A violent wave of weakness suddenly surged through Qi Dao. It felt as though his muscles were being torn apart.
He planted his sword in the ground and gripped the hilt with both hands, barely managing to stand upright.
The burly man saw this and curled his lips into a sneer.
Of course. How could a mere One-Ring Soul Master gain power nearly equal to a Soul Ancestor without a drawback?
He had seemed to be talking with Qi Dao, but he had really been stalling for time, waiting for that state to wear off.
Then Qi Dao and his parents would be fish on their chopping block.
After finally finding such a monster, how could I let him die so easily?
He had to struggle in agony until he begged me to kill him!
"Kehahaha!"
"Looks like you're finished, kid!"
The burly man's expression changed in an instant. He rested his mountain-cleaving blade on his shoulder and said coolly, "Third Brother, what are you waiting for? Go grab this little genius's parents."
"Let's have some fun with him before he dies!"
The tall Third Brother cackled and looked toward Qi Father and Qi Mother in the distance.
Qi Mother helped Qi Father to his feet. He looked terribly weak, his face deathly pale and his breath faint.
"Cough." Qi Father spat out a mouthful of bloody foam.
"Ah... Ah Rou, I'm afraid the three of us won't escape this calamity today."
Qi Mother's eyes stung with tears.
"It's all right. If we die together, we won't be lonely on the road!"
"What a shame. I was still waiting for that brat A Dao to take me to the Divine Realm to enjoy the good life!"
"Looks like I won't be going to the Divine Realm after all."
Qi Mother smiled through her tears, as though her fear of death had vanished.
"It's all right. We can enjoy the good life somewhere else."
Qi Dao heard his parents' voices. His pupils contracted, and he turned to look.
He could already see their calm acceptance of death on their faces.
The family of three met one another's eyes across the distance. Smiling, Qi Mother raised a dagger to her throat.
Qi Dao's mind went blank.
He could no longer hear anything around him. Images of what would happen next filled his mind.
Qi Mother would drive the dagger through her throat. Blood would gush out, and he would see the longing and regret on her face as she died.
Qi Father would follow, settling beside Qi Mother's body and severing his own meridians.
His parents' words still rang in his ears.
Scenes from Qi Dao's life, from birth until now, suddenly flashed before his eyes like a revolving lantern.
A voice seemed to sound beside his ear.
It was achingly familiar.
Qi Dao remembered. It was the nursery rhyme Qi Mother had learned especially for him when she had first become a mother.
It held the deepest love she bore her child.
In the next instant, Qi Father appeared in the vision. He had carved Qi Dao a wooden sword with his own hands, and Qi Dao had played with it constantly, unable to put it down.
That was also when Qi Dao had first made his promise, half in jest and half in earnest.
He would become the God of swords and take Qi Father and Qi Mother to the Divine Realm to enjoy the good life.
His words from back then still echoed in his ears. With that wish unfulfilled, how could he let his parents die with regrets?
Whoever stood between him and his wish, he would kill!
Even if he faced a god, he would draw his sword and charge forward!
Qi Dao suddenly came back to himself. All those thoughts had passed in a single instant!
At that moment, a subtle flash of inspiration surged through him.
Countless truths of Swordsmanship flooded his mind.
The corner of his mouth twitched, then twitched again, as though he had lost control of it.
He seemed to be smiling, yet also on the brink of madness.
This was it.
Heaven and man in communion. Man and Sword as One!
He understood. He finally understood!
He pulled the Peerless Sword from the ground and slashed down casually, leaving its tip pointed at the earth.
A wisp of invisible sword energy shot from the tip. The instant it touched the ground, it split the earth with a crack several feet long.
Qi Dao looked at Qi Father and Qi Mother. His twitching lips spread into a radiant smile.
"Dad! Mom!"
"Until I've fulfilled my promise, all you need to do is stay alive. Leave the rest..."
"To me!"
Qi Father and Qi Mother stared at Qi Dao in a daze. Somehow, their resolve to die faded away.
Across from them, the gaunt man's face twisted with hatred. He looked at Qi Dao as though he wanted to eat his flesh and drink his blood.
The tall Third Brother looked utterly disdainful.
Hmph. Did the kid think all that babbling would keep him alive?
But the burly man glanced at the split earth beneath the Peerless Sword's tip, and unease rose within him.
That wasn't right. A moment ago, the kid could barely stand.
Then he met a pair of indifferent eyes.
Understanding came to Qi Dao in a flash. He spoke calmly.
"You asked me what wish I still had."
"Now I'll tell you..."
The burly man's unease grew. This kid is too strange. Better kill him now before more trouble crops up.
I'm a Soul Ancestor with the optimal Soul Ring configuration. Am I supposed to fear a spent One-Ring Soul Master?
Ridiculous!
His mind made up, he bellowed, "Enough of your tricks!"
"Die!"
Before the words had faded, his Fourth Soul Ring flashed.
At the same time, he raised the Blood-Red Mountain-Cleaving Blade with both hands.
He slashed. Blood-red waves of energy rolled forward, and a massive blade of energy hurtled toward Qi Dao.
The other two men were startled.
What was the boss doing? Why had he attacked so suddenly?
That wasn't like him!
Just as they thought the blade of energy would cleave Qi Dao in two, a sword's hum rang across the sky!
The blade of energy was shredded by invisible Sword Intent.
A figure slowly emerged from the blood-red waves, murmuring softly.
"I have a wish!"
Qi Dao took a step forward. It was as if some shackle had fallen away from him, and his aura leaped to a new height.
Behind him, Sword Intent raged.
"I once promised that when I became a God through Swordsmanship, I would take my parents with me as I ascended to heaven in broad daylight."
Qi Dao took three steps in succession. With each one, his aura rose higher.
Heaven and man came into communion, and with a single step, Qi Dao entered the state of unity with heaven and earth!
Energy poured into his body from every direction.
The Sword Intent behind him grew from a stream into a river, then from a river into a vast sea.
At last, Sword Light shot into the sky, and towering Sword Intent tore the clouds apart.
"I won't die. And they..."
"Won't die either!"
Qi Dao looked at the three dumbstruck men and slowly raised the sword in his hand.
"I draw upon the power of heaven and earth to forge this strike!"
"And I need only one!"
"This sword shall..."
"Send you to your graves!"
As the last word fell, Qi Dao swung his sword.
Qi Father and Qi Mother saw only a flash of silver-white light. It vanished as quickly as it had appeared.
When the Sword Light faded, the burly man and his two companions were still standing where they had been. None of them moved, and astonishment remained on their faces.
"What..."
"What happened?"
Qi Mother slowly lowered her dagger. Qi Father looked ahead as well.
Then they saw something horrifying.
The three men's bodies suddenly split in two, and blood gushed out.
They were dead!
All three were dead!
Before you continue