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The projection continued to play, drawing gasps and murmurs from the crowd.
"Is that the Sword God in White? So young! I thought he'd be an old hermit who secluded himself for decades... I didn't expect this!" one exclaimed, while another added, "The Lord has finally appeared!" But optimism quickly soured as someone muttered, "What a pity. He's already at the peak of Tongxuan and not afraid of any noble clans. But now, all five great families have joined forces, and the Wei Patriarch has already reached the Virtual Realm. This could be the end for him."
Voices rang out from every directionâsome condemning the noble families, others mourning what they assumed would be Shen Lian's downfall. "These noble families are truly despicable. Word is, back on the Yuhai Plains, they made the first move. They attacked Zhao Lingerâhis sisterâand the Sword God in White just retaliated! Does justice no longer exist in the Cangxuan Realm?"
Spectators from every corner of the realmârogue cultivators, sect disciples, and even celestial beings from distant domainsâwatched in disbelief, admiration, and sorrow. In the heavens above, cultivators of countless worlds looked on with mixed emotions, some gloating, others waiting silently for fate to unfold.
"Haha, those five great families dared to provoke His Majesty the Lian Emperor? They've finally kicked an iron wall!" someone laughed, while another said, "I can't wait for His Majesty to appear. It's time for a reckoning." Hope began to bloom. "The plum blossom fragrance comes only after bitter cold. His Majesty has endured long enoughâit's time to soar!" said one. Another added, "None in the world knew Ling Yunmu, but when Ling Yun understands the Dao, all will kneel. These five families will be His Majesty's stepping stones. From this day forward, the world will know only one king."
The heavens buzzed with anticipation as all eyes turned to the Tai Xuan Sword Sect, wondering how they would respond upon realizing that the Sword God in Whiteâthe man who now shook the worldâwas one of their own.
At that moment, within the Tai Xuan Sword Sect, Shen Lian stepped outâcalm, steady, and no longer hiding. For the first time, he revealed his true face to the world. Now having entered the Virtual Realm, he walked out of the sect gates with unshakable confidence. The most shocked of all was the Tai Xuan Sword Sect itself. Gasps and uproars spread through the grounds like wildfire.
"The Sword God in White... is Shen Lian?" came one stunned voice. "The same Shen Lian who was like a ghost in the sect? The one with no presence?! Impossible!"
Zhuang Xingyue stood frozen, her mouth agape. "Why is Shen Lian here? The Sword God in White..." Her voice trailed off as her mind struggled to catch up. The man she secretly admiredâwas him? Just as she stepped forward to speak, Zhuang Changdao stopped her and said, "Xingyue, don't ask. Shen Lian... is the Sword God in White."
Zhuang Changdao stared at Shen Lian, eyes wide, and in that instant, everything clicked into place. Every mysterious appearance of the Sword God in Whiteâit had always been him. Zhuang Xingyue stood completely still, too stunned to speak as Shen Lian walked forward under the disbelieving and awestruck gazes of his sect.
"Oh? You're the Sword God in White?" Even the Patriarch of the Wei family, though an enemy, couldn't hide his astonishment at Shen Lian's age. So youngâjudging by the vitality in his blood and bones, Shen Lian could not have been more than his early twenties.
After a pause, the Wei Patriarch smirked and spoke with feigned generosity. "You've offended the great noble clans. Normally, that would be a death sentence for both you and Tai Xuan Sword Sect. But this old man is merciful. If you surrender your Blood Essence and swear allegiance to the five families, I'll adopt you as my son. Not only will you live, your sect will also be spared. You'll have status, power, everything." He looked at Shen Lian with narrowed eyes, awaiting a response. A genius at the Ninth Stage of Tongxuan at such a young ageâhe was far more valuable than any heir born of blood.
To the Wei Patriarch, even the deaths of ten sons would be a fair trade for someone like Shen Lian. Leaders of the Tai Xuan Sword Sect even began showing faint smiles. To them, this compromise seemed acceptable. But Shen Lian's reply was calm and unwavering: "Adopted son? I, Shen Lian, was born between heaven and earth. I recognize only my true parents."
"Oh? Then you refuse?" The Wei Patriarch's voice chilled, his tone sharp. He knewâif this young powerhouse could not be claimed now, he would have to be eliminated before he became unstoppable.
Suddenly, a terrifying aura burst from the Wei Patriarch, confirming that he had indeed reached the Virtual Realm. But even though the pressure was immense, it was unstableâhe had advanced through unnatural means rather than true cultivation. Still, a Virtual Realm cultivator was leagues beyond those of Tongxuan, and the atmosphere grew cold.
Yet Shen Lian remained composed. "You said it's a death sentence. Then tell meâwhat is Tai Xuan Sword Sect's crime? What is my crime?"
"You really don't know? Fine," the Wei Patriarch sneered. "Your crime is being weak. If you were one of usâborn into a noble family, a Virtual Realm expert, or part of the Dayan royal lineâno one would dare touch you. But you're weak. Your sect is weak. In today's Cangxuan Realm, outside the Dayan royal family, weâthe five great clansâare Heaven itself."
Shen Lian suddenly smiled. Lifting his gaze, he locked eyes with the Wei Patriarch, and within his calm stare flickered disdain, pity, and quiet derision. Though he activated no visible technique, the world itself seemed to rise to meet him, as if he were a god ascending the heavens. A crushing, divine aura slowly poured from his presence.
"Not good..." The Wei Patriarch felt a sudden chill and a dread he could not name. He tried to cast a spellâtoo late.
"You were wrong from the beginning. Today, the strongest person here is not you, not the five familiesâbut me... Shen Lian, the Sword God in White." As he raised his hand, the wind howled and a storm of sword energy filled the sky. "If justice does not exist, I'll carve it with my sword. If the law of heaven is broken, I'll rewrite it with my blade. I want the world to know..." His voice thundered, shaking the firmament.
"Tai Xuan Sword Sect cannot be deceived! I, Shen Lianâthe Sword God in Whiteâwill not yield!"
And in that instant, the heavens trembled.
A sky-piercing sword light burst forth behind Shen Lian, tearing through the firmament as if splitting the very heavens apart. He drew his sword and held it high, and that blade became a river of stars, surging across the sun and moon.
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