Chapter 156: Killing Someone to Help Little Junior Brother Enjoy

Sword cultivators represent the most extreme practitioners of weapon cultivation. They are known to the world as "sword lunatics," and it's widely acknowledged that every true sword cultivator can defeat opponents from a higher cultivation realm.

Consider the North Xuan Sword Sect in Bing Province. This sect has a remarkably small number of members compared to other first-rank sects, often only thirty percent or even less. This is due to their exceedingly strict requirements for accepting disciples. However, every member of the North Xuan Sword Sect is a sword cultivator, dedicating their entire lives solely to the cultivation of the sword. This singular focus ensures that, despite their small numbers, they consistently hold a firm position among the ten top-tier sects.

Among the nearly one hundred first-rank sects across the Nine Provinces, the North Xuan Sword Sect is undoubtedly considered the most formidable and difficult to provoke. Even other top-tier sects would think twice before angering them. The saying, "Eight hundred sword cultivators descending from Mount Tian," is not merely a tale; it's a historical event.

Li Baxian's background is quite complex. As a youth, he was a disciple of the Crimson Blood Sect, later transferring to the Danxin Gate. He also had the rare opportunity to train rigorously for several years at the North Xuan Sword Sect, cultivating a strong relationship with them. The Sword Master of the North Xuan Sword Sect even personally visited the Danxin Gate, hoping to recruit Li Baxian as a disciple. Although the Danxin Gate refused, this incident clearly demonstrated the Sword Master's high regard for Li Baxian. Despite not being able to formally accept him, the Sword Master imparted all his knowledge to Li Baxian. Every technique that could be taught was, with the sole exception of a few secret sword arts restricted by ancestral decree from being taught outside the sect.

Li Baxian did not disappoint; in the very first year after advancing to the Ninth-level cultivation realm, he defeated the reigning Spirit Stream Ranking champion. Had his spiritual aperture not been damaged, he would undoubtedly be a Cloud River Realm or even a True Lake Realm cultivator by now. Though he languished in the Spirit Stream Realm for over a decade, unable to advance his cultivation, his incredibly unpredictable swordsmanship underwent unimaginable refinement. Within the Spirit Stream Realm, when it comes to sword arts, if he claims second place, no one dares to claim first. Even the most unyielding and rigid cultivators of the North Xuan Sword Sect address him respectfully as Senior Master Li. This unparalleled skill is precisely why he confidently holds the tenth position on the Spirit Stream Ranking, despite being only at the Eighth-level of the Spirit Stream Realm.

At this critical juncture, the battle-renowned sword cultivator appeared dramatically, a solitary figure with a single sword, instantly silencing the Myriad Demon Ridge cultivators with his mere presence.

While Wei Yang is undeniably powerful, she forcibly entered the Spirit Stream battlefield at a True Lake Realm cultivation. The more individuals she slays, the more intensely the Soul-Extinguishing Divine Lightning coils around her. Should she kill even a few more, she would certainly be consumed by the divine lightning, and even her True Lake Realm foundation would not save her from death. This was precisely why cultivators from the Sacred Fire Sect relentlessly provoked her. When Wei Yang attacked, several Sacred Fire Sect members didn't even resist, openly inviting her to kill them. The Sacred Fire Sect was clearly intent on neutralizing Wei Yang as a threat as quickly as possible. Li Baxian, however, was different. He was genuinely at the Spirit Stream Eighth-level, and his kills would not incur any penalties.

As the numerous Myriad Demon Ridge cultivators stared in terror, Li Baxian turned, a bright smile on his face. "Which one is the junior brother?" he asked. There was no need for an answer. Lu Ye's Fifth-level cultivation signature was too distinct, and he was clearly surrounded by the Vast Heaven Alliance members. Their gazes met, and Li Baxian declared, "I am your Fourth Senior Brother!"

"Greetings, Fourth Senior Brother!" Lu Ye bowed, realizing that the Crimson Blood Sect had more than just Wei Yang as their First Senior Sister. If Li Baxian was the Fourth Senior Brother, then there must also be a Second and Third Senior Brother.

