After Wang Ritain obtained the Seven Demonic Blades, countless intricate and profound secrets flooded his mind. He closed his eyes and studied them carefully, learning that the Seven Demonic Blades came from the Tomb World and were said to have been created by a peerless demonic figure. That figure had relied on this blade art to strike seven times before finally ascending to immortality—a testament to its astonishing power.
The blade art required the user to expend their life force. Once all seven blades were unleashed, their life force would be depleted. Yet if they somehow survived, they could regain their vitality on the brink of death and advance to an even higher level of cultivation. Its effect was so defiant of the natural order that it had earned its name. Wang Ritain immersed himself in it as methods of cultivation and scenes of practice kept appearing in his mind, each move etched into his heart like a brand. Before long, he had completely mastered this bizarre blade art. Though his body was still gravely wounded, a domineering force now lay hidden within him, ready to burst forth at any moment.
Wang Ritain slowly opened his eyes. His gaze burned as he looked toward the Xuanyuan Family. He knew that now, with the power of these seven blades, he had the perfect chance to change his fate and earn a reputation. In this martial world, where strength reigned supreme, the fastest way to gain renown was to carve out a fearsome name for himself. And the decaying Xuanyuan Family had become a stepping stone in his eyes. "Tonight will be your last." Wang Ritain murmured, his voice cold and resolute.
Night fell like a heavy black cloth over the Xuanyuan Family. The compound was brightly lit, and the disciples had gathered together, eagerly discussing the latest events in the martial world. The household retainers stood in small groups, exchanging news about the tasks the family had assigned them.
"I heard the Dragon Tiger Mountain Heavenly Master has gone into seclusion again. I wonder what astonishing abilities he'll reveal when he comes out this time," one disciple said excitedly.
"Hmph. So what if it's Dragon Tiger Mountain? Our Xuanyuan Family is a force to be reckoned with here in Beiliang," another replied proudly.
Just then, a retainer lowered his voice and said mysteriously, "Have you heard? It seems our forefather, Xuanyuan Dapan, is on the verge of a breakthrough. If he succeeds, our family's standing in the martial world will surely rise another level."
As they spoke, Wang Ritain's figure slowly appeared in the courtyard. His clothes were in tatters, and he was covered in blood, looking utterly wretched. "Where is Xuanyuan Dapan?" Wang Ritain asked. His voice was quiet, yet carried a chilling coldness.
The crowd fell silent at once and turned to look at Wang Ritain, their eyes full of shock and disdain. "You worthless piece of trash! How dare you address our forefather by name?" a Xuanyuan Family disciple shouted, glaring at him.
"Exactly. Know your place. You're just making a fool of yourself," another disciple scoffed.
The retainers, too, looked at him with contempt, thinking that Wang Ritain's disheveled appearance had brought shame on the family. But Wang Ritain acted as if he hadn't heard them. After sweeping his gaze across the crowd, he walked straight toward a seemingly kindhearted disciple and asked, "Where is Yuan Tingshan?"
The disciple froze for a moment, then curled his lip in disdain. "You're looking for Master Yuan? You think you're worthy?" Wang Ritain furrowed his brow and pressed on. "Where is he?" As he spoke, he took one step after another toward the disciple. As Wang Ritain drew closer, the disciple inexplicably felt a chill, as though the usually timid Wang Ritain before him had become a fearsome demon. His heart pounded uncontrollably, each beat seeming to hammer against his chest. Only when Wang Ritain was right in front of him did he snap out of it and ask angrily, "What are you trying to do?"
Just then, footsteps sounded, and several of Yuan Tingshan's retainers hurried over. Hearing that Wang Ritain wanted to see Yuan Tingshan, their faces immediately darkened with anger. "You worthless piece of trash, you dare ask for Master Yuan?" The leading retainer snorted, his true qi surging as he tried to intimidate Wang Ritain. But Wang Ritain stood where he was, expression calm, as though facing not a group of experts, but a bunch of ants.
In the retainers' eyes, Wang Ritain was nothing but a good-for-nothing in the Early Houtian Realm. Faced with their show of force, he should have been so terrified that he fell to his knees and begged for mercy. Yet Wang Ritain stood his ground, which seemed unbelievable to them and only made them angrier. "Kid, crawl between my legs and I'll tell you where Master Yuan is," one retainer said viciously. The crowd burst into laughter, and the Xuanyuan Family disciples wore entertained expressions, eager to see Wang Ritain make a fool of himself.
Wang Ritain's eyes turned cold, and killing intent surged within him. Good. You've managed to anger me. As soon as the words left his mouth, a terrifying blade intent abruptly rose around him, like tangible black flames. A long blade had appeared in his hand, its surface gleaming with a chill light. Wang Ritain swung it, and the blade cut through the air with a grating whistle.
"First blade!" Wang Ritain barked. The blade flashed like a bolt of black lightning, cleaving toward the retainer who had insulted him. The man's expression changed drastically. He tried to dodge, only to find his body seemingly pinned in place, unable to move. "Pfft!" The blade flashed past, spraying blood. A wound deep enough to expose bone appeared across the retainer's chest. His eyes widened in disbelief as he slowly crumpled to the ground.
Before the crowd could recover from their shock, Wang Ritain struck again. "Second blade!" This strike was even faster than the last, its blade intent carrying an even fiercer killing intent. Wherever it passed, true qi shattered like bubbles, and several more retainers fell beneath his blade. Cries of agony rang out as blood mist filled the air.
"Third blade!" Wang Ritain's voice seemed to come from the depths of the netherworld, icy and bone-chilling. He spun around, his long blade sweeping in an arc toward the retainers and disciples surrounding him. The strike was astonishingly powerful. True qi shields and defensive artifacts alike were torn apart as easily as paper wherever it went.
After the three blades, the scene fell utterly silent. The retainer who had provoked him first clutched his chest, mouth slightly agape, his eyes filled with fear and resentment. He toppled straight to the ground, dead on the spot. Behind him lay dozens of corpses, their blood gathering into a small stream that flowed slowly across the ground. Everyone stood frozen, staring at the scene in disbelief, the fear of death hanging over them like a dark cloud. They could hardly believe that the ruthless, merciless man before them was the same Wang Ritain who had once been timid and bullied by everyone.
A breeze stirred the fallen leaves and blood on the ground. The courtyard of the Xuanyuan Family was steeped in the thick stench of blood. Wang Ritain stood in the pool of blood, his clothes in tatters, like a demon god come to earth. His gaze slowly swept across the crowd, and his voice was icy. "Who else wants to try my blade?" The crowd held their tongues, not one daring to speak. Wang Ritain was no longer the pushover they could trample at will. He was now a fearsome figure who inspired awe.
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