An Unforseen Power

Ling Zou.

He was a high-ranking elder of the Sword God School.

The cultivation level of this old man was Peak Foundation Spirit.

With such immense power, no Heavenly Grotto-Spirit expert could hope to challenge him.

His mastery over the foundational techniques of the Sword God School made him even more formidable!

Among the eight foundational techniques of the Sword God School, two were highly recommended by all the cultivators in the sect: Sword Soul Integration and Immortal Sword Body.

Sword Soul Integration was a unique technique that merged the cultivator's soul with their sword, greatly enhancing their spiritual power and swordsmanship.

Immortal Sword Body was a body refinement technique that strengthened the cultivator's physique to the level of divine steel, making them almost invulnerable.

Being a cultivator at the Foundation Spirit Realm, Ling Zou could create a "pocket-body", a physical manifestation drawn from the spiritual foundation of his heavenly grotto.

By combining this with Sword Soul Integration and Immortal Sword Body, Ling Zou awakened a lost technique.

Immortal-Sword Soul-Body Incantation!

This heaven-defying technique was only usable at the Foundation Spirit stage or higher. It transformed the cultivator's pocket-body into a powerful sword-wielding deity!

Ling Zou stared at Liu Ming with menacing, murderous eyes and asked, "Child, are you still not willing to surrender? Do you want all that's left of your sect to be erased before you finally bend a knee?"

The old man could tell the young man had already decided to defy him. It was obvious in the way Liu Ming proudly stood and wore that nonchalant look on his face. He clearly believed Ling Zou was not enough to make him submit.

Su Yan unsheathed her saber halfway and stepped forward a bit.

"Patriarch, I cannot let you fight this battle alone! The opponent is Peak Foundation Spirit stage, your current cultivation is not enough to best him."

Even though she wasn't given permission to speak, she was concerned enough about her patriarch to voice her thoughts.

Xiu Meixiang held out a fist.

"Sect Father always said to fight to the last breath. My cultivation might still be meager, but I won't let Lord Liu fight alone!"

Truthfully, she was scared and didn't know the patriarch well enough to gauge his prowess in battle. However, he was the only image she had left of her master, so fighting alongside him made her feel a bit happier.

"Hmm…" Yu Lan rubbed her chin. "It'd be much smarter to run, if I'm being honest. Live to fight another day, you see…" She shrugged casually, still able to force a smile even in their dire situation.

Liu Ming sighed softly and looked back at his disciples, his expression much calmer this time.

"You all don't need to worry about this. I don't know whether or not Grandfather ever told you anything about me, but at the age of five, I was already comparable to the original prime elders of the Sacred Cloud School."

All three beauties were baffled.

Xiu Meixiang's rosy cheeks settled a bit as she pondered her patriarch's words. Then she looked up at Su Yan, who was slightly taller than her. "Elder Sister Yan, isn't the required cultivation level of a prime elder in our Sacred Cloud School…"

Su Yan nodded before Xiu Meixiang could finish. "Y-, yes, it's Core Spirit stage." Her voice was firm, but her expression showed uncertainty.

Yu Lan gently placed a finger on her delicate chin and said, "Wait, is the patriarch trying to say he's…"

"No…" Su Yan said in disbelief.

'There's no way his cultivation level is really at the Core Spirit stage. Master Maomao said Lord Liu only trained for a year at Sacred Cloud School before being expelled, claiming he was at the Heavenly Grotto-Spirit stage then. Could he have been hiding his true strength? Maybe he reached Core Spirit stage in less than a year? And at just five years old, too!'

She looked at Liu Ming as her beautiful eyes began to fill with thoughts.

The sword-wielding deity surged with powerful red and purple energy, causing the earth to tremble. Its potency was so great that the sheer aura seemed like an attack in itself. This made everyone wonder about the destructive force it could unleash if Ling Zou decided to attack.

"Old man…" Liu Ming calmly called out, smirking. "Would you like to know something interesting about me?"

"Nothing about an arrogant little fish can ever pique my interest," came Ling Zou's dismissive response.

