Chapter 431: Cause of Death: Shame and Fury

A sword... scabbard?

He Linzi wasn't the only one baffled. Even Qing Yanzi, the Celestial Master, Yuan Pu Zhenren, and the other leaders of the modern cultivation world were all shocked. Its use of surprise aside, the attack had such tremendous force that even He Linzi, a mid-stage Rebirth Realm cultivator, barely managed to withstand it.

In complete disarray, He Linzi crashed to the ground, coughed up a mouthful of blood, and glared furiously at the main entrance of the venue. Countless cultivators had already sent out their spiritual perception, their eyes following his.

Qing Yanzi quickly recognized the scabbard. Outside the arena, cultivators stirred restlessly. Some unseen power tore apart the crowd blocking the entrance, opening a path within moments.

A few moments earlier, a divine bird had swiftly flown in from the southwest. When it neared the entrance, it flung out the scabbard and then slowed its descent, landing steadily on the slope before the venue.

The space around the newcomer had cleared on its own. Silence fell both inside and outside the arena.

The sword cultivator carried someone on his back. In his right hand was Spiritless, its tip angled toward the ground. His expression was cold and unreadable, his gaze as sharp as a blade, and his stance like a sword drawn from its sheath—one with an edge that commanded awe, a presence that seemed to pierce the heavens!

The aura he radiated pressed on everything nearby. It was strong enough to stand on equal footing with the fourteen ancient cultivators hovering above the venue.

The projection screens throughout the area locked onto the main entrance, showing the sword cultivator striding steadily forward through the parted crowd. He fixed his eyes on the ancient cultivators in the air.

On his back, a beautiful woman in a Daoist robe rested weakly, her face pale and worn. Her silver hair cascaded down.

***

Special Investigation Unit command hall.

"That's Fei Yu! He's injured an ancient cultivator!" someone shouted.

The group of staff who had been observing through the screens reacted even faster than the cultivators at the scene. The shouts of excited young men filled the hall.

If Qing Yanzi's decision to fight had been the spine supporting the spirit and body of the modern cultivation world, then the attack from the scabbard was a steel fist that landed right on the faces of the fifteen ancient criminals.

***

No one in the venue dared cheer. The pressure from the ancient cultivators above had become overwhelming, making even breathing difficult for many younger cultivators.

Floating in midair, Qing Yanzi gazed down at Wang Sheng, who had already stepped into the arena. "Fei Yu..."

In his eyes flickered relief and guilt. With a weary sigh, he descended and stood beside the Celestial Master, hands clasped behind his back.

From near the entrance, Xiaomiao tremblingly cried out, "Brother! Big Sister!"

She immediately ran toward them. The ancient sword guarding her kept her safe from pressure and made sure no one had a chance to attack her.

For a brief moment, the icy killing intent in Wang Sheng's eyes softened, and he lowered Spiritless's tip slightly. Seeing Xiaomiao running toward him, his heart inexplicably tensed.

The hair she had kept for so long had been cut short. The sorrow, exhaustion, and bitterness in her eyes made him want to stab himself in the chest.

Soon, Xiaomiao reached him and threw herself into his arms, breaking down into sobs. The weight of the fear and tension that she had been holding in finally burst free.

Wang Sheng patted Xiaomiao on her thin back. Hoarsely, he comforted, "There there, it's alright,"

Hatred surged like a tide in his heart. When he had left, the Hua Republic had been peaceful and free of external threats. He had never imagined that Xi Lian and his little sister would become the targets of these ancient criminals. If Huai Jing had not risked his life to save them, if the Shu Sword Sect's sword spirit had not intervened...

Xiaomiao glanced at the woman on Wang Sheng's back. Through her tears, she asked, "How's Big Sister?"

"She's healing," Wang Sheng replied calmly. He crouched down carefully and placed Xi Lian on the ground so she could sit upright.

Xiaomiao rushed to support Xi Lian, holding her close. Seeing the faint scars on Xi Lian's neck, tears welled up in her eyes again. After enduring it all this time, she could no longer hold back.

Wang Sheng examined Xi Lian's condition. The Shu Sword Sect's ancient sword floated toward him and landed by his side, gesturing for him to take hold of the hilt.

