Translator: CinderTL
"Killed a Level 23 creature, gained +3431 experience!"
"Killed a Level 22 creature, gained +1025 experience!"
...
[Life Level: 26 (59781/60000)]
...
Li Chunjun soared through the skies on his flying sword, traversing the Great Shang royal city at an astonishing speed.
However, he did not immediately join the True Inheritor Disciples of the Taixu Sword Sect.
Instead, he landed a hundred miles outside the Great Shang city.
He took out a bottle of extremely potent cultivation pills, disregarding the pill toxins, and swallowed them all.
As the medicinal effects surged to near critical levels, he condensed his essence, energy, and spirit into essence blood, using it to refine the slightly cracked Scarlet Sky Sword.
The Scarlet Sky Sword had already sustained damage from killing over forty Core Formation cultivators in succession. This time, he attempted to forcefully kill Zhou Wu Gou, causing his Lifebound Flying Sword to unleash a thunderous strike that shattered the protective magic treasure of this Great Shang True Inheritor.
But correspondingly...
The condition of his Lifebound Flying Sword had worsened.
In this situation, Li Chunjun no longer waited for fifth-tier materials to reinforce his sword. Instead, he directly nourished it with his essence blood, ensuring its swift recovery while also guaranteeing it could fully refine the Starry Sky Profound Crystal.
...
While Li Chunjun was refining his flying sword, the Great Shang royal city's defensive formations had already been reactivated.
Yet, whether it was Zhou Wu Gou, Bai Yang, Tian Jian, or Huan Lie, each of their expressions was filled with gravity, showing no signs of relaxation.
They were well aware that since they had failed to kill Li Chunjun this time...
All Core Formation cultivators of the Chiyang Sword Sect would now live under the shadow of his terrifying might.
"True Inheritor Zhou, what should we do next?"
Bai Yang turned his pleading gaze toward this True Inheritor Disciple.
This time, the Chiyang Sword Sect had gone to extreme lengths to deal with Li Chunjun.
Yet, they still failed to kill him.
With Li Chunjun...
Or even just based on the Taixu Sword Sect's principle of equal retaliation, they would absolutely not let this go.
It might very well be as Li Chunjun had said—the Zhou family, the Bai family, all would have to die.
"What should we do..."
Zhou Wu Gou thought of his current predicament, his eyes filled with gloom.
If they couldn't resolve the issue of Li Chunjun...
Great Shang might truly be lost.
Without Great Shang, what meaning did his position as a True Inheritor Disciple hold? No! It wasn't just that it might be lost—it was already on the verge of being lost.
If Li Chunjun simply blocked the exits, none of the Core Formation cultivators who had been terrified by his slaughter would dare to leave. What difference would that make from abandoning the Great Shang territory? The Taixu Sword Sect would merely lose a nominal claim.
"Nominal claim?"
Hearing this, Zhou Wu Gou suddenly thought of something. He narrowed his eyes slightly: "Li Chunjun must hate me to the bone by now."
At this moment, Huan Lie stepped forward again: "True Inheritor Zhou, the Sect Master has instructed that once the battle is over, you must immediately explain the situation in Great Shang to him."
Zhou Wu Gou knew this was a call for accountability.
Although he had already prepared his excuses, he still felt a wave of nervousness at this moment.
After a while, he finally said, "I understand."
He instructed Bai Yang and the others: "Hurry and restart the formations. Repair what needs to be repaired, replenish what needs to be replenished. We absolutely cannot lose the Great Shang royal city now!"
"Yes."
The Core Formation cultivators responded.
Yet, each of their hearts was heavy with dread.
Previously, when they targeted Li Chunjun and saw hope, they naturally employed every means at their disposal.
But now, having ultimately failed to kill Li Chunjun, they calmed down, each filled with dread.
They didn't know what consequences they would face in the future.
Especially Bai Yang.
At this point, he was already considering ways to be transferred back to the main sect.
...
"Li Chunjun left the Taixu Sword Sect for just one day, and he caused the loss of fifty to sixty Core Formation cultivators from our Chiyang Sword Sect. What have you, the True Inheritor Disciple stationed in Great Shang, been doing!?"
As soon as Zhou Wu Gou connected the communication in the control room, he was met with a scolding.
