Sword and Fire, Tears and Ashes

The world has become silent.

After Liu Ming's declaration, the clan members knew they likely wouldn't survive to see the next day. They weren't worried just because Liu Ming had promised them death, but because the golden sword that blotted out the sky had shaken the barrier so much that it reacted.

Ordinarily, the Han Clan Estate's defensive formations would remain unaffected by attacks weaker than it. It also took more than just a powerful Core Spirit stage attack to breach the barrier; it was far from simple.

Yet, despite everything, it felt like a child's task for the furious young lord waiting outside the barrier.

"It seems no one's at home. I'll knock again."

Liu Ming got ready to strike with the golden sword again, but he stopped when he heard a loud, desperate scream.

"STOOOOOP!"

It was Han Zichen.

A powerful aura was constantly pouring out of him, like ocean waves that could cut through anything in their path. His sword intent was climbing to a higher level because of the intense hatred he felt towards this obstacle before him...

Liu Ming.

"Oho?"

The young patriarch noticed the immense spiritual pressure coming from Han Zichen; it was much stronger than before, possibly on par with Ling Zou!

"A common ant like you would dare raise their spiritual pressure in my presence?!"

With a slight frown, Liu Ming's own spiritual pressure erupted like the roar of an ancient beast.

Kra────KOOOOOM!!

His murderous aura quickly wrapped around Han Zichen.

Han Zichen shivered, and his face went pale. It felt to him as if countless realms were collapsing on him, leaving him terrified.

"I... I... I'm sorry..."

His aura, sword intent, and even his will to remain bold were all crushed by Liu Ming's overpowering spiritual pressure.

When Liu Ming's murderous aura faded, it felt as if the heavy weight on Han Zichen's internal organs was never there. Just moments ago, he had been on the brink of death, but now he felt as if he was lying on a bed of roses.

However, that brief relief didn't last long when he saw Liu Ming's cold glare.

It made him go silent.

"Listen. You should consider who you're raising your spiritual pressure against. I'll overlook that this time, but you'd better be careful or you might get crushed before I even deliver my message."

Now that Liu Ming had the full attention and compliance of the foolish young master, he was ready to move on to the next step.

Hrmm...

He lowered his right hand, but this time the golden sword stayed high in the sky.

The young patriarch extended his hand as if collecting something.

Han Zichen looked at himself, puzzled about what was happening. "Huh?" he uttered, confused.

"Your heavenly grotto... give it to me."

Those words cut Han Zichen deeply.

It was the same thing Liu Ming had done to his subordinate, and now he was doing it to him. It was the ultimate form of disgrace. But Han Zichen knew he couldn't refuse, or his entire clan would be wiped out. As his father's son, he couldn't afford to fail in such a crucial moment.

"Alright. Have it..."

Han Zichen, trembling with fear, spread out his arms and pushed his chest forward, offering Liu Ming access to his heavenly grotto.

A grin appeared on Liu Ming's face.

"Are you deaf? I want you to use your own hands to remove your Heavenly Grotto and tear it out of your body. I want you to feel the pain, shame, and disgrace of noble trash like yourself ripping out your most valuable possession."

The grin on his face only became wider the more he spoke.

Swallowing hard, Han Zichen bit his thumb to draw a small amount of blood, and then made a few incantation hand gestures.

After that, he placed his hand on his chest.

"I, Han Zichen... relinquish this heavenly grotto."

Relinquishing a heavenly grotto would produce a refined heavenly grotto essence with both heavenly and earthly nourishment ideal for cultivation.

Also, if a cultivator used it as a catalyst for a breakthrough, the chances of facing a heavenly tribulation would be significantly lower.

Suddenly, Han Zichen thrust his hand into his chest and tore out the heavenly grotto essence. His eyes turned red, and he coughed up black blood as he felt his lifespan drain and his cultivation level plummet.

"H-, here. My heavenly grotto essence."

There was obvious pain carved into his sweating face.

