Chapter 853: A Sword Rips Through

Once peaceful and beautiful, the Yun Sect was no longer a paradise. Buildings lay shattered, and the sky seemed to be dyed red.

The Yun Sect was a major faction in the Gu Sheng Realm, with disciples from all races under its banner.

Especially its Sect Leader, who possessed the strength of the eighth Heaven God Stage. Recently, he had broken through the barrier and advanced to the ninth Heaven God Stage, achieving the ultimate unification of the Eight Desolations.

The sect’s elders were also numerous as the stars in the sea, each possessing formidable power. Yet even with such strength, the sect now faced the catastrophe of possible annihilation.

After three days and nights of relentless bombardment, the once impregnable walls of the Yun Sect were finally shattered.

In the sky above,

Disciples of the Yun Sect glared with fury at the dense swarm of dark figures in the distance.

“Yun Sect Leader, you thought your sect hidden within the Dimensional World was impervious, an unbreakable fortress. But beneath the Great Shark Divine Vessel, all defenses will crumble.”

A colossal warship stretched for tens of thousands of zhang, its hull radiating divine light. To propel this enormous vessel required at least thirty experts at the eighth Heaven God Stage pouring their divine energy without restraint to keep it operational.

Atop the vessel stood a terrifying being with a shark’s head and a human body, exuding an aura of overwhelming dominance and terrifying ferocity. This was one of the Ten Ancient Fierce Beasts—the Great Shark Clan.

“Never would I have thought the Great Shark Clan would actually ally with the Ancient Clans,” Sect Leader Yun coldly stared into the void, his voice sharp with anger.

“Those who understand the tides of fate are the true heroes. The Yun Sect’s fortune has ended. Daring to oppose the Ancient Clans is nothing but seeking your own destruction. By the decree of the Ancient Clans, your Yun Sect shall be completely eradicated.”

Sharkstart, one of the twelve divine generals of the Great Shark Clan, was a being of immense power and terrifying strength. This time, he had received orders from the Ancient Clans to completely suppress the Yun Sect.

“You damned traitors, is this truly your choice to betray the sect?” Meng Hengtian glared furiously at some figures atop the massive warship.

He never imagined that elders within the sect would betray them, exposing the Yun Sect’s location and allowing the Great Shark Clan to breach their defenses so swiftly.

This Dimensional World had been opened by the sect’s ancestor, powerful enough to shield them from the Ancient Clans’ assaults. Yet now, under the Great Shark Clan’s divine vessel, it shattered instantly, offering no resistance at all.

The traitorous elders’ faces darkened, then one spoke, “Meng Hengtian, aligning with the Ancient Clans is the only path. If you surrender and submit, perhaps you will be spared. Otherwise, death is the only outcome.”

“Fools! I’d rather die than share the same sky as you cowards!” Meng Hengtian roared.

Some disciples of the Yun Sect watched the unfolding scene with trembling hearts, their faces filled with awe and fear.

The mighty presence of the Great Shark Clan, one of the Ten Ancient Fierce Beasts, was overwhelming pressure upon them.

“Hmph!”

At that moment, a thunderous shout rang out. Sharkstart raised his Sea God’s Staff and struck downward. The heavens trembled as a massive tidal wave surged into the sky, covering the entire battlefield.

“Hengtian, take the disciples back first,” the Yun Sect Leader knew there was no way to resist this time.

Once, the Yun Sect had been invincible, protected by the Dimensional World opened by their ancestor. But now, with the protective barrier shattered, they could no longer withstand the Great Shark Clan’s assault.

The Sect Leader understood—the Ten Thousand Realms were likely about to open. Otherwise, the Ancient Clans wouldn’t have begun eliminating sects one by one.

“Sect Leader, what about you?” Meng Hengtian asked with concern.

“I’ll be fine. Lead the disciples back to the sect immediately,” the Yun Sect Leader commanded.

“Hongyun,” Meng Hengtian hesitated briefly before calling out.

“Elder,” Hongyun Immortal gracefully floated over, her expression grave. In her eyes, the Yun Sect was in grave danger.

“Lead the disciples back to the sect. This place is ours to hold,” Meng Hengtian declared.

