Outside Sword Valley, cultivators sat in silence, quietly observing.

Some newcomers, drawn by reputation, murmured in surprise.

"Is this Sword Valley?"

"Has the battle of swords and blades not concluded?"

"It’s been over a hundred years!"

"Will it ever end?"

"You know nothing. The Sword Monarch and Sword Master discuss Dao with their Primordial Spirits, aiming for swords and blades to counter-certificate a Great Technique, to break the tribulation of Demon Heaven!"

"Discussing Dao with Primordial Spirits, examining demons with blades and swords!"

"Look at this abyssal cliff, the result of swords and blades crossing, within contains the true meaning of the Sword and Saber Realm. If you can comprehend just a little, you will benefit immensely throughout your life."

The younger ones were confused, the older ones rebuke - this cycle has been repeated outside Sword Valley over the years.

And on the other side...

"Sword and dagger examination of demons?"

Vermilion Bird City, Demon-locking Tower.

Wen Renying released a slash with one finger, instantly shooting Sword Qi across the sky, accompanied by fierce True Flame, refining a demon.

"Outer Celestial Demon!"

"Demon Heaven Tribulation!"

Watching the smoke and clouds dissipate, Wen Renying shook his head, sighing internally.

No one expected that a battle of swords and blades would last for a century.

Many events occurred during this century.

First was the tribulation of Demon Heaven!

Although the Three Fierce of the West Sea fled, leading to the downfall of Taiyuan Demon Dao, the pressure on the Orthodox Dao did not decrease, as the tribulation of Demon Heaven deepens, growing fiercer and stronger.

Today, throughout the heavens and earth, Demon Spirit Qi has become dominant, countless beings polluted, devolved into monsters and demons.

Yet Mo Yunzi still felt unsatisfied, moreover, he summoned Outer Celestial Demons into the realm to cause chaos, exacerbating the Taiyuan Demon Tribulation, altering beings.

While Taiyi Daoist Palace has the Five Elements Array and Demon-locking Towers, as well as Purifying Demon Pill and Demon-Extinguishing Talisman methods of suppression, yet without breaking the Array of the Demon Heaven, demon spirit transformation persists, these measures are mere temporary relief, can only delay, but not resolve, nor eliminate hidden threats completely.

With such delays, demon spirit transformation deepens, the consumption of Purifying Demon Pills and other suppression tools increases, prices soar, survival pressure on cultivators mounts relentlessly.

At this rate, collapse is inevitable; once resources at the Daoist Palace are exhausted, and Purifying Demon Pills cannot meet demand, this land, recently pacified for a century, will inevitably enter chaos again, and in chaos, fall to demons, gradually perishing.

The only method to resolve this crisis is to break out externally.

Yet the swords and blades remain facing each other, unmoving for a century, preventing others from acting rashly.

"The demon tribulation grows more severe, perhaps no more than ten years before collapse is possible!"

"Examine demons with blades and swords, examine demons with blades and swords!"

"Can it truly be successful?"

Wen Renying walked within the Demon-locking Tower, slaying one uncontrollable Outer Celestial Demon after another, his heart full of doubt.

A hundred years ago, the Cyan Nether Sword Master entrusted Zhong Yuxiu with a task, for the Three Heroes and Two Talents to each guard the locking towers of five cities, stabilizing the situation, awaiting his success, then striking to break the demons.

What is this success?

He did not reveal.

Yet over the years, under the rumors, the world has determined that the examination of demons with blades and swords is the opportunity to break the tribulation, being spread across land and sea, believed to be the chance to break the tribulation, akin to the breaking of the Celestial Destiny by their Three Heroes and Two Talents in the past.

This made Wen Renying feel helpless, not knowing who spread this message, its basis, how it became so sensational.

But with things having progressed to this stage, he lacks the power to change it, can only go with the flow, strive to maintain the situation, waiting for the final outcome.

"Now, the Mystic Sect’s sects have migrated inland, awaiting the outcome of the battle of swords and blades!"

"It’s truly strange, the same arrays, the same methods, why is it that the Five Elements Demon-locking Tower arranged by the Taiyi Daoist Palace is more effective than those arranged by the Mystic Sect’s sects, so that now the overseas falls, yet inland still manages to maintain, forcing all sects to migrate back?"

"Is it due to the abundance of Spiritual Qi overseas, or is the Taiyi Daoist Palace withholding something?"

"But that doesn’t make sense, especially..."

Feeling the power of the Five Elements Locking Demon, Wen Renying’s furrowed brows tightened further, unable to relax.

Thus...

The demon tribulation deepened further, Taiyuan faced struggling circumstances, several difficult years passed.

Xuanxiao Mountain, Sword Valley.

Many cultivators observed, none spoke, only dead silence.

Dead silence, oppressive, hinting at despair yet also revealing hope.

Finally, the swordsman opened his eyes, softly spoke a single word.

"Celestial Destiny!"

Having said, sword light appeared, across all directions.

The cultivators awoke in surprise, yet before speaking, saw myriad Spirit Lights come forth.

