Chapter 16: Defying the Sword God School
Sword God School.
It was a prestigious and ancient sect on the Yuande Continent.
One of the five great sects…
It focused on mastering sword cultivation and martial arts. Known for producing some of the most powerful sword cultivators, it stood as one of the top schools of swordsmanship in the cultivation world.
The school was founded thousands of years ago by the legendary Sword God, Li Wuzhen. His sword skills were unmatched; it was said he could split mountains and part seas with a single stroke.
Li Wuzhen created the school to pass on his techniques and philosophies, ensuring the legacy of sword cultivation would continue.
...
Standing outside the Sacred Cloud School was Ling Tian.
He was accompanied by about ten disciples from the Sword God School.
Ling Tian, the son of the high-ranking elder Ling Zou, was a young master of the Sword God School.
"So, this is the place?" Ling Zou asked.
"Yes, father," Ling Tian confirmed with a nod.
The young master had been here before. The last time he came, he met the four remaining female disciples who refused to serve him. They were somewhere between the Refined Spirit and Heavenly Grotto-Spirit realms.
Ling Tian, being a Heavenly Grotto-Spirit Daoist master himself, knew he couldn't defeat them alone. However, his pride refused to accept defeat by women, so he fought them anyway. He was badly beaten but spared, especially by Su Yan. She spared his life because they couldn't afford to kill the young master of a rival sect while their sect was not at full strength.
However, Ling Tian saw this as an insult rather than mercy.
This time, he brought his Dao protectors and his father.
Ling Zou stroked his gray, medium-length beard like he was strumming some guitar strings.
"Weaklings do not deserve such a luxurious sect. Today, we will take all its women, treasures, spirit beasts, and cultivation resources."
Ling Tian grinned as his father stepped forward.
The old man declared…
"Anyone who dares defy us will have their souls burned for a century."
...
Around the same time, Liu Ming was heading toward the sect's entrance.
Behind him were his three beautiful female disciples, updating him on the Sword God School's presence.
Initially, Liu Ming's expression was calm, but as he learned more, his rage grew over what his grandfather's sect had endured. It felt like the home he grew up in was treated with complete disrespect, as if someone had spit on it and stomped all over it.
"So, you're telling me that some of the male disciples who refused to leave the Sacred Cloud School were reduced to broken corpses, and the women were dragged back to the Sword God School and turned into cauldrons?" His voice trembled with controlled fury.
Su Yan had a solemn expression. "Yes, Lord Liu. But to be honest, the Sword God School usually doesn't resort to such drastic measures to subjugate a sect. I believe it was the Ling Clan's young master who made that choice."
Xiu Meixiang and Yu Lan nodded in agreement.
They both knew Ling Tian was a vile person. He had raped many female disciples taken hostage from the Sacred Cloud School. Using his status as the young master of a prestigious sect, he even forced female civilians to share a bed with him and beat them to submission if they refused.
Liu Ming looked at Su Yan walking beside him. "You had the chance to kill him but relented, correct?"
Su Yan nodded respectfully. "Yes, my lord."
Liu Ming faced forward. "Next time… kill him."
Shock.
That was what Su Yan and her sisters felt.
Liu Ming strode forward with a fierce grace. His steps were like a peacock's, elegant and proud, while his eyes held a cold, deadly glare, reminiscent of a lion ready to strike.
'I must make decisions quickly. If I had more time, I would've prepared better before confronting those Sword God School monkeys. Grandfather always told me that the cultivation world and the mortal world are different. The cultivation world is ruled by the law of the jungle, while the mortal world preaches compassion and forgiveness. The strong prey on the weak; it's not morally right, but it's logical.'
He exhaled deeply.
'To survive and advance, one must eliminate threats and rivals. Mercy is a weakness that leads to downfall. Yes, the moment I face the cultivators of that rival sect, if I hesitate, I will surely lose my life.'
...
They finally arrived at the sect's entrance, where cultivators from the Sword God School awaited them. Ling Tian's Dao protectors stepped forward, pointing accusingly.
"Haha, weaklings! If you value your lives, kneel before the two masters of the Ling Clan and admit the superiority of the Sword God School!"
There were eight Dao protectors in total, all Late Refined Spirit cultivators.
Liu Ming's gaze lingered on Ling Tian.
The vicious smile on Ling Tian's face caused Liu Ming to raise an eyebrow. He was certain this was the young master──not only was Ling Tian the sole Early Heavenly Grotto-Spirit cultivator among them, but he exuded arrogance and pride typical of his status.
A tense silence settled.
Liu Ming seemed to disregard Ling Tian's Dao protectors, and none of the female disciples spoke without their patriarch's command.
One of the Dao protectors pointed accusingly at Liu Ming.
"The Sacred Cloud School has fallen so low; you don't deserve your place among Yuande's five great sects!"
Still, Liu Ming remained silent.
This surprised the Dao protector. Did this man truly consider them beneath notice? It was difficult to tell.
From his position, Ling Zou observed Liu Ming closely and analyzed him. The old man stroked his beard thoughtfully and cautioned his disciples, "You have eyes but cannot see Mount Tai. That man wears the Sacred King Robes, a symbol of the Sacred Cloud School's patriarch. It is also a defensive treasure capable of withstanding an attack from a Dao Spirit expert."
At Ling Zou's warning, Ling Tian's Dao protectors became more vigilant, raising their guard.
Meanwhile, the young master was seething with jealousy.
To him, the beautiful women around Liu Ming should have been his. The sight of Liu Ming casually standing with them made Ling Tian furious.
He was gritting his teeth, eager to attack.
Almost as if he read his mind, Liu Ming spoke, "I have no intention of wasting time here. I have a duty to my grandfather to fulfill, so come at me all at once."
Su Yan placed a hand on Liu Ming's shoulder and shook her head. "Patriarch, it wouldn't be wise for you to do that. You're barely a Heavenly Grotto-Spirit expert. I'm not certain you can handle all of them alone."
Xiu Meixiang gently touched his back and spoke tenderly, "I'm only Late Grotto Spirit, but I'm sure I can help, Lord Liu."
Yu Lan smiled proudly, elegantly brushing her bangs aside. "I'm willing to help if Lord Liu requires my assistance~" she added with a small chuckle.
Ling Tian gritted his teeth harder, watching these women being so close and warm with Liu Ming.
"So, you're the new patriarch of the Sacred Cloud School?"
He grinned viciously.
"Don't be so arrogant just because you've reached Mid Heavenly Grotto-Spirit. In the vast world of cultivation, you're merely a small fish in an endless ocean. Countless experts at higher realms can crush you with a flick of their finger!"
"Where are they?" Liu Ming asked dryly.
Without a moment's hesitation, a Dao protector dashed at Liu Ming with wind-like speed. "You're courting death!" He unsheathed his sword and swung it at Liu Ming's neck.
The three female disciples stepped back, and Liu Ming stopped the blade with just one finger.
The ground beneath them cracked from the impact, but nothing else happened.
The Dao protector was stunned and terrified.
It seemed like the force of his sword slash had been completely nullified.
"Wh-, WHAT?!" he shouted.
Liu Ming sighed with disappointment.
"Is this really the limit of your cultivation? Even when I was five years old, I could have easily defeated you."
Gifts
-- Gift
received Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone