The same clearing in the dense forest was now experiencing a light, persistent drizzle, washing the bloodstains on the ground completely clean.
“‘Guǐ Jiàn’ Ren Qianchou, ‘Lán Jiàn’ Xie Jun, ‘Nù Jiàn’ Yun Tao, and one more, the Ten Thousand Blood Slaughter Li Xieling—three Innate Sword Masters with the potential to reach the Martial Ancestor realm, plus this future Celestial-rank Li Xieling. The losses for Cloud Scar Mountain this time are truly substantial.”
Within the dense woods, a figure clad in black stood tall and erect. Cloaked in a dark mantle, their features were barely visible—exquisitely beautiful, blurring the lines between male and female, appearing extremely young. They were looking up towards the treetops.
“What a pity! Heaven did not favor us; this rain has washed away all the blood marks. Besides you and me, at least five other parties visited this spot before us. I estimate that even if there were any traces or clues, they are now lost.”
Beside him stood another person, also dressed entirely in black, though their face was uncovered. They possessed an enormous nose that seemed to occupy half of their face, yet it was paired with rat-like eyes, giving an overwhelmingly greasy and sinister appearance. The malice flashing intermittently in their gaze sent shivers down the spine. At the moment, however, they were scanning their surroundings casually.
“Are we not under orders from Master to find the one who killed Elder Mi? Why track him all the way here? Earlier, we were entrusted by Zong Yang of the Heavenly Vault Mountain to escort that young lord back. But didn't Master reject their offer a few days ago because they paid too little? That Heavenly Vault Mountain Young Lord has nothing to do with us now!”
“Naturally, he has something to do with us!”
The handsome youth let out a cold chuckle, walked up to a pine tree, and stated lightly, “The Innate experts connected to this Heavenly Vault Mountain Young Lord were mostly near Cloud Saint City back then. The people of Cloud Saint City know something about us, and the Soaring Cloud Sect wouldn't easily attack Elder Mi. After careful consideration, I think this group is the most likely culprit. Don't you agree, Junior Brother Qiu Ling?”
As he spoke, the handsome youth reached out and took a broken branch, examining the fracture point before sharply inhaling a breath of cold air.
“Life essence severed. This person wields a sword of terrifying sharpness! Truly worthy of being the Ten Thousand Blood Slaughter.”
“Li Xieling’s sword is naturally formidable. That blood-spilling lunatic! Even I feel a touch of dread. He even slaughtered that beautiful wife of his, turning her into dust. What a waste! She would have been delightful to play with. But the one who killed him is even more remarkable. I wonder if it was truly that person who suddenly emerged from the Black Tortoise Sect?”
Seeing the handsome youth remain silent, Qiu Ling didn’t mind and began pacing around. “But Senior Brother Yun was absolutely correct earlier. At that time, among those near Cloud Saint City qualified to take Elder Mi’s life, this group accounted for at least seventy percent! Perhaps it was one of the four who died here!”
Suddenly stopping, his gaze fixed on the head of Li Xieling still staring wide-eyed on the ground, Qiu Ling’s brow twitched, followed by a cold sneer.
“You’re already stone-dead, putting on such a look of resentment for whom? Without your life, without your sword, who can you possibly slaughter now?”
He actually lifted his foot and stomped down hard, crushing Li Xieling’s skull like a watermelon.
However, the very next moment, Qiu Ling’s expression abruptly shifted: “Sword Qi?”
Innumerable sharp kinetic forces suddenly exploded beneath his foot. Qiu Ling recoiled violently, retreating over twenty zhang in a single breath.
Yet, his feet were still riddled with countless lacerations, and his sole was pierced by numerous wounds. He couldn't help but curse, “This Li Xieling, trying to harm others even in death! Fortunately, this old fellow reacted quickly. Wait, something’s not right—”
Carefully replaying the preceding moment, Qiu Ling sucked in a sharp breath of cold air: “It was at the neck—it wasn’t Li Xieling, but the person who killed him. Both the sword qi and sword intent were fully condensed yet held back, lying dormant for over half a day. This person is truly extraordinary! It really wasn't the Black Tortoise Sect, after all!”
The Yun-surnamed youth also moved, flying over to Li Xieling’s still perfectly intact body and examining the severed joint. After a moment, he shook his head slightly: “Incorrect! It hasn't reached the level of sword intent. It feels like it should only be at the Innate Realm. But how is that possible? Which Innate expert in this world can overpower the Ten Thousand Blood Slaughter? Li Xieling mastered the art of Land Galloping, peerless in speed. Otherwise, he wouldn't have repeatedly escaped during dozens of pursuits. Who could prevent him from even fleeing?”
The more he spoke, the more bewildered he became, his eyes full of incomprehension. Qiu Ling, who was busy tending to his wounds, also froze.
If the person who killed Li Xieling was from the Black Tortoise Sect, it wouldn't be surprising; they would only inwardly sigh at the bad luck of the Ten Thousand Blood Slaughter. But if the assailant was merely an Innate Martial Master, then the nature of this incident would be entirely different.
If this matter spread throughout the Cloud Realm, it wouldn't just shake the East Soaring Cloud Continent; it would rattle everything. Even the Central Cloud Continent would be stirred.
The name of the Ten Thousand Blood Slaughter Li Xieling had shaken more than just the East Soaring Cloud Continent. To be able to slay him within the Innate Realm—didn't that mean this person’s talent far surpassed the Ten Thousand Blood Slaughter’s?
