"It’s insane! Myriad Treasures Pavilion is dead set on clashing with the Demon Slayer Sect this time. A battle of nine saints erupted, and they even used Emperor’s Armaments."

"The Demon Slayer Sect really took a beating. Not only was the Seven Kills Saint severely injured, but even the Great Saint of Divine Calculation suffered a huge loss. Now, the Demon Slayer Sect is in full retreat. They’re powerless to fight another battle and have been forced into a defensive position instead."

"Who knew Myriad Treasures Pavilion would be so ruthless as to employ Emperor’s Armaments? Aren’t those regulated treasures? Wouldn’t such an act violate the covenant of the Great Emperors?"

When news of the battle between the nine saints spread, everyone was taken aback, finding it unbelievable.

Both the Myriad Treasures Pavilion and the Demon Slayer Sect were top forces in the Eastern Region. The Pavilion was wealthy and the Sect had formidable assassins; neither was an easy opponent.

Everyone initially thought this war would last three to five years. They never expected the decisive battle to unfold so quickly and fiercely. It escalated to the point where Emperor’s Armaments were used and ended with the defeat of the Demon Slayer Sect.

However, Emperor’s Armaments were regulated treasures that could not be used lightly. Myriad Treasures Pavilion’s actions were highly improper, so many people looked toward the Great Emperors of the Eastern Region, wondering if they would intervene.

What they didn’t know was that at that very moment, the circle of Great Emperors in the Eastern Region was also in an uproar.

Not only had the Myriad Treasures Pavilion employed an Emperor’s Armament this time, but Empress Duobao had also personally taken action. She engaged in a fierce battle with the Lifekiller Great Emperor in the Void. In the end, relying on the sheer number and power of her treasures, she managed to injure the Lifekiller Great Emperor and force him to flee.

With both the Lifekiller Great Emperor and the Seven Kills Saint injured, the Demon Slayer Sect was thrown into a complete disadvantage. They could no longer maintain their various strongholds, many of which were uprooted. Their entire battlefront retracted, forcing them to begrudgingly accept this stifling loss.

Ultimately, the war concluded with a comprehensive victory for the Myriad Treasures Pavilion. The Demon Slayer Sect lost more than half its strength but could only grit its teeth and swallow the bitter pill.

Whether other Great Emperor Realm powerhouses had intervened was unknown to outsiders. The important thing was that the war had finally ended, which was a tremendous relief for everyone in the Eastern Region.

Nobody likes war, let alone the various negative impacts it brings. Now that the war was over, everyone could rest easy. The Myriad Treasures Pavilion had reopened for business and was doing even better than before.

When the news reached Yun Province, Saint You Heng, who was in Huayang City, let out a long sigh of relief.

"The war has finally ended!"

Even though Saint You Heng was not weak, he had not wanted the war to continue. It had become too overwhelming, far exceeding his capabilities and leaving him with a feeling of uncertainty about his own life and death.

"I never expected the Head Pavilion Master to make a move herself!"

Master Gong Ming, who stood at his side, was also sighing endlessly. Empress Duobao was a Great Emperor Realm powerhouse bound by the Great Emperor’s covenant. She had not taken action in many years, yet this time she fought a fierce battle with the Lifekiller Great Emperor.

This war was arguably the most influential one in decades. Thankfully, they had won, successfully defeating the Demon Slayer Sect.

However, a doubt that neither Saint You Heng nor Master Gong Ming could unravel lingered in their hearts: What was the real reason for this war?

There is no such thing as a fight without a cause, especially not between top forces like the Myriad Treasures Pavilion and the Demon Slayer Sect, where any action can trigger a chain reaction.

Yet the outbreak of this war was so abrupt that even Saint You Heng had no inkling of it. It seemed to stem merely from the destruction of the auction and the Swordsaint’s two assassination attempts. But surely that alone shouldn’t have been enough to provoke a war between two top-tier powers!

I can’t figure it out!

Aside from Empress Duobao and Yun Chang, no one knew the true reason for the war’s outbreak. Su Han, the key figure at the center of it all, was also here.

His Realm had completely stabilized. If he wore the Ghostly Face Mask, he could wield the power of the Fourth Layer of the Supreme Realm. This would enable him to protect himself against an ordinary Supreme, even if he couldn’t defeat them.

"Su Han, the Demon Slayer Sect has suffered a heavy blow. It’s unlikely they’ll have the strength to target you again in the short term," Saint You Heng reminded him. "But it’s better to be safe than sorry, so you must still be careful."

The Demon Slayer Sect had first sent Gold Ingot and the Swordsaint, then the Mad Lion Saint. All were aimed at hunting down Su Han, indicating a fight to the death. Compared to the entire Demon Slayer Sect, however, Su Han was far too weak.

Now that the Demon Slayer Sect was severely damaged, its power diminished, and its forces in full retreat, targeting Su Han would be even more difficult for them.

At this thought, an idea flashed through Saint You Heng’s mind. Could this war have been fought for Su Han?

He quickly shook his head, dismissing the notion. Although he acknowledged Su Han’s monstrous innate talent, it hadn’t reached a level that would warrant such a response. A war between two top-tier powers, with even Great Emperor Realm experts joining the fray? Su Han surely doesn’t have that kind of influence.

Saint You Heng had guessed the truth, yet he immediately abandoned it because it was too unbelievable. If word got out, it would surely shock the entire Eastern Region.

"I will be careful," Su Han nodded, accepting Saint You Heng’s goodwill.

The Demon Slayer Sect’s defeat was indeed a good thing for him. Otherwise, being constantly targeted by them, with assassins sent to kill him every so often, would have been extremely troublesome.

However, Su Han would not forget this grudge. The Demon Slayer Sect had targeted him time and again, and he was determined to have his revenge. He decided that once he possessed enough strength, he would annihilate the Demon Slayer Sect and eradicate it from the world.

Of course, this could not be achieved overnight. Let alone the Lifekiller Great Emperor, even the Seven Kills Saint was not someone he could currently contend with. For now, he etched the hatred deep into his heart.

"The war is over. Next comes the awarding of merit and post-war reconstruction," Saint You Heng said, in high spirits now that the conflict was concluded. "The specific details will have to wait for a notice from the higher-ups, but the rebuilding of Cang City can begin."

Although their theater of operations wasn’t the main battlefield, they had still eliminated numerous Demon Slayer Sect strongholds and even killed two of the sect’s Saint-level elders—the Swordsaint and the Mad Lion Saint. Their contribution was substantial.

The reconstruction of Cang City had already started. Su Han sold many of his treasures, keeping only the Holy Artifacts. He then entrusted all the Spirit Stones he earned to the Myriad Treasures Pavilion to fund the city’s rebuilding.

After their discussion, the three parted ways. Saint You Heng and Master Gong Ming had many matters to attend to, while Su Han was relatively idle.

Back in his room, Su Han analyzed the current situation, gaining a clear understanding of his circumstances. The threat of the Demon Slayer Sect has been temporarily lifted, and after their recent failure, it will be difficult for the Jing Tribe to make another move. A period of peace should follow.

The grudges against the Demon Slayer Sect and the East Sea Jing Tribe could not be settled for now, but Su Han had no intention of slacking off.

He thought through his next plan, a determined glint in his eyes. Now that I have successfully broken through to the Supreme Realm, it’s time to return to the Seven Stars Sect and rescue Master!

Hmm? Suddenly, Su Han’s Heart Spirit stirred, and his gaze shifted to the Bronze Ring.

Within the Prison Divine Palace, the white-robed, black-sworded Sword God had awoken