Gou Zai Fei Men made up myths

Many sect leaders and independent cultivators below the stage nodded in agreement upon hearing this. Indeed, the scale of the beast tide that day was unprecedented. If it weren't for someone directing and coordinating all parties, the casualties would have been far more severe.

As the alliance leader, Shen Mo should oversee the overall situation; that's the right thing to do. Should the alliance leader be like a common soldier charging ahead? What use are his subordinates then?

Jian Wuji's eyes flashed even colder as he sneered, "What a fine 'commander' and 'general'! Alliance Leader Shen is quite the smooth talker! However, I have heard that when the Demon King appeared, Broken Dragon Cliff was in grave danger. If it weren't for the profoundness of your alliance's Zhou Tian Star Formation, which combined the strength of everyone, it would have been broken long ago."

"Has Alliance Leader Shen, who sits in the rear, personally witnessed the bloodshed of his disciples on the front lines? Has he personally heard the mournful cries of his comrades on their deathbeds? How much of his 'strategic planning' is stained with the blood of his comrades?"

These words are insidious! They directly imply that Shen Mo is hiding in a safe place, using other people's lives to achieve his own "merit".

The faces of the Qingyun Alliance members grew even uglier. Jin Hao, unable to contain himself any longer, stepped forward and shouted sternly, "Sect Master Jian! Stop making false accusations! My sect leader..."

"Jin Hao." Shen Mo raised his hand, stopping Jin Hao from saying anything more. He looked at Jian Wuji, his eyes still calm, but deep inside, it seemed as if a layer of ice had solidified.

"Since the Sword Sect Master has asked me whether I have personally witnessed the heroic deeds of my comrades..."

Shen Mo's voice remained steady, but carried an indescribable heaviness. "Then I will answer you. On that day in the Cardinal's Chamber, every message sent was stained with blood; on the sand table, every point of light that flickered was a matter of life and death."

"Junior Brother Shi Tie fought valiantly, Junior Nephew Jin Hao did not retreat even with his sword broken, Elder Zhao exhausted himself setting up the formation, Elder Li's alchemy furnace was stained with blood... I felt deeply for each of their struggles and sacrifices, and I will remember them forever."

"Their blood was not shed in vain; it became the cornerstone that prevented the collapse of Dragon-Slaying Cliff, the lifeline for the safe evacuation of millions of lives, and also..."

He paused, his gaze suddenly sharpening like a sword, piercing Jian Wuji: "So this is how the Sword Sect Master can stand here today, spouting nonsense and questioning the responsibility of others... his confidence!"

The last two words, spoken with resounding force, seemed to strike the hearts of everyone with immense power.

Jian Wuji's expression darkened slightly.

Shen Mo didn't give him a chance to refute, taking a step forward and his voice suddenly turning sharp: "As for whether I, Shen, am a coward or only know how to hide behind others... if Sect Master Sword has any doubts, why not try it yourself?"

His gaze, sharp as lightning, swept across the entire arena before finally settling on Jian Wuji's face. He spoke each word clearly: "Today is the Sword Sect Master's Grand Ceremony, a grand event for swordsmanship. I, Shen, am not talented, but I have also learned a few rudimentary sword techniques. Since the Sword Sect Master is revered for his swordsmanship and questions me about 'responsibility,' why don't we... have a friendly exchange on this swordsmanship stage?"

"Since we're discussing swordsmanship, let's also examine the sword in my hand—is it effective or not? And do I, the alliance leader 'sitting in the rear,' have the qualifications to lead the people of the Southern Region?!"

"Whoosh—!"

The entire venue erupted in chaos!

No one expected that Shen Mo would be so fierce, directly turning the tables and challenging Jian Wuji to a duel! And this was on the territory of the Heavenly Sword Sect, right after Jian Wuji had just displayed the power of his secluded cultivation and the soaring sword energy!

This is no longer a simple rebuttal, but the most direct and naked challenge! It is the most blatant provocation against the authority of Jian Wuji!

"Has he gone mad? Jian Wuji is a Grandmaster of swordsmanship, a Golden Core cultivator at the peak of his cultivation, just touching the threshold of the Nascent Soul stage!"

"Shen Mo is strong, but he's still young; his cultivation level is probably a bit lacking, isn't it?"

"Not necessarily! The Qingyun Sect's lineage is mysterious. Shen Mo, who has managed to secure his position as Alliance Leader, is no easy opponent."

"This is going to be good! This is the real deal!"

