“Collect!”
The explosion, meant to turn a hundred-meter radius into scorched earth, was effortlessly quelled by Ling Xiao. He forcibly absorbed all the flames and destructive force into his body.
But he didn’t convert it.
Instead, he raised a hand, redirecting the flames and explosive power back.
“Danger! Run!”
The Sword King Sect disciples, being Mortal Realm experts, had keen instincts. Though unsure how Ling Xiao did it, they sensed the threat, shouted warnings, and fled swiftly.
Boom~~
The flames erupted in the midst of Wan Ben’s army.
In an instant, no living thing remained within a hundred meters.
Soldiers unable to dodge were incinerated to ash.
This counterattack killed at least a thousand men.
Only Wan Ben and a few others reacted quickly enough to escape, or they’d have perished too.
“How is this Ling Xiao so strong? A monster! He’s a monster!”
Wan Ben’s heart trembled.
Backed by the Sword King Sect, he’d been amassing power in Baiyun Province, subduing or wiping out small clans and sects with ruthless efficiency.
His ambition was vast—to establish a kingdom in Baiyun Province.
This attack wasn’t sanctioned by the Sword King Sect’s leadership.
It was a private deal, with these dozen inner sect disciples bribed by Wan Ben, using the sect’s name as a pretext to destroy the Divine Sword Sect.
True, the Sword King Sect’s higher-ups had mentioned that “the Divine Sword Sect’s name is inappropriate and can be eliminated.”
But they were unaware of this operation.
What should’ve been an easy victory had turned disastrous. Ling Xiao alone stalled their advance.
In moments, they’d lost thousands.
“A monster? You’re right—I am a monster, but you forced me to be one!”
As he spoke, Ling Xiao slowly advanced toward Wan Ben’s army.
He’d once thought that, having joined the Yuehua Sect, he’d leave Wan Ben’s matters behind and overlook Feiyu and Feiliu’s attempts on his life.
But now he saw his naivety. Their ruthless ambition had burst forth uncontrollably.
So be it—he’d deal with them all today.
Ling Xiao’s terror not only shook Wan Ben and his men but also made the Sword King Sect disciples frown, seemingly reluctant to continue fighting.
“Wait!”
A Sword King Sect expert shouted, “Think carefully! Harming our inner sect disciples will bring dire consequences. Even if you flee to the ends of the earth, you’re dead!”
Whoosh!
Had he not spoken, he might’ve lived a bit longer.
But before his words finished, Ling Xiao used <Cloud Dragon Divine Movement>.
His terrifying speed crossed dozens of meters as if it were inches.
No one saw how he moved.
Several Martial Masters blocking his path were flung aside, lifeless upon landing.
Then, Ling Xiao stood before the Sword King Sect expert.
“Inner sect disciples of the Sword King Sect? So what? If your sect doesn’t know better, I’ll destroy it too!”
With those words, the Mortal Realm first-level expert was sent flying, splattering against a wall like a swatted mosquito, blood streaming down.
“Young Master!”
The peak Mortal Realm first-level disciple who’d used the Blazing Sword Technique cried out in shock.
“You! You killed our Sword King Sect’s Young Master! You’re finished! You’re truly finished!”
This disciple was the strongest among those aiding Wan Ben, the leader aside from the Young Master.
Ling Xiao didn’t know who the Young Master was—likely the son of an elder or hall master.
Didn’t matter. He was already dead.
Turning to the Blazing Sword Technique user, Ling Xiao said calmly, “Since he’s your Young Master, you can join him in death, so he’s not lonely on the road to the underworld!”
Ling Xiao still didn’t draw his sword.
A Mortal Realm first-level martial artist wasn’t worth it.
Celestial Phenomenon of Wind · Prison King Fist!
He experimented, infusing <Celestial Phenomenon>’s wind power into <Prison King Fist>.
In that instant, his fist was wreathed in ferocious gales. He could feel the punch would be faster and stronger.
Before the fist’s force arrived, the Sword King Sect disciple felt a cutting pain on his face.
Startled, he hurriedly used a defensive technique.
“Blazing Armour!”
This wasn’t physical armour but a true essence shield condensed by defensive martial arts.
It looked like a thick, hard shell around his body, wreathed in scorching flames.
The Sword King Sect disciple resembled a blazing war god.
Flames roared, searingly intense.
This “Blazing Armour” shared similarities with Ling Xiao’s “Heavenly Dragon Scales.”
Once formed, it was impervious to blades and spears, offering terrifying defence and boosting strength.
Unlike the scales, Blazing Armour could burn opponents.
“Hahaha, not afraid of death? Come on, then! Think you can hurt me?” the Sword King Sect disciple laughed, brimming with confidence.
But the next moment, his eyes nearly popped out.
Ling Xiao’s fist tore through the Blazing Armour, shattering the disciple’s body into pieces.
Perhaps due to the speed, the disciple didn’t even realise he was dead.
His head fell, still able to see his body fragmenting.
“What? How can I see my body?”
Realising the truth, his face turned deathly pale.
“I’m dead? How? Wasn’t he just a half-step master? How could he kill me so easily?”
He died clueless, never understanding how Ling Xiao did it.
“What now? The Young Master and the boss are dead!”
“Forget the Young Master—the boss was a peak Mortal Realm first-level master! How could this kid kill him?”
“Could he be a Mortal Realm master hiding his strength? Impossible! He’s only fourteen, right? We’ve thoroughly checked his background.”
“Forget it! This kid’s uncanny. Retreat! Report to the sect and send stronger inner sect disciples to deal with him! He’s this strong—he must have some treasure. Go!”
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
Seeing the situation turn dire, the remaining Sword King Sect disciples used their movement techniques, fleeing into the distance.
They’d watched Ling Xiao kill their Young Master in one move.
And their boss in one move.
None of them were stronger than the boss.
Staying was suicide.
As long as they survived, they could return with reinforcements.