The brow of the Yun-surnamed youth also furrowed slightly. After a long pause, he suddenly smiled and struck out with a palm, causing Li Xieling’s body to instantly disintegrate into ash.
“Junior Brother, thanks to you this time, we’ve truly stumbled upon something interesting. It might not be related to Elder Mi, but I am now incomparably curious and must see this through to the end—”
Again, within the Cloud Spirit Divine Palace, Long Ruo was riding the giant mosquito toward a distant hall.
This palace in the clouds was situated deep within layers of cloud seas. Its area was vast, surrounded by boundless mist in every direction.
The scenery was undeniably the most magnificent under heaven. But if one looked at it every day, it would simply become mundane.
Long Ruo stopped his spirit beast a thousand zhang from the stone hall, dismounted, and proceeded inward on foot.
Although the area was large, people were sparse. Long Ruo walked through the gate, and within the vast space of the stone hall, only five figures were seated sparsely.
Four of them were dressed in green robes, their faces withered, eyes tightly closed, seated on the left and right flanks. Only the one at the very top had a face like fine jade and eyes like polished ink, possessing handsome features, appearing to be about seventeen or eighteen years old. He was currently smiling toward Long Ruo, “Are you perhaps wondering why I summoned you? Take a look at this!”
As he spoke, the youth on the dais waved his hand, sending a streak of blue light flying over. Long Ruo’s brow twitched, revealing a hint of solemnity. His voluminous sleeves billowed, emitting a pulling force, carefully securing the streak of blue light in his hand. It was a small sword, just over two feet long, sharp and piercingly cold.
“It’s the Broken Blade Sword!”
Long Ruo’s brow jumped, then he beamed with overwhelming joy, bowing to the figure above and those on the sides: “Thank you, Master and Esteemed Martial Uncle Fan, for your favor. With this sword, my Sword Control Art will certainly become several times stronger.”
He then felt curiosity: “Where was this Broken Blade Sword acquired? Didn’t the legend say the sect searched for it for two full centuries without finding any trace? Could this sword already have been destroyed by that person?”
“Your ancestor, Martial Brother Kuang, bought it. The one who discovered this sword was Zong Shou of Heavenly Vault Mountain. He had hidden it inside an ordinary Black Wave Sword, which is truly surprising! To purchase this sword, Kuang used two Human Extreme Pills and one fifth-tier Soul Beast. Long Ruo, you must compensate him for this later.”
When the youth on the dais mentioned this, he frowned slightly: “Kuang also said that this Zong Shou possesses dual meridians and is unable to cultivate, having not a trace of internal breath to this day. However, since you were able to find this sword, it seems the child has some fortune and luck. Long Ruo, having seen him with your own eyes, do you truly believe he has no hope of cultivation?”
“None whatsoever? Not a trace of internal breath?”
Long Ruo was slightly astonished. He recalled that during their last meeting, that Heavenly Vault Mountain Young Lord had clearly reached the Martial Master realm, and his foundation was not weak. Why would his Ancestor Martial Brother Kuang say that child had not a trace of internal breath?
He quickly dismissed the thought; perhaps the child had completely given up hope and dispersed his own vital energy. Cultivating the martial path with a dual-meridian body was practically constant torture; giving up wasn't strange.
Pushing aside this doubt, Long Ruo shook his head without much hesitation afterward: “I told Master back in my previous life that this child has another hidden affliction. His soul is damaged, causing the Heavenly Barrier. I predict that in this lifetime, he can at most reach the Secret Martial Master realm! As for spiritual arts, once he reaches the Out of Body realm, death is certain. If I am wrong, pluck out both my eyes—”
The youth on the dais immediately let out a light chuckle, which soon turned into a sigh of regret: “What a pity! The child’s disposition is good, and his talent in both the martial path and talismans is supreme. Why must he be utterly incapable of cultivation? Heaven’s will is fickle and truly unfathomable!”
Long Ruo remained silent. He didn't know why, but the moment he spoke those words, a strange sense of unease stirred in his soul-sense, as if he had committed some irreparable mistake, causing his heart to tremble uncontrollably.
The youth did not notice Long Ruo’s strange expression. After sighing, his demeanor turned grave: “One year from now is the day the Dragon Gate opens. Disciples from all sects will gather at Dragon Gathering Mountain. Many experts from the East Soaring Cloud Continent will also participate. However, among these thousands of people, only twenty will have the chance to witness the Martial Saint’s projection.
Our sect currently has only you and Zu Renkuang who are worth mentioning. Long Ruo, you must prepare well during these coming days! If you shame our sect, I will not be lenient!”
This voice, like a morning bell or evening drum, instantly brought Long Ruo back to his senses. He immediately suppressed all extraneous thoughts and bowed solemnly toward the top: “Long Ruo understands. I absolutely will not fail to meet the expectations of Master and all Martial Uncles!”
His chest surged with excitement. The Dragon Gate Martial Saint Projection appears only once every hundred years. It is a stone tablet left personally by a Martial Saint expert who once shook the myriad realms ten thousand years ago. It is said that anyone fortunate enough to comprehend it achieves great progress in the martial path.
Although he cultivated as a Spirit Master, his path leaned towards sword cultivation, making the Martial Saint Projection equally vital to him.
He was already faintly anticipating the day he could compete against the heroes of the East Soaring Cloud Continent!