Chapter 6:The First Strike

Chapter 6: The First Strike

"A true leader does not wait for battle to come to him. He brings war to his enemies."

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The Heavenly Sword Sect was preparing for an invasion.

But they had made one fatal mistake—they assumed the Heavenly Cloud Sect would wait to be attacked.

Xiao Tian had no intention of playing defense.

Instead, he would strike first.

Standing before his gathered disciples and elders, his gaze swept over them. The air was thick with tension, but there was no fear—only determination and burning battle intent.

"The Heavenly Sword Sect believes we are weak," Xiao Tian spoke, his voice calm yet commanding. "They expect us to cower. To surrender. To wait for death."

His aura suddenly exploded, causing the very sky to tremble.

"But today, we show them the truth."

"Today, we remind them why the Heavenly Cloud Sect will never bow to anyone."

"We march now."

A thunderous roar erupted from the disciples.

"FOR THE SECT!"

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The Midnight Ambush

The Heavenly Sword Sect's border camp was stationed near Black Ridge Valley, a natural choke point. It was the perfect place to gather their forces before launching an attack.

The camp was filled with over 2,000 cultivators, most of them Golden Core and Nascent Soul Realm experts. Their commanders were three elders—each a Soul Formation cultivator.

Inside the largest tent, a group of Heavenly Sword Sect elders sat in a circle, discussing their attack strategy.

"By dawn, we will launch the assault. The Heavenly Cloud Sect is already on its last legs," one elder sneered.

"Indeed. Once their sect master is dead, the rest will surrender."

They were confident.

They had more forces, stronger experts, and they believed their enemy was still recovering from internal conflict.

But then—

BOOM!

An earth-shattering explosion tore through the camp.

Flames erupted, engulfing entire tents as terrified screams filled the air.

The Heavenly Sword Sect elders bolted to their feet, their expressions twisting in shock.

"What's happening?!"

"We're under attack!"

They rushed outside—only to witness a terrifying sight.

A black-robed figure stood above the burning camp, his eyes radiating boundless killing intent.

Xiao Tian had arrived.

"Did you really think I would let you invade so easily?" His voice rang out like thunder.

Behind him, hundreds of Heavenly Cloud Sect disciples descended like vengeful specters, each one radiating powerful auras.

This was not the same sect the Heavenly Sword Sect had expected to fight.

This was a slaughter.

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Xiao Tian vs. The Three Soul Formation Elders

The three enemy elders shot into the sky, their killing intent locking onto Xiao Tian.

"Sect Master Xiao! You dare attack us?!"

"Fool! You have doomed your entire sect—"

Before they could finish, Xiao Tian vanished.

SLASH!

A terrifying golden sword light split through the sky.

One of the Soul Formation elders screamed, his body bisected instantly before he even realized what had happened.

The other two staggered back in horror.

"…Impossible!"

Xiao Tian floated above them, his black robes flowing as sword qi crackled around him. His Celestial Annihilation Sword—a Divine-Grade technique he had received from the Cashback System—was far beyond anything they had ever seen.

He pointed his sword forward.

"One strike was enough for him. Let's see if you two can last longer."

The remaining two elders paled, realizing the truth.

They weren't the hunters anymore.

They were the prey.

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The Battlefield Turns Red

Below, the Heavenly Cloud Sect dominated.

Lin Qingxue unleashed a devastating Frozen Sword Domain, trapping multiple enemies in an ice prison before shattering them into pieces.

Feng Yu burned through enemy formations, tossing explosive alchemy flames that melted even Nascent Soul cultivators alive.

Li Zhang, now in his Berserker Bloodline state, ripped through enemies barehanded, his body tougher than spirit weapons.

The 2,000 enemy cultivators had believed they were fighting a weak, declining sect.

But in reality…

They were the ones being wiped out.