17 Calamity?

To the southernmost region of the Seventh Province, there was a garrison city built by the Heaven Empire for emergency response and governance of the province. The reason for building an enormous garrison in the interior territory was because of two reasons: the sect and the inhospitable land at the northern edge of the Seventh Province where the border between the Star Empire and the Heaven Empire was also located.

Although each empire on the continent was one hegemonic existence that ruled above countless people, the sects were also large organizations that sometimes became a thorn by the empire's side as they competed for resources and power. The empires had a lax attitude to the sects as long as they paid their taxes and did not cause the authority any trouble.

The center of the Seventh Continent was allowed to the countless sects small and large to fight out amongst themselves. Similar practices were practiced elsewhere in the empire and even by other empires.

The northern area of the Seventh Province was also treacherous. The land wasn't fertile and it was very cold. There was very little value. Even if the Star Empire invaded and occupied it, it wouldn't matter.

This was the reason why the imperial garrison was constructed at the southernmost area of the Seventh Province.

South of the Seventh Province was also the core Imperial Province directly administered by the empire. The military base was built on the southern edge of the Seventh Province in order for quick communication and transportation between the Imperial Province and the army stationed in the Seventh Province.

The Seventh Province was the northernmost province of the Heaven Empire. The Heaven Empire was considered a northern country as it was far from the center of the continent. Only the Star Empire that bordered the Heaven Empire to the north was considered the northernmost nation. The Star Empire had a vast territory, but most of was an empty wasteland of eternal frost. The Star Empire held the northernmost land of the continent. Further north was the endless ocean where those who ventured out to explore never came back.

In a certain corner of the enormous garrison city in the southernmost area of the Seventh Province was a large military compound with countless war machines and battleships parked. Countless soldiers were practicing and drilling in a nearby massive field. At the center of the compound was a building that was the imperial military headquarter of the Seventh Province.

Inside a middle-aged man with white hair was looking over the reports of his subordinates. Suddenly a Spirit King subordinate came in and saluted the man and handed him a piece of paper.

"General, the scouting department has detected 49 spirit battleships' spirit fluctuations in the north. It is the location of the Divine Demon Sect's Divine Demon City."

"Spirit Battleships? I didn't hear any reports of any fleet passing through Seventh Province. This could be an enemy attack. Prepare the fleet, we're going to see what's up!" the general shouted and stood up.

The entire compound became active with activity. The war machines and spirit battleships lit up with activity. The people were going to and fro preparing the war machines for active duty. The soldiers were being mustered to board the ship in the fastest speed possible.

…

Back in the Divine Demon City. The confrontation between the two sects continued. The shielding formation of the city fluctuated unsteadily. The enormous sword of the sect master continued to press against the resilient shielding dome of translucent light.

The battleships high in the sky supported the sword by firing down barrage after barrages of spirit cannon fire at the location that the sword touched the dome of light.

The half-spherical dome of light covering the city was losing its shine under the intense force from the combined attack of the remnant of the Long Stream Sect.

Inside the Divine Demon Tower in the middle of the city. Nine men sat on a circular table made of black stone facing each other.

Only one of them wore black robe, everyone else wore white robes. The black robe was the sect master while the white robes were the Sect Protectors. They had similar combat strength and seniority in the sect comparable to the Peak Masters of the Long Stream Sect. The weakest among them was a third layer Spirit King. The strongest was the Sect Master. He had unfathomable cultivation to the other third layer Spirit Kings and peak Spirit Kings in the room.

"How soon can we summon the avatar again?" the black-robed sect master asked one of the protectors in white cloth.

"We had just summoned the Divine Demon Avatar, we cannot do so again in such a short period of time. We must rely on other methods to repel this attack. The shield will break before we can summon the avatar again," one of the Protectors stood up and spoke.

"We mobilize our army. An army formation could turn the tide for us," another elder said.

"No! That sword is a priceless treasure that the Long Stream Sect shouldn't have. We wouldn't be able to do a thing to it even with an army formation," another elder voiced his thought.

