Thus, the side effects from the Corpse Poison Zou Feng refined were passed on, causing symptoms basically equivalent to an upset stomach—the mildest possible affliction.

Refining the Corpse Poison from several Fourth Grade and one Third Grade Martial Artist didn’t take much time.

Zou Feng soon opened his eyes again.

"Corpse Luo Heart Scripture (Refined Skill), Progress: 85%."

As expected, the Corpse Poison from a Third Grade Martial Artist made the Cultivation progress for this skill skyrocket.

Before refining the Corpse Poison, the Corpse Luo Heart Scripture’s cultivation progress had only been in the teens.

Besides, the Corpse Luo Heart Scripture was an exceptionally high-quality Cultivation Skill. Otherwise, it wouldn’t have been surprising if it had reached the Peak of Perfection after that last Refinement.

’But this is enough for now. I don’t even need another Third Grade. If I find a way to ambush a few more Sword Sect disciples at the Gang Qi Realm, that should do it.’

At this thought, Zou Feng could no longer sit still. He took one last look around the room before departing.

The moment he stepped outside, a chill ran down his spine.

It felt as if several sharp swords were hanging over his neck, ready to take his life at any moment.

’But this has to be an illusion. There are no ambushes around, and there certainly aren’t any swords about to strike me.’

’So...’

Zou Feng knew something was terribly wrong. Heedless of any potential danger outside, he burst out of the Silk Cave at top speed.

Along the way, he didn’t encounter a single Sword Sect disciple still on their feet.

Apparently, between his sneak attacks and the Silk Cave disciples’ fierce use of their home-field advantage, the remaining Sword Sect disciples had lost their nerve and fled the Silk Cave in a panicked, disorderly retreat.

Even after Zou Feng exited the Silk Cave, there was still no sign of any Sword Sect disciples.

He did, however, see several familiar experts from the Silk Cave. They seemed to have been affected by the same inexplicable sense of dread and were emerging to see what was happening.

After leaving the cave, Zou Feng saw the Silk Cave experts all looking up at the sky, so naturally, he tilted his head back as well.

The sight in the sky was nothing short of a spectacle.

Countless objects that could be called ’swords’ were converging on the Five Poison Hall, as if answering a summons.

Even the blades of the Sword Cultivators who had just fallen inside the Silk Cave seemed to gain sentience, flying out on their own to join the great torrent of the ’Ten Thousand Swords Return to the Root’.

"The Twenty-Third Sword... This must be the Twenty-Third Sword!"

"The Sword Saint really is here..."

"It’s over..."

A short distance away, a female expert from the Silk Cave murmured, her eyes filled with despair.

It was no wonder she was so pessimistic. The phenomenon was simply too spectacular, too overwhelming.

From the perspective of a Gang Qi Realm Martial Artist, it was difficult to imagine that such a technique could be unleashed by a single person.

Before long, a colossal sword seemingly forged from lightning coalesced directly above the Five Poison Hall. With unstoppable might, it descended upon the hall.

’Even from so far away, the sight of the colossal sword makes me feel as if Biyou Palace has committed so many sins that it has brought down heavenly retribution...’

Realizing something was amiss, Zou Feng quickly began Cultivating to shake the mental influence from his mind.

’The current Sword Saint of the Celestial Essence Sword Sect is even more ferocious than I expected...’

’What about Vice Palace Master Bai Chen? He’s a First Grade Expert, just like the Sword Saint. He has to make a move and fight back, right?’

The thought had barely crossed his mind when a colossal Poison Flood Dragon, formed from True Qi and vast clouds of toxic mist, soared roaring from within the Five Poison Hall.

It swiftly coiled its body around the colossal sword.

Clearly, Bai Chen had made his move.

Unfortunately, anyone with a discerning eye could tell that while the Poison Flood Dragon was incredibly powerful, it was still a far cry from the colossal sword.

And so it proved to be. Before long, the roars of the Poison Flood Dragon coiled around the sword turned to agonized howls.

Its body was then repeatedly Pierced and shattered by the sword’s radiant light.

With his superb vision, Zou Feng could even see a figure plummeting from the sky after the Poison Flood Dragon shattered and vanished.

’That person must be Bai Chen.’

’Even among First Grade experts, someone known as a Sword Saint is on a whole other level...’

