Jason Young spoke, glancing at George Harris, and said, “But, Steward George Harris, isn’t it a bit of an overreaction for us to mobilize so many people and surround the area of the succession ceremony with three layers inside and three layers outside? Our Linmen Sword Sect is the number one sword sect in the Holy Light Empire—could there really be any foolish force that dares to cause trouble at such a critical moment for our sect?”

　　“Better safe than sorry. It never hurts to be cautious.”

　　Seeing George Harris say this, Jason Young didn’t say anything more. After all, the succession ceremony was only for today; even if security was tight, it would just be for this one day.

　　As the two stewards chatted casually, a man who looked quite young but already possessed the cultivation of the Innate Secret Realm hurried over, his expression faintly flustered: “Steward Jason Young? Steward George Harris is here too?”

　　“Hmm? William Walker? You look like you’re in a hurry—did something happen?”

　　“Something did happen. I need to report to the Protector Elders immediately.”

　　“Wait, I remember you were recently sent to look for Steward Thomas Young. Is this about Steward Thomas Young?”

　　Jason Young seemed to have made a connection and quickly asked.

　　This steward named William Walker was clearly new to the position and still unable to handle sudden incidents well. Hearing Jason Young’s question, he didn’t hide anything: “Steward Thomas Young is dead. I found Steward Thomas Young’s body on the ancestral mountain where our sect’s forebears rest. Not only Steward Thomas Young, but also the three masters guarding the ancestral mountain, as well as a hundred-man guard squad—all of them died on the ancestral mountain. The whole scene showed no signs of a struggle, it was as if…”

　　At this point, his pupils contracted slightly, a trace of fear in his eyes: “It was as if those three great master-realm elders, and those elite guards protecting the ancestral mountain, had no power to resist at all, and were all wiped out by the killer in an overwhelming sweep.”

　　“Steward Thomas Young is actually dead?”

　　“A hundred-man guard squad, and three master elders!”

　　That number made not only Jason Young’s face change, but even George Harris’s face turned pale.

　　“To overwhelm and kill three masters and over a hundred guards… Even a grandmaster-level powerhouse couldn’t do that… It’s almost certain that a legendary powerhouse was involved.”

　　George Harris’s face was faintly pale as he spoke, and he quickly said to William Walker, “Three masters dead at once, and at such a critical moment for our Linmen Sword Sect’s succession ceremony—this is such a major event that even the elders can’t handle it alone. We must report directly to the senior uncles. Come, I’ll go with you.”

　　“Three masters!”

　　A master was a being far stronger and more terrifying than these Innate Secret Realm stewards. Any master, placed outside, would be a sect leader, a powerhouse overseeing a city or even several cities. Even in the Linmen Sword Sect, a master could become an elder. And now, three had died at once.

　　This news immediately made Jason Young understand why William Walker looked so panicked.

　　“Wait!”

　　At this moment, Jason Young finally made a connection.

　　“Steward Thomas Young went to look for that man called Xuantian Sect mentioned by Hannah Grant, but in the end, she died. Could it be…”

　　Thinking of Hannah Grant’s earlier speculation about the strength of the man named Xuantian Sect, Jason Young’s face could no longer remain calm, and a trace of uncontrollable fear appeared.

　　“This matter is not as simple as we thought. This news must be reported to the sect master!”

　　Chapter 12 Arrival

　　“Elder Michael, I have urgent business and must request an audience with the sect master. There is an enemy attacking our Linmen Sword Sect.”

　　Realizing the seriousness of the situation, Jason Young immediately went to an elder with late-stage master cultivation, speaking anxiously.

　　This elder, named Michael Bolton, was one of those maintaining order at the Linmen Sword Sect’s succession ceremony and had the authority to speak directly with the sect master.

　　“See the sect master?”

　　Michael Bolton glanced at Jason Young, then at the succession ceremony that had already begun, and frowned, “Our Linmen Sword Sect is the greatest sect in the Holy Light Empire, with a mighty Supreme Myth overseeing us. Who would dare be so reckless as to cause trouble here?”

　　“Xuantian Sect! A young man named Xuantian Sect. According to our assessment, this person, even if not a demigod, is definitely a terrifying existence at the legendary level. The steward Thomas Young I sent to investigate him was brutally killed by him at the ancestral mountain, along with three master-realm elders who guarded the mountain!”

　　“Thomas Young is dead? And he killed the three master-realm elders of the ancestral mountain? Is this true!?”

　　“It’s absolutely true! I would never joke about something like this!”

　　Jason Young’s tone was resolute, and Michael Bolton immediately understood the gravity of the situation. He glanced at Samuel Lincoln, who was presiding over the ceremony, and said, “The succession ceremony is at a critical moment and cannot be interrupted. Come, I’ll take you to see the Floating Sword Master and the Bitao Sword Sect!”

　　As he spoke, he led Jason Young straight into the heart of the succession ceremony.