Zhou Wu Gou quickly responded, "Our intelligence was flawed. Li Chunjun is not just close to the Flaming Phoenix Sword Prodigy as the intelligence department claimed; he has already attained the true strength of a Sword Prodigy. Moreover, the reason for such heavy losses was mainly due to Zhan Wuji and Bai Fei disobeying orders. They took thirty-one Core Formation cultivators to ambush Li Chunjun and were almost completely wiped out."
He mentioned Zhan Wuji...
Because Zhan Wuji was from the Zhan family, the lineage of Sect Master Zhan Chiyang.
The mention of this name did slightly temper Zhan Chiyang's anger. He glared coldly at Zhou Wu Gou, "Such a significant loss is inexcusable on your part. I will reassign a new disciple to oversee Great Shang. From now on, you will assist him."
"Great Shang..."
Zhou Wu Gou said gravely, "With the loss of so many Core Formation cultivators, unless the sect mobilizes another sixty to eighty combat-ready Core Formation cultivators for reinforcement, it will be difficult to hold onto."
"Isn't this your doing!?"
Zhan Chiyang shouted, "Li Chunjun's momentum is unstoppable. Especially since he has such strength at the True Core Realm, once he cultivates a Golden Core, he will likely be even more terrifying than the previous Flaming Phoenix Sword Prodigy! The sect cannot afford to send so many Core Formation cultivators to Great Shang to clash with him!"
Although the Chiyang Sword Sect had good relations with the neighboring Piao Miao Sect and Zhou Tian Sect, if the Chiyang Sword Sect truly weakened, these two sects would not hesitate to take a bite out of it.
"Does the Sect Master mean... to abandon Great Shang at a critical moment?"
Zhou Wu Gou's expression was bitter.
"Do you think those around you can repel Li Chunjun and reclaim Great Shang?"
Zhan Chiyang snorted lightly, "Li Chunjun has already become the Flaming Phoenix Sword Prodigy. Continuing to fight will only result in greater losses for us. The sect's hall masters have already passed a resolution to cede Great Shang if necessary, to turn conflict into harmony between the two sects. I've arranged for Ming Ji to investigate the feasibility of this."
Ming Ji.
A Golden Core expert, like Bai Fei and Zhan Wuji, was also a strong contender for the True Inheritor position.
He was also one of Zhan Chiyang's disciples.
However... "In reality, we might still have a way to kill Li Chunjun, the Flaming Phoenix Sword Prodigy."
Zhou Wu Gou said.
"Li Chunjun has already become the Flaming Phoenix Sword Prodigy. How do you plan to kill him? With your life?"
Zhan Chiyang sneered.
"Why not?"
Zhou Wu Gou raised his eyebrows.
The weight of a True Inheritor Disciple was no less than that of the hall masters, equivalent to a vice-sect master.
And a vice-sect master with his own fiefdom.
Zhou Wu Gou was unwilling to give up this benefit no matter what.
"What are you trying to say?"
Zhan Chiyang frowned.
"According to the rules we jointly established to resolve disputes among the Nine Sects, I, on behalf of the Chiyang Sword Sect, formally initiate a True Inheritor Battle against the Taixu Sword Sect!"
Zhou Wu Gou declared solemnly, "I will face Li Chunjun in a duel! With the Great Shang as the wager! If they win, the Great Shang will become the tenth province of the Taixu Sword Sect!"
"You, against Li Chunjun?"
Zhan Chiyang snorted coldly, "He is already the Flaming Phoenix Sword Prodigy. What makes you think you can challenge him?"
"With this."
As he spoke, Zhou Wu Gou took out a jade box and revealed a drop of blood that seemed to burn with flames.
"This is..."
"Li Chunjun's blood."
Zhou Wu Gou enunciated each word clearly, "We made him bleed!"
Zhan Chiyang immediately realized something, his eyes flickering.
He glanced to the side, clearly using his Divine Sense to communicate with the other sect leaders present.
After a while, he turned his gaze back to Zhou Wu Gou and gave a direct response, "Since you are so confident, I will now contact Huan Ming of the Taixu Sword Sect!"
...
Outside the capital of the Great Shang.
