Chapter 760 - 542: Resisting the Half-Step Saint King
Outside Lingxu Cave, Wei Fan cupped his fists in response to Sword Hero, Wei Ying, and the others, asking curiously, "Is Lingxu Cave planning to resist to the end?"
As he spoke, an eager look flashed across his face. If Lingxu Cave simply gave up without a fight, he’d actually find it boring.
Lingxu Cave’s strength surpassed even the Wang Family, with over thirty Saint Realm powerhouses; even though he’d slain four of them, nearly thirty still remained. Among so many Saint Realm powerhouses, there were definitely quite a few perfect for power harvesting.
If they surrendered right away, he wouldn’t have an excuse to kill anyone.
Sword Hero shook his head. "We’ve only just finished surrounding the place and laid arrays to keep them from escaping through the Transmission Domain Gate. We haven’t even had time to issue demands."
Wei Fan nodded, lining up beside Sword Hero and several other Great Saint powerhouses, drifting toward Lingxu Cave.
Ahead, the Martial Emperor Array glowed as the aura of the Great Dao swept over everything. Where Lingxu Cave stood, the spirituality far surpassed the Wang Family’s ancestral Guiyun Mountain; the world was filled with a mysterious atmosphere beyond words and comprehension.
Wei Fan couldn’t help but recall some of the details Zhu Jincheng had given him about Lingxu Cave.
Legend had it that this sect did possess a sacred cave known as Lingxu, connecting to unknown dimensions, and from time to time, innate Essence Qi would pour out from within. Back when Lingxu Cave’s ancestor discovered the cave, he was transformed and reborn by the Essence Qi’s baptism, became an Emperor right there, and founded Lingxu Cave.
Of course, whether any of this was real or not, outsiders could only speculate; even disciples of Lingxu Cave weren’t sure such a place actually existed in the sect.
Inside the grand array, Lingxu Cave’s disciples looked panicked. At first, all they heard was the news of Wei Ran declaring war on Lingxu Cave; without the sect even having a chance to respond, the Demon Hunter Organization had already marched in with their forces to lay siege.
"Lingxuzi, get out here and speak!"
Sword Hero stepped forward, his eyes firing cold lightning straight at Lingxu Cave.
The Three Town Commanders were clearly led by him, with Wei Ying and An Shanhe merely standing at his sides.
As for Wei Fan, since he’d agreed to let the Demon Hunter Organization establish authority, it wasn’t his place to take the lead now. He, Xuanyuan Changkong, and Mu Yi all stood off to one side.
"Brother Jian, why have you surrounded my Lingxu Cave?"
The Sect Leader of Lingxu Cave rose into the sky, his expression extremely grim.
"Lingxu Cave has harmed the Human Race’s heroes. The Demon Hunter Organization suspects Lingxu Cave of colluding with Demon Fiends. Lingxu Cave has two options now: one, all Saint Realm powerhouses of Lingxu Cave seal their cultivation, open the array, and accept investigation by the Demon Hunter Organization.
Two, we storm in and flatten Lingxu Cave.
Also, cut the nonsense—you’re not qualified to call me brother."
Sword Hero’s voice was icy and forceful, with no unnecessary words. His orders were clear: raze Lingxu Cave to make an example, to intimidate any other factions planning to make a move.
But as per protocol, he had to first call for surrender, no killing if they laid down arms—it wasn’t up to him to decide the outcome.
Lingxuzi’s face flashed with anger, but faced with the giant that was the Demon Hunter Organization, he managed to swallow it down. "The culprit was Sun Changqing, that bastard. He had long admired Fairy Yun Yin’s music and was reckless, but it wasn’t collusion with Demon Fiends. I ask Sword Commander to see the truth."
He knew the Demon Hunter Organization was here to use Lingxu Cave to establish authority, but he still wanted to argue it.
Everyone in Lingxu Cave looked to Sword Hero, for his words would decide their fate.
