Chapter 256: Sword Severing Ghosts and Gods
“Who are you from the Clear Sky Sect?”
The four-armed old man faced Shen Yue and spoke. His voice was hoarse and ancient, as though it had crossed long ages to reach the present.
Shen Yue countered, “Then who are you? I’m not asking about your ghostly identity. When you were alive, you should have been a swordsman of no small attainment.”
The four-armed old man replied, “This old one came from the Northern Court. I was once the Sword God of the Northern Court. I offended the powerful and influential, fled into exile, and in the end fell to such a state. Though this old one may look ugly, my sword techniques and sword intent surpass even those of my living days. Do you want to give it a try as well?”
Upon hearing the other party call himself a Sword God, Shen Yue’s gaze changed. He said no more and instead took the initiative to charge at the four-armed old man.
As he advanced, Shen Yue’s sword intent erupted, causing his speed to suddenly surge.
The four-armed old man leaped up and clashed swords with him in midair. One man and one ghost unleashed their respective sharp sword techniques. The speed of their sword moves dazzled the eye. Sword energy and ghostly energy swept in different directions, blasting apart rooftop eaves, piercing through courtyard walls, and cleaving accumulated snow.
For a time, the two sides were evenly matched.
The four-armed old man was furious. How could he fail to defeat a swordsman whose realm was lower than his own?
Did that not mean his swordsmanship was inferior to the other party’s?
The four-armed old man suddenly plunged to the ground, his four arms spreading wide as violent sword energy surged up from the ground, like a gale rolling snow. It forced Shen Yue in midair to raise his sword to block, yet he was still driven back by the fierce sword energy. His right sleeve was instantly torn apart, threads of blood splattering out.
Shen Yue flipped once in midair. As he turned, he suddenly hurled the wooden sword in his hand.
Boom—
The wooden sword transformed into a streak of sword light, like a cold glint sweeping across the night sky. It pierced through the four-armed old man’s sword energy and shot straight toward his chest. Unfortunately, it was easily dodged.
The four-armed old man’s figure flickered and shifted, forcing the descending Shen Yue to rapidly move his gaze, trying to capture the old man’s position.
Inside the Inspector-General’s Residence.
Great Demon Luo, who was possessing an old man, was still sitting cross-legged and circulating his power. He could hear the rumbling sounds coming from outside; the battle was exceptionally intense.
In the corner of the great hall, a white-haired man walked out from the darkness. Half of his face resembled a wolf, the other half handsome, looking extremely bizarre. He was dressed in black robes, and beneath the hem rolled surging ghostly energy.
“Big Brother, with so many auras of immortal cultivators, it should be the Clear Sky Sect. However, just as we guessed, the Clear Sky Sect isn’t that strong,” the white-haired man sneered.
His name was Ghost Bei, ranked second among the Sixteen Evil Ghosts, second only to Great Demon Luo.
Great Demon Luo opened his eyes and said in a low voice, “It’s said that the Clear Sky Sect used to be nothing more than a small martial sect. That Li Qingqiu managed to cultivate so many immortal cultivators in less than twenty years. He cannot be underestimated.”
Ghost Bei laughed and asked, “Big Brother, even if someone is heaven-defying in talent, wanting to cultivate a level stronger than you and me within a few decades is probably impossible.”
The two of them had been immortal cultivators when alive, and their understanding of cultivation far surpassed that of other evil ghosts.
Although they had failed to send ghosts to infiltrate the Clear Sky Sect, they had learned the sect’s general situation through the martial world.
Li Qingqiu had taken over the position of Sect Master at sixteen, and in just eighteen years, had transformed the Clear Sky Sect from a seven-man martial sect into an immortal cultivation sect of tens of thousands.
Even Great Demon Luo and Ghost Bei had to admit that Li Qingqiu’s methods were formidable. Yet methods were merely methods. Cultivation required the accumulation of time. No matter how strong Li Qingqiu’s aptitude was, how powerful could he become in just eighteen years?
“The Soul-Seizing Black Fiend has vanished without a trace. Perhaps he has already been exterminated by the Clear Sky Sect. This Li Qingqiu’s strength cannot be underestimated.”
