Chapter 47: The Shadows Move

Jiang Cheng stepped out of the collapsing ruins, his body still buzzing from the remnants of the inheritance's power. A deep breath steadied his racing heart. The ancient techniques and treasures he had obtained had yet to fully integrate with his cultivation, but that mattered little right now—danger awaited him.

The night air outside was crisp, but the atmosphere was anything but tranquil. Before he had even fully emerged, countless gazes locked onto him. It was a suffocating pressure, the kind that came when greed outweighed reason.

The valley that had been quiet before had turned into a battlefield waiting to ignite.

He took in the sight before him. Seven sects, along with groups of rogue cultivators and mercenaries, all gathered with the same goal—to strip him of the inheritance he had just obtained.

Some masked their greed behind false civility. Others made no effort to hide their killing intent.

A young man dressed in ornate silver robes stepped forward, a fine sword resting in his hand. His presence commanded attention, his posture exuding arrogance. Ren Qing, one of the rising stars of the Sky Blade Pavilion.

His gaze swept over Jiang Cheng with amusement. "Quite the commotion you've caused, Jiang Cheng. The inheritance of the ruins belongs to no one, but surely you don't intend to hoard it all for yourself?"

Jiang Cheng remained silent.

Ren Qing smirked and continued. "Our Sky Blade Pavilion is generous. If you hand over the treasures and techniques, we will ensure you receive proper compensation. It would be a shame if unnecessary blood was spilled, don't you agree?"

A few cultivators nodded in agreement, while others merely watched. There was no honor among thieves. Even if Jiang Cheng gave in, Ren Qing's sect wasn't the only faction that wanted his treasures.

Jiang Cheng finally let out a slow chuckle. "Sky Blade Pavilion… I've heard of you." His smirk widened. "A sect full of barking dogs, too scared to bite unless they outnumber their prey."

The air grew tense. Some of the rogue cultivators snickered at the insult, but the disciples of the Sky Blade Pavilion were furious.

Ren Qing's face darkened. "You're confident for someone so outnumbered."

Jiang Cheng raised an eyebrow. "Outnumbered? Oh, I was just thinking…" He tapped the hilt of his sword, his aura flaring slightly. "How many of you will still be breathing by the end of the night?"

The threat sent a ripple through the crowd. Some cultivators hesitated. But before anyone could react—a flicker of movement.

Jiang Cheng's instincts screamed at him.

An assassin.

He twisted his body, barely dodging the dagger that shot toward his ribs. A hooded figure materialized from the shadows, their killing intent razor-sharp. But Jiang Cheng was already moving.

His hand snapped forward.

He caught the assassin's wrist mid-air, his grip like steel.

The assassin's eyes widened—he had seen through their technique?!

Jiang Cheng didn't give them time to react. With a brutal knee strike, he slammed his opponent's chest. The assassin coughed blood, their body launching backward, crashing against the valley walls.

Silence.

Then, whispers.

"He took down an assassin in one move?"

"That was a trained killer… not just some nobody!"

Jiang Cheng exhaled, shaking his head. "Pathetic."

He turned his gaze back to the gathered forces. The tension had changed. No longer were they just looking at an opportunity to rob him. Now, they were reassessing their odds of surviving a fight with him.

Jiang Cheng smirked. "Did you really think I wouldn't notice an ambush?"

Ren Qing's expression had turned icy. The assassination attempt had failed, which meant brute force was their only option.

He raised his sword, and his aura surged. "Enough of this. Kill him!"

The valley erupted into chaos.

A dozen figures lunged at once.

Jiang Cheng's eyes flashed coldly as he unsheathed his sword. Heaven Blitzing Step!

His body vanished like mist.

In the next instant—blood sprayed through the air.

One cultivator fell with his throat slashed open. Another screamed as his arm was severed. Jiang Cheng moved like a phantom, weaving through the battlefield, his sword reaping lives with every motion.

A rogue cultivator swung a halberd at him, but Jiang Cheng deflected it with the back of his blade, twisting mid-air to deliver a crushing kick to the man's skull. The cultivator collapsed instantly.

A sect disciple charged from the side, releasing a powerful palm strike. Jiang Cheng caught it with his bare hand.

For a moment, the disciple's eyes widened in shock. Then Jiang Cheng crushed his wrist with a single squeeze before slashing his chest open.

Screams filled the valley. The initial wave of attackers had been completely decimated.

Jiang Cheng landed lightly on the ground, wiping blood from his blade. His robes were untouched. Not a single enemy had managed to land a hit.

The remaining forces hesitated. Their confidence was crumbling.

Ren Qing gritted his teeth. "What are you all waiting for?! He's just one man! Surround him and attack together!"

Jiang Cheng let out a disappointed sigh. "You still don't get it, do you?"

His aura erupted.

The valley shook as a suffocating pressure spread out, crushing weaker cultivators to their knees. Lightning crackled around his body. His sword hummed with power.

Ren Qing's face paled. "This… this isn't possible!"

Jiang Cheng stepped forward, his eyes glowing with an eerie light. "Let me show you the difference between us."

With a single movement, he vanished again and the massacre resumed.