It wasn't just him.
The leader of the Zhenwu Sect.
The leader of the Shennv Sect.
The leader of the Tianji Sect.
The leader of the Shenxing Sect.
The head of the Nangong clan.
The thoughts of these people were almost identical.
Some felt dizzy.
Some felt utterly confused.
If the Saint of the Donglin Sect had revealed even the faintest trace of aura earlier, who among them would have dared to act so arrogantly against Donglin Sect?
Earlier, rumors had spread throughout the Eastern Region that the Saint of Donglin Sect might have fallen. That was precisely why they had dared to unite and apply such overwhelming pressure.
If they had known the Saint was still alive,
Who would have dared?
Now, things had reached this point.
Everyone believed you had died.
Yet… you suddenly appeared.
"Saint…"
Chu Xun himself felt slightly dazed. He turned his gaze back toward the direction of the sect. This outcome was something he had never anticipated. He had not expected that such a supreme existence was still hidden within the sect.
Silently, he put away the talisman paper in his palm.
Since there was a Saint to settle matters, there was no need to waste another life-saving treasure.
"Saint!"
Elder Wang He was filled with irrepressible joy. He had fought until this moment, and in his heart, the last sliver of hope had already vanished. He truly believed the Saint had long since passed away.
Yet here he was,
Still alive.
Elder Wang, who had been suppressing the forbidden area, revealed a complicated expression. Unlike the others, he seemed to have known this all along. He showed no surprise at the Saint's sigh or presence, only a deep sigh of his own, tinged with regret.
In the end, his gaze fell upon Chu Xun.
He remained silent.
Perhaps… it had all been worth it.
"Senior!"
"Senior!"
The helmsmen of the various forces, figures who once overlooked the world like distant gods, now all bowed respectfully toward Donglin Sect.
Even Qin Yu was no exception.
This had little to do with grudges or alliances.
It was respect for the realm of a Saint.
And perhaps another reason as well,
He had already fought his way to another sect's doorstep. If the Saint truly descended, his fate would be simple: either lower his head, or vanish from the world in an instant.
No one who had cultivated to this level wished to die so meaninglessly.
As for what the sect might think afterward,
That would matter only if one survived.
Among them all, Jiang Zhenshan of the Jiang clan was perhaps the most excited. His eyes shone brilliantly.
He had never imagined that Donglin Sect possessed a Saint.
Yet this surprise was no less shocking than Chu Xun's monstrous talent.
"Profitable."
"An absolute windfall!"
Jiang Zhenshan was elated. As the greatest ally of Donglin Sect, the stronger Donglin Sect became, the more secure his own position would be.
Thinking back on his earlier decisions, he admired his own judgment even more.
"Let's go."
Elder Wang, who had been suppressing the forbidden area, supported his frail body and swept his sleeves. Xiao Rongyu, Elder Wang He, and the others, still injured, were enveloped by his power and taken back toward the sect.
Elder Wang He was somewhat unwilling.
He had endured so much humiliation today, how could he simply retreat now?
If there had been no Saint, fine.
But now that they had such a powerful backing, he naturally wanted to reclaim Donglin Sect's dignity.
The six holy places had joined forces to suppress them. Did they truly think Donglin Sect was something they could trample at will?
"Elder Wang," Elder Wang He transmitted, "the Saint of our Donglin Sect is about to appear. Wouldn't retreating now make us a laughingstock?"
"Hm?"
But after receiving a reply from Elder Wang of the forbidden area, Elder Wang He instantly calmed down. The joy on his face faded, and he said nothing more as he was taken back into the sect.
The leader of the Zhenwu Sect.
The leader of the Shenxing Sect.
The head of the Jiang clan.
The patriarch of the Nangong clan.
They all watched silently.
No one dared to interfere.
Even Qin Yu, far off in the sky, did not dare approach.
After the group returned to Donglin Sect, the Saint's pressure dissipated.
Confusion spread across everyone's faces.
They exchanged glances, uneasy and puzzled.
Some of them had already prepared to pay a heavy price, yet the Saint of Donglin Sect never appeared at all.
What did this mean?
Was the Saint magnanimous?
Did he disdain to act against juniors?
Impossible.
In an ordinary conflict, perhaps a Saint would not bother with such figures. But this had gone as far as besieging the sect's gates, how could he not strike?
Doubt and wild speculation surged in their hearts.
Could it be… that the Saint of Donglin Sect was already dead, and that sigh was merely an illusion?
No.
Thinking carefully about the pressure carried by that sigh, it was unmistakably the aura of a Saint. There was no room for doubt.
If the Saint truly existed, why choose not to appear?
The eyes of the leaders flickered with different emotions. Each had their own guesses, some denied them, some hesitated, but in the end, all chose to retreat.
Continuing this siege would be nothing short of a joke.
Even Qin Yu of the Xiandao Sect departed swiftly.
Whether the Saint was alive or not, he could not break through the formation of Donglin Sect.
Lingering would only invite disaster.
Below them, countless spectators remained.
Secular dynasty nobles who had traveled thousands of miles.
Eastern Region cultivators.
Rising geniuses of the younger generation.
All of them were left utterly shaken by today's battle.
Before arriving, they had only expected to witness clashes between Human Emperors.
They never imagined it would escalate into a sect war,
And end with the emergence of a Saint.
Even though the Saint did not personally appear, that single sigh, and the reactions of the great sect leaders, confirmed one thing beyond doubt:
There was a Saint in Donglin Sect.
"A Saint!"
"Donglin Sect has a Saint!"
Many geniuses who had been wavering between the six major forces of the Eastern Region made their choice on the spot.
They remembered the Human Emperors falling one after another before Donglin Sect.
They remembered the ordinary old man who slaughtered emperors with a single sword.
They remembered the Saint who emerged at the very end.
If this wasn't a true backing,
Then what was?
"I want to join Donglin Sect!"
"Me too!"
"And me! Other holy places might not have Saints, but Donglin Sect definitely does!"
The eyes of these young geniuses burned with excitement.
Even emperors of secular dynasties, rulers of nations, issued sighs after witnessing this battle.
"This battle has completely proven that Donglin Sect is the oldest force in the Eastern Region. Its foundation is truly unfathomable. From now on, send more talents to join them!"
Some even issued direct decrees:
"In the future, anyone in our nation who joins Donglin Sect shall be granted noble titles and vast rewards."
Clearly, today's battle had shown even the most remote dynasties the meaning of true strength, and they were eager to cling to it.
Inside Donglin Sect.
Chu Xun was still puzzled.
Things had already reached this point.
So why,
Had the Saint still not appeared to settle everything personally?
Author's Note
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