Great Demon Luo continued. Hearing this, Ghost Bei immediately felt some displeasure. Things had already come to this point—what was the use of continuing to praise the enemy?
At this moment, the great hall trembled, and dust and gravel slid down.
Ghost Bei turned to look, his face showing surprise. “This person is truly impressive. With only ninth-layer Nourishing Vital Energy Realm cultivation, his sword intent has reached such a level. Could Sword Ghost really fail to defeat him?”
Great Demon Luo looked outside the hall and said, “My ghost soldiers are rapidly decreasing. Those Clear Sky Sect disciples may not be strong, but they are enough to deal with my ghost soldiers. You must not be careless. Li Qingqiu may soon come killing his way here.”
After hearing this, Ghost Bei raised his right hand. A bone blade grew from his palm, rapidly extending until the hilt emerged from his hand. He grasped the hilt in one motion, walked to the very front of the great hall, turned to face the main gate, and quietly waited.
……
On the street, Yun Cai landed on the ground. She raised her head, revealing silver-blue eyes. Under the black night, her eyes were like gemstones.
Dozens of Corpse Ghosts were charging toward her from ahead. She showed no fear and was just about to cast a spell.
Three figures leaped over her head and charged forward.
At the very front was Xiao Wudi. He threw a punch, and vast vital energy erupted, scattering Corpse Ghosts ahead like a raging wind, clearing a path as flesh and blood flew.
Xiao Wuming held the Clear Sky Sword, his footwork nimble. Each strike was clean and decisive. The blade was wreathed in poison, piercing through the hearts of Corpse Ghosts, one ghost per step.
Seeing the three Xiao brothers arrive to support her, Yun Cai curled her lips and immediately followed after them.
Looking around, Clear Sky Sect disciples were already scattered everywhere, preventing Corpse Ghosts from charging toward Liu Jing’s army.
Aside from the endless stream of Corpse Ghosts, there were also ghosts rampaging in the dark night, placing considerable pressure on the Clear Sky Sect disciples.
The evil ghosts that had come out of Ghost King Ridge were no longer lying low, appearing one after another.
Shen Yue and Jiang Zhaoxia each restrained one evil ghost. Zhao Zhen and Li Yang battled one evil ghost together. Ji Ya and more than ten True Transmission Disciples surrounded and attacked two evil ghosts.
Boom—
An evil ghost with a towering build and a head full of white hair smashed through rooftop eaves and leaped toward Xiao Wuming.
Before this evil ghost, Xiao Wuming appeared so small. In his eyes, the evil ghost completely filled his field of vision.
Whoosh—
A sharp sound pierced the air. A silver sword shadow shot forth, directly piercing through the white-haired evil ghost’s chest, knocking him backward.
Xiao Wuming immediately jumped away and turned his head, seeing that the one who had acted was Yun Cai.
Yun Cai had opened her All-Law Spiritual Eyes and unleashed the Soul-Seizing Flying Sword. This strike consumed her greatly, and her expression was extremely grave.
The white-haired evil ghost landed on the street. He lowered his head to look at his chest, then raised his head to look at Yun Cai. His face turned ferocious as he said coldly, “Little brat, do you take this old one for a ghost soldier?”
He was secretly alarmed. Yun Cai’s strike had been too fast and too tricky, leaving him no time to dodge. Most importantly, that sword shadow had actually injured his soul.
As his words fell, the white-haired evil ghost shook both arms. Vast ghostly energy spread outward, sweeping past the three Xiao brothers and washing over Yun Cai.
Yun Cai raised her sword to block. Within the vision of her All-Law Spiritual Eyes, this ghostly energy was not merely sweeping past, but left behind strange and complex invisible restrictions along the way. At a glance, it looked like countless chains sealing off the entire street.
Immediately after, the white-haired evil ghost leaped up and pounced toward Yun Cai.
The three Xiao brothers were horrified to discover that they were unable to move at all. The moment they tried to move, their entire bodies felt as though they were being pricked by needles.