"Excellent," Li Baxian said, nodding with a smile. "The old man finally figured it out and started taking disciples. Splendid!" He then turned to Wei Yang, chiding playfully, "Senior Sister, you didn't say a word about such a big event! If that girl Yue Chan hadn't told me, I wouldn't have known I gained a junior brother."

"The old man forbade it," Wei Yang explained.

"That old man's foul temper!" Li Baxian scoffed. He lightly dismounted from his long sword, drew it with a flourish, a captivating smile on his lips that charmed countless female cultivators. Indeed, this Fourth Senior Brother possessed an exceptionally handsome and dashing appearance. "Meeting my junior brother today brings me great joy," he announced. "I didn't prepare a welcoming gift, so instead, I'll slay a few people to liven things up for him!"

As he spoke, he gave his long sword a light flick. It transformed into a streak of sword light, flashing away like lightning and moving through the enemy ranks with the speed of thunder.

"Watch out!" someone roared.

"Argh!" others screamed in agony.

As the sword light began its rampage, chaos erupted within the Myriad Demon Ridge formation. Hissing sounds, the grim signature of sharp blades slicing through flesh, filled the air. Spiritual energy surged erratically as cultivators desperately tried to activate their powers to defend and dodge. Yet, the sword light was impossibly fast and impossibly sharp; anyone in its path was instantly torn asunder. Lives extinguished, and blood flowed like a river. In mere moments, over twenty individuals tragically perished beneath the sword light, and this was only the beginning.

Some powerful Myriad Demon Ridge cultivators bravely charged at Li Baxian, believing this was their chance to strike him down, as sword cultivators are supposedly most vulnerable when remotely controlling their blades. That particular individual was also a sword cultivator, but instead of remote control, he charged directly at Li Baxian, unleashing a shimmering curtain of sword energy from his blade, intending to envelop him. Lu Ye watched, his heart clenching, but his Fourth Senior Brother merely stood there with an air of composure, even casually taking a swig from his wine gourd. As the sword curtain descended, he parted his lips and expelled a tiny, almost imperceptible sword gleam.

Though minuscule, this sword gleam harbored terrifying power. The moment it emerged, it shattered the expansive sword curtain, piercing directly through the Myriad Demon Ridge cultivator's chest and exiting his back. The man stiffened before Li Baxian, his eyes wide with incredulity.

"Do you even *deserve* to wield a sword?" Li Baxian's expression turned frigid.

The diminutive sword gleam, rather than dissipating after killing the man, transformed into another streak of light, mirroring the first flying sword. The two streaks, one large and one small, wove through the enemy ranks, causing even more Myriad Demon Ridge cultivators to fall.

"Don't wipe out all the merit points," Wei Yang suddenly interjected, reminding him. Though Li Baxian was only at the Eighth-level, he possessed the true foundation of a Ninth-level cultivator, having trained in a Heaven-grade cultivation technique. Under the rules of the Spirit Stream battlefield, he would only avoid merit penalties if he killed ordinary Ninth-level cultivators—those who practiced Earth-grade techniques. Killing an Eighth-level cultivator who used an Earth-grade technique would certainly result in merit deductions due to the significant disparity in cultivation. Cultivators' merit points were hard-earned and incredibly valuable; no one would squander them lightly. Given how many people Li Baxian had killed, he would undoubtedly lose a significant amount of merit.

"I know what I'm doing," Li Baxian replied. With a raised hand, the two streaks of light flew back; one vanished into his gourd, and the other settled into his grip. The slaughter ceased, leaving behind a battlefield soaked in blood, littered with severed limbs and shredded flesh.

Lu Ye, encircled by his allies, watched the scene with a surge of exhilaration. His First Senior Sister was formidable enough, but for this Fourth Senior Brother to be equally impressive... what kind of extraordinary sect was the Crimson Blood Sect? Though still not entirely out of danger, he couldn't help but smile, a deep sense of relief washing over him. It felt truly wonderful to have such powerful backing!