Li Chunjun had completed the refinement of his Lifebound Flying Sword and had briefly contemplated the various changes brought about by the elevation of his life level.
His physique, Essence Qi, Divine Sense, perception, and reaction speed had all ascended to a new level.
Of course, due to the urgency of time, he had not yet tested the exact extent of these improvements.
But...
There were plenty of targets for him to test on.
Li Chunjun stood up, ending his cultivation.
Immediately, Qin Zhou, Jiang Yuxue, Zhang Weiqian, Zhou Yuechen, and others who had already arrived and were guarding him during his cultivation gathered around.
"Sword Prodigy."
"Hmm."
Li Chunjun acknowledged with a nod and glanced around.
Not only Jiang Yuxue and the others were present to guard his cultivation, but the main force of the Taixu Sword Sect had also arrived.
Jun Zhou, Yi Feng, and others were among them.
Even the True Inheritor Zuo Tian had hurried over with a dozen or so people.
The number of Core Formation cultivators on the Taixu Sword Sect's side had already exceeded fifty.
"Since everyone is here, let's prepare to breach the city."
Li Chunjun said directly.
"Sword Prodigy, would you like to rest for a while? You've just gone through a series of battles, even storming the capital of the Great Shang. You..."
Yi Feng, who had just arrived, clasped his hands and spoke.
"Haven't I rested enough just now?"
Li Chunjun said, looking at his hand, "I'm feeling great now."
The gazes of Yi Feng, Jiang Yuxue, Zhang Weiqian, and others were fixed on Li Chunjun.
They saw that he was full of energy, his Essence Qi surging, and his state was even more vigorous than theirs, who had hurried over from the East Province.
He looked as if he had been resting and waiting for this moment, and they couldn't help but feel genuine admiration.
"The Sword Prodigy first crushed all the Core Formation cultivators of the Chiyang Sword Sect who blocked his path, forcing them to retreat to the capital of the Great Shang. Then, he single-handedly faced thirty-one Core Formation cultivators led by Bai Fei and Zhan Wuji, nearly annihilating them all. Finally, he alone stormed the capital of the Great Shang, defeated the Blazing Sun Successor Zhou Wu Gou in a direct confrontation, and calmly killed several Golden Core and True Core cultivators before leaving. His Mystical Powers are truly earth-shattering, unmatched by anyone!"
Li Chunjun had spent some time refining pills and his Flying Sword, and the well-informed Core Formation cultivators of the Taixu Sword Sect had naturally gathered all the details of what had happened during this period.
It was precisely because they had clearly understood Li Chunjun's recent achievements that all the Core Formation cultivators looked at him with genuine admiration.
Even those who were originally close aides of Zuo Tian, such as Jun Zhou and Yi Feng, who served under this True Inheritor, were no exception.
The status of the Flaming Phoenix Sword Prodigy had always been above that of the Nine True Inheritors.
Their admiration for Sword Prodigy Li, surpassing even Zuo Tian, was both justified and reasonable.
In fact, it wasn't just Jun Zhou and Yi Feng.
Even Zuo Tian, the True Inheritor himself, rushed over as soon as he learned that Li Chunjun had finished his recovery.
Seeing Li Chunjun, he cupped his hands from a distance and said, "This time, the Sword Prodigy has emerged from seclusion, traversing thousands of miles in battle. In just one day, the number of Core Formation cultivators from the Chiyang Sword Sect who have fallen at the hands of the Sword Prodigy alone has exceeded sixty. Such a feat has shaken the world! It won't be long before everyone in the Nine Immortal Sects sings praises of the Sword Prodigy's might! We congratulate Sword Prodigy Li!"
His words resonated with all the Core Formation cultivators present.
"Congratulations to Sword Prodigy Li!"
Dozens of Core Formation cultivators spontaneously cupped their hands toward Li Chunjun in unison.
"Congratulations to Sword Prodigy Li!"
Their momentum was overwhelming, their voices shaking the heavens! In that moment, it was as if time had rewound.
Thirty years ago, the first Flaming Phoenix Sword Prodigy, Jiang Lingyun, dominated the world, unstoppable! Thirty years later, the second Flaming Phoenix Sword Prodigy, Li Chunjun, roamed the world with his sword, invincible among Core Formation cultivators!
(End of the Chapter)
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