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Chapter 293 - In Peace, We Hide. In War, We Rise.

Yun Jin's words left the surrounding swords feeling oddly embarrassed.

Ah...

They weren't exactly that noble or selfless.

The title of "hero" felt a bit too lofty.

Still, hearing Yun Jin speak like that filled them with pride.

After all, this was their future Young Master.

To have their efforts acknowledged by her was an honor in itself.

Even those swords that had once mocked and grumbled at the idea of an alliance looked at Yun Jin differently now.

Sob sob...

What a good Young Master.

How could they have said such things about her before? Truly disgraceful.

Even the giant sword looked a little surprised.

After a pause, he said in a deep voice, "We were no heroes. We only did what had to be done."

"That in itself is righteousness," Yun Jin replied seriously. "If it weren't for the seniors who held off the outerworld demons back then, who knows what chaos this world would be in now. The peace of the past thousand years... it was earned by your sacrifice."

Today, there were still demons in the world. Some even wielded considerable power. But overall, humanity still held the upper hand.

Otherwise...

Those demons wouldn't be hiding in the shadows, forced to rely on tricks and deception. The Demon Sovereign himself had been hunted down time and again, nearly killed each time.

In the end, the male lead even sacrificed the entire beast race, using his own body to forge a path to the Dao.

It could be said that the human race now held absolute dominance in this world.

And that, without question, was thanks to the sacrifice of these people and these swords.

Still, Yun Jin couldn't help but feel curious.

If such a brutal war had taken place a thousand years ago, why was there not even a legend about it left in the world today? It didn't make sense.

The giant sword's gaze softened even further as he looked at her.

"You've come this far," he said gently. "That makes you the next Sect Master of Wushuang Sect. It's time you knew what really happened back then."

Wushuang Sect?

Next Sect Master?

Yun Jin hadn't yet processed the words when the scenery around her suddenly shifted.

"The past events... perhaps it's better if you see them yourself," the giant sword's voice echoed in her mind.

Yun Jin instinctively looked around.

Her body had vanished. She now existed only as a spiritual consciousness.

She found herself high atop a celestial mountain. This was Yunhai Mountain, home of the Wushuang Sect.

A strange force guided her spirit, floating it gently through time and space.

She watched as a powerful cultivator arrived and founded a Daoist stronghold.

One by one, they took in disciples, each more gifted than the last. Gradually, Wushuang Sect grew in strength.

At its peak...

The sect had over a hundred Mahayana cultivators.

As for those at the Unity and Tribulation stages, there were far too many to count.

Even the junior disciples were all exceptional talents.

Yun Jin stared in awe.

The world only knew of the Four Holy Lands. No one seemed to know that a sect like this had ever existed.

The giant sword's voice sounded again in her mind: "Wushuang Sect accepts disciples solely based on fate. We never stole Luck, never fought for resources. Our path is one of enlightenment and the Great Dao. In this world, there are many cultivation methods, but most rely on external support. Wushuang Sect does not. We don't care about aptitude, bone structure, Luck, or even resources. We only value comprehension.

There was once a man in our sect who cultivated at the Qi Refining stage for a thousand years. But one day, he achieved enlightenment... and by nightfall, he had reached Mahayana. In Wushuang Sect, if your insight is deep enough, anything is possible."

Yun Jin's expression shifted.

This Wushuang Sect... was almost freakish.

They didn't care about anything except comprehension?

A thousand years stuck at Qi Refining, yet a single breakthrough carried him straight to Mahayana?

This was an entirely different system from the Four Holy Lands.

Those sects might follow different paths to ascension, but they still had to climb step by step.

A cultivator like this—Qi Refining for a millennium, then instantly reaching Mahayana—shouldn't exist.

"Because the core principle of Wushuang Sect is non-action, most of our disciples remain on the mountain in seclusion. If they descend at all, they quickly return. We don't involve ourselves in worldly matters. Our recruitment methods are completely different from the Four Holy Lands. While they knew of our existence, our approaches to cultivation were so different that there was little conflict. We coexisted peacefully."

The giant sword continued explaining.

Yun Jin couldn't help but feel astonished.

She had traveled countless worlds and seen many strange things.

But never had she encountered a sect quite like this.

And now, this legendary sect was lost to history. The thought left a hollow ache in her chest.

The giant sword's tone remained steady.

"But later, something changed in Yunhai Mountain."

The vision shifted. A rift appeared in the sky above.

Yun Jin looked up, her expression tightening.

The rift wasn't large, barely big enough for one person to pass through.

Yet it pulsed with endless, inky-black demonic energy. The depth of it... was unfathomable.

Suddenly...

A bloodied man tumbled out of the rift.

A few Wushuang Sect disciples were already waiting below. They rushed forward.

"Third Brother! What happened? You mastered the Dao of Concealment. How could you be injured like this? What's on the other side of that rift?" someone asked, healing him as quickly as they could.

The man called Third Brother looked grim. "Our suspicions were correct. That rift connects to another cultivation world. I scouted it briefly. Over there, the demons have completely conquered the land. Their cultivation methods and strength far surpass ours. If they discover this passage and come through... our world will become a hell overrun with monsters."

The others paled.

Yun Jin noticed the sword at the leader's side. It looked exactly like the Tianpo Sword, only smaller.

Seeing her gaze, the Tianpo Sword gave her a sorrowful look.

"That was my master."

Though massive now, the sword could shrink or expand freely in its master's hand.

Yun Jin nodded, choosing not to press further.

She already knew how it would end. Watching this unfold left a weight in her chest.

These people... they were probably all gone now.

She watched as the Wushuang Sect began to plan how to seal the rift.

