Chapter 2452 - 2452: The Heavy Coffin

Listening to Wanyan Hongfeng's words, the Knife Saint chuckled again and said, "Interesting, interesting. The long-toothed rats multiply extremely quickly and consume a lot. It's not easy to cultivate these rats. It seems your Wanyan Family has paid quite a price over the years for this endeavor!"

Wanyan Hongfeng slowly nodded and said, "You truly have a broad perspective, Knife Saint. Everyone thinks that the long-toothed rat swarm of my Wanyan Family is invincible, but no one knows how much manpower and resources were expended in cultivating them. It can be said that every generation's most outstanding member of my Wanyan Family has spent their time on this cultivation. And in these three to four hundred years, seventy percent of my family's assets have been poured into this effort."

Hearing these words, the crowd was shocked once again. They have certainly seen the might of the rat swarm but didn't truly know what it took to cultivate them. Listening to Wanyan Hongfeng's account, the crowd was naturally taken aback. Just considering these three to four hundred years, seventy percent of Wanyan Family's assets, is an astronomical figure. Wanyan Family's income is very high, yet seventy percent of their assets - how much could that be? Moreover, to cultivate the long-toothed rats, every generation's top figures of Wanyan Family spent their time on it, which is an even greater sacrifice.

Take Wanyan Hongfeng, for instance; he was the most outstanding figure of his generation. If he had lived till now, he could have certainly led the Wanyan Family to even greater heights. But at the crucial moment, he feigned death to withdraw and made for Xiliang Mountain, hiding for decades to cultivate the long-toothed rats. Prior to him, many similar figures must have also spent their time in Xiliang Mountain, sacrificing similar efforts for these rats. Indeed, the Wanyan Family made tremendous sacrifices to cultivate the rat swarm, which yield today's mighty return.

"Considering the colossal effort, the outcome of cultivating the long-toothed rats is justifiably expected!" Knife Saint paused and said, "However, the significance of this is not substantial."

Upon hearing this, the crowd was taken aback. What does he mean by insignificant? The rat swarm's might is overwhelming, unmatched by anyone, yet it's considered insignificant? Then what constitutes substantial significance?

Wanyan Hongfeng, a little disgruntled, glanced at Knife Saint and said, "The rat swarm harms nothing of you, Knife Saint senior, but Knife Saint shouldn't forget. Nowadays, how many supreme masters are truly there? My long-toothed rat swarm is a decisive match for anyone below supreme masters!"

Knife Saint said, "I never undermined the rat swarm's might; I merely questioned its endgame. The long-toothed rats, after all, aren't without natural enemies!"

"Natural enemies?" Wanyan Hongfeng was momentarily taken aback, then he laughed, "What does Knife Saint senior mean by natural enemies? I know the rats aren't the mightiest, but their reproduction and gnawing abilities are unmatched. Even with natural enemies, when faced with the millions, any foe becomes trivial."

Wanyan Hongfeng's words met no objection. The truth lies in numbers after all. An example is the tiger, infinitely mightier than a rat. Yet if overwhelmed by tens or hundreds of thousands of rats attacking, how long would the tiger endure? Likely stripped to mere bones. That's the strength in numbers. This is the trade-off against the strength deficiency, even if there are natural enemies, amidst millions of rats, even the strongest is powerless!

"Alas!" Knife Saint shook his head slowly, looking at Wanyan Hongfeng, saying, "You're overly confident."

Wanyan Hongfeng declared loudly, "My confidence stems from the joint struggle of numerous generations of my Wanyan Family!"

"Unfortunately, you all have been on the wrong path!" Knife Saint waved his hand to speak as distant rustling came unexpectedly.

Many among the crowd were familiar with the noise, and upon hearing it, they immediately looked up, only to see an endless swarm of long-toothed rats charging from the distant valley. From afar, a dense mass of rats stretched out, looking terrifying in the most dreadful sense, truly shocking.

The rat swarm surged forward massively; it was impossible to gauge the exact count. Regardless, this was undoubtedly enough to encircle the entire Sword Saint Sect effortlessly.

Some at the Sword Saint Sect had never seen a swarm of long-toothed rats before, and now seeing them charge in droves, they felt their scalp tingling, never having witnessed such a scene.