Yun Cai saw through the white-haired evil ghost’s methods and found the flaw. However, her cultivation was inferior to his. Just as she was about to shift toward that direction, the white-haired evil ghost had already arrived before her.
In that instant, Yun Cai saw the flaw in the white-haired evil ghost’s move, but her body could not respond.
Puchi—
A streak of sword energy swept across horizontally, severing the white-haired evil ghost’s head and sending it flying high, blood gushing forth. In that instant, the invisible restrictions in all directions vanished abruptly, and everything returned to normal.
Yun Cai instinctively turned aside, avoiding the white-haired evil ghost’s corpse as it crashed heavily onto the street.
She turned her head and saw Li Qingqiu appear ahead, sword energy swirling around him. He held a sword in one hand and a banner in the other. The Soul Refining Banner burst forth with terrifying suction, drawing the white-haired evil ghost’s soul into it.
After doing all this, Li Qingqiu quickly vanished.
Yun Cai let out a breath. At that moment just now, she had realized that her All-Law Spiritual Eyes were not omnipotent.
……
Inside the Inspector-General’s Residence, within the great hall.
Great Demon Luo opened his eyes again and said in a deep voice, “Quickly, immediately kill that swordsman outside!”
Upon hearing this, Ghost Bei did not doubt him and vanished from the spot at once.
Most of the buildings in the Inspector-General’s Residence had already collapsed into ruins. Shen Yue’s right arm was drenched in blood, and multiple notches had appeared on the wooden sword in his hand. He looked at the distant four-armed old man and panted heavily.
Facing this Sword God of the Northern Court, Shen Yue had no room for distraction. Every move required his full strength, causing his vital energy to be consumed extremely quickly.
Even when he went all out, he was still unable to slay the four-armed old man.
The four-armed old man was also panting. Evil ghosts did not grow tired, yet fighting Shen Yue consumed his sword intent, placing an enormous burden on his mind.
Shen Yue’s attainment in the sword path made him feel jealous.
“It seems I cannot let you become a ghost god. Otherwise, this old one would never be able to surpass you.”
The four-armed old man stared at Shen Yue and said coldly as he slowly straightened his body.
Shen Yue also rose. Suddenly, as if he sensed something, he instinctively tilted his head. A tall figure had appeared behind him.
It was Ghost Bei!
Ghost Bei swung the bone blade in his hand, intending to decapitate Shen Yue in a single strike.
This is bad!
Shen Yue’s pupils dilated. He had no time to dodge.
Clang!
A long sword blocked Ghost Bei’s bone blade for him. Shen Yue instinctively looked over, and Li Qingqiu’s figure entered his field of vision.
Li Qingqiu executed the Extreme Movement Technique, flashing over to block this fatal strike for Shen Yue.
He twisted the wrist of his right hand gripping the Tianhong Sword, and terrifying sword energy erupted, directly blasting Ghost Bei away.
Ghost Bei landed on a roof beam. He gazed at Li Qingqiu from afar, narrowed his eyes, and asked, “Spirit Perception Realm. Who are you?”
Li Qingqiu did not answer him, but instead glanced at Shen Yue and asked, “Are you alright?”
Shen Yue straightened up and brushed past him, continuing to face the four-armed old man. He replied, “My robe is slightly damaged.”
Li Qingqiu’s lips curved upward slightly upon hearing this. Almost simultaneously, the two of them moved.
One charged toward the four-armed old man. The other charged toward Ghost Bei.
Seeing Li Qingqiu come straight at him, Ghost Bei revealed a ferocious smile and let out a wild laugh as he raised his blade and slashed toward Li Qingqiu.
Vast ghostly energy surged like a monstrous wave toward Li Qingqiu, unstoppable. Within the ghostly energy, one bone blade after another emerged, incomparably sharp.
Li Qingqiu did not dodge, but instead unleashed one sword from the Immortal Severing Three Swords.
Sword light illuminated the Inspector-General’s Residence!
The sword light that Li Qingqiu transformed into pierced through the surging ghostly energy. Countless bone blade fragments were blasted away as he slew straight to Ghost Bei’s front with a single sword.
The ferocious, greedy smile on Ghost Bei’s face instantly froze.