"Boom!!"
Just as Xie Chenkun's face turned grim, several figures in scarlet robes suddenly appeared high above, outside the golden protective shield.
Afterward, an elderly man with a weathered face, looking grim, raised his fingers like a knife and gently waved them towards the golden protective shield below.
"Screech!"
A dazzling scarlet Sword Qi, gleaming like the scorching sun, slashed from the elder's hand, fiercely striking the protective shield below.
"Boom!!"
Instantly, the Mountain Protection Array of the Heavenly Sword Faction quaked once more.
Unlike the previous tremors, the protective shield remained intact. But now, the golden shield, clashing with the elder's strike, instantly opened up a huge crack as if it were just paper, accompanied by a screeching sound.
"Whoosh! Whoosh!!"
With the shield broken, the group of scarlet-robed figures, exuding murderous aura, orderly walked into the protective shield.
They forcibly intruded into the Heavenly Sword Faction!
"Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!!"
As they forced their way through the mountain gate, the previous two thunderous sounds had already alerted the high-ranking members of the Heavenly Sword Faction.
Not only did Xie Chenkun leave the courtyard, soaring into the sky to confront them, but also the Supreme Elder including the Great Elder, Second Elder, and Third Elder all mobilized.
The Great Elder of the Heavenly Sword Faction wore a grim expression, flying into the sky with several Supreme Elders to face the scarlet-robed group, shouting, "Blood Sword Sect, what do you mean by breaking our Mountain Protection Array and forcibly entering our mountain gate?"
Although they knew well the other party was here for the Blood Essence Crystal, the Great Elder naturally would not admit outright they were behind the Blood Essence Crystal.
Thus, he questioned angrily.
"Humph, barging into the Heavenly Sword Faction's mountain gate is naturally to demand accountability and explanations!"
The Great Elder of Blood Sword Sect, hands behind his back, let out a cold snort and glanced at Xie Chenkun, saying coldly, "Xie Chenkun, hand over your disciple Mu Jinyu, or today I will wash the Heavenly Sword Faction in blood!"
Xie Chenkun directly faced the chilling gaze of the Great Elder of Blood Sword Sect, immediately unable to withstand the pressure of the Fourth Layer of the Fanxu Realm, his face paled, nearly spitting out blood.
"Humph!"
The Great Elder of the Heavenly Sword Faction let out a light snort, unleashing a formidable and righteous aura that shielded Xie Chenkun, relieving him from the sensation of falling into an abyss.
At the same time, he spoke coldly, "Breaking into our mountain gate, yet pressuring us to hand over our disciples, threatening to bloodbath our Heavenly Sword Faction; Zhou Yun, do you truly think yourself Invincible? Are you prepared for a blood battle with our Heavenly Sword Faction?"
"So what if it's a blood battle to the end!"
The Supreme Elder of Blood Sword Sect Zhou Yun coldly eyed the Great Elder of the Heavenly Sword Faction, his voice filled with murderous intent reaching the sky, "Your disciples destroyed our Blood Essence Pool, stole our Blood Essence Crystal, don't pretend you know nothing!"
"Xie Yuan, I will say it again, hand over Mu Jinyu, return the Blood Essence Crystal to us, if anything happens to our Blood Essence Crystal, I'll hold your Heavenly Sword Pool accountable!"
"What?!"
At this time, some uninformed elders, upon hearing the news that Mu Jinyu took the Blood Essence Crystal from Blood Sword Sect, changed their expressions drastically, their eyes revealing disbelief.
They never expected Mu Jinyu to be so bold, to dare do such a thing.
No wonder Blood Sword Sect came so aggressively today, their words implying an all-out feud, it turns out Mu Jinyu indeed committed such an act, truly breaking the heavens, it's no surprise Blood Sword Sect people keep threatening wholesale annihilation!
Great Elder of Heavenly Sword Faction, known as Xie Yuan, upon hearing Zhou Yun's overwhelming tone, felt deeply distressed and helpless but still kept a stern face, "I don't know what you're talking about, you claim my disciples destroyed your Blood Essence Pool, stole your Blood Essence Crystal, where's your proof?"
"Empty claims demand my most talented disciple as compensation; should I also claim our Heavenly Sword Pool was destroyed by your Blood Sword Sect and ask for compensation from you?!"
"Today, if you can't present evidence of my disciples destroying your Blood Essence Pool, yet forcefully storm into the Heavenly Sword Faction, you will know what the foundation of the Yan Kingdom's oldest sect entails!"
Xie Yuan's attitude was equally strong, sharp-edged, directly confronting Zhou Yun.
He didn't feel he was being unreasonable, nor did he have any guilty conscience.
After all, this incident truly stemmed from Blood Sword Sect first attempting to murder Mu Jinyu, which led to Mu Jinyu surviving by chance and angrily seizing the Blood Essence Crystal later.
Why should he feel remorse or guilt towards Blood Sword Sect for this?
If Heavenly Sword Faction had the ability to destroy Blood Sword Sect, merely their attempt at harming Mu Jinyu would have been enough for them to annihilate Blood Sword Sect in retaliation upon learning of this!
Although Mu Jinyu has now become a useless person without any value to leverage, never would he be handed over to settle scores with Blood Sword Sect just to quell their wrath!
After all, Mu Jinyu has already refined the Blood Essence Crystal; knowing this, Blood Sword Sect would eventually never let it rest, then why try to resolve things peacefully? Better to fight to the end!
Thinking this, Xie Yuan felt a sense of clarity, no longer entangled in whether to hand over Mu Jinyu, sacrificing one worthless individual to appease Blood Sword Sect's fury to protect the whole Heavenly Sword Faction!
The unyielding pride is the path for us Sword Cultivators!
Upon hearing Xie Yuan's resolute words about fighting to the death, Zhou Yun felt a chill, slightly apprehensive.
After all, the Heavenly Sword Faction is Yan Kingdom's oldest sect. In the thousand years, the Four Great Sects of Yan Kingdom have changed countless times, yet only the Heavenly Sword Faction has remained unshaken.
If Blood Sword Sect truly fights to the death with Heavenly Sword Faction, even if victorious, the price paid would be immense!
Snorting coldly, Zhou Yun said, "Don't babble with me! How can this incident be the same? Our Blood Sword Sect members never came to your Heavenly Sword Pool, but your Heavenly Sword Faction's Mu Jinyu cultivated in the Blood Essence Pool for ten days, and the Blood Essence Crystal disappeared after he left!"
Seeing Xie Yuan wanting to say more, Zhou Yun coldly interjected, "Don't ask why I didn't come immediately, waiting till now; it's our negligence, not expecting you to commit such ruthless acts!"
Saying this, he grew impatient, unwillingly continuing, "I will say it again, my patience is limited, if you don't hand over Mu Jinyu, our two sects shall settle the matter today, and if needed, mutually perish!"
"Anyway, without the Blood Essence Crystal, Blood Sword Sect faces inevitable decline, it's better to perish together now!"
Zhou Yun spoke with madness in his eyes!