The sect master frowned in displeasure. Although their surprise attack on the Long Stream Sect had been a huge success and a great surprise to them, this new weapon of their enemy was also something that they were also surprised about. It caused him headaches. This sword must be some super high-grade spirit artifact. How could a second-rate sect like the Long Stream Sect get their dirty hands on something like that?

"Enough! We will go out and do battle. We can only depend on our own strengths now. Some of us will definitely die, but I trust none of you have any better ideas?" the sect master said.

His words caused all the protectors to look at him in silence. None of them were Spirit Emperors. In Short Continent, a Spirit King was still considered a mortal even though they had mystical abilities and could fly. It wasn't until the Spirit Emperor rank that they transcended mortality and wonderful and supreme ability heard of only legends could be accomplished. If there was a Spirit Emperor here, he could just wave his hand and all the ships in the sky and even the Divine City would turn to dust.

None of them wanted to go out and fight normally. In such an intense battle there was no doubt some of them would die, but they all remained silent. As unwilling as they were, they couldn't think of anything else to do.

"It's too late, the formation has been breached." One of the protestors who had been silent the entire time spoke up.

Outside the city, the enormous sword was now burning red up to the equally enormous handle. Intense beams from the spirit cannons continued to saturate the point that the tip had been stabbed into. The sword continued to vibrate intensely as it attempted to go through the obstructing formation. The formation was now blicking in and out of existence. Finally, after a final struggle, the formation broke into many pieces and disappeared.

A sharp cracking sound resounded above the sky of the divine demon city.

Nine sharp rays of black light shot out from the Divine Demon Tower and stopped above the sky, just below the sword. The Sect Master and eight Protectors stood in the sky staring at the slowing descending sword. None of them had any doubt that when the moment the sword contacted the ground, an enormous explosion would occur and the entire city and everyone on it would be wiped out.

Countless black rays of light came up from the city below. These were the cultivators who lived in the city and the members of the Divine Demon Sect.

"We, our loved ones and our heritage will all die the moment that sword lands down. Everyone, fight!" the Divine Demon Sect Master shouted and pointed at the slowly descending sword.

Most of the sword's momentum had already been diminished by the prolonged obstruction of the formation. Now it carried a potential explosive energy that slowly descended only due to gravity.

…

Shura saw an enormous sword plunging down into the top of the Divine Demon Mountain where the Divine Demon City was located.

Flashes of light ran along the sword and shot into the body of the sword. Many explosions occurred in the sky and on the sword. With his Spirit Lord's eyesight he could see it all clearly. A constant barrage of blue-white spirit beams shot down into the city and destroyed people and turned people and things into nothing.

Countless Divine Demon cultivators perished in the air. He saw the Sect Master who he only saw once before in sect charging up toward one of the ships in the front. A madman laughing maniacally attacked the sect master in midair. Eight powerful Spirit Kings circled around the enormous sword attacking with all of their strength. But the sword was indifferent and continued to plunge in to the city.

The sword thrusted deep into the mountain without resistance like a hot knife cutting through butter. The rocks melted from the enormous temperature and the entire mountain turned red from heat. The city and countless people on the peak were no more. The Sect Master looked down on this scene in despair before being fatally stabbed through the heart by the laughing madman.

Sect Master Word laughed maniacally in the air as he pulled the sword out from the Divine Demon Sect Master's corpse. He didn't even spare another glance at the dead Divine Demon Sect Master.

Uncontrollable tears ran down Sect Master Word's cheek. "It's been twenty long years, but at last I've finally wiped every last one of those scums, Dear. I've avenged you."

Sect Master Word cried and laughed until his voice became hoarse.

Peak Master Boran came up behind the Sect Master.

"Not every last one of them senior brother. The animal that killed my son is still alive. The Divine Demon Sect lineage won't be cut off forever until that animal is dead!" Peak Master Boran said, an ugly expression was on his face and his eyes were red.