Everyone watched in shock as the attack was effortlessly stopped.
It wasn't surprising that a Mid Heavenly Grotto-Spirit cultivator could withstand a Refined Spirit expert's power. What stunned them was that Liu Ming wasn't even fazed by the impact. He had stopped the attack with just a finger.
It was unbelievable.
Su Yan asked from her position, "My Lord, are you alright?"
Liu Ming turned to Su Yan with a gentle smile, "You don't need worry about me, I'm perfectly fine." He nodded reassuringly to the other two sisters beside Su Yan, who also looked concerned, trying to ease their minds.
The Dao protector who had attacked remained frozen in fear. His sword trembling in his hand like a feather in the wind.
"I won't be defeated so easily!" he shouted suddenly.
The cultivator pulled back and swung his sword at Liu Ming once more.
VWOOOSH~!
Liu Ming gracefully sidestepped the slash and swiftly delivered a roundhouse kick to the Dao protector's head. The impact was powerful… so powerful that the sound of breaking bone echoed as the Dao protector's head was violently ripped off his shoulders, spinning through the air.
THUD!
The body without a head slumped to the ground, spurting blood as its life drained away.
Ling Tian's eyebrows shot up in shock as he watched the head of his Dao protector roll to his feet.
Liu Ming calmly adjusted his robes, then placed his hands behind his back.
His attention shifted back to the remaining attackers.
"You bastard…" Ling Tian muttered furiously.
Liu Ming replied coolly, "I could have torn him limb from limb before taking his head. Consider this mercy."
The other Dao protectors didn't need further orders from their young master. Ling Tian's furious expression showed exactly what they had to do: either defeat this terrifying opponent in front of them or face death trying.
"THIS ARROGANT BASTARD!"
"I'll crush you!"
"A leaf that dares to sway in the wind will eventually be pruned by the heavens!"
The seven Dao protectors each lifted their right hand, and a small yet powerful sword pendant materialized in their palms. Its presence was ominous and shrouded in mystery.
Behind Liu Ming, the three beautiful women frowned deeply.
They had long heard that cultivators of the Sword God School who reached the Refined Spirit Realm would receive a formidable secret treasure known as a Soul Artifact.
The ones these Dao protectors used was an tier-eight spirit-grade soul artifact!
Soul artifacts…
These items were mystical class of treasures that harmonized with a cultivator's soul, boosting their spiritual power and granting special abilities. Crafted using ancient techniques and infused with heavenly energies, they were coveted in the cultivation world. Their grade was judged by their potential and the celestial essence they contained.
Seeing these artifacts now, the three female disciples could truly feel their powerful aura.
At the same time, they understood that with eight cultivators wielding such treasures against their patriarch, he would be overwhelmed.
Ling Tian's Dao protectors grinned.
"Prepare to regret ever defying our Sword God School!"
"Even your Mid Heavenly Grotto-Spirit cultivation will be no match for us!"
"Make sure to crush him with everything you have!"
"YES!"
They began gathering a huge amount of powerful, earth-trembling spiritual energy.
Yu Lan looked serious as she said, "Patriarch can handle three, maybe four, tier-eight spirit-grade soul artifacts, but twice that number is madness."
Xiu Meixiang replied faithfully, "They're no match for Lord Liu. If he's really the grandson of Sect Father, then I believe he can win."
Su Yan stayed silent, her beautiful eyes carrying heavy concern as she stared at Liu Ming.
'Patriarch, please… be safe.'
She wanted to help, the way she gripped the hilt of her ornate sabre made that clear, but she chose not to act, showing her faith in their patriarch.
The attacking cultivators were confident in their soul artifacts' power.
However, seeing Liu Ming smiling made them a bit worried.
He was clearly outmatched and outnumbered, yet he still smiled.
They began to wonder if Liu Ming had a special treasure of his own. But that didn't make sense since they knew from their superiors that most of the Sacred Cloud School's resources and items were sealed after the Heavenly Sword Patriarch disappeared.
