Houses shattered like glass in an instant, whipping up enormous gusts that swept into the distance.
Amid screams and wails, Kuang Xu's figure also vanished swiftly from the spot.
Only after the two had disappeared did the cultivators in hiding dare emerge to investigate what had happened.
"That was the Mountain Master of Deer-Chasing Academy. Without him, we would have died here."
"Who was that vicious-looking man? What terrifying might."
"Come help! There are still signs of life here."
"He came with ill intent. I hope the Deer-Chasing Mountain Master can win."
Watching the two disappear, the cultivators discussed them animatedly, relief at surviving the disaster flowing through their hearts.
Elsewhere, the sky was pitch-black, as though it would come crashing down the next moment and return the world to chaos.
Beneath that dark sky, a white figure raced forward, an enormous sword rapidly closing in behind him.
The ripples surging out with each reverberation instantly shattered the rocks wherever the two passed, while sword intent ravaged the mountain forests.
Shi Qingyun felt the sharp presence drawing ever closer behind him. Seeing that he had already covered some distance, he abruptly halted in midair.
With a sweep of the Black Sword in his hand, ripples instantly spread from it, and strands of extreme yin power wound along his arm and onto the blade.
The dim radiance it emitted grew darker still. Golden light flashed fiercely in his eyes, and the muscles of his arm rapidly bulged as explosive strength poured forth.
He slashed viciously behind him. Time and space seemed to split beneath that strike, the surrounding spacetime freezing for a moment as everything came to a standstill.
Only the Black Sword swinging in his hand traced a pitch-black full moon through the void.
Following his movement, that black moon