Chapter 2463 - 2463: Just You?

Listening to the Second Sect Leader and the Fourth Sect Leader, the Sect Leader's face remained devoid of any joy.

"This mechanism can stop a Peak Master but not a beyond peerless master!" The Sect Leader said solemnly: "This mechanism is just a warning. If they trigger it, it means they'll arrive here within half an hour. So, we're left with only half an hour. We must leave here as quickly as possible within the half-hour, or else we will all perish here!"

The Sect Leader's words changed the expressions of all members of the Sword Saint Sect. In half an hour, the Wanyan Family would arrive here. Even the Knife Saint couldn't stop them; what chance did they have?

Especially now, the sect leaders of the Sword Saint Sect have exhausted their Inner Strength because of the Dragon-breaking Knife, a situation that can't be fully restored in a day or two. And half of the other Peak Masters are on the ground, unable to even stand. If the Wanyan Family pursues them now, the battle would be lost before it begins; how could the Sword Saint Sect possibly defeat the Wanyan Family? Half an hour is simply too rushed!

"Sect Leader, shouldn't we... shouldn't we just run?" an individual from the Sword Saint Sect said in a low voice, having not yet tried the Dragon-breaking Knife but also having no mind to attempt it anymore. Unable to guarantee his own life, what else could he attempt?

"Nonsense!" The Sword Saint Sect Master retorted angrily: "If we run, we must take the Dragon-breaking Knife with us!"

"But... but we can't lift the Dragon-breaking Knife, so how could we possibly carry it away?" another person from the Sword Saint Sect murmured softly: "Do we have to risk our lives for the Dragon-breaking Knife?"

"Hmph, if the Dragon-breaking Knife falls into the hands of the Wanyan Family, then we'll have to follow their orders, which is worse than death!" a third person shouted.

"That's true. I'd rather die here than ever obey the Wanyan Family's commands!"

"But this is the ancestral command; are we going to defy it?"

"That's why we have to take the Dragon-breaking Knife with us!"

Everyone argued, the Sword Saint Sect members holding significant animosity towards the Wanyan Family. After all, the Wanyan Family had previously used the Minghong Knife's Scabbard to coerce the Sword Saint Sect to do numerous things, and now they invaded the Sword Saint Sect, killing many of its members, fostering deep-seated hostility.

Amid the discussions, the Third Sect Master suddenly spoke softly: "Actually, I think we don't need to worry so much about this. Not taking the Dragon-breaking Knife isn't a big deal. Inside the Dragon-breaking Knife lies ninety percent of the power left by the ancestor. Unless someone's power surpasses that of the ancestor, they can't lift the Dragon-breaking Knife. Even if the Wanyan Family arrives, none of them can wield it. The result remains the same—they can't command us!"

His words immediately garnered significant support. Everyone's thoughts aligned: none of the Sword Saint Sect members could lift the Dragon-breaking Knife, so how could the Wanyan Family possibly do it?

Only the Sect Leader continued to frown deeply, remaining silent for a while. Once the voices around him died down, he took a deep breath and said solemnly: "I'll say it again, no matter what, the Dragon-breaking Knife must be taken along."

"Sect Leader, this... this is practically impossible!" the Third Sect Leader said urgently.

"I know it's difficult, but don't forget how the Wanyan Family treated our Sword Saint Sect!" the Sect Leader spoke firmly: "They killed so many of our members; our Sword Saint Sect would never cooperate with the Wanyan Family. I don't know if they can take the Dragon-breaking Knife, but even if there's a one in ten thousand chance, I won't risk it. So, either we take the Dragon-breaking Knife and leave, or we all stay here and perish with it. The ancestral legacy mustn't fall into the hands of enemies!"

The Sect Leader's words certainly stirred the spirits of the Sword Saint Sect members. They nodded in agreement, loudly advocating that the Dragon-breaking Knife must not fall into the hands of the Wanyan Family.

Seeing the morale rise among everyone, the Sect Leader sighed in relief and shouted: "Good, let's continue trying. Every member of our Sword Saint Sect will try once. Since this is left by the ancestor, I refuse to believe our members can't wield it!"

With the conversation reaching this point, the remaining members of the Sword Saint Sect were invigorated. Several Peak Masters immediately stepped up to try. Yet, the result was the same; upon grasping the Dragon-breaking Knife, their energy was entirely drained, leaving them collapsed on the ground, unable to move it an inch. Yet, the determination of the Sword Saint Sect members was extraordinary, leading them to attempt persistently to lift the Dragon-breaking Knife despite the setbacks.

