Upon realizing that his attack had not inflicted significant damage on his opponent, Ryujin's mind raced. Could these Durak Marauders be at the Late Foundation Establishment Realm or even the early Golden Core Realm? In the world of the fantasy novel he had read, those who boasted of higher titles while being mere lackeys were often easily defeated. He hadn't anticipated that his adversary possessed a higher realm of power.
"Damn!" Ryujin's frustration escaped his lips as he clutched his wound, feeling the pain throb through his body.
"Where did you hide them?" Durak Marauders' voice cut through the tension as he glared at Ryujin with piercing eyes.
Ignoring the question, Ryujin's determination flared even brighter. He charged at his opponent once more, employing the wind steps technique. His movements became a blur as he lunged forward, executing the Shadow Technique with precision. The strike was quick and elusive, but he didn't stop there. Ryujin followed up with the Elemental Blade Slash, a move meant to finish the Bandit Leader with a flourish.
To his dismay, the Bandit Leader seemed unfazed. The strikes that should have carved deep wounds and inflicted substantial damage were thwarted by a protective Qi shield that enveloped the leader's body.
"You never learn?" The Bandit Leader taunted. In a swift, fluid motion, the leader swung their axe vertically. The blade connected with Ryujin's right hand, cutting deep, followed by a powerful kick that sent Ryujin soaring through the air until he slammed into a nearby wall.
"Why hasn't the Frost Dragon Sect or any nearby sects intervened?" Ryujin managed to gasp out, his vision fading as pain radiated from his injuries.
"It's not that they haven't tried," the Bandit Leader replied, a hint of smugness in their voice. "But they can't. Our Demon Sect's strength surpasses theirs. We hold a higher rank and possess greater power. The Frost Dragon Sect is but a lower-ranked sect. How could they possibly challenge us? Even if they were to take action, they could only manage to eliminate our branches."
Ryujin's thoughts raced as he questioned further, "But why hasn't any sect managed to wipe you out entirely?"
Laughter echoed from the Bandit Leader. "Hahaha, care to guess why we remain untouched?"
Ryujin's mind churned, then he replied with a mixture of anger and curiosity.
"..." Ryujin hesitated, pondering the Bandit Leader's words, and then continued, "Because you're too deeply entrenched?"
The Bandit Leader's voice carried a sinister satisfaction. "Precisely. Even if we were to be eradicated, it would be our branches, not the core of our Demon Sect. No sect dares to provoke us directly. Our influence extends far and wide. We hold the fifth rank among sects, but our true strength lies in the intricate web we've woven beneath the surface. Some sects even strike deals with us, sacrificing their disciples on our missions in exchange for monetary gain. Tell me, who's more rotten?"
Frost Dragon Sect, Ryujin thought bitterly. "Have any members of the Frost Dragon Sect crossed your path?"
"Of course," the Bandit Leader replied nonchalantly. "We've had dealings with them. Let me enlighten you before you meet your end. One of their higher-ranking disciples fell into our hands—a cultivator with remarkable potential. We extracted their cultivation veins and offered treasures in return. Hahaha."
Ryujin's anger surged, but before he could retort, the Bandit Leader's words struck a nerve.
"Why did you kill innocent people?" Ryujin's voice dripped with disgust.
"It's amusing to watch insects struggle," the Bandit Leader sneered. "When we extract their blood and souls, it's a spectacle. As for the Frost Dragon Sect, we pursued disciples who stole our precious Dew of Transcendence Tree.. what was her name la..Laura Yun."
Ryujin's attention wavered, but the mention of a name snapped him back.
"Her name was Laura Yun?" Ryujin's voice trembled with a mixture of rage and disbelief. "How do you know she stole something from you, did you accused her?"
Ah, Laura Yun," the Bandit Leader mused. "She eluded us like an eel, but we knew she obtained something we really need. She took something valuable from one of our sects, well actually, she got an item we need – essentially, it's ours. Hahaha."
"Then how did you find out where she is and what item she took?"
"Care to guess again?"
"Don't tell me spy..."
"Half Correct. They are not Spy but One of the sects provided us with information about her after failing to ambush her..."
"Who are they??" Ryujin's eyes glared at Durak Marauders.
"I'll give you a hint, they are the Azure Mist Clan. HAHAHA..." before continuing, "NOW TELL ME WHERE YOU'VE TAKEN MY SLAVES!" Durak Marauders roared, his anger palpable.
Ryujin's anger ignited anew. Despite his injuries, he wouldn't yield to this villain. With a determined glare, he drew upon his remaining strength. The battle was far from over.
"Hahahaha!" Ryujin laughed as he stood up.
"Why are you laughing!! if you don't want to answer, Then go die!!" Durak Marauders exclaimed angrily, launching an attack at Ryujin, infused with Qi. However, just as the slash was about to hit Ryujin, the attack disappeared.
"Swosh..." The sword's Qi vanished, as Ryujin had activated the second skill of the Nameless Halo, 'Absolute Defense'.
Ryujin, who was laughing, confronted the reality of sects beyond the Frost Dragon Sect. Hearing about his senior brother's ambush by the Demon Sect and the Azure Mist Clan, his anger ignited. He promptly activated the 'Nameless Halo' skill. In an instant, his severed hand flew to him from the ground and reattached itself. This marked the second time he had employed the Regeneration Skill – the first when he was wounded while battling a Bandit of the Qi Refinement Realm, and now, with Durak Marauders.
