Chapter 1337: Kill

Sword cultivators are the most extreme among combat cultivators, known by the world as "sword fanatics." Every true sword cultivator can defeat opponents of a higher cultivation level.

Take the Beixuan Sword Sect in Bing Province, for example. This sect actually has very few members, significantly fewer than other first-grade sects – perhaps only thirty percent or even less of their numbers. This is due to their extremely strict requirements for accepting disciples.

However, every member of the Beixuan Sword Sect is a sword cultivator. They dedicate their lives solely to cultivating the sword, focusing on nothing else. Therefore, despite their small numbers, they have consistently maintained their position among the top ten first-grade sects.

Among the nearly one hundred first-grade sects in the Nine Provinces, the Beixuan Sword Sect is undoubtedly the most formidable. Even other first-grade sects dare not provoke them easily.

The story of "eight hundred sword cultivators descending from Tian Mountain" is not just a tale; it's an event that actually occurred.

Li Baxian's background is complex. In his youth, he was a disciple of the Blood Sect, later transferred to the Pill Heart Gate, and also had the opportunity to cultivate diligently at the Beixuan Sword Sect for several years. Consequently, he has a very good relationship with the Beixuan Sword Sect.

The Sword Master of the Beixuan Sword Sect even personally visited the Pill Heart Gate, intending to take Li Baxian as a disciple, but the Pill Heart Gate refused. This incident, however, clearly demonstrated the Sword Master's high regard for Li Baxian.

Although Li Baxian couldn't be formally inducted, the Sword Master taught him everything he knew, holding nothing back. The only exceptions were certain secret sword techniques of the sect, which were forbidden to be passed down due to ancestral teachings.

Li Baxian lived up to expectations, defeating the top-ranked cultivator on the Spirit Creek List in his very first year after advancing to the Ninth Layer.

If not for the damage to his Spirit Aperture, he would have long since reached the Cloud River or even True Lake cultivation realms.

Despite being stuck in the Spirit Creek realm for over a decade with no advancement in cultivation, his enigmatic sword skills improved unimaginably. In the Spirit Creek realm, when it comes to sword arts, if he claims to be second, no one dares to claim to be first. Even the rigid, stoic cultivators of the Beixuan Sword Sect respectfully address him as Uncle-Master Li.

This is the true reason he, an Eighth-Layer Spirit Creek cultivator, held the tenth position.

At this crucial moment, this renowned sword cultivator, a single figure with one sword, burst onto the scene, striking fear and silence into the cultivators of the Myriad Demon Ridge.

Wei Yang was indeed powerful, but she had forcefully entered the Spirit Creek battlefield with a True Lake cultivation level. The more people she killed, the denser the Soul Annihilation Divine Thunder would become around her. If she were to kill even two or three more, she would undoubtedly be consumed by the divine thunder, unable to escape death even with her True Lake realm foundation.

This was also why the Holy Fire Cult cultivators repeatedly provoked her. When faced with Wei Yang's attacks, those Holy Fire Cult cultivators didn't even resist, clearly inviting her to kill them. This was because the Holy Fire Cult wanted to eliminate the threat of Wei Yang as soon as possible.

But Li Baxian was different. This guy was a genuine Eighth-Layer Spirit Creek cultivator, and killing would incur no penalty for him.

As many Myriad Demon Ridge cultivators looked on in panic, Li Baxian turned around, revealing a radiant smile. "Which one is the junior brother?"

He didn't need to wait for an answer. Lu Ye's cultivation features at the Fifth Layer were too obvious, and he was surrounded by the Haotian Alliance members.

Their eyes met, and Li Baxian said, "I am your Fourth Senior Brother!"

"Greetings, Fourth Senior Brother!" Lu Ye bowed, thinking to himself that the Blood Sect not only had Wei Yang as the Senior Sister, but if Li Baxian was the Fourth Senior Brother, then there must be a Second Senior Brother and a Third Senior Brother above him.

"Good," Li Baxian said, nodding with a smile. "That old man finally understood and started taking disciples. Excellent!"

He then turned to Wei Yang, complaining, "Senior Sister, you didn't even mention such a big event. If it wasn't for that girl Yuechan telling me, I wouldn't have known we had a new junior brother."

"The old man didn't allow it," Wei Yang explained.

"That old man's foul temper!" Li Baxian snorted softly, then lightly jumped off his longsword, drawing it. A captivating smile, one that enchanted countless female cultivators, played on his lips. Indeed, this Fourth Senior Brother possessed excellent looks, truly handsome and unrestrained.

"Meeting Junior Brother today brings me great satisfaction. Since I haven't prepared a welcoming gift, I'll just kill a few people to liven things up for Junior Brother!"

As he spoke, he gave a light flick of his longsword. It transformed into a flash of sword light, darting away like lightning, moving through the enemy formation like galloping thunder.

"Watch out!" someone yelled.

"Ah!" others screamed.

