Translator: CinderTL
"Killed a Level 23 creature, experience +3014!"
...
[Life Level: 26 (55325/60000)]
...
"Whoosh!"
The Scarlet Sky Sword returned to Li Chunjun's hand.
After consecutive battles, having slain no fewer than forty Core Formation cultivators, this Flying Sword had inevitably suffered damage.
Fortunately, his life level was on the verge of promotion.
Once that happened, he could use his Essence Blood Sacrifice to refine it again. Not only would the Flying Sword be restored, but he could also refine the Starry Sky Profound Crystal, elevating the sword's quality to the peak of Mystic Treasures. This would make it even more effective in slaughtering Core Formation cultivators.
However...
After advancing to Level 27, his combat power might indeed reach the point where he could take on a hundred enemies alone. But Core Formation cultivators, even the mainstream True Core cultivators, could only provide him with a few hundred "experience points." That amount...
Even if he slaughtered every Core Formation cultivator in the Chiyang Sword Sect, it might not be enough to push him to a new level.
Therefore, to ensure the sustainability of his combat power in the future, it would be best for him to prepare a fifth-tier material in advance that could enhance the quality and strength of the Scarlet Sky Sword. Then, in one go, he could elevate the Scarlet Sky Sword to the level of a Spirit Treasure.
After sheathing his sword, Li Chunjun turned his gaze toward the capital of Great Shang.
"Fourth-tier formation!"
Three fourth-tier formations almost completely enveloped the royal capital.
The power of such formations was so immense that even if they were controlled by Core Formation cultivators, they could contend against Nascent Soul cultivators.
If the formation's controller was also a Nascent Soul cultivator, any other Nascent Soul cultivator who dared to force their way in would face almost certain death.
Moreover...
When Li Chunjun looked at the formation, he vaguely sensed an indescribable danger.
It seemed that if he truly broke into it, he would inevitably face a life-threatening calamity.
Even though he possessed numerous Talismans, including two fifth-tier Talismans that could pose a threat to Primordial Spirit True Monarchs, it still seemed unlikely to change the outcome.
This perception...
"There's an ambush."
Li Chunjun understood this in his heart.
Considering that the Taixu Sword Sect's army had not yet arrived, and relying on him alone might not be enough to breach the city, he had already decided to leave.
But at that moment, a Divine Sense crossed the void and transmitted: "Li Chunjun! Look who this is!"
Li Chunjun glanced over and saw a woman in her forties or fifties being escorted by Bai Yang and Tian Jian to the open area of the tower where Zhou Wu Gou and others were stationed.
Although he hadn't seen her since he was three years old, Li Chunjun immediately recognized her identity the moment she appeared.
So...
They really found her.
But then again, searching for a mere mortal...
With the power of the Chiyang Sword Sect, as long as they wanted to find her, it was never a question of whether they could.
Li Chunjun looked at her, remained silent for a moment, and then said in a low voice, "I intend to annihilate the legacy of your Chiyang Sword Sect, and the Chiyang Sword Sect has killed my relatives and family. This is only natural."
Everything comes at a cost.
Evil deeds are no exception.
Good deeds are the same.
Besides, he and the Chiyang Sword Sect were already locked in a fight to the death.
At this moment, Li Chunjun turned around, ready to take flight with his sword.
"Li Chunjun! If you don't give our Chiyang Sword Sect an explanation today, I will have her sliced into a thousand pieces right here!"
After Zhou Wu Gou finished speaking, he gave a meaningful glance.
In the next moment, a piercing scream echoed through the air, transmitted by Arcane Arts.
It was Tian Jian who had just slashed the woman's hand.
Amid the screams, the woman's terrified cries could also be heard: "Li Chunjun, save me... Junjun, save your mother..."
The word "Junjun" immediately caused Li Chunjun's figure to freeze.
Cultivation.
Especially after developing Divine Sense, there was a downside.
Memories long forgotten would resurface from the depths of his mind, remembered with crystal clarity.
Seeing Li Chunjun pause, Zhou Wu Gou's eyes gleamed with intensity as he shouted, "Li Chunjun! The future Flaming Phoenix Sword Prodigy... no, you are already the Flaming Phoenix Sword Prodigy! Yet, as the esteemed Flaming Phoenix Sword Prodigy, you couldn't even protect your own family. How can you claim to dominate the world and be invincible?"
With a fierce wave of his hand, the formation before him rippled, opening a gap.
"Come! I'll give you a chance to save her. Let's see just how capable you are as the Flaming Phoenix Sword Prodigy! Of course, if you don't even have the courage and choose to watch your mother die before your eyes, becoming a coward who can never hold his head high, then we'll let you be. Hahaha!"
Zhou Wu Gou laughed heartily.
Behind him, many Core Formation Cultivators, though not necessarily approving of this method, understood that if they couldn't deal with the Flaming Phoenix Sword Prodigy today, the Chiyang Sword Sect would inevitably pay a heavy price in the future.
From their perspective, right and wrong no longer mattered.
Achieving their goal was everything.
Thus, these Core Formation Cultivators also joined in the laughter.
"What? I, True Disciple Zhou, have already opened the formation, and you still dare not save her? Are you afraid of me, True Disciple Zhou?"
"Li Chunjun, if you can't even protect your own parents, why bother cultivating immortality or seeking the Dao? Go home and have children instead!"
"This is the price for betraying our Chiyang Sword Sect! Flaming Phoenix Sword Prodigy? From now on, you'll be the biggest joke in the world!" Various taunts filled the air.
Their goal was clear.
To provoke Li Chunjun, make him lose his rationality, and lure him into the formation to slaughter them all.
