Niu Tiechui glanced at her son and said smugly, "Now you understand why I'm so eager to grab onto this thigh, don't you?"
Niu Wufang nodded heavily, suddenly enlightened. "Got it! This is about grabbing the future Martial Emperor's thigh!"
Niu Tiechui sighed deeply. "Our Five-Colored Divine Bull Clan has been too miserable! Over the years, we've either been hunted down or enslaved, treated as mere mounts. I fled to this remote place with great effort, yet still couldn't escape and was sealed for five hundred years. I don't want to live such a wretched life anymore!"
"And he is our only chance to change our destiny!"
Niu Wufang took a deep breath, his eyes firm. "Mother, I understand! I'll head to the Luo family immediately! Even if I have to risk my life, I won't allow a single member of the Luo family to be harmed!"
Niu Tiechui nodded, her gaze sharp. "That's right. This is the first task he entrusted to us. We cannot fail!"
"Achoo!"
Riding on the back of the Flame Sparrow, Luo Tian suddenly sneezed.
The sneeze made the Flame Sparrow shudder in fear.
"Sir, am I flying too fast?" the Flame Sparrow cautiously asked.
At this moment, the Flame Sparrow was filled with awe for Luo Tian—not just because of the attitude Niu Tiechui and her son had toward him, but also because, while carrying Luo Tian, it felt an indescribable and terrifying sense of oppression.
It was as though it wasn't carrying an ordinary human, but a supremely powerful deity.
Every breath Luo Tian took seemed to resonate with some celestial rule, giving the Flame Sparrow the illusion that it might be crushed at any moment.
And it was a Void Traversing realm beast!
The Flame Sparrow could only sigh inwardly, "Humans are terrifying creatures."
However, Luo Tian remained completely unaware. Bored during the flight, he casually activated the Heavenly Dao Breathing Technique a few times, nearly scaring the Flame Sparrow out of its wits.
"Not fast enough. How much longer until we arrive?" Luo Tian asked.
"Sir, just a few more miles, and you'll reach the gates of the Diming Sect. However, as a demonic beast, it wouldn't be appropriate for me to go further," the Flame Sparrow cautiously replied.
"Oh? Very well, just drop me off then," Luo Tian said calmly.
"Yes! Yes!" The Flame Sparrow was overjoyed.
It wasn't afraid of the Diming Sect; it simply didn't want to carry Luo Tian any longer. The experience was far too nerve-wracking.
With a swoosh, the Flame Sparrow swiftly descended, and Luo Tian leaped lightly from its back.
"Sir, the Diming Sect's gates are just ahead. If there's nothing else, I'll take my leave now!" the Flame Sparrow said.
"Go ahead."
With a wave of his hand, Luo Tian dismissed it.
"Thank you!"
The Flame Sparrow flapped its wings and soared into the sky, fleeing without looking back.
"Never again! This job almost scared me to death!" it lamented internally.
At the Diming Sect's gates.
Following the Flame Sparrow's directions, Luo Tian quickly arrived at the Diming Sect's gates.
However, something seemed off.
The area around the gates was shrouded in mist, with a faint force barring outsiders from entering.
Luo Tian frowned slightly and called out, "Luo Tian from Bianbei City, here to visit the Diming Sect. May I request an audience?"
But the mist remained dense, and a cold voice answered from within, "The Diming Sect is sealed off. We are not receiving guests! If you have business, come back in half a month. Leave immediately, or bear the consequences!"
Luo Tian's brows furrowed deeper, a trace of displeasure flashing in his eyes.
"So unwelcoming? Making me wait half a month? I don't have that kind of time."
"Fine, no need to meet. I'm here for a sample of millennium stalactite. If you can provide it, I'll leave right away," Luo Tian said loudly.
The voice in the mist grew angrier. "Are you deaf, boy? Leave within three breaths, or face execution!"
"Execution?" A cold glint flashed in Luo Tian's eyes as he smirked. "It seems my demeanor is too gentle; they're treating me like an easy target."
Before the words had fully left his mouth, he stepped forward.
"Courting death!"
From within the mist, a streak of sword energy shot toward Luo Tian.
"A sword strike?"
Luo Tian chuckled softly, his eyes flashing with sword intent.
Shing!
The fierce sword energy dissipated instantly.
"What?!"
A gasp echoed from the mist.
"So you've come with ill intentions! In that case, don't blame us for being ruthless! Activate the sword formation!"
With a shout, the mist gradually dispersed, revealing six figures.
The six formed seals simultaneously, a massive sword of spiritual energy manifesting above them.
"This is the Bright Moon Sword Formation, one of the three major formations of the Jianxuan Sect! It can slay even Void Traversing experts! I'll give you one last chance—leave now!" the leader warned coldly.
Luo Tian narrowed his eyes, a faint smile playing on his lips.
"Jianxuan Sect?"
Luo Tian raised an eyebrow.
"Isn't that Lan Xiuer's sect?"
He hadn't expected the Diming Sect to have ties with the Jianxuan Sect.
"Heh, one of the three great sword formations of the Jianxuan Sect? Fine, I'd like to see how powerful it really is."
As he spoke, Luo Tian continued to advance.
"Courting death—attack!"
The six of them began forming seals simultaneously.
Clang!
In an instant, the massive sword energy slashed down toward Luo Tian.
"He's not dodging?"
The group watched in astonishment as Luo Tian calmly walked up the mountain, neither dodging nor flinching.
"Is this guy insane?"
"Hmph, who knows? Since he's so eager to die, let's grant his wish!"
Before they could finish speaking, the sword energy was already upon Luo Tian.
Suddenly, a golden radiance appeared around Luo Tian, enveloping his entire body in protection.
Clang!
The sword energy struck the golden light but couldn't penetrate it.
Luo Tian acted as if the sword energy didn't exist, his pace steady as he continued toward the mountain.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
With each step he took, the sword energy shattered a little more.
In just over ten steps, the massive sword energy had completely disintegrated, vanishing into thin air without a trace.
Pfft! Pfft!
The six individuals atop the mountain spat blood simultaneously, their bodies collapsing as they were overwhelmed by the backlash of the broken sword energy.
"H-How is this possible…" The leader's face turned pale, his eyes filled with terror.
Whoosh!
The next moment, Luo Tian appeared before him.
"You're the one who said you'd execute me without mercy, right?"
Luo Tian grabbed his neck with a cold, bone-chilling voice.
"I…"
The man's face was filled with fear, his words caught in his throat.
What was supposed to be a show of intimidation had turned into a disastrous miscalculation.
"This fellow Daoist, please show mercy!"
Suddenly, a sound broke through the air as three figures descended before the mountain gate.
"Elder Huang, Elder Ye, Elder Wu!"
The young disciples at the gate quickly called out in unison.
The leading Elder Huang landed and cupped his hands respectfully. "Fellow Daoist, you've come from afar, and the Diming Sect has failed in our hospitality. That was our mistake. Might I implore you to spare this disciple for now?"
Luo Tian frowned slightly but released his grip on the man's neck.
Before the man could even land on his feet, Luo Tian swung his hand and delivered a fierce slap.
Smack!
The crisp sound echoed as the man was sent flying, crashing heavily to the ground, unconscious.
"You—!"
The two elders behind Elder Huang glared at Luo Tian, their killing intent surging.