Walker Of The Worlds

2718  Forcing The Entire Sect Into Submission

The disciples and elders of the River Bending Axe Sect watched the destruction unfold from the very beginning, their eyes wide with shock and horror.

What had once been a discussion about the sectʼs decline had now become a terrifying reality. The Central Ridge—the very heart of their sect—had literally sunk into the river, leaving nothing but a gaping void where their seat of power once stood. The fates of those within the now-destroyed halls remained unknown, but deep inside, they all knew the answer. No one could have survived such devastation.

All that was left in their minds were questions.

Who would dare to attack the sect in such a way? Who had the power to break through their strongest defenses? And most importantly, why?

Unfortunately for them, the answers to these questions would soon become apparent.

SHUA!

A figure flew through the massive hole torn into the sectʼs protective array, entering the ruins of what had once been a formidable fortress. The man had a cold, merciless expression, his gaze sweeping across the gathered crowd like a blade.

His presence alone sent waves of pressure crashing down upon the remaining disciples and elders. His Immortal Sense enveloped them all, suffocating and oppressive. It was a presence that rivaled even that of their sect patriarch.

Then, in his hands, two swords materialized, each radiating a terrifying dominance.

”River Bending Axe Sect!” Lin Muʼs voice thundered across the battlefield. ”Prepare to meet your end!”

And with that declaration, he swung his swords, unleashing two devastating techniques.

”Great Slaughter Pine! Great Ocean Rake!”

Two immense slashes of energy shot forth, splitting the battlefield apart. One golden-yellow arc streaked toward the Left Bank of the sect, cutting through the air with an ear-splitting screech.

The slash reached the Alchemy Hall first, reducing it to rubble before continuing its rampage, tearing through the disciple housing. The very ground trembled as a massive golden pine tree erupted from the ruins, standing five hundred meters tall, growing at a rapid pace.

The tree was unlike any normal pine. Each of its massive branches gleamed like swords, their edges sharper than the finest immortal weapons. The twigs extended like rows of polished blades, while the leaves themselves were like honed daggers, each crafted for the sole purpose of cutting flesh and bone.

Then came the second technique.

A second blue slash of energy struck the Right Bank, transforming into a towering pillar of water almost a kilometer high. Within seconds, the blue energy exploded, forming a massive spectral claw with five razor-sharp nails. The claw raked across the entire Right Bank, releasing waves of blue energy that surged like a stormy sea.

Waves of destruction spread outward, smashing through buildings and flooding the land. Protective barriers cracked and crumbled like fragile glass under the relentless force. The blue energy possessed an eerie quality—it seemed to dissolve immortal energy itself, rendering even the strongest defenses useless.

The sect was collapsing before their very eyes.

The disciples and elders who had gathered at the gates could only watch in horror as their once-proud home crumbled into ruin. The two techniques alone had reduced nearly seventy percent of the sect to nothing more than debris. Only the outermost buildings remained intact, while the central structures lay in devastation.

And yet, despite the magnitude of the destruction, Lin Mu was unaware that most of the disciples had already gathered outside. Those who had been within the ruins had perished instantly, but the majority of survivors stood at the gates, paralyzed by fear.

Some of the weaker disciples lost consciousness on the spot, unable to withstand the sheer force of Lin Muʼs Immortal Qi fluctuations. Even the stronger ones struggled to remain standing. Only the elders remained unaffected, their own defenses barely holding against the residual energy still radiating through the air.

”The River Bending Axe Sect is finished…” one of the elders muttered, his voice hoarse with disbelief.

There was no recovering from this. Even if they still possessed the wealth of their now-destroyed businesses, it wouldnʼt be enough. Morale had shattered. Disciples had already begun deserting. The high-ranking elders who once stood as pillars of the sect had abandoned them.

From this day forward, there would be one less immortal sect in the Jui World.

Now, all that remained was the man who had done this. The man who had reduced their sect to rubble in mere minutes.

Then, before they could even react, he vanished.

A streak of clouds shot through the air as Lin Mu reappeared right in front of them.

”You should be the elders, correct?” Lin Muʼs sharp gaze swept over them.

The disciples trembled in fear, frozen in place. Not a single one of them showed any intent to resist.

Lin Mu frowned. Now that he was standing this close, he noticed something strange. At first, he had assumed the disciples had gathered at the gate in preparation for battle. But now, he realized that wasnʼt the case at all.

They werenʼt preparing for war.

They were fleeing.

Their robes were bundled up, their bags filled with supplies, and many carried storage treasures packed with provisions. They werenʼt about to charge into battle—they were trying to escape.

A few thoughts ran through Lin Muʼs mind before he finally spoke.

”Surrender, and I shall spare your lives.” His voice carried no anger, only a cold finality.

THUD! THUD! THUD!

The response was immediate.

One after another, the disciples fell to their knees, pressing their foreheads to the ground in desperate kowtows.

”We surrender! We surrender!”

”Please, spare us!”

”We arenʼt even part of the sect anymore!” another cried, tears streaming down his face.

Lin Muʼs frown deepened. He turned his gaze toward the elders.

”You…” One of the elders struggled to speak, his voice filled with disbelief. His mind was in turmoil, trying to process everything that had just happened.

And then it clicked.

His eyes widened in horror as he finally recognized the man before him.

”Lin Mu… You are Lin Mu!”