Chapter 222 - 147: Peerless Saintess, Crowned with the Sect Name

Chapter 222: Chapter 147: Peerless Saintess, Crowned with the Sect Name

"At that time, the Hundred Thousand Islands were at their absolute prime. Sects were as numerous as trees in a forest. Legend has it that they once almost turned the tables and usurped control over the entire Eastern Domain.

"As the years passed, the Cultivators on the islands gradually integrated with the Eastern Domain until they were indistinguishable. The distinction between the Outer Realm and the inner territories vanished long ago.

"If a Cultivator from the Eastern Domain caught their eye, they would be recruited into a sect to be nurtured. With frequent intermarriages, Thousand Sects Island has now truly become a part of the Eastern Domain."

This was how Thousand Sects Island earned its name. It didn’t mean there were exactly one thousand sects inside, but rather that at its peak, thousands of martial sects had stood side by side.

"Then why are there fewer than a thousand sects within Thousand Sects Island today, a hundred thousand years later?" Jiang Hao asked. Although he already had a guess, he still voiced his thoughts.

The answer was exactly as he expected.

"A hundred thousand years ago, despite the multitude of sects, resources were abundant, and everyone lived in peace," the other party continued.

However, as the various sects grew stronger and their ranks of Cultivators swelled, the limited number of Celestial Veins and Earth Veins could no longer meet the demand. The drive to continuously empower their factions made cultivation resources the primary catalyst for conflict. When their occupied Spirit Veins failed to provide enough, friction naturally arose.

"At first, everyone only bickered over territorial borders, resulting in occasional, minor frictions.

"That was until seventy thousand years ago when the first major sect war erupted on Thousand Sects Island. Two sects initiated a holy war over resources, causing rivers of blood to flow. One sect was defeated and had its gates entirely wiped out."

From then on, the situation on Thousand Sects Island spiraled completely out of control. The War of a Thousand Sects broke out—a brutal struggle where the strong survived and the weak perished. Some slightly weaker sects even resorted to merging with others.

"Over the past seventy thousand years, the fighting between sects has never ceased," the speaker went on. "Even the three great Celestial Veins have changed hands several times. Divine Kings entrenching themselves and ancient saints falling—such events could happen at any time on Thousand Sects Island.

"To this day, a clear victor has yet to emerge. Strong sects stand off against each other while weak sects slaughter one another, turning the entire region into a perilous wasteland.

"However, due to the commencement of the Prodigy Battle in recent years, the turmoil has eased considerably, though sect wars still break out from time to time."

Hearing this, Jiang Hao finally understood why the Celestial Sword Sect couldn’t extend its reach here. If even ancient saints risked falling in this place, attempting to establish a faction here would undoubtedly be a fool’s errand.

This was no peaceful sanctuary. Jiang Hao even felt a tinge of regret for choosing to come to Thousand Sects Island.

Half a month passed in the blink of an eye.

During this fortnight, Jiang Hao gathered even more information about Thousand Sects Island. On this particular day at dusk, a voice rang out.

"The Demon Ridge is just ahead.

"Once we cross it, we will enter the Thousand Sect Island Realm."

Suddenly, another voice cried out in excitement, "Look! It’s the Saintess and the Elder! It’s the Cyan Mist Saintess! She’s come to receive us!"

As the group flew toward a massive mountain range stretching across the end of the world, the Cultivators of the Cyan Mist Sect were bubbling with excitement. Jiang Hao looked in the direction of the voices. Before the mountain range—which lay dormant at the edge of the horizon like a colossal dragon—countless terrifying figures flickered in and out of sight.

Right in front, numerous figures clad in the attire of the Cyan Mist Sect stood quietly before the mountains, looking as if they had been waiting there for a long time. Every single figure exuded an incredibly terrifying aura. The older Cultivators, in particular, gave off a clear signal that strangers should keep their distance.

Yet, despite such a formidable lineup, only one breathtakingly elegant figure stood at the very front.

Just as Jiang Hao was wondering why so many powerful experts of the Cyan Mist Sect were merely waiting before the Demon Ridge instead of supporting Song Changlin and his group, an incredibly cold yet captivating female voice, dripping with murderous intent, suddenly resounded through the heavens and the earth.

"All Elders, heed my command! Secure the supreme treasure and escort it back to the sect. Anyone who attempts to approach—regardless of age or status—shall be killed without mercy!"

The peerless young woman slowly opened her beautiful eyes. Her gaze was as biting as the frost on a wintry peak. As her voice echoed through the realm, it brought with it an unparalleled chill.

The moment she spoke, the countless imposing figures forming a pincer movement from all directions to blockade her and her people couldn’t help but shudder.

That voice left no room for doubt, as if a sovereign empress had descended upon the mortal realm. It instilled a sense of profound unease and nameless dread in the hearts of all who heard it. Its domineering presence was simply unprecedented.