Chapter 2616: Forcing the Issue!

"Come, let us fight to our hearts' content!"

Luo Yunqing raised his longsword, his whole demeanor suddenly radiant, a world apart from his earlier dejection.

Seeing this, Shi Feiyu's expression changed.

He had gone to great lengths to destroy Luo Yunqing's sword heart, yet as soon as Ye Yuan returned, he had helped him recover it!

"Haha, that's more like it!" Ye Yuan laughed heartily.

"Brother Ye, be careful! This time, I won't hold back!" Luo Yunqing said with a smile.

"Heh, you're still not good enough to beat me!"

Ye Yuan laughed loudly, and the two green leaves transformed into ten thousand sword beams, striking at Luo Yunqing.

Luo Yunqing, one man and one sword, became a seamless whole, his sharpness fully exposed.

Clang, clang, clang...

In an instant, the two exchanged countless sword strikes, dazzling to behold.

Ye Yuan's earlier advantage vanished without a trace!

In the eyes of the onlookers, the two seemed to have turned into two sharp swords, crisscrossing in battle.

Both were demonstrating the pinnacle of the sword way!

At this moment, Luo Yunqing finally regained his spirit, his entire being sharp and extraordinary.

But Ye Yuan was in no way inferior!

Ye Yuan's sword way was smooth and comprehensive, steady and balanced, leaving no opening.

No matter how sharp Luo Yunqing was, he could not break through!

Feng Xuanyi watched, his eyes sparkling with admiration, inwardly feeling fortunate.

Geniuses like Luo Yunqing and Ye Yuan—if I gain them, it is my fortune; if I lose them, it is my fate!

If Ye Yuan had not returned, the Wuding Heavenly Sect would have suffered a great loss!

Ye Yuan's earlier words had also filled him with shame.

As the sect master, he had too many concerns.

Luo Yunqing, like him, was willing to sacrifice himself for the sect.

But could sacrifice buy the enemy's mercy?

In this world, no one had ever survived by begging for mercy.

To survive, one must constantly break through oneself!

This is true for individuals!

And for sects as well!

When he drove away Qin Shun, he had foreseen today's outcome.

But he had not expected the Dan Alliance to be so powerful.

Thus, he had become hesitant!

Sacrificing the sect's most outstanding disciple to buy the Dan Alliance's brief pity—

Was it really worth it?

Others did not share his complicated thoughts; the sword-way duel between Ye Yuan and Luo Yunqing stirred the blood of all the disciples.

Especially those who practiced the sword, who watched with rapt attention.

Even many protectors looked on with admiration.

"Those two have truly brought the sword way to its extreme!"

"It's understandable for Elder Luo, but why is Ye Yuan, a heavenly pharmacist, so formidable in the sword way?"

"Incredible! Ye Yuan's first form of Dao Manifestation has already reached great perfection! What exactly did he experience in the Land of Exile?"

...

Their battle drew waves of exclamations.

Luo Yunqing's strength was only to be expected!

But no one had expected Ye Yuan to be this strong too!

Boom!

Suddenly, with a violent collision, Luo Yunqing's figure flew backward!

This shockwave was naturally nothing to him, a Jade Emperor Heaven cultivator.

But everyone could see that he had lost!

This time, he had truly lost!

Shocked gazes locked onto Ye Yuan.

He had defeated Luo Yunqing of the same cultivation level—did that mean Ye Yuan was now the sect's number one genius?

Everyone drew in a cold breath.

Luo Yunqing, however, laughed heartily: "Hahaha... Impressive! I, Luo Yunqing, admit defeat wholeheartedly! I never expected that Brother Ye, after entering the Land of Exile, not only comprehended Dao Manifestation but also mastered it to the extreme! Remarkable! Truly remarkable!"

Ye Yuan also smiled and said, "Brother Luo is too modest! I used three methods against your one; it was an unworthy victory!"

Luo Yunqing waved his sleeve and said, "Victory is victory, defeat is defeat! I, Luo Yunqing, am not one who cannot accept defeat! But this battle has shown me that my sword way still has room for improvement! More importantly, I, Luo Yunqing, have found myself again!"

With that, Luo Yunqing cupped his hands to Feng Xuanyi and said, "Sect Master, I'm sorry! I cannot admit to this fault! From now on, I, Luo Yunqing, withdraw from the Wuding Heavenly Sect! My grudge with the Dan Alliance has nothing to do with the sect! Farewell!"

Luo Yunqing moved slightly, about to leave.

Feng Xuanyi frowned and said in a deep voice, "Presumptuous! The Wuding Heavenly Sect is not a place you can come and go as you please! Get back here!"

He pointed in the void, and a fierce blast of air exploded instantly.

Luo Yunqing was forced back!

Seeing this, Ye Yuan's pupils contracted slightly.

Truly worthy of being a sect master—such strength was astonishing!

"Sect Master!" Luo Yunqing said urgently.

"Silence!" Feng Xuanyi frowned and barked.

Indeed, Luo Yunqing dared not speak further.

Shi Feiyu, sensing Feng Xuanyi's protective intent, suddenly said, "Sect Master, this farce is over! Since Ye Yuan has returned, the matter of the Dan Alliance should be handled entirely by him! This whole affair started because of him; if we don't hand him over to the Dan Alliance, it will be difficult to appease their anger!"

Feng Xuanyi frowned and snorted, "If we hand Ye Yuan over to the Dan Alliance, will they let it go? Wouldn't that be losing face for our Wuding Heavenly Sect?"

Shi Feiyu said, "Sect Master, the sect's face is important, but long-term development is even more crucial! We are now completely blockaded by the Dan Alliance; for twenty years, our disciples' cultivation speed has been slowing down! If we cannot appease the Dan Alliance's anger, this gap will only grow! By then, among the five great heavenly sects of the Five Radiance Heavenly Domain, we might become only four!"

Feng Xuanyi was about to speak when an elder suddenly spoke up: "Feiyu's words are reasonable! Ye Yuan's talent is not bad, but his talent cannot save the sect! If we allow the Dan Alliance to continue its blockade, a hundred years from now, our Wuding Heavenly Sect may well withdraw from the stage of history!"

At these words, even Feng Xuanyi's expression changed.

Shi Feiyu, however, was overjoyed.

The speaker was the Wuding Heavenly Sect's Grand Elder, Shen Chang!

The Grand Elder's prestige in the sect was extremely high, even rivaling that of Sect Master Feng Xuanyi.

His words carried great weight.

"Sect Master, being protective at a time like this is gambling with the sect's fate! Please think twice before acting!"

"Ye Yuan is lawless and drove away Qin Shun; he must answer for this!"

"Please consider the greater good, Sect Master!"

...

Sure enough, once the Grand Elder spoke, many elders chimed in agreement, showing his high prestige.

Feng Xuanyi's expression turned extremely grim.

This matter concerned the sect's fortune, and even the Grand Elder did not favor Ye Yuan.

This put immense pressure on him.

"Enough! All of you, shut up!" Feng Xuanyi's cold shout silenced everyone.

His gaze swept across their faces, and he said in a deep voice, "Qin Shun was driven away by me, Feng Xuanyi! If someone must take responsibility, I will bear full responsibility! If any elders are dissatisfied, I, Feng Xuanyi, am willing to step down as sect master! But Ye Yuan and Luo Yunqing, I will protect them no matter what!"