Chapter 91: Old Friend Lingjun

The Heart Slayer Sect Leader raised the sword bone high. Around him, waves of crimson blood-colored energy surged rapidly, forming a sword beam that slashed towards Xu Yang.

A serious Xu Yang was no longer someone who could be easily dismissed. He stepped into the air, his body adorned with countless stars, and innumerable spiritual energy lights shimmered, completely blocking the incoming sword beam.

With a muffled roar, Xu Yang's true body had already pierced through the defensive aura before him, instantly charging to stand before the Sect Leader.

"Haha, I really didn't expect that there would be such a powerful Qi Refining stage cultivator like you in this world," the Sect Leader remarked. "I'm genuinely curious how you achieved this."

Xu Yang directly ignored the Sect Leader's spiritual energy barrier. Instead, he pressed his palm onto the surface of the sword bone.

In just an instant, a terrifying sense of soul oppression erupted from the surface of the sword bone.

"My heavens!" exclaimed Huang Tian. "How many souls of the deceased are sealed within this sword bone? The oppressive power is so immense, it could instantly obliterate any expert at the Cave Heaven realm!"

Huang Tian prided himself on his vast knowledge and experience, but when the soul power within this bone sword was fully released, even he was utterly shocked.

"It's simply incredible," Huang Tian thought. "If Xu Yang weren't here, I probably wouldn't have witnessed such terrifying soul power in my entire life."

Of course, the most shocked person at this moment was not Huang Tian, but the Sect Leader himself.

One must understand, sealed within this sword bone were thousands of departed souls who had died at the Sect Leader's hands.

Yet, this power, capable of destroying the soul origin of any Cave Heaven realm expert, was so easily defeated in front of Xu Yang.

Xu Yang let out a muffled roar, and an unimaginably terrifying deterrent force erupted from his soul.

The countless spectral spirits shattered. In front of Xu Yang, these departed souls seemed to find their true resting place as they were liberated from the sword bone.

The entire process did not last long. Passing over the inner hall, thousands of spectral spirits flew freely, crying out as if using their last life force to vent the pain of being sealed for so long.

At the same moment, Xu Yang's pupils turned a sapphire blue. He calmly scanned these spirits, searching for a particularly familiar aura.

Finally, Xu Yang got his answer. He saw that familiar face appear before him once again.

"Ling Jun, is that you?"

"Ancestor!"

Indeed, it was that familiar figure, the elegant young man in white, who had protected him before his second seclusion!

After emerging from seclusion, Xu Yang learned that his sect had declined. He had assumed that all his old acquaintances had faded into memories with the passage of time.

When Ling Jun reappeared before him, Xu Yang clearly felt an ominous premonition. He even suspected that the decline of his sect was not as simple as it seemed.

After finding his answer, Xu Yang gently waved his hand, floating in the air. All the spectral spirits released from the sword bone shattered into dust, thus ending their tormented lives.

Only Ling Jun's remnant soul remained, floating before him.

"Sect Master, now that I am separated from the sword bone, my time is running out," Ling Jun said. "It seems we won't have a chance to reminisce, but there is a crucial secret I must tell you.

"Ten thousand years ago, an earth-shattering secret descended upon the Three Thousand Dao States. At that time, the seven major sect legacies of the continent, including our Tianlan Sect, all had successors who personally witnessed the birth of this great secret in the Three Thousand Dao States!

"Within 200 years after that, nearly all seven major sects were annihilated. And all the inheritors who experienced this startling change also perished. The only known survivor was your disciple!"

Xu Yang was greatly alarmed. After hearing this secret, Huang Tian was also dumbfounded.

"I can't believe such a thing happened!" Xu Yang exclaimed. "Do you know what this secret of the Three Thousand Dao States entails?"

Ling Jun shook his head, a helpless expression on his face.

"You'll have to investigate the rest yourself," Ling Jun said. "I can only accompany you this far!"

Xu Yang tried to hold on, slowly reaching out his palm, intending to grasp Ling Jun's soul. But he ultimately failed. Ling Jun's soul origin had been imprisoned for too long; after losing the suppression of the sword bone's power, fading into oblivion was inevitable.

"Sect Master, my mission is complete," Ling Jun declared. "To have served under you in this life, I die without regret!"

At this moment, Xu Yang felt a slight pang of pain in his heart. But he understood that this was Ling Jun's destiny, and no one could change it. In this world, some things cannot be reversed even with immense power. Everyone has their own unique destiny, and when a mission is complete and destiny reaches its end, it marks the conclusion of a bond.

"I'm sorry, I may not be able to save your life," Xu Yang vowed, "but I can avenge you. I promise I will tear the person who imprisoned your soul into a thousand pieces and avenge you!"

Xu Yang was always a man of his word. Moreover, with his immense power, killing the Sect Leader before him was like crushing an ant.

"Do you have anything else to say?" Xu Yang's voice was cold. "I assure you, this will be your last chance to speak."

Xu Yang's voice was utterly cold. The icy blue in his eyes gradually faded, replaced by an irresistible murderous aura that burned.

The Sect Leader seemed to sense the irresistible oppressive force emanating from Xu Yang. He instinctively reinserted the sword bone into his body, unleashing his peak state.

"Since fate has brought us together," the Sect Leader snarled, "then let's decide our victor in this very moment! I want to see if heaven is truly fair to me. Once I break through the limits of the Cave Heaven realm, I have a hundred ways to tear you into a thousand pieces!"

Xu Yang paid no attention to what he said. His hands had already begun to condense immensely powerful spiritual energy.

Suddenly, an incredibly brilliant giant light sword slowly descended from behind Xu Yang. The Sect Leader also pushed his Ice Heaven Art to its extreme; a massive ice wall slowly appeared above his head, attempting to use this technique to block Xu Yang's destructive power.

Unfortunately, this power was truly insignificant in front of a rampaging Xu Yang.

Rumble!

Accompanied by a mighty explosion, the fierce sword beam unleashed by Xu Yang instantly cleaved the Sect Leader's physical body, splitting him into two halves.

"No, I won't lose, I won't lose!"

The Sect Leader roared hysterically. However, in the face of Xu Yang's absolute power, he was utterly unable to make any other move to change his fate.

Today was destined to be the day he met his demise. Despair came so swiftly and intensely.

Unwilling to accept defeat, just before his physical body disintegrated, the Sect Leader directed all his remaining power towards the surface of the golden lotus's main body.

"Hahaha, even if I die, I'll take someone down with me!"

Xu Yang seemed to have anticipated his action. He merely let out a cold snort, and an extremely powerful force instantly erupted from his palm, shattering the Sect Leader's desperate attack in mid-air and dismantling his scheme.

"My heavens, this kid's reaction is too fast!" Huang Tian exclaimed. "Even I didn't sense a thing!"

Huang Tian sighed in shock, thinking to himself that Xu Yang's strength had surpassed his own by an unknown number of times.