Earth-shaking cheers nearly blew the heavens open, while the side of the Ancient Clan remained in dead silence.
Watching the retreating backs of the Lu clan, complex emotions churned in everyone's hearts.
No one had expected this world-renowned clash to conclude with the Lu clan's defeat.
The Great Xia Sword Sect's triumph in this battle was not merely their own victory.
It also laid the foundation of confidence for the sects and clans across the Six Domains to stand against the Ancient Clan.
Originally, the Ancient Clan had appeared an insurmountable peak in their eyes; many had felt that no matter what kind of effort they made, victory was unattainable.
Yet the Great Xia Sword Sect had proven through action that the Ancient Clan was not invincible.
Even so, the clear-headed among them remained shrewd, refusing to let a single victory intoxicate them.
For the Great Xia Sword Sect to produce five late Void Refining Realm geniuses under the age of a hundred was something other factions simply could not match.
Even if the other sects and clans banded together to pool their full strength, standing against the Ancient Clan would still be immensely difficult.
Not to mention whether any other faction would stake everything with reckless abandon like the Six Ancient Sacred Sects.
Thus, the Great Xia Sword Sect's victory was impossible for them to replicate.
Given Lu Wuhen's terrifying strength, if Li Guanqi had not matched him by breaking through to the Body Integration Realm as well, what they would have faced was an overwhelmingly powerful grandmaster sword cultivator of the Body Integration Realm!!
Regardless, every one of the Great Xia Sword Sect's five battles today had been breathtakingly astounding.
None was more perilous than Li Guanqi's audacious assault beneath the heavenly tribulation.
No one had foreseen that after breaking through to the Body Integration Realm, Li Guanqi's handling of Lu Wuhen could only be described as a complete crushing.
Shadow-casting stones of this battle were circulated among countless people, and Guanyun Pavilion made a fortune from them.
Even Ji Yuchuan had to admire Tang Ru's sharp mind for this.
Tang Ru merely chuckled. Back during the Ziyang Palace incident, he had sold shadow-casting stones of Li Guanqi's battles; he had never imagined that so many years later, he would be selling them again. Only this time, the battle footage commanded an exorbitant price.
Li Guanqi took a step and vanished from the spot. When he reappeared, his eyes were shut tight, and he collapsed unconscious into the medicinal pool.
Lu Kangnian followed closely behind, raising his hand to undo the seals on several reaches of the Xiu River!
Using those exceptionally rare treasures of heaven and earth on these disciples did not pain Lu Kangnian in the slightest.
Looking at the heavily injured youth before him, Lu Kangnian's eyes rimmed with red and welled with tears.
If not for them, the Great Xia Sword Sect would undoubtedly have lost today.
Yet after this battle, Lu Kangnian no longer concealed his ambitions in the least. Since he was going to see this through, he would do it to the absolute best!!
Buzz!
Nangong Xuandu stepped through the void, bypassing the barrier of the Purple Spirit Grotto-Heaven entirely.
Tilting his head back to drink his wine, the green-robed swordsman glanced at Lu Kangnian, the corners of his mouth curving slightly.
"Sect Master Lu can find a time to go take over the Lu clan's resources."
Lu Kangnian shook his head and said softly, "I'll leave those matters to others in the sect. I still can't rest easy leaving these few unattended."
A gleam flashed in Nangong Xuandu's eyes upon hearing this, and he chuckled softly.
"Leave these little fellows to me. From what I see, your sect isn't all that peaceful right now, and taking over the Lu clan's resources is quite a lucrative task."
Nangong Xuandu's implication was clear: if Lu Kangnian did not oversee it personally, there was no telling how much would be embezzled along the way.
Lu Kangnian frowned and, on second thought, realized the truth in those words.
Besides, he could see that Nangong Xuandu strongly favored Li Guanqi.
Were it not so, Pengluo could never have entered a second time.
With heartache in his gaze, Lu Kangnian asked, "Senior Nangong, Guanqi's sword... is there any chance..."
Before Lu Kangnian could finish, Nangong Xuandu shook his head with a grave expression.
"Impossible... That blade was no ordinary mortal sword, yet Lu Wuhen's Sword Ruins was peculiar enough to sever it."
Lu Kangnian let out a long sigh and turned to take a deep look at the figures in the medicinal pool.
He then bowed respectfully to Nangong Xuandu and turned to leave.
Nangong Xuandu pondered for a moment, then raised a hand and sent a beam of azure sword light shooting into Lu Kangnian's head.
Lu Kangnian stumbled as though struck by a heavy blow, yet far from being angered, wild joy flared in his eyes!!
Nangong Xuandu had bestowed upon him a wisp of Sword Soul Realm sword intent!!!!
Everyone understood just how priceless such sword intent was!!
Something outsiders could beg endlessly for without ever catching a glimpse of had now been granted to him by Nangong Xuandu!!
Lu Kangnian turned and was about to kneel in formal homage, and Nangong Xuandu accepted the gesture with utter composure.
Lu Kangnian knelt on the ground with devout solemnity, knowing full well what this represented.
A master's lineage!
Regardless of whether Nangong Xuandu publicly acknowledged Lu Kangnian as his disciple, Lu Kangnian would treat him with the reverence owed to an honored master from this day forward!
"Lu Kangnian thanks you, sir, for bestowing this sword intent. I shall cultivate with all my might and not let your kindness go to waste."
Lu Kangnian dared not speak too presumptuously, expressing only his deepest gratitude.
Nangong Xuandu smiled faintly and raised a hand, lifting him with a gentle force. "Go attend to the other matters first," he said softly. "Leave these little fellows to me."
Lu Kangnian rose, nodded with a smile, and vanished from the Purple Spirit Grotto-Heaven.
Watching Lu Kangnian's departing back, Nangong Xuandu wore a thoughtful look.
A sharp light flickered in his deep eyes; no one could guess what he was thinking.
Yet Nangong Xuandu did not regret giving away a strand of his sword intent for Lu Kangnian to comprehend.
For no other reason than this...
To have the Domain Lord personally instruct Li Guanqi to join this sect meant Lu Kangnian... was a man worthy of being held in high regard!!
Furthermore, Nangong Xuandu trusted the Domain Lord's judgment. Whatever could be said of the Great Xia Sword Sect, there were countless sects with far deeper foundations and finer traditions. Why choose the Great Xia Sword Sect led by Lu Kangnian?
This proved that, at least in the Domain Lord's eyes, Lu Kangnian was someone who deserved serious attention.
The corners of Nangong Xuandu's mouth curled upward as he drank his wine, casting his gaze toward the figures in the pool.
These little fellows were truly remarkable.
Suddenly!!
An obscure yet immense pressure erupted from Li Guanqi as he sat cross-legged at the center of the medicinal pool.
Even Nangong Xuandu was startled by this pressure. His eyes narrowed as he peered toward the center of the pool.
After a moment's thought, he flashed to the water's edge, tilted his flagon slightly, and poured all of its spiritual liquid into the pool.
With an aching heart, he cursed under his breath, "I've taken a massive loss this time!!"
The ambrosial wine held intensely pure and potent primal energy, and not just primal energy—it also contained the essence of countless rare spiritual herbs, more than enough to mend severe wounds.
By now, Cao Yan had nearly finished refining the Purple Dragon Thunder Flame, and a small vortex had formed around him, drawing in the spiritual liquid.
Chapter 820