"What kind of people are they?" Ye Fan was filled with curiosity.
These individuals gave off a completely different feeling, not like any Martial Saint-level warriors he had encountered before.
"Who exactly are you?" Ye Longcang gripped Boundless tightly, staring at them intently as he spoke.
The strange energy fluctuations coming from their bodies made even him, a powerful warrior, feel a sense of fear.
"The Divine Realm," one of the men said with a faint smile.
The Divine Realm!?
Hearing this, Ye Longcang's pupils contracted.
"Alright, we have no intention of interfering with the affairs of the mortal world," the man continued calmly. "We're only here to reclaim the sword, and once we have it, we'll leave."
Ye Longcang's expression darkened.
They were after the Boundless sword?
But this sword was incredibly powerful, significantly enhancing his cultivation speed. There was no way he would just hand it over—it was simply impossible!
"If you won't give it willingly, it won't matter," the man said nonchalantly.
As soon as he finished speaking, his body radiated star-like energy, which surged directly toward Ye Longcang.
Ye Longcang's pupils shrank as he tried to defend himself, but his reaction was too slow. In the next moment, the energy struck him, and he realized with shock that his body was completely immobilized.
What's happening!?
He was suspended in mid-air, but his arms and legs wouldn't move at all, as though his body had lost all control.
"I told you, we're taking the sword," the man said as he flew over and effortlessly took Boundless from Ye Longcang's grip.
"Thank you for cooperating. Perhaps when you achieve a breakthrough, we'll meet again in the Martial God Realm."
With that, the man smiled faintly. Then, the group of white-robed men vanished into thin air.
As soon as they disappeared, Ye Longcang found he could move his body again.
"What just happened!?"
Ye Longcang stared at the spot where they had been, his eyes filled with shock.
What he had just experienced was truly overwhelming. He was a Martial Saint, even nearing the peak of that realm. Yet, in front of those people, he had no power to resist—he had been like a fish on a chopping block, completely at their mercy.
"The Martial God Realm... Could it be the place one ascends to after breaking through the Martial Saint level?" Ye Longcang murmured, beginning to understand.
"Boundless…"
But Boundless had been taken from him.
The thought of it left him feeling deeply unsettled. That sword had been his path to becoming a supreme power.
"Forget it," he sighed after a moment.
Even without the sword, his strength was still considerable.
The new Azure Dragon Empire had been established, and with his current power, no one within the empire could stand against him.
Even beyond the empire, there were only a few nations that had Martial Saints powerful enough to pose a threat.
...
"Senior Brother, is that sword really that extraordinary?" one of the men asked as they flew to a nearby mountain peak.
The man holding Boundless had a momentary look of awe but quickly regained his composure.
"It's just a sharp sword," the man, named Zhang Yuanji, replied calmly. He was a Martial God!
Yes, the realm above Martial Saint was Martial God.
But even among Martial Gods, there were levels, ranging from the weakest, a One-Star Martial God, to the strongest, a Nine-Star Martial God. The gap between them was as vast as a chasm.
Zhang Yuanji was a Three-Star Martial God.
Recently, the barrier between the Martial God Realm and this world had weakened, allowing beings like them to enter.
Their sect disciples in the mortal world had gathered information about the sword, and their master had tasked them with retrieving it.
"Let's return now," Zhang Yuanji said as he stored Boundless in his storage ring, motioning to the others.
They all nodded, and together they flew off at an astonishing speed.
Despite his calm exterior, Zhang Yuanji's heart still held traces of shock.
When he had held that sword, he had felt a surge of overwhelming power.
It was as if everything in his body had been elevated to a higher level—significantly so.
Though he was a Three-Star Martial God, while wielding Boundless, he felt as though he could contend with a Four-Star Martial God!
Why is this sword so powerful?
The thought of handing the sword over filled him with reluctance.
Before long, they arrived at the Heavenly End, a place where the sky was illuminated with auroras.
They flew toward the auroras, passing through them, and in the next moment, their bodies vanished from the mortal world.
They reappeared in another realm, a world bathed in brilliant sunlight, surrounded by towering ancient trees. The energy in the air was far denser than anything found in the mortal world.
"Once we hand this sword to Master, our mission will be complete," one of the men remarked with a smile.
The others nodded, pleased with how smoothly the task had gone. Completing their mission meant they would earn points within their sect, which they could exchange for pills, weapons, and other valuable items.
"Yes, but before handing it over, I'd like to have a scabbard made for the sword," Zhang Yuanji said suddenly.
"A scabbard?"
"This sword is far too sharp, and its blade carries an incredibly potent energy. Look, even my storage ring has developed cracks just from holding it."
He held up his storage ring, showing the fine cracks running along its surface.
"Indeed…"
"I'll find some star meteorite to craft a proper scabbard for the sword. Once it's done, Master will be even more satisfied."
Zhang Yuanji looked at his companions and continued.
"That makes sense," they agreed.
"Then, what about us…"
"You all focus on your cultivation. I'll take care of this. When I report to Master, I'll say we completed it together," Zhang Yuanji assured them.