Spirit Light flashed swiftly, landing within the valley in moments, revealing forms.

Seven people led, five followed, precisely the Seven Taiyuan Cultivators, Three Heroes and Two Talents, and the Divinity Transformation Venerables and elder statesmen from various Mystic Sects.

"Dao friend, has it succeeded?"

Qii Yunming stepped forward, asked the two with a deep voice.

The swordsman remained silent, voiceless.

The swordmaster chuckled lightly, calmly replied: "Whether successful or not, only in the doing will know!"

"This..."

The Seven Taiyuan Cultivators exchanged glances, and the Three Heroes and Two Talents were also filled with wonder.

"No need for more words, the decision beyond the heavens will reveal the outcome!"

The Swordsman smiled, turned around: "Daoist friend, please!"

The Swordsman said nothing, ignited his Karmic Fire Blade, and charged towards the Nine Heavens.

The Swordsman turned back and looked at everyone: "Is anyone still preparing?"

"No need!"

Qii Yunming’s eyes narrowed, then he responded decisively.

"Let us go then!"

Shen Hex heard this and acted decisively, leaping into the nine skies with a word that shook the heavens and earth.

"Come!"

"Boom!"

The moment the word fell, the Five Directions underwent drastic changes.

Cyan Dragon City, White Tiger City, Vermilion Bird City, Xuanwu City, Qilin City.

Within the Five Cities, the populace was stunned, having not recovered from the echoing voice, when they saw the earth shaking and cities trembling.

"This..."

"What’s happening?"

"That direction, is it the Demon-Locking Tower?"

"The Demon-Locking Tower’s seal is broken?"

"How is that possible!"

Numerous cultivators were alarmed, looking towards the core of the array, where the Five Elements Lock Demon was located.

What they saw was Spirit Light flashing, moving out, transforming into bewildered-looking cultivators.

"What’s happening?"

"The Demon-Locking Tower..."

The cultivators forcibly moved out of the tower, along with those rushing from all directions, looked at the Demon-Locking Tower with uncertainty.

"Boom!"

What they saw was, the earth roared, the White Jade Vajra-made Demon-Locking Tower gradually rising, pulling out from the ground, shining with light, sounding harshly within, all remaining demons were instantly crushed, countless demonic currents roiled, but not a trace leaked, all absorbed and refined, a sword was forged.

Finally, amidst countless astonished eyes, the Demon-Locking Jade Tower that rose from the earth transformed into a brilliant sword light, soared into the skies, piercing the heavens’ boundary.

This scene was shared across the Five Directions, witnessed by the Five Cities.

Watching the Demon-Locking Tower that broke the boundary, the multitude of cultivators awoke from their shock, understanding instantly.

"This Demon-Locking Tower..."

"Where has it gone?"

"Beyond the heavens!"

"The Demon-Locking Tower is the Five Extremes Sword!"

"The Five Extremes Sword is the Demon-Locking Tower!"

"Slay demons, refine demons, exorcise evil, suppress spirits, extinguish all!"

"The Five Demon-locking Swords are refined like this?"

"To awaken the Five Swords and break the boundary, was it the Daoist Lord’s doing?"

"Is the Daoist Lord going to battle beyond the heavens?"

"The Sword and Demon Examination Method is complete?"

"This..."

"Not good, without the Demon-Locking Tower, how shall we stand?"

After a series of words about examining demons, the crowd realized their own situation and chaos arose.

Fortunately, at this moment, sword light soared, it was the Daoist Palace enforcers and the Five Cities’ patrol.

"The Daoist Lord raises the sword, to slay demons beyond the heavens!"

"The Daoist Palace opens the inventory; everyone receives Purifying Demon Pills according to their share!"

"No chaos, no grabbing, violators will be executed without mercy!"

"After receiving Purifying Demon Pills, immediately return to your residence, do not wander without permission!"

"..."

With measures in place, the situation was temporarily stabilized.

Meanwhile, Spirit Light soared into the sky, with swords and blades crossing, ships flying through the void, and pavilions, towers, even peaks ascending beyond the world.

"The life and death of Taiyuan lies in this moment!"

Atop Taihua Sword Peak, Qii Yunming’s expression was stern, with Taihua Five Elders and the Three Heroes and Two Talents behind him.

In the final battle against the demons, as the number one eminent sect in the universe, once the leader of the Orthodox Dao, Taihua Mountain held nothing back, even refining their mountain gate Spirit Land into a magical treasure, carrying everyone into the outer realms for battle.

Taihua was like this, and so were other sects, the profound celestial galaxy was inverted, Golden Turtle Spirit Island ascended, every sect gave their all, leaving no reservations, determined to break the Array of the Demon Heaven. 𝓯𝙧𝓮𝓮𝒘𝓮𝙗𝙣𝒐𝒗𝒆𝓵.𝓬𝓸𝒎

The calamity of the world, the life and death battle between righteousness and demons.

The realm of Taiyuan is about to record a new Chapter!