He suddenly recalled something Lan Yudie had told him earlier: that someone was already en route, and if he could meet them, his survival would be assured. Lu Ye hadn't known who she meant then, but he knew now. The person she spoke of was Li Baxian!

"Quickly, get the junior brother out of here!" Wei Yang urged.

Li Baxian shook his head. "We can't leave. Someone has been waiting for me here the whole time." If escape were an option, he would have taken Lu Ye away the moment he arrived. In the current circumstances, getting Lu Ye to the Cangming Mountain outpost was the priority; killing enemies was secondary. Had he not sensed the presence of an old rival hidden nearby, Li Baxian would never have engaged in such seemingly pointless actions. His slaughter of so many Myriad Demon Ridge cultivators wasn't merely to "liven things up" for Lu Ye. His primary goal was to ease the pressure on his own side, a cost he was willing to bear even if it meant forfeiting a substantial amount of merit. That individual had arrived before Li Baxian but had remained concealed. With Wei Yang present, any attempt to reveal himself would have resulted in his immediate demise at her hands.

"I could smell your stench from a mile away! Get out here!" Li Baxian suddenly turned his head and glared in a certain direction, then slashed down with his long sword, sending a sword gleam hurtling towards that spot. The Myriad Demon Ridge cultivators in that area hastily dodged, but several still perished. Yet, the sharp sword gleam was abruptly shattered by a long blade!

Behind the long blade stood a young man with disheveled hair, a tight band around his head, glaring at Li Baxian with cold, wolf-like eyes that gleamed with ferocity.

"Yan Xing!" A Vast Heaven Alliance cultivator cried out, recognizing the newcomer.

On the continent of the Nine Provinces, there was a well-known saying: "Southern Blade, Northern Sword." The "Northern Sword" referred to the North Xuan Sword Sect in Bing Province, while the "Southern Blade" denoted the Mad Blade Gate in Ding Province. Both were first-rank sects, renowned for their abundance of skilled cultivators. From ancient times, those who practiced with blades disdained those who wielded swords, and vice versa. They held a mutual aversion, always finding fault with one another. Although these two sects were not located in the same province, their outposts within the Spirit Stream battlefield were adjacent, leading to frequent skirmishes. Over years of accumulating grievances and countless casualties among their disciples, the two major sects had become sworn enemies, each desiring the complete eradication of the other.

Yan Xing hailed from the Mad Blade Gate, and his position on the Spirit Stream Ranking was significantly higher than Li Baxian's, holding the second spot. Regardless of the Spirit Stream Ranking, Yan Xing and Li Baxian harbored a deep personal vendetta. Years ago, while Li Baxian was cultivating at the North Xuan Sword Sect, he participated in an operation against the Mad Blade Gate. During that conflict, Li Baxian killed a woman. That woman was Yan Xing's childhood sweetheart. From that day forward, Yan Xing vowed to kill Li Baxian and avenge his beloved.

Yan Xing played a direct role in the battle that led to the shattering of Li Baxian's spiritual aperture. Regrettably, that confrontation ultimately fell short, allowing Li Baxian to escape. With his spiritual aperture damaged, Li Baxian was unable to advance to the Cloud River Realm, consigning him to over a decade of stagnation. Consequently, Yan Xing, much like Feng Yuechan, deliberately halted his own cultivation progression, remaining in the Spirit Stream battlefield solely to personally kill Li Baxian. The powerful cultivators from various sects on the Spirit Stream Ranking would sigh wistfully whenever this topic arose. With the top two positions effectively 'frozen' by Li Baxian's refusal to advance, they could, at best, only aspire to the third spot. Over time, most of these powerful cultivators stopped dwelling on it. Those capable of advancing to the Cloud River Realm quickly did so, eager to depart from the perilous battlefield.

Unfortunately for Yan Xing, Li Baxian had never given him an opportunity over all these years. Li Baxian consistently remained at the Eagle-Flying Stone within the Danxin Gate outpost, rarely venturing out.