Of the remaining six first-rate forces, three were confirmed not to have immortal emperors by the Numinous Sword Sect. Although the Wavefold Sect didn’t have any immortal emperors, it was far from the weakest first-rate force. That distinguished reputation belonged to the Divine Pill Sect. Though, as alchemists, it wasn’t strange that the Divine Pill Sect was the weakest of the first-rate forces, but none of them dared to underestimate it. The dense network of connections made it so that no one would likely attack.

Well, except the Numinous Sword Sect.

Compared to when the Numinous Sword Sect destroyed the Myriad Saber Alliance, the destruction of the Wavefold Sect sent off bigger ripples through the Numinous Realm. The operation against the Myriad Saber Alliance could be said to be a clean knife. Only hours after it was over did people notice what happened, but the destruction of the Wavefold Sect was different. Once they were destroyed, everyone sensed it.

It was akin to a sun appearing on the ground. As soon as it happened, everyone in the world sensed it.

Monarch Solesword wanted to discover what happened, so he sent Ye Chen to scout it out. Among the many monarchs available, Ye Chen was a peak monarch, and he was skilled in both offense and movement techniques. He could escape if he was ambushed or trapped.

Ye Chen did not delay and immediately set off. The Twin Moon Sect and Void Ripple Sect were to the east of the Sword Continent, but the Wavefold Sect was to the Northwest, so he had to take nearly a week before arriving. And that was at his maximum speed without resting.

When he arrived, Ye Chen’s body couldn’t help but freeze. It was not because someone had imprisoned him with some esoteric method, but because of what he saw.

Although he had never visited the Wavefold Sect before, Ye Chen still knew what it looked like. But now, all that was left was a deep ravine, as if someone had taken a giant flaming sword and swung it, leaving behind only a slash mark. He could not feel a hint of sword intent, but anyone with a discerning eye would connect it with the Numinous Sword Sect.

Ye Chen didn’t stay for long and left. What was there to investigate? Everything was already destroyed. Without any remains, how could he derive any clues? The biggest clue was the remnant qi from whoever attacked, but he had already stored a portion and was prepared to leave.

He thought he would be stopped by the monarchs from other sects, who also came to investigate, but to Ye Chen’s surprise, they only kept a safe distance and did not initiate an attack. Still, that did not quell his turbulent thoughts.

Upon his return, he immediately told Monarch Solesword. Monarch Solesword’s expression immediately darkened upon hearing everything. “Elder Ye, in your mind, do you think the Numinous Sword Sect is responsible?”

Ye Chen shrugged. “In my opinion, only the Numinous Sword Sect has the foundation to enact such an attack.”

“Was it really not done by an emperor from the sect?” Ye Chen asked.

Monarch Solesword said nothing. He only told Ye Chen to retreat. When Ye Chen left, he summoned Monarch Skysheathe. Like Monarch Solesword, he was one of the seven monarchs that controlled the Numinous Sword Sect.

Both of them took out a jade slip and tapped their foreheads with it. Soon, their consciousness appeared in the catacomb of the Numinous Sword Sect.

Soon after, five familiar figures appeared. Monarch Solesword and Monarch Skysheathe only appeared as shadowy figures, but the others were all present in their real bodies.

“Did you discover the source of intense qi?” one of the monarchs asked.

Monarch Solesword nodded and explained what Ye Chen discovered. After listening, all their expressions turned grim.

“Just who is framing us?”

All the monarchs felt that someone was deliberately framing them. Although Ye Chen couldn’t feel any sword intent, the ravine resembled a sword slash. And who was the most likely suspect with all the clues left behind? The Numinous Sword Sect.

That was not to say the Numinous Sword Sect didn’t have an ability, but the price was too high. Once used, they would definitely enter a long period of weakness.

“I’m more concerned about the power of the perpetrator. He has such strength, yet he hides in the shadows and plots against us,” the most wizened monarch said.

“That person has such power, yet he dares not show himself. It only shows that his power is not enough to contend against the whole world. I’m more inclined to think that the slash is the result of a divine artifact. And it’s likely an unknown organization. It might even be supported by the two rebellious forces,” another monarch said.

“Then why would they destroy their own potential ally?”

“It’s to stir up fear,” Monarch Skysheathe said. In terms of power, he was weaker than Monarch Solesword, but he was a strategist. In terms of vision, he was the best among the seven monarchs. “Our original plan isolated the Twin Moon Sect and the Void Ripple Sect from the rest of the first-rate forces. As long as we have enough time, their demise is a sure ending, but now, it might not be so.”

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Monarch Skysheathe raised his hand, his eyes looking up. “Now, they will feel threatened. Even if we explain to them that it wasn’t us, not many would believe it. Hounded by the fear of destruction, they would make moves. They might not ally with the Twin Moon Sect and Void Ripple Sect, but they would definitely band together for warmth. That’s the best-case scenario. If they ally with the two force alliance, our situation will become dire. The breathing room Solesword created for us will disappear.”

“Is there anything we can do?” a monarch asked. “Since they already suspect us, why not awaken the other emperors and destroy as many of them as possible?”

“No,” Monarch Solesword said. “If we win, that will be alright, but what if it’s not enough and we lose? Those emperors are our greatest trump cards. If they all perish, we will only be able to shrink back to our headquarters. Besides, those forces are already on guard. Once we attack, the others will immediately know. We will lose the air of mystique. The only reason we succeeded with the Myriad Saber Alliance was because they never expected us to do such a thing.”

“Then, what can we do?” a monarch asked.