This scene fell into the distant eyes of Ye Qing, who wasn't aware of what the Knife Saint had referred to, and Helian Tiehua hadn't explained it to him either. However, witnessing the Sword Saint Sect try to preserve the Dragon-breaking Knife, Ye Qing felt stirred. Though he found them arrogant, their current actions earned a measure of respect.

Simultaneously, movement came from farther within the cave. This development changed the faces of the sect leaders of the Sword Saint Sect, prompting the Second Sect Leader to stand up directly and speak gravely: "Have the Wanyan Family arrived so quickly?"

"The Dragon-breaking Knife isn't drawn yet, what do we do now?"

"How about I take a few people to intercept them, while the others keep trying?" suggested the Third Sect Leader.

The Sect Leader frowned deeply; the current situation was truly unfavorable. Even if the Third Sect Leader went to intercept, how long could they realistically stall? If the Dragon-breaking Knife wasn't extracted, the outcome remained unchanged. Also, the Sword Saint Sect already had more than half of its members sprawled on the ground, unable to stand. If this continued, surely more would collapse. Even if they managed to draw out the Dragon-breaking Knife, it's unlikely we'd have many people able to escape, resulting in substantial losses for the Sword Saint Sect this time!

However, abandoning the Dragon-breaking Knife now was impossible. At this point, what should be done? Everyone in the Sword Saint Sect grappled with this dilemma.

"What if I help you take the Dragon-breaking Knife out?"

Amid the Sword Saint Sect's distress, a voice suddenly emerged, causing everyone to pause for a moment.

Helian Tiehua looked at Ye Qing beside him in astonishing disbelief, as Ye Qing had said it. Helian Tiehua was stunned; what was Ye Qing intending to do? Why make such a statement now? Was he really going to help the Sword Saint Sect retrieve the Dragon-breaking Knife? Could he manage it? Given that so many had failed, it was evident how challenging it was to extract the Dragon-breaking Knife. Ye Qing saying he could take it out—had he gone mad?

The Sword Saint Sect members also shared Helian Tiehua's sentiment, eyeing Ye Qing with suspicion, if not hostility, thinking his statement ridiculous.

"Ye, this is a matter of our Sword Saint Sect and has nothing to do with you!" the Third Sect Leader immediately said seriously: "Sending Helian Tiehua and the others here was an ancestral command. You needn't feel indebted, nor do you need to help us with anything!"

"Hmph, he wants to help us, but does he have the ability?" another from the Sword Saint Sect scoffed: "So many masters from our sect couldn't extract the Dragon-breaking Knife, yet you want to? You think yourself superior to all members of our sect?"

"He said earlier that only those stronger than the ancestor can take it out, implying he's stronger than our ancestor!" the third person said coldly: "He's suggesting his prowess exceeds our ancestor's!"

"Ye, you dare insult our ancestor!"

The Sword Saint Sect members bristled with indignation, glaring at Ye Qing as though he'd actually insulted their ancestor. Ye Qing was speechless, thinking he'd only offered to help—how did it escalate to insulting their ancestor? Besides, he had no quarrel with the Knife Saint; why would he insult him?

The Sword Saint Sect Master assessed Ye Qing carefully and gestured to quiet the angry members, saying: "Alliance Leader Ye, we appreciate your intention. Yet, as you mentioned earlier, this knife cannot be wielded by just anyone. If you act impulsively, you'll likely end up like the others, incapacitated on the ground. The Wanyan Family will arrive soon, and I've promised the ancestor to ensure you leave the sect alive. So, I'll have someone escort you out; the subsequent matters are not your concern!"

Truth be told, the Sword Saint Sect Master spoke with admirable responsibility, revealing qualities befitting a leader. However, Ye Qing found himself internally objecting to the words. How could they dismiss his capability without even letting him try? Why couldn't he lift it after all?

Frustrated, Ye Qing didn't want to waste words with them. Instead, he walked over to the Dragon-breaking Knife and asked the Peak Master ready to try: "May I go first?"

The Peak Master, prepared to try, hesitated at Ye Qing's sudden query. Seeing Ye Qing approach the Dragon-breaking Knife, he felt a mischievous anticipation, stepping back and suggesting: "Since Alliance Leader Ye insists, please go ahead; I'll learn from the sidelines!"

This fellow spoke with a hint of sarcasm, clearly underestimating Ye Qing, thinking he wouldn't succeed with the Dragon-breaking Knife. If Ye Qing ended up on the ground like the others, that would truly be entertaining.