"Patriarch Shen, the Ye Clan experts will arrive soon. How about we wait for them and attack together!" Lu Fan suggested, "That way, we might have a better chance of winning!"
"You underestimate the Shen Clan, boy!" Patriarch Shen narrowed his eyes. "Or perhaps you underestimate me!"
Shen Batian let out a hearty laugh and strode outwards, exuding an immense aura. He had nothing left to fear, and thus, no reason to hesitate.
Outside the Shen Clan's compound, Granny Meng and the Three Ghosts stood tall, their eyes filled with displeasure. According to their agreement with the Shen Clan, once the Ghost Palace Master emerged from seclusion, the Shen Clan would not be troubled. However, the light pillar they had just witnessed clearly indicated the power of the Yuhua Sword.
"The Yuhua Sword has been unleashed. Our mission has failed!" The Three Ghosts spoke. "When we return to the Ghost Palace, you will personally explain this to the Palace Master. It has nothing to do with us three!"
"Now is not the time to shirk responsibility!" Granny Meng said coldly. "If this goes wrong, none of us will fare well. You should know this yourselves!"
The three Ghost Saints frowned. They knew this all too well, but with the Yuhua Sword out, there was nothing they could do, no matter how reluctant they were.
Before long, Shen Batian arrived before Granny Meng, his immense aura and a faint killing intent radiating from him.
"Shen Batian, you have broken your promise!" Granny Meng struck her cane on the ground. "Are you not afraid of the Palace Master's wrath? You should know that if anything happens to the Yuhua Sword, your Shen Clan will also be destroyed!"
"I am well aware of that. However, since I have made my decision, you need not say more!" Shen Batian replied with a faint smile. "Not a single member of my Shen Clan fears death. As the Patriarch, how can I lag behind them?"
"So, you intend to make us your enemy?" Granny Meng's expression turned cold. She grew vigilant, sensing the aura surrounding Shen Batian, and if she guessed correctly, he was about to make a move.
"The Ghost Palace has committed many sins, and you are likely accountable!" Shen Batian stated directly. "I had been compromising before to protect the Shen Clan, but I now realize that this is not what my clansmen desire."
"Shen Batian, you will surely regret this choice!" the Three Ghost Saints said coldly. "If you don't believe us, feel free to test it!"
"I don't think it's necessary to test," Lu Fan arrived, a cold sneer on his face. "The Five Divine Swords have now appeared. We will head to the Ghost Palace soon!"
"You have quite the nerve!" Granny Meng immediately sneered. "Our Palace Master is not someone you can contend with. If you dare to step into the Ghost Palace, you are seeking your own demise."
"Whether we are seeking our own demise or not, we don't know!" Lu Fan chuckled. "But one thing is certain: you will not be leaving today!"
As soon as Lu Fan finished speaking, Batian also appeared behind Granny Meng and the others, exuding an unparalleled aura. At this moment, everyone was stunned. They had not expected Shen Batian to act so quickly.
"Shen Batian, if you attack today, the Palace Master will tear you to shreds! And annihilate your entire Shen Clan!" Granny Meng's face changed.
"My clansmen have spoken, they do not fear death, only a life of cowardice!" Shen Batian narrowed his eyes. "I must follow their wishes, otherwise, would I not disappoint them!"
"Hurry, this place is not safe to linger!" Granny Meng urged the Three Ghost Saints and promptly fled. Shen Batian, as the Patriarch of the Shen Clan, was stronger than them, and furthermore, this was Shen Clan territory. They held no advantage here.
"Trying to leave? It won't be that easy!" Shen Batian's expression was cold as he unleashed a palm strike. Despite their strength, the three Ghost Saints spurted blood, their faces turning ashen.
Seeing the dire situation, Granny Meng could no longer afford to be cautious and turned to flee.
"Trying to leave? It won't be that easy!" Shen Batian struck again, pursuing his advantage, a cold glint in his eyes.
With a thunderous roar, Granny Meng was sent flying, blood seeping from the corner of her mouth. She had never imagined Shen Batian's strength would be so formidable. If she were to attack, it would be meaningless.
"So strong! Is this the Patriarch's power!" The people of the Shen Clan exclaimed in awe. Shen Batian's power left them profoundly shaken. Both Granny Meng and the Three Ghost Saints were at the Saint realm, yet they were defeated so miserably.
"Is this the Patriarch's strength?" Lu Fan stood by, his expression slightly changed. If even the Patriarch possessed such power, then those who could make them wary must be extraordinary. The Ghost Palace Master must be incredibly powerful.
"You will regret this. We are all loyal to the Palace Master. If you attack us, you will surely face his wrath!" Granny Meng's eyes were filled with malice.
"So what?" Shen Batian was indifferent and powerfully struck again. In that instant, all four Saint realm powerhouses met their end at Shen Batian's hands, unable to even resist.
"What kind of power allows one to reach this point!" Long Yi also looked surprised, his heart filled with shock.
"If I'm not mistaken, Patriarch Shen's strength should be at the peak of the War Saint realm!" Lu Fan stated. "This means the Ghost Palace Master's strength is likely even greater!"
As they were conversing, several figures arrived from the distance, radiating an immense aura. The person leading them was none other than the Patriarch of the Ye Clan.
"Long time no see. I didn't expect you to come personally!" Patriarch Shen said with a smile as he looked at the Ye Clan Patriarch, his expression serious.
"Release them. I do not wish to fight you!" The Ye Clan Patriarch's expression was icy, radiating an overwhelming aura as he stared directly at the person before him.
"There must be some misunderstanding," Shen Yayyin interjected. "Granny Meng and the others have been killed by my Shen Clan. The Shen Clan will never betray the other clans!"
"Killed by the Shen Clan?" Ye Shisan looked surprised, not understanding what had happened. He had come to invite experts to rescue Lu Fan, but it seemed things had taken an unexpected turn.
"It seems my guess was correct!" The Ye Clan Patriarch smiled. "As the head of a clan, you would not disappoint."
"It was indeed my fault before," Shen Batian said with a wry smile. "I nearly made a grave mistake."
"A mistake acknowledged is a step towards improvement," Ye Shisan chuckled. "So, we can now jointly resist the external enemy!"
"That's right, resist the external enemy together!" Shen Yayyin nodded solemnly, her eyes filled with gravity. It was her fervent hope that the Shen Clan would return to the right path.