As long as Li Chunjun entered the formation, their goal would be achieved.
But Li Chunjun did not enter.
He stood outside the formation.
The desperate pleas of the woman, carried by Arcane Arts, still echoed in his ears.
In the distance, Zhou Wu Gou watched.
He knew that such matters required a delicate balance, a gradual approach.
Otherwise, pushing too hard would backfire.
At this moment, Huan Lie suddenly sent a Divine Sense message: "True Disciple Zhou, the main force of the Taixu Sword Sect has already penetrated deep into Great Shang, numbering over forty. They will arrive in at most the time it takes to burn an incense stick."
At most the time it takes to burn an incense stick?
What about the minimum?
Zhou Wu Gou's expression changed.
He immediately spoke in a grave tone, "Li Chunjun, every 'Philosopher'-level genius has the potential to become a True Lord in the future! And to become a True Lord, one must endure the Thunder Tribulation! When the Thunder Tribulation descends, Heart Demons will arise! If you retreat today, watching your mother die before your eyes without lifting a finger, how will you overcome the Heart Demon Tribulation of the Primordial Spirit True Monarchs?"
Li Chunjun glanced at Zhou Wu Gou.
Then he looked at the woman who kept calling him "Jun Jun."
After a long while...
The conviction in his mind—"If I become immortal, I will crush the Chiyang Sword Sect's mountain gate, refine all its disciples, erase the term 'Chiyang Sword Sect' from history, and make it a forbidden word in the world"—was forcibly suppressed.
He spoke, "Release her! From now on, I will no longer target the Chiyang Sword Sect!"
As soon as these words were spoken, Zhou Wu Gou, Bai Yang, Tian Jian, and Huan Lie all felt an uncontrollable surge of joy in their hearts.
They weren't afraid of him not responding.
They were afraid of him turning away and leaving.
When Li Chunjun paused in his steps, they knew their plan had a chance.
Though the method was dishonorable, as long as it achieved their goal, what method couldn't be used? Now, Li Chunjun couldn't help but speak…
His psychological defenses had been breached!
One step was a concession! Two steps were no different!
Three steps, four steps—they could keep conceding! "Li Chunjun, in truth, there is no direct enmity between us. Strictly speaking, you should be a member of our Chiyang Sword Sect. If you are willing to leave the Taixu Sword Sect and return to our Chiyang Sword Sect, not only could you reunite with your loved ones, but our sect would also cultivate you as a future Primordial Spirit True Monarch! The Chiyang Sword Sect always keeps its word!"
Zhou Wu Gou tried his best to make his words sound sincere.
"Release her," Li Chunjun said.
"Of course, come over first, and we'll talk slowly. The Chiyang Sword Sect will surely make you feel our sincerity," Zhou Wu Gou quickly agreed.
Li Chunjun glanced at the woman, then finally turned his gaze to Zhou Wu Gou: "Her life is in your hands, not mine. If she lives, I will no longer target the Chiyang Sword Sect. If she dies… since you've resorted to such methods, then in the future, I will use the same methods against your Zhou family, the Bai family, and all those involved in this matter!"
He looked at the Blazing Sun Successor: "In the future, when the Zhou family is wiped out, I hope you won't weep in despair over the pile of corpses, because it will be your own choice."
With that, Li Chunjun turned and left.
Zhou Wu Gou, Bai Yang, and the others, who had just begun to feel a glimmer of hope, all paled at his words.
As for Li Chunjun's threat…
At this point, it was either you die or I live—there was no turning back! They wouldn't believe Li Chunjun's so-called "no longer targeting the Chiyang Sword Sect" for a second.
If you had the power, wouldn't you seek revenge against your former adversaries?
Honesty? Promises? Those were things they used to deceive the lower ranks. Did they look like fools!? "Li Chunjun! Are you really going to watch your mother die before your eyes!? Once someone dies, they're gone forever. You clearly have the power to save her, yet you refuse. Do you want to live the rest of your life in regret?"
Zhou Wu Gou shouted.
Bai Yang quickly threatened the woman.
The woman immediately cried out: "Jun Jun, you mustn't leave! Save me, your mother! I promise to treat you well from now on, fulfill my duties as a mother, and always listen to you… They're so afraid of you, with your abilities, you can definitely save me! Come and save me!"
But her words had no effect on Li Chunjun's retreating figure.
As Li Chunjun walked further away, Zhou Wu Gou couldn't help but mock loudly: "An ungrateful wretch is an ungrateful wretch! You can abandon the sect that raised you! You can abandon the mother who gave birth to you! Li Chunjun! Someone like you shouldn't live in this world. Every day you live is a waste of food…"
The woman, knowing what would happen if Li Chunjun left, screamed uncontrollably: "Li Chunjun, you can't leave, come back! You're going to ignore your own mother's life?"
As Li Chunjun's figure disappeared into the distance, she cursed in despair, "You beast! I gave you your life, and now I'm just asking for it back! If I had known this would happen, I never should have brought you into this world..."
"Whoosh!"
Almost as soon as she began her tirade, and even as Zhou Wu Gou and the others were condemning Li Chunjun for his heartless departure, a figure suddenly appeared beside the woman in the city.
Li Chunjun! It was...
A Minor Teleportation Talisman!
The moment he grabbed the woman, he immediately prepared to use a second Minor Teleportation Talisman.
But just as he seized her, the woman suddenly gripped Li Chunjun's arm.
In the next instant, an invisible Binding Power erupted from the woman, spreading through the air. Qi, Divine Sense—everything seemed to be shrouded in a heavy, indistinct haze, as if covered in lead.
(End of the Chapter)
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