C11 The Great Elder Ye Hongxuan

"Your sword is excellent. Here it is back to you."

Ling Dao stepped out of the Celestial Sword Formation and approached the elder, extending the longsword to him. It was only then that the elder snapped out of his shock, grasping the longsword and staring blankly at Ling Dao. The Celestial Sword Formation had been breached for the first time in millennia, and by a mere youth who hadn't even ascended to the Fleshly Body Realm?

The notion was inconceivable to everyone present. If an unparalleled strong person had shattered the Celestial Sword Formation, it would have made sense. But Ling Dao, with his frail demeanor, hardly seemed capable of such a feat.

"It has to be a malfunction in the Celestial Sword Formation, that's the only explanation! How else could that kid have possibly broken through?"

"Exactly, there's definitely a fault in the formation itself. That kid just got lucky. If you don't believe it, let me have a go!"

A cluster of eager young geniuses were itching to test the formation. Before Ling Dao's breakthrough, they were convinced he would fail. Yet, after witnessing his success, they suspected a flaw in the formation. Ling Dao couldn't be less interested in addressing their theories.

"Enough bickering. Reactivate the Celestial Sword Formation. I shall test it myself!"

From afar, an elderly figure with snow-white hair and a beard glided over, his complexion remarkably youthful and unlined. The disruption of the Celestial Sword Formation was no trivial matter, significant enough to rouse the true higher-ups of the Celestial Sect.

"Greetings to the Great Elder!"

A chorus of reverent voices rose from the many elders and disciples gathered. The newcomer was the esteemed Great Elder of the Celestial Sect, Ye Hongxuan, whose rank far surpassed that of his peers.

"At once! Celestial Sword Formation, activate!"

The elder in charge of the formation promptly complied with the Great Elder's command. Throughout the entire episode, the Great Elder hadn't inquired about the identity of the one who had broken the formation, nor had he spared Ling Dao a glance. His entire focus was riveted on the Celestial Sword Formation.

"Clang! Clang! Clang!"

The ancient longswords rang out with a crisp hum, as all 729 soared into the heavens. Ling Dao, not even at the Physical Body Realm, could not draw out the full might of the Celestial Sword Formation. But the scenario was entirely different for the Great Elder.

At that moment, each longsword radiated an overwhelming aura of slaughter, akin to a pride of lions awakening. The 729 swords plummeted from the sky, cascading down like streams of silver waterfalls.

The Great Elder, his white hair billowing, exuded an aura of sheer dominance. He ascended, fists clenched, and collided with the rain of ancient swords. The resulting shockwave blasted in every direction, kicking up dust and shaking the very earth.

This spectacle dwarfed Ling Dao's earlier attempt to break the formation. The Great Elder, with the force of a tempest, relentlessly battered the Celestial Sword Formation. A mere glance was enough for Ling Dao to realize the inevitable: the Great Elder was bound for defeat, with no chance of breaking through.

The Celestial Sword Formation was a test of one's mastery in the Sword Dao, and the Great Elder's attempt to shatter it with brute martial prowess was laughable. Unless he possessed might that eclipsed the founder of the Celestial Sect, breaking the formation would remain an impossibility.

To Ling Dao's astonishment, Ye Hongxuan was revealed to be the Celestial Sect's Great Elder. He had encountered Ye Hongxuan on multiple occasions, as the elder had frequently sought martial arts counsel from King Carefree at the Free and Unfettered Wang Mansion. Unbeknownst to Ling Dao, King Carefree had once saved Ye Hongxuan's life.

"*Boom!*"

A thunderous crash echoed as the Great Elder, previously suspended in the sky, plummeted to the earth, carving out a deep crater. The 729 ancient longswords shone with a fearsome edge, while the Great Elder, his complexion crimson, spat out blood in succession. Far from breaking the Celestial Sword Formation, he had been grievously wounded by it.

"The Celestial Sword Formation is flawless?"

The formidable power unleashed by the Celestial Sword Formation had been witnessed by everyone present, leaving no doubt about its integrity. Even the esteemed Grand Elder of the Celestial Sect had met his match, unable to penetrate the formidable defense of the formation.

"A sword formation that has stood unbroken for millennia, shattered by a mere youth?" someone exclaimed in disbelief.

"How can this be? I was expecting him to fail, to find myself an opportunity to eliminate him. Yet, he has actually managed to break the Celestial Sword Formation?" Li Wuliang seethed, his gaze fixed on Ling Dao with venomous resentment. Ling Dao's triumph over the formation would soon send shockwaves throughout the Celestial Sect. Should Ling Dao be inducted into their ranks, he would undoubtedly become a focal point of the sect, complicating Li Wuliang's plans to target him.

"Who has broken the Celestial Sword Formation?" demanded the Great Elder, who had sensed the disruption and arrived posthaste. His initial action was to verify the integrity of the formation, and upon confirming its condition, he was eager to identify the one capable of such a feat.

"Great Elder, it was this young man," reported the elder in charge of the formation, pointing to Ling Dao. Ye Hongxuan turned to face the youth, and upon laying eyes on Ling Dao, his expression was one of utter astonishment. Having visited the Free and Unfettered Wang Mansion on numerous occasions, he recognized Crown Prince Xiao Yao instantly.

"It's you!" he gasped, the revelation striking him with a force greater than any other could have. His own failure paled in comparison to Ling Dao's success, a bitter pill of humiliation to swallow.

"This boy isn't worth the effort of cultivation," Ye Hongxuan muttered disdainfully. While he could acknowledge King Carefree as a prodigious talent, he saw Ling Dao as nothing more than a disappointment. Plagued by frailty since childhood, Ling Dao had yet to overcome his physical limitations. To Ye Hongxuan, Ling Dao's admission into the Celestial Sect would be nothing short of a mockery. Even with a century at his disposal, he doubted Ling Dao could ever reach the Genuine Qi Stage.

"Greetings, Predecessor!"

Ling Dao had only briefly met Ye Hongxuan before, so they weren't well-acquainted. Ye Hongxuan showed considerable respect when in the presence of King Carefree, but Ling Dao was not the king. Therefore, Ling Dao couldn't be sure what was going through Ye Hongxuan's mind.

"Attend to your tasks and be diligent in recruiting disciples. Do not be negligent. We cannot afford to admit just anyone into the Celestial Sect!"

Ye Hongxuan's statement seemed pointed, prompting Ling Dao to narrow his eyes. It was apparent that Ye Hongxuan's demeanor towards him was not just unfriendly but verging on hostile. It made sense, though; the Great Elder had been injured breaking the formation, while Ling Dao had succeeded, undoubtedly causing some resentment.

"Come with me!"

The Great Elder gave Ling Dao a sidelong glance and strode ahead. Ling Dao nodded in acknowledgment and followed in Ye Hongxuan's footsteps. However, Ye Hongxuan wasn't heading towards the inner sanctum of the Celestial Sect; he was making his way to the main gate.

"What is this Great Elder up to?" Ling Dao wondered, a sense of unease growing within him. He hadn't confirmed his suspicions yet but hoped his premonition would prove wrong.