Xiao Yuchen stood there, her eyes wide and mouth agape. She looked towards the elder guardian of the Martial King Tower, her gaze questioning.

Was that truly the shadow projection of the Martial King? Moreover, it hadn't displayed any formidable abilities before it was vanquished by Lin Fei's single stroke of the saber.

"Wait, was that the Dual-World Saber?"

A realization seemed to dawn on Xiao Yuchen, and her eyes widened even more.

The Dual-World Saber!

Lin Fei had only recently acquired it, no more than a couple of months prior. Yet, he had already mastered it. And it wasn't merely at the beginner level. This was a mastery level, perhaps even a transcendent level!

She knew how demanding the initiation to the Dual-World Saber was. Beginner was already so challenging, let alone mastering. Transcending seemed impossible. Yet, the undeniable truth stood before her eyes. Lin Fei had indeed mastered the Dual-World Saber!

"Indeed, I fortuitously mastered the Dual-World Saber. But, Aurora Sovereign, what did you mean by the 'shadow projection of the Martial King'? Was it that shadow from earlier?"

Lin Fei instantly recalled the shadow. Xiao Yuchen briefly explained about the shadow projection of the Martial King only then did Lin Fei understand. It seemed that the third level of the Martial King Tower had encountered an anomaly.

Originally, there were only supposed to be those three exotic beasts. Yet, an additional shadow had appeared. That was the shadow projection of the Martial King!

"It indeed was the shadow projection."

"Absolutely!"

"But why did the shadow projection appear so weak?"

"That question, I'm afraid, is for Sovereign Lin to answer."

The elder guardian of the Martial King Tower fixed his gaze intently upon Lin Fei. Lin Fei reminisced about the shadow he encountered within the Martial King Tower. When he had unleashed his Saber Domain and Gravity Domain, even the three exotic beasts were firmly suppressed, unable to move a muscle.

However, the shadow seemed entirely unaffected. It could even teleport instantaneously. Had it been someone else, or had Lin Fei only possessed the Black Wind Prison and Gravity Domain, he likely wouldn't have been able to counter the shadow projection.

Yet, with the Dual-World Saber at his disposal, things were different.

To date, the Dual-World Saber was the most potent Divine Ability Lin Fei had ever seen. Once the Dual-World Saber was drawn, few could stand against it.

The truth was evident. Even the shadow projection of the Martial King was no match. The words of the elder had made the onlookers reconsider. Clearly, it wasn't that the shadow projection of the Martial King was weak, but rather that Sovereign Lin was overwhelmingly powerful!

Especially that final stroke of the saber. With one swing, the shadow projection of the Martial King was instantly annihilated. That kind of power, even from a distance outside the Martial King Tower, sent chills down one's spine.

Now Xiao Yuchen could enter the blood pool on the third floor of the Martial King Tower.

"Aurora Sovereign, do you wish to enter the blood pool now?" Lin Fei inquired.

Xiao Yuchen hastily shook her head, "My third Great Divine Ability has not been perfected yet. Entering the blood pool now would be a waste. I can wait."

Hence, she promptly left the Martial King Tower with Lin Fei and returned to the courtyard.

"Aurora Sovereign," Lin Fei began, "I must now depart for the Saber Sovereign Sect."

"You're leaving now?" Xiao Yuchen hesitated before conceding, "Given your current prowess, Sovereign Lin, you can travel wherever you wish."

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"Before I go, Aurora Sovereign, please keep an eye out for any news about the Ancient Origin Sect. Especially from Taiyi Dao Palace. Do they have any intentions towards the Ancient Origin Sect?"

It had been several months since Lin Fei left the Ancient Origin Sect. Although he speculated that Taiyi Dao Palace wouldn't dare act against the Ancient Origin Sect, changes might have occurred over these months.

Xiao Yuchen nodded, "That won't be an issue. Taiyi Dao Palace is of the Nascent Soul lineage, and many forces are watching them. It's easy to gather news about them. I'll arrange for someone to gather information about both Taiyi Dao Palace and Ancient Origin Sect immediately."

"Thank you," Lin Fei replied, and without further ado, he turned and took off, flying swiftly toward the Saber Sovereign Sect.

...

At the Saber Sovereign Sect, the number of disciples was now fewer than a hundred. It was a heart-wrenching sight.

The strongest person in the Saber Sovereign Sect now was only a Martial Saint, and not even a top-tier one, merely a mediocre Martial Saint. This was because they hadn't grasped the essence of the saber momentum.

