Chapter 173: Stirring the World

The Jiang Clan!

The moment the elders heard the news—

“Jiang Lieyue has fallen? Impossible! His Split-Moon Blade was that fast—how could he have died?!”

“I heard that Lu Ye’s sword was even faster than his blade.”

“Ridiculous!”

“He has some nerve. Does he plan to wage war against all of Second Heaven?”

Jiang Die sat at the head of the hall.

He’s finally ascended.

Finally.

Lu Ye hiding in the shadows had kept her constantly on edge, like a fishbone stuck in her throat.

But now, he had finally shown himself.

So what if Jiang Lieyue died?

“If he wants to kill—then let him kill to his heart’s content.”

“Transmit my Void Decree—order the Void Empire to dispatch its armies for extermination!”

“To all cultivators of the world—whoever kills Lu Ye will receive the Jiang Clan’s Void Inheritance!”

“Whoever kills Lu Ye may enter the Jiang Clan’s Void Treasury and choose ten artifacts freely!”

“Whoever kills Lu Ye will be given a Void Sub-Decree—no matter which heaven they’re in, the Jiang Clan will fully support the bearer!”

“Inform the Eternal Teachings Sect—we’ve already shown our sincerity. If they hesitate now, their Dao lineage will be the next to fall beneath Lu Ye’s blade!”

“This is a war for survival—the survival of their Dao legacy!”

“If Lu Ye lives, everyone dies.”

“If Lu Ye dies, everyone profits. I guarantee it.”

“All of you—do your utmost!”

“Kill Lu Ye!”

Jiang Die’s voice surged with blazing intent.

The hearts of the aging elders, silent and withered for years, began to beat again.

Jiang Die’s promises of unimaginable rewards were no empty boasts.

Three years ago, when she first became the clan head, she had unveiled an entire collection of divine techniques and secret methods—each one precious beyond measure.

Many within the Jiang Clan had seen explosive growth in their strength thanks to her. That was why her words now carried absolute authority.

The Eternal Teachings Sect heard of it and thought: Good lord! Even the Jiang Clan, who had no direct grudge with Lu Ye, was willing to go this far?

Their own Dao legacy had been annihilated in First Heaven by Lu Ye. They had no choice—they had to strike.

So the Eternal Teachings Sect issued their own decree:

“Whoever kills Lu Ye shall inherit the Eternal Evergreen Scripture!”

“Whoever kills Lu Ye shall receive the Eternal Order!”

“Whoever kills Lu Ye shall become a core member of the Eternal Teachings Sect!”

“Whoever kills Lu Ye may enter the Eternal Treasury and choose ten artifacts freely!”

Not just the Jiang Clan and Eternal Teachings Sect.

Even the Azure Sky Sect, Thousand Moon Sect, Void Empire, and the elite Wang Clan all issued public statements.

They had only one target.

Kill Lu Ye.

All of Second Heaven descended into madness. What was even more terrifying—all the rewards stacked.

Countless ancient monsters awoke from their slumber.

Greed erupted in their eyes like wildfire.

Some were nearing the end of their lifespans. Some were trapped at bottlenecks, unable to advance. Some were gravely wounded and never healed...

There were too many like that.

And now—they all moved.

Kill Lu Ye.

Some even feared they’d arrive too late. That someone else might already have claimed Lu Ye’s head.

Lu Ye walked step by step toward the Jiang Clan.

The Stone Sword let out a constant hum, faintly tinged with red. It too seemed to sense that an earth-shaking battle lay ahead.

It was ecstatic.

“Hahaha! He’s really here!”

A crazed laugh echoed. In an instant, seven figures appeared. Their auras were synchronized—they clearly practiced the same lineage of cultivation.

Together, the seven of them could kill enemies even a major realm higher.

Lu Ye swung his sword.

Seven streaks of sword energy fired at once.

BOOM!

The seven turned into blood mist on the spot.

The infamous Seven-Star Fiends—instantly slain.

“He’s here!”

A long roar. Over a hundred cultivators rushed toward Lu Ye.

Sword in hand, his figure became a blur. Sword light shot in every direction, cleaving through all.

Block with a weapon—the weapon shattered.

Block with a divine technique—the technique was broken.

Block with your body—the body was torn apart.

A storm of sword energy tore through the field. Blood and flesh splattered the ground. The Vermilion Bird’s Flame blazed across the air, refining the void into elixirs.

Countless spirit stones were reduced to powder.

His momentum only grew stronger.

“Hahaha! That head is mine—”

Head gone.

“Boy, why are you worth so much? What secret are you hiding? Tell me, and maybe I’ll spare your life—”

What greeted him was a sword light.

The Supreme Sword.

BOOM!

A Heavenly God Realm cultivator was blown apart into a cloud of blood. His nascent soul wailed and tried to flee.

Thunk!

It slammed into frozen space—at some point, Lu Ye had sealed the void.

Lu Ye grabbed the nascent soul. The Vermilion Bird’s Flame licked across it—and he swallowed it whole, instantly refining it.

The Human Sovereign Banner fluttered softly.

Storage rings fell into his hand.

BOOM.

A deep rumble echoed from the earth.

Lu Ye looked ahead—

A sea of people.

Countless soldiers in full armor, the front line bracing with heavy shields, forming a single, seamless battle formation. The army exuded a unified and deadly aura.

Lu Ye’s pace quickened.

The Stone Sword hummed madly, a blood-red glint flickering along its edge.

One man—charging into ten thousand troops.

In the skies above, watching cultivators were utterly shaken.

This scene—this moment—

Too beautiful.

BOOM!

Lu Ye smashed into the army. The heavy-armored front line flew backward /N_o_v_e_l_i_g_h_t/ like rag dolls.

All-Life Sword Style!

In this moment—a meat grinder descended upon Second Heaven.

Countless soldiers surged toward Lu Ye. A massive battle formation attempted to suppress his strength through sheer morale.

Every soldier who attacked exploded with force far beyond their actual realm.

But it wasn’t enough.

Blood mist filled the sky.

The All-Life Sword Style slaughtered the living.

One soldier after another fell—though “fell” was the wrong word. Their entire bodies were shredded into mist.

Blasts of blood mist erupted everywhere.

Lu Ye tore through the army like a wild beast. From the sky, a long streak of blood traced his path—a trail that bent and shifted, never ceasing.

Lu Ye wasn’t trying to break through.

He was here to kill.

Since they had all come—he would enjoy this slaughter to the fullest.

Anyone who wanted to kill him—come, and see who dies first.

Lu Ye knew no fatigue.

He needed no defense.

The great formation triggered the soldiers’ bloodlust. Even as their comrades died in droves, not a single one retreated.

An Earth Immortal.

Killing so many soldiers empowered by formation arts—he should have long collapsed from exhaustion!

They refused to believe Lu Ye’s true essence was inexhaustible.

One nascent soul after another shattered—blood mist and soul energy surged into Lu Ye’s body.

His eyes turned crimson.

Just like back when the Slaughter Lotus Heart had clouded his mind—his current state was almost identical.

But this time—it was voluntary.

Now, it was deliberate.

Kill. Kill. KILL!

The Human Sovereign Banner soared into the sky.

A flood of souls swept into it.

Tireless.

Until, on the blood-soaked earth, Lu Ye was the only one still standing.

Then—he finally stopped.

The stench of blood drifted for countless miles.

Blood bloomed across the earth—forming a vast, stunning tapestry.

One man lives. Ten thousand die.

And this... is only the beginning.