They even invited representatives from the Four Holy Lands to discuss the threat. In the vision, Yun Jin saw a younger version of her own master, Ji Wusi.

Back then, Ji Wusi had just become head of the Kunlun Sword Sect. He was confident and full of youthful sharpness, like a sword unsheathed.

So different from the reserved figure he was now.

The Four Holy Lands had taken this matter seriously.

After many tests, they confirmed the worst. The other world was indeed far stronger.

If that world discovered this one...

They would be doomed.

And so, the Four Holy Lands and Wushuang Sect created a massive formation to seal the rift.

But of course, that wasn't the end of it.

Otherwise, Wushuang Sect wouldn't have fallen.

Though the passage was sealed, the formation had to be constantly maintained. Since it was located within Yunhai Mountain, Wushuang Sect was left to guard it.

At first, it seemed under control.

Until one day...

Winds howled and black mist surged across the vision.

Even though Yun Jin knew this was the past, her heart tightened with anxiety.

She didn't want to watch anymore. Somehow, not seeing it felt like she could stop it from happening.

The giant sword's calm voice rang out. "Despite all our efforts, the outerworld demons eventually found the rift. They gathered their strength and launched a full-scale assault on the formation.

"There was no end to them. The formation would eventually break. When it did, the demons would pour into this world and turn it into a nightmare.

My master knew we couldn't resist them. Wushuang Sect had to prevent the formation from breaking. So, he led our cultivators to activate the sect's ultimate formation, pulling all of Yunhai Mountain into an alternate dimension and severing all connection to this world. From that moment on, Yunhai Mountain became an isolated island.

Later, the demons did break through. My master led Wushuang Sect in a desperate last stand. The Four Holy Lands tried to respond, but he had hidden the sect so thoroughly that no one could find it. No help ever came.

Within the alternate dimension, Wushuang Sect and the first wave of demons fought a brutal war. In the end, our sect was nearly wiped out. But the demons never made it to this world.

My master was known as the Ten Thousand Dao Sword Saint. He had grasped many Great Daos, one of which allowed him to send avatars into the world. He knew he would die. So before returning to battle, he used his avatar to build sword tombs and hide the true legacy of Wushuang Sect somewhere in this world. Then... he went back."

The giant sword's glow dimmed slightly. "I am his life-bound sword. We were deeply connected. I felt it when he returned... and when he died. The others felt it too. Wushuang Sect... is gone."

Yun Jin fell silent.

In her mind's eye, the man holding the Tianpo Sword stood alone in the sky.

Behind him surged a sea of demons, clawing at the barrier.

He looked over the gathered disciples of Wushuang Sect and spoke.

"The demons have found the rift. They will never stop. Even if the Four Holy Lands come to help, even if the entire cultivation world stands with us, the formation will eventually fall. And when it does... this world will be destroyed."

The disciples listened quietly, eyes full of unwavering determination.

Wandao Sword Saint's gaze softened.

"The final formation is active. Yunhai Mountain is now sealed. No one goes in or out."

He had considered sending the others away, letting himself die alone.

But it was too late.

Far too late.

He had sensed it—those demons carried traces of Wushuang Sect's energy.

They had found a way to lock onto it. Even without the rift, they could follow that energy straight to this world.

Every disciple carried the sect's aura.

If they escaped, even if only one survived, the demons could use that to track down the world they were trying to protect.

So...

None of them could live.

Fortunately, after discovering the rift, he had already summoned all disciples back.

Otherwise, those outside might have led the demons straight in.

Silence fell over Yunhai Mountain.

The disciples stood tall, calm and fearless.

Then, someone spoke quietly.

"I will die with the sect."

Another joined in.

"I will die with the sect."

"I will die with the sect."

One voice after another, not loud or impassioned, yet powerful enough to shake the soul.

Wushuang Sect's disciples did not fear death.

They were ready.

If the price for peace was their annihilation...

Then they would pay it, willingly.

Wandao Sword Saint's eyes grew moist. He wasn't afraid of death. He simply felt he had failed them.

But he...

But they...

Had no other choice.

He spoke again, his voice hoarse.

"The final formation is fully activated. Everyone... come with me."

No one resisted. Their gazes only grew firmer.

Then...

All of Yunhai Mountain lifted into the sky.

Moments later, it vanished into the alternate dimension, never to appear again.

The vision ended. Yun Jin returned to the sword realm, the scene fading around her.

She stood there, dazed.

She reached up, feeling something wet at the corner of her eyes.

Tears.

She hadn't cried in years.

After so long, after so many things, she thought her heart had turned to iron.

But in this moment, her eyes still grew wet.

She turned to the Tianpo Sword.

"But... wasn't the sect's teaching non-action? If so, why sacrifice yourselves for the world? Even if the demons invaded, Wushuang Sect's cultivators could've survived. They were powerful enough."

The Tianpo Sword glanced at her and replied calmly.

"My master once said: 'In times of peace, we practice non-action and retreat from the world. But when the world is in peril, we must descend the mountain and save it.'"

In peace, they secluded themselves.

In chaos, they saved the world.

Yun Jin fell silent.

Only one thought echoed in her heart.

This Wushuang Sect... was truly peerless.

===

无双 (Wúshuāng)

无 (Wú) – "Without," "none," "lack of."

双 (Shuāng) – "Pair," "double," "twin."

Together, 无双 (Wúshuāng) means "matchless," "unparalleled," or "peerless"—impressing that nothing can compare (not even a second of its kind).

[这无双宗,当真无双.]

(Zhè wúshuāng zōng, dàngzhēn wúshuāng)

"This Wushuang Sect... was truly peerless."

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