The Villa Master of Hidden Sword Villa watched as the disciples retreated swiftly, his face flushed in an instant, and he bellowed in rage, "Useless!"

But even with his furious outburst, the many disciples of Hidden Sword Villa present remained silent, their eyes showing neither a trace of shame nor embarrassment.

"Better a friend's death than my own."

"Are you kidding? The Hidden Sword Villa is led by the Zuo family, so even if we take down Heshenghe, what benefit do we get? Even if we survive this sword array, they won't let me use the Five Assistant Swords when the villa is reclaimed. Amazing as it may be, it's for the Villa Master's gain, not ours. Who would be foolish enough to risk decapitation, doing such a thankless job to benefit the Villa Master at the cost of our own lives?"

"Oh, come on, what a joke, Hidden Sword Villa owns over a hundred famous swords, whether it's the Five Assistant Swords or any other famed swords, the Zuo family can use them as they like, even if they get stolen, nothing happens. But for us? We get standard-issued ordinary iron swords, and even those are limited, and now you want us to use ordinary iron swords against a formation made of the Five Assistant Swords? Might as well be a death sentence!"

"Whoever has the ability should go, but I certainly won't."

The silence of the many disciples of Hidden Sword Villa infuriated the Villa Master.

He then pointed angrily at a disciple in his forties, "You, go take on Shen Qiang's sword array!"

The man instantly turned pale and fell to his knees before the Villa Master, begging, "Spare me, Villa Master, I have elderly and young ones at home, and only a few flying swords that barely count as Daoist Artifacts. Even if I wield them perfectly, I absolutely cannot stop the Five Assistant Swords."

The Villa Master of Hidden Sword Villa fumed with rage.

His eyes swept over the many disciples of Hidden Sword Villa, but when they fell upon a few accompanying super-powerful Dao Fruit Stage practitioners, he could clearly see the eyes that said 'let anyone else go but me.' He could only look towards others.

But he found all the disciples with an aloof attitude, pretending to be oblivious.

He was so angry that his lungs were about to burst, but he was powerless.

But just then, suddenly, a cultivator who looked nearly seventy sighed, then stepped forward and said, "Villa Master, I'll go."

Instantly, the eyes of the Villa Master of Hidden Sword Villa burned with hope.

"Saved! Finally, someone is willing to step forward."

At the same time, Shen Qiang said calmly, "Esteemed elder from Hidden Sword Villa, please reconsider. I've made it clear that if you survive, I not only have to return the Five Assistant Swords but also apologize, which involves not just my own face and dignity but that of the entire Heshenghe. So, even if the old, weak, sick, and disabled step in, I will not show mercy."

Upon hearing this, the Villa Master of Hidden Sword Villa, fearing the elder might change his mind and embarrass him, quickly said, "How dare you, Shen Qiang, this elder is my martial uncle, how dare you be so disrespectful!"

Shen Qiang responded coldly, "If you truly respected him, why would you make him take risks for you? Why don't you take on my sword array yourself?"

The Villa Master of Hidden Sword Villa was instantly silent.

Meanwhile, that elder from Hidden Sword Villa stepped forward, his eyes calm as he looked at Shen Qiang and said, "Mr. Shen, don't insult our Villa Master. It's only right that I handle your sword array, as I've lived in Hidden Sword Villa for seventy years."

"I have no family, no offspring, my talent isn't strong, nor is my cultivation remarkable," the elder said calmly, glancing at the Villa Master and Zuo Lianghao. "The Villa Master doesn't even know my name."

"But a person should be grateful," the elder said calmly as he drew his sword, "Though I've never been heavily relied upon by the villa, the villa never drove me away because of my mediocrity, so come on."

Boom!

The aura of a Mixed Element Realm expert erupted instantly, with seven longswords appearing around the elder, his gaze resolutely locked on Shen Qiang, "If someone must die for the villa, let it be me, because it gave me the best times and most beautiful memories."

Upon hearing this, the many disciples of Hidden Sword Villa were full of shock.

Shen Qiang, however, responded indifferently, "What you said is admirable, and your resolve to die for the villa is truly moving, but unfortunately, I am the leader of Heshenghe, carrying the expectations of all its members, so I can't lose, nor can I afford to."

Glancing at the few Dao Fruit Stage cultivators by the Villa Master of Hidden Sword Villa, Shen Qiang added, "Moreover, elder, you should understand, you can't withstand my sword array, whereas those Dao Fruit Stage super powerful cultivators might have a chance."

Upon hearing this, the eyes of the disciples of Hidden Sword Villa turned to the few Dao Fruit Stage super-powerful cultivators.

"Indeed, if they're in the Dao Fruit Stage, there might be a chance of survival!"

But amidst the hopeful gazes of the disciples of Hidden Sword Villa, the few Dao Fruit Stage cultivators all adopted an aloof stance.

"Fools, the strength of the Dao Fruit Stage lies in touching one's own Dao, but that doesn't mean invincibility or immortality. In normal circumstances, with Dao Fruit Stage power, we could easily dodge Shen Qiang's terrifying sword array, but now we have to face it directly! Who can survive such a terrifying array?"

"Alas, on the battlefield, we might rely on various secret techniques and cultivation power to forcibly escape a sword array, but even in the Dao Fruit Stage, without a super Magical Treasure, there's no way to withstand this array."

"The power of the Hidden Sword Villa lies in the sword array, but its weakest point is defense, so there's no surviving this."

Yet at this moment, the elder's eyes flashed with determination, and he shouted, "Shen Qiang, I know your aim is to use this sword array to kill and establish authority. With everyone using sword arrays, you obviously knew that no one in Hidden Sword Villa could withstand your array, but don't expect to sow discord within our villa! Come, let me experience your Five Assistant Sword Formation!"

Hearing this, Shen Qiang sighed as he looked at the elder and said, "You are a respectable opponent. Not only do you have the courage to die for Hidden Sword Villa, but you also saw through my intent. Yet, the reality is cruel; you won't change anything, and I will not forgo the Five Assistant Swords and Heshenghe's dignity because of my respect for you."

"Seven Stars Cliff!" the elder's eyes gleamed with brilliance.

The seven longswords in his hand shone with the brilliance of a high cliff.

Many practitioners of Hidden Sword Villa in attendance were filled with awe.

"The Seven Stars Cliff Sword Formation, this is the strongest defensive sword array of outer disciples!"

"Impressive, who knew that an outer disciple could cultivate the Seven Stars Cliff Sword Formation to such perfection!" Dao Fruit Stage cultivators' eyes shone brightly. "Perhaps there's a ray of hope."

But just as hope arose in the eyes of the many practitioners of Hidden Sword Villa, Shen Qiang shook his head indifferently, commenting, "As weak as an ant before an elephant."

Boom!

The Five Assistant Sword Formation fell instantly.

The aura of the elder above the Mixed Element Realm instantly turned to dust and vanished.

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