Han Zichen floated the heavenly grotto essence to Liu Ming, who held it in his right hand.

"Good," Liu Ming said with a mild smile.

To Han Zichen and his clan, this smile seemed like their only hope for survival. As long as Liu Ming was satisfied, they might be spared.

"So, that means you'll spare us... right?"

Han Zichen asked, breathing heavily. Mucus ran down his nostrils and his salty tears mixed with sweat and grime on his face.

Every move Liu Ming made felt like it was crushing his heart.

He wanted the mental torture to end...

"Hm?"

Liu Ming placed a finger on his chin and tilted his head.

"---When did I ever say I would spare your clan?"

Han Zichen's eyes widened in shock as he realized Liu Ming had been toying with him.

"No..."

He had given up his heavenly grotto essence for nothing.

"YOU BASTARD!

"EVEN AFTER TAKING MY HEAVENLY GROTTO! Y-, YOU STILL REFUSE TO SHOW MERCY!

"ARRGH! I GAVE THAT UP TO PROTECT MY CLAN!"

Han Zichen screamed in frustration. Losing the most precious thing to him had made him lose all sense of value.

Sigh~

With a wave of his hand, Liu Ming made the heavenly grotto essence disappear. He then stepped through the air and appeared in front of Han Zichen, holding him up with his spiritual energy.

"You're quite mouthy..."

Liu Ming said as he pressed his index finger against Han Zichen's forehead and glared coldly into his frightened eyes.

"Since when do I need to honor promises to a pig?"

"..."

Han Zichen didn't know how to respond. This might have been the most painful thing he'd ever heard in his life. Being told he was nothing more than a pig compared to someone with greater talent left him feeling deeply ashamed and sad, emotions that would likely stay with him even in death.

The young patriarch pressed his finger harder against Han Zichen's furrowed brows and leaned in close, making sure his final words got through.

"I don't shed blood without reason; it's part of my personal code. But worthless trash like the Sword God School and its clans don't deserve my mercy. I'II never shed the blood of mortals, but killing pigs like you is something I guiltlessly finish before sunset."

He wanted those words to cut through Han Zichen like a blade──and they did.

With a single thought, he set Han Zichen on fire, and with another, he turned him to ashes that the wind quickly scattered.

"Next..."

Liu Ming shifted his attention back to the panicking clan members who were running in every direction within the barrier.

"Sword God School's Han Clan, you have committed the crime of offending the Sacred Cloud School. Dharmic punishment is hereby delivered to serve as a warning to the echelons of your worthless sect."

Amplifying his voice with spiritual energy, he made sure his words reached every trembling clan member who looked up at him as if he were a figure of divine retribution.

"NOOOOOO!"

"I-, I DON'T WANT TO DIE!"

"WE... WE DID NOTHING WRONG..."

Tears streamed down their faces, their knees hit the ground, and their hearts sank into their stomachs.

While the young master's crime shouldn't implicate the entire clan, Liu Ming felt it was a fair trade.

The young patriarch's right hand went up.

"Today marks the Han Clan's end."

When Liu Ming dropped his right hand, the huge golden sword vibrated with such force that it seemed to shake the heavens.

RUMBLEEEE!

It then shattered into hundreds of thousands of sacred swords, which rained down like beams of light over the entire Han Clan. These countless sacred swords struck the barrier and tore it apart as if it were paper!

Fraaa────TOOOOM!

The endless barrage of swords hit the ground and caused a massive explosion of spiritual energy that burned everything in its path!

"ARRGGHH!"

"UUURRGHHH!"

"REEEEEEEAARGH!"

"IT BUUUUURNS!"

The screams of the clan members filled the air as their bodies were reduced to ashes.

… Silence~

When the attack finally ended, the young patriarch hovered above the smoky, corpse-smelling sky, with both hands behind his back. He looked down at the massive crater, about 800 meters wide and many feet deep!

Han Clan was no more.