A sect’s mountain peak is its face, a display of its strength.
Between sects, strength is compared through territory and peak height.
The Zhūmùlǎngmǎ Sect is an exception to this rule, because that place is just cheating.
So, having a sect’s mountain peak blown up is an incredibly embarrassing affair.
Even though a sect can seek out a new location afterward, if their home base is destroyed, it shows their strength isn’t all that impressive.
Especially for sword cultivators who value face and pride, it’s a utter disgrace!
Besides, Shenzhou has had the tradition of sword debates since ancient times.
There are two ways to win a sword debate: one is to compete in swordsmanship, the other is to compete in Sword Dao.
Swordsmanship is a duel of actual sword techniques, while Sword Dao is a battle of wits, discussing governance and the philosophy of gentlemen, clashing ideas.
Wins and losses in swordsmanship are common and not worth mentioning, but wins and losses in Sword Dao carry great significance.
It commands even more respect than a victory in swordsmanship. It represents that a sect’s philosophical depth surpasses all others.
And to show how much they value such intellectual victories, sects are allowed to increase their height if they win a debate.
The Tianyun Sword Sect is a professional debate-focused Sword Sect. While their swordsmanship isn’t impressive, their verbal sparring is top-notch, and they always manage to win various debate battles.
So, their sect’s mountain peak height grew rapidly. After many years of effort, they successfully pierced through the clouds, giving it a misty, immortal-like appearance that’s quite majestic.
But now it’s been leveled.
Years of debate victories vanished into thin air overnight.
Even if the sect’s disciples survive, they’ll have no face left to show anyone.
“Five minutes.”
Jiang Ke’er sat calmly on the recliner by the entrance. The energy sphere in the sky showed no signs of dissipating.
The Sect Master of Tianyun Sword Sect was finally starting to panic.
No way, she can’t actually be serious.
Impossible, she must know how important the mountain peak is to Tianyun Sword Sect. Doing that would make enemies of the entire sect. That’s a fight to the death.
Besides, she’d become the public enemy of every Sword Sect in Shenzhou!
Since she calls herself the Blue Lotus Sword Sect, doesn’t she plan to join the Sword Cultivator Alliance? She’s willing to burn that bridge?
No, she can’t be that ruthless!
She doesn’t have the guts, nor the qualifications!
But what if she’s just a hothead?
A hothead. The Sect Master of Tianyun Sword Sect felt a chill run down his spine. He feared these types the most, people who act purely on emotion without considering consequences, always ready to go for a suicidal trade.
If something really happens, she’ll bear the consequences, sure, but he’d be gone too!
One minute, 59, 58, 57…
The heart of the Sect Master of Tianyun Sword Sect trembled. Jiang Ke’er’s countdown sounded like the footsteps of a demon drawing closer.
But he still refused to believe it!
He stared at Jiang Ke’er defiantly, sneering, “If you have the guts, then…”
The countdown didn’t stop. In fact, Jiang Ke’er never even glanced at the Sect Master of Tianyun Sword Sect once.
The Sect Master of Tianyun Sword Sect was truly panicking now: “I’m warning you! The disciples of Tianyun Sword Sect all come from influential families. You will pay for your actions today!”
“20, 19, 18…”
“You probably don’t know how important this mountain peak is to the Sword Cultivator Alliance! If you dare make a move, I guarantee this little village of yours won’t survive three days!”
“10, 9, 8…”
“Do we really have to end in mutual destruction? That benefits neither of us!”
“5, 4, 3…”
“Calm down! Calm down! Don’t be impulsive! One wrong step and you’ll regret it forever!”
The Sect Master of Tianyun Sword Sect roared out hysterically, as if he had resolved to sell his soul to the Devil: “I apologize! I’ll apologize, isn’t that enough?”
Oh?
Jiang Ke’er smiled slightly and raised her hand.
The crimson energy sphere, on the verge of eruption, paused momentarily.
The Sect Master of Tianyun Sword Sect snapped back to reality, drenched in cold sweat. He thought disdainfully — this one really doesn’t dare after all. Anyone with a shred of reason wouldn’t do something like this.
Besides, this all started over a minor squabble between some junior disciples.
So, all he needs to do is offer a half-hearted apology, give her an out, and she’ll take the opportunity to back down and leave Tianyun Sword Sect alone.
That way, she also puts on a show of defending her disciples, earning their loyalty. Good enough.
“…what they said was too much. I’ll discipline them properly when I get back…” the Sect Master of Tianyun Sword Sect said awkwardly. “Fine, I apologize to you. I’m sorry. My sect’s disciples said…”
“What did you say? I didn’t catch that.”
Jiang Ke’er perked up her ears.
“I said I’m sorry.”
“Louder.”
“I said I’m sorry! We were wrong!” the Sect Master of Tianyun Sword Sect shouted, face red with rage. “I said I’m sorry! We were wrong!”
“Hmm, alright.” Jiang Ke’er nodded. “Not sincere.”
“Blow it up.”
“Alright, then we’ll head back—”
“Hm?”
“What?”
“What???”
The Sect Master of Tianyun Sword Sect’s eyes went wide. In his vision, Jiang Ke’er suddenly swung her hand forward.
“BOOM—”
With a dull muffled blast from within the barrel, the energy trigger of the runic cannon had already struck the firing point. In an instant, the orb of light transformed into a concentrated beam of destructive light—
Then became a blinding white flash.
Huh? An earthquake?
Because they were far away, the villagers of the Small Fishing Village only felt a tremor run through the earth, and the sky suddenly brightened for a moment.
But the Sect Master of Tianyun Sword Sect knew that everything he least wanted to see had happened.
Just like that, effortless and unreasonable.
“Ahhh! I’ll kill you!”
Sword light slashed toward Jiang Ke’er hysterically, but she merely responded with a light snap of her fingers after a soft crisp sound.
Everyone in Tianyun Sword Sect, from the Sect Master to the lowliest disciples, was struck by an invisible force, sent flying backward and far away from the Fishing Village.
“Did you forget about the Formation Arts here? You all contributed to them, didn’t you?” Jiang Ke’er laughed.
“Trying to cause trouble for me within this formation? You’d need to train a lot more. Oh, I’m not talking about verbal sparring — practicing that won’t help either… Besides, your arguments are terrible.”
Jiang Ke’er’s words revealed a piece of information that doubled the Sect Master of Tianyun Sword Sect’s rage.
She actually knew what the mountain peak meant to Tianyun Sword Sect. She even knew the debate rules of these Sword Sects.
But she wanted to blow it up anyway. She wanted to mess with his head!
She wasn’t some ignorant hothead. She simply didn’t give a damn about Tianyun Sword Sect’s retaliation. The sheer arrogance was off the charts!
“No, you’re absolutely insane…”
The Sect Master of Tianyun Sword Sect flew high into the sky, gazing far into the distance toward Tianyun Sword Sect.
Through the hazy dust, he could see that the once towering peak was completely gone. Though he couldn’t see the details from here, he could imagine it.
All of it, blown away with the wind~
Having done all that, Jiang Ke’er calmly rotated the runic cannon’s barrel.
She bared her gap-toothed grin and smiled at the Lingshang Sword Sect Leader.