As the sword light began its rampage, chaos erupted within the Myriad Demon Ridge ranks. Hissing sounds, like sharp blades cutting through flesh, filled the air. Spiritual energy became chaotic as cultivators immediately activated their powers to resist and dodge. However, the sword light was incredibly fast and unbelievably sharp; anyone in its path disintegrated.

Lives withered, and blood flowed like rivers.

In mere moments, over twenty people met a tragic end under the sword light, and this was only the beginning.

A strong cultivator from the Myriad Demon Ridge boldly charged at Li Baxian, believing this was an opportunity to kill him, as sword cultivators are most vulnerable when controlling their flying swords.

That person was also a sword cultivator, but instead of controlling a flying sword, he rushed directly at Li Baxian, shaking his longsword to produce a curtain of sword light that enveloped Li Baxian.

Lu Ye watched with a tightening heart, but his Fourth Senior Brother merely stood there calmly, even having the leisure to grab his wine gourd and take a swig.

As the sword curtain descended, he opened his mouth and spat out a tiny sword ray.

Though small, the sword ray contained terrifying power. The moment it appeared, it shattered the vast sword curtain, piercing through the chest of the Myriad Demon Ridge cultivator and exiting from his back.

The man froze before Li Baxian, his eyes filled with disbelief.

"You? You dare to wield a sword?" Li Baxian's face hardened with coldness.

The small sword ray that killed the man did not vanish. Instead, like the first flying sword, it transformed into a streak of light, weaving through the battlefield. The two streaks, one large and one small, crisscrossed back and forth, and even more Myriad Demon Ridge cultivators died.

"Don't kill all the merit points," Wei Yang suddenly reminded him. Although Li Baxian was only in the Eighth Layer, he actually possessed the foundation of a Ninth-Layer cultivator, specifically one who practiced a Heaven-grade cultivation method. According to the rules of the Spirit Creek battlefield, to avoid merit point penalties, he would at least need to kill ordinary Ninth-Layer cultivators (those who practiced Earth-grade cultivation methods). If he killed an Eighth-Layer cultivator practicing an Earth-grade cultivation method, he would certainly have merit points deducted due to the significant difference in cultivation levels.

Cultivators' merit points were hard-earned and immensely useful; no one would squander them easily.

Given how many people Li Baxian had killed, he would undoubtedly lose a significant amount of merit points.

"I know my limits," Li Baxian replied. With a raise of his hand, the two streaks of light flew back. One entered his gourd, and the other he grasped in his hand. The killing ceased, leaving behind a scene of blood, severed limbs, and scattered flesh.

Lu Ye, surrounded by the crowd, watched with a surging heart.

His Senior Sister was already so fierce, and now this Fourth Senior Brother proved to be equally formidable. What kind of divine sect was this Blood Sect anyway?

Although he hadn't escaped danger, he smiled, feeling immensely pleased.

It felt truly good to have people supporting him!

He suddenly remembered what Lan Yudie had told him earlier: that person had already set out, and as long as he could connect with them, his survival would be guaranteed.

Lu Ye hadn't known whom she referred to before, but now he did.

The person she spoke of was Li Baxian!

"Quick, take the junior brother away!" Wei Yang urged.

Li Baxian shook his head. "We can't leave. Someone has been waiting for me here." If they could have left, he would have taken Lu Ye away the moment he arrived. In the current situation, getting Lu Ye to the Cangming Mountain outpost was the most crucial thing; killing people was secondary.

If Li Baxian hadn't detected the aura of his old rival lurking nearby, why would he have done something seemingly meaningless?

Did he really kill so many Myriad Demon Ridge cultivators just to entertain Lu Ye? His main goal was to alleviate some pressure on his own side, even if it meant losing a lot of merit points.

That person had arrived earlier than him but had not shown himself because Wei Yang was present. If he dared to appear, Wei Yang would instantly cut him down.

"I could smell your stench from a mile away! Get out here!" Li Baxian suddenly turned his head to look in a certain direction, then swung his longsword, sending a sword ray towards that area.

The Myriad Demon Ridge cultivators there scrambled to dodge, but a few still died. However, the sharp sword ray was shattered by a long blade!

Behind the long blade stood a youth with disheveled hair, his head bound by a tight circlet. His gaze, as sharp as a hungry wolf's, fixed coldly on Li Baxian, gleaming with ferocity.

"Yan Xing!" A Haotian Alliance cultivator recognized the newcomer and cried out in alarm.

On the Nine Provinces Continent, there's a saying: "Southern Blade, Northern Sword." The "Northern Sword" refers to the Beixuan Sword Sect in Bing Province, while the "Southern Blade" refers to the Mad Blade Sect in Ding Province.

Both are first-grade sects, bustling with talented individuals.

From ancient times, those who practiced blade arts looked down on those who practiced sword arts, and vice versa. They mutually despised each other, finding fault no matter how they looked. Although these two sects were not in the same province, their outposts in the Spirit Creek battlefield were adjacent, leading to frequent skirmishes. Years of grievances had resulted in countless casualties among their disciples, making the two sects sworn enemies, each desiring to completely eradicate the other.