Watching the swarm, Knife Saint appeared intrigued as he planted his long sword in the ground and looked at the swarming rats, saying, "Is this the swarm you've been cultivating?"

"Indeed!" Wanyan Hongfeng proudly said to Knife Saint, "These are the very creatures you once dismissed!"

"Is that so?" Knife Saint casually chuckled, "What do you mean by this now? Planning to use these creatures against me?"

"I dare not!" Wanyan Hongfeng replied instantly, "These creatures may deal with those below supreme masters, but against Knife Saint, it's merely courting death!"

"Oh, you have a bit of insight there!" Knife Saint laughed, "So what are you planning to use against me?"

Wanyan Hongfeng said, "Just wait a moment, Knife Saint senior!"

The crowd, hearing the dialogue between the two, felt apprehensive. The rat swarm indeed threatens not supreme masters, but the site lacks more than a handful of such individuals. Hence, the crowd was deeply anxious.

Judging by Knife Saint's relaxed demeanor, however, the crowd needn't worry excessively. With Knife Saint here to take charge, perhaps he has a solution for the swarm.

Nonetheless, the crowd was still clueless about Wanyan Hongfeng's plan to deal with Knife Saint.

Who is Knife Saint? A figure who once entered the Heaven Earth Man Three Gates, a supreme being of an era. His founding of the Sword Saint Sect claims to hold unmatched prowess worldwide. Living to this day, his lifespan exceeds everyone's known limits. Of course, Wu Tianchi is an exception as Wu changes bodies periodically, reincarnating, whereas Knife Saint doesn't. Hence, Knife Saint is arguably the oldest figure alive.

What does long life signify? To regular folk, it's simply good health. But for martial artists, a longevity beyond a specific point translates into power. Indeed, a peak master lives only to one hundred fifty years, while those in unity with heaven and man have a lifespan of three hundred years. Yet Knife Saint, living three to four hundred years, exceeds this boundary, suggesting he has surpassed unity with heaven and man to reach a new frontier.

In truth, people are unaware of unity beyond heaven and man, naturally ignorant of further realms above. Seeing Knife Saint, they assume he's reached higher levels. Knowing this, the question stands: how would Wanyan Hongfeng defeat him?

This issue perplexes not only the Sword Saint sect but also Wanyan Family members. The conversation between Wanyan Hongfeng and Knife Saint was clear. Once the former raised his Minghong Knife's scabbard but wasn't a rival for Knife Saint, then who from the Wanyan Family could be?

After approximately five minutes of waiting, amidst ongoing speculation, Wanyan Hongfeng elongated his neck to gaze at the distant valley, declaring, "It's coming!"

Everyone followed his gaze, observing dozens of individuals emerging, hoisting a massive coffin. Stretching over three meters, akin to a giant's sarcophagus, it wasn't something humans could possess. The coffin seemed hefty; even the dozens carrying it struggled, only advancing arduously, leaving one footprint after another heavily on the stone slabs beneath, as though the weight of a thousand jun rested here, hinting at its enormity!

"What is this thing?"

"Why a coffin? Is the Wanyan Family using a corpse to duel the ancestor?"

"This isn't a corpse, is it? Who knows what creature it contains? A coffin this large, what kind of person would require it?"

"And such a heavy coffin, what's inside indeed?"

The crowd whispered incessantly; not only were Sword Saint's individuals clueless, but even those among Wanyan Family were baffled. This coffin was unknown to them; it was arranged by Wanyan Hongfeng. Is this coffin Wanyan's method against Knife Saint?

Their progress was slow, yet they reached the platform before Wanyan Hongfeng. But still, they didn't lower the coffin, merely standing while carrying it, waiting silently for Wanyan Hongfeng's command.

Gazing at the coffin, Wanyan Hongfeng's face showed smugness as he slowly turned to Knife Saint and said, "Knife Saint senior, now your opponent has arrived!"

Knife Saint frowned deeply, losing his playful demeanor, studying the coffin closely before turning again to Wanyan Hongfeng, gravely saying, "Do you realize what you're doing? You're playing with fire!"