signal from inside the pit, but it also continued to function normally amidst the Curse Power.
The grade of that Magical Treasure was absurdly high.
Watching the livestream, many people were terrified.
But the more scared they were, the less they wanted to look away, because three stone tablets were still glowing brightly in the broadcast.
Moreover, they might get to witness the being under the Seal break free from the earth.
This was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
Just then, a trembling voice boomed from the livestream: "After countless years, I am finally about to be free."
The voice was filled with an ominous presence and a chilling air, inspiring a strange sense of panic in all who heard it.
The viewers knew: that terrifying being was about to appear.
No one dared to comment on the stream; many even started to shy away from their phones.
No one could be sure if the endless curses wouldn’t come killing them through the internet connection.
However, at that very moment, the huge stone tablet in the center suddenly changed.
A graceful silhouette appeared within the stone tablet.
Because of the tablet, the figure appeared exceptionally tall.
But everyone could see that the figure herself was trembling.
Yes, she was shaking, shuddering, struggling to stand up.
Jingyue was scared, terrified. She didn’t have the power to face such a being, but she had to stand.
She had to speak. "Free? Did you ask for my permission?"
Jingyue’s voice was amplified by the stone tablet.
"Human, you are so tiny you’re pitiable," the deep voice of the Master of Curses rang out once more.
Jingyue paid it no mind. "I may be tiny, but I still can’t let you out.
I still have my junior sisters outside. I have a duty to protect them.
If someone hadn’t suddenly attacked this place just now, we would have already sealed you. We can still do it now."
The conversation between Jingyue and the Master of Curses was being broadcast to the entire world.
And from Jingyue’s words, they learned a crucial fact: just as this terrifying being was about to be sealed, the Sword Cultivation Lineage had interfered.
Outside the Sword Cultivation Lineage’s territory, the cultivators watching the large projected screen felt a twinge of shame.
This was a disaster they had brought upon themselves.
If only they had listened to the advice they were given, perhaps things wouldn’t have turned out this way.
But it was too late for regrets. The only thing to do now was to survive this crisis.
And whether they could survive or not, it seemed, all depended on the person inside that pit.