Level 3 Sword Intent, Cleanup Duty
— After a couple of seconds —
I tipped the hat I stole from a guard who had been blown up in the Nascent Soul Realm self-explosion. This subtle action of mine was enough for me to discreetly walk past the guards who were all running in the opposite direction. I assumed they had just been recalled to the 2nd Floor—the Low Ward. Moreover, from the looks of it, even the more powerful guards—who were typically stationed in the High Ward—had been requested to gauge the situation in the Low Ward as well.
Of course, all of this worked very well to my advantage.
After all, even with my current strength, dealing with so many Golden Core Realm guards would likely wind up with my head being spiked on a pike and set to rot at the front of the fortress.
An example for any daring enough to attack one of the most fortified fortresses in the Water Kingdom—that's all I'd become.
Fortunately, that was not my destiny this day. Hopefully not the next day as well, but we'll see…
"Doo, doo, doo~" I quietly sang while moving in a way that looked as if I were teleporting between inmates and chopping off their heads.
I had obtained quite a bit of practice at killing more efficiently when massacring in the Low Ward, so disposing of the inmates in the High Ward became a breeze. I killed them so well that they weren't even able to let out a peep and alert the guards of my presence.
In and out, in and out, in and out. That's what I had my sword do with the tender, unprotected skin of the Golden Core Realm prisoners.
And after nearly a quarter of a minute doing the Lord's work, I finally reached the section of the High Ward that held the Nascent Soul Realm inmates. They were all in the Early stage of the Nascent Soul Realm, but even that was far more than enough to make my body tremble in instinctual fear.
Yet…
"Ha!" I laughed in the face of these prisoners. "That old, gloomy guy was far more terrifying than you wusses! Are you sure you didn't purely rely on external means to improve your cultivation to this point!? Actually, how old are you all??"
After observing their System Interfaces, I laughed even more gratingly. "A few hundred years old? Just a bunch of babies!"
The Nascent Soul Realm prisoners—who were more securely bound in their own isolated cells—felt their blood pressure rise. I purposefully made sure they were able to hear every word that came out of my mouth.
Why, might you ask?
DING! DING! DING!
[A Medium-sized pile of Attribute Orbs dropped after angering dozens of Nascent Soul Realm Cultivators!]
[Strength +17,800]
[Agility +22,500]
[Endurance +31,100]
[Strength +40,000]
x89 more…
'Damn!' I thought. 'This is far more lucrative than I was expecting!'
Without wasting a single moment, I pulled upon all the multi-colored Attribute Orbs. They flew toward me at the speed of light before seeping into me and assimilating with my existence.
OOOM!
My Attributes skyrocketed! Passing over the 1 million mark for several of them!
*Ding!*
[Basic Battle Power has improved from 'Late Core Formation Realm' → 'Half-step Golden Core Realm']
Just like that, I touched upon the Golden Core Realm—a realm that would make you the City Lord of a small city in the Water Kingdom!
But…
"I'm not done," I said while shifting my evil glare across all of the isolated cells. "That was merely the appetizer."
"!!!" "!!!" "!!!"
Looking at my predatory gaze and sensing my stifling killing intent, the Nascent Soul Realm prisoners uncontrollably shivered. They were going to cry out for help, not caring about their illustrious cultivation or statuses.
However, in the very moment their throats hummed with vocal vibrations, a Sword Intent Manifestation pierced through their heads—killing them on the spot.
*Whooom—!*
The shockwaves produced by the speed at which my Sword Intent Sword moved created rolling waves of Innate Energy and wind. My raven-black hair blew wildly as I impassively watched the damage dealt to the Isolation Cells register. They were shredded into small chunks, with the same thing happening to the corpses of the Nascent Soul Realm prisoners.
*Ding!*
[You have slain 31 Early Nascent Soul Realm Cultivators and erased their Nascent Souls with your Level 3 Sword Intent!]
'Oh?' I raised my brows. 'So my Sword Intent is capable of erasing even Nascent Souls? A benefit of it being at Level 3, perhaps?'
Well, whatever the case may be, there were still Attribute Orbs to absorb!
DING! DING! DING!
[A Medium-sized pile of Attribute Orbs has dropped!]
[Affinity +950]
[Strength +103,000]
[Agility +108,500]
[Affinity +2,700]
x227 more…
Excluding the Affinity Attribute Orbs—which could be lower even for stronger cultivators—almost every other Attribute Orb was in the six-digit range. The more I absorbed, the lower the value shown on them became, but that didn't change the fact that this was one hell of a loot pile!
Absorbing them naturally brought my Basic Battle Power to new heights!
[Basic Battle Power has improved from 'Half-step Golden Core Realm' → 'Early Golden Core Realm']
WAAA!!
The improvement that came to my power was enough to make me feel like I had just ascended. It was a heavenly experience, one that signified at least a thirtyfold increase in power.
"Ha…" I deeply exhaled as I controlled my newfound strength as best as I could. It was tough when I was merely at the 9th Stage Qi Condensation Realm, but I managed to get the hang of it after a few moments.
Yet, it was roughly at this time that the loud thudding of rushed footsteps rang out.
That was when they appeared—whole squadrons of Golden Core Realm guards!
"Well, look who has come just a tad bit too late," I said with a wide smile as I stretched out my arms, showing off the destruction I created. "Behold, peasants! This right here is the epitome of humanity! Greed!"
I wasn't going to lie in front of such a generous audience. I killed these villainous folk because I myself was a villain—a greedy, greedy villain.
"Well?" I asked. "How do you like my cleanup of some trash??"
"You!!!" The guards instantly erupted in rage as fire shot out of their eyes. "Do you have any idea what you've just done, you scoundrel!?"
"Cleanup duty?"