"You're still arrogant enough to smile?!" one of the sword cultivators asked.
Liu Ming chuckled, "I have to thank the old man for the few secret techniques of the Liu family that he taught me!"
Golden energy radiated from his body, forming three sharp, sword-like projections that hovered menacingly around him. The air crackled with spiritual energy, signaling the immense power he was about to unleash. His eyes were focused and burning with resolve as he channeled his inner Qi. With his hands outstretched, Liu Ming controlled the golden swords with precise movements, ready for attack.
"This power…"
"I-, it doesn't feel like Mid Heavenly Grotto-Spirit!"
"That doesn't mean anything, attack!"
The Dao protectors charged at Liu Ming, using the raw power of their sword pendants.
In response, Liu Ming launched his attack.
Sacred Cloud Sword Barrage!
It started with three glowing golden swords, each radiating concentrated Qi. These swords quickly multiplied into six powerful blades, cutting through the air with incredible speed and precision. Ling Tian's Dao protectors were instantly caught in the energy and were quickly overwhelmed by the sheer power of the technique.
The blinding light from the swords forced everyone to close their eyes.
When Ling Zou and Ling Tian opened their eyes again, they saw scattered body parts on the floor.
Liu Ming's attack had completely reduced the Dao protectors to broken, bleeding corpses.
Ling Tian gritted his teeth and stepped forward furiously, "Even the combined strength of my seven Dao protectors and their soul artifacts was not enough?!"
Su Yan's brown hair gently swayed across her pretty face as it was carried by the wind. "Such tremendous force of spiritual energy…" she muttered.
"Wow, that was so quick!" Xiu Meixiang excitedly clasped her arms against her chest as she stared at the back of her respected patriarch with stars in her eyes.
Yu Lan smiled softly, "It seems men from the Liu family are quite capable. I will enjoy learning from our new master."
Feeling enraged, with veins throbbing on his forehead, Ling Tian reached for the sword at his waist. "You bastard! I'll make sure I put you in your pl──!"
"Be silent, Tian…" Ling Zou calmly interjected.
Naturally, the young master refused to back down and shouted at his father, "NO! I refuse to let him make such a fool out of me!"
Liu Ming calmly entered the rising banter, "You were already a fool, I just highlighted that fact." His gaze tightened menacingly. "You will all pay for coming here today. No one will defy my grandfather's sect and get away with it."
The old man stepped forward gracefully, showing that he thought Liu Ming was a worthy opponent. Otherwise, he would have let his son handle it.
"How bold of you, patriarch, to kill members of our sect right in front of me!" said Ling Zou sharply.
"..."
No response from Liu Ming.
"Do you not have manners?" Ling Zou's cold gaze settled murderously on his prey.
The young man in question smiled proudly and finally replied, "You're the one who came here to exchange fists. If anyone is lacking manners here, it's you and your desperate sect."
Although Liu Ming acted confident, he remained very cautious. He knew mistakes couldn't be made when fighting a high-ranking elder of the Sword God School.
Ling Zou didn't waste any more time.
"Manners? Exchange of fists?"
He performed several hand seals while speaking calmly.
"Those are foreign concepts unworthy of mention for someone like you, a mere minnow in the vast sea. As envoy of the Sword God School, my duty is clear: to ensure the Sacred Cloud School submits to our authority and to humble arrogant cultivators like yourself!"
Ling Zou was surrounded by an aura of immense power.
He looked like he was in the middle of using a powerful technique because he was glowing with intense red and purple energy that sparked around him like lightning. His hair was flowing wildly, charged with the same energy.
The most noticeable thing was the huge avatar behind him. It had multiple arms, like those ancient depictions of gods, each one crackling with purple energy. The menacing avatar stood tall and resolute, with each of its arms either holding a mystical sword or forming hand seals.
"The foundation that the Sacred Cloud School has established for centuries will perish today."
Ling Zou gave Liu Ming a chilling ultimatum.
"Now, decide: grovel… or face your end."