_________________________________
[NAMELESS HALO]
[TIER: PRIMODAL]
[SKILL]
[[ACTIVE]]
[Absolute Defense Lv. 1] Remaining : 113 >> 112 [[10 H:59]]
[Regeneration Lv. 1] Remaining :56 >> 55 [[22H:59]]
[Immortality Lv. 1] Remaining : 10 [[ 357 D: 22H:59]]
[Holy Domain.Lv 1]
_________________________________
"What the heck?!" exclaimed Durak Marauders in shock as he witnessed this. "How can a mortal recover from my attack, which had Qi infused into it? My Qi should have remained in his body, weakening him if it wasn't expelled. But now he's recovering from the wound as if it's nothing?" Sensing danger, he channeled half of his Qi into his body and then launched an attack at Ryujin.
Ryujin, having recuperated from the wound, retrieved his 'Hitless Sword'. Just as the attack was nearly upon him, he swung the sword towards Durak Marauders.
"SLASH!" The slash appeared to cut through the fabric of reality itself, and then...
"BOOM!" Everything in front of it vanished.
"SLASH!" Ryujin unleashed another slash towards the Bandit Leader and in an instant, all traces of the bandits disappeared.
"UGH! How can you possess such slashing power?!" Durak Marauders exclaimed, his hands now missing.
"There's nothing you need to know," Ryujin responded calmly, his form disappearing into the shadows. From the darkness, he struck with a slash...
"SLASH!" The blade swept vertically from below, Durak Marauders was split in two . The brain split, and viscous liquid oozed out, blood splattering in all directions like a geyser. His face mirrored a mix of astonishment and disbelief as he collapsed, his eyes rolling backward.
"I can't believe... it," he muttered, severed and sprawled upon the ground.
After the intense battle, Ryujin took a moment to catch his breath. His gaze swept over the area, ensuring there were no witnesses or any evidence left behind. The aftermath was eerie – the bandits and their leader had been completely obliterated by his powerful slashes. The air itself seemed to hold a residual tension from the battle that had just unfolded.
Satisfied that there were no traces of the confrontation, Ryujin's focus shifted to his surroundings. The silence hung heavily, broken only by the soft rustling of leaves in the wind. The forest seemed to have absorbed the echoes of the fight, leaving no hint of the violent clash that had taken place.
Ryujin retrieved his 'Hitless Sword' and wiped it clean, sheathing it with a sense of finality. He knew that he had taken a life, even if it was in self-defense and against a dangerous enemy. The weight of the situation settled on his shoulders, a reminder of the harsh realities he faced in this world.
[Congratulations! You Have Defeated a Nascent Soul Realm Enemy]
[Congratulations! You Have Leveled Up to Advanced]
...
...
[Congratulations! You Have Discovered the Method to Unrestrict the Hitless Sword]
The notifications kept coming, but Ryujin chose to ignore them for now. He turned his attention to the task at hand – checking on Rian, who had said he would be waiting not far from the Bandit den.
As he moved through the forest, Ryujin's thoughts churned. The battle had been intense, and the newfound power he had displayed surprised even him. The 'Hitless Sword' had revealed itself to be a formidable weapon, and the mysteries surrounding it deepened. Unrestricting the sword was a significant step forward, but Ryujin knew that there was much more to uncover.
Eventually, he reached the spot where he and Rian had agreed to meet. There, leaning against a tree, was Rian himself. His face brightened when he saw Ryujin approaching.
"Ryujin! You're back," Rian exclaimed, relief evident in his voice. "I was starting to worry when you didn't return for a while."
Ryujin offered a tired but reassuring smile. "I had a run-in with the Bandit Leader, but I managed to take care of them."
Rian's eyes widened. "You defeated the Bandit Leader? That's incredible!"
"It wasn't easy, but it had to be done," Ryujin replied, his gaze flickering to the ground. He didn't want to go into too much detail about the battle's brutality.
Rian seemed to sense Ryujin's mood shift. "I'm glad you're safe, Ryujin. Let's head back to our camp. You could use some rest."
Nodding in agreement, Ryujin followed Rian as they made their way back to their campsite. There, he found all 30 people—27 children and 3 women. The women trembled, likely still shaken by the sounds of battle.
"Rian, you should bring them to the Frost Dragon Sect soon. It's not far from here if you go in that direction," Ryujin suggested to Rian.
"Alright, it might take some time, but we'll do our best to get there," Rian replied.
Ryujin handed over some food and money. "Here are some food and money. Don't worry, just tell them that disciples from the sect are helping you out from Bandits."
The Moneys and foods gave to Ryan were Founded in the Bandits den, he took them while saving them.
"Alright, leave it to me!"
As Ryujin was about to leave, one of the children tugged at his sleeve.
"What is it, little lady?" Ryujin asked kindly to the child.
"Hmmm... Thank you so much, mister. And when I grow up... I'll make sure to protect you."
Ryujin gently touched her head and whispered , "Then you should go to the Frost Dragon Sect. I'll be waiting for you at ******. Make sure you grow up strong."
"Rian, you too. You should stay in the Dragon Sect. I'll meet you later at the Mellow Inn. Make sure you stay there."
Rian heard this and replied, "Of course, savior. Don't worry."
Ryujin then walked away and surveyed the area around the cave to ensure it was safe. Afterward, he returned to the sect while clearing out any dangers, such as monsters, along the way.