Chapter 103: Back to the Silent Sword Sect
The floating islands of the Silent Sword Sect no longer carried the tranquil atmosphere they once possessed.
The waterfalls that flowed endlessly from one island to another still shimmered beneath the spiritual light of the heavens. The rivers of clouds still drifted peacefully through the sky. The ancient pavilions remained suspended above the mountains exactly as they had been for generations. At first glance, the entire sect appeared like an immortal paradise untouched by worldly troubles.
Yet beneath that beautiful appearance, every disciple of the Silent Sword Sect was experiencing a growing sense of dread.
The defensive formations surrounding the floating islands had been trembling continuously for hours.
At first, the disciples believed it was another strange phenomenon caused by the recent upheavals surrounding Silent River Hill. Such occurrences had become increasingly common ever since their mysterious Sect Protector descended upon their lives. Spiritual disturbances appeared frequently. Heavenly phenomena occurred regularly. Entire regions seemed to change overnight.
Nobody thought much about it initially.
Then the shaking intensified.
The protective arrays that guarded the floating islands began emitting deep groaning sounds.
Ancient runes carved into mountainsides started flickering.
Several barriers lost their brilliance.
The spiritual energy sustaining the formation became unstable.
By the time the disciples realized something was wrong, it was already too late.
Figures had appeared beyond the horizon.
At first there were only a few.
Tiny specks of light.
Then dozens.
Then hundreds.
Soon the sky itself appeared crowded with cultivators.
Flying swords streaked through the heavens like shooting stars.
Massive spirit beasts crossed the clouds.
Ancient flying treasures moved through the air while carrying groups of powerful cultivators.
The sight alone caused many younger disciples to turn pale.
These were not nearby cultivators.
Everyone could tell immediately.
The aura they carried was completely different.
The quality of their spiritual energy was different.
Their clothing was different.
Even the treasures they used were vastly superior to anything normally seen in this region.
They came from elsewhere.
Far away.
Extremely far away.
And judging by their expressions, they had not come as guests.
The disciples gathered throughout the sect.
Every sword was unsheathed.
Every defensive position was occupied.
The strongest among them stood at the forefront.
Zi Yue remained among those leading the defense.
Her beautiful face had become unusually serious.
The girl who once trembled before Foundation Establishment cultivators now stood before a gathering that could wipe out their entire sect without effort.
Yet despite the fear hidden within her heart, she refused to retreat.
Because she understood something.
The Silent Sword Sect no longer belonged solely to its disciples.
It belonged to their Protector.
The existence who had saved them.
The existence they dared not betray.
Another violent tremor suddenly shook the floating islands.
Boom.
Several barriers cracked visibly.
The formation’s golden light flickered.
The cultivators outside smiled.
One of them casually waved his hand.
The already weakened formation shuddered again.
Crack.
Several sections collapsed.
The disciples clenched their fists.
The gap between both sides was becoming increasingly obvious.
Soon the first group descended completely.
Then the second.
Then the third.
Then countless more.
The sky above Silent Sword Sect became crowded with cultivators.
Some stood upon flying swords.
Some rode spirit beasts.
Others floated directly in the air without support.
The spiritual pressure they released caused many younger disciples difficulty breathing.
Several visitors immediately began observing the sect.
Their expressions varied.
Some appeared disappointed.
Others amused.
A few looked surprised.
One middle-aged cultivator standing atop a bronze flying sword slowly swept his gaze across the floating islands before releasing a disappointed sigh.
"So this feels like a better place than others."
His voice contained obvious dissatisfaction.
Nearby, another cultivator wearing robes embroidered with golden suns folded his arms and shook his head.
"I expected some hidden ancient inheritance."
"I expected an immortal battlefield."
"I expected a forgotten realm."
"Instead, I find a sect whose strongest disciples can barely maintain their own defensive formation."
Laughter immediately erupted.
Several cultivators nodded in agreement.
Another person stepped forward and spoke without attempting to lower his voice.
"The spiritual energy here is excellent."
"The environment is excellent."
"The mountains are excellent."
"The rivers are excellent."
"The floating islands are excellent."
He paused before glancing toward the Silent Sword disciples.
"Unfortunately, the cultivators are disappointing."
More laughter followed.
The disciples remained silent.
Anger burned within many of them.
Yet nobody moved.
Nobody dared.
Not because they lacked courage.
Because they understood reality.
The visitors before them possessed strength capable of destroying everything they loved.
One younger cultivator among the visitors suddenly stepped forward.
The arrogance on his face was impossible to hide.
He looked young.
Perhaps only a few decades old.
