Chapter 103: Killing One In Ten Steps

To avoid provoking the corrupt cultivators into harming the hostages, the speedboat was not assigned a driver. Instead, Chi Ling personally manned the helm, steering the boat with steady precision.

Wang Sheng and Mu Wanxuan focused on regulating their breathing to adjust themselves to peak condition, while Fei Lianzi polished the two longswords that he had just borrowed. He realized that the military's standard-issue swords were far superior to those wielded by the disciples of his sword sect, making him feel a sense of admiration.

He chuckled. "If those corrupt cultivators knew how many experts were hiding around them, would they be scared enough to jump straight into the sea?"

"This is the first time we're revealing our combat capabilities," Chi Ling explained as she gazed at the island growing closer. "Fei Yu, try to draw as many of the corrupt cultivators to our side as possible."

"Understood, Mistress. When we land, stay on the boat for a few moments. The longer we can stall them, the better," Wang Sheng replied.

Having reached his optimal state, he opened his eyes and stood up. His spiritual consciousness swept over the underside of the boat. Even though he knew people were hiding there, he could not detect anyone.

Fei Lianzi asked, "Are we going to kill the corrupt cultivators?"

"Yes," Wang Sheng and Chi Ling answered in unison.

Fei Lianzi was somewhat puzzled. "Won't that put the hostages in danger?"

"They claim that cultivators are the only ones who should settle matters of the cultivation world," Wang Sheng said. "If they threaten us with hostages, we'll just mock them. The less we show concern for the hostages, the safer they will be."

"I'll just focus on my swords, then." Fei Lianzi grinned. He held one longsword in his right hand and raised the other horizontally with his left. "This is a good opportunity to demonstrate a fragment of the sword-controlling techniques that have survived to this day."

Wang Sheng's eyes lit up in interest.

"We're about to land. Stick to the plan," Chi Ling reminded.

Finally, Mu Wanxuan stood up.

Though the island wasn't large, it had once been home to thousands of islanders. Much like mountain villages, most of the working-age population gradually left for jobs elsewhere, leaving most of the elderly and children behind. Now, the island was nearly deserted.

A narrow stretch of beach lay before a dense forest, waiting for the speedboat's arrival.

The engine was turned off, and the boat drifted toward the shore. As soon as it reached the shallows, the four individuals clinging to the boat's underside pressed their backs against the sand, and the vessel settled smoothly onto the beach.

Chi Ling calmly stood up and nodded at Wang Sheng.

Wang Sheng channeled his true essence and called out toward the beach, "I am Wang Sheng of the Wudang Mountains, here with my senior sister to test your skills."

Fei Lianzi then rose to his feet. "Fei Lianzi of the Shu Sword Sect, here for the challenge as promised. Where is the Flowing Water God of the Five Gods Cult?"

More than twenty people emerged from the edge of the forest. Some carried weapons, others radiated a sinister bloodthirst. They locked onto Wang Sheng.

A middle-aged man with a hooked nose and disheveled long hair stepped forward. His venomous stare made him look as if he wanted to see through Wang Sheng. Coldly, he asked, "Are you the one who killed Elder Wood Yin God of the Five Gods Cult?"

"It was me. So what?" Wang Sheng flicked his longsword, making the tip ring. "Do you really think you can take me down?"

The middle-aged man sneered. "

Hah.

You'd best surrender. With one call, I can summon dozens of cultiva—"

Whoosh!

Sword radiance flashed in the shape of the Big Dipper.

The Spirit Convergence Realm cultivator clutched his throat and powerlessly fell to his knees. He couldn't even dodge a simple wave of Wang Sheng's sword energy.

Wang Sheng leaped forward, landed at the edge of the beach, and then looked at the corrupt cultivators who were about to charge at him. Indifferently, he said, "I

killed

the Wood Yin God. What makes you think you have the right to bark at me? Where is the Flowing Water God, Sturdy Iron God, and Earth Sand God?"

He channeled his qi and transmitted his voice across the island.

"You claim that only cultivators have the right to handle matters of the cultivation world, yet you still resort to using ordinary people as hostages? What a joke! I'm here now! If you wish to kill, then kill. I am here to eradicate corruption and uphold the Dao. If I let you go today, who knows how many more innocent people you'll harm."

Deliberately ensuring that his enemies would hear him had immediate effects.

From within the island, the Flowing Water God shouted, "Whoever kills that man and brings Captain Chi Ling onto the island will be rewarded with ten years' worth of cultivation and three secret techniques."

War cries echoed from within the forest. Wang Sheng's spiritual consciousness detected numerous figures—some nearby and some in the distance—converging toward the beach.

Wang Sheng laughed briefly and then abruptly charged at two Five Gods Cult corrupt cultivators, whose cultivation was on par with his own. In response, more than a dozen others rushed him.

His sword flashed as he used the Seven-Star Sword Technique. He instantly reached peak footwork form, leaving behind shallow imprints on the soft sand.

One of the corrupt cultivators brandished his saber. It emitted thick black smoke, quickly coalescing into several vengeful ghosts and lunging at Wang Sheng. Another corrupt cultivator hastily retreated, chanting an incantation. Vines erupted from the sand, twisting toward Wang Sheng in an attempt to ensnare him.