How glorious was the Saber Sovereign Sect in its prime days? The founding patriarch was a peak Martial Sovereign, having mastered the Saber Domain to perfection. With over a hundred thousand disciples, they were once the dominant force in the region. Yet, who would have imagined the Saber Sovereign Sect would fall to such a state?

"Report!" a voice exclaimed, "The Wind-Thunder Sect has dispatched their top Foundation Establishment cultivator. They've given us three days to relocate the Saber Sovereign Sect and vacate our mountain gate. If not, the Foundation Establishment cultivator of the Wind-Thunder Sect will show no mercy and might attack the Saber Sovereign Sect."

The entire grand hall of the Saber Sovereign Sect fell silent, so quiet one could hear a pin drop.

"Such audacity!"

"This is the mountain gate of our Saber Sovereign Sect. How can we simply relocate? If we move, the Saber Sovereign Sect will truly be finished!"

"What will even remain of the Saber Sovereign Sect? The ancestors would surely curse us from beyond for this betrayal. How could we ever face them again?"

For a moment, the grand hall was abuzz with heightened emotions. Yet, the sect master of the Saber Sovereign Sect remained steeped in silence.

The Wind-Thunder Sect pressured fiercely. Firstly, because the Saber Sovereign Sect's domain was undoubtedly a geomantic treasure, where Spiritual Qi from hundreds of miles around converged. The domain of the Wind-Thunder Sect paled significantly in comparison. Secondly, it was due to the Saber Sovereign Sect's current decline. They had reached the nadir of their power.

In the past, though the Saber Sovereign Sect waned, they were shielded by the Xiao Family, a renowned Martial King lineage. The Wind-Thunder Sect wouldn't dare challenge the Saber Sovereign Sect so brazenly under the Xiao family's protection.

However, now, the Wind-Thunder Sect also enjoyed the Xiao Family's patronage. What of the Saber Sovereign Sect? They had been unable to pay their tributes for years and were on the verge of being expelled by the Xiao Family.

Consequently, the Wind-Thunder Sect acted with arrogant impunity, forcing the Saber Sovereign Sect to relocate. If not, they would launch a full assault. Such threats were not to be taken lightly. Perhaps the Saber Sovereign Sect was indeed on the brink of extinction.

"Sect Master, have you sought help from the Xiao Family? How did the Xiao Family respond?"

For a moment, the remaining warriors of the Saber Sovereign Sect in the hall gazed earnestly at their sect master.

The sect master remained silent. After what felt like an eternity, he finally murmured, "The Xiao Family has yet to respond."

Silence!

The martial artists of the Saber Sovereign Sect were struck dumb. They all grasped the gravity of the situation. It suggested that perhaps the Xiao Family had truly forsaken the Saber Sovereign Sect.

However, they bore no resentment towards the Xiao Family. When the Saber Sovereign Sect initially sought their protection, a great deal of time had passed. They had not given much in return, and their survival until now was due to the Xiao Family's shielding grace. Without them, the Saber Sovereign Sect would have long been destroyed.

"It seems our Saber Sovereign Sect is now trapped in a dire strait."

"The position the Saber Sovereign Sect finds itself in today is due to our unworthy actions."

"Perhaps we should have forsaken the Dao of the saber long ago..."

Regret filled the voices of many elders.

"Enough! Saber Sovereign Sect has always been rooted in the Dao of the Saber. Is it even the Saber Sovereign Sect if we abandon the Saber Dao? If the Saber Sovereign Sect has indeed reached its end, those who wish to leave may do so."

The sect master's eyes were bloodshot with rage. However, glancing at the young disciples below, his vigor seemed to diminish instantly. If the Saber Sovereign Sect was eradicated, these disciples would be mercilessly slaughtered. An unbearable thought. But he wouldn't leave. No matter the cost.

"Was it wrong to dedicate ourselves solely to the Dao of the saber?"

After his outcry, a thought emerged in his mind. If the Saber Sovereign Sect did not revolve around the saber, would it still retain its essence?

With heavy eyes, the sect master closed them. He realized that their fate was sealed and there was no turning back. The Saber Sovereign Sect's demise was inevitable under his watch.

Suddenly, an unfamiliar voice echoed from outside the hall.

"The Saber Sovereign Sect is not at fault. Neither is the Dao of the saber. Founding on the saber is not mistaken. You all are the ones mistaken."

As the voice trailed off, a figure appeared within the hall. No one noticed his entrance. Every gaze in the vast hall was drawn to this enigmatic figure.

"Who are you?" The sect master's eyes sharpened.

"The savior of the Saber Sovereign Sect," Lin Fei declared calmly, hands clasped behind him.