Yet the pressure emanating from him far surpassed anything most Silent Sword disciples had ever encountered.
His gaze swept over them as though he were examining insects.
"You people probably do not understand who has arrived before your gates."
His tone carried absolute confidence.
Not arrogance born from ignorance.
Confidence born from genuine superiority.
"We crossed several continents to reach this place."
"We traveled through dangerous regions."
"We passed through territories occupied by ancient beasts."
"We endured spatial storms."
"And after all that effort, we arrive only to discover a sect whose strongest cultivators are merely Foundation Establishment and Core Formation."
The disciples felt their faces heat up.
Because it was true.
Their strongest members really were at those realms.
The young cultivator laughed.
"Among my people, cultivators of such level are little more than errand runners."
Several others nodded.
Another cultivator smiled.
"If my sect sent even a fraction of its true strength here, your entire mountain range would disappear before sunset."
The atmosphere became increasingly uncomfortable.
Yet the visitors showed no intention of stopping.
To them, this was entertainment.
Eventually an older cultivator raised his hand.
The surrounding noise gradually disappeared.
Unlike the others, this man’s presence was calm.
Yet that calmness made him even more terrifying.
The moment he stepped forward, many disciples felt their instincts screaming.
Danger.
Extreme danger.
His gaze slowly swept across the entire sect.
Then he spoke.
"We did not travel this far to waste time."
His voice was neither loud nor aggressive.
Yet every person heard it clearly.
"Who is the current leader of this sect?"
Silence followed.
The disciples exchanged glances.
Nobody answered.
The old cultivator waited.
Then asked again.
"Who is responsible for this sect?"
Still nobody answered.
His eyes narrowed slightly.
The atmosphere immediately became heavier.
Several disciples struggled to breathe.
The old man remained expressionless.
Yet his pressure continued increasing.
"I shall ask one final time."
His voice became colder.
"Who leads this sect?"
The disciples remained silent.
Not because they wished to challenge him.
Because they genuinely did not know how to answer.
Should they mention their Protector?
Should they reveal the Deity?
Absolutely not.
The thought never even crossed their minds.
The old cultivator’s patience finally began running out.
His spiritual pressure surged outward.
The clouds beneath the floating islands shook.
Several disciples stumbled backward.
One younger visitor sneered.
"What is wrong with these people?"
"Are they incapable of understanding a simple question?"
Another visitor laughed.
"Perhaps they have become frightened."
The older cultivator ignored the comments.
His gaze remained fixed upon the Silent Sword disciples.
"Answer me."
His voice carried undeniable authority.
Finally, after a long silence, one of the older disciples stepped forward.
His cultivation was among the highest remaining within the sect.
Even so, he appeared insignificant compared to the visitors.
He cupped his fists respectfully.
"Honored seniors, please forgive us."
The old cultivator stared at him.
"Then answer."
The disciple took a deep breath.
Then spoke honestly.
"The Silent Sword Sect currently has no Sect Leader."
The statement immediately caused visible surprise.
Several visitors exchanged looks.
The old cultivator himself frowned.
"No Sect Leader?"
The disciple nodded.
"That is correct."
The visitors became visibly interested.
The old cultivator asked another question.
"If there is no Sect Leader, then what happened to those who previously governed this sect?"
Pain flashed across many disciples’ faces.
The answer remained difficult to speak.
"Our previous leaders died."
The visitors became even more interested.
"Died?"
The disciple lowered his head slightly.
"The sect suffered a catastrophe."
"Our former leadership perished during that calamity."
Several visitors nodded thoughtfully.
Then one suddenly frowned.
A contradiction had become obvious.
"If your leaders died, then why are all of you still alive?"
The question immediately froze the atmosphere.
The disciples became nervous.
Many looked toward Zi Yue.
Others exchanged uncertain glances.
Nobody answered immediately.
The visitors instantly noticed.
The old cultivator narrowed his eyes.
"There is more to this story."
The disciple swallowed.
Then finally answered.
"The Silent Sword Sect survived because we received protection."
The visitors immediately focused upon him.
"Protection from whom?"
The disciple hesitated.
The disciples around him became tense.
Even Zi Yue felt her heart beating faster.
Eventually, the disciple answered carefully.
"We were protected by our Sect Protector."
The visitors immediately became alert.
A Sect Protector?
Now things were becoming interesting.
The old cultivator stared directly at the disciple.
"And where is this protector?"
The disciple remained silent briefly.
Then finally answered.
"Our Protector is currently in seclusion."
The moment those words left his mouth, the expressions of the visitors changed completely.
Because every single one of them suddenly realized the same thing.
The true master of Silent Sword Sect had not appeared yet.