Sword Hero sneered. "Whether Lingxu Cave’s involved—we’ll have our answer after investigation. It’s not up to you to simply deny it. I’ll give you ten breaths to decide: surrender, or we break in."
At these words, all the Saint Realm powerhouses in Lingxu Cave tightened up. Not to mention the hundred thousand disciples—even among their own twenty-some Saint Realm powerhouses, many had secretly cultivated Demon Skill. If they permitted an investigation, even if they hadn’t colluded with Demon Fiends, it was still a death sentence.
For anyone who cultivated Demon Skill, the Demon Hunter Organization was known to kill without mercy.
"All we did was fail to resist the Demon Fiends! Are you really going to force Lingxu Cave to this point?"
Knowing there was no way out, Lingxuzi’s expression twisted fiercely, cutting right to the chase.
To be Sect Leader, he was no fool. First, Fairy Yun Yin had appeared at Silver Lake City, then Wei Fan showed up to save her, and finally the Demon Hunter Organization had brought their troops right to Lingxu Cave’s doorstep.
Looking at the whole chain of events, he realized all of it was just a pretext for the Demon Hunter Organization to destroy Lingxu Cave.
He assumed it was all about their failure to fight the Demon Fiends, but that was only one reason—there was also the sect’s talk of handing over Wei Fan.
In their own eyes, they were merely using the chaos to eliminate Wei Fan, just internal conflict. But in the eyes of the Demon Hunter Organization’s upper ranks, they’d shown weakness. If the Human Race ever lost to the Demon Fiends, Lingxu Cave would be first to defect, so they had to be purged.
"Very well! Looks like you’re ready to resist to the end!"
Sword Hero’s aura sharpened, and the sky itself seemed to change: "All forces, hear me—form battle array! Exterminate Lingxu Cave and its Demon Fiends!"
He branded Lingxu Cave as Demon Fiends. Far off, the armies began moving, assembling for war.
"If you think you’ll flatten Lingxu Cave with just you, Sword Hero, and this pitiful bunch, you’re sorely mistaken!"
Lingxuzi let out a long, wild howl. If there could be no peace, he’d have to carve out a path in blood: "Disciples of Lingxu Cave, obey! Kill the invaders, break the Imprisonment Array!"
"Die!"
He shot forth from the Mountain Protection Array like a thunderbolt, his overwhelming power ripping heaven and earth itself; before the Demon Hunter Organization’s elites could even move, he was already on the attack.
In an eyeblink, he was standing before Sword Hero, launching his twin palms forward.
The void shattered, surging Chaos Qi burst forth, Sword Hero’s face sank, and he also struck with both palms.
As the highest among the Three Commanders, his cultivation was naturally the strongest—his Daoist Level exceeded nine thousand zhang.
"Boom—rumble!"
Their palms collided, dazzling divine light flooding the sky, engulfing their figures.
In the next instant, Sword Hero let out a muffled grunt, coughing blood as he was blown backward.
At the same time, the Mountain Protection Array of Lingxu Cave erupted in light, and the other Saint Realm powerhouses surged out from within.
"Sword Hero has been defeated by Lingxuzi in one move!"
Everyone was stunned—Lingxuzi’s cultivation was more terrifying than anyone had imagined.
"He walks the extreme path—his Daoist Level is close to twelve thousand zhang!"
Someone cried out in shock. Lingxuzi had blasted Sword Hero away—not because Sword Hero was weak, but because Lingxuzi was just that strong.
"Pathetic. I call you Brother Jian only for the sake of your status; without it, I’d need less than three moves to kill you."
Lingxuzi’s hair flew wildly as his momentum soared. As Sect Leader of the Martial Emperor Sect, he rarely unleashed his full strength. In his youth, he’d been unmatched among his generation’s talents.
If Sword Hero matched him in cultivation, he could contend—yet their Daoist Levels differed by several thousand zhang.
"Boom!"
