Sword Intent Soaring to the Heavens

In an open area with a broad view, Ye Xun and his three companions each held their weapons as they faced enemies from all directions. Since they had entered the secret realm at the same time, they had not been far apart and had quickly reunited.

However, they later encountered a Giant Black Scorpion. The four of them exhausted every effort to defeat it, only to obtain an Ink Jade Ruyi from within!

What had originally been a simple hunt instantly took on a different flavor. The people around them believed they had obtained the True Meaning of Daoism and, like madmen, surrounded them here, demanding that they hand over the Ink Jade Ruyi.

Fortunately, they were all at Peak Deity Transformation, which made these people wary and unwilling to make a rash move.

"The True Meaning of Daoism should belong to everyone. How can your academy be so selfish!"

A sharp-faced, monkey-cheeked fellow shouted at them.

"Yeah, yeah! This is an inheritance left behind by our predecessors for future generations to comprehend. Everyone who sees it deserves a share—you can't keep it all for yourselves!"

Ye Xun and the others nearly coughed up blood from anger at such unreasonable words.

"We worked ourselves to the bone fighting that Giant Black Scorpion over there. One of our companions was even injured—did any of you ever lend a hand?"

"Now that we've obtained a treasure, you use righteousness to pressure us into handing it over. Who exactly is the unreasonable one here?"

"Besides, it's just an ordinary magical artifact! How many more times do I have to explain it to you?"

They were furious beyond measure, while nearly a hundred people had surrounded them—and more were still gathering.

"Stop quibbling. What it is, everyone will know once you hand it over for us to see. Opportunities depend on one's own ability. Do you four really think you can protect it? How laughable!"

Someone else spoke up and stepped forward. He was, astonishingly, also at Peak Deity Transformation, with greed and savagery laid bare in his eyes.

Several people followed behind him, clearly intending to force the issue.

They did not believe Ye Xun's explanation at all.

But Ye Xun knew perfectly well that once the Ink Jade Ruyi was handed over, there would be absolutely no chance of taking it back.

Ye Xun looked at the companion beside him, who clutched his chest with a bluish face. He had been severely wounded earlier by a sting from the scorpion's tail, and had only just swallowed a pill when this crowd surrounded them, before he could even refine it.

"Ye Xun, we absolutely can't hand this over. Even if we have to fight to the death, we must bring it back to the academy. We can't let these people crush our academy's spirit!"

The man wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth, a fierce glint shining in his eyes as well.

The few of them exchanged glances, their grips on their weapons tightening further. Even if they died here, they would never allow anyone to look down on Changning Immortal Academy!

If they handed it over today, the entire academy would surely become a laughingstock for all under heaven in the future!

Seeing that they had no intention of surrendering the treasure, the man who had stepped out gave a chuckle and cupped his fists toward all directions. "Fellow Daoists, within a secret realm, we ought to sail through storm and wave together and treat one another honestly. Since these people insist on acting this way, I'll make the first move on behalf of all fellow Daoists!"

"Good!"

At his words, applause and cheers erupted all around.

The man drew a long spear and pointed it directly at Ye Xun. To the people behind him, he said, "Attack together!"

His spear shot out like a dragon, piercing forth like a startled rainbow. Faint lightning flickered around its tip.

Ye Xun did not dare move too far from his classmates, so he could only use a spell to block the attack. A phantom of Sword Intent appeared behind him and charged straight at the man.

However, the previous battle had drained him too heavily. Ye Xun's Sword Intent phantom was shattered by a single thrust of the man's spear, delaying him for only an instant.

"Damn it, I'll fight you to the death!"

Ye Xun's eyes reddened as well. With an angry curse, madness filled his face. Today, even if he died, he would never hand it over!

Clang!

But at that moment, ripples swept across heaven and earth. The spear-wielding man, charging forward, abruptly stopped in midair. A person stood atop the spear tip, and the spiritual power emanating from his body blocked every one of the people behind him.

"Who are you!"

The man shouted furiously and looked at Xiang Tian.

The surroundings suddenly fell silent. Indeed, some did not recognize Xiang Tian, but most of them knew who he was.

The moment Ye Xun and the others saw that figure, they immediately breathed a sigh of relief. Even though Xiang Tian was only in the Deity Transformation Realm, for some reason, seeing him made them feel at ease.

"You don't know me?"

Xiang Tian looked expressionlessly at the spear-wielding man.

The man tried to pull back his spear, only to discover that no matter what he did, he could not budge it.

Looking at Xiang Tian again, the man found that Xiang Tian's aura was not much different from his own—he was also at Peak Deity Transformation. He could not help but relax. Thinking of the number of people on his side, he regained some courage.

"Why should I know you!"

As he said this, he paid no attention at all to the changes in everyone's expressions around him.

Xiang Tian nodded, then said to Ye Xun, "Set up a barrier first. Heal yourselves on the spot. No one will disturb you."

Ye Xun and the others obediently did as he said. Right before everyone's eyes, they sat down on the ground, released a barrier to cut off outside interference, swallowed medicinal pills, and began refining them to heal their injuries.

The man could not believe it. How did these students dare do this? Just because of one sentence from a Deity Transformation cultivator?

"Damn it! You're utterly disrespectful and going too far! Do you take me for decoration?!"

With a roar, spiritual power surged through his entire body as he tried to blast Xiang Tian away.

"Useless effort!"

Xiang Tian used only those three words to comment on his actions. With one palm strike, he passed directly through the man's surging spiritual power, seized him by the crown of his head, then spun through the air.

With a crack, the surging spiritual power came to an abrupt halt. Before everyone's eyes, Xiang Tian directly twisted his head around twice.

No one had expected that between two people of equal realms, one would die so quickly. Though the man's carelessness had played a part, Xiang Tian's ruthlessness was laid bare for all to see.

No one dared so much as breathe. Fear filled their eyes.

Bang!

The man's corpse fell from midair, the sound like a heavy hammer striking everyone's hearts.

Looking at the remaining few who had stepped forward, Xiang Tian spoke in an icy voice, "Want to give it a try?"

The few were so terrified they nearly pissed themselves, shaking their heads again and again.

Xiang Tian ignored them. Turning, he returned to Ye Xun and the others' side, expressionless as he began standing guard over them.

The crowd looked at one another. No one made a move, yet they were unwilling to simply leave.

Several of the stronger cultivators present began communicating through divine sense. They were convinced that these people from the Immortal Academy had most likely obtained the inheritance of the True Meaning of Daoism.

They could not stop here!

Once greed rose in a person's heart, they became blind. In a moment of hot-headedness, their minds were swept away.

They began weighing their chances of defeating them. By a full count, they alone had over twenty Spirit Transformation cultivators, while the rest were all in the Nascent Soul Realm. Their strength was nothing to scoff at.

"Fellow Daoists, Xiang Tian is already at the end of his strength. There's no need to worry. Charge with me!"

With that, one person took the lead and shot forward. Behind him, a dark mass of people followed close after.

Xiang Tian let out a long breath. Looking at the figures that blotted out the sky and covered the earth, he drew his immortal sword.

He had anticipated this situation. It did not surprise him.

He had said it before: no one would disturb them, and absolutely no one would disturb them!

Then, Sword Intent soared into the heavens, tearing apart the sky.