At this moment, even Martial Artist Shen Yu fell silent.
The rest didn’t even need to be mentioned.
Elder Han Ling looked at the disciple he’d been most proud of in his lifetime with an expression of utter disbelief.
"Sect Leader..." He seemed to have lost all the strength in his body, sinking slowly to the ground. "You are the Sect Leader of the Earth Martial Sect..."
The other people just stared blankly at Xu Yuan, as if unable to comprehend what was happening.
In their minds, Xu Yuan’s whole life was a testament to the words "never give in."
Back when he’d first entered the sect, lacking background and an ordinary master, unable to gain any resources within the Earth Martial Sect, he’d stubbornly fought his fellow disciples of the same generation over and over. At first, he kept losing, just refusing to accept defeat, until finally he kept winning, and after his rise to fame, this became the most lauded and admired story in his renowned history.
Even now, trapped in this desperate situation, Xu Yuan was the only one among them who never chose to give up.
He led everyone as they kept digging, and even knowing there was no longer any hope, he never stopped for a moment.
Yet, this very Sect Leader, was now kneeling for the sake of a phantom that could not even be clearly seen?
However, at this moment, Xu Yuan seemed completely indifferent to the gazes of his fellow sect members.
Still kneeling, he even repeated, in a steady voice, "Xu Yuan begs the Immortal to save my Earth Martial Sect!"
With his head bowed low, no one could see Xu Yuan’s expression at this moment.
Yet some had noticed his arm muscles tense to the extreme, trembling slightly.
It seemed to indicate that Xu Yuan’s emotions right then were not so calm as they appeared on the surface.
"You really believe I’m an Immortal?" Martial Artist Shen Yu asked slowly.
Indeed, he truly felt a hint of curiosity. After all, Xu Yuan was almost the strongest martial artist he’d ever seen.
Xu Yuan was silent. After a long pause, a slightly hoarse voice sounded: "Your true body is not here; whatever method this is, wherever your true self might be, there is always a faint chance you could carry away our Earth Martial Sect’s legacy."
...
Everyone understood at this moment.
This kneeling of Xu Yuan—was not for himself.
It was for the Earth Martial Sect!
The disaster had come too suddenly. All the core legacies of the Earth Martial Sect were carried by them, many without any physical vessel, existing solely in memory.
Even if the people die, yet if the legacy survives, the Earth Martial Sect endures!
And then, with several resounding echoes, the other elders, standing disciples nearby, and even the Dragon Fist King-named elder who’d just spat blood and collapsed, all struggled to rise and kneeled before Martial Artist Shen Yu’s projection.
"We beg the Immortal—save the legacy of my Earth Martial Sect!"
The voices, tinged with a bleak desperation, spread far and wide.
Further away, disciples outside did not know what was happening.
They turned with numb and sluggish gazes. Some remained standing, unmoved, seemingly thinking it was just their illusion.
But slowly, a few people also knelt upon the ground.
An Immortal?
They did not believe, but at this moment, it seemed only by praying to gods and buddhas could they bring a hint of comfort to their deadened hearts.
As for Martial Artist Shen Yu, he stood silently watching these people; this scene moved him somewhat.
He had always thought that the people of this world lacked a sense of civilization and collectivity.
Their thoughts mostly revolved around their own gain and loss.
But now, he realized, even as this world’s civilizations had splintered into countless small factions, even a family or a sect likewise yearned for their homeland, their own power, their glory to be passed down, to be remembered by descendants.
Sometimes that yearning even surpassed personal benefit.
A person is bound to die, but legacy and memory do not perish.
After a long while, Martial Artist Shen Yu finally spoke slowly: "I call myself the Reincarnated Immortal, not as an empty boast. Since I am an Immortal, I will not only save the legacy—I will save the people, as well."
As his words fell, all the mighty martial artists who’d had their heads bowed suddenly looked up.
Including Xu Yuan.
His eyes, bloodshot, stared at the projection of Martial Artist Shen Yu, his gaze filled with some hope that struggled to surface—only to be forced down by reason.
Because he knew all too well the terror of that Heavenly Calamity outside.
Endless wild winds sucked away all warmth, each gust edged with Sword Gang. When disaster struck, he had personally witnessed an elder, relying on powerful Protective Divine Skill, try to break through—only to be skinned alive by force.
That once mighty body, in that moment, became the root of agony!
For someone to walk within such storm winds—unimaginable, godlike.
Definitely worthy of being called a Martial Arts Myth!
To take everyone away—is that possible?
Unless... he really is an Immortal?
It wasn’t just Xu Yuan who reacted thus—the rest were the same.
They longed for this to be true, for this sliver of hope, yet dared not truly believe, dared not let hope rise within themselves.
For hope destroyed is more agonizing than never hoping at all.
Martial Artist Shen Yu saw through their hearts, then, after grumbling quietly, said, "At this moment, I am still several thousand miles away."
He expanded the range of his projection, so that everyone in the courtyard was now within the illusion.
All watched the phantom-like scene before them, dumbstruck.
Someone even recognized a few people.
"West Mountain Saintess?"
"Is that the Moonstone City Lord?"
"A Supreme Elder from Sword God Peak?"
"Could this be Moonstone City?"
...
Though the two places were thousands of miles apart, in this world, martial arts masters rarely settle down—especially in their youth, most of them travel widely.
Even Xu Yuan recognized the two Supreme Elders of Sword God Peak.
The two, though not top-tier in power, were old elders of the martial world.
At this moment, those who realized what the Immortal had done spoke up one by one:
"Sect Leader Xu, our last meeting was twenty-three years ago."
"The Immortal’s methods are real enough."
"This is a great tribulation of heaven and earth, absolutely not just the trouble of Earth Martial Sect alone."
"The Immortal has come precisely to dispel this calamity—everyone, hold on!"
...
Their words, real and true, at last stirred true hope in everyone’s hearts!
If there are any miraculous treasures that could broadcast mirage-like images and sounds for some miles, but over thousands of miles—this was truly an Immortal’s power.
Even Xu Yuan’s breath by this moment was growing heavier and heavier.
Even the trembling of his body became more and more visible.
Is it really an Immortal?!
Are they really saved?!
"Everyone, don’t delay any longer," Martial Artist Shen Yu spoke up now. "The entire Earth Martial Sect should have more than a hundred thousand disciples. Are there really less than a thousand of you left?"
He asked the first question again.
First, he needed to confirm just how many people required aid.