Chapter 57

From the void arose a voice, as if from a deity, and a golden apparition appeared, seeming to embody the Lord of Thunder from the Nine Heavens. Countless bolts of lightning descended upon the two blood-red figures, striking with the force of ten thousand pounds.

The endless flashes of lightning twisted like serpents, thick as barrels, and in an instant engulfed the two remaining Bloodkill Hall members. Within moments, the lightning reduced them to blood and charred flesh, exposing their skeletal remains, gruesome and horrifying.

“Xuanming!”

With a sharp shout, the golden figure held two mystical talismans, which flew out, blending with the surrounding lightning to form thunderous spears. The spears glowed with a terrifying aura of destruction, flashing like lightning, and in a blink, beams of light expanded from the Bloodkill Hall members, their sharp presence piercing the heavens.

The intense heat swept through, causing Lin Xuan’s white robes to flutter. He narrowed his gaze, his inner energy forming an invisible barrier around him.

This strike… was powerful!

But… this man dared to make calculations against him?

A faint golden sword embryo began to emerge in Lin Xuan’s hand.

“Phew, finally rid of those damned pursuers from Bloodkill Hall,” the golden apparition dissipated, and a young man in plain clothing stepped out from the void, his expression smug. Standing on a mysterious pattern beneath his feet, emanating a hint of destructive aura, he laughed as he began to retreat.

“Thanks for your help, brother! I’m Wang Hu. The mountains stay green, and the rivers flow forever—I’m sure we’ll meet agai—”

“?”

“Where… did he go?”

Stunned, Li Qiudao looked around, finding only an elderly man and a young girl, with no sign of the strikingly handsome youth. A sudden sense of dread washed over him.

He spun around quickly, only to see a white-robed figure standing in front of him, calm and imposing. The youth’s gaze was like stars, his expression serene, as if he were one with the space around him. In his hand, he held a golden sword embryo, radiating intense energy and lethal intent.

“W-wait! This is a misunderstanding! It’s all a—”

Before Li Qiudao could finish, the white-robed youth swung his sword embryo. In an instant, a sun-like beam of sword light surged skyward, piercing the heavens, and a cascade of golden sword energy rained down like a torrential river.

“Damn!”

Li Qiudao’s face turned pale as the overwhelming strike seemed to tear at his soul, far more fearsome than all three of his Spirit Realm pursuers combined.

A colossal flash turned the black night into gold.

Golden runes formed from an intense formation rose around Li Qiudao, emanating an oppressive aura, but against the terrifying sword energy, they shattered like paper, layer by layer, leaving him ashen-faced.

He had kicked a… steel wall!

Boom!

A volcanic eruption of sword energy carved a bottomless ravine through the forest.

This sight, a miracle from the heavens.

“Hm?”

Lin Xuan’s eyes glinted with curiosity as he glanced toward a corner. The figure that should have been annihilated was somehow standing there again.

“Close… I was so close…” Li Qiudao muttered, disheveled, with a pained expression, seemingly having sacrificed a valuable treasure to survive the strike. He looked back, nervous. This lethal strike would have annihilated even a third-level Spirit Realm expert without a trace.

To survive, it was only thanks to the formation’s buffer that bought him a moment.

Truly!

“Brother, I know it was unfair of me, but I’ll make amends,” Li Qiudao forced out, still shaken.

But his expression changed again instantly.

The youth across the way raised his sword embryo, and the void trembled. Even the creatures in the forest sensed the looming threat, letting out mournful cries.

Countless small golden swords hovered around the youth, embodying a supreme sword god, their ringing echoing through the vast mountains, casting a golden hue.

“Grandpa… is Big Brother a god?” the little girl whispered, eyes wide.

The elder could not answer; the sight had shattered his understanding. Perhaps… even the true gods looked no different!

Around the mountains, countless people awoke, and some villagers even knelt in prayer. The martial artists recognized that a clash of terrifying power was underway nearby.

Sword intent radiated terror, sensed even from thousands of miles away, reminding them that even a brush with that aura could mean death.

They could only pray they wouldn’t be caught in the crossfire; powerless to change their fate.

The oppressive sword aura weighed on Li Qiudao’s face, paling with dread. “Damn… Not again!”

This strike felt like facing the divine few could withstand.

He would die!

Without holding back, he felt death nearing.

Golden runes covered Li Qiudao’s body, forming a yin-yang symbol beneath his feet.

“Qian!”

With a shout, a golden character flashed in the void, and a massive wall rose to shield him.

“Li!”

A fiery pillar erupted toward the heavens, bathing the sky in brightness, and a flame phoenix took shape, majestic as a lord of fire.

Lin Xuan’s expression was calm as water, and he chanted in a voice like thunder:

“Righteousness endures throughout the heavens.

This isn’t to slay gods… but to end ghosts and devils!”

Sixteen golden swords merged, forming a massive sword piercing the heavens, harnessing the forces of magic and law. The space trembled under its force, as the keen sword energy ripped through the skies.

“Strike!”

With a single command, a sword sliced through the darkness, descending.

“Damn it!”

Li Qiudao cursed, his mouth filling with blood as he sensed his body nearing collapse.

“Kun!”

“Dui!”