He shattered the divine light, lunging out like an azure dragon, charging at the flying Sword Hero to slay him on the spot.
"You dare!"
"Enough!"
Wei Ying, An Shanhe, and the others shouted, their power pelting Lingxuzi like rain.
Yet Lingxuzi was overwhelmingly strong, divine light surging around him as he shattered all the attacks sent his way, charging at Sword Hero without slowing in the slightest.
Saint King!
Only now did everyone realize how terrifying this cultivation realm was. Lingxuzi might not have yet pushed his Daoist Level to twelve thousand zhang, but he was already at the half-step Saint King stage—able to sweep aside most Saint Realm powerhouses. Unless his foe was of equal rank, numbers meant nothing against him.
"A top expert!"
Suddenly, green light flickered before Lingxuzi’s eyes—a fist pierced the heavens, blasting toward him with impossible speed. He didn’t even have time to see who it was; in a rush, he struck back without hesitation.
"Boom!"
The sky shattered, the chain of order snapped; brilliant divine light engulfed the world, the Great Dao thundered; nearby, Wei Ying, An Shanhe, Xuanyuan Changkong, and other Great Saint powerhouses were blasted away, the void recoiling.
As the divine light faded, everyone saw—a middle-aged man with a scholar’s bearing stood across from Lingxuzi, calmly withdrawing his punching fist.
"It’s Wei Ran! Wei Ran has made his move—he repelled Lingxuzi, he’s incredible!"
The Territory Guardian War Generals all erupted with excitement, recognizing Wei Ran.
"It’s you?"
Lingxuzi exclaimed, his voice full of disbelief.
Wei Ran!
In the Battle of Shun’an City, Jianghu had spread rumors that Wei Ran was a Great Saint powerhouse—his Daoist Level nearly seven thousand zhang, killing the Heaven-Shaking Saint Ape Yuan Gang by striking above his weight. But looking at him now, how could Wei Ran be merely Daoist Level seven thousand? Someone at that level couldn’t possibly stand toe to toe with Lingxuzi, a half-step Saint King.
"It’s Brother Wei—how did he become so powerful again?"
An Shanhe’s eyes widened in shock. Only a few days since the Battle of Shun’an City, and Wei Ran was already this fearsome.
Wei Ying steadied himself, taking a deep breath. "Maybe he was always this strong, just hiding his cultivation before."
Mu Yi nodded. "Could be. Maybe he’s actually a Martial Emperor wandering the world."
Wei Ran’s origins were a mystery; no one knew where he was from or how high his cultivation went. Not to mention matching Lingxuzi—if he suddenly revealed himself as a Martial Emperor, it wouldn’t be surprising.
"Thank you, Brother Wei!"
At this moment, Sword Hero stabilized himself, cupping his fists toward Wei Fan from a distance, a lingering terror in his heart—he’d nearly lost his life to Lingxu Cave.
Blood ran down his mouth; his arms were split open, Will Power repairing his wounds even now.
Wei Fan shook his head. There was no way he’d let Sword Hero be killed by Lingxuzi. Last time, his cultivation wasn’t enough and he had to use the Ten Thousand Dao Bell’s power to kill Wang Chuanxuan. Now that his strength had grown, he was eager to test the methods of a Martial Emperor Sect’s sect leader.
"Your cultivation isn’t bad."
He looked to Lingxuzi—even though it was only a single exchange, Lingxuzi’s strength was undeniable; his Blood Qi was still surging, even trailing behind.
[Lingxuzi: Great Saint Cultivation, Sect Leader of Lingxu Cave, fallen into Demon Dao, practiced Demon Skill]
[Slay him for 500,000 years of ordinary power harvesting, or 11,500 years of Martial Saint’s power harvesting]
Lingxuzi’s Daoist Level was eleven thousand five hundred zhang, just two thousand more than his own. With that kind of foundation able to suppress him somewhat, it showed how formidable Lingxuzi really was.