"I see…"

Liu Ming's smirk vanished instantly. His expression turned cold and emotionless, his eyes devoid of warmth.

BOOOOOM~!

He unleashed the overwhelming aura of a Core Spirit cultivator, causing the earth to tremble violently and cracks to form under the immense pressure.

Liu Ming's black hair fluttered in the strong gust of wind, yet he remained composed. His gaze sharpened at Ling Zou.

"I believe it's best I show you what makes me so interesting then…"

Cultivation level, Early Core Spirit!

Not a single female disciple could utter a word.

Even Ling Tian was speechless.

No one knew how to react to this level of power.

"This spiritual energy…" Ling Zou's eyes narrowed, brimming with murderous intent.

Liu Ming wasted no time and swiftly channelled his sacred Qi.

Sacred Cloud Sword Barrage!

He formed eight pure, golden sacred swords that blazed with radiant energy akin to sunlight. With a swift motion, he sent these swords streaming like golden beams towards Ling Zou.

However, the swords were effortlessly reduced to energy particles and absorbed by the sword-wielding deity.

"Hrmm…" Liu Ming glared at Ling Zou.

The stern elder chuckled proudly.

"The power needed to overcome the Immortal-Sword Soul-Body Incantation is beyond what your futile attacks can produce. Since your technique relies on sword Qi, without a significantly higher amount of spiritual energy, your sword attacks will be absorbed and nullified by my manifestation. You can't touch me!"

He stood there like a dark, foreboding figure, eyeing the four individuals standing between him and his goal of bringing the Sacred Cloud School under the Sword God School's control.

"Is that all…?" Liu Ming asked him.

"Fool! You may have advanced to a higher realm, but don't let arrogance blind you. Rapid progress is impressive, but cultivation is about more than just reaching a higher level.

"Your techniques are strong, but they lack the refinement that comes from years of practice and deep comprehension. A blade forged quickly can cut, but it won't endure.

"My techniques have been refined over decades. Though they may seem simple to you, their precision and effectiveness are unparalleled!"

Ling Zou raised his hand, preparing to unleash a formidable technique.

"Since your parents did not educate you well, I shall teach you a lesson in their stead!"

The old man wore a vicious face──like that of a blood demon!

Ling Tian grinned maliciously from his vantage point.

"YES! KILL HIM, FATHER!"

The young master was eager to see this Liu Ming suffer the unbearable taste of defeat.

Forming a double-handed seal, Ling Zou radiated energy lines in all directions. These lines soon transformed into swords that spun haphazardly around him and his sword-wielding deity. Over fifty spirit swords blazed like blue flames, capable of turning the earth to ashes!

"Now… DIE!"

He roared and pushed his hands outward.

This unleashed a storm of spirit swords toward Liu Ming and his disciples.

Before Liu Ming could react, Su Yan produced a five-colored jade pendant and threw it in front of them.

Zuuuuuu~!!

The life-saving treasure exploded, emitting a powerful five-colored light that glittered like a dazzling rainbow. It formed a five-layered shield that deflected the storm of spirit swords.

Liu Ming sharply glanced at Su Yan. "What was that?" he demanded.

Standing properly, Su Yan adjusted her qipao and replied, "It's a life-saving treasure from Sect Father. It can withstand two attacks from a Core Spirit expert."

"I see…" Liu Ming muttered, rubbing his chin suspiciously. "Well, thank you." He smiled at Su Yan.

A bit hesitant, Su Yan nodded shakily. "Y-, yes, Lord Liu."

It seemed the patriarch's smile had caught her off guard.

Surprised they survived an attack comparable to the Core Spirit stage, Ling Zou grinned madly.

"Since you asked for it, I'll show you the true extent of my power! In my next attack, no number of life-saving treasures will save you! I shall slaughter every one of your dear female disciples and disgrace you as the failed replacement of the Heavenly Sword Patriarch!"

Fiendish energy surrounded Ling Zou.

Liu Ming summoned a sacred sword and pointed it at his opponent.

"You dare teach me a lesson in my parent's stead when you can't even teach your rapist of a son common etiquette?"

It seemed they were both ready to finish this!