At this thought, no matter how helpless he felt, Zou Feng could only turn to flee.

’It can’t be helped. I really did my best, turning the tide of battle at both Hundred-legged Ridge and the Silk Cave.’

’I even used the side effects to harass several Third Grade Experts from the Celestial Essence Sword Sect.’

’But once the Sword Saint made his move, it became a battle on a completely different level—one I can’t possibly interfere in right now.’

’Once the Five Poison Hall falls, the Five Poison Devouring Immortal Array can no longer be sustained. If I wait until then to escape, it’ll be too late.’

’Fortunately, I’m about to break through to the True Qi Realm. After that, I won’t have to fear a potential pursuit from the Celestial Essence Sword Sect.’

’In any case, the Sword Saint himself won’t come hunt me down, right?’

’Besides, the Sword Saint spent so long building up to that attack. Clearly, the Twenty-Third Sword isn’t something he can use casually. The limitations and energy cost must be enormous.’

Just as Zou Feng was about to slip away, the sky above changed once more.

A giant palm formed of toxic smoke suddenly materialized and closed its grip on the colossal sword.

Simultaneously, a woman’s voice echoed from the heavens.

"Jing Huaisong, are you determined to see this through to mutual destruction?"

The voice alone was enough to leave a listener feeling dazed and mesmerized.

It was instantly addictive, making one wish they could hear it forever.

"It’s the Palace Master! The Palace Master is back!"

"That’s right, it’s the Palace Master! We’re saved!" The nearby female disciples from the Silk Cave erupted in joyous cheers.

’Even I thought that the Biyou Palace Master would be in seclusion somewhere, making preparations for her battle with the Emperor of Great Yan.’

’Under these circumstances, she probably wouldn’t have returned even if she knew Biyou Palace was in trouble.’

’Or maybe she just couldn’t make it back in time.’

’Who would have thought she’d actually appear right at such a critical moment?’

"Hmph!"

"If it weren’t for... Fine. I’ll spare you this once!" a hoarse voice responded. It was clearly the Sword Saint, Jing Huaisong.

But upon hearing this, the Biyou Palace Master’s tone immediately bristled with fury. "Hahaha, you’ll spare me? Come on, then! I’d love to see just how you plan to spare me!"

Jing Huaisong snorted back, "You madwoman!"

Before the words had even faded, the colossal sword in the sky exploded. The earth shook and the mountains trembled as a torrential wave of Sword Qi seemed to engulf everything.

However, because the giant palm was rapidly dissolving the scattering Sword Qi, the explosion was more bark than bite; it didn’t cause much actual damage.

’But I get the feeling that Jing Huaisong wasn’t too surprised by the Biyou Palace Master’s sudden return.’

’And it seems he never intended to fight her to the death here and now.’

Whatever the reason, Jing Huaisong had, for the moment, abandoned the idea of continuing his assault on Biyou Palace.

The battle didn’t reach a final, bloody conclusion. It simply ended after both sides had paid a price.

But it was hard to say who came out ahead. While the Celestial Essence Sword Sect appeared to have lost many disciples, Biyou Palace’s losses were also devastating.

Even Vice Palace Master Bai Chen had been caught in the aftermath of the Twenty-Third Sword, and it was unknown if he was alive or dead.

Even if he was alive, it was uncertain whether he would survive.

’Perhaps the Celestial Essence Sword Sect has already achieved its true objective...’

’The Biyou Palace Master returned, clashed head-on with the Twenty-Third Sword, and resolved the crisis.’

’She seemed overwhelmingly powerful, but she had been in the middle of preparing for a different battle. Being forced to rush back and fight the Sword Saint—how could her condition not be affected?’

’So, will the decisive battle she planned to initiate against the Emperor of Great Yan now be called off?’

’To be blunt, the fact that the Biyou Palace Master dared to issue the challenge in the first place meant she was fairly confident of victory.’

’But after this battle, that situation has likely changed in subtle ways...’

Zou Feng didn’t dwell on matters that had little to do with him. He told the Silk Cave disciples he needed to look after his brothers, said his goodbyes, and stuck to his original plan: to run.

’For some reason, I don’t want to meet the Biyou Palace Master right now. I’m afraid she’ll take a liking to me and force me into dual cultivation.’