“Attack,” Monarch Skysheathe said. “Many of the forces are confused right now. We should attack the Twin Moon Sect and Void Ripple Sect and weaken them as much as possible before retreating. Grand Elder Guifeng and Grand Elder Jiaoyan are like embers flickering in the wind. Before they return to heaven and earth, we must exploit them as much as possible. Once they disappear, we have to shrink our defenses to the Sword Continent and prepare for a long war.”

Although it sounded cruel, this was the Numinous Sword Sect’s best course of action.

After some discussion, all the monarchs agreed to the plan. Luckily for them, the immortals on the front line had not yet returned, so their numbers were actually larger than normal, about fifty percent of all immortals present in the Numinous Sword Sect.

“This time, we must get back the Immortal Confining Sword,” Monarch Solesword said.

“That’s not likely,” another monarch said. “Since it hasn’t appeared on the front lines, it means that those two rebellious forces have not found a suitable user. Unless we can penetrate into their headquarters, our chances of retrieving it are low. Not to mention we don’t know which one of the two forces has obtained it.”

Monarch Solesword sighed. “If only the Immortal Ending Sword, Immortal Slaughtering Sword, and Immortal Slaying Sword did not mysteriously disappear.”

All the seven monarchs could not help but regret it, too. Although losing all their immortal emperors weakened the Numinous Sword Sect, the real killer was the disappearance of the Four Immortal Exterminating Swords. Even without an immortal emperor, as long as four peak sword monarchs wielded the four divine swords, it would be akin to four sword emperors present.

“Do you think that the disappearance of the Wavefold Sect was because of the Immortal Confining Sword?” a monarch asked.

“No,” another immediately rejected. “First of all, we don’t recognize the qi Elder Ye retrieved. Second, we know the capabilities of the Immortal Confining Sword the best. A divinity might be able to accomplish the feat with it, but an immortal? Impossible.”

“Forget about it for now,” Monarch Solesword said. “After we return, we can dispatch our spies and scouts to search for information. Our current mission is to weaken the two force alliance as much as possible.”

The meeting ended, and Monarch Solesword didn’t rest. Instead, he summoned all the immortals present and told them of his plan to attack the headquarters of the Twin Moon Sect. He did not inform them of too many details to ease any possible chance of lowering morale.

When they set off for the Twin Moon Sect, they did not hide their intentions. The monarchs of the Void Ripple Sect’s mastery over space exceeded theirs. Even if they had an artifact, it could only hide a few of them and not all of them. So, when they arrived, the immortals of the Twin Moon Sect and Void Ripple Sect were already ready behind the guardian formation of the Twin Moon Sect.

To break through the guardian formation, the Numinous Sword Sect would have to spare a lot of effort. By the time they broke it, they would be exhausted or weakened, giving the enemies a chance to kill them in one fell swoop. However, Monarch Solesword didn’t plan on making this conflict a long one.

Behind Monarch Solesword were two coffins, each leaking a bone-deep aura of death. The coffin released a screeching scream as they slid off, revealing two figures. One wore the customary uniform of the Numinous Sword Sect, but it appeared baggy on his skeletal frame. His eyes had sunken in, making them resemble pits. The other had smooth, milky skin, but his hair was snow white. He gave off an impression that he would shatter at the slightest touch.

“Grand Elders, please take action,” Monarch Solesword said, cupping his fists.

The coffin could only slow down the two sword emperor’s death. It was a far cry compared to the catacomb they originally slept, but it still managed to extend their lives by that little bit.

The two sword emperors didn’t waste any words and immediately attacked. They were on borrowed time. The less time they wasted, the more they would have to fulfill their purpose. Strictly speaking, the best method of utilizing them would be to turn them into jiangshis, but the Numinous Sword Sect would not desecrate the corpses of their elders like some fiendish forces.

The battle that followed changed the terrain of the great island. It was split in two and a river of blood flowed. The headquarters that housed the Twin Moon Sect for ages were destroyed. Half of their true immortals fell, and a quarter of their monarchs disappeared forever, and even the Bluemoon Emperor perished, leaving only the injured Redmoon Emperor.

The Numinous Sword Sect was not much better off. Many of their immortals also perished. Alongside were the two sword emperors. After the battle, the Numinous Sword Sect immortals immediately retreated to the Sword Continent, but the trouble was not over.

Although the two force alliance, tentatively named the Void Moon Alliance, was forced to recuperate, a new alliance that opposed the Numinous Sword Sect emerged. Formed by the Shifting Star Sect, Hanging Spear Sect, and Divine Pill Sect. They called themselves the Three Island Alliance.

Soon, news exploded throughout the Numinous Realm. It was the truth of the destruction of the Myriad Saber Alliance. According to the truth, the Numinous Sword Sect had stored several sword emperors on the brink of death, and they awakened some to destroy the Myriad Saber Alliance. Furthermore, the Numinous Sword Sect had no contemporary sword emperor.

Although the veracity of the rumor could not be verified, many forces still believed some parts of it. It wasn’t unheard of for immortals on the brink of death or whose willpower had reached their end to hibernate in order to awaken at a crucial time. Furthermore, the Numinous Sword Sect shrinking back to the Sword Continent also seemed to reinforce the spreading rumors.

Many second-rate forces, which had been shying away, started to get thoughts. They also wanted a piece of the pie. Although entering this conflict might destroy them, it was also an unprecedented opportunity. They just needed to choose the right force to join.

The Three Island Alliance, which had originally been on the defensive, started making preparation to attack the Numinous Sword Sect. Although they have not declared war, it was inevitable.F