The Fire Cloud Daoist of the Blazing Sun Sect was initially stunned, then his eyes flashed with wild joy, and he almost clapped his hands in approval. (Author "May in the Sky" recommends reading "Making Myths in a Ruined Sect" using the "Renren Bookstore" APP, download and install.) He couldn't wait for Shen Mo and Jian Wuji to fight to the death!

A hint of worry flashed in Fairy Ling Shuang's beautiful eyes.

Chen Hao of Baibaoge turned pale, muttering, "Alliance Leader Shen... Alliance Leader Shen, please reconsider..."

The members of the Qingyun Alliance were also taken aback. Han Lin cried out urgently, "Sect Leader! You mustn't!"

Jin Hao, Mu Qingqing, and the others were sweating profusely with anxiety. They knew that their sect leader was unfathomable, but Jian Wuji had a fearsome reputation, and they didn't know what level he had reached after going into seclusion. It would be too dangerous for their sect leader to rashly accept the challenge!

Jian Wuji was also taken aback, clearly not expecting Shen Mo to be so assertive, daring to challenge him to a duel. His eyes flashed with cold light as he stared intently at Shen Mo, as if trying to see right through him.

Shen Mo met his gaze calmly, his eyes clear and deep, showing no fear whatsoever, only a calm coldness.

A deathly silence fell over the square. Everyone's hearts were in their throats, their gazes darting back and forth between Jian Wuji and Shen Mo, awaiting Jian Wuji's response.

Should they accept the challenge and settle the score on the spot? Or should they avoid the fight and confirm the accusation that they "only dare to engage in verbal disputes"?

This is no longer a simple exchange of skills, but a head-on collision concerning the face, prestige, and even the future landscape of the Southern Region of the two giants!

Jian Wuji stared at Shen Mo for a long time, then suddenly let out a short, cold laugh: "Good! Well done, Shen Mo! You certainly have guts!"

He slowly raised his right hand, his fingers forming a sword shape. A silver glint flickered at the tip of his finger, slicing through the air and emitting a faint hiss.

"Since Alliance Leader Shen is in such high spirits, this old man... will spar with you a couple of times. Let the heroes of the world see whether your sword, Shen Mo, is worthy of the position of Alliance Leader!"

Before he finished speaking, his figure blurred, and he appeared in the center of the main sword-debating platform like a ghost. His silver sword robe fluttered without wind, and a terrifying sword intent, as cold as ten thousand years of mysterious ice and as sharp as if it could cut through the heavens and earth, suddenly erupted and enveloped the entire sword-debating peak!

A great war is about to break out!

When Jian Wuji uttered the word "Good," it was like an ice bead exploding, and the entire summit of the Sword Debate Peak instantly fell into a deathly silence, so quiet you could hear a pin drop.

The air seemed to freeze, with only the chilling, bone-piercing, terrifying sword intent, almost tearing at the skin, spreading outwards in waves from Jian Wuji's center.

At the edge of the plaza, some sword cultivators with slightly weaker cultivation levels turned pale and subconsciously took several steps back, feeling as if they could hardly breathe, as if countless invisible swords were hanging above their heads, ready to strike at any moment.

On the main sword-fighting platform, Jian Wuji stood with his hands behind his back, his silver sword robe fluttering in the wind. Within three feet of him, the space was subtly distorted, emitting a faint "sizzling" sound, which was the strange sound of pure sword energy cutting through the air.

He didn't draw his sword, but he himself was already a peerless divine weapon, unsheathed and gleaming with unparalleled sharpness! Wherever his gaze fell, everyone below the stage felt their eyes sting and their souls tremble.

"The sword intent is solid, and the pressure arises naturally... Jian Wuji's cultivation has indeed reached the Golden Core Perfection stage, and even... he has touched that barrier!" A hint of horror flashed in the beautiful eyes of Fairy Ling Shuang of Xuanbing Pavilion as she whispered to the elder beside her.

The Fire Cloud Daoist of the Blazing Sun Sect also narrowed his eyes, his gloating smile freezing on his face as he thought to himself, "This old ghost, after just one period of seclusion, has made such tremendous progress!"

Countless gazes, filled with tension, excitement, worry, and schadenfreude, all focused on another figure—Shen Mo.

Faced with the terrifying sword pressure that would terrify even an ordinary Golden Core cultivator, Shen Mo simply flicked his sleeves and stepped forward.

His movements were slow, even somewhat casual, as if he were strolling leisurely.

The terrifying sword intent that could cleave through metal vanished silently when it reached within three feet of him, as if it had struck an invisible yet incredibly resilient barrier. It failed to shake him in the slightest, and didn't even lift the hem of his moon-white robe.