“Yes,” Hongyun Immortal did not hesitate. With the situation so dire, there was no time for hesitation.

“Sect Leader, I understand your thoughts, but this matter concerns all of us, not just you alone.”

Meng Hengtian naturally understood what the Sect Leader was thinking. But this was not just the Sect Leader’s burden—it belonged to every member of the Yun Sect.

Preserving the seed of the sect—how could the Yun Sect be allowed to perish? Even if they sacrificed themselves, as long as they could protect the sect’s members in their escape, it would all be worth it.

“Hmph, dreaming of preserving your legacy? This time, the Yun Sect shall vanish from the Gu Sheng Realm forever. What are you waiting for? Seal it off!” Sharkstart coldly commanded.

“What?”

In an instant, the Yun Sect Leader and others’ faces changed drastically. Somehow, certain elders within the sect had completely betrayed them, sealing the sect’s entrance and preventing any disciple from entering.

A brilliant light flashed, and disciples who had nearly reached the sect’s gates were instantly torn to shreds.

“Wang Tianlong! Zhen Huoli! What are you doing?” Meng Hengtian’s eyes bulged with fury, his disbelief burning like wildfire.

“As I said, those who understand the times are the heroes. These two elders have already pledged allegiance to the Ancient Clans,” Sharkstart declared.

The disciples quickly retreated, finally regrouping beside the Yun Sect Leader. For many disciples, the events unfolding before them were terrifying.

“Sect Leader, what do we do now?” Even Hongyun Immortal hadn’t expected elders within the sect to betray them.

With the path blocked, the disciples had nowhere to escape.

These two elders held high status within the Yun Sect and possessed formidable power, though not quite matching the Sect Leader, they were still at the seventh Heaven God Stage.

Now, with these two elders blocking the entrance, practically no disciple could pass.

“Hahaha!”

At that moment, the Yun Sect Leader let out a bitter laugh, “Never would I have thought that at this critical moment, it would be the elders we nurtured with our own hands who would bring about the Yun Sect’s downfall.”

“The Ancient Clans dominate the Gu Sheng Realm. This is all our fault.”

“Very well, even if I must die today, I will leave a spark for the Yun Sect.”

“Sacrifice!”

With a roar, the Yun Sect Leader unleashed his power, his aura surging.

At this moment, preserving the spark of the sect could only be achieved by sacrificing himself. There was no other way.

Sharkstart’s strength was beyond what he could resist.

“Sect Leader, no!” The Yun Sect cried out in shock. They never expected the Sect Leader to choose self-sacrifice.

“Sacrifice everything, and protect the Yun Sect’s escape.”

Boom!

A pillar of light enveloped the Sect Leader, piercing the heavens. Sharkstart’s brows furrowed, clearly surprised by this act of self-sacrifice.

“Hengtian, from now on, the Yun Sect is in your hands,” the Sect Leader said.

“Sect Leader…”

Meng Hengtian cried out, but at this moment, he knew he could no longer stop the Sect Leader. At this point, this might be the only way to preserve the Yun Sect’s legacy.

Yet at that moment, the sacrificial power suddenly dissipated. The Sect Leader stared in disbelief.

“How could this be?”

“Hahaha…” Sharkstart burst into laughter upon witnessing this. If the sacrifice had succeeded, he truly wouldn’t have been able to stop it. But now, the sacrifice had been abruptly cut off, as if severed by an invisible force. This delighted Sharkstart immensely.

“It seems even Heaven has abandoned the Yun Sect. Truly, this is the end of your sect.”

“Crush them!”

With a wave of Sharkstart’s hand, the Great Shark Clan surged forth from the warship. Countless shark-like beings roared with fury, opening their monstrous jaws as they charged toward the Yun Sect disciples.

Meanwhile, the cannons of the Great Shark Divine Vessel gathered a brilliant beam of energy, which then erupted with a deafening roar.

The Yun Sect disciples stared at the incoming beam, frozen in terror. The power of this single strike was beyond anything they could withstand.

Just as the disciples believed their end had come, a sudden sword beam descended from the heavens, standing tall before them.

This sword beam was colossal, slicing through the air with immense force.

The beam of destruction was instantly split in two.

…