"Kill them!"
Ning Beichen had no interest in accepting a pile of prisoners.
Upon receiving the order, the bird demon acted immediately. Within minutes, all those who had attacked Xu Fengshan were dead, not a single one left. As for those who hadn't entered Xu Fengshan, Ning Beichen was too lazy to bother with them.
He needed them to spread the word about what had happened today, to let the outside world know that he, Ning Beichen, was not someone they could trifle with. Coming to Xu Fengshan meant death, even for the central continent's number one sect.
Those who hadn't entered Xu Fengshan were already terrified by the events that had unfolded.
Some were genuinely driven mad, while others feigned madness.
Over a thousand cultivators, including several ancestors and elders, had just vanished, all killed without exception.
The biggest loss was undoubtedly the Heavenly Sword Sect. After this incident, they would likely plummet to the status of a third-rate sect.
When the disciples of the Heavenly Sword Sect learned of this devastating news, panic spread like wildfire among them.
Cao Shuo, a former subordinate of Ning Beichen, was stunned. He had been extremely anxious about this siege of Xu Fengshan and had wanted to inform Ning Beichen, but he was unable to leave the sect.
This time, the sect had mobilized over a thousand disciples, comprising two-thirds of the Heavenly Sword Sect's core strength, only to suffer complete annihilation. This single event had plunged the Heavenly Sword Sect's centuries-old achievements into an abyss.
The Heavenly Sword Sect had lost, and lost miserably.
The sect was in disarray, and the disciples were all preoccupied with their own thoughts. No one dared to mention revenge.
Because everyone knew that the Heavenly Sword Sect was finished. Even if they abandoned their pursuit of revenge, the Heavenly Sword Sect would forever be relegated to a third-rate sect.
Cao Shuo looked at the chaotic sect with disappointment in his eyes, deeply regretting having joined the Heavenly Sword Sect.
If only he hadn't left Ning Beichen back then, where would he be now?
Whether he would have become stronger was uncertain, but at least he would be in a better situation than he was now.
He was now just an ordinary disciple of the Heavenly Sword Sect, lost in the crowd. If the Heavenly Sword Sect were still what it used to be, even being the most ordinary disciple would have been a source of pride.
But now, with the Heavenly Sword Sect cast into the abyss, the lives of those who remained would likely be even more difficult.
After all, over the years, not to mention other sects, even the three great families had been coveting the Heavenly Sword Sect.
With the Heavenly Sword Sect's fall from grace, anyone with a brain would know what was about to happen.
However, a hasty betrayal of one's sect was a grave offense. Despite seeing things clearly, Cao Shuo dared not take such action.
Furthermore, even if he had the courage to betray the sect, whether Ning Beichen would take him in was another major question.
Therefore, with no other recourse, Cao Shuo could only sigh, unwilling to witness the chaotic scene. He retreated to his room to seek some peace.
In contrast, those who had originally been brought out by Ning Beichen, upon hearing this news, were not only shocked but also excited and exhilarated.
"The Boss is too amazing, he actually wiped out the Heavenly Sword Sect by himself."
"I knew from the start that the Boss was no ordinary person. Look, who dares to provoke him now?"
"Do you think we should go back and follow the Boss?"
"It's a good idea, but I wonder if the Boss will still have us."
A silence fell over the group.
After all, they were no longer free individuals. Setting aside whether Ning Beichen would still want them, if they were to truly follow Ning Beichen, they would have to betray their current affiliations.
Betraying one's sect was a capital offense. They were not Ning Beichen, so this matter ultimately went nowhere.
Meanwhile, Xu Fengshan had returned to peace. The mountain-protecting formation was reactivated, and Ning Beichen had even strengthened its power. Unless a super-expert of the ancestor level appeared, ordinary individuals would not be able to break the formation even if they attacked for a year.
"Beichen, the Wu array is ready. Are you prepared to return?" Haitang said to Ning Beichen.
Ning Beichen nodded and unhesitatingly stepped into the Wu array, with Haitang on his left and Liu Yilin on his right.
This time, he, Haitang, and Liu Yilin would all be returning together. Haitang needed to go back to their world to reconstruct a new Wu array, making it possible for them to travel between realms at any time.
As for Xu Fengshan, the bird demon was sufficient. As long as Ning Beichen was alive, the bird demon would not pose any significant threat, unless Ning Beichen was not in this world.
Of course, for the sake of safety, Ning Beichen had made some preparations.
Although Liu Yilin had already reached the level of "Tuofan," theoretically, even an ancestor might not be her match.
But Ning Beichen did not want to take that risk. Even if he lost this place, he did not want to lose Liu Yilin.
Liu Yilin naturally did not want to be separated from Ning Beichen. They had finally found each other, and she was unwilling to experience the pain of losing him again.
As the Wu array activated, the surrounding scenery rippled like water. Ning Beichen felt as if his body was dissolving, though there was no pain, only a queasy feeling, as if he were about to vomit.
After an unknown period, the rippling subsided. Ning Beichen felt a sense of weightlessness and found himself, along with Haitang and Liu Yilin, standing in the cave.
Although Haitang and Liu Yilin had already undergone this kind of teleportation once, they were not faring any better than Ning Beichen. Before Ning Beichen could throw up, they were retching beside him.
Ning Beichen managed to suppress his own urge to vomit. After resting for a while, he felt more comfortable.
But more than anything, he felt an immense sense of wonder. To traverse an entire world like this was truly breathtaking.
After resting for a while, Haitang and Liu Yilin also felt somewhat better.
Ning Beichen recognized this place immediately as where he had gone missing before. He was instantly reminded of the hardships Haitang and Liu Yilin had endured to find him, which moved him deeply. He embraced them tightly and said,
"You've worked hard."
Liu Yilin shyly tried to pull away, but Ning Beichen held her firmly, not letting her go.
The three of them had faced death together, and Ning Beichen no longer wanted to have any regrets.
"Yilin, Haitang, I love you. You are the most important women in my life, Ning Beichen. I, Ning Beichen, do not seek to conquer the world, only to share my days with you."
Ning Beichen said to them with deep emotion.
The two women blushed simultaneously and pushed him away, giving him a shared glare.
This guy was truly shameless, wanting to embrace both of them.
However, despite their shyness, after experiencing life and death together, their bond was indeed incomparable to others. Ning Beichen regarded them as his important women, and they, in turn, considered him their most important man.
In other words, their future was uncertain, regardless of its length, but they could not do without Ning Beichen, just as Ning Beichen could not do without them.