"Thank you, Senior," Wang Sheng said softly. "Please protect my sister and Xi Lian a little longer. Once I've slain our enemies, I will return to offer my gratitude."

From within the ancient sword came a quiet sigh. Nameless did not reveal himself or argue. Instead, he simply hovered protectively in front of Xiaomiao, his blade shimmering with pale green light.

Wang Sheng rose to his feet. Remembering an urgent matter, Xiaomiao called out, "Brother, I have evidence that those ancient criminals have harmed people! Yunzhi's forefather even mind-controlled him! If we expose them—"

"No need," Wang Sheng interrupted softly. All Xiaomiao could do was look at him with worry.

Turning away, Wang Sheng lifted Spiritless, stepped forward, and forced a faint smile at his master and the other Daoist masters. His eyes then sharpened and brimmed with killing intent once more. Ignoring He Linzi completely, he locked onto the fourteen ancient cultivators above.

"Who hurt Xi Lian? Step forth and prepare to die."

The expression of the remaining ancient cultivators in the air darkened. Wang Sheng and his sword stood like a storm waiting to be unleashed. His aura had shaken half of them, Spiritless the other half. Even the strongest sword cultivator among the ancient cultivators showed faint traces of fear.

Spiritless hummed lowly, its blade exuding a chilling, murderous intent, as Wang Sheng stared at the enemy sword cultivator. He waited for the strongest among them to step forward so he could cut their throat and destroy their Primordial Spirit, even though it had already survived heavenly tribulation.

"Come out!"

His shout rang across the venue, completely quieting everyone down.

"You insolent brat!" He Linzi furiously shouted, breaking the silence.

Enraged, he snarled and pointed at Wang Sheng. A silver banner appeared in his hand, its surface covered in engraved Daoist runes.

"How dare you humiliate me! I'll teach you how to respect your elders!"

He waved the banner and chanted, summoning fierce winds.

Wang Sheng stood his ground, keeping Spiritless angled toward the ground. With his left hand, he drew multi-colored light from his chest, forming Flying Haze.

With his left hand, he formed a sword finger and traced it in the air. Flying Haze quivered and split into multiple swords.

One became three, three became nine!

Nine swords, some real, some illusory, vibrated in unison. Each emitted a pale-white radiance—the manifestation of Wang Sheng's pure enchanted power.

With his face flushed, He Linzi gripped the banner tightly. After reciting an incantation three times, he shouted, "Five Thunder Generals[1] and Flaming Chariot General[2], soar to the heavens and strike the earth! Drive the lightning and chase the clouds! Appear at once! Make haste, as the decree commands!"

A whirlwind appeared before He Linzi, deep growls echoing within. As the storm dispersed, a silver-armored giant over five

zhang

tall emerged, lightning crackling all over it. With a massive hammer in each hand, it leaped high into the air and plummeted straight toward Wang Sheng.

The sword has no beginning, the sword has no end.

Wang Sheng raised his left hand. The nine flying swords before him whistled skyward and expanded, easily piercing through the silver giant's head, shoulders, knees, and elbows. Blades cut across from every direction. Soon, the roar ceased. His sword radiance had torn apart the seemingly invincible silver-armored giant.

Wang Sheng then used his sword finger to trace a complex sword symbol. The nine flying swords darted wildly in the air, relentlessly narrowing the distance between them and He Linzi.

The ancient cultivator's expression drastically darkened. His spiritual perception could not keep up with the erratic paths of the swords. Slowly losing ground, he shook the banner frantically and chanted faster.

By the power of heaven and earth, strike all things and banish them to the void.

Wang Sheng raised his left hand once more. The nine swords shot toward He Linzi from nine different directions, each leaving behind nine pale-white sonic booms. They instantly reached their target, ready to leave nine gaping holes in his Dao Body.

Light burst from He Linzi's banner as enchanted power surged around him. He searched desperately with his spiritual perception, but all he could do was defend himself using clumsy techniques.

The nine sword phantasms then suddenly vanished. Confused, He Linzi looked around until he suddenly felt a cold sting in his chest. Looking down in disbelief, he discovered that a sword had stabbed straight through his dantian, severing his Nascent Soul.