Yan Xing hailed from the Mad Blade Sect, and his ranking on the Spirit Creek List was significantly higher than Li Baxian's, placing him at second.

Regardless of their Spirit Creek List rankings, Yan Xing and Li Baxian had a personal vendetta.

When Li Baxian was cultivating at the Beixuan Sword Sect, he participated in an operation targeting the Mad Blade Sect. In that battle, Li Baxian killed a woman.

That woman was Yan Xing's childhood sweetheart...

After that, Yan Xing swore to kill Li Baxian and avenge his woman.

The battle in which Li Baxian's Spirit Aperture was damaged was partly his doing. Unfortunately, that battle ultimately failed to achieve its full objective, allowing Li Baxian to escape death.

With his Spirit Aperture damaged, Li Baxian couldn't advance to the Cloud River realm, and this delay lasted over a decade.

Just like Feng Yuechan, Yan Xing also deliberately suppressed his cultivation from advancing, remaining in the Spirit Creek battlefield solely to kill Li Baxian with his own hands.

The strong cultivators from various sects on the Spirit Creek List felt a pang of bitterness when this was mentioned. Both the first and second ranked individuals were stuck because of Li Baxian, refusing to advance, meaning others could only hope for the third position at best...

Over time, those powerful cultivators no longer dwelled on the matter. Those who could advance to the Cloud River realm quickly did so, eager to leave this troublesome place.

Unfortunately, for all these years, Li Baxian never gave Yan Xing a chance, as he always stayed at Hawk-Flying Stone, the outpost of the Pill Heart Gate, rarely venturing out.

With this move, Tang San's grasp of time, position, and distance was exceptionally precise.

He knew very well that even with his Tang Sect absolute techniques and his third-tier Xuantian Skill cultivation, the wolf demon, with its extraordinary talent and powerful physique, might not be an opponent he could face head-on. Especially since he was young and lacked sufficient qi and blood, he definitely couldn't fight for long. If it hadn't been for the transformed human forcibly killing one wolf demon, he might not have even acted against two third-tier wolf demons, as his own life was the most important thing.

However, once he made a move, it had to hit its target.

The wolf demon was in a state of extreme fury at that moment, so it wasn't until Tang San's palm struck the side of its eye that it realized what was happening. It sharply turned its head, its fangs lunging straight for Tang San.

At the same time, Tang San's other hand grabbed the wolf demon's clothes. Using his small, agile body, he pulled on the wolf's fur, changing his direction. He flipped over, almost grazing the third-tier wolf demon's chest, and landed on its other side.

His right index and middle fingers formed a sword-finger, activating Mysterious Jade Hand, causing the two fingers to shimmer with a pure white jade color. He swiftly stabbed them into the eyes of the turning wolf demon, like lightning.

*Thud!* The slender fingers instantly pierced into warm flesh. In terms of physical strength, Tang San was certainly far inferior to this third-tier wolf demon, but once he struck a vital point with energy of the same level, there was no chance of survival.

With the infusion of Mysterious Jade Hand, the Xuantian Skill rotated and surged into the wolf demon's brain. As a result, the wolf demon's other eye also burst open instantly, and its brain was pulverized into a pulp. Its roar abruptly choked off as if its throat had been cut, and its strong body tumbled to the ground.

Tang San pushed off its body with his toes, flipping over to land a distance away.

This attack's success was due to his extensive combat experience from his previous life. His small, child-like body and the cover of night were the best concealment, combined with the third-tier wolf demon being in a rage, which dulled its senses.

In a direct confrontation, Tang San's Mysterious Jade Hand might not have been able to penetrate the wolf demon's thick hide. However, the eyes were the most vulnerable point; piercing them and injecting Xuantian Skill energy meant certain death.

With both feet on the ground, the third-tier wolf demon on the other side also fell silent. Only then did Tang San breathe a sigh of relief. He didn't rush to check on the human but quickly lay down, pressing his ear to the ground, listening for any sounds of pursuers.

With his current strength, a direct confrontation with a third-tier wolf demon was difficult. No matter how good his technique, his young body was too fragile. A single hit from the wolf demon could very likely be fatal. That seemingly simple attack he had just executed was actually his full effort, raising his mental will to its highest degree.

There were no other sounds around, indicating that only two third-tier wolf demons were pursuing the human who could transform. This also brought Tang San a sigh of relief; otherwise, he would have had no choice but to flee.

Only then did he walk towards the human, maintaining his vigilance.

When he approached the person, he immediately noticed that the fur that had previously grown on them had disappeared. This made Tang San's heart beat a little faster.

Given his young age and the fact that he had no relation to the transformed human, the safest option would have been to do nothing and wait for the wolf demons to leave. Yet, he chose to act. One reason was that the pursued individual was human. Another crucial reason was the transformation that had just occurred.

In Tang San's original world of Douluo Dalu, there were Soul Masters with beast martial souls who possessed similar abilities. They could also continuously grow and become stronger by cultivating their beast martial souls.

If a similar ability existed in this world, learning it would naturally be greatly beneficial for his own strength and would make it easier for him to integrate into this world!