Corrupt cultivators generally fell into two categories. One followed formal cultivation techniques similar to those of Daoist sects, but their methods were steeped in bloodshed and darkness, gradually eroding their minds and leading them down a sinister path. Their practice was known as corrupt arts.

The second category was broader, encompassing any means of rapidly accumulating power through unorthodox methods. The most common included soul refinement, qi absorption, malicious essence cultivation, and poison assimilation. The Wood Yin God's disciple and the corrupt cultivators present on the island belonged to the second category.

The righteous sects had spent thousands of years suppressing the corrupt Daoists, largely because corrupt cultivators could advance their cultivation far more quickly and easily. A righteous cultivator could spend years meditating in their sect's mountain, yet still find their progress overshadowed by a corrupt cultivator who had only spent a few months pillaging and killing.

The Five Gods Cult, in particular, specialized in soul refinement. Hence, they frequently cultivated in graveyards. To them, souls were a precious resource that could vastly accelerate their progress.

The two corrupt cultivators whom Wang Sheng was targeting had refined souls during the recent massacre, allowing them to recently break through to the Seed Formation Realm. Their foundations were unstable, and despite hastily unleashing their spells, they couldn't even graze the hem of Wang Sheng's robes.

Pierce the clouds, traversing the moon!

A streak of sword radiance, cold as frost, swept through the air. Wang Sheng flashed past the two, cleanly and decisively slitting their throats.

Blood spurted, and they collapsed backward.

Without breaking stride, Wang Sheng dashed five steps forward and then abruptly pivoted, shifting his momentum toward the next group of enemies. Using his Seven-Star Footwork, he unpredictably weaved and flickered all over the battlefield, leaving behind a trail of phantasms!

His ruthless efficiency momentarily stunned the corrupt cultivators. For a brief moment, they felt as though they were powerless mortals, while he—a sword-wielding cultivator from the sacred mountains—was the true corrupt cultivator.

Witnessing Wang Sheng kill at close range for the first time, even Mu Wanxuan felt her fingers tremble slightly. Fei Lianzi's lips twitched as well.

Four or five corrupt cultivators immediately retreated in fear, while the one whom Wang Sheng had locked onto turned pale. Panicking, he unleashed a flurry of poisonous palm phantasms before attempting to flee.

Talking to corrupt cultivators about morality, valor, loyalty, or conviction was nothing but pointless chatter. After all, they only cared about their own survival and selfish desires. The majority had joined the Five Gods Cult not out of devotion but because they sought protection. It was an easy way to exert power over others.

Moreover, Wang Sheng killed with even greater efficiency than they could, and the precision of his swordsmanship left them no means of countering him. How could they not run?

Wang Sheng flicked his treasured sword, effortlessly shattering the incoming palm phantasms. True essence surged through him as he dashed through the lingering poison mist. With a horizontal swing of his longsword, another corrupt cultivator fell lifelessly to the sand.

His blade remained unstained by blood as he killed a corrupt cultivator every ten steps!

With his sword case still on his back, Wang Sheng advanced swiftly. The once-confident group of twenty-odd corrupt cultivators had already lost all will to fight. The two strongest among them were the first to flee into the forest.

However, the Five Gods Cult was one of the top three corrupt sects of the time. While these small fry proved insignificant, the cult still had plenty of formidable experts.

By the time Wang Sheng had cut down his sixth target, the beach was already void of hostiles. He had also reached the edge of the forest.

A sudden, enraged voice bellowed from within the woods. "Bunch of useless trash!"

Right after, projectiles sharply tore through the air. Eyes narrowing, Wang Sheng flipped backward as two long nails whizzed past where he had just been, sinking into the ocean.

With a cold snort, he swiftly retreated while seven to eight cultivators in black suits emerged from the forest, all of them armed and exuding formidable auras. He had trouble gauging the strongest among them, but he estimated the man to be at the mid-stage or late-stage Seed Formation Realm, at the very least.

"Work together to kill him. We'll split the reward evenly!" the man commanded. "Don't let anyone else steal the credit!"

Wang Sheng's mouth twitched slightly. His longsword vibrated as he released several casual bursts of sword energy. To his surprise, one of them struck an enemy's leg, making the enemy clutch his wound and howl, "Kill him!"

With his left hand behind his back, Wang Sheng discreetly signaled at the speedboat. Fei Lianzi immediately focused. According to their plan, it was now his turn to strike.

𝒇𝒓𝙚𝒆𝔀𝓮𝓫𝒏𝓸𝙫𝓮𝓵.𝓬𝙤𝙢

It was a simple yet highly effective tactical approach. Wang Sheng would draw the enemies' attention and demonstrate overwhelming strength, forcing them to take him seriously. Once he started feeling pressure, Fei Lianzi would step in. The moment they showed signs of struggle, Mu Wanxuan would join in as well.

They would gradually escalate their combat power, drawing out more corrupt cultivators. Zhang Zikuang had come up with the strategy, and so far, it was working.

Their ultimate goal was to lure out an Illusory Core Realm expert or two from the village. The more enemies they could lure to their side, the easier it would be to rescue the hostages.

Fei Lianzi watched the eight black-clad figures intently. As they lunged at Wang Sheng, he gathered all his strength and poured all of his primal qi into his two swords.

Now's the time! Shu Sword Sect's Sword-Controlling Art!

"Not yet," Chi Ling suddenly ordered.

Fei Lianzi nearly lost control of his movement and almost plunged into the sea.