Wang Sheng slightly twisted his sword finger. Sword radiance enveloped He Linzi, and nine dreadful wounds split open all over him. He collapsed backward onto the stage, unable to even scream.

Blood sprayed. Flying Haze returned slowly to Wang Sheng's side, spotless. It circled him quietly.

One down.

Wang Sheng walked forward, not even sparing He Linzi's corpse a glance. He kept his gaze fixed on the sword cultivator standing above the clouds—the forefather of Mount Hua. At the peak of the Tribulation Realm, he was the most powerful among the ancient cultivators. However, his target held back, his wariness keeping him from accepting the challenge.

Meanwhile, the forefather of Mount Mao laughed coldly. Leisurely, he said, "What fine Sword-Controlling Art from the Shu Mountains! The new generation has truly surpassed the old. The cultivation world producing such a swordsman despite having only recovered its primal qi for a few decades has certainly opened our eyes.

"Not only do you show no respect for your elders in the cultivation world, but you also consort with a fiendish devil, call her sister, and even kill in her defense. The Shu Sword Sect has truly taught a fine disciple. Qing Feng, your forefather, must be so proud."

Wang Sheng's gaze remained steady. He lifted Spiritless, its tip pointing straight at that Mount Mao ancient cultivator.

That was his answer.

A fight.

He couldn't care less if the world called him a fiendish devil.

Scheming against Xi Lian and attempting to take his sister's life meant making a mortal enemy out of him. The edge of Spiritless served as his reply: he would fight until only one of them remained.

All eyes turned from Wang Sheng to the ancient Mount Mao cultivator. As the man's expression darkened, he looked at the other Daoist masters and Daoist elders below. A trace of hatred flickered in his eyes.

Any man with a shred of pride would have accepted the challenge, especially since his cultivation far surpassed that of the young swordsman. The ancient cultivator, on the other hand, simply exclaimed, Fellow Daoist brothers! This young man has fallen too deeply into devilry. Let us work together to subdue and purge the devil inside him."

Half of the ancient cultivators nodded in agreement and prepared to descend from the clouds.

Wang Sheng snorted coldly, utterly unafraid. Across the venue, multiple auras rose to the sky. Though weaker than the ancient criminals or Wang Sheng, they firmly banded together as one.

The ancient Mount Mao cultivator's "proposal" had clearly provoked widespread anger. Several of the seven lineages still backing their forefathers began to quietly fall back.

A dull thud then echoed in the air, making the descending ancient cultivators freeze. Their eyes darted about until they noticed that a woman had appeared in a corner of the venue.

She donned a dark robe and held a peachwood staff. Though she looked as though she was still in her late teens, she had an aged weariness about her that made her seem far older.

The woman released waves of pressure, causing dark clouds to rapidly gather and blot out the sky.

Even the ancient sword cultivator, who was at the peak of the Tribulation Realm, and the other ancient cultivators in the clouds all looked stressed and tense. From their perspective, it seemed as though the woman simply had to strike the ground with her staff to make countless souls and fierce spirits surge from the clouds and tear their Primordial Spirits and Dao Bodies apart.

After all, she was the immortal of the Small Nether Realm.

Lady Meng stood up before Xiaomiao. The ancient sword hummed faintly, and an elderly man with white hair appeared beside her, his hands clasped behind his back.

Another muffled thud echoed once more. Lady Meng bowed to Wang Sheng's back, then straightened slowly. Her emotionless gaze fell on the ancient cultivators.

"You dare disrespect the sword master of Her Highness?"

With a faint smile, Nameless stared at Wang Sheng's back and sighed.

For a moment, none of the ancient cultivators dared move.

Spiritless let out a low cry, its tip still fixed on the ancient Mount Mao cultivator.

Wang Sheng's target snorted coldly and slowly descended. The others who were about to descend with him not only stopped following but even showed signs of retreat.

1. Refers to the five divine generals who serve the Thunder God in Daoist cosmology. ☜

2. A divine envoy who serves the Thunder God. He rides a flaming chariot pulled by fire beasts. ☜