Chapter 973: The Strongest Clan

Rumble~

With the impression of the sky falling on their heads, five Sword Kings' combined auras reached almost godlike level in raw power, making Wine Sword Immortal groan and forced back three steps.

Danqing Shen released his own aura to help Wine Sword Immortal.

They were outsiders to the Sword Star Empire, strangers, and had to work hard to gain its trust. If they did not stand together, there would be nothing left of them to stand over.

Bam!

With the other two at the side joining the first two, it became four on five, turning into a stalemate. Both sides gave their all with neither budging an inch, yet the raw power they released was so great it affected the Thunder Pavilion, shaking the whole mountain it was on.

The guards were a shaking mess, paling and having lost their previous stone-cold calm. They were all peak Genesis Stage experts here, but one thing was certain, the Nine Sword Kings were a cut way above the masses.

All they could do as these nine powerhouses duked it out was to stand aside, feeling how weak they were by comparison.

Neither side gave, with all the faces frozen in a grim expression. The hundred guards witnessing this were fearing for their lives.

The mountain just kept on shaking as the lightning thundered across the sky, giving the feeling the mountain was going to crumble. And so, this went on for the better part of the next hour, with shaking and more shaking.

While word was the Nine Sword Kings were equal, the four outsiders were short of one in this fight, showing signs of weakness after engaging in this pissing contest for so long. The Baili clan's five Sword Kings had gotten the advantage and were pressing down on the other four.

The four outsiders were grave when a woman giggled, "You're only four yet still dare to challenge the five of us? Now it's too late to back out!"

"Baili Yuyu, you sure are smug for having just one more! Have some dignity and fight one on one with me if you dare!" Wine Sword Immortal challenged.

The graceful figure stuck out her tongue as she jeered, "Stinky old coot, this lady here doesn't feel like wasting time with you..."

"Humph, lady? Shouldn't that be hag?"

Shangguan Fenyun's eyes shone as he taunted, "Baili clan's Yu generation is of the same age with Patriarch Baili Yutian, around ten thousand years old, I reckon. Yet you call yourself a lady? Ha-ha-ha, a biddy or a hag is more accurate. And yet still so feisty... no man will ever want a shrew..."

Baili Yuyu squinted and gave a banshee of a screech, "Who's spouting such nonsense that all Yu are of the same generation? The Patriarch bestowed upon the Baili clan members who reached the Sword King rank with this character, to show our power is that of heaven. Did you know that?"

(StarReader: the character 御 or Yu has many different meanings, to resist, imperial, manage, govern, royal)

With bloodthirst flashing in her eyes, Baili Yuyu's hands glinted coldly as she sent a rumbling silver sword energy for Shangguan Feiyun with her finger.

"You think I'm scared of you, wench?"

Shangguan Feiyun scoffed and drew two fingers as he slashed, unleashing the Soaring Sword Art at her.

Boom!

The loud explosion shook the mountain even more, sending rocks into its streams, with its aura becoming strained to the point of breaking.

The guards panicked, while the other Sword Kings frowned.

So far they kept the confrontation friendly, to a mere display of power, but now someone resorted to violence. With Nine Sword Kings' power, a clash would lead to total devastation.

On top of that, they might both die from it. Whichever the outcome, it was bad no matter how one sliced it.

This was why both the Patriarch and the prime minister forbade any fighting among them, short of being severely punished.

Whoosh~

The second energy wave shot at Shangguan Feiyun as Baili Yuyu spat, "Curse you, Shangguan Feiyun, I'm going to skin you alive!"

"Bring it on!" Shangguan Feiyun met her challenge with his own taunt and the Soaring Sword Art.

A roar reverberated throughout the skies before the two sword energies ever had a chance to unleash further needless devastation upon the world, "Enough! Are you going to fight in front of the Thunder Pavilion, in front of Patriarch?"

Everyone flinched and found two men rushing over and making them stop as they bowed.

"Greetings, Your Majesty, greetings Prime Minister!"

Next to the young Baili Jingwei stood a middle-aged man with sharp brows and tall stature. His eyes showed wisdom, yet hid the cold glint only the monarch of the Sword Star Empire could have.

Right behind him were ten youths with the most handsome guy taking the lead, looking to only be in his twenties. And yet his youthful look belied the power he wielded, that of a Genesis Stage expert.

The other nine were 5th layer Soul Harmony Stage experts as well, young and strong.

Shangguan Feiyun's heart sank, looking at his friends and his face fell as well.

[The Baili clan is filled with talents. They aren't called the strongest clan for nothing.]

The leader of the youths was none other than the crown prince, capable in both the pen and the sword. Now that he was already in the Genesis Stage, his future was set as the next Sword King.

As for the other nine, they were outstanding as well, all having a good chance of becoming a Sword King.

Now the Nine Sword Kings had five from the Baili clan, but by the look of things, there would be more. The power of this mighty clan was on a steady climb, bound to make these foreign Sword Kings' future even more miserable. There was a very likely possibility—and not at all welcomed—that they would be even removed from such ranks.

Not like they could do anything to change it. The Baili clan was just that strong, and not from coincidences or happenstance, but through survival of the fittest had they created this empire.

Invincible Sword established the clan's dominance, putting in place his autocracy, with every generation carefully picked and groomed to reach higher.

As for the progenity that failed to make the cut, Baili Yutian sent them to the border and never to step foot in the imperial capital again. Not all of the imperial family held power.

Had the crown prince failed to meet his expectations, he would now be reduced to a garbage position like a city lord. There was no surprise the right to inherit did not exist in this clan. Failing to thrive meant turning into a beggar.

On the off chance a good seed bore fruit among those sent at the border towns, they would be recalled to the imperial capital to be groomed. On very rare occasions, they might even become emperors. At least that was what Invincible Sword said.

The whole empire revolved around this one man, the Patriarch, making his word law.

This was why birthright didn't mean instant power and the highest seat in the empire. That was because the Baili clan was filled with struggles if one ever wanted to grasp anything.

A degenerate like Baili Jingyu was an exception.

While Baili Jingwei and Baili Jingshi, men of little power but great wisdom, had their station judged through their incredible talent, as a Prime Minister and as an Emperor.

It was all thanks to the Patriarch that they got it, or they would've become nobodies. Thus, ever since these two came to power, the empire flourished.

This system was unimaginable elsewhere, because it was bound to lead to chaos. As to why it worked here, that was because there was no one out there in the world that could top Baili Yutian and challenge his words.

Baili Jingwei spoke coldly, "Explain to me what's happening right now or I'll have to report this to the Patriarch!"

"Prime Minister, he insulted me!" Baili Yuyu stabbed her finger at Shangguan Feiyun.

The accused man scoffed, "Prime Minister, you always say the Nine Sword Kings do not take sides, but these five from the Baili clan have treated us outsiders as nothing!"

"Is this true?"

Baili Jingwei turned to the five and spoke, "Sword Kings, it was the Patriarch himself who invited these four to be Sword Kings, to serve the empire. My reach is limited and I do not have the power to govern matters between Sword Kings, but we are now meeting the Patriarch and what do you think he will say when he hears about my report on this?"

The five Sword Kings shuddered at once. Baili Yuyu cupped her hands in fright, "Prime Minister, I've been too rude and ask Prime Minister not to—"

"Not what?"

A wizen voice rumbled into everyone's ears like thunder and made everyone shake all over.

The Patriarch of the Sword Star Empire, the strongest in the five